Customer Reviews

Midnight Warrior

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

 

 

I have to say honestly, Ms. Johansen has redeemed herself to me. After trying two other books from her and finding them severly lacking, I was reluctant to try a third. Glad I did! Wow, this was full of passion and pageantry during the conquering of William of Normandy(1066).
The Battle of Hastings was the main center for the story and I was surprised since most authors go after the time when William was already sitting on the throne. This was a nice change of pace. Seeing the battle for England and how determined they were to possess the country.
She makes it easy for us modern readers to understand the battles and beliefs of the time, yet keeps in tact the reality of the place. Seeing Wales and the islands dotting the sea through her words was breathtaking.
Brynn of Falkhaar was shocked that she was summoned to tend to a dying man from the Norman army. Reknown as a healer, she was both anxious to help but also repulsed to lend a hand to the enemy. The battlefield of Hastings was filled with the stench of the dying and dead. So much so she felt dizzy.
Brynn must keep her wits and save this man for his friend else she be killed. But as the nights wore on, she couldn't help but see these men for who they were, mere humans brought into battle for a tyrant king. But would her pity make her lose what was most important? Her freedom?
Dark and brooding, Lord Gage Dumont was used to getting his way in all things. So why did the fact that the Welsh beauty as beautiful as a fairy disturb his thoughts? She was just a slave. Yet her kindness and passion defied all logic. Gage would risk everything he owned and everything he was about to possess to conquer her heart.

Very touching and romantic. I especially loved the ending...very...magical<wink>***

Tracy Talley~@

I can honestly say that "Mignight Warrior" is one of my favorite novels written by Johansen. The novel begins in ravaged medival England-torn by greedy barons and King John. All of the conflicts involving the toils of slavery, an abusive husband, and a haunted past create the heroine. Although Brynn is a bit saucy, she also has a sense of independence and isn't the whiny overly feminine type. Brynn's strength exudes from her healing powers and caring heart. And then we have the very masculine Gage...quite a sensual character. Stubborn, possessive, passionate-all describe his attributes. Gage struggles to protect and sheild Brynn from the evils presented; yet no one protects her from Gage... Must read if you enjoy a strong heroine and a enigmatic hero. Another great book by Johansen is "The Magnifcent Rouge."

This is my favorite of her books. I really wish she would go back to writing pure historical romances like these. Alot of authors that I used to love have since moved into or tried to expand their genre, and while this may help them sell more books, it leaves me with few authors I really want to read anymore. The hero may be a bit rough around the edges, but considering the environment he has been immersed in, and what he has had to do to survive in such a world, he still emerged a "warrior" capable of deep loyalty and intense love. While some may object to aspects of his character, the 11th century wasn't exactly a time period for breeding men who are not chauvinistic in some way. But what more of a hero could someone be to say that he would always stand by her no matter what, fight in her cause, and let nothing hurt her...urm, and not sound cheesy. As much as he tried to exert control over her at times, because she challenged him, and because he is used to maintaining that control over himself and those around him, he still goes out of his way to give her everything protect her, show her tenderness and respect, albeit awkwardly at times and is a bit grouchy about it. And the heroine is much the same way, does what she has had to, to survive, but is fiercely loyal and stubborn, yet incredibly vulnerable despite her refusal to admit that she too needs saving, all the while trying to save others. Everything else is just minor details to me.

The story between Brynn and Gage was more a story of friends than one of lovers. She only made love to him when she wanted something in return. When he wanted her to come to him of her own accord, she refused him. Always. Even when she knew she loved him. In the beginning, I liked her, her caring nature and her gift, which, despite the impossibility of such a thing, never got in the way of the story. I liked the way she could feel what other people felt and I liked her sensitivity. For a while. At some point, her tendency to take care of everything and everyone started to grate on my nerves.
But in a way, I could still understand that, because her whole character was so special, eccentric, and somehow different, that all she did made sense.
I loved it that they never minced words or tried to deny who they were. And I loved it when Brynn and Gage were getting to know each other, trying to make out their feelings or come to terms with certain events.
This is a story that stands out because of its well-developed characters, interesting story and abundance of action. But if you are looking for a simple love story, you should perhaps look somewhere else.

