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War of the Rose #2
The Golden Rose
Kathleen Bryan returns with the sequel to The Serpent and the Rose.
Beautiful Averil is now the Duchess of Quitaine, but to keep her people safe, she made a vow to the traitor King of Lys. After a year, she would come to his Court in Lutece, and choose a husband from the men he offers her. Averil must produce an heir – not only to Quitaine, but also to all of Lys; for she is the only daughter of the King's sister, and he has no wife or child of his own.
But Averil's heart is in the keeping of a powerful young Knight of the Rose, Gerient, a man she can never marry. The two share a bond of magecraft as well as love, for between them lies the power to raise the Wild Magic of the world, the only force that can defeat the King's quest to release the Serpent God of Chaos from his mystic prison. And when Averil learns that the King is building a fleet to attack the Ladies of the Isle, to destroy them as he destroyed the Orders of the Knights of the Rose in Lys, she rebels against her sworn duty, and flees to Gerient's side. Together they will raise their powers to protect both the Isle and the remnants of the Rose.
Beautiful Averil is now the Duchess of Quitaine, but to keep her people safe, she made a vow to the traitor King of Lys. After a year, she would come to his Court in Lutece, and choose a husband from the men he offers her. Averil must produce an heir – not only to Quitaine, but also to all of Lys; for she is the only daughter of the King's sister, and he has no wife or child of his own.
But Averil's heart is in the keeping of a powerful young Knight of the Rose, Gerient, a man she can never marry. The two share a bond of magecraft as well as love, for between them lies the power to raise the Wild Magic of the world, the only force that can defeat the King's quest to release the Serpent God of Chaos from his mystic prison. And when Averil learns that the King is building a fleet to attack the Ladies of the Isle, to destroy them as he destroyed the Orders of the Knights of the Rose in Lys, she rebels against her sworn duty, and flees to Gerient's side. Together they will raise their powers to protect both the Isle and the remnants of the Rose.
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 2, 2008
I liked this book better than the first. The story flow was a little better, and as the story progresses I have fewer issues with the awkwardness of the magic in the first. I am beginning to believe it was part of the story line in the first book. As our heroes become more comfortable with these other forms of magic, the story itself settles in to a more comfortable mode.
I am really excited about reading more from this author in the future.
I am really excited about reading more from this author in the future.
May 2, 2019
"Doubt is as dangerous as lack of control."
'The Golden Rose', book 2 in the War of the Rose series, by Kathleen Bryan, sees us continue the story one year after the end of the first book. Still following our main characters Averil and Gereint we are again brought to the land of Lys as well as the Island Nation that the Knights of the Rose are taking refuge. I enjoyed the story although it did seem fillery (I think I made that word up), the pacing was a little slow up until the last 80 pages.
The world was expanded from the first by giving us a look into the island as well as the capital city where the King brought Averil for the first 3rd of the book. While I did enjoy the world building I felt myself wanting more when it came to the city itself. The focus was on court life and marriage intrigue so there was never really any good moments within the city outside of the court. While it doesn't seem strictly necessary, it would have given more meaning to the war and would have loved that extra motivation for the characters. The scenes out on the sea (both of them) I thought was well written and I felt it drag me into the action.
The Magic returns for this second installment and it is as complex as ever. I always wondered to myself if I had missed anything earlier in the series because a lot of it goes over my head for the most part. It seems like it is just magic for magic sake, whenever anyone would do something I would say to myself 'I didn't think that was possible' but than just moved on. That being said I was still interested in magic but I would have liked it fleshed out a little bit.
The characters are as lively as ever. Besides the 2 main characters, we are introduced to a few more that are at court as well as some in the Queendom on the island. We also learn truths about some characters that were introduced in the first novel. While in the first novel I enjoyed the fact that the romance was hindered by this invisible barrier that is their society, but it got slightly out of hand in the second. While I still enjoyed the idea and conforming to social norms, the fact that the author managed to mention the fact 'they wanted to be together but couldn't' got overwhelming. I think it was more often told to the reader instead of shown through their actions which I think hurt it.
