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For
SWORD
OF THE
WHITE ROSE
From Publisher's
Weekly
June 28, 2004
At the start of Lee's accessible, well-plotted
historical fantasy, the fourth in the series (after 2003's
Sword of King James), dying Dylan Matheson, the laird
of Ciorram, ambiguously advises his son, "Mind the
Sidhe" (the wee folk with whom Dylan had such an
affinity). Sinann, the faerie who whisked Dylan from the
modern world to 18th-century Scotland in the series opener,
Son of the Sword (2001), now struggles to counsel Ciaran, Dylan's
son, who's torn between his new leadership responsibilities
and his desire to join the band of Highlanders against the
ruling British power on the killing fields of Culloden.
Despite an overly convenient ending, fans should enjoy the
author's deft weaving of myth and history, fantasy and
fable.
From The Historical
Novels Review
May 2004
This is the fourth and final volume of the
historical fantasy series that began with the novel "Son of
the Sword" (2001) and continued in "Outlaw Sword" (2002) and
"Sword of King James (2003). The author returns to the
highlands of Scotlnad in the year 1745, just prior to the
final Jacobite uprising. Dylan Matheson, Laird of Ciorram and
time traveler, dies of old age, leaving the welfare of his
lands and people in the hands of his son Ciaran - as well as
the guidance and help of the faerie Sinann. Only she knows the
dreadful truth, that the uprising will fail. Her pleas to
pursue the course of peace that his father had chosen fall on
deaf ears, as Ciaran is eager to join the fight against the
English despite his unexpected love for the daughter of the
local British Commander.
The shift of perspective from a traveler out of
time to a man born and raised in the historical milieu allows
the author to showcase her increasingly deft and rich
characterization. Once again, the wealth of historical detail
and color flesh out the story. From the glens and battlements
of Ciorram to the bloody battlefield of Culloden, the story is
always firmly fixed within the time and place it inhabits
while remaining completely accessible to the modern reader. A
satisfying conclusion to an enjoyable series. --Tracy
Callison
For
SWORD OF KING
JAMES
From
the Historical Novels Review
November
2003
In the
third installment of the Summon of the Sword series, we rejoin
our time traveling hero Dylan (now firmly fixed in the 18th
century) as he comes to terms with his wife's death and his
place in history. The second Jacobite rebellion is in the
works, and as Dylan struggles to raise his two children and
maintain his household, he must also attempt to persuade the
clan to take a neutral path, for he knows that the rebellion
will fail. He is under challenge by the continuing harassment
and depredations of the English, as well as the power-seeking
plays of his young cousin Artair. All is in tumult on the
metaphysical level as well, for the goddess Morrigan has taken
a strong interest in him and has managed to separate him from
Sinann, his faerie guide and protector. Dylan's story is
balanced by that of his mother, who in our present time is
dealing with life-threatening challenges of her own. Lee
continues to write compelling, well-rounded characters, and to
vividly describe the Scotland of centuries gone by. Her
storytelling has become surer with each book in the series,
and it is a pleasure to watch Dylan come into his own,
emotionally and societally. Recommended. --Tracey
Callison
From Publishers Weekly
June 16, 2003
J.
Ardian Lee fans will welcome Sword of King James, the third
entry in the author's time-travel series set in eighteenth
century Scotland (after 2002's Outlaw Sword). Dylan Matheson,
the everyman pulled into the past by faerie magic, must
contend with not only hostile English troops but with
Morrighan, the Celtic goddess of war, in this romance-heavy
fantasy.
From the Library Journal
June 15,
2003
Transported from modern-day Tennessee to the
Scottish Highlands in the eighteenth century, Dylan Matheson
gets caught up in the Jacobite struggle for freedom from
British rule, even as he struggles against the plots of the
Morrighan, goddess of war, who wants him for her own. Lee's
third installment in her historical fantasy (after Son of the
Sword and Outlaw Sword) recreates a colorful chapter in
Scottish history, bringing to life a period of fierce warriors
and faerie magic. Fans of Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series
will enjoy this story of adventure and romance in a magical
time and place.
