Let's set the scene: Medieval France. A knight named Raymondin, after a tragic accident, meets a breathtaking woman named Mélusine in a moonlit forest. She offers him wealth, power, and her hand in marriage, but on one strict condition: he must never try to see her on a Saturday. He agrees, and Mélusine uses her otherworldly abilities to build him magnificent castles and found a powerful noble lineage. For years, their life is blessed. But, as you can guess, whispers and doubts grow. What does she do on Saturdays? Is she unfaithful? A monster? The pressure to look becomes unbearable, setting off a chain of events that defines their family's fate for generations.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't a dry old text. Mélusine is a fantastically complex character—she's a provider, a builder, and a mother, but she's bound by a curse she can't escape. The story made me think hard about trust and the dangerous gap between what we promise and what we can actually live with. Raymondin isn't just a villain for peeking; he's painfully human, swayed by gossip and fear. Their tragedy feels real, even with all the magic and castle-building.

Final Verdict

Perfect for fans of mythology like Cupid and Psyche, or anyone who enjoys a foundational folktale that influenced so much later fantasy. It's also a great pick for historical fiction readers who want to step beyond the well-trodden paths of Arthurian legend. If you enjoy stories where magic has a real price and characters are trapped by their own natures, you'll find this 600-year-old romance utterly captivating.