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The Water Devil

by Judith Merkle Riley

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
2468115,425 (3.79)4
Margaret of Ashbury is ready to settle down; the medieval healer is looking forward to an uneventful life in the country. And, indeed, life with her true love and a brood of rambunctious children is nearly perfect--except for her husband Gregory's ever-meddling family. Finding himself deep in debt once again, Gregory's father has plotted to sell Margaret's daughter off in marriage to save his woodlands from a greedy abbot. In a panic, Margaret turns to her old friend Brother Malachi to help save her daughter by whatever means necessary. The tension within the feuding family rouses an ancient being that dwells in a spring at the center of the disputed woodland. The watery creature has its own plans, and its eye is on Margaret's infant son.… (more)
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» See also 4 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 8 (next | show all)
The last in the trilogy was almost as good as the others. But like most good stories, I wasnt ready for it to end, and it ended quickly! ( )
  JessLJones | Sep 10, 2015 |
Funny, wonderful, feminist, saint, medieval.

Ghosts, a water spirit. Riley makes me smile, and lets me live in a world where god sighs when a sort of saint is arguing with him...

I didn't intend to reread these, they attacked me and sucked me in. ( )
  romsfuulynn | Apr 28, 2013 |
“The Water Devil” is the third novel in Riley’s Margaret of Ashbury trilogy, but it stands by itself just fine. Set in 1360 England, it combines the supernatural, mental illness, a love story and much plotting and counterfeiting.

With her family finally back all together after the war with France, Margaret- who not only talks to God, but has God answer her) is happy at home. That doesn’t last long, though, as her father-in-law promptly, Sir Hubert, invades her house with his rude manners and his problems. It seems that the abbot wants some of Sir Hubert’s ancient woods and sacred spring for himself and has come up with a bogus deed to them. The only defense against one bogus deed is another, so off Margaret goes to her old friends, Brother Malachi the alchemist and Mother Hilde the midwife, to one up the abbot. But too many people are plotting and things spin wildly out of control…

The book is a fast, short read, but it is full of the flavor of medieval time, rich in detail, with characters that are complex. Very enjoyable! ( )
  lauriebrown54 | Jul 5, 2010 |
I was actually very disappointed with this book. It didn't have the development of the characters or the storyline that many of her other books seem to incorporate. It seemed like she got bored and just wanted to finish it. ( )
  JennileeFoster | Apr 13, 2010 |
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Margaret of Ashbury is ready to settle down; the medieval healer is looking forward to an uneventful life in the country. And, indeed, life with her true love and a brood of rambunctious children is nearly perfect--except for her husband Gregory's ever-meddling family. Finding himself deep in debt once again, Gregory's father has plotted to sell Margaret's daughter off in marriage to save his woodlands from a greedy abbot. In a panic, Margaret turns to her old friend Brother Malachi to help save her daughter by whatever means necessary. The tension within the feuding family rouses an ancient being that dwells in a spring at the center of the disputed woodland. The watery creature has its own plans, and its eye is on Margaret's infant son.

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Book description
The final adventure in the beloved and bestselling Margaret of Ashbury trilogy, which began with A Vision of Light and In Pursuit of the Green Lion.

Margaret of Ashbury is ready to settle down; the medieval healer is looking forward to an uneventful life in the country. And, indeed, life with her true love and a brood of rambunctious children is nearly perfect—except for her husband Gregory’s ever-meddling family. Finding himself deep in debt once again, Gregory’s father has plotted to sell Margaret’s daughter off in marriage to save his woodlands from a greedy abbot. In a panic, Margaret turns to her old friend Brother Malachi to help save her daughter by whatever means necessary. The tension within the feuding family rouses an ancient being that dwells in a spring at the center of the disputed woodland. The watery creature has its own plans, and its eye is on Margaret’s infant son.

Favorite characters return, the stakes are high, and the air is thick with intrigue and danger. Written with the historical accuracy, supernatural plot twists, and humor that Riley’s readers have grown to love, The Water Devil is a high-spirited adventure that brings Margaret’s odyssey to a satisfying conclusion.
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