NECTAR FROM A STONE

It's Wales in 1351, and across a plague-infested, often brutal landscape, Elise—a spirited young woman prone to visions—and her servant/surrogate mother Annora flee the scene of an unplanned crime: Elise has killed her evil husband, Maelgwyn, and dumped his body in a river. On the run, she crosses paths with a mysterious rider named Gwydion who immediately intrigues her with his lordly composure and brooding manner. As Elise and Gwydion's travels further converge, it emerges that they have an enemy in common: the repellent Sir Nicholas, who murdered Gwydion's father and sister and who, with his henchman Dexter, came perilously close to raping and killing Annora and Elise in a previous encounter. Gwydion's and Elise's interest in each other grows, and their passions are stoked when Elise tends to the wounded Gwydion. Meanwhile, it's revealed that Maelgwyn is actually alive and intent on vengeance. What works in Guill's debut is the nicely developed chemistry between Elise and Gwydion and the numerous historical details that create vivid snapshots of life in medieval Wales. But the book suffers from too many plot lines, over-the-top villains, heavy-handed symbolism and pacing hobbled by well-written but tangential sections. The plot twists also prove predictable. But the main characters are loyal and good-hearted—certainly likable enough to follow on a few adventures. Agent, Nat Sobel . (Mar.)