Customer Reviews

Forbidden

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Elizabeth Lowell is frequently asked why she departed from the western and contemporary romance genres, which have been so successful for her, to write the medieval trilogy "Untamed,"
"Forbidden" and "Enchanted." She and her husband are both of Scots descent. On one of their visits to Scotland they had extra time to explore off the beaten path and, by chance, discovered the ancient ruins of a castle constructed in the 12th century. The castle had once belonged to her husband's clan, the Maxwells. Ms. Lowell and her husband then traveled to a nearby town that had a museum devoted to the Maxwells and discovered that her family clan, the Charteris, and her husband's, the Maxwell's, were linked through marriage for over nine hundred years. When Ms. Lowell found out about this age-old link between herself and her spouse, she decided to write a series based on medieval warriors and the women they loved.

"Forbidden" is the story of Amber The Untouched, a beautiful young woman who is Learned in the healing arts and who has the ability to discern truth from falsehood through touch. Unfortunately Amber does not touch many people because touching causes her intense pain. It has been foretold that when she falls in love with a man she will be able, for the first time, to touch and be touched. A prophesy attended Amber's birth, "A man with no name may you claim, heart and body and soul. Then rich life might grow, but death will surely flow. In shades of darkness he will come to you. If you touch him you will know life that might or death that will. Be therefore as sunlight, hidden in amber, untouched by man, not touching. Forbidden."

A wounded warrior is found, unconscious, inside a sacred ring of stones. Amber heals him and is able to touch him and feel only great pleasure. When the man awakens he does not remember his past. The two are drawn together with an unbelievable intensity, but hanging over their heads, dooming their growing love, is the prophecy. The reality of their present also intrudes and threatens them - a reality of continuous war in their land, the Disputed Land bordering England and Scotland. When this great warrior remembers his past will he denounce the woman he loves as his enemy? Will he accuse her of betrayal and fulfill the dark prophesy?

Elizabeth Lowell has written a magical tale of a love foretold. I am not a big fan of medieval romance, but I am a big Elizabeth Lowell fan - which is why I read this novel. I was enchanted by the magic lore of the Learned people included here, as well as the ring of sacred stones and the legend of the rowan tree that can be seen in bloom only by true lovers. This is one of Ms. Lowell's most sensuous stories and most entertaining reads.
JANA

Outstanding! This was one of the best romance novels that I have ever read. The characters were interesting and appealing; the story was original and creative.

The heroine is Amber the Untouched, so named because of her special affinity to amber -- all things amber belong to her -- and because of her special ability to feel the emotions of others by touching them. Lowell thoroughly explores both the advantages and the drawbacks of such an ability. The hero, Duncan of Maxwell, the Scots Hammer (his name is charming and lyrical, like much of the writing in this book) is the perfect combination of strength and sensitivity. The amber prophecy, the revelation that attended Amber's birth, defines the cosmology of the book. As a lover of fantasy, I was totally captivated by it! Amber and Duncan's story is gracefully and beautifully told.

Like everyone else, I can't wait for Erik's story!

I loved this book. This is one of those books I pull out and read when I am in the mood for an awesome love story.

The story of Amber and Duncan is fantastic. Amber is called the untouched because nobody can touch her as she has a special gift. Then along comes Duncan who has been injured and has no memory of his past life. When he is found, he is naked except for an amber pendant and all things amber belong to Amber. I liked the way their story developed as they got to know each other and how Amber fought to have what she felt was hers.

I really liked the way Duncan was developed from the first book in this series and I loved the introduction of Amber, Cassandra and Erik. I also found it enjoyable how previous characters from the first book, Enchanted, were brought in to this story.

My only wish now is that Erik's story would come out!! This man is a great story waiting to happen!

This is just another example of Elizabeth Lowell's remarkable work. In my opinion, this book was not as great as the first one, but it is great nonetheless.

Amber the Untouched and Duncan the Scots Hammer are a memorable couple. And I love how Lowell has Duncan remember bits and pieces but never a whole memory. Something will trigger a memory, but as quickly as it came, it is gone. The only thing I thought that would make the book more, would be if Amber was a little stronger. Though, I can understand why she did many things the way she did.

This book also has one of the most memorable scenes from any book I have read. The scene where Cassandra *teaches* Duncan the true power and pain of Amber's "gift".

I HIGHLY recommend this series of book, though I would also recommend reading them in order of sequence.

This is a splendid tale. A tale in which you are taken into a dark world of Learned and Sorcery. I found this novel to be quite intriging.

Amber The Untouched. Duncan The Scots Hammer. He came to her in shades of darkness. Upon first touching him, Amber feels light and pleasure such as she has never known before. For Amber has known only darkness in touching another human. She could scry the truth from another person, but in doing so, it only brings her pain. Forbidden.

Duncan awakes in the beautiful Ambers care. He has lost his memory. He cannot remember anything of his past life. Only the love from Amber saves him from the dark seething memories without answer.

They forge a love, despite Duncans uncertainty with his past. But it is as if their lives are inexplicably entertwined. Amber is almost certain who Duncans true identity is. Yet she is afraid to reveal. When Duncan finally realizes who he is, he feels such betrayal from the Amber beauty. She had known, and in doing so, keeping it from him, she had forsaken him.

Betrayal, hurt and anger fill them both. Will Ambers love be enough to heal the Scots Hammer? Or will Duncans immense feelings of anger and betrayal destroy all that they have? Including his precious Amber?

This is a great story. You will love it.

I have often found Elizabeth Lowell to be a somewhat inconsistent author when it comes to achieving the emotional depth that she strives for; however, Forbidden is a definite success.

