Customer Reviews

The Conqueror (Zebra Debut)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Conqueror almost read like two separate novels. The first portion of the novel I loved, in fact it was delightfully written with humor and plenty of action. The second half was darker and the characters, especially the heroine were brooding and distant.

Pagan aka Englishman Griffyn Savauge is a Knight on a mission for King Henri of France. Griffyn is in England to gather intelligence and find nobles loyal to Henri before he wages war on King Stephen. He is on his way to a rendezvous when he spies a beautiful raven haired lady facing down armed men.

Guinevere is fleeing London after she discovers that one of the landed nobles wants to force her into marriage. Gwyn is surrounded by men intent on capturing her and returning her to London when a savior comes and rescues her. Griffyn assists Gwyn and is surprised when she joins the fight by throwing rocks, shoes and whatever she can get her hands on at her attackers.

Gwyn and Griffyn travel that evening searching for shelter but Griffyn must make his rendezvous. Here the book falls into a wonderful story of good dialogue and actions that display both characters noble selves.

It is only later that Griffyn discovers that Gwyn occupies his castle which was stolen from his father and through a series of unfortunate circumstances the two are separated but neither has forgotten the other.

The second half of the book is more problematic because the leads act so differently than the first half of the novel. Griffyn is angry (rightfully so) and Gwyn is loyal to the point of stubborness (her guilt is a bit trying). To his credit Griffyn still has a lot of honor but Gwyn is described by the author as speaking sourly. Gwyn is also not good at reading people's motives or their hidden agendas; there are times she acts so rashly that I wondered how she kept her castle after her father's death. The last chapters are particularly well written though, loose ends are tied up nicely. Overall this novel warrants almost four stars. It would have been higher if there had been doses of humor and a little more honesty between the characters in the latter half of the novel.

In medieval England, Griffyn Sauvage, also known as Pagan, is a rare knight indeed. He has moral values not seen in many men knights included, and is one of the most courageous as well. When his property is seized and his familial home is snatched away from him, Griffyn's honor and morals have to fall by the wayside. He decides then and there that retribution will come at his hands and he will get his lands, home, and monies back - even if he has to marry the daughter of his enemy to do so. Griffyn might have his way sooner than later when he has to come to the rescue of a beautiful maiden fighting her own enemies. Realizing who she is, Griffyn is stunned but ecstatic that the women he is to marry is right in front of him.

Smelling retribution in the form of Lady Guinevere de l'Ami, Griffyn knows that vengeance is his, or so he thinks. Lady Gwyn might have a thing or two to say about that. Trust doesn't come easily to Gwyn or Griffyn; Gwyn especially. She knows that Griffyn is hiding something. That doesn't stop either from falling in love with each other.

For me, personally, there is nothing better than a well written historical romance. I love escaping into reading nirvana with knights in shining armor and damsels in distress. Bloody adversaries. Hidden traitors. Vengeance. Betrayal. THE CONQUEROR is such a book but is also so much more. THE CONQUEROR is the story of two people who had no reason to trust the other but were able to do just that. Griffyn's reasons for his distrust were obvious. He was a loyal and moral knight. He fought hard for king and country. And what did that get him? His lands taken and his treasures seized. Gwyn's life is anything but idyllic after the death of her father and in the rush of men wanting to marry her to take control of her wealth as well as her body had her a bit gun shy of marriage and all it entails. I can't say that I blamed her.

Ms. Kennedy also used some humor in THE CONQUEROR. Griffyn and Gwyn's first scene together has each fighting assassins and their words to each other are quick, witty, and made me laugh out loud. Best of all, though, I love how THE CONQUEROR made me feel. I could sense the gut wrenching emotions of Griffyn for the home he had lost. Gwyn's utter despondency over her father's death and her complete refusal and anger at possible suitors was more than apparent in each scene. The love felt between Gwyn and Griffyn shined through with every single touch and kiss. I blushed, smiled, and then happily went back and started reading THE CONQUEROR again.

For an amazing historical romance with emotional intensity and love scenes naughty enough to make you blush, THE CONQUEROR is the book to read. I have happily added THE CONQUEROR to my keeper shelf and plan to reread it often!

***Natalie S.***

I had trouble deciding if I liked this one. Let's just say it has its good parts but it also has issues described below.

