Customer Reviews

Dark Viking (Berkley Sensation)

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

 

 

Dark Viking by Sandra Hill
Paranormal Romance- Oct. 5th, 2010
4 ½ stars

Looking for a book that is hilarious, outrageous and guaranteed to perk up your day? If you aren't familiar with Sandra Hill's exuberant humor then you are in for a treat. She writes light hearted books that really transport the reader into a world you wished you could inhabit. Her characters are a hoot and the heroes in particular are so hunky! In Dark Viking, she continues her Navy SEALs, time travel Viking series.

In this novel saucy stuntwoman Rita Sawyer is recruited into the new WEALs (Woman on Earth, Air, Land, and Sea). While in the grueling training camp Rita in scuba gear she is suddenly transported in time. When she wakes up she finds herself caged in a place that looks like an old Viking village. The head honcho named Steven dubs her the ugly Sea Siren. He states she is dangerous and keeps insisting they are Vikings. Rita is sure someone is playing a joke on her but she isn't one to be pushed around.

Steven of Norstead is depressed. As the last of his noble Viking line he has great responsibility for 2 Viking estates. He used to be happy and carefree but when his brother Thorfinn disappeared life lost its appeal. When out on his longboat Steven discovers a strange female monster and immediately cages this treacherous creature. But when this 'Ree-tah' takes off her outerwear he is dazzled by her beauty. However, he still does not trust her and her eccentric ways. But when she mentions a man that she met similar to him named Thorfinn Steven is determined to discover what she knows and find Thorfinn again.

This novel bursts with joy. The characters are bold, bright and just laugh out loud funny. I loved the indomitable and spunky Rita. She has a lot of grit and doesn't let a brawny and sexy Viking push her around. The jokes in the story are just so original and corny that you have to love them. The hero Steven had some surprising depth as he really feels the burden of responsibility since his brother was lost and misses his brother dearly. I loved Steven's befuddlement with his `Ree-tah' and how he sets seducing her with his confident charm. The only quibble I have with the story is the rather abrupt ending and how stubborn Steven is at confessing he cares for Rita. But for sheer joy and laughter this book hits right at the funny bone and will lift your spirits.

The author's special brand of humor, wit and sensuality make her books something to look forward to after a long day. Dark Viking is no exception. I loved it!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

I was hooked from the first page when Rita's athleticism was showcased and couldn't put down the book. Her self-confidence carried her through trying times as she tried to adapt to Steven's culture. Steven had been depressed over the loss of his brother, Thorfinn (Viking Unchained). When his people found Ree-tah, dressed in a wetsuit and passed out on their shore, Steven felt a spark of something even though he wasn't sure what kind of sea monster she might be. I loved their conversations as they tried to figure out what brought Rita to the past and how she would be protected from the King. The secondary characters added to the plot and were interesting characters all by themselves. The sideline story about Steven's sister shows promise for a future book. For all the humor in the book I thought the ending was very sweet and emotional. Dark Viking has it all - great characters, funny dialogue, engaging plot, and heartwarming romance. - Lisa Freeman

I laughed throughout the whole thing except one part.....the whole dog collar leash scene! Ugh! the heroine herself was disgusted and was depressed that he was treating her like a dog. I get the whole male dominant but usually these heroines are pretty strong characters who can handle these guys. The fact that no apology/amends/discussion was ever brought up. The heroine completely forgot about it, as if it never happened. Yet we read for quite a few pages how she hates it and it's humiliating for her. Really made me upset and was all i could think about for the rest of the story. Even as they get their HEA, it left a bad taste in my mouth.

I normally love the SEALs/Viking series, but I have come to realize I prefer it when its set in modern time and the Viking is female. Those books make me laugh so hard, but this one just didn't have the kind of humor I find funny. While I do like alpha heros, I am not a fan of barbaric ones who spend most of the book looking down on women and assuming control over everything. It had its cheeky humor, some hot sex scenes, and a great heroine who gave as good as she got, but I just couldn't get into the hero's barbaric nature.

The story began good but then the viking put a dog leash on her for pumishment. She did not ask his permission and found herself bieng humilated and degraded. Lead around all day by a dog leash. But as usual when the leash came off it was somehow all ok because the sex was just so good. It made me sick and I lost all respect for both the charachters and Sandra Hill. I wonder when degrading and humilating a woman, letting her know she is nothing more than a dog, became signs of love. Even though the book has some funny and heartwarming moments after that' these moments were quickly ruined by the mental abuse from dog leash and the blackmail sex afterwards. Another potentially strong female charachter ruined by acceptance of this and another promising male characther made worthless by his punishment. I could have truly loved this book but am sick of the romance novels degrading and abusing woman as a sick thrill. I will be deleting this book from my e-reader and will never read another book from Sandra Hill. The dog leash was pointless to the story and makes me wonder about her. If this is anyones ideal of love than please go get therapy. It is sick.

