[Review] - The Fairest Star

Title: The Fairest Star
Author: David Field
Series: Friends & Enemies
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Year: 2008

Summary: In the Fairest Star, the third installment of the Friends and Enemies trilogy, the world of France of 1599 unfolds once more as one of ambition, love, hatred, religious war and prejudice. All these confront the central figures of the story, Tommy of the 21st century and Eloise of the 16th century. Tommy and Eloise are now both the hunters and the hunted as they blunder through the conflicts of Church and family in pursuit of the priest, Drogo, who has publicly confessed to the killing of Eloise’s mother, Eleonora of Narbonne.

The action flits between the 21st and the 16th centuries whose very different values create bewilderment and danger for both the hero and the heroine. Tommy is seen as a mouthpiece of the Devil as his mobile phone erupts into the year 1599; Eloise is seen as a witch as her pet rats, believed to have the gift of speech, threaten to condemn her to the stake. The book follows the pair as, attempting to flee from the clutches of the Inquisition, they pursue their quest for revenge on Drogo to a brutal but bittersweet end.

Thoughts: This is the the third book in a trilogy, so I jumped in at the end of this series. It was packed with lots of action, with pirates, & villians and a little bit of love too. The story moves back and forth between France 1599 and the present time. Although I really enjoyed this time-traveling story I found myself a bit lost and confused at times. If you think this is something you'll enjoy I suggest starting at the beginning of the trilogy with the first book: Friends and Enemies.

Score: 3 Stars

Author Website: http://www.davidfield.co.uk/

Friends & Enemies:
Friends & Enemies
Begins In A Dream
The Fairest Star