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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Pleasant Surprise Possible Spoilers, April 6, 2004
This review is from: Forbidden (Harlequin Single Title) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is an excellent Dark Ages romance and Kirkman has the period down. The only thing that I noted after having just read a Roberta Gellis book was that I would have appreciated a little more detail on Dark Age facts. Not so much for myself but I think that Kirkman is taking for granted that a lot of readers will understand some Anglo Saxon or Norse terminology that a lot may not know. Even so, it is wonderful reading. Lady Rowena is in need of a champion with nothing to lose and he has
everything to gain if he suceeds. She decides on the spur of a moment
in a slave market to buy her champion. She can sense a survivor's will
in this slave as well as a need for his own revenge and the person who
accompanies her to the market is repelled or even fears the slave.
This is what decides his and her fate. This sixth sense she has is that
the slave is her only chance to avenge her father's death and save her
and her daughter's future. Wulf while trying to right a wrong that his brother brought about, has
put himself in the way of a dangerous enemy. And when that enemy has
the chance to destroy him without killing him, he takes it. Wulf or
Athelwulf (Athel is the title for a thane or earl in Norse and Saxon
cultures of the century the story takes place in ) is expelled from
his lands when he commits a murder. He is made into a slave and sold
to the flatlanders known as Frisians (another terminology from the
Dark Ages) It is in a Slave Market in Wessex that he is bought by
Rowena. He gives an oath to do her will but only until the day of
Lamas Tide or First Fruits of the Harvest( more Dark age jive) . Kirkman's style is a cross between Dain and Hunter. She flows even
though her sentences are short. Sometimes she almost has Schone like
short repetitions but they are much more subtle than Schone. All in
all her style is very pleasant to read. It is very fast paced and
fluid. I read this book about 350 pages in 2 1/2 hours. Once started I moved right through it to the end in one sitting and that was with
many glances at the cover. God that guy is yummy. I gave this book a B+ and almost an A- but I think she presumes too
much from tha reader that they will either from context figure the
lingo or just be that knowledgeable about the period which is unlikely. Her editors are at fault here. If you've studied
some of the Dark ages or Norse Mythology you may get a lot of it. I
have done both the latter. However it still took me a moment or two to
recollect at some points. Even so, Kirkman can tell a story and if
this second novel is indicative of her talent, I am happy to have
found a new author. If you liked Madeline Hunter, Claudia Dain,
Joan Wolf's Dark Age books, and Susan Squires, I think you may very well like
this book.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Slow start - Fast Action Ending in a compelling read, August 31, 2004
This review is from: Forbidden (Harlequin Single Title) (Mass Market Paperback)
Setting - England, 716 a.d. --- Whatever had possessed the Lady Rowena to buy a slave for 12 mancuses, she had no idea, but the deed was done. The big muscular thrall with silvery eyes like cold flint showed no deference for her lofty station - no, they held nothing but contempt. How dare it! Lady Rowena, could never be at the mercy of another ever again and knew she must show more courage than she possessed. Her life and the life of her daughter were at stake, and the thrall was brave - this she knew, and she would risk it's life if he could survive the dangerous mission she would put to him for the price of his freedom.
It's name was Wulf, a thrall - no longer a man but enslaved by a betrayal so bitter his rage alone had given him the strength to survive. Now this beautiful noblewoman had purchased him - for what - a plaything to whore upon? Trust would be a fragile link that might be breached between the two worlds they inhabited. Desire and revenge, betrayal and love would all come into play as human passions exploded between two people who knew better than to taste these forbidden waters.
Having read Kirkman's exceptional debut novel (A MOMENT'S MADNESS - circa 916 a.d.) I was anxious to read another by her as she once again tackled an even earlier historical period. The author's writing style is different and in this she does not employ a lot of dialog so much as express `feelings' and `mood' as Rowena tries to rationalize in her mind, what and why she is attracted to the very compelling slave. Admittedly for action lovers, the first third of the book is slow but, again, this seems to be the style the author has adopted in setting the stage. The secondary characters are all very interesting and well defined, particularly Rowena's six-year-old daughter who practically steals the show as well as your heart as she tries her best to be a `healer' of both humans and animals. The last portion of the book definitely picks up steam with a lot of action and wraps up all the loose ends that were tossed out in the beginning making this a rather satisfying read. Bottom Line - It does have a slow start, and the writing style is distinctive but, all in all, a very pleasant read for a lazy weekend. --- Marilyn Rondeau, for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hooked me from the start..., April 22, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Forbidden (Harlequin Single Title) (Mass Market Paperback)
From the very beginning of the book, where Rowena purchases Wulf at a slave market, I knew this would be a special story. She feels not only a physical attraction to him, but an emotional one as well, and the struggle she endures trying to understand her feelings for a man she should consider "property" is so well written. That Wulf has feelings for her beyond lust might be hard to believe, but the author makes the reader accept it by showing us what an unusual man he is. (Makes me wish I could run out and buy a guy like him ;) The secondary characters held my interest, particularly Rowena's darling daughter and the evil Eadward. I wish we had seen more of Wulf's brother, but I understand he will be in a sequel so I will be eagerly awaiting that. Just a great book all around.
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