n the Fairest Star, the third instalment of the Friends and Enemies trilogy, the world of France of 1599 unfolds once more as one of ambition, love, hatred, religious war and prejudice. All these confront the central figures of the story, Tommy of the 21st century and Eloise of the 16th century. Tommy and Eloise are now both the hunters and the hunted as they blunder through the conflicts of Church and family in pursuit of the priest, Drogo, who has publicly confessed to the killing of Eloise’s mother, Eleonora of Narbonne.

The action flits between the 21st and the 16th centuries whose very different values create bewilderment and danger for both the hero and the heroine. Tommy is seen as a mouthpiece of the Devil as his mobile phone erupts into the year 1599; Eloise is seen as a witch as her pet rats, believed to have the gift of speech, threaten to condemn her to the stake. The book follows the pair as, attempting to flee from the clutches of the Inquisition, they pursue their quest for revenge on Drogo to a brutal but bittersweet end.

The author lives with his wife and children in Aarhus, Denmark, though, since children grow more quickly than books, the children are now becoming adults and are moving away from home.

Publication date: 21st November 2008; ISBN-10: 1844013631, ISBN-13: 978-1844013638

Reviews

Added: 18th May 2009

The trilogy of 'Friends And Enemies' concludes with this adventure, where again mysteriously and magically it is possible for our heroes Tommy and Elouise to pass from 1599 to the 21st century and back, though generally when they are not expecting it. In the first two books of this series, 'Friends And Enemies' and 'Beings In A Dream', Tommy whose roots and family are in the 21st century has met Eloise of the 16th century and they have fallen for each other. In 'The Fairest Star' their relationship continues to develop through the almost quest-like goal they are working towards. Their relationship is beautifully observed. As with the previous books in this series the characters of Tommy, Eloise and the other players in this novel are quite individual and absorbing.

The plot is gripping, intriguing ... and hard to describe without giving away the story - it is not formulaic, it is *not* boring. This book is, of course, a must read for anyone who has had the pleasure of reading the first two books as it continues directly from where we left off at the end of the second book 'Beings In A Dream'.

It was a joy to read this book and I strongly recommend it and the whole trilogy to anyone from younger teenagers to those (like me) whose teens are (long) past and up.

Added: 20th May 2009