Fifteen-year-old Felise, an apprentice scribe in medieval France, is in a desperate situation. She yearns to find a way to become a writer and a book shop owner, but in order to achieve her dreams she must first escape from her cruel guardian, who is plotting an arranged marriage for her.
As the Hundred Years’ War rages all around Felise, Joan of Arc blazes into history, claiming God-given powers to set France free from English control. Her courage inspires Felise to run away, but every day of the journey that follows draws the young scribe further into the underbelly of a world she has never known—a world of burning villages and terrified peasants left behind in the path of war. She soon encounters a young man from home who begins to pursue her, and she is drawn to him despite her quest for freedom and distrust of men. But following after the army, she meets Joan face to face, and finds herself torn between her heroine’s single-minded sense of purpose and her own desire for love and personal fulfillment.
A Tale of Two Maidens brings to life the story of an ordinary medieval girl on an extraordinary adventure—one that will require her to dig within herself to claim her own true, independent, and heroic destiny.
Industry Reviews
". . . Echols' historical details are seamlessly worked into the narrative, and the pace carries the reader along . . ."
-Kristen McDermott, Historical Novel Society review
“Heroism in the Middle Ages was not confined to men in armor—but of course, the acts of ordinary people, particularly women, were rarely recorded. A Tale of Two Maidens helps to balance the scales. What makes this book exceptional is the fine detail and research of the Hundred Years’ War that Echols incorporates in her portrayal of everyday life. This skillful blend of fact and fiction sheds welcome light on those from all social ranks who rise to meet the trials of war and conquest.”
—David Darracott, author of Internal Security and Wasted
“Echols’ novel is impeccably researched and absolutely riveting. To read A Tale of Two Maidens is to be completely transported to another time and place.”
—Rebecca Kanner, author of Sinners and the Sea and Esther
“I love it when a writer brings both scholarship and imagination to a work of historical fiction. Anne Echols uses her vast knowledge of the Middle Ages to forge a tale of a girl who crosses paths with Joan of Arc. Visions and everyday details spring to life and one can hear, taste, and smell the world of medieval France. Follow Felise as she makes her own dark way in the shadow of a martyr. An engrossing read!”
—Duncan W. Alderson, author of the Harper’s Bazaar must-read Magnolia City
“A strong heroine, a dramatic historical moment, and a love story unfolding by starlight and candlelight make this book a treasure for intelligent readers. For young adults and adults hypnotized by stories of superheroes, villains, and zombies, it could be marvelous to discover how superstition, fear, and magic ruled the day in the not-so-distant past.”
—Melissa Fay Greene, award-winning author of Praying for Sheetrock and The Temple Bombing
“By entwining the complicated life of Joan of Arc with that of a fictional girl who yearns to be a writer in an era when women were not allowed to do so, Echols creates a lively, romantic yet thoughtful historical fiction that feels all too relevant today.”
—Liza Nelson Brown, author of Playing Botticelli
“Richly historical yet nimble and fast-paced, A Tale of Two Maidens brings the grit and drama of fifteenth-century France to life. Echol’s prose is flinty and forceful, and she has created a tale that vibrates with a sense of doom tinged with hope. An excellent and compelling read.”
—Brian Eames, author of The Dagger Quick and The Dagger X