From the RT Bookclub
July
2003
Torn
between two worlds, Dylan Matheson chose in the previous
installments of J. Ardian Lee's fantasy series to make his
home in the past with his two children. Although he is haunted
by the ghost of his true love Cait, as well as the spirit of
the Celtic goddess of war, Dylan has tried to settle into the
life of a farmer. But he is forced again into the role of
outlaw when his laird agrees to support the Jacobite rebels.
Dylan must rely on his wits and sword, as well as magic, to
survive. Lively, colorful characters and impeccable historical
detail draw inevitable comparisons to Diana Gabaldon, but
Sword of King James stands on its own and will appeal to fans
of Scottish romance, time-travel and historical
fantasy.
For
Outlaw Sword
From Romantic
Times
Barely healed from a sword thrust to his gut
received during the Jacobite uprising of 1713, 20th-century
Dylan returns to 18th-century Scotland to find his lover and
son. Helped by the Scottish fairy Sinnan, Dylan finds Cait but
can't immediately rescue her from her abusive new husband.
He tricks her husband into hiring him as a bodyguard and
gets other clansmen hired as warehouse guards. Dylan's best
friend and one-time neighbor knows about his previous time in
Scotland, and she searches through history books to find out
what happens to him and his family. She goes to Scotland to
see if she can make the fairy tower work for her before
tragedy can strike Dylan's family.
Eighteenth-century harsh living conditions are
realistically portrayed in Ms. Lee's fantasy. Extensive use of
Gaelic and historical fact give this novel an authentic
feeling. (Jul., 320 pp., $14.00) -Kelly Rae Cooper
From The Historical Novels Review
August, 2002
In this sequel to Son of the Sword (Ace,
2001), Dylan Matheson again finds himself in 18th century Scotland
on a mission. This time, his goal is not to save Scotland from the
English (although that's certainly what the fairy who brought him
back in time would like), but to save his true love Cait, and the
son he has never seen, from the dark fate that awaits them in the
pages of history.
Readers hoping for more brushes with characters from
history will be disappointed, as Dylan's concerns in this book are
mainly to rescue Cait and their son, and to attempt to stay clear of
the price on his head set by the English. However, those who enjoyed
Lee's compelling characters (Dylan in particular is flawed yet
lovable) and the realistic setting of the 18the century will find
both in abundance. Dylan's quest takes him from the bustle of
Edinburgh to the wilds of the Highlands, and details about the
harshness and beauty of life in the 18th century, without modern
inconveniences or medicine, are not spared. This is decidedly a
sequel and doesn't stand alone; just as obviously, there will be
others in the series. At least, one hopes so.
From Publishers' Weekly
June 12, 2002
More historical romance than fantasy, this sequel to
Lee's Son of the Sword (2001) offers time travel but little
magic. Once again Dylan Matheson, modern-day karate
teacher/swordsman, ends up in the Scottish Highlands in the time of
Bonnie Prince Charlie, a dirty, smelly, basic-necessities-only
place. Dylan has left the defeated Rob Roy at Sheriffmuir, though
his wounds still ache after a hasty trip back to the present for a
patch-up job. Dylan goes to Edinburgh to track down his lover, Cait,
and their young son whom he's never seen. Of course, a multitude of
problems ensue. Dylan is now an outlaw in the eyes of the English
because he fought on Rob Roy's side, while Cait has married since he
saw her last. Furthermore, Cait's husband bears Dylan a grudge and
is itching to kill him at first opportunity. The one fey element
takes the form of Sinann the fairy, whose talents include time
travel and the ability to pop buttons off the clothing of Dylan's
adversaries. When he's not fighting, getting caught up in smuggling
operations or hiding from the redcoats, Dylan finds time to
raise sheep and bootleg his own whiskey. This story goes down like
historical romance, with a supernatural twist to appeal to fantasy
readers.
Locus, June
2002,
by Carolyn Cushman
Dylan Matheson returns to 1715 Scotland in this time-travel historical fantasy, sequel to Son of the Sword. So far, the series draws inescapable comparison to Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series; this is a little lighter, with a male martial artist time-traveler instead of Gabaldon's female doctor. Dylan's fairie companion Sinann also provides considerable comic relief. Things still get dark enough for Dylan, who returns to the 18th century to help the love of his life, Cait, who has been forced to marry an abusive husband. Anguish, adventure, and all-too-brief bliss follow, along with the apparently obligatory rape-and-revenge subplot, and plenty of historical details, an entertaining read for those craving a little Highland adventure and romance.