'The Golden Rose' in my opinion was a fun adventure but that does not mean it was flawless by any measure. Returning to characters and seeing growth and maturity throughout the story was refreshing and I look forward to catching the final in the trilogy. With a writing style that seemed influenced by the more simple and classic fantasy feel, there is a lot to like with the book despite its fluff in the beginning. If you enjoyed the first book I would recommend giving the story a continue, if you did not, than I would pass because it does not feel or do anything new.
"Apparently monotony was not a sin when it set a fashion."
'The Golden Rose', book 2 in the War of the Rose series, by Kathleen Bryan, sees us continue the story one year after the end of the first book. Still following our main characters Averil and Gereint we are again brought to the land of Lys as well as the Island Nation that the Knights of the Rose are taking refuge. I enjoyed the story although it did seem fillery (I think I made that word up), the pacing was a little slow up until the last 80 pages.
The world was expanded from the first by giving us a look into the island as well as the capital city where the King brought Averil for the first 3rd of the book. While I did enjoy the world building I felt myself wanting more when it came to the city itself. The focus was on court life and marriage intrigue so there was never really any good moments within the city outside of the court. While it doesn't seem strictly necessary, it would have given more meaning to the war and would have loved that extra motivation for the characters. The scenes out on the sea (both of them) I thought was well written and I felt it drag me into the action.
The Magic returns for this second installment and it is as complex as ever. I always wondered to myself if I had missed anything earlier in the series because a lot of it goes over my head for the most part. It seems like it is just magic for magic sake, whenever anyone would do something I would say to myself 'I didn't think that was possible' but than just moved on. That being said I was still interested in magic but I would have liked it fleshed out a little bit.
The characters are as lively as ever. Besides the 2 main characters, we are introduced to a few more that are at court as well as some in the Queendom on the island. We also learn truths about some characters that were introduced in the first novel. While in the first novel I enjoyed the fact that the romance was hindered by this invisible barrier that is their society, but it got slightly out of hand in the second. While I still enjoyed the idea and conforming to social norms, the fact that the author managed to mention the fact 'they wanted to be together but couldn't' got overwhelming. I think it was more often told to the reader instead of shown through their actions which I think hurt it.
'The Golden Rose' in my opinion was a fun adventure but that does not mean it was flawless by any measure. Returning to characters and seeing growth and maturity throughout the story was refreshing and I look forward to catching the final in the trilogy. With a writing style that seemed influenced by the more simple and classic fantasy feel, there is a lot to like with the book despite its fluff in the beginning. If you enjoyed the first book I would recommend giving the story a continue, if you did not, than I would pass because it does not feel or do anything new.
"Apparently monotony was not a sin when it set a fashion."
October 10, 2009
Decent Tweener
Action takes a break and we get into a little bit more of the background behind all of the drama (so it makes up for the slower pace). Still kept me intrigued (although with growing impatience) and like all good tweeners, makes you so frustrated that nothing's been resolved that you just HAVE to read the next book. Which is okay with me 'cause I think this is a trilogy. Ha!
On to book 3...
Action takes a break and we get into a little bit more of the background behind all of the drama (so it makes up for the slower pace). Still kept me intrigued (although with growing impatience) and like all good tweeners, makes you so frustrated that nothing's been resolved that you just HAVE to read the next book. Which is okay with me 'cause I think this is a trilogy. Ha!
On to book 3...
March 8, 2023
Hauntingly beautiful and filled to bursting with magic and adventure, but then, what more could I expect from Kathleen Bryan—or rather, Judith Tarr with all her talent as a writer. On par with The Hound and the Falcon series, Alamut and The Sword and the Dagger, and just as delightful to read. This is a fabulous series in itself!