It is the story of Amber, called the Untouched, because her birth was accompanied by a dire prophecy and a gift/curse. She has the ability to discern truth or falsehood in a person's statements and read their emotions by touch. The price of this gift is that she is unable to touch anyone, ever, without feeling pain. She was raised by a "Learned" woman, protected by the Lord of the keep, and taught to nurture her spiritual gifts in an attempt to thwart the possible effects of the prophecy. The prophecy said that a man would come to her without a name, cloaked in "a thousand shades of darkness" and she would be able to touch him. But should she give him her heart, body, and soul death would be the result. One day her protector brings to her an unconscious, naked man who was found beneath a sacred tree adorned with her symbol. For the first time in her life she is able to touch someone .... Amber must decide between life and DEATH; physical death, spiritual death, and emotional death on many levels for herself and for all of those she loves.

What a setup - and the book lives up to its premise to the very last page. It is a sensual story set in an atmosphere of medievil mysticism. Like "Excalibur" the magic is mixed with early Christendom, knightly concepts of honor, the sanctity of vows, and the strength of the sword.

Without spoiling the story I will say that the characters find themselves in a turmoil of forsworn vows and the threat of war. The decisions made by both of the main characters are heartrending. They are caught in a lose-lose situation and the depth of their emotions as depicted through Amber's "gift" just pours from the pages.

I found myself saying "Wow. That was GOOD!" at the end.

Amber the Untouched had been haunted all her life by a prophecy told over her birth. She would fall in love with a man with no name, give him her heart, body, and soul and the consequences of their love would be death. She is a truthsayer, one with a gift that could discern the truth and emotions of anyone she touches, but not without consequence. Touching another person brings her physical pain. Touching another person filled with rage or very strong emotions will render her unconscious. Because of that, no one touches her without her permission.

One night, Sir Erik, Amber's protector, brings to her an unconscious man. He was found in a sacred place wearing nothing but an amber pendant. When Amber touches him, to her shock, she feels tremendous pleasure. Something she's never felt before with anyone she's touched. She knows nothing of him except that they belong together, heart and soul. When the unconscious man wakes up, he has no memory of who he is, his name nor where he came from so Amber gives him the name Duncan. Duncan and Amber are inseparable but Amber knows that a dark cloud hangs over them.

Amber and Sir Erik eventually come to discover Duncan's identity. He is an enemy, a renowned warrior from the Crusades and vassal to Dominic le Sabre, a Norman lord who is trying to capture Amber's home, the Stone Ring Keep. She dreads the day when his memory returns, which she knows will happen soon, and when it does, he'll be filled with nothing but hate for her. In an attempt to tie Duncan to himself and keep him with Amber, Sir Erik convinces Duncan and Amber to marry. Amber is hesitant because she feels that Duncan is betrothed to another but goes through with the wedding anyway.

When Amber and Duncan arrive at Stone Ring Keep, Dominic and his men capture them. Shortly after that, Duncan fully regains his memory. As Amber feared, Duncan is filled with rage over her betrayal. More importantly, he remembers his betrothal to a Norman maiden, daughter of a wealthy lord, and so refuses to go back on his word. He agrees to set aside his marriage to Amber to fulfill his vow to Dominic. However, pushing away Amber is not as easy as it seems because Duncan can't stay away from her, so he decides that Amber would be his mistress.

Meanwhile, the pain Amber is experiencing is excruciating especially the humiliating prospect of being nothing but a mistress to Duncan. Her love for him becomes a deadly threat to her life. Regardless, Duncan will not go back on his word and his hatred of her will destroy her before it's too late.

This was, by far, one of the most heart wrenching tales I've ever read. It took me a couple of days to absorb it. The emotional turmoil Amber went through was palpable, pouring out of the pages and stealing into your heart. I don't often cry while reading a book but I was almost undone by this one. The story is well-conceived and well written with memorable characters who are haunted by their fears, betrayal and love. The ending is, well, almost heartbreaking.

Lowell weaves a grand story with memorable characters. Lowell offsets the unbelivable aspects of the characters with human weakness that added to the depth of the characters. I must admit I did think Amber needed more backbone to stand on her own opposite the character of Duncan, but its just my opinion. I particularly liked how she incorporated the characters from Untamed but did so without loosing readers that may not have read Untamed first. I also think Lowell could have her best book yet with the story of Erik. I'm hoping she made his character so intriguing for the same reason she mad Duncan intriguing in Untamed!

Elizabeth Lowell writes with a fast, fiery pen. She's equally at home creating page-turners in a contemporary setting or taking us back in time. One advantage in writing historical novels is that their appeal is more lasting than a story taking place today. Contemporary tales are prone to easily becoming dated by the mention of anything from a car to the gun used in a robbery.

Although released in 1993 Forbidden is as fresh now as it was then, especially when given a stunning reading by Sarah Scott. For this listener, hers is a new narrating voice, and appropriate for this title. Scott has a young voice with an attractive huskiness. As our heroine is not supposed to be of high birth, this reader is wise enough to avoid affectations in speech, and comes across clearly leaving an impression of both innocence and strength.

If you favor medieval romance with a tad of fantasy Forbidden is for you. Amber is a young woman whose birth prophecy included a marvelous love but a love that would surely be followed by death. She is both perplexed and surprised when a wounded warrior is brought to her, after all she is quite alone in the world having "no more kin than the wild autumn wind."

Their attraction is immediate and their passion unrestrained. However, when the warrior recovers his memory he sees Amber as his enemy. Yet she is the one who healed and loved him, will there truly be death?

- Gail Cooke

It always amazes me that I actually feel the characters pain and that I cry while I am reading Ms. Lowell's books. She is either a very talented writer or I am sorely in need of a life (both!). I read this book before I realized it was book 2 of the trilogy. I am curently reading Untamed and I am sure I will enjoy it and Enchanted as much as I enjoyed this one.