Customer Reviews

Master of Torment (Blood Sword Legacy, Book 2)

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

 

 

Tarian of Trent is officially a widow. Having married and consummated her vows to a vile molester of young boys, Tarian's livelihood depends on whether or not she was able to conceive a child during her short time as a bride. Upon her husband's demise, his uncle seeks the aid of England's new king to remove Tarian from her late husband's castle and there is nothing Tarian can do - she has been taken captive and is slowly being tortured to death in the castle's dungeon.

King William trusts few men - Wulfson of Trevelyn is one of them. He has entrusted Wulfson with the task of eradicating the bloodline of Lady Tarian of Trent. It seems the female warrior has the blood of former English kings running in her veins and to a man like William the Conqueror, that will not suffice. Vowing to complete the mission he has been given, Wulfson is unable to understand and handle the feelings Tarian's beauty and feisty demeanor invokes within him when he sees her for the first time. Even half starved and beaten severely, Tarian is still striking. With one look at this remarkable woman, Wulfson's mission falls by the wayside at the expense of his position in William's court. If he allows Tarian to live, treason will be the least of his worries.

I adore watching a strong male hero fall under the spell of his heroine. For years Wulfson has taken orders from King William without question. As such, when he is given the charge to dispose of Tarian, he does not hesitate to agree or question his assignment. When Tarian is rescued, bruised and battered, from the dungeon in which she has been imprisoned, Wulfson is thrown for a loop because of the feelings she invokes in him. All of a sudden, this tough warrior is the one captured and held spellbound.

MASTER OF TORMENT by Karin Tabke is a thoroughly engaging historical romance worthy of any library. The plot is suspenseful and superbly written - I despised Tarian's uncle by marriage the first time he arrived on the scene - the characters were realistic with human failings and with passionate human emotions. I sat on pins and needles and aching for a happy ending.

Don't miss MASTER OF TORMENT. Karin Tabke has taken a medieval setting with genuine historical figures and added vibrant fictional characters to equal a magnificent historical romance. As an added bonus, I highly recommend going back and reading the first installment of this fabulous series, MASTER OF SURRENDER. You'll be glad you did!

***Natalie S. for Wild on Books***

I absolutely loved this book! A strong heroine and a hero to make your knees weak. This entire series in fabulous and I'm just drooling while I wait for the next one!

This 2nd novel is as excellent as the 1st one Master of Surrender. Highly recommended if you like Sasha Lord & Hannah Howell.

Master of Torment by Karin Tabke
Mass Market Paperback Medieval Historical - November 25, 2008
4 Stars

Master of Torment explores the political intrigues of Medieval times as the 2 main characters are thrust into a complex tale of deception. This book was filled with so much tension I was anxious to discover how the hero and heroine would ever live happily together.

Wulfson is the trusted vassal of King William and has been sent on a mission to kill the Lady Tarian, a warrior of noble blood who is a threat to William's reign. Wulfson arrives to find the Lady Tarian near death but instead of killing her, he is moved to let her live. As Wulfson learns more about the Lady Tarian, his feelings for her torment him as he battles against his lord's orders and his growing admiration for the courageous Lady Tarian.

Wulfson is fiercely loyal to his king and admirable but in this case, I loved the heroine more than the hero! Lady Tarian is one of the strongest heroines I have ever read. She is resourceful, valiant and highly intelligent. She is a woman caught between the curse of her royal lineage her need for independence. Lady Tarian faces her tenuous situation head on as she tries to work her way within the increasing restraints and stressful conditions she encounters. Although she comes to love Wulfson she realizes he cannot be disloyal to his king and he will probably be ordered to kill her.

Lady Tarian is one of the strongest heroines I have ever read. However, because of this I felt the hero Wulfson wasn't quite a match. He struggles against his attraction to her even as he acknowledges he may have to kill her even towards the end of the story! He is a real alpha male but I really wanted him to admit his love for her sooner. The tension between his duty and his love kept me on edge throughout the book. This story explodes with suspense that kept me intrigued and stressed as I waited for the final harrowing outcome.

Reviewed by Steph from Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Tarian of Trent has been recently widowed. Not that she claims to have ever loved her disgusting and cruel husband who had a penchant for defiling young boys, but she had to bed the bastard so that a child from that union would allow her to keep her rightful home.

Upon Malcor's death, his uncle seeks to marry Tarian to acquire her holdings. When she doesn't agree to the union, he throws her in the dungeon, tortures her and beats her within an inch of her life.