September 25, 2024
Although I consider this book to be worth three stars, the ending of the trilogy ruined the rest of series for me. 😑
June 5, 2025
Even slower than first book. They fled to Prydain and killed Clovodec with the help of a sea dragon
July 6, 2008
This book was a bit disappointing considering that the first book in the series (The Serpent and the Rose) created a rather gripping story for a curious person like me. Really what it felt like was an unnecessary extension to a story that could have been resolved in two books but now I have to wait for a third.
I did learn something very interesting about fantasy: many fantasy writers, including Kathleen Bryan aka Judith Tarr, publish under pseudonyms, even multiple pseudonyms. I'm just wondering why that would be advantageous for writers such as Judith Tarr who are already established writers and have a faithful following.
I did learn something very interesting about fantasy: many fantasy writers, including Kathleen Bryan aka Judith Tarr, publish under pseudonyms, even multiple pseudonyms. I'm just wondering why that would be advantageous for writers such as Judith Tarr who are already established writers and have a faithful following.
May 24, 2012
I feel like it started off with the same momentum as the first book but somewhere in the midst of it I got lost in the battle details and magical retaliation. It was a big build up and I just felt the middle and ending didn't deliver. Somewhere the author lost focus on the characters and their humanity and it went from a story to a series of events. Hoping the third book has a much better delivery.
March 22, 2008
I cannot wait for the final book of this trilogy. I got a little bored with the too-drawn-out sexual tension between the two main characters, but the book had a great climax (no single entendres intended) where one bad guy was defeated and another rose to take his place. Much like when I finished the first book, I am kind of pissed that I have to wait for the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2008
Once again, the second in a series is not nearly as good as the first, although I did enjoy reading it a lot. It's a book that is obviously meant to connect a first and a third, but the story was still compelling. For a little bit I thought this book would actually end the series, but then a couple of twists kept it going.
September 28, 2009
So, this is book #2 and didn't live up to the promise of the first book. I felt like the first book repeated itself a little too much and the character development was too obvious. I could see what was coming and was not entirely impressed. But it was still a page turner so not entirely a waste of time.
June 15, 2008
This book was like every really fabulous second book in a trilogy: the story progressed much further than I ever thought it would and it ended with an enormous twist that sets up the next book. I loved it!
May 9, 2010
Okay story, but I doubt that the author is fooling anyone with every reiteration of "they can never be together" with every acknowledgement of the two main characters' feelings for one another. It just feels as though she is protesting too much.
April 30, 2015
Averil is keeping her promise and heading for the king's stronghold to find a husband. Gereint is pursuing his wish to become a Knight of the Rose. Together they have to save the world from the Serpents. Their tale is getting better and better. On to more tales in The Last Paladin!
February 4, 2022
Very good sequel to The Serpent and the Rose. Plenty of action with believable characters and and interesting created world.
Re-read, 8/14. And 2/22.
Re-read, 8/14. And 2/22.
August 31, 2008
I can't stand books that are written to be the second book of a trilogy and act as filler until the third act.
November 7, 2008
Not a bad middle book for a trilogy. Nothing dark, but definately leading to the last. Enough with the monk/nun thing though.
January 12, 2009
Ho hum. Nothing as good as the first book. I mentioned before how much my kids hated the artwork on the cover. I would not recommend this book.
October 8, 2010
I just didn't like this book at all. I love the first one, but this one was very slow and very dull. Returned it to the library before I finished it.
December 6, 2014
Great story..can't wait to get the final of the three.
August 26, 2013
Good continuation of the story.
July 28, 2014
This didn't stand up to the first book in the trilogy, the Serpent and the Rose. I skimmed much of this one and almost all of the concluding volume.
April 9, 2015
A great installment in the War of the Rose trilogy. Can't wait to start The Last Paladin!
February 14, 2016
Continuing adventures of Averil and Gereint. Toward the end of the book I began to think the story would end with the second book - surprise, the tale continues.
October 27, 2016
I was so bored.
April 4, 2014
I liked it. need to find the last one though, it doesn't seem to be anywhere. :/
September 29, 2014
While not as good as the first book in the series, I still enjoyed the characters and story.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews