Erin's Reviews > The Sword of the Maiden

A solid 4.5 stars.
A great sequel to the first book “The Key’s of the Watchman.” All the characters are back (except I wish there was more of Jackson. His intellectual side was really great in the first one!). And all I can say is there better be a third one, I need more Katelyn and Nicolas!
What makes this book so great? The character development continues, and the story is not only a continuation of the first one, it just enhances the first. I never felt bored or “yep, read this in the first one”. I liked reading about Katelyn’s confidence in herself and how she uses her power and knowledge for good.
This book made me want to not only visit France, but learn more about Jehanne, Joan of Arc. It really brought her to life in my mind and showed how much she influenced France and the world. She believed in herself and she believed in those around her and above her to help. Her moments of doubt showed more courage and bravery and was really inspiring to act with confidence when you know what is right!
There’s lots of references to current pop-culture. It’s funny and keeps the book modern.
Favorite quotes from the book:
Chapter 1- “I’ve figured out that harboring bitterness isn’t going to solve anything. It will just make me a miserable person.” –Katelyn Michaels
Chapter 3- I could feel the caring emanating from him. I had known Jean for such a short time, and yet his love was all-encompassing. It gave me an instant understanding of the love God feels for all His children. That love filled the crevices of hurt that had opened up in my heart. It filled the spaces of doubt and discouragement that had been drilled into my mind, and it soothed the constant pain of my knitting bones and healing skin.” –Katelyn Michaels
Chapter 14- “True happiness doesn’t come from stuff. It doesn’t even come from having a toilet and a hot shower. No, happiness comes from others. It comes from positive relationships, from having a sense of purpose and from serving others.
Chapter 17- It’s more than I dreamed of, beyond anything I could’ve imagined. It’s magic and wonder and safety. It’s comfort and love in a form I’ve never before experienced. It’s like coming home after being lost, like drinking in the water of life after nearly dying of thirst. It’s the purest form of total devotion I’ve ever experienced.
Chapter 26- It’s from Nelson Mandela. He said , “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
Chapter 30- “Jeanne, “ I begin, “if you want to have a certain quality, you must act as if you already have that quality.”
I truly believe it . Remember, Jehanne, you have been called by God to serve Him. He has complete and total confidence in you. He sees something deep within you that you cannot even see in yourself. And I promise you that if you continue to act as if you have that confidence, soon that quality will actually be yours. Soon, you will truly have that attribute.”