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Heirs to Byzantium #2
The Woman of Flowers
Alexa, princess of Byzantium, was destined to rule with her devoted brother Marric until the evil forces cast dark magic upon her and made her betray him. Thus, Marric fell under assault, the usurper seized the throne and, by means both magical and moral, defeated Alexa.
Saved by warrior allies, Alexa has been taken to an unfamiliar northern land. Convinced of Marric's death, she is consumed by guilt-and fear. Even from afar, the usurper's power reaches out to trap her. Savage dreams agonize her nights, prophecies of doom upset her days, and the fiery magic runs wild within her soul. Alexa's only hope lies amidst the Druids of the distant Misty Isles. They alone can cleanse her of the darkness that infects her and teach her to use her powers well.
But Alexa must learn more than just the secrets of the Druids, for within her hands and heart lie the very survival of Penilyn itself...and the fate of Byzantium.
Saved by warrior allies, Alexa has been taken to an unfamiliar northern land. Convinced of Marric's death, she is consumed by guilt-and fear. Even from afar, the usurper's power reaches out to trap her. Savage dreams agonize her nights, prophecies of doom upset her days, and the fiery magic runs wild within her soul. Alexa's only hope lies amidst the Druids of the distant Misty Isles. They alone can cleanse her of the darkness that infects her and teach her to use her powers well.
But Alexa must learn more than just the secrets of the Druids, for within her hands and heart lie the very survival of Penilyn itself...and the fate of Byzantium.
308 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
29 people want to read
About the author
Susan Shwartz
92 books19 followersWrites with Shariann Lewitt as Gordon Kendall.
She received her B.A. in English from Mount Holyoke College in 1972 and a PhD in English from Harvard University.
She received her B.A. in English from Mount Holyoke College in 1972 and a PhD in English from Harvard University.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 25, 2021
This continues the story of Alexa almost directly where the first book left off. As alternate history, I like this better than the first, in that here we get to travel to the North (to the domains of the "Vikings") and West to the land of the Britons - here depicted as the mystical and druid-ridden lands of mists. The second half of the book sees the return of Marric.
Like the first book, the character development (except on the main character) is paper-thin; and the resolution to the plot - while predictable - still felt rather too convenient. In general, I would say that I liked the journey of this book more than the first book in the series, but found the ending to be slightly less satisfying.
Like the first book, the character development (except on the main character) is paper-thin; and the resolution to the plot - while predictable - still felt rather too convenient. In general, I would say that I liked the journey of this book more than the first book in the series, but found the ending to be slightly less satisfying.
March 14, 2026
Add druids, standing stones and rabid berserkers to ‘Call the Midwife’ and you have ‘The Woman of Flowers.’ Alexa’s journey has its moments. Escaping across Eastern Europe, a sort of Dark Age version of the Wagner Group yapping at her heels. That delivers more drama than Book One. Four stars would be generous- it can also be slow and its timeframe rubbery and then Marric arrives to try to mess with Alexa's happy ending. How many years did this story cover? Romans were a pain, true, but at least they gave us calendars (okay, and also aquaducts). Where are all these towns? Obscure names are thrown about for places where I’ve never set foot. Where is the map? Every decent imaginary world like Wonderland, Oz or The British Isles can benefit from a map.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews