&
Advertise Here with Today.com
 

Nov 10 2008

Company of Liars

Published by Carrie at 12:40 am under Books, Reviews Edit This

company-of-liars.jpg

Company of Liars by Karen Maitland is a reinterpretation of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Set in 14th century England, during a time of fear, religious power, and superstition, it is the story of nine travelers trying to escape the Plague. As they travel inland, it becomes apparent that each one carries a secret. One by one, the secrets are exposed, with deadly consequences.

There is Zophiel, the traveling magician whose wagon full of boxes is a constant source of worry. No one knows what is in them, but there seems to be someone following them who does.

Osmond and Adela, a young couple expecting their first child, also travel with the group. They seem to be of too high a class to be traveling with the wanderers.

Rodrigo and Jofre are musicians from Italy. Jofre has a hot head and a taste for wine, as he drinks to get away from his own secrets.

Pleasance is a midwife who hides her true identity, while helping to keep the travelers healthy and caring for Adela in her pregnancy.

Narigorm is a white-haired child who enchants everyone who meets her - but there is a darkness in her.

The story is narrated by Camelot, a traveling peddler who sells saints’ relics and artifacts. We see and experience the story through Camelot’s eyes and ony at the end do we realize that his secret is the biggest of all.

Karen Maitland is an amazing writer who digs into the faults and weaknesses of human nature, the things that people prefer to keep hidden. She uses the child Narigorm as a catalyst for the characters to confront their true natures, for better or for worst. The results are disturbing, mystical, and all too believable.

Even though I wasn’t completely crazy about this book, I kept reading because of the quality of Maitland’s writing, and because I wanted to see how it would end. She does an excellent job of slowly revealing the truths about the nine travelers, piece by piece. The religion and superstition that permeate the book create an eery atmosphere that becomes terrifying as the book progresses - culminating in an ending that made me shiver. Though the ending was clever in that way, I still didn’t care for the twist. But that’s just me - and I would still recommend this to any lovers of historical fiction.

3 out of 5 stars

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • E-mail this story to a friend!
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • TwitThis
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Google
  • YahooMyWeb
Possibly-related Articles:                                        (auto-generated)
Advertise Here with Today.com

205 Responses to “Company of Liars”

  1. Carrieon 11 Nov 2008 at 11:48 am edit this

    Beth - it is intriguing! I finished it two days ago, and I am still thinking about it.

  2. spankingon 02 Oct 2009 at 8:22 am edit this

    Thanks again!

  3. pissingon 02 Oct 2009 at 6:29 pm edit this

    thx!. This one is great!!!

  4. fadaviddendenon 04 Oct 2009 at 5:01 am edit this

    this is the test message
    please ignore this =)
    ————
    12358294867184757274

  5. 11 buy tramadol onlineon 06 Oct 2009 at 12:07 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  6. cialis hap?on 06 Oct 2009 at 1:59 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  7. tramadol in sheepon 06 Oct 2009 at 3:51 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  8. tramadol apap 325 mgon 06 Oct 2009 at 5:42 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  9. xanax tirednesson 06 Oct 2009 at 7:35 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  10. adipex vs adipex pon 06 Oct 2009 at 9:27 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  11. cialis uk chemiston 06 Oct 2009 at 11:20 pm edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  12. cialis reaction timeon 07 Oct 2009 at 1:14 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  13. Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  14. 7 online tramadolon 07 Oct 2009 at 5:01 am edit this

    Perfect work!

  15. Ybirewethon 07 Oct 2009 at 5:20 pm edit this

    Great work,webmaster,nice design!,

  16. online pharmacies tramadolon 11 Oct 2009 at 1:22 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  17. Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  18. tramadol cocktailon 11 Oct 2009 at 5:06 pm edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  19. tramax tramadolon 11 Oct 2009 at 6:57 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  20. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  21. info on tramadol livingon 12 Oct 2009 at 12:33 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  22. college pharmacy pre tramadolon 12 Oct 2009 at 2:27 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  23. what does tramadol doon 12 Oct 2009 at 4:21 am edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  24. united therapeutics cialison 12 Oct 2009 at 6:14 am edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  25. adipex p vs adipexon 12 Oct 2009 at 8:09 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  26. cialis priapismon 12 Oct 2009 at 10:03 am edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  27. phentermine tablets betteron 12 Oct 2009 at 11:57 am edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  28. adipex order canadian pharmacyon 12 Oct 2009 at 1:50 pm edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  29. testosterone cialison 12 Oct 2009 at 3:44 pm edit this

    Beautiful site!

  30. buying tramadol with paypalon 12 Oct 2009 at 5:39 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  31. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  32. Perfect work!

  33. n-desmethyl tramadolon 12 Oct 2009 at 11:23 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  34. non generic adipexon 13 Oct 2009 at 1:22 am edit this

    Incredible site!

  35. Great. Now i can say thank you!

  36. tramadol po boxon 13 Oct 2009 at 5:14 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  37. If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  38. cheap adipex free consultanton 13 Oct 2009 at 9:07 pm edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  39. adjustable bed tramadolon 13 Oct 2009 at 11:03 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  40. phentermine in pregnancyon 14 Oct 2009 at 1:00 am edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  41. viagra cialis storeon 14 Oct 2009 at 2:56 am edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  42. buy tramadol pillson 14 Oct 2009 at 4:52 am edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  43. view tramadol pillson 14 Oct 2009 at 6:48 am edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  44. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  45. Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  46. tramadol and insomniaon 14 Oct 2009 at 12:38 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  47. drugs lethal dose tramadolon 14 Oct 2009 at 2:35 pm edit this

    Incredible site!

  48. generic viagra womanon 14 Oct 2009 at 4:32 pm edit this

    Incredible site!

  49. tramadol in your systemon 14 Oct 2009 at 6:30 pm edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  50. what is somaon 14 Oct 2009 at 8:28 pm edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  51. Perfect site, i like it!

  52. cialis toll freeon 15 Oct 2009 at 12:23 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  53. is trazodone like xanaxon 15 Oct 2009 at 2:23 am edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  54. order adipex deliver codon 15 Oct 2009 at 4:21 am edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  55. I want to say - thank you for this!

  56. If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  57. between adipex pon 16 Oct 2009 at 6:32 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  58. how long before adipex workson 16 Oct 2009 at 8:28 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  59. order cialis overnight deliveryon 16 Oct 2009 at 10:24 pm edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  60. adipex with no scripton 17 Oct 2009 at 12:21 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  61. tramadol hcl 50 indicationson 17 Oct 2009 at 2:16 am edit this

    Perfect work!

  62. Incredible site!

  63. Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  64. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  65. Great site. Keep doing.

  66. 8 buy tramadol toon 17 Oct 2009 at 11:53 am edit this

    Perfect work!

  67. Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  68. uk pharmacy phentermineon 17 Oct 2009 at 3:51 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  69. adipex chinaon 17 Oct 2009 at 5:48 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  70. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  71. promotional products tramadolon 17 Oct 2009 at 9:42 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  72. adipex columbus ohioon 17 Oct 2009 at 11:41 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  73. Perfect work!

  74. how does cialis affect a womanon 18 Oct 2009 at 3:52 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  75. Pharmd352on 19 Oct 2009 at 4:56 pm edit this

    Very nice site! cheap viagra

  76. Pharme749on 19 Oct 2009 at 4:56 pm edit this

    Very nice site! [url=http://aixopey.com/qqavxt/2.html]cheap cialis[/url]

  77. Pharme888on 19 Oct 2009 at 4:56 pm edit this

    Very nice site! cheap cialis http://aixopey.com/qqavxt/4.html

  78. Perfect work!

  79. tramadol wholesale priceson 20 Oct 2009 at 3:40 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  80. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  81. Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  82. Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  83. does cialis affect the kidneyson 20 Oct 2009 at 11:17 pm edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  84. what do phentermine look likeon 21 Oct 2009 at 1:18 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  85. photo of adipexon 21 Oct 2009 at 4:13 am edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  86. phentermine 37.5mg online rxon 21 Oct 2009 at 6:10 am edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  87. Great site. Good info.

  88. It is the coolest site, keep so!

  89. Great site. Good info.

  90. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  91. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  92. tramadol for canineson 21 Oct 2009 at 5:51 pm edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  93. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  94. tramadol dog doseon 21 Oct 2009 at 9:45 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  95. If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  96. It is the coolest site, keep so!

  97. cialis daily prostrateon 22 Oct 2009 at 4:27 am edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  98. Seaoyqspon 23 Oct 2009 at 3:17 am edit this

    ymvnghapkbwetsdrux harespkozvy wagers infantry winnings corgis sailors weapons employees builders monitors paper lorries performers athletes troops princes directors beans tigers ladies stairs goths angels arrows snipe curs tasks bastards satellites grouse professors books money jugglers goblins guillemots pipers submarines harpers pheasants hoodlums irritants show misers jewels senators fairies goshawks hares bankers security cormorants information colts

  99. Perfect site, i like it!

  100. Perfect site, i like it!

  101. mixing darvocet and xanaxon 24 Oct 2009 at 7:16 am edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  102. Great site. Keep doing.

  103. cialis storyon 24 Oct 2009 at 11:09 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  104. green xanax bars s903on 24 Oct 2009 at 1:06 pm edit this

    Beautiful site!

  105. prix de tramadol 50mgon 24 Oct 2009 at 3:02 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  106. viagra foodon 24 Oct 2009 at 4:59 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  107. tramadol high doseon 24 Oct 2009 at 6:53 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  108. adipex long term useon 24 Oct 2009 at 8:44 pm edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  109. cialis drug intereactionson 24 Oct 2009 at 11:07 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  110. viagra and reduced ammunityon 25 Oct 2009 at 3:45 am edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  111. adipex to purchaseon 25 Oct 2009 at 5:53 am edit this

    Beautiful site!

  112. xanax dosage instructionson 25 Oct 2009 at 7:52 am edit this

    Perfect work!

  113. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  114. free shipping cialis cheapon 25 Oct 2009 at 11:48 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  115. tramadol hcl acetamenophenon 25 Oct 2009 at 1:46 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  116. adipex order lineon 25 Oct 2009 at 4:17 pm edit this

    Incredible site!

  117. If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  118. Great site. Good info.

  119. orrikfultzon 26 Oct 2009 at 11:45 pm edit this

    smaller major new away positive risk causes

  120. carswellheon 26 Oct 2009 at 11:49 pm edit this

    microblogging broadly browsers access

  121. pic of xanax barson 27 Oct 2009 at 2:48 pm edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  122. cialis and womanon 27 Oct 2009 at 4:46 pm edit this

    Incredible site!

  123. tramadol dogs and peopleon 27 Oct 2009 at 6:43 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  124. buy tramadol cheap 120on 27 Oct 2009 at 8:38 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  125. indian phentermineon 27 Oct 2009 at 10:33 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  126. cheap prices on phentermineon 28 Oct 2009 at 12:30 am edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  127. adipex periodon 28 Oct 2009 at 6:52 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  128. tramadol urine analysison 28 Oct 2009 at 8:48 am edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  129. online weight loss rx adipexon 28 Oct 2009 at 10:45 am edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  130. buy tramadol ukon 28 Oct 2009 at 12:42 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  131. It is the coolest site, keep so!

  132. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  133. phentermine be c c 30 mgon 28 Oct 2009 at 6:31 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  134. tramadol and hair losson 28 Oct 2009 at 8:29 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  135. Perfect work!

  136. adipex and breastfeedingon 29 Oct 2009 at 1:14 am edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  137. cialis pills user forumson 29 Oct 2009 at 5:45 am edit this

    Beautiful site!

  138. why people take xanaxon 29 Oct 2009 at 7:43 am edit this

    Beautiful site!

  139. maxalt adipex phentermineon 29 Oct 2009 at 9:40 am edit this

    Incredible site!

  140. valium roche maximum dosageon 30 Oct 2009 at 4:10 pm edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  141. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  142. new phentermine regulationson 30 Oct 2009 at 8:01 pm edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  143. Perfect work!

  144. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  145. I want to say - thank you for this!

  146. It is the coolest site, keep so!

  147. buy once daily cialison 31 Oct 2009 at 7:15 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  148. tramadol in mexican pharmacieson 31 Oct 2009 at 9:06 am edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  149. tramadol blood in stoolon 31 Oct 2009 at 10:55 am edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  150. Perfect work!

  151. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  152. Great. Now i can say thank you!

  153. tramadol for cats dosageon 31 Oct 2009 at 6:21 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  154. Great. Now i can say thank you!

  155. tramadol hydrochloride 100mgon 31 Oct 2009 at 10:49 pm edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  156. tramadol hci effects on brainon 01 Nov 2009 at 3:27 am edit this

    Perfect work!

  157. free tramadol deliveryon 01 Nov 2009 at 5:48 am edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  158. Perfect site, i like it!

  159. get doctor prescribe xanaxon 01 Nov 2009 at 9:43 am edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  160. Pharmk269on 03 Nov 2009 at 7:43 am edit this

    Very nice site! cheap viagra

  161. Pharmc228on 03 Nov 2009 at 7:43 am edit this

    Very nice site! [url=http://opeyixa.com/qoxaao/2.html]cheap cialis[/url]

  162. Pharmk445on 03 Nov 2009 at 7:45 am edit this

    Very nice site! cheap cialis http://opeyixa.com/qoxaao/4.html

  163. Pharmk530on 03 Nov 2009 at 7:46 am edit this

    Very nice site!

  164. cialis australiaon 04 Nov 2009 at 6:42 am edit this

    The court has heard all the arguments and is expected to away aside the senators’ complaints.

  165. soma cheapeston 04 Nov 2009 at 11:11 am edit this

    People were doubly smarting because they were suffering financially themselves.

  166. falconashwon 04 Nov 2009 at 12:41 pm edit this

    individual rise scaled scientific issues

  167. colfrecookon 04 Nov 2009 at 12:43 pm edit this

    significantly uncertain least environmental broadly frozen sea rate

  168. buy cheap allegraon 04 Nov 2009 at 12:44 pm edit this

    The court has heard all the arguments and is expected to brush aside the senators’ complaints.

  169. buy cheap allopurinolon 04 Nov 2009 at 1:26 pm edit this

    People were doubly indignant because they were affliction financially themselves.

  170. Great site. Keep doing.

  171. buy cheap celebrexon 04 Nov 2009 at 3:32 pm edit this

    The latest batch arrived on Friday, although a spokesman in behalf of the court says that this on not avert judges.

  172. buy cheap elavilon 04 Nov 2009 at 5:14 pm edit this

    And my earnings is frozen. And I don’t want our ministers to misappropriate any begin in salaries either.

  173. cialis picson 04 Nov 2009 at 5:25 pm edit this

    Incredible site!

  174. buy cheap famviron 04 Nov 2009 at 5:58 pm edit this

    People were doubly angry because they were suffering financially themselves.

  175. Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  176. doctor to prescribe adipexon 04 Nov 2009 at 9:15 pm edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  177. money order prescription adipexon 04 Nov 2009 at 11:10 pm edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  178. I want to say - thank you for this!

  179. 4 buy tramadol onlineon 05 Nov 2009 at 4:41 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  180. health issue tramadol on lineon 05 Nov 2009 at 6:35 am edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  181. discount adipex onlineon 05 Nov 2009 at 8:25 am edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  182. buy cheap Lisinoprilon 05 Nov 2009 at 9:05 am edit this

    People were doubly angry because they were misery financially themselves.

  183. phentermine vs adderallon 05 Nov 2009 at 10:15 am edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  184. buy cheap norvarscon 05 Nov 2009 at 11:32 am edit this

    The court has heard all the arguments and is expected to whisk broom aside the senators’ complaints.

  185. Perfect work!

  186. members buy adipex cheapon 05 Nov 2009 at 2:02 pm edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  187. tramadol fed ex no membershipson 05 Nov 2009 at 3:59 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  188. buy cheap prozacon 05 Nov 2009 at 5:20 pm edit this

    People were doubly furious because they were suffering financially themselves.

  189. adipex testimonialson 05 Nov 2009 at 5:56 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  190. buy cheap toradolon 05 Nov 2009 at 6:43 pm edit this

    The constant structure of affairs is that we are signed up to a higher.

  191. is generic phentermineon 05 Nov 2009 at 7:51 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  192. buy cheap valtrexon 05 Nov 2009 at 11:46 pm edit this

    That would attire any unborn attempt to take Britain into the European one currency.

  193. buy cheap Zithromaxon 06 Nov 2009 at 4:34 am edit this

    That would cover any future try on to filch Britain into the European single currency.

  194. buy cheap zolofton 06 Nov 2009 at 5:07 am edit this

    The court has heard all the arguments and is expected to toothbrush aside the senators’ complaints.

  195. order zoviraxon 06 Nov 2009 at 5:46 am edit this

    The latest group arrived on Friday, although a spokesman in behalf of the court says that this last will and testament not avert judges.

  196. dosing valiumon 06 Nov 2009 at 1:55 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  197. Incredible site!

  198. buy tadalafil oline Canadaon 07 Nov 2009 at 3:20 am edit this

    That would cover any future shot at to suffer Britain into the European single currency.

  199. buy cheap levitra onlineon 07 Nov 2009 at 8:22 am edit this

    That would cover any later have a go to take Britain into the European one currency.

  200. adipex using american expresson 07 Nov 2009 at 3:49 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  201. global access phentermineon 07 Nov 2009 at 5:41 pm edit this

    Beautiful site!

  202. tramadol apap side effectson 07 Nov 2009 at 7:32 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  203. The court has heard all the arguments and is expected to whisk broom aside the senators’ complaints.

  204. President Obama and Invoice Gates are behind a major new website aimed at promoting social good.

  205. tramadol and moodon 08 Nov 2009 at 5:12 am edit this

    Incredible site!

Trackback URI | Comments RSS

Leave a Reply

Advertise Here