I must say that I'm not an avid reader.......at all. I recently acquired this book via hand-me-down and found the title intriguing, so I laid down for bed one night to read a page or two to see if it would even hold my interest......several hours later, I was still reading (the ending). I couldn't put it down until I was done. I loved the masculinity portrayed in Lord Gage....a take charge kind of man. Every woman wants to be pursued and desired like in this story. It had just enough lusty details to make you want to read more! I also liked the way the story ended with a little twist to make you say, hmmmmm.

I've read countless novels by Johansen, from all the different genres she writes in, and Midnight Warrior wasn't her best. While the sex scenes did not disappoint (and come on, we all know that's what we look for in a romance novel!), the relationship between Brynn and Gage didn't feel like the head-over-heels romance that it could have been. I also thought that Brynn's unconditional love for Gwynthal, where she was born, was a tad unrealistic.

The slight twist Johansen added in at the very end was a bit over the top, and took more away from the story than it added to it.

This book was good to pass the time between other novels, but there are better romance novels out there. I'd like to give it 2.5 stars, but because you can't, I guess 3 will have to do.

For Johansen at her best, I strongly suggest the Wind Dancer trilogy.

Midnight Warrior is my second book from Iris Johansen after The Magnificent Rouge. I must say that I enjoy the plot of the Magnificent Rouge better. Somehow in comparison, the plot twists in this book were less surprising. The supporting characters are weaker compared to those in Magnificent Rouge. Nevertheless, I like the Gage and Brynn. I wish I have such a protector and lover like Gage, as steadfast as a tower, he promised and delivered, he is very possessive in a very exciting way. I find Brynn's stubbornness a bit tormenting not only for Gage, but for herself and the reader. I wish she was more expressive and spontaneous in her feelings.

Brynn is a healer with her own rules and approach towards life. Gage needs her help for his dearest friend and commands her services. Though they fall for each other, she feels she has to give up too much of herself. He knows she is worth waiting for and pursues her but makes her make the final decisions so that she'll be as committed as he wants her to be. She develops a lot as a person. He is a great hero for his true inner strength. And the scenes, well...

I decided to read more of Iris Johansen's romances after reading The Magnificent Rogue (to which I gave 5 stars). But this isn't in the same league as that novel, at least in my opinion. This romance is set in the time just before and after William the Conqueror takes the throne in England (1066) but you really don't get to see much of knights or how the Normans were affecting life in England at the time. The hero, Gage Dumont is a merchant lord from France who goes to battle with William, at William's request, in order to gain his choice of lands in England while providing William with the fighting men and money to conquer. Gage takes with him his friend, Malik, a handsome Saracen with a rather bizarre sense of humor. Malik is severely wounded in the Battle of Hastings (we don't see the battle), and is expected to die until a Saxon, the evil Lord of Redfern, recommends a woman to Gage who can heal--and she does, saving Malik's life. In the process, Gage finds he cannot live without the young woman, Brynn of Falkhaar, a healer with unique abilities, who was taken against her will and forced to marry the sadistic Dumas who is a slave to the Lord of Redfern. Brynn is a fiesty woman who orders the big Norman/Viking around much to his chagrin.

Most of the book is taken up with the developing relationship between Byrnn and Gage and the treachery waiting for them at Redfern. (We never see London...) But there is the promise of treasure on the mysterious island home of Brynn. And everyone likes a good treasure hunt, right? I found the story interesting for the most part and preferred the first half. She is very good at dialog. Some of her love scenes could be better described, however (and some didn't seem consistent with what was going on at the time). There were scenes I really didn't like, and I didn't like the whole character of Dumas and his brutality toward Byrnn. I did think that Brynn's voluntarily taking a brutal beating from Dumas because she could was a bit much. Who needs that? I found it unnecessary. In fact, I found Dumas unnecessary. And the on again/off again physical relationship between Brynn and Gage was not quite believable. What Viking would be content to "give her space" after they'd begun a physical relationship? Please.

I think I would have liked it better if it had more of what was going on in England in 1066-67, but oh well. It's more of a fantasy in some respects than a historical. Given how well Johansen can write when she does it well this was a disappointing read.

With this book Iris Johansen has been true to the history and true to the times in which her characters reside. They are vibrant and full of life. A wonderful read. I would highly recommend it to history buffs who like a little romance thrown in.