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jillipaige's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Once I picked up this book - I could not put it down! The plot and the overall love story pulled me in! I loved the two main characters journey and the surprise revenge twist! The ending was great too and I really liked the pace of the book!
booksbutmakeitgay's review against another edition
There’s too much lying by omission, lack of communication, hate towards the main characters and minor character for being queer, and I should have read more about it being a captor/captee story, because that power dynamic does not work for me at all.
drakoulis's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful historical romance !
Nineteen year-old squire Harry Lyon is dreaming of chivalrous glory in the war in Scotland, and of the riches he will bring back to help his mother's estate in Devon. Sadly, his mother passes away days before the campaign, and when Harry reaches the battlefield, the battle is over; the English have won, but Harry's mentor, Sir Simon, is dead.
Harry is unexpectedly knighted by the young King Edward III, after the latter is encouraged by the shady Baron Montagu and his vassal, Rabbie. Harry accompanies Montagu's small squad in an undercover mission deep in Scotland, where they abduct an almost-starved young man - and kill the rest.
The wild Scot is given to Harry as a squire - and Harry is both satisfied (because the brutality of the other men sickens him) and apalled. What will he do with someone who doesn't want to be there and will run at every chance he has?
Iain, the seventeen-year old Scot, though, is not what Harry expected. He is educated, he speaks French and Latin, he charms the house staff, and Harry himself. Harry stats being fond of Iaian, and fondness becomes something deeper....
As Harry and Iain navigate their feelings, a political game of spies and deception evolves in England and France, and they get dragged in the middle of it. They'll soon realize what's most important for them and fight for it no matter the consequences.
This book is amazing and I hope more people find it !
If you love a steamy romance and historical fiction in 13th century Britain, it's for you too !!
Nineteen year-old squire Harry Lyon is dreaming of chivalrous glory in the war in Scotland, and of the riches he will bring back to help his mother's estate in Devon. Sadly, his mother passes away days before the campaign, and when Harry reaches the battlefield, the battle is over; the English have won, but Harry's mentor, Sir Simon, is dead.
Harry is unexpectedly knighted by the young King Edward III, after the latter is encouraged by the shady Baron Montagu and his vassal, Rabbie. Harry accompanies Montagu's small squad in an undercover mission deep in Scotland, where they abduct an almost-starved young man - and kill the rest.
The wild Scot is given to Harry as a squire - and Harry is both satisfied (because the brutality of the other men sickens him) and apalled. What will he do with someone who doesn't want to be there and will run at every chance he has?
Iain, the seventeen-year old Scot, though, is not what Harry expected. He is educated, he speaks French and Latin, he charms the house staff, and Harry himself. Harry stats being fond of Iaian, and fondness becomes something deeper....
As Harry and Iain navigate their feelings, a political game of spies and deception evolves in England and France, and they get dragged in the middle of it. They'll soon realize what's most important for them and fight for it no matter the consequences.
Spoiler
What's most important for them is each other, the story has a happy ending :)This book is amazing and I hope more people find it !
If you love a steamy romance and historical fiction in 13th century Britain, it's for you too !!
the_bookish_escape's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
4.5
I would definitely recommend listening to it, the voice actor does a great job (and it’s on Spotify)
It’s a wonderful story about love, friendship and grief. I really liked the spicy bits and development between the couple. They are very different and loveable in their own way. The Scottish boy is the perfect mix of comfort read, slow burn, twists and challenges. In my rating I’m in between 4,25 and 4,5 Stars. The ending is poorly written. Suddenly the story is lacking the crucial complexity of war experiences and family dynamics/ duties.
It seems like the author was losing interest towards the end and just wanted to end the novel as quickly as possible. A shame, I think the possibility of discussing named topics could make the Scottish boy a book that is more than mere entertainment.
- Spoiler-
Harry becomes a father and not once thinks of his children while he is away, didn’t even MENTIONS them to Iain when they meet again? For me that’s just not realistic.
It’s a wonderful story about love, friendship and grief. I really liked the spicy bits and development between the couple. They are very different and loveable in their own way. The Scottish boy is the perfect mix of comfort read, slow burn, twists and challenges. In my rating I’m in between 4,25 and 4,5 Stars. The ending is poorly written. Suddenly the story is lacking the crucial complexity of war experiences and family dynamics/ duties.
It seems like the author was losing interest towards the end and just wanted to end the novel as quickly as possible. A shame, I think the possibility of discussing named topics could make the Scottish boy a book that is more than mere entertainment.
