The Barnes & Noble Review
Readers who loved Catherine Coulter's Song Quartet (Warrior's Song, Fire Song, Earth Song, and Secret Song) and Rosehaven will welcome the chance to revisit some old friends in The Penwyth Curse. This magical medieval romance takes us to the enchanted corner of Cornwall that is Penwyth -- lands said to be protected by a curse fashioned at the beginning of time by Druids, then strengthened by powerful witches. The Penwyth Curse now guards the noble de Gay family, their keep, their people, and especially the Penwyth heiress. In this generation, that heiress is lovely Merryn de Gay. Though Penwyth is a small holding, it has great strategic importance. In the four years since the death of the lord's heir, more than one greedy warrior has tried to secure his claim by marrying the elderly lord's granddaughter. But, though Merryn has been wed four times since she was 14, she's yet a virgin -- each unwelcome bridegroom felled by the Penwyth Curse. Then King Edward orders the handsome young knight Sir Bishop of Lythe to marry Merryn de Gay, to secure strategic Penwyth and put an end to talk of curses. Though he's eager for land and filled with desire for beautiful Merryn, Bishop has no intention of dying for either. Instead, Bishop claims a wizard's command over otherworldly powers…and, in a mystical land apart from time, strange weavings of fate reveal the secrets of the destiny that binds Merryn and Bishop together. Sue Stone
Publishers Weekly
Set in the 13th century, Coulter's latest (following The Rebel Bride) returns to the world of her Song series (Earth Song, Fire Song, etc.) and tells the story of Merryn, a young woman who's four times widowed but still a maid when Sir Bishop of Lythe arrives at castle Penwyth. Merryn bears the brunt of an ancient curse, which declares that no man will ever take Penwyth, or her, by force. Her four previous husbands all died within hours of storming the castle and seizing its mistress. Unconvinced that the curse is real but wise enough to take precautions, Bishop figures he'll be safe if he woos the lady first. But as he settles into life at the castle, he starts having dreams featuring an unknown wizard and witch. The novel alternates between Bishop's story and that of the mysterious figures in his dreams, but the dream-story eventually overpowers the romance between Merryn and Bishop. The dual plotline is jumpy and disjointed, and it leaves little time for Coulter to examine her characters thoroughly. Though the dream couple's relationship holds some appeal, the story's paranormal touches feel like special effects-a splash of drama to fill out a story stretched too thin. Overall, this offering lacks the emotional intensity of Coulter's best works and is unlikely to woo many new readers. (Jan.) Forecast: Despite the story's weaknesses, Coulter, a reigning queen of the romance genre, should still command strong sales. This book will be well supported by the April re-release of Earth Song. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
OCT/NOV 03 - AudioFile
Coulter's latest, which is part of her Song series, revolves around Merryn, the four times widowed 18-year-old subject of the curse that protects Castle Penwyth from all would-be attackers in 1278. When the king gives the castle to Sir Bishop of Lythe, he must find a way to secure it and the lady without becoming the latest victim of the curse. Anne Flosnik’s narration, humorous and enticing to Coulter's fans, suffers from the alternation between Bishop's story and that of an unnamed witch and wizard in a different, unnamed time. The difficulty in keeping track of the two story lines is unlikely to draw many new listeners to the series, although fans will enjoy. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
