Reviews
Gradyn Bell has crafted a provocative and engaging tale in The Dove and the Devil. The fact that it is based on actual events in history and on many characters who truly lived during those events makes it that much more provocative and engaging.
While bringing the reader into the tumultuous times in which the story takes place, Gradyn Bell creates a feeling of authenticity that displays countless hours of research and a strong knowledge of the cultures and times. When combined with the interesting, complex, and sympathetic characters, one is drawn wholly into the setting…but with an advantage. Through Gradyn’s telling of the tale from several points of view, the reader can clearly see the most important messages to be learned from the tragic history , and these lessons are as relevant today as they were in 13th century Occitania. Through the character portrayals and narrative we learn how even the most decent, and well minded of people can be led to commit atrocities, when devotion and obsession without reason (zealotry) is embraced. In this story, as today, it leads to misunderstanding, intolerance, and eventually destruction.
The story also gives us hope though and shows how the best and most noble of human attributes can overcome.
I am greatly looking forward to reading the next installment in the trilogy.
Richmond Lauman
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Wow! This is a fantastic read!
I wasn’t at all familiar with this turbulent time in France’s history, but The Dove and the Devil (very aptly named when you get to know the story) comfortably combines actual historical fact with a completely fictitious story; the outcome is a novel which is informative and a darn good tale of intrigue, power and love. It is a story of good versus evil.
Simon de Montfort, the Devil as he comes to be known, is a powerful and brutal figure, yet we have sympathy for this family man. As for the child Maurina, I feel we have only started to get to know this young heroine, and I eagerly await the second installment of the trilogy – “The Dove in Flight” where I expect we will come to know Maurina “the Dove”, very well.
The Dove and the Devil will make a great present for the holiday season!!
Katherine Brown, London
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