This is not one of my favorites from this author. The heroine...if that's what you want to call her...acted more as an antagonist ! She was self-absorbing, ambition-driven, proud, and manipulative. I just couldn't stand her. It took me days to finish this book because I couldn't stand reading it until one day I told myself that I'm going to sit down and finish it - took me a day and a half. ( )

This was the second time I read this book. I read it previously when I was considerably younger--decades ago. Though I've always been a fan of Victoria Holt, I didn't find this book as intriguing as some of her other efforts. I suspect this was due to the heroine's character. I found her too self-centered. Nevertheless, the secondary characters, the setting, and the historical details were all well-done. ( )

Although not the most exciting of plots throughout, certain scenes were expertly drawn, proving highly engaging. Certain elements were predictable but the unfolding events were well-crafted enough for this to not matter.

One episode near the end of the book, which I won’t describe in detail as it would serve as a spoiler, had potential to be ten times more enthralling than it actually transpired to be, owing to Ms Holt underplaying it. Every so often I read a book like this in which the author creates a fantastic scene yet dampens it down by resolving it too quickly. This happens here, which is a shame, as just as the suspense, tension, horror, etc., are increasingly growing, the situation is sorted out too easily.

The characterisation is impressive. The heroine would be better described as an “anti-heroine”. To begin with I felt sympathy for Karensa, wanting her seemingly unattainable ambitions to be realised, yet as more of her dreams become reality, my feelings towards her change. She becomes self-obsessed, though not always regarding her own desires, but about how she thinks the likes of her brother should be living his life the way *she*, not he, thinks is right.

I did start to like her again near the end of the tale, with some feelings of sympathy returning. My favourite character, however, was Karensa’s best friend Mellyora, whom this reader at least couldn’t help but feel sympathy towards. ( )

Not one of my favorites

According to the local Cornish legend, six novices were turned to stone for betraying their vows. They still stand in a circle on the moors, dancing their defiance. The seventh 'virgin' was walled up in the convent as punishment.

When Kerensa Carlee, a cottage girl, trespasses on the local estate to see the grisly discovery, her life begins to mimic the legend. Though her name means 'peace and love' she finds neither as she is constantly striving to fulfill her desire of living at the estate of St. Larnston as mistress.

Despite her sometimes despicable actions in the name of her ambitions, Kerensa remains a sympathetic character. Her relationships with her best friend, her brother, and especially her grandmother show a deep capacity for love though her generous ambitions on the behalf of others do not necessarily coincide with their own wishes. I found myself hoping for her happiness and fascinated by the mystery surrounding her.

The story comes an interesting full circle, though the links to the legend do not appear until the final chapter. Though the chapters are too long and it was not the romance I expected, it was nevertheless an excellent read (and an admonishment to listen to Granny, especially if she has a reputation as a wise woman). ( )