TEST
I spent a few enjoyable hours with A Double-Edged Blade, but in the end, it was neither excellent nor horrible. I felt a distinct lack of connection with the characters, and it was almost like watching an event from the highest stadium seat, where it doesn’t have much impact.
When Faith Worthington was a little girl, she was rescued from drowning by her mother. Sadly however, her mother died while trying to save her. Faith’s father blamed Faith and never forgave her for causing the death of his beloved wife. Great guy. Even though Faith and her father never got along, she chose to follow in his footsteps and join a British Intelligence agency. That did not help mend their relationship, however. Faith was not able to reconcile with him before he died, and has avoided close relationships due to the warm and fuzzy example she learned from her father.
She is on the trail of Irish assassin Paddy O’Rourke, in Ireland, when a storm and a circle of stones sends her back through time to 1648. She is rescued by Miles O’Bruaidar, an Irish lord. He doesn’t know what to make of Faith, but since he is engaged in some covert activities of his own, he assumes she must be an English spy. What else would she be doing in Ireland, on his land?
He treats her very well for a prisoner and takes her back to his castle. Faith is extremely disbelieving of the time change, but is soon convinced that she is in Ireland, shortly before Cromwell beheaded King Charles. Thankfully her knowledge of Irish and English history is vast, because I certainly wouldn’t have had a clue. When she does come to accept that she has traveled through time, she is desperate to return home.
Faith can’t convince Miles that she is not a spy for the English, because she really has no way to prove it unless she tells the truth, which is certain to have her branded as a witch, or worse. It’s an ugly dilemma, and I felt for her. Miles is quite the host, and the two develop a mighty attraction for each other.
There was quite a bit going on in this story surrounding Miles and Faith. The Irish and English are definitely at odds, and Faith’s Irish assassin causes her trouble in Ireland also. Faith is constantly getting into serious trouble, which requires Miles to save her. Much of it stems from the fact that she is a fish out of water and can’t tell anyone the truth about her identity. Some of it however, stems from her own stubbornness.
I never felt that I actually knew either one of these characters. Faith mentions a counselor in the beginning of the book, but she must have a terrible counselor since that person has not helped her relationship skills at all. Faith’s relationship problems are so severe that even after she and Miles have declared their love for each other, she still plans on returning to the future. When the choice is made for her, she is relieved that she did not have to decide for herself. Other than that she has relationship issues and a passion for old weapons, I never realled learned anything else about her. Miles is a seventeenth century male, but has a mind that is open enough to allow him to accept Faith’s modern ways and actions. He appears to be an honorable and nice man, and again, this is all I really learned about him. The book sets up their developing relationship over a period of months, but perhaps due to the action in the various subplots taking place, it still felt rushed.
The secondary characters could have been interesting, but were too shallow to truly enjoy. The villains of the story were easily picked out and extremely one-dimensional. There were some chuckles, namely a great rescue scene reminiscent of the movie Robin Hood, and reference to one of my favorite movies, Ladyhawke, as well.
A Double-Edged Blade certainly isn’t the worst time travel I’ve read, and the characters’ reactions to the time travel itself were believable. But the story and the personality of the characters just fell flat for me. Maybe other time travel fans will have a different point of view.
Grade: C
Book Type: Time Travel Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 22/05/01
Publication Date: 2000
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.