For Son of the Sword
From KLIATT
November, 2001
A veritable Braveheart buffet for the
Scottish fan...the plot pace is energetic and the characters
likable, particularly the intensely devoted Sinann and the
resourceful Dylan. The details of everyday life are excellent, and
very visual.
From Explorations
(B&N),
June/July 2001
I have to admit-I was a bit biased about this book from the
beginning. I have never been to a place as beautiful as Scotland,
and I have a thing for men in kilts! Having said that, there are
plenty of other reasons to love SON OF THE SWORD. It's an intimate
look into 18th-century Scottish history that is both a bittersweet
love story and a heart-pounding adventure.
His Scottish culture and ancestry have always fascinated the
rather unwilling hero of this story, Dylan Matheson. At an annual
festival, he duels the owner of an original antique Scottish sword,
winning the right to simply take it out of its case. As Dylan
touches the sword, he is transported back in time to 18th-century
Scotland.
Dylan is summoned by the ancient faerie, Sinann, to help the
Scottish Jacobite rebels push out the English. Knowing that the
rebellion is doomed to failure and unwilling to believe that he can
change history, Dylan makes a life for himself with the ancestral
Clan Matheson. Did he do the right thing?
From
Publishers Weekly,
June 25, 2001
In this earnest mix of history and romance, in the
tradition of Twain's Connecticut Yankee, a contemporary American
travels back in time, here to 1713 Scotland, where Jacobite rebels
are in deep trouble. Alas, his story fails to generate much
excitement until the poignant ending. England and Scotland have
fought off and on over the centuries, with the English usually
victorious. After yet another Scottish defeat, the faerie Sinann
Eire holds up a great sword and calls upon it to "bring me a hero, a
Cuchulain." The sword obliges. From Tennessee, Dylan Matheson, an
expert in Scottish history, swordplay and kung fu, suddenly finds
himself in a rude Scotland of three centuries earlier. In due course
he proves himself a worthy champion to the plain folk, faces death
and falls in love with the beautiful Caitrionagh, daughter of a
haughty laird. He also tolerates the mischievous attentions of the
faerie who plucked him out of the present Despite an appealing
scenario, the action too often bogs down in pedantic history
lessons, delivered with gobs of Gaelic. Having done heroic research,
Lee seems unwilling to let such details reveal themselves naturally.
Nevertheless, those interested in things Scottish will appreciate
the background, while most readers will empathize with the likable
Dylan, even if by the end they'll be wondering why Sinann didn't
select someone with a knowledge of weapons technology instead.
Copyright 2001
Cahners Business Information,
Inc
From Science Fiction
Chronicle,
August 2001
One of the early plots for fantastic adventures was the
individual from our time magically transported into a past Earth
where magic worked, or King Arthur reigned, or the gods were still
around. That device has faded in recent years except in romance
novels, where it has found a new life This first novel is a bit of a
hybrid. The focus of the plot is a contemporary man who teaches
fencing and martial arts who suddenly finds himself magically back
in Scotland in the eighteenth century, guided by a faerie, and
engaged in swordplay and magic against the evildoers. But he also
has time for more than a little bit of romance. There are a few slow
spots, but on the whole this is a good historical fantasy.
From The
Historical Novels Review,
August 2001
Dylan Matheson is a modern-day American martial arts and sword
instructor who is transported to 18th century Scotland when he is
caught up in a faerie spell laid upon an ancient broadsword. This is
Scotland in the era just before the Jacobite uprising, and try as he
may to avoid it, he is soon caught up in local intrigues and
politics.
Dylan's sword-fighting skills, and knowledge of Scots
history come in handy, but he is completely disconcerted by the
primitive living conditions and the way the Scots are treated by the
British. He is also at times self-centered and inclined to be
petulant in response to his plight...in short, a real person. His
growth of character as the story unfolds is as interesting as the
gritty, realistic historical setting. In the end, the author stays
true to the story she has crafted instead of opting for the easy
heroics, and this makes her novel stand
out.
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