Customer Reviews

Lord of a Thousand Nights

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Madeline Hunter is a terrific writer of historical romance. IMHO, she has written some of the most exciting and different medieval romances to be released in the past few years. She has set herself a tough standard though, and for me Lord of a Thousand Nights doesn't quite match the quality of her others.

Don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean it's not a really good book...it is. It's just a little more conventional, and a little less intriguing than her last efforts. I didn't learn as much from this novel, which may sound like a strange comment if you haven't read a book by Ms. Hunter before. One of the more fascinating qualities about Hunter's By... series and The Protector is that they look at the medieval world from slightly different angles than the "typical" medieval romance. Whether the hero was a merchant or stonemason instead of a knight/lord, or the heroine was a potter or a serf instead of a lady, the characters in the previous novels were different, and the settings unique.

In comparison, Lord of a Thousand Nights doesn't give you enough of that. The heroine (Reyna) is a widowed lady and the hero (Ian) is the less-than-honorable head of a mercenary company hired by Morvan Fitzwaryn (hero of The Protector) to seige and hold the tower in which Reyna lives. That Ian succeeds in his task and Reyna is then dependent upon him for her safety is a given, and it's a plot device that works. It's tried and true. That's the problem with Lord of a Thousand Nights - it plays by the expected medieval rules and that's disappointing from an author who was so exciting because she was rewriting the standard.

The characters are good: Reyna and (Ian also recurring from The Protector) are engaging and well-drawn; and they're a good match for each other. Reyna is feisty without being too stupid to live (TSTL in romance reader shorthand), and Ian is an alpha warrior who isn't afraid to think outside the box. That quality includes his dealings with Reyna, and his invention of devices to make his work easier. That plot element was fun, and gave Ian more depth than your usual "me-alpha-knight" character. I liked the h/h byplay, and I liked seeing them both interact with characters from Ms. Hunter's previous books.

I really don't like the title of this book, which puts so much emphasis on Ian(it's his nickname, which just seems so silly), because to me this story is really more about Reyna and her history/land than it is about Ian. But hey, that's my opinion.

Overall, Lord of a Thousand Nights is a well-written, historically detailed medieval romance with characters you will enjoy getting to know and a plot that is interesting if not entirely unique. If it were written by anyone but Madeline Hunter, I would probably have given it 5 stars. Unfortunately it just doesn't live up to the standard she's set for herself, so it gets 4. But do yourself a favor, and check out anything by this talented author. You really can't go wrong.

I can't tell if I liked this story or not. I loved the preceding four books and think I liked this book only because I was waiting to read it. If I had picked this one up without reading the others, (By Design, By Arrangement, The Protector and By Possession) I do not think I would have enjoyed it quite as much. We see the characters from the other books and actually continue the story of the retaking of Harclow for Morvan. I really enjoyed seeing "the gang" and often complain about other authors where we never see characters from other stories. Unfortunately, I think it would be a bit confusing if you have not read their stories first.

That said, I thought the writing was well done and enjoyable to read. Our characters are deep, with complex histories. The building of the story and how the plots intertwined was exciting and kept my interest keen. I was glad that Morvan finally regains his birthright (as we knew he would), but I was a bit disappointed in how it effects the other people in the story.

I have always loved how Ms. Hunter brings the past to life. She uses history and makes it seem, as the reader, that you were right in the thick of the action. I guess that is where my reservations of this book come from. There was little history and descriptive passages of everyday life which was evident in her other stories. Much of this book takes place during war and sieges in 14th century England, yet instead of feeling like I was a participant in the battles, I felt like most every other book I have read, like an outside observer. Lord of a Thousand Nights is still an excellent book, just not what I have come to expect from Ms. Hunter.

WOW! When I found this book on amazon I thought 'must buy' and so I bought it. Simply because it looked hot, and because I adored By Arrangement. When I read LoaTN, I discovered that the book was even hotter than I'd dared hope for. Ian was, to be blunt, all man. And I'm talking MAN! He was sexy, proud, sexy, strong, sexy, tender, sexy, filled with a gorgeous and admirable love for Reyna and, yep, sexy. He possessed all qualities a great hero should have, and then some. And he played his part from the second Reyna looked at him.
Reyna was also incredible. I hate it when the heroine is too stupid to take a breath and walk at the same time. Thank God, and Madeline Hunter, that Reyna was not like Barbie, even if she was blond, thin and very much like the first breath of dawn. Reyna was smart and she had guts! I absolutely loved reading about how she teased Ian, and then froze (or melted ;) )when he tried to seduce her. Yet she tried to stick to what she wanted, and while reading the book I almost cheered 'Go Reyna, go Reyna!'But, don't get me wrong. I cheered 'Go Ian' more than a few times. I loved every scene with him in it, but SPOILER when he rescues her from Reginald, I just felt this surge of devotion and sweet love for him.
Ian and Reyna were made for each other. That's something we all knew from the start. I mean: it was never likely that Reginald or perhaps Elizabeth would ever interfere with the action.
I loved reading how they got to really know each other (and not just physically :P )and how they both changed for the other.
There are so much I liked about this book. Reading about Christiana, David, Morvan and Anna again was GREAT, and all the characters were so convincing. And also, Madeline Hunter has done some great historical research. From warfare down to the thinnest shift. I think, or, all right, I know, that what I liked a lot was Ian's personality. I enjoyed that he was a bit arrogant and full of himself. That's what made him pursue Reyna with such vigor. He was so certain of his own sexuality (I mean, just look at the title), that he had no trouble helping Reyna with hers.
Okey,I'll stop talking about Ian now. I just want you, yes YOU, to buy this book. It's only a couple of dollars and that's like nothing when you think of the experience that awaits you when you read it.
I just know that I loved, oh LOVED, this book and I find myself opening it at a random page to read about l'amour when I want to read something good.
You know, this book actually kept me up for one night, which isn't so cool when you're a student, but- Why are you still reading? Buy it!

I read and buy Madeline Hunter (hot off the shelf) because of her elegant writing style, her vivid primary and secondary characters, her attention to historical detail, and above all, the feeling that "I'm there, in the Middle Ages". And yes, I like a good romance, and lots of luscious love-making thrown into the mix.

While this book stands above the usual crop of medieval, I do not frankly think this to be her best work. It began promisingly with Lady Reyna Graham setting out to re-enact Judith and Holofernes. It ended with a whimper, oh, with the usual happy ending, but I could care less about Ian and Reyna at that point. Why? Perhaps it is the fact that the story line is a bit more cliched than the normal Hunter plot. Perhaps it is the fact that I never really saw Ian in the process of being redeemed from that ridiculous title he wears. Perhaps it is the attitude of Reyna herself.

My personal feeling is that her three best books so far are her three first books - By Arrangement, By Possession, and By Design (where Bk 2 is actually the first chronologically). With Bk 4 - The Protector - Hunter's stories become more independent of what is happening around her protagonists, which I consider to be not so good. [If you could care less about the history, you won't mind that]. Book 5 employs even less historical detail - which reign, what is happening, what is the situation with the Templars - and you could almost be set in any generic medieval period.

Read if you are addicted to the entire series, or if you want to read someone who is a very very good writer (technically). I almost wish I had skipped this book.

Rating = 3.2
Recommended = with reservations

Lord of a Thousand Nights is a "keeper". It has well-developed characters, a wonderful love story, and a plot that keeps you guessing until the end. You will love joining Ian and Reyna as they try to discover the mysteries of one another, as well as the mysteries of the past.

Unlike other reviewers, I think that a reader new to Hunter's books could easily enjoy this story without having read the previous ones. However, having the pleasure of reading By Arrangement and The Protector will only add to the enjoyment of this story. It's great to see old friends, Anna and Morvan, and Christiana and David, again. The interaction between the three women - Anna, Christiana, and Reyna - is a real treat. Female bonding at its best.

Madeline Hunter has great skill as a storyteller. Every piece of the story fits the puzzle; not one word or character is wasted. You will love the way that she uses historical fact as a backdrop to her story. It gives added depth and richness that is hard to come by these days.

Lady Reyna, a beautiful, young Scottish widow, disguises herself as a courtesan in an attempt to relieve the military siege on her keep, and the danger to her people. She crosses the English battle lines and enters the enemy camp with the intention of seducing the commander and then murdering him...a medieval Judith and Holofernes, if you will. He is very experienced in the ways of courtesans and it becomes obvious that Reyna is a novice at seduction...although very tempting. So, the Lady is captured and the keep is taken. Fortunately, the takers are the good guys.

