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A review by taramisu
This Is All I Ask by Lynn Kurland
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.