The Running Vixen [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Chadwick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1992

Upon his return home to Wales in 1126, Adam de Lacey rediscovers his love for Heulwen, his stepsister, but she has agreed to marry Adam's foe, Warrin de Mortimer, a man involved in a plot against the king. By the author of The Wild Hunt.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This sequel to The Wild Hunt ( LJ 9/1/91) continues the tale of Norman lords on the Welsh border in the 12th century. Henry I has secured his throne, but the succession is in doubt after the death of his only son. Henry seeks to have his daughter Maud confirmed as heir but must outface hostile barons who do not want a female ruler. Lord Guyon's daughter Heulwen and Adam de Lacey, babies in the first book, are the protagonists here. As before, the emphasis is on romance rather than history, as Heulwen and Adam fall in love, marry, and endure personal and political crises prompted by Henry, Maud, and their Welsh and Norman neighbors. Recommended for large collections.
- Mary Ann Parker, California Dept. of Water Resources Law Lib., Sacramento
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Chadwick's first, The Wild Hunt (1989), a cheerful early 12th- century adventure, featured that busy noble of the Welsh Marches, Lord Guyon of Ravenstow, blessed with political wits, warrior's skills, and a giant capacity to love and lust. Here, Guyon's foster son, Adam de Lacey, offers a reprise of all those good things as he handles some delicate missions for the totally untrustworthy Henry I of England, smites the enemy, and gentles the lovely Heulwen, daughter of Guyon by a deceased lass of lower degree (in Wild Hunt). Adam has just returned from escorting the furious widowed Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I, back to England to be betrothed to some unlucky choice of Henry's. At home, Adam discovers that his foster sister Heulwen's husband has been killed and that she's now to wed (willingly!) thick-necked Warrin de Mortimer. Much sparring and evasions later, both discover a mutual love, and Adam sneaks Heulwen out of the marriage and lands himself a deadly enemy. From the Welsh Marches to the royal court and back again, the pair spat and mightily couple. Throughout, there are dangers and narrow escapes: hostages taken and released, a royalty- ordained trail-by-combat, and a ``melee'' featuring the nasty Warrin--his last dastardly act has posthumous consequences that threaten the marriage. All signs point encouragingly to a long, jolly series, which could run lightly through the Plantagenets--the first one here, Geoffrey, wed to the Empress Matilda. With action, bouncy sex, and believable historical figures: an easy-going companionable popular historical. -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: St Martins Pr (May 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312077939
• ISBN-13: 978-0312077938
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,713,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elizabeth Chadwick is a best selling, award winning author of historical fiction. A born storyteller, her first novel The Wild Hunt won a Betty Trask Award in 1990. She has been four times shortlisted for the RNA Award in the UK for the best mainstream romantic novel. Her book The Scarlet Lion was selected as one of the top ten works of historical fiction of the decade by Richard Lee, founder of The Historical Novel Society.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Running Vixen is a Runaway Winner!, January 8, 2003

By 

Kimberly Gelderman (Spring Lake, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Running Vixen (Hardcover)

What an incredible read! This is the second novel in a trilogy, that just doesn't slow down. It continues the story several years after "The Wild Hunt" left off, and Adam de Lacey and his "foster sister," Heulwen, have grown up. In the beginning Heulwen is recently widowed and he is recently returned home to the Welsh Marshes in 1126. Adam finds that he has fallen in hopelessly in love with her. Can he convince her that she should view him as a man grown and not consider him at all a brother in any way? Can he stop her betrothal to his mortal enemy? Read on and find out!

The paths that they choose are harrowing and exciting, full of duels to the death, marriage under extenuating circumstances, court intrigue, all with the court of Henry I as the backdrop.

This book is well written and keeps your attention, sometimes until the wee hours of the morning! I found several nail biting scenes that I just couldn't wait to find out the conclusions to. I'm eagerly looking forward to reading "The Leopard Unleashed" in this series. This book is out-of-print, but don't let that stop you from finding a copy of it, somehow. You won't be sorry!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Book Two in the Ravenstow Trilogy 3.5 Stars, October 28, 2007

By 

Misfit (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Running Vixen (Mass Market Paperback)

This book tells the story of Guyan's newly widowed natural daughter Heulwen and Adam de Lacey who was raised in Guyan and Judith's household. Adam has just returned from escorting Maude/Mathidla from Germany back to England to be sworn in as Henry I's heir, to the chagrin of the Barons. Although raised as brother and sister, Adam is in love with Heulwen, but she has plans to marry a man Adam detests, and Adam eventually comes across damning evidence against him. Naturally, sparks fly between the two and Adam and Heulwen are caught by Warrin in a compromising situation that leads to a battle for the death between the two.

This was an interesting tale set amidst the background of the intrigues and treachery of Henry I's court, and I very much enjoyed seeing more of Guyan and Judith and their brood of children, most especially that scamp Renard. This is the second time that I've read this book, the first being about two years ago before I had read much of the author's later works. It was interesting to revisit one of her earlier books and see the contrast between them and how the author has grown. Interestingly, many parts of this book reminded me of Roberta Gellis' Roselynde Chronicles, and very different in style from The Wild Hunt. While a well told tale, I did not find the effortless sense of time travel she shows in her later works, as she seamlessly blends the sights, sounds smells, clothing of the medieval period into her stories.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Running Vixen, January 23, 2004

By 

Becky Lee (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Running Vixen (Mass Market Paperback)

This book follows Chadwick's "The Wild Hunt", as the second book in her trilogy.

With the battles in the Welsh Marches raging around them, and the intrigue of Henry I's court, Adam de Lacey fights to convince Heulwen (his foster-sister) that he is no longer a boy - and definitely not her brother.

One passionate filled night seals their fate, and they must fight through the treachery that surrounds them to survive.

This is a stunning read from Elizabeth Chadwick, and not to be missed!