The story begins in England in 1152. Stephen, grandson of William the Conqueror, is reigning as king of England (contrary to the "editorial review" information). Henri, son of Empress Matilda, is Duke of Normandy (he was not King of France as some reviews state). Our hero, Griffyn Savage ("Pagan") is one of Henri's knights and a spy who comes to England, the land of his birth, to make some secret alliances for Henri's planned invasion. Among his other objectives, Pagan plans to one day reclaim his home, Everoot, where his father was once Lord but was betrayed by his best friend, de L'Ami. I would think that would be enough of a role for the male lead, but no, this one is also the Heir to being the Guardian of some religious relics of great importance which are hidden at Everoot (you'd recognize the relic names). The whole Guardian thing was, at times, just too awkward. The author tried to make the hero seem tortured by his past, the many betrayals, the hatred for de L'Ami (who was naturally the father of our heroine, Guinevere, now the Lady of Everoot) but sometimes it seemed contrived.

As the story opens, Gwyn is fleeing London as news has leaked out her father has died and she is now fair marriage game for an evil lord (and others) who want her and her castle. It was a bit bizarre that the daughter of an earl would be alone in London without even a maid much less a guard (her men are mysteriously missing in action) and unable to get an audience with the King who she knows. Anyway, traveling alone on the road out of London, she is accosted by the evil lord's men and saved by Pagan who just happens to be traveling the road north toward a critical meeting. Gwyn and Griffyn travel together for a time and the story is interesting for a while though a bit improbable (they make love in his hideout that same night and she in some unrealistic ignorance believes the hideout is an inn). Neither knows the identity of the other (she calls him Pagan and he calls her Raven for her dark hair). The next day, Gwyn unintentionally betrays Pagan who is captured and taken to prison where he is beaten, etc. Returned to France in a prisoner exchange, Pagan hears that Gwyn is the one who betrayed him.

The story recommences a year later with Henri's successful invasion (which is not really described) and Griffen (Pagan) takes Everoot and plans to take Gwyn as his wife though each mistrusts and is angry with the other. There really never was a good conversation between them about the marriage. Gwyn just seemed to accept it. In fact, much of the tension could have been resolved by a meaningful conversation. Though they were supposedly enemies, neither fought the physical attraction and they are soon falling into bed (again) before the wedding takes place. This part of the story at times lost my interest as it devolved into the whole Guardian of the "treasure" thing and looking for the puzzle keys.

The author at times uses terms and phrases that are not medieval and that was jarring. (The one that comes to mind is the word "cosmetics" which was used first in the 17th century.) I liked the hero though I didn't think she described his face well. I got that he had gray eyes and think he had dark hair but that was about it. The heroine at times seemed like a wet noodle and at other times seemed like a rebel with a cause. She was just too accommodating to Pagan at the end for me.

I just read the kindle version of this book, and after reading all the positive reviews I'm starting to wonder if the e-version is some kind of unedited ARC and the paper version is better.

I loved the beginning--you realize right away that this is a wallpaper historical, & I'm fine with that. It's like reading an episode of that Robin Hood show on BBC America--you know the hair is wrong & everyone's too good-looking and clean, even the peasants, but it's a fun diversion. Guinevere & Pagan's first night together is funny, sexy (if you don't mind purple prose), action-packed, and I enjoyed reading it. I did have some issues with the fact that it was the Night That Would Not End and nobody seemed to need food or sleep, but whatevs.

Then the plot took a sharp detour into wtfery from which it never returned. Spoilerish: the heroine can't read--not unusual in Medieval days, but it is an important plot point because she's been holding onto some letters she thinks are from her father but has no idea what they say. Until a messenger brings her a letter from her king that she magically reads without help. Gah!

Characterizations are all over the place--people are angry one second, madly in love the next, trusting and suspicious at the same time, etc. I totally missed the point where Pagan tells Guinevere they're going to get married and thought that signing the betrothal papers (making her x? or maybe she can write but can't read? sigh) would be a huge scene, but no. Scenes just crash into each other--the pace is frantic & jumpy and just when you think you know what the next plot point will be, you're yanked in another direction. The ending, especially, is rushed with an important confrontation happening off-screen.

I also had an issue with the fact that Guinevere is hiding a secret in her castle's cellar which she has a 10-year-old kid guard, by himself. There's no mention of her sneaking down there to bring him food, a chamberpot, candles--I guess we have to assume that she doesn't leave him down there (for weeks!) in a cold, dark room completely unaided. When you think of what she's asking this kid to do, and what he has to guard, it's nightmarish.

Guinevere's character was possibly the weakest aspect of the novel. She does say some funny things & is generally likable (she reminded me a lot of a Garwood heroine) but I truly cannot understand why everyone around her, from the hero to the villain, kept harping on how intelligent she was when she made one TSTL move after another.

Anyway, this review is starting to sound more negative than I'd intended. Overall it's a pretty fun read and I don't regret buying it, but lord--serious pacing and plot issues.

