Laird of the Wind [Paperback]

Susan King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1998

In medieval Scotland, the warrior known as Border Hawk seizes the castle belonging to the father of the beautiful Isabel Scott, famous throughout the Lowlands for her gift of prophecy. During the battle, Isabel is injured while fighting alongside her men, and placed under Border Hawk's protection. As war rages on, the warrior and prophetess engage in a more intimate conflict, discovering that their love for the Scottish borderlands is surpassed only by their love for each other.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The beautiful Isobel of Aberlady is coveted by many men for the power of her prophetic visions. Her father has kept Isobel isolated at Aberlady Castle for this very reason. But when he is taken prisoner in battle, Isobel must rely on her own resources to protect her besieged castle and its people. Just when all hope seems lost, James Lindsay, Scottish knight turned outlaw who's known throughout the land as the Border Hawk, scales the high castle walls to save her. Isobel obeys the counsel of her guards and escapes with James, certain that he will deliver her safely to her betrothed, Sir Ralph Leslie.

But James has other plans. Leslie is his sworn enemy, and her betrothed has taken James's cousin hostage. Isobel discovers that she has exchanged the threat of capture by the English king for kidnapping by the legendary Border Hawk--an outlaw that her own prophecies branded a traitor to her beloved Scotland.

When James's plan for a swift trade of Isobel for his cousin go awry, the unlikely pair retreat to a forest stronghold, where the hardened warrior finds the lure of the gentle lady more than he can deny. The obstacles that lie between the two and happiness are many, including their own honor, loyalty, and sworn vows. If the strength of his sword arm can't save her, can the Border Hawk use his wits to gain his beloved Isobel? Laird of the Wind is a mythical tale rich with descriptive detail, memorable characters, and an ending that will take readers by surprise. Move over Robin Hood, it's time to share shelf space with another outlaw of the forest. --Lois Faye Dyer

From Library Journal

Branded an outlaw and a murderer by Black Isobel's prophecies, James Lindsay sets out to kidnap the seeress and use her to barter for his cousin Margaret's freedom; but the gentle, beautiful Isobel is not the evil hag he had expected, and Jamie finds that letting her go is far more difficult than capturing her had been. King spins a complex, mesmerizing story of betrayal, retribution, and healing that weaves intricate details of falconry and politics with a lyrical, compelling love story that will appeal to readers who identify with Scotland's struggle for independence, in particular the period just following the death of William Wallace in 1305. King's (Lady Miracle, Topaz, 1997) exquisitely vivid descriptions are beautiful bonuses. King lives in Damascus, MD.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Topaz (August 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451407687
• ISBN-13: 978-0451407689
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,514,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars pulls at your heartstrings, March 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Laird of the Wind (Paperback)

I bought this book while browsing and reading the customers reveiws. I love Scottish tales and discovering Susan King was a treasure! I have since read 3 more of her novels- just finishing The Angel Knight- and I loved it as much as Laird of the Wind. You pay a little more attention to Susan Kings work, if you like accurate history it is wonderful. This story is so vivid, in your mind's eye you can picture the settings. I can't say enough good about this book. About all of her books! Like one reviewer said, you can't wait to get to the ending, but wish it never would!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Scottish Romance With Depth, April 20, 1999

By 

Jody Allen (US) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Laird of the Wind (Paperback)

Having read all of Ms King's books, I found this one to be one of her most intriquing reads. Although not my absolute favorite, she provides the reader with a flawed hero struggling with an internal conflict: a flaw not of his making but from the conflicts around him. Add to this a storyline that is unique in its inception and creative in its delivery. The conflict between the hero and heroine and the influences from without make this an exceptional read. Ms Kings working knowledge of Scottish history along with a unique talent to create plots that are unique is what sets her apart from other historical authors such as Amanda Quick, whose stories are formula writing needing only to insert a new heroine/hero in the same old plot so that each is a reflection of the last. Julie Garwood(whose Scottish stories are among my favorites) are sweet comfort reads which never create the intense internal conflicts that a Susan King books does; to compare them is like comparing CNN to CBS, each has it's own niche. Garwood books lack any real historical content, having read them all can't say I came away learning anything new about Scotland but I don't think that is her intent. The reader gets a great story with Ms. King so historically centered that the reader feels they are there. Ms. King's books are not comfort reads but are wonderful full bodied stories rich with internal conflict and a history well researched. Any book by Ms.King is a keeper to be re-read when the mood strikes.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning, lyrical tale with characters you can't forget., July 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Laird of the Wind (Paperback)

LAIRD OF THE WIND is another shining gem in the treasure chest of Susan King's stunning tales of Scotland. Ms. King combines impeccable research with a style of writing so rich and lyrical, it is a feast for the mind. I always learn something new when I read her work, though that's not what brings me back eagerly every time.

What brings me back is her skill at creating an impossible love set against unsurmountable challenges, at evoking such powerful emotion and vivid characters that I am assailed by simultaneous urges to both devour the pages and slowly savor every word. Her books are rich and haunting...and no matter how rich and filling the treat, I can't bear for it to end.

James Lindsay is a hero I'm still thinking about days after. He's complex, driven, strong, honorable and haunted--the kind of many-layered hero I find altogether irresistible. Together, he and the lovely, mystical Isobel are magic. (And I want to visit their aerie--Ms. King has described! ! it so vividly that I feel both like I've been there and like I must touch the stone walls, slide into the crystalline pool and feel the kiss of the wind on my own skin.)

When you finish this book, you'll be glad she has written others because you won't want to have to wait for the next release. Her level of skill is such that going backward in reading her work will not disappoint you--even her earliest work is so terrific that you'll see why Susan King is a star on the rise.