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beeziereadsromance's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent historical fiction
I adored this. The history is richly described, and the relationship between Cai and Fen slowly, beautifully developed.
I didn't want to stop reading it.
I adored this. The history is richly described, and the relationship between Cai and Fen slowly, beautifully developed.
I didn't want to stop reading it.
kaje_harper's review against another edition
5.0
When I read a book by Harper Fox, I know I'll be swept out of my reality into a vivid world that engages my senses. This book opens to the tang of sea air, the sand and salt-grasses and open spaces of a barren northern peninsula. Here Cai has escaped the brutish life of his chieftain father's holding for a monastic Christian community... with a difference.
The abbot of this small group is a man of science and learning, and not in the least fixated on doctrine. The monks learn about the movement of the earth along with the life of Christ, and live and labor together to create a sanctuary where the best of faith and discovery can exist side by side. There is prayer and tradition, but the abbot is also a practical man, and work is not interrupted constantly for monastic hours. And relationships between the brothers, although frowned upon as a breach of chastity, are not anathema. Unfortunately, there are rumors that their impoverished monastery conceals a treasure, and those rumors are enough to bring the vikingr raiding.
Caius learned sword-fighting at his father's knee. He may be a man of God, but when the lives of his brethren are threatened, he will fight. They manage to drive off the first raid, and one of the raiders is left behind, critically wounded. Cai is tempted to kill the man, in retribution for the men the monastery has lost, including his friend and bedmate, but he is at heart a healer, and the heat of battle is over. So he brings the injured viking into his care. And instead of dying, the man, Fenrir, lives.
This story progresses very slowly, through Fen's recovery and a gradual sea change in Fen's view of the world, and Cai's view of Fen. There is loss and adventure, in an almost cyclic rhythm. There is a touch of religion, with a gloss of the mystical, almost the paranormal. The old herb witch, the saintly hermit, prophetic dreams and curious animals, come together to give the story just a hint of the otherworldly, over an otherwise deeply reality-grounded base. The scents and sounds and feel of the era pervade the story, and the men are wonderful characters with strengths that truly complement each other.
Cai's humility, honor, curiosity and compassion, are a match for Fen's bravery, energy, reckless enthusiasm and fondness for violence. When the Church back in Europe sends an intolerant new bishop with teachings of hell-fire for heresy, Cai must decide how best to honor his old mentor. And when the Vikings raid again, Fen must decide which side he is on.
I really liked the slow sweep of this story, which allowed the time for these men to change and grow, and become who they were meant to be. It is not the most intense of Harper Fox's books, or my absolute favorite (still [b:Scrap Metal|13157635|Scrap Metal|Harper Fox|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328327742s/13157635.jpg|18336044]), but it stands well among them. There is a touch of the possible-paranormal in a plot thread that I can't decide whether I like or feel cheated by. Another reread will be required to decide (ah, the sacrifice ;) Readers who have loved the more atmospheric, slow-building stories by this author will find themselves delightfully immersed in this one.
The abbot of this small group is a man of science and learning, and not in the least fixated on doctrine. The monks learn about the movement of the earth along with the life of Christ, and live and labor together to create a sanctuary where the best of faith and discovery can exist side by side. There is prayer and tradition, but the abbot is also a practical man, and work is not interrupted constantly for monastic hours. And relationships between the brothers, although frowned upon as a breach of chastity, are not anathema. Unfortunately, there are rumors that their impoverished monastery conceals a treasure, and those rumors are enough to bring the vikingr raiding.
Caius learned sword-fighting at his father's knee. He may be a man of God, but when the lives of his brethren are threatened, he will fight. They manage to drive off the first raid, and one of the raiders is left behind, critically wounded. Cai is tempted to kill the man, in retribution for the men the monastery has lost, including his friend and bedmate, but he is at heart a healer, and the heat of battle is over. So he brings the injured viking into his care. And instead of dying, the man, Fenrir, lives.
This story progresses very slowly, through Fen's recovery and a gradual sea change in Fen's view of the world, and Cai's view of Fen. There is loss and adventure, in an almost cyclic rhythm. There is a touch of religion, with a gloss of the mystical, almost the paranormal. The old herb witch, the saintly hermit, prophetic dreams and curious animals, come together to give the story just a hint of the otherworldly, over an otherwise deeply reality-grounded base. The scents and sounds and feel of the era pervade the story, and the men are wonderful characters with strengths that truly complement each other.
Cai's humility, honor, curiosity and compassion, are a match for Fen's bravery, energy, reckless enthusiasm and fondness for violence. When the Church back in Europe sends an intolerant new bishop with teachings of hell-fire for heresy, Cai must decide how best to honor his old mentor. And when the Vikings raid again, Fen must decide which side he is on.
I really liked the slow sweep of this story, which allowed the time for these men to change and grow, and become who they were meant to be. It is not the most intense of Harper Fox's books, or my absolute favorite (still [b:Scrap Metal|13157635|Scrap Metal|Harper Fox|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328327742s/13157635.jpg|18336044]), but it stands well among them. There is a touch of the possible-paranormal in a plot thread that I can't decide whether I like or feel cheated by. Another reread will be required to decide (ah, the sacrifice ;) Readers who have loved the more atmospheric, slow-building stories by this author will find themselves delightfully immersed in this one.
doublec's review against another edition
4.0
È un libro molto semplice nella sua trama lineare, senza grandi colpi di scena o paesaggi evocativi che ti trasportano altrove. E dunque, perché queste quattro stelle? Perché mi ha fatto sorridere teneramente molte volte. Il racconto di due amanti tanto diversi tra di loro l'ho trovato emozionante. È sicuramente uno di quei libri che vi può fare compagnia in momenti in cui avrete bisogno di un po' di leggerezza, un po' di tenerezza e tanto calore.
stephaniecommerer's review against another edition
4.0
CW: M/M sex, brief mentions of past assault, violence and death.
