Much less interesting than the early Roselynde books. I think I figured out part of the problem - Sybelle (and Rhiannon) don't have enough external struggle, so the obstacles are mostly them (all four of them) being silly. Sybelle is well-supported by her family; while the war does play several parts in the story, it never seriously comes between them; there's no equivalent of John's attempts to seize Alinor. This book is rather more amusing than Rhiannon, because it's a perfectly ordinary man of the times dealing, for the first time, with a Roselynde woman. Sybelle knows that she's capable of riding, astride, for a full day; managing an estate; directing, in a general sense, an attack or defense; and making her own decisions in matters such as what husband she'll take. Walter, despite having reportedly dealt with her and her family, admittedly at a little distance, for years, takes some time to figure out that she's not just a headstrong child, she really _can_ do all this. And he needs to woo her, not her father. On the other hand, his concern with being faithful to one woman (oh, what a terrible imposition! Can I stand this?) is quite silly - if he hadn't been warned that he would have to do this, he'd probably never have given it a thought, but as it is he worries at it over and over (and gets himself into some bad situations thereby!). Oh, and after the afterword in - Rhiannon, I think - where Gellis mentions that medieval life was not what we would consider comfortable, but to have medieval characters notice things like fleas or dirt would be to make them modern thinkers, not people of the times - in here, there's a scene where they pick up fleas (from a poor man's hut) and moan about it. Hmmph. Overall, not bad, and some amusing scenes; but I'd much rather reread Alinor and Roselynde. ( )

Reviewed by Robin
Review copy provided by Ellora's Cave
This is the last book in the Roselynde Chronicles. Having read book five I decided to read six and was not disappointed. There were a few things that came out in the previous book not answered but still a strong book that stands on its own and makes you want to go back and read the other books so that you are able to meet the characters that started this whole storyline.

In Sybelle, we find Sybelle, Geoffrey and Joanna’s daughter, granddaughter of Alinor; heiress to the Roselynde lands and legacy.

Only sixteen but it is time to marry and carry on the line. Sybelle has fallen for much older, Walter de Claire, who along with the Earl of Pembroke are in a rebellion against Henry III.

If only things could be so easy for someone to find and have that one special person, but as always there is someone that stands in the way and in this case we have the Earl’s widowed sister-in-law. Earl’s sister-in-law also fancies herself wanting Walter. What is poor Sybelle to do?

Never fear Sybelle is a strong woman and when she comes up against this evil woman that is trying to interfere in the happiness and marriage of Sybelle and Walter she doesn’t stand a chance.

Ms. Gellis once again takes us into the lives of how strong women are and the men who happen to love those women.

I loved how she touched on the people from the other stories to tie them altogether. She has an ease with putting beauty and wealth together along with being a smart women determined to succeed. Why couldn’t they portray women being strong though out history?

This story takes us on a journey where we find out that all relationships have their ups and downs and if we have a strong beginning we can survive.

Sybelle doesn’t disappoint. ( )

I picked up this book at a library book sale more for the red-head on the cover than any other reason. Imagine my suprise when this wonderful book turned out to be the last in a series of six detailed portraits of strong women and the men who love them. On paper, 16-year old Sybelle is a ripe prize; heir to all the wealth of Roselynde, she is also blessed with beauty to drive men wild. Unfortunately for Walter, her beauty and wealth are matched by her brains and determination; she, not her husband, will rule her lands. Raised by two generations of strong women to protect what is hers, Sybelle is torn between her feelings for Walter and her fear that he cannot accept all that she is. Their tumultuous love story plays out against a backdrop of war and intrigue in King John's England, and the rich historical details provided by Gellis are what truly make the story. I finished Sybelle in one sitting, and immediately started scouring the internet for copies of the preceding five books. Start with Roselynde if you can, but know that any of these books can stand alone as a tribute to Gellis' skill and passion for her subject. ( )