Ian Guilford, the Commander, is an English mercenary, known for his way with the ladies and his feats in the bedroom. (Lord Of A Thousand Nights...right?) He is fascinated by Reyna, who is not captivated in return. Maybe that's why he is so taken with her? She has a mysterious past which intrigues him. Her much older husband died recently, supposedly poisoned. Rumor has it that Reyna is the prime suspect, as the sole inheritor of his land and wealth. She was married at age twelve to consolidate an alliance that would bring peace to the region. Fortunately, her early marriage enabled her to leave her abusive father and half brother. She loved her husband, who became her teacher, best friend and a father figure. If Reyna did not kill him, who did? And why? Now that she is a widow, her estranged father wants Reyna back. Other people are looking to protect her and/or to take her into their custody also. And Ian doesn't want to let her go.

Madeline Hunter, as always, writes with clarity and elegance. Her grasp of history and her original plots have made her one of my favorite Historical Romance authors. I was not aware that this novel is a sequel, or related to any of her other books, until I began to recognize some familiar characters. It was wonderful to read more about Christiana and David from "By Arrangement" and Anna and Morvan from "The Protector." However, "Lord of A Thousand Nights" stands on its own merit. It is not necessary to have read any of Ms. Hunt's prior novels to enjoy this one.

I think this book is actually better than some of her earlier work because of the complexity of the storyline, and the variety of characters. Both Reyna and Ian have dark pasts and many problems to overcome. They make an interesting couple, very well suited. I think Madeline Hunter has another winner and look forward to her next book. I'm a fan!

This is my first book by this author. I loved it. Ian was perfection indeed. Wow! What a guy! Reyna was lovely and wonderful, and intelligent (thank goodness). There was intrigue, romance and a decent plot. I liked the friendships, especially between Reyna, Christiana, and Anna. My friends and I found the dialogue to be genuine and not in the least cartoonish. We readers write honest reviews from the heart. This is one of those books that stays in memory long after it's put on the shelf. And of course, I now must go back and read about Morvan and David, as they were very impressive men.

This is my absolutely favorite Hunter book. It was romantic and sexy and I loved the characters and even enjoyed seeing all the old characters show up. I love the story line and the mystery and the humor and even loved the portrayal of the bad guys as they were like evil wicked in sheep's clothing in such a perfect way. I was even fond of grandfather in the end of the story and cried for the tragic love story of the parents and how they died basically for the love of each other. Heck, this story even had a treasure hunt! When I read the reviews, I wondered why it is not everyone's favorite. I guess it all has to do with relating to the characters. I love strong women in stories, both strong in spirit and strong in physical ways. This heroine was not one of those. The thing with me is; I can love a woman who a quiet nurturing and intelligent woman who likes to cook and care for others and whose strength is only evident though her bravery and her inner strength that not all the characters around her in the story line can see. This is the kind of character the heroine in this book is. The second time I read this book over a year later, I loved it all over again and just as strongly. I know I will be reading it again in the future. It's just one of those books that never get old for me, like certain movies that you can watch repeatedly and still enjoy. I never once got sick of the characters in it. No whiny people here, though they had deep rooted fears of their own like we all do, but not whiny or selfish. Just strong loveable intelligent sexy and noble characters abound, even though they had fears and regrets to work though that were daunting. This one is in my 'very small and select stack of keepers' and will never be rotated out of that pile.

I really enjoyed getting to know Ian's character whom I first met in "By Arrangement." All and all it was a pretty good read. I still think that "by design" and "by pocession" were the best in the series. The heroine in this story was a bit too harsh and it took her to long to warm up to the fact that Ian cared about her. I liked sex scenes and the overall plot.

This book lacked focus. I think the writer really over reached here. The romance was wrapped up too quickly due to a unexpectedly early capitulation by the heroine. The book then morphed into a mish mash of back and side stories, full of surprises and too many characters at every turn. Sigh.

If you want a good early Madeline Hunter, stick with Stealing Heaven or By Design. Great history. And not bad love stories either.