Like several other commenters here, I was loving the first half of the book, but then during the second half I kept. Putting. It. Down. It had a kind of bad Afterschool Special feeling, like, "Oh, no, why did she do that? Can't she see that it's going to get her in trouble?!" We're told over and over how smart she is, but she doesn't act very smart when it counts. In those Afterschool Specials that plagued my childhood TV watching, at least there was some kind of cheesy moral to justify the dumbness; in this book, I guess it'd be . . . um . . . don't keep really big, important secrets from the person you barely know at all and who you're not sure even likes you but to whom you've been kind-of-married for a couple of weeks?

Right. I'll keep that in mind.

Then, that moment toward the end when Gwyn, who major-plot-pointily can't read, just oh so casually whips out a letter and reads it? Um . . . this is what editors are for, folks. Hire them, and pay them well.

There were certainly aspects of even the second half that I enjoyed, but overall it read like a much longer book--or maybe a series?--that had been drastically and awkwardly cut down, and then maybe shaken a bit. It's a shame, because Kris Kennedy seems to be a talented and ambitious writer; but she needed better backup on this project.

I chose "The Conqueror" by Kris Kennedy as my summertime "beach read" for 2009. Truth, I used to be able to read these sorts of books in 24-48 hours. Now, I'm chasing after a 5 yr old and a 3 1/2 yr old, and I can barely get through a page a night before bed on a good day! or a chapter while kids are splashing at the beach with their daddy.

Let me just say, I toted this book with me everywhere for about a month, hoping that I'd have a chance to indulge myself with Kris Kennedy's beautiful story of love, betrayal, and ultimate redemption.

Griffyn (Pagan) Sauvage is after what -- he thinks -- means more to him then anything in the world: the home of his childhood - Everoot Castle. On the way to win back his lands, he runs into Gwynn (Gwendolyn) who lands herself in trouble on a remote road, avoiding her inevitable fate to wed a man she doesn't love.

Instantly there is a battle - swords, a shoe, and an obvious tie between the hero and heroine. Passion, heat, and a connection that cannot be denied! Hooked, I bought the story she wove, as I am a huge fan of medieval legend, biblical lore, and mystical treasures that must be guarded at all costs.

Kennedy does not disappoint. The romance is undeniable, but it is her plot that kept me turning the page. A bit steamier than my regular read, but the love between the characters is undeniable. I had to know how they'd put together their puzzle and see the story through to the end. WELL worth the price of admission, I'm thrilled to have read this story and anxiously await her next.

Guinevere de l'Ami, nicknamed Gwyn, has recently buried her father, the illustrious Earl of Everoot. As the only living heir and the sole owner of a sizable estate, Gwyn is a magnet for gold diggers. Namely, Marcus fitzMiles, Lord d'Enshire, an ally of her late fathers. Marcus will stop at nothing to achieve his goal of securing de l'Ami lands, even if it means forcing Gwyn's hand in marriage. Gwyn swears that she'd rather die before she marries him, so she gathers her things and runs.

Griffyn Sauvage, nicknamed Pagan, is on a mission for the rightful King of England, Henri fitzEmpress, Duke of Normandy. His mission is clear; to meet with many war lords and convince them that Henri is stronger than them and would win the country. But Pagan has his own agenda as well. His family's estate and treasures were seized by Gwyn's father, and he means to marry her for revenge.

When Gwyn is attacked by Marcus's men, Pagan appears from seemingly nowhere and saves her. They have an instant attraction with one another, even if they both have different destinations and goals in mind ; Gwyn to go to the Abbey for protection, and Griffyn to finish his mission for the King. However, their enemies are closing in on them. Pagan and Gwyn must put their differences aside to prevail or much will be lost.

A historical romance filled with rich painted background of England in the 1100's. Character dialogue helps set the tone of that time, and Kris Kennedy does a wonderful job. Vivid scenery, passionate romance, and a country at war make THE CONQUEROR one fantastic treat! - courtesy of RJ

This is a well-written book full of poetic prose that beautifully evokes the historical period. Ms. Kennedy blends exciting action, intrigue, and romance in her impressive debut book. The characters are well drawn and I found myself caught up in their world. The amount of historical detail is just right, enough to give a clear feel of the time period, but not overdone. An enjoyable read and highly recommended.

Lovely book that took me back in time to a great era in English History. I love what Kennedy has done with the great unrest in England between the time of Stephen and Henry I.

Gwyn is a true heroine, ready to defend her honor and her family name. Griffin Sauvage is a hero to die for. I enjoyed the plotline of treasure from the Holy Land and what you will do for honor and what you will do for love.

Can't wait to read her next novel.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It was a one-day read. The story line was wonderful! The history included was fabulous. I felt like I was in the 1100's. I can't believe it was only 3.99. I wish this author had more books because I would buy everyone of them on amazon right now!!!!