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Journal Entry 1 by synergy from San Antonio, Texas USA on Saturday, October 06, 2007
2007 Book #7 - The Witch of Cologne by Tobsha Learner
For a while I was curious to pick up one of those fiction books with a bit of a historical aspect, like the one about Queen Anne or somesuch. I think the author is named Greggory? This book had the look of it and I'd previously read The Red Tent and enjoyed it and wanted another similar type of story. Here's what I had to go on from the inside page of the book: The inquisitor, Carlos Vicente Solitario, charges a young Jewish midwife, Ruth bas Elazar Saul, with heresy. Ruth may be the daughter of the city's chief rabbi, but this is no protection against the Inquisition's accusations.
Detlef von Tennen, nobleman and canon, cousin to th archbishop, suspects that something other than religion drives Solitario to persecute Ruth. Determined to ensure that justice is done, Detlef joins the investigation - and finds his passions fully aroused by Ruth's impressive intelligence and darkly exotic beauty.
All her life, Ruth bas Elazar Saul has thirsted for knowledge, despite the price she paid by concealing her gender and being cast out of her father's house. Her fait sustained her through all, even the attentions of the Inquisition. Then, in the very heart of danger, God blesses her with the greatest love she has ever known.
Typing that out, I realized it sounds like a bodice-ripper chick-lit book, but really it's not. Actually, to get to the point of my review, it was rather dry. I'd say through the first half of the book I had a hard time focusing because there were so many people involved and everyone was a Count this or a Baron that or Bishop so-and-so related to Count so-and-so. The story was interesting and the inquisitor was one freaky and crazy bastard, but I think it could've used some editing. The heroine, Ruth, wasn't very well-written either. At least, I didn't really feel connected to her. Maybe part of it was because I was having a hard time just trying to keep track of who everyone was and what they were doing? I think that intro bit made the plot sound more exciting or scandalous than it turned out to be. Ruth is in some peril at some points when she was on the run and hiding, but it was like jogging up a steep hill, cresting it expecting a vista after all that work, and finding yourself at the top of a molehill in a valley.
So overall, for me it wasn't the most exciting story either from the historical or from the excitement side. No characters really stick out and I neither really hated nor really loved any of the main characters.
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The Witch of Cologne
