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jessiecat7's review against another edition
Adult minor relationship made me super uncomfortable, not to mention the book was otherwise boring as crap
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Domestic abuse
milkybew's review
5.0
This is not a typical today historical romance (which usually evolved around 1 couple, a few obstacles and finally happily ever after) I couldn’t say this book is for everyone, there are so many sensitive contents that is not for a faint of heart. The story of Skye O’Malley is the most captivating one I ever read. Although, I would normally rooted for initial hero (Naill). However, throughout the book you will fall in love with Skye’s husbands but then heartbroken because of there tragic death. I cried my eyes out every time Skye lost another husbands! Oh my… what a life Skye been through. And when Skye is finally in love with Naill again It felt like I can finally rest In peace. It was a torture to finish this book, but not in a bad way. The story was sooooo good that I’m happily go through it again in next book. I was so scared to continue on, so I read some reviews and learned that Skye’s life were turn upside down again by Naill death but finally have her happy ending. I think I need a break from a book or two before I could deal with Naill death on my future reading (probably a week).
ritaroo27's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
raynac's review against another edition
5.0
I read this when I was about 21 at the recommendation of someone my age. I loved it at the time, and still re-read it every few years. It is pure mindless escapism, which sometimes is all I really want to read. If you are looking for classic fiction, skip this one!
happily_after_heas's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
llama_lord's review against another edition
4.0
Typically when I review a bodice-ripper I like to start my review with a CW list if applicable, just so everyone knows what they're getting into, but for a book like this I don't think it would be possible to list everything I found questionable. Bertrice Small was out here collecting CWs like they're Pokémon. Suffice to say, this book would never be published today. Make of that what you will. Personally, I enjoyed it and found it highly entertaining - but then again I enjoy trash.
This is the story of Skye O'Malley, the most perfect woman on Earth who also happens to have the most perfect breasts ever in the history of mankind, who basically goes on a sex adventure around the British Isles and Europe. Starting in 1555 when Skye is but 15, this story follows her from her home in Ireland, to a harem in Algiers, and even into the court of Elizabeth I as Skye essentially collects husbands, lovers, and children. It's also the story of Skye's star-crossed lover, Niall Burke, but even though they are obviously the endgame couple from the moment they meet, Bertrice Small clearly has little interest in their relationship and neither did I.
This book was nothing if not entertaining. It was the literary equivalent of the way that I play the Sims - just creating completely outlandish and trashy storylines and then reveling in the chaos that ensues. This was like Game of Thrones if it was a daytime soap from the 80s. If you like vintage bodice rippers with plots that border on ridiculous, I definitely think you'll find this book as fun to read as I did.
In terms of characters, Skye O'Malley herself is so perfect that she is basically a non-character, just a perfect blank slate that I, as a reader, could project myself onto. What if I was an inconceivably rich and beautiful woman with perfect breasts going on a sex adventure throughout 1500s Europe? I wondered as I read while sitting hunched over like a goblin eating chocolate chips straight out of the bag and wearing sweatpants. Niall Burke was sort of just a sad sack and not really a hero I could root for, although he did have a couple of moments were I felt genuine sympathy for him. But as I said earlier, it didn't even seem like Bertrice Small herself was interested in this relationship so I'm confused why this was the main romance for the story. Skye had multiple other partners that I liked more than Niall.
The story moves at an incredibly fast pace. The book is more of a bodice-ripper erotica than a historical romance, and there were many times I thought you could feel the author's impatience to get to the next sex scene and rush through the "boring" stuff in between. The sex scenes were not particularly good either, as I thought most of them were going for a "shock" factor that I wasn't into, although I did get a kick out of the cheesy euphemisms - "honey oven" is now a permanent part of my vernacular. That said, I really enjoyed the portions of the story that took place in Ireland and Algiers. My interest waned a little bit when the storyline brought Skye to England, and I wasn't as dazzled by the inclusion of Elizabeth I and her courtiers as the story clearly intended me to be - but I think that's just my own personal fatigue of England-based HRs and I need to cleanse my palette with some other time periods and locations.