Her husband's uncle petitions King William to have her killed - to avenge the death of his nephew. King William believing that Tarian is a threat to the throne for she has a large Welsh army at her command, agrees and sends his most trusted knights to do the deed.

Commanded by his king, William the Conqueror, Wulfson of Trevelyn travel with the Blood Swords knights from Normandy with the intent of putting an end to the threat in the name of Lady Tarian of Trent. Upon their arrival, Wulfson learns that Tarian has been thrown in the dungeon. When he approaches her, he is about to plunge his sword through her heart, but pauses when he looks at her beautiful blue eyes and her courageous demeanor, even if she is chained, starved and severely beaten. Wulfson learns that the Lady might be with child, so he rescues her from the dungeon.

Wuflson sends a messenger to the King - informing him of the lady's condition, and to inform him that Tarian is the niece of two Welsh Kings and that she may be carrying a child. As Tarian recovers, she realizes that the Norman Knight may have saved her, but they are waiting for news from the messenger for the Knight to end her life.

Marian is a true warrior, skilled in the ways of killing and fighting from an early age. Wulfson is captivated by her fiery and courageous demeanor, her beauty and her fighting skills. He is by no means a man to be trifled with, as he leads the Blood Swords and like them, was severely tortured while he was in a Saracen prison. He has his orders from the King and he will not hesitate to carry them through - otherwise it would be treason. Still, his blood runs hot for the widow Tarian and he starts believing that she did indeed slay her husband in self-defense and is no threat to his King.

Blood and passions run hot between Wulfson and Tarian. Their battle of wills and wits are marvelous and their love scenes beyond steamy! A suspenseful and passionate tale, with a stalwart, hardened hero who falls for the spirited, valiant and beautiful heroine. Complete with villains, truly foul with their demeanors and their evil treachery, this was one of the most beautifully written and absorbing Medieval Romances I have read in a very long time. I missed MASTER OF SURRENDER, but I will eagerly go back to search for the book. MASTER OF TORMENT clearly brands Tabke into the Historical Romance arena, making her now definitely on my auto buy list!

Master of Surrender (Blood Sword Legacy, Book 1)
Master of Craving (Blood Sword Legacy, Book 3)

Lady Tarian is a warrior, never backing down from a fight. So when her intended husband leaves her at the altar she goes after him, and sees that things are done as they should be. But when he is killed soon afterward by his bride's hand, the young widow comes to the attention of William the Conqueror, Tarian knows it's not just her late husband's death, but the fact she's related to the late Saxon King Harold that makes her a danger to William.

Wulfson is a member of the Blood Sword, a trusted knight of William. When he's ordered to go to Draceadon and dispatch Lady Tarian with all haste he knows he will follow his orders, no matter how distasteful they may be. But when he arrives he finds the Lady imprisoned in the dungeon, for her refusal to marry a persistent suitor.

When he finds she might be with child he orders the lady nursed back to health. When she is well he loses his heart to her, knowing he will have to, at some point, follow through on his order to execute her. Tarian is deeply attracted to the knight, but does not trust him. Can these two lovers overcome their differences, and the trying times in which they live, to find happiness together?

Master of Torment is a shining gem in the crown of historical romance. Filled with deep intrigue and high passion, the story is beautifully told. I fell in love with Wulfson and my heart ached as he tried to deal with conflicting emotions about doing his duty and falling in love with Tarian. The lady in question is a wonderfully strong character in a time when women were meant to be seen and not heard. I loved the fact that she refused to be a pawn for men and fought to have her own life.

These two characters together are magical, and made me savor every word of this book. It also has me craving the next installment of the Blood Sword Legacy. I highly recommend Master of Torment for lovers of historical fiction. It will leave you begging for more.

Amelia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

As good as the first book in the series, "Master of Surrender", and I couldn't put it down! Original and compelling, and never once rehashed anything in the first book. Strong, well-developed characters with a story that moves. Such a delight to read, and now must wait until May for the next book in the series.

The Blood Sword Legacy Series:

Master of Surrender

Master of Torment

Master of Craving (May '09)


Yes, the book titles are a bit cheesy... But don't let that stop you from reading this terrific series. The first in the series gives you a quick background on how the Blood Sword knights became bonded. From there, the story takes off. The second in the series picks up just a few months after the first leaves off. A key point that I love about this author is the fact that she does not write her heroes out of the action once they marry the heroines. They remain loyal, and although they don't love having to leave their women for a few months at a time, these men are soldiers who continue to fight for their king. The Blood Swords are never completely domesticated.

