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waffley's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Super cute and really short. Wish it were longer! I actually think it couldve been longer or expanded. But oh well. Author did a really good job with world building and with the characters, which made me want more.
mckellstar's review against another edition
4.0
Short, passionate, and fun! I thoroughly enjoyed this.
torilovesheas's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve been trying to finish out Alyssa Cole’s backlist and this was such a fun novella!
I had never heard of the Tournament of the Wild Knight and Black Lady, which according to the note at the end took place in Edinburgh from 1507-1508. It’s always a joy to read an underrepresented part of history and this reimagining of the legendary tournament where our FMC gets a happy ending with a dashing, Highland Earl was highly enjoyable with a satisfying HEA!
CW: use of the word savage (MCs are aware of it’s meaning), references to slavery in the FMCs past, mentions of racism at court
I had never heard of the Tournament of the Wild Knight and Black Lady, which according to the note at the end took place in Edinburgh from 1507-1508. It’s always a joy to read an underrepresented part of history and this reimagining of the legendary tournament where our FMC gets a happy ending with a dashing, Highland Earl was highly enjoyable with a satisfying HEA!
CW: use of the word savage (MCs are aware of it’s meaning), references to slavery in the FMCs past, mentions of racism at court
smithrachaelynn's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
4.25
What I liked:
- The tension and chemistry between Gareth and Agnes
- Gareth’s wooing of her and convincing her they would be good together
- That the basis of the story was a real event is very interesting
What I didn’t like:
- Not long enough, such an interesting story and I was so sad that it was over so soon
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Sexual content
butterbrioche's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
My only qualm is that I wished this was longer. I wanted so much more but I loved it! Alyssa Cole just always manages to get it right!
hrjones's review
3.0
When I was reading Bernadette Andrea’s The Lives of Girls and Women from the Islamic World in Early Modern British Literature and Culture, I spotted a reference to Elen More, a black woman in the early 16th century Scottish court, and instantly realized, OMG, that’s the inspiration for that story I saw among Alyssa Cole’s publications! And then the chance of spotting the ebook on sale led me to pick it up, because I loved Cole’s story in the collection Hamilton’s Battalion.
So...this is not at all a criticism of Agnes Moor’s Wild Knight itself, but it was a useful calibration of what my tolerance is regarding the ratio of story to sex in historical fiction. This is a relatively short novella. The writing is technically excellent and the history is solidly portrayed. The depiction of the experience of a black woman in 16th century Britain felt solid and nuanced. But structurally, the story felt like it had just barely enough scene setting to justify setting up the sex scenes. And since I wasn’t there for the sex scenes, I didn’t get my story fix. It isn’t at all a criticism of the story because clearly there are a lot of readers who are looking for exactly this sort of balance. But it’s not for me and I’ve adjusted my buy-reflexes accordingly.
So...this is not at all a criticism of Agnes Moor’s Wild Knight itself, but it was a useful calibration of what my tolerance is regarding the ratio of story to sex in historical fiction. This is a relatively short novella. The writing is technically excellent and the history is solidly portrayed. The depiction of the experience of a black woman in 16th century Britain felt solid and nuanced. But structurally, the story felt like it had just barely enough scene setting to justify setting up the sex scenes. And since I wasn’t there for the sex scenes, I didn’t get my story fix. It isn’t at all a criticism of the story because clearly there are a lot of readers who are looking for exactly this sort of balance. But it’s not for me and I’ve adjusted my buy-reflexes accordingly.
deborahplace's review
4.0
I love Alyssa Cole!!!!!!! Even though this is an extremely short novella, I was so invested in the characters and the plot. I hope she returns to Scotland in one of her future novels some day.
bravereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
5.0
Alyssa Cole could write a mathematical formula and I would read it. I wish this were a full-length novel, tbh, because who doesn't want to read about medieval interracial relationships???? This is also loosely based on a real event, so that's a rabbit hole I will be falling down later. I honestly loved this.
misssusan's review
3.0
i love it when historical romances put me on to a bits of history i wasn't aware of, i had no idea there were black people in king james' court
someone go write me a full novel about them, this was good but at 38 pages it really only whetted my appetite for more
3.5 stars
someone go write me a full novel about them, this was good but at 38 pages it really only whetted my appetite for more
3.5 stars