The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well

Joan of Arc Tapestries #1

by Ann Chamberlin

The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well is Book One of the Joan of Arc Tapestries--a new series in what you'd think would be a crowded fantasy subgenre. Surprisingly, fantastic treatments of this famous historical figure are pretty much confined to film. And Joan of Arc isn't actually a character in this book. The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well is a St. Joan novel in the same sense that Mary Stewart's classic The Crystal Cave is an Arthurian both depict the early lives of the men and women (mostly men) who will foretell, instruct, and inspire the pivotal character appearing later in the series. Both novels also draw on Breton elements of the Arthurian mythos. Set in the early 1400s, The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well portrays the origins of Jean Le Drapier, a maimed Breton with powers that may rival Merlin's, and Gilles de Rais, the French nobleman who will one day fight heroically beside Joan and commit the sadistic murders that spawned the Bluebeard legend. The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well also depicts the deadly political struggles between the king and lords of France and (with far less historical basis) between the powerful Christian church and a coexisting underground Celtic paganism. This novel may annoy historical-fiction readers who demand characters with pure period mindsets, but it will please many fans of high fantasy, historical fantasy, alternate history, secret history, and Arthurian fiction. --Cynthia Ward

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Medieval, Historical, Magic, Science Fiction Fantasy

Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is wonderful, but the title and the synopsis is misleading. This is a set up book leading you up to Joan of Arc. The book is more about trying to hang on the pagan beliefs while fighting against the Christain ways. I am not going to read any more of this series because of this book, it has too much fiction fantasy and lacks any connecting to the why people feel about powers of the two beliefs Christian and Pagan to give a full picture of why people are fighting for their ways. Overall, the story lacks the energy for such a tell.

[Drianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author took Margaret Murray's theory that Joan of Arc and Gilles de Rais were champions of the Old Religion (i.e., that everything in their heresy/witch trials was true) and crafted these novels from that premise.

The first one is not about Joan at all; it's about a Breton peasant boy named Yann who is a knowing defender of the Old Religion (and therefore capable of magic). It's somewhat about Gilles de Rais (Bluebeard) as well. The end point is fairly arbitrary; it's not a great standalone book (you'll want to read the others -- or not, if the premise bothers you, as I presume it does many who are invested in Joan's Christian sainthood).

The books are well-written enough, but they never *quite* are the pagan Joan books of my dreams.

[Gail Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not what I would call a Christian story of the Joan of Arc... but a much grittier version going in depth to the pagan religion of the woodlands of France during the time of King Charles VI.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure what I think....

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 1 of the Joan of Arc Tapestries, but this begins long before Joan. Yann le Drapier is a child when he is called by the King Stag and shot through the hand by Guy de Rais. That event leads Yann's mother to be the nurse for Gilles de Rais--the future Bluebeard.

Yann has fits--probably epilepsy--and those fits give him visions. He and Gilles grow up together and are initiated into the pagan faith, which eventually kills Gilles' mother. Yann receives visions of Joan and her birth happens during the novel, which ends with Agincourt.

Interesting story, but moved too slowly.

[Melissa Hogenson]

very interesting look at French history leading up to Joan of Arc, well researched!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retelling of the Joan of Arc saga with the legend of Bluebeard woven in.