Master of Torment:

Wulfson is King William's captain of the guard. His loyalty knows no bounds. When the king sends Wulfson to slay a murderous widow, he doesn't hesitate. However, when Wulfson's eyes meet the brave and tortured eyes of the widow Tarian, he can't put his sword through her heart. Learning that she may be with child, and that she has royal Welsh relatives who may seek retribution against William if she is slain, Wulfson stays his hand. He decides to send a messenger to William with the new information. For now, Tarian has a short respite. Although it cuts his honor to shreds, Wulfson believes he will still be ordered to murder the woman and her unborn child. Always loyal to his king, Wulfson will follow William's command.

Tarian is a warrior woman who fought bravely at King Harold's side until he was slain by William. Her strength has gained her the loyalty of her own army of knights. After years of fighting, she wishes most for a family. No man wants to marry a woman said to be a witch. When she finally does marry an English earl, her new husband tortures her until she kills him in defense of her own life. Armed with a signed and witnessed will, and with no living heir to fight her claim, Tarian is ready to fight for her right to all of her dead husbands lands. The earl's uncle is determined to have not only the lands and title, but Tarian herself. When she refuses to wed him, he captures and tortures her. The uncle is even worse than the late earl. Near death, Tarian is rescued by William's knights. It is a short respite, for she knows that the knights were sent to murder her.

Over weeks of waiting to hear Tarian's fate, Wulfson finds himself besotted with the brave and beautiful warrior princess. He and the rest of the Blood Swords are bound to their oath to William, but none of them can bare the thought of slaying Tarian. The English want to possess her for her royal blood, the Welsh want to use her to produce a new king of England, and the Norman king wants her dead. With so many enemies lurking, Tarian's fight for her life grows more desperate each day. Will Wulfson be her champion, or her murderer? Will his honor and heart win her survival? Or will his loyalty to William bring her death? In the end, both Wulfson and Tarian find that they are willing to sacrifice all for one another. Wulfson reaches a turning point when he realizes that he is willing to die for her.


Terrific suspense and exciting action, combined with tortured and steamy romance. A band of knights that will win your own heart and a heroine worthy of your respect. What a story! I couldn't put it down.


Want to read the series? It's starts here:
Master of Surrender

Next:
Master of Craving


Love medieval romance? Here are a couple of my favorites:
Scotsman

Two book series:
The Pride of Lions
Blood of Roses

There's no easy way out for Lady Tarian. Not only was she forced to kill her husband shortly after their marriage, but William the Conqueror, the King of England himself, wants her dead! After all, Tarian is the granddaughter of one of William's despised enemies. William fears Tarian's heritage could lead to more uprisings and he orders one of his elite knights, Wulfson de Trevelyn, to "handle" the situation. Unfortunately for Tarian, William isn't her only problem as Lord Rangor, her deceased uncle's husband, is determined to wed Tarian by any means necessary. Just how far will Tarian go to stay safe? And what will happen when she starts losing her heart to Wulfson?

Lady Tarian is one incredible, gutsy heroine! In the historical context of the world she resides in, women were not apt to running their own affairs and the men around her certainly agree with that theory. Tarian fights back any way she can and her fortitude is admirable. The despicable acts of Rangor only intensified both my dislike of the power given to men at that time as well as my admiration for Tarian.

Karin Tabke creates a dark but oh so compelling ambiance in MASTER OF TORMENT. It was refreshing to see an author not gloss over some of the issues of that time period and yet still write a tale of hope. Karin Tabke shows the strength of character and personality exhibited by women in the medieval times. She doesn't make Tarian a hapless victim of circumstances but neither does she ignore the worldview surrounding her. Instead, Karin Tabke provides a picture of a strong woman in a very trying time.

MASTER OF TORMENT is a rich, deeply moving tale of bitterness, betrayal, love, and yes, hope. Karin Tabke takes readers through a gamut of emotions as there are characters who will evoke very strong reactions. MASTER OF TORMENT is not necessarily an easy read as the story delves into some very dark pieces of history in which violence permeated everything, but it easily ranks among the best historical books I have ever read. Kudos to Karin Tabke for such a deeply moving tale!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

This was a good, fast read for anyone who enjoys historical romance novels. This is the second of her books that I have read, and while I have other authors that I enjoy more, I found it very entertaining.