Customer Reviews

Warrior's Bride (Stones of Destiny, Book 2)

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

 

 

In 1372 on the Isle of St. Kilda, Scotland, Lady Isobel Grange understands the power of the Seer's Stone as she saw first hand in the tower they shared how it eventually drove her mother insane. Isobel's greatest fear is that the stone will drive her mad too. Apparently, the Stone demands Isobel marry Douglas Stewart, known as the Black Wolf of Scotland.

However, besides having no plans to wed anyone ever as he believes their line needs to end with him, Douglas would never heed his abusive father's demand that he marry Isobel. Still he feels it is only right to tell her in person that he will not be her husband. However, whether it is the Stone or just his heart, Douglas finds he wants her. She, in turn, is stunned because she has never been attracted to anyone before. As they fall in love, their families and the Seer's Stone manipulate them leading to a potentially deadly schism between Douglas and Isobel.

Gerri Russell's second medieval romance (see THE WARRIOR TRAINER) is an exciting paranormal historical that sub-genre fans will want to read soonest due to the likable star-crossed lovers. Readers will cheer for Douglas and Isobel who have plenty to overcome if they are to make together. Isobel is especially a fascinating character as she fears she will ultimately follow her mother's path into lunacy that she witnessed even as her mom battled to remain sane for her daughter. Ms. Russell provides a fresh look at fourteenth century Scottish romances.

Harriet Klausner

Like her previous novel, "The Warrior Trainer", this novel is based on historical events in Scotland, which gives the story added depth. In "Warrior's Bride" Rusell again writes fully developed characters whose story kept me riveted until the final page. While I recommend Russell's first book, this sophomore effort stands alone - readers need not have read the first book to follow and be transported by "Warrior's Bride." It's quite a trick to write fiction that is both fantastcally imaginative and absolutely believable. Gerri Russell is just such an author.

The Warrior Bride by Gerri Russell is a wonderfully written story. The talented Ms. Russell took events from history and made a sad story into a happily ever after, and her story transported me back to another time. I loved finding out the hero's secret...he is a nice guy despite his reputation. This story has many twists and turns that keep you guessing. I read this book before I found out it had a companion book the Warrior Trainer, which you should read first. I cannot wait to read it. I hope to see more from this great author.

I enjoyed the first book in the series because it featured a female swordswoman. With a name like "Warrior's Bride", and with this being the second book in the same series, I thought this would be the same. I was disappointed. Instead, the story is about a girl who only picks up a sword at the very end in a quite unrealistic scene.

First, let me say that I did read the book through in a few hours and it kept me engaged. So the book was reasonably good. However, there were a variety of flaws along the way. Characters are introduced in very confusing manners, so half the time you're wondering "who IS this person they just mentioned? Was I supposed to know about him or her?" Things are mentioned in the plot as if you'd been told about them, but skimming back through the pages you realize you never were. Sentence structure is sometimes jumbled so you aren't clear who is talking or who is doing what until you keep reading and get further clarification.

A key part of a good story is that you stay immersed in the story. There are several times here where you "step back" and get summary dumps piled on your head. It's not TOO bad if this happens in an unimportant scene - but it's done right in the middle of the final scene! Not good.

A variety of scenes suffer from lack of logic or information. The heroine goes off riding with her hero. The whole time I'm thinking, "hey, what's the chances this girl has ever BEEN on a horse before?" Nothing is said at all about it. Then later in the story she gets on a horse again, has trouble with it, and it's commented that it's only the second time she's ever been on a horse. What, and this didn't deserve any mention or storyline demonstration the first time around? She just hopped on a horse, rode off, no problems, no pain?

The story is set in 1353 but they have small ships with cannons on them that they're easily using without large support staff? The history of cannon shows that this would be HIGHLY unlikely for a small ship in this time period. I don't think they had "balls" in England at that time, even for the huge land cannons.

It's hard to comment on the ending part of the story without giving away part of the plot, but let me just say that it does not feel reasonable at all. There are about eight different things "wrong" with the ending sequence ranging from character actions and reactions to technical issues about how things work. Since this is the most important part of the story, it left me feeling very let down.

I hesitated between 3 and 4 stars. I did still enjoy the story. I enjoyed the effort made to incorporate glass blowing - something unusual - into the plot. I appreciated that the plot kept me engaged. However, a good editor should have cleaned up most if not all of these issues before the book came out. Plus, for me personally, since I got the book expecting the woman to be capable with a sword, to see the one situation portrayed inanely really disappointed me.

I won't be getting the third book in the series. I might recommend this to someone who loved Scotland and who wanted to read every Scottish book they could get their hands on, but it's not in my top list of romance novels. It's not even in my "books I'd keep to read a second time" list.

Kept me up all night reading. Didn't put it down until the last page.

Excellent!

Russell's second book is a great read. The characters come alive on the pages and you can feel yourself going back in time to historic Scotland. I enjoyed her first book and yet this one is even better! Can't wait for the third in the stone series to be released October 2008! I highly recommend this book.

I don't understand how this was 5 stars when most of the time I was like "Are you serious?" I don't feel that Isobel grew from being timid to a warrior. And the chemistry between the lovers was not up to par. So he shows her some places that he never brought anyone and then they find that they love each other? Ok..... Also, there's a mistress involved that has been around for 2 yrs. She betrays them by poison, giving the enemy secrets, etc... and all of the sudden she gets a castle to command by the hero at the end of the book. Yeah right... I felt this was more of a deadline book. You know..."I gotta think of something quick so I can give it to my editor no matter what the end is".