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readinginfairyland's review
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
miaev's review against another edition
5.0
Re-reading an old favorite. I love Lynn Kurland's books and if I had to pick just one, it would be this one.
bloomingsouls's review
4.0
If I had to explain this book in one sentence, it would be:
"Compatible hero and heroine both think they are unworthy of each other and are angsty all the time."
"Compatible hero and heroine both think they are unworthy of each other and are angsty all the time."
savannahl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
taramisu's review
2.0
2.5 stars
The premise: Gillian of Warewick has been beaten her entire life by her large, imposing father. Her brother did his best to protect her. But now that he is dead, her safety has been entrusted to Christopher, Lord of Blackmour. When Gillian finds out she is to marry the rumoured Devil spawn who practices black arts in his Tower and eats maidens for supper, she is terrified.
Miscellaneous notes: This book was given Desert Island Keeper status by All About Books.
I am shocked.
I have a soft spot for damaged heroes and/or Beauty and the Beast plots. This had both and I was intent on loving it, despite its medieval setting. While the writing is not much above average, I trudged on, enjoying the plotting despite that flaw.
Then Ms. Kurland made a fatal error. Several, in fact. No, make that many, many, many errors. Yes, I understand that Gillian was tormented by her father. She has been physically sheltered from the world and knows nothing but violence and pain. But the chick really needed to stop WEEPING!! Every thing made the girl cry. If she was afraid, she cried. If she was happy, she cried. If she was confused, she cried. If she was content, she cried. If she had to take a piss, she cried. And, if that weren't bad enough, Ms. Kurland turned that treatment onto her ornery, huge, strapping knight of a hero as well. I got so tired of hearing about wetness to their cheeks that I actually skipped the entire middle of the book.
And, if you read it waiting for the writing to get better...it doesn't. Ms. Kurland steadily slips from her medieval voice to a 21st century voice. Even her characters sometimes sound as if they are from Chicago in the year 2005.
If you do read this book, I beg of you. Skip the epilogue. I've never read such saccharine bull poop. Ugh! This plot could have been done so much more competently in the hands of a better writer.
The premise: Gillian of Warewick has been beaten her entire life by her large, imposing father. Her brother did his best to protect her. But now that he is dead, her safety has been entrusted to Christopher, Lord of Blackmour. When Gillian finds out she is to marry the rumoured Devil spawn who practices black arts in his Tower and eats maidens for supper, she is terrified.
Miscellaneous notes: This book was given Desert Island Keeper status by All About Books.
I am shocked.
I have a soft spot for damaged heroes and/or Beauty and the Beast plots. This had both and I was intent on loving it, despite its medieval setting. While the writing is not much above average, I trudged on, enjoying the plotting despite that flaw.
Then Ms. Kurland made a fatal error. Several, in fact. No, make that many, many, many errors. Yes, I understand that Gillian was tormented by her father. She has been physically sheltered from the world and knows nothing but violence and pain. But the chick really needed to stop WEEPING!! Every thing made the girl cry. If she was afraid, she cried. If she was happy, she cried. If she was confused, she cried. If she was content, she cried. If she had to take a piss, she cried. And, if that weren't bad enough, Ms. Kurland turned that treatment onto her ornery, huge, strapping knight of a hero as well. I got so tired of hearing about wetness to their cheeks that I actually skipped the entire middle of the book.
And, if you read it waiting for the writing to get better...it doesn't. Ms. Kurland steadily slips from her medieval voice to a 21st century voice. Even her characters sometimes sound as if they are from Chicago in the year 2005.
If you do read this book, I beg of you. Skip the epilogue. I've never read such saccharine bull poop. Ugh! This plot could have been done so much more competently in the hands of a better writer.
elusivity's review
2.0
Above-average writing style, situation, and set-up. The heroine is a typical scaredy-cat abused and virginal girl who transforms through love into a woman with confidence, blah blah. The hero is blind -- which was interesting, but not very much explored except that he needed to have the furniture in his household be the same, etc. -- but typical strong man who is not a bad guy inside, blah blah. And, of course, the villain of the piece is the abusive father, who is pure cardboard. Nothing original or unusual occurred, and I was bored out of my mind by the 50% page count.
An extra star for equality between hero and heroine. This one lacks the overt misogynist overtones of many genre romances.
An extra star for equality between hero and heroine. This one lacks the overt misogynist overtones of many genre romances.
fi_c's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
**Most of my reviews contain detailed Content Warning/Trigger Warning (CW/TW) sections, which may include spoilers. I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.** Physical Book
4/5
Summary: After an arranged marriage to save isolated and plain Gillian from her abusive father, the reclusive, somewhat depressed, angry and blind former warrior (and her brother's dear friend) Christopher finds keeping himself closed off from her challenging.
Stats: HR- medieval with a touch of magic, M/F, part of a series - appears to stand alone, fade to black/very, very limited open door.
Notes: This is a sweet story with two “wounded soul” main characters who find fulfillment and meaning in each other. My chief complaint is that the FMC is such a complete ingenue - to the point of frequently being called a “woman-child,” “child” or “girl”- that even though she’s in her early 20s, she feels much younger.
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
witchcraft/magic, love spell/charm/potion, references to religion/religious ceremonies, child abuse (against the FMC, caning/beating/smacking), DV (on FMC by father), death of parents/sibling, abusive parent, violence, forced/arranged marriage, death of previous spouse, FMC knees someone in the crotch, alcohol, crusader MMC, blind MMC, character with depression, general manhandling, blood, grief, unhappy previous marriage, head injury, illness, fistfight, Crusades, reference to “breaking” horses, FMC kisses the MMC while he’s sleeping before they have other fully consensual sexual relationship, the mmc spanks his squire (joking punishment), mention of child marriage (MMCs mother), early pregnancy, battle, infidelity in past relationship, depression, an injury to the dog, death
4/5
Summary: After an arranged marriage to save isolated and plain Gillian from her abusive father, the reclusive, somewhat depressed, angry and blind former warrior (and her brother's dear friend) Christopher finds keeping himself closed off from her challenging.
Stats: HR- medieval with a touch of magic, M/F, part of a series - appears to stand alone, fade to black/very, very limited open door.
Notes: This is a sweet story with two “wounded soul” main characters who find fulfillment and meaning in each other. My chief complaint is that the FMC is such a complete ingenue - to the point of frequently being called a “woman-child,” “child” or “girl”- that even though she’s in her early 20s, she feels much younger.
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
silversyn's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5