- Spoiler-
Harry becomes a father and not once thinks of his children while he is away, didn’t even MENTIONS them to Iain when they meet again? For me that’s just not realistic.
chicklettime's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
thespaceraider's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
noahhawthorne's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
njh_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
If you are looking for a historically accurate historical fiction romance novel, please U-turn at your earliest convenience, if not, this may be for you. It was decently believable until the last 150 pages and then...
It's a thick book, about 500 pages, yet it never really dragged for me. Some parts were slower than others but there was never really a point in the novel where I was begging for it to get on with it.
I quite enjoyed Harry and Iain, and they both grew on me as they grew up as well. Sometimes they were both idiots with each other, but they seemed to generally figure it out. Glad Iain got his revenge.
Alys is a rockstar as well and I enjoyed her wit and keeping Harry in check. While this is a MLM novel, Alys could be ace--her distain for the process to get pregnant to the point she basically does some medieval process of IUI and that she desires a courtly love, not a physical/sexual one, speaks of that potential.
The dynamic between Harry, Iain, and Alys I would've loved to see more of, simply because the last scene was killer and the three of them seem to balance each other out well. Liked the ending where the protagonist, the lover, and the best friend all can get along and live in harmony.
Some fav quotes/scenes that may have made me giggle:
"The aide scrunches his face in discomfort. ‘Those are the private royal gardens, Sir Harry. We do not look towards them nor do we reach into them, unless we have a very great desire to lose our hand.'
Harry's face reddens in embarrassment as he is led away from the bench, probably never to be allowed near it again.
'Are you worried the King overheard your prayer?' the aide asks.
'No. I prayed in English,’ Harry says.
'Pfft,' the aide snorts. ‘Then God did not hear it either, for He does not speak the vulgar tongue.'"(474)
"Alys finds the chest containing the scarves and ribbons. Her brow furrows. ‘lain, why on earth do any of us need so much haberdashery? I, for one, have no intention of ever going to court again.’
‘Well,’ lain whispers, in his rough, ruined voice, 'you're going to go through a lot of ribbons, because every time that great Sassenach idiot rides into a tournament he's going to need a favour.'
‘Oh lord,’ Harry groans. 'You're teaming up on me?’
And two bright, mischievous brunets look at him and grin. 'Who, us?' says Alys, her face innocent.
‘We'd never,’ purrs lain." (505-506)
It's a thick book, about 500 pages, yet it never really dragged for me. Some parts were slower than others but there was never really a point in the novel where I was begging for it to get on with it.
I quite enjoyed Harry and Iain, and they both grew on me as they grew up as well. Sometimes they were both idiots with each other, but they seemed to generally figure it out. Glad Iain got his revenge.
Alys is a rockstar as well and I enjoyed her wit and keeping Harry in check. While this is a MLM novel, Alys could be ace--her distain for the process to get pregnant to the point she basically does some medieval process of IUI and that she desires a courtly love, not a physical/sexual one, speaks of that potential.
The dynamic between Harry, Iain, and Alys I would've loved to see more of, simply because the last scene was killer and the three of them seem to balance each other out well. Liked the ending where the protagonist, the lover, and the best friend all can get along and live in harmony.
Some fav quotes/scenes that may have made me giggle:
"The aide scrunches his face in discomfort. ‘Those are the private royal gardens, Sir Harry. We do not look towards them nor do we reach into them, unless we have a very great desire to lose our hand.'
Harry's face reddens in embarrassment as he is led away from the bench, probably never to be allowed near it again.
'Are you worried the King overheard your prayer?' the aide asks.
'No. I prayed in English,’ Harry says.
'Pfft,' the aide snorts. ‘Then God did not hear it either, for He does not speak the vulgar tongue.'"(474)
"Alys finds the chest containing the scarves and ribbons. Her brow furrows. ‘lain, why on earth do any of us need so much haberdashery? I, for one, have no intention of ever going to court again.’
‘Well,’ lain whispers, in his rough, ruined voice, 'you're going to go through a lot of ribbons, because every time that great Sassenach idiot rides into a tournament he's going to need a favour.'
‘Oh lord,’ Harry groans. 'You're teaming up on me?’
And two bright, mischievous brunets look at him and grin. 'Who, us?' says Alys, her face innocent.
‘We'd never,’ purrs lain." (505-506)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Torture, War, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Excrement and Sexism
tinisabelle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bholthus's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0