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The Lesbrary

Sapphic Book Reviews

Lesbrary Reviews

Guest Lesbrarian Spencer reviews Lady Knight by L-J Baker

July 19, 2013 by Danika Ellis

ladyknight

At first I was really getting into Lady Knight. I liked that it was medieval, with knights and epic battles. I was getting this whole Game of Thrones feel (even though I have only seen the show), since that show, too, had a large female knight that takes no crap.

I can’t even say I didn’t enjoy the book. It takes a little while to get the romance started, but it’s very clear who it will be between. Once it gets started, you feel for the two characters, as they are unsure of each other’s feelings and they both care for each other so much that neither wishes to risk the friendship for their feelings. But they do, and some very subtle sex scenes ensue. All in all, for a romance novel especially, there was not enough sex. I did like what sex and intimacy was there, but there was not enough sex.

Also, the author used some words in an interesting context. I think perhaps they were going for antiquated uses of certain words, but really it just left the modern reader kind of confused as to what the author meant, as I know I certainly don’t use those words those ways.

[spoilers/trigger warning follow]

[trigger warning for rape] My main complaint with Lady Knight however, was the surprise rape. Late in the story, one of the main characters has to marry, as her widowhood is no longer profitable for the realm. Her lover, the other main character, gives her a magic ring to make her new husband impotent so that she will not have to be bedded. So there is the hint or possibility that she may have to sleep with her husband that as the reader you can accept, however, it is then the new husband’s ill-tempered brutish son that decides to rape her because he believes her to be wonton. There is no evidence of this, it just happens randomly some 20 pages before the end of the book and then the two main characters simply leave and the story ends.

I could have (and mostly did) forgive the other things I didn’t like in the book, but surprise rape in a story that didn’t need it isn’t fun. It felt like a cop out. Like the author simply created an easy out for her ending.

I wouldn’t recommend Lady Knight, but if you’re really desperate for a medieval story and can look past the rape, then give it a whirl.

Categories: Lesbrary Reviews
Tags: , guest lesbrarian, l-j baker, Spencer

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Comments

  1. Karen Wolfer says

    July 19, 2013 at 8:49 am

    Thanks for the trigger warning. Rape scenes in a lesbian romance are a total ‘do not buy’ trigger for me. Sorry the story chose ti include this. I don’t care what the habits were of the time written about. Include rape, and I’m outta here.

    • Danika @ The Lesbrary says

      July 20, 2013 at 8:11 pm

      That’s totally fair! That’s why Spencer wanted to have review posted, so people were warned.

  2. Widdershins says

    July 20, 2013 at 7:33 pm

    Oh .. dear. Why do they think it’s necessary to do that? It’s such a waste.

    • Danika @ The Lesbrary says

      July 20, 2013 at 8:10 pm

      It does seem like a bizarre turn. I was wanting to read this one, but that took it off my list.

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The Lesbrary is a sapphic book blog that started in 2010. It's run by Danika Ellis, and we have about a dozen reviewers from around the world recommending sapphic books in every genre. Check out the top navigation bar for more about the Lesbrary as well as options to browse by genre, age category, rating, and more.

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