This is a finely written, but a fairly formulaic story. I sometimes appreciate the fact that I know I'm going to like a book from particular authors because they follow their plan and stick to it. We know that with Ms Hill's Viking series, someone will be going back into the distant past or forward into a confusing future. We even know with Ms Hill that there is even a formula for her sex scenes,so we can be comfortable with that. But I had hoped by now, that she had left her early formula and tried for a new one...maybe taken a chance on something a little different. I can understand why an author doesn't want to take a chance on their sales, but for long time readers the formula may be getting a little stale.

While I had the same issues with the "dog collar" scene as some of the other reviewers, I do understand that this is part of Ms Hills formula when writing her Vikings series. In each book there is always a scene where the 'hero' has to humiliate the 'heroine'. the fact that both of the main characters took the idea of time travel very well really helped this story and I loved the idea that Rita would meet up with someone else from her own time and place.

While being a part of a series, each book can be read as 'stand alones', but it might help to read the two books that I think started it all The Reluctant Viking and The Outlaw Viking .

This would certainly be a must read for anyone who reads ALL of Ms Hills Viking books

I have always loved Sandra's writing. And she didn't let me down with DARK VIKING. The story is engaging, emotional, funny, and greatly written! I loved it. This is a time-travel and so great you'll swear you are there with Rita. DARK VIKING is part of Ms. Hill's Viking series, but can be read as a stand alone. I'd suggest you be prepared to laugh out loud, literally at moments, so please keep that in mind. You may find yourself getting teary-eyed as well, but when the final page is turned you'll sigh and have a smile spliting your face. You'll also find if you've never read Sandra Hill before that you MUST have all her backlist books. For those of us who have read her, this one was another "Keeper Shelf" read that just leaves us eager for the next release. With Sandra Hill I can guarantee you a great story!

Reviewed by Wendy Keel

rating: 5

[...]

I tried this book after reading one of the books in the Cajun series, because I really liked Sandra Hill's writing style, and I still do. But even though I loved the premise of a kick-ass woman dealing with a bunch of viking guys, this book was just too much. I actually didn't quite finish it. The humor is there, but I just couldn't get past the whole blackmailing into bed and slave collar thing. I know it was a different time and all, but it was just so degrading to me, I didn't want to keep reading it. I've read plenty of historical romances, so the whole male power thing isn't exactly new. I also knew it was a pretty complete power back in viking times (among others.) But especially in a romance that is supposed to be funny, I couldn't see the feisty heroine falling in love with the guy who did those things, no matter his reasons. It might just be my modern view on things, but in the future if I decide to read any of the Viking books, it will be ones without the modern female in Viking times scenario.

I love Sandra Hill's sense of humor, and her ability to keep humor throughout her novels, so I have become quite a fan. I wish more books were like Hill's. I laughed all through DARK VIKING and it gives me some much needed stress relief. Other reviewers have covered the characters and storyline, so I'm keeping my review short.

I haven't read all of Sandra Hill's Viking novels, but of the ones I have, this is one of my favorites. However, the heroes in her titles I've read tend not to become more open-minded about women as equals as in most historical novels I've read; they remain sexist but still likable, at least to a point. Some readers may be put off by some of the humiliation scenes, but even those are played with humor. If you want a time-travel romance filled with laughter, try DARK VIKING.

Navy SEALs Commander MacLean and Lieutenant Mendozo persuade stuntwoman Rita Sawyer to join the WEALs (Women on Earth, Air, Land and Sea) program. However, during an operation that goes terribly wrong, Rita in her wetsuit awakens inside a cage with a horde of barbarians staring at her with their mouths open.

Ever since his brother Thorfinn (see Viking Unchained) vanished without a trace, Viking Lord Steven has been depressed. When his men find the unconscious female in strange garb, they assume she is a sea monster. However, Rita proves she is a strong twenty-first century woman who has no idea how she ended up in the early eleventh century. As the admiration she and Steven feel for each other grows, they begin to fall in love but though each appreciates the other's culture, a millennium makes love seem shaky.

Although similar in tone to the other time traveling Viking-SEAL romantic thrillers, Dark Viking is an exhilarating tale as once again Sandra Hill uses the differences and similarities between the two cultures to tell a strong tale of love that has no time boundaries. The lead couple is a strong pairing as each uses humor with she bringing him out of his depression and he helping her customize to his era. Filled with jocularity from start to finish, fans of the saga will relish this enjoyable entry.

Harriet Klausner