This novel is a historical fiction novel involving monks and Vikings. A monk named Caius injures a Viking man named Fenrisulfr in a raid to their island, and decides to save his life. Their relationship grows throughout the book, beliefs are questioned as love builds.
This type of pure love is something that I hard to find in books, and it is a truly beautiful thing. This book brought great waves of emotion from me, from the first words Fen spoke I knew I loved him, and would cry for him if something happened. My love for Cai was subtle, something I was unaware of until later chapters, until I teared up for him.
This was a perfect blend of action, romance, historical fiction, and Christianity. It was odd to read the beliefs I grew up with being taught to the monks in this way but I love how it wasn’t forced on the reader to believe such things. It was simply the monks way of life. I deeply enjoyed this book.
This novel is a historical fiction novel involving monks and Vikings. A monk named Caius injures a Viking man named Fenrisulfr in a raid to their island, and decides to save his life. Their relationship grows throughout the book, beliefs are questioned as love builds.
This type of pure love is something that I hard to find in books, and it is a truly beautiful thing. This book brought great waves of emotion from me, from the first words Fen spoke I knew I loved him, and would cry for him if something happened. My love for Cai was subtle, something I was unaware of until later chapters, until I teared up for him.
This was a perfect blend of action, romance, historical fiction, and Christianity. It was odd to read the beliefs I grew up with being taught to the monks in this way but I love how it wasn’t forced on the reader to believe such things. It was simply the monks way of life. I deeply enjoyed this book.
theaudioauditor's review
3.0
Audio book review.
A fine book, fine characters, fine story. Loved the setting, but didn't connect hard with any one aspect of the book. Enjoyed it while reading, but I can tell it won't stick with me. It's a shame, but it's just a me problem, I can tell. Would recommend if you're a fan of the genre.
A fine book, fine characters, fine story. Loved the setting, but didn't connect hard with any one aspect of the book. Enjoyed it while reading, but I can tell it won't stick with me. It's a shame, but it's just a me problem, I can tell. Would recommend if you're a fan of the genre.
junojuniper's review against another edition
5.0
This was so beautiful. So very well written. Transported me.
christycorr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
ifihadatail7's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant, heartbreaking. I cried my eyes out. A true story of eternal love and strength.
fleurette's review against another edition
3.0
I am a bit disappointed, I expected something more. This story looked so great based on blurb and the cover, but I got stuck in it pretty quickly and at some point I wasn't even sure if I would finish it.
This book could use some editing. There were quite a few fragments that I thought were unnecessarily long. The entire beginning, even the first one third of this book, was far too long and too slow for me. I had lost interest and wasn't sure if I would continue. There were also quite a few fragments that I simply skipped. I thought it would be a story that I wouldn't be able to tear myself away from, but it turned out there were a lot of fragments that just dragged on for me.
Cai and Fen are three-dimensional characters with vibrant personalities. They are interesting and so characteristic that there is a good chance that I will remember them. A lot of space in the book was devoted to showing the dilemmas and doubts that torment Cai. We know a little less about Fen's feelings, but from his behavior, we can fairly easily deduce his transformation. They are very good main characters, and the book has given them more then enough space to grow.
Fen and Cai make a very good and interesting couple. You definitely feel that they are very important to each other and not only love each other very much, but can always count on one another. They work together really well. It is clear that together they create more than separately, and that they enhance each other's best qualities.
The plot is fine, but it's hard for me to pin down what its main point is. The author devotes as much space to the life of monks, the threat from the Vikings and the love of Fen and Cai. All topics are equally developed, on the one hand it's good if you like such solutions, but on the other hand sometimes it was a bit too much and nothing comes to the fore. Again, I think this book could use some editing.
But overall it's a nice book that stands out mostly with interesting characters and a good story idea.
This book could use some editing. There were quite a few fragments that I thought were unnecessarily long. The entire beginning, even the first one third of this book, was far too long and too slow for me. I had lost interest and wasn't sure if I would continue. There were also quite a few fragments that I simply skipped. I thought it would be a story that I wouldn't be able to tear myself away from, but it turned out there were a lot of fragments that just dragged on for me.
Cai and Fen are three-dimensional characters with vibrant personalities. They are interesting and so characteristic that there is a good chance that I will remember them. A lot of space in the book was devoted to showing the dilemmas and doubts that torment Cai. We know a little less about Fen's feelings, but from his behavior, we can fairly easily deduce his transformation. They are very good main characters, and the book has given them more then enough space to grow.
Fen and Cai make a very good and interesting couple. You definitely feel that they are very important to each other and not only love each other very much, but can always count on one another. They work together really well. It is clear that together they create more than separately, and that they enhance each other's best qualities.
The plot is fine, but it's hard for me to pin down what its main point is. The author devotes as much space to the life of monks, the threat from the Vikings and the love of Fen and Cai. All topics are equally developed, on the one hand it's good if you like such solutions, but on the other hand sometimes it was a bit too much and nothing comes to the fore. Again, I think this book could use some editing.
But overall it's a nice book that stands out mostly with interesting characters and a good story idea.