I'm glad I read this because I got such a kick out of it. I wasn't planning to continue the series but now that I'm reading some spoilers for the next book, All the Sweet Tomorrows, I am intrigued
This is the story of Skye O'Malley, the most perfect woman on Earth who also happens to have the most perfect breasts ever in the history of mankind, who basically goes on a sex adventure around the British Isles and Europe. Starting in 1555 when Skye is but 15, this story follows her from her home in Ireland, to a harem in Algiers, and even into the court of Elizabeth I as Skye essentially collects husbands, lovers, and children. It's also the story of Skye's star-crossed lover, Niall Burke, but even though they are obviously the endgame couple from the moment they meet, Bertrice Small clearly has little interest in their relationship and neither did I.
This book was nothing if not entertaining. It was the literary equivalent of the way that I play the Sims - just creating completely outlandish and trashy storylines and then reveling in the chaos that ensues. This was like Game of Thrones if it was a daytime soap from the 80s. If you like vintage bodice rippers with plots that border on ridiculous, I definitely think you'll find this book as fun to read as I did.
In terms of characters, Skye O'Malley herself is so perfect that she is basically a non-character, just a perfect blank slate that I, as a reader, could project myself onto. What if I was an inconceivably rich and beautiful woman with perfect breasts going on a sex adventure throughout 1500s Europe? I wondered as I read while sitting hunched over like a goblin eating chocolate chips straight out of the bag and wearing sweatpants. Niall Burke was sort of just a sad sack and not really a hero I could root for, although he did have a couple of moments were I felt genuine sympathy for him. But as I said earlier, it didn't even seem like Bertrice Small herself was interested in this relationship so I'm confused why this was the main romance for the story. Skye had multiple other partners that I liked more than Niall.
The story moves at an incredibly fast pace. The book is more of a bodice-ripper erotica than a historical romance, and there were many times I thought you could feel the author's impatience to get to the next sex scene and rush through the "boring" stuff in between. The sex scenes were not particularly good either, as I thought most of them were going for a "shock" factor that I wasn't into, although I did get a kick out of the cheesy euphemisms - "honey oven" is now a permanent part of my vernacular. That said, I really enjoyed the portions of the story that took place in Ireland and Algiers. My interest waned a little bit when the storyline brought Skye to England, and I wasn't as dazzled by the inclusion of Elizabeth I and her courtiers as the story clearly intended me to be - but I think that's just my own personal fatigue of England-based HRs and I need to cleanse my palette with some other time periods and locations.
I'm glad I read this because I got such a kick out of it. I wasn't planning to continue the series but now that I'm reading some spoilers for the next book, All the Sweet Tomorrows, I am intrigued
paranoidtim's review against another edition
First published in 1981, so before fanfic, this reads as a Grace O'Malley plot-what-plot fanfic. Most of the character development happens off the page. The main male character is introduced as a bad-ass but then is easily tricked and grovels to his dad. The main female character gains everything only to lose it all immediately. The abuse is unpleasant to read, the love isn't believable and I mostly just laughed at the smut.
riskyduck's review against another edition
1.0
A ridiculous soap opera. I don't care how old school this is. I managed to get through 1/3 and skimmed the rest. I felt strangely compelled to see what happened, but it was almost painful reading it.
Actually, Skye's very loosely based on real life Grace O'Malley. It didn't help or make it more interesting.
In case you want to save yourself the trouble, here's long synopsis (leaves out a lot I'm sure):
Skye's the spoiled pet of her dad, been allowed to grow up "wild" and willful. Also super at home asea and on a ship.
Then Niall and 15 yr old Skye fall in love instantly.
Too bad she's about to marry Dom, her betrothed from childhood.
On marriage night, Niall claims his right as overlord heir to sex Skye up first. Promises to get marry her after getting her an annulment.
Skye's dad knocks out Niall and sends him back home. Tells Skye that Niall abandoned her. Sends Niall letter "from Skye" saying it was all a mistake. Niall's dad wants him to marry better, makes him take a wife about to become a nun.
Dom's an abusive, raping machine. Niall's wife Darragh religious, makes Niall feels like rapist.
Skye catches Dom and his sis going at it, they both rape her. Dom falls down stairs, paralyzed. Skye takes kids and control of everything. Dad dies and gives makes Skye head of the family.
Dom eventually dies, Darragh gets annulment, becomes nun. Niall lets Skye get over rape trauma and they get engaged.
Niall travels w/Skye on ship. They get attacked, Niall shot, Skye kidnapped.
Skye loses memory, becomes slave to Khalid, Whoremaster (biggest pimp) of Algiers. Khalid falls for Skye, marries her. Skye proceeds to lose all her spine and become a supplicating wife. Learns to love Khalid, gets pregnant.
Khalid's "friend" Jamil wants Skye and goads jealous whore Yasmin to murder Skye in sleep. But she actually kills Khalid.
Skye settles affairs, makes Jamil impotent (ignoring how he'll probably beat the crap outta girls now), and leaves for England with help of Khalid's business partner Small.
Geoffery is friend of Small's friend. Pretty much an asshat, but they somehow fall in love. Too bad he dies of an illness.
Elizabeth I's favorite Robert Dudley makes the moves on Skye. She complains to the queen and "Bess" gives Skye to Dudley. Adam saves Skye from rape and falls in love, becomes a good friend.
Niall thought Skye was dead, married the young chick who nursed him back to health. She's too "lusty" and sleeps around. Somehow dies.
Niall and Skye both bitter when they meet again, but learn to love each other again after forced to marry. Niall jealous of Adam but gets over it.
Elizabeth imprisons Skye for pirating ships but Niall gets fake proof to set Skye free. The End.
Except in the excerpt from the next book, you find out Niall dies somehow and Adam is of course next in line to be on of Skye's ill fated husbands.
Actually, Skye's very loosely based on real life Grace O'Malley. It didn't help or make it more interesting.
In case you want to save yourself the trouble, here's long synopsis (leaves out a lot I'm sure):
Skye's the spoiled pet of her dad, been allowed to grow up "wild" and willful. Also super at home asea and on a ship.
Then Niall and 15 yr old Skye fall in love instantly.
Too bad she's about to marry Dom, her betrothed from childhood.
On marriage night, Niall claims his right as overlord heir to sex Skye up first. Promises to get marry her after getting her an annulment.
Skye's dad knocks out Niall and sends him back home. Tells Skye that Niall abandoned her. Sends Niall letter "from Skye" saying it was all a mistake. Niall's dad wants him to marry better, makes him take a wife about to become a nun.
Dom's an abusive, raping machine. Niall's wife Darragh religious, makes Niall feels like rapist.
Skye catches Dom and his sis going at it, they both rape her. Dom falls down stairs, paralyzed. Skye takes kids and control of everything. Dad dies and gives makes Skye head of the family.
Dom eventually dies, Darragh gets annulment, becomes nun. Niall lets Skye get over rape trauma and they get engaged.
Niall travels w/Skye on ship. They get attacked, Niall shot, Skye kidnapped.
Skye loses memory, becomes slave to Khalid, Whoremaster (biggest pimp) of Algiers. Khalid falls for Skye, marries her. Skye proceeds to lose all her spine and become a supplicating wife. Learns to love Khalid, gets pregnant.
Khalid's "friend" Jamil wants Skye and goads jealous whore Yasmin to murder Skye in sleep. But she actually kills Khalid.
Skye settles affairs, makes Jamil impotent (ignoring how he'll probably beat the crap outta girls now), and leaves for England with help of Khalid's business partner Small.
Geoffery is friend of Small's friend. Pretty much an asshat, but they somehow fall in love. Too bad he dies of an illness.
Elizabeth I's favorite Robert Dudley makes the moves on Skye. She complains to the queen and "Bess" gives Skye to Dudley. Adam saves Skye from rape and falls in love, becomes a good friend.
Niall thought Skye was dead, married the young chick who nursed him back to health. She's too "lusty" and sleeps around. Somehow dies.
Niall and Skye both bitter when they meet again, but learn to love each other again after forced to marry. Niall jealous of Adam but gets over it.
Elizabeth imprisons Skye for pirating ships but Niall gets fake proof to set Skye free. The End.
Except in the excerpt from the next book, you find out Niall dies somehow and Adam is of course next in line to be on of Skye's ill fated husbands.