Showing posts with label Karin Tabke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Karin Tabke. Show all posts
August 19, 2009
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Jacket Copy:The Blood Sword Legacy: Eight knights bound by a brotherhood forged in hell claim their legacies the only way they can: by right of arms, by right of victory, by right of conquest.
Most of England has submitted to King William, but Wales refuses to yield. The King's trusted Blood Swords are unable to prevail, and while Stefan de Valrey is left unconscious on the battlefield, his sworn brothers are captured. Despite terrible injuries, Stefan vows to liberate them. Even rescuing a delicately beautiful -- and naked -- maiden from peril cannot deter him, for the silver-eyed Arianrhod is a Welsh princess, a hostage Stefan can exchange for his brothers...so long as Arian remains as pure as when he met her. But that is a constraint Stefan finds harder to honor with every passing day.
When the scowling knight slings her across his saddle, Arian knows she should fix all her thoughts on escape. But Arian has never before experienced the deep, soul-changing desire that Stefan arouses with merely a glance. Breaking their vows could set two kingdoms ablaze -- can they control the sweet, terrible burning between them?
Since the blurb on the cover of the book summarizes the story adequately I am not doing that in this review and will get right to the heart of the matter.
Stefan de Valrey is one of William the Conqueror’s Blood Swords. The Blood Swords are William’s elite and most trusted black knights. Stefan is scarred both emotionally and bodily. And he’s a merciless loner who is proud, honorable, quiet and serious.
Arianrhod (Arian) of Carmarthenshire is a Welsh princess. She is not one to whine or complain and her pragmatic mentality gets her a long way. She is a brave, determined, stubborn, bold , proud and courageous social creature.
Arian and Stefan have their love for horses and their strong objections to falling in love (even if their reasons differ immensely) in common. As Arian and Stefan get to know each other and fall in love, the reader follows their journey both literally and emotionally. I admired Karin Tabke’s ability to evoke my empathy for both Stefan and Arian in their differences of opinion. She made me see where Arian’s anger towards Stefan was coming from but at the same time I also understood why Stefan did some of the things he did regarding Arian and what he thought of her choices.
The secondary cast is ample but the supporting characters are never overwhelming or distracting. Each player in this play has his or her role in the plot or the romance between Arian and Stefan. There are Normans, Welsh, Vikings who all form small pieces of the great picture. Among the more important ones is Arian’s betrothed, Magnus Tryggvason. He is a character with different sides to him and his motives aren’t entirely disclosed from the beginning. All I can say is that he gets what he deserves.
Again I enjoyed another installment of this series immensely. I don’t have a vast collection of historical romances from the medieval/William the Conqueror time-period but I am definitely glad Karin Tabke’s Blood Sword Legacy is part of that small collection. The series is not unique in it’s setting. I do realize that, but the writing, characters and romance justify my fondness of these books, next to Karin Tabke’s ability to give each book and romance something special through its own vibe and uniqueness. She combines gruesome scenes of battle/torture with frank dialogues, emotional anguish and heart wrenching romance and does this with seemingly effortless skill. Her talent for painting a romance against a medieval background sprinkled with historical facts and fiction definitely takes this series above the average medieval romance.
One minor thing kept this book from a 4,5 or even 5 star rating. As I was nearing the end of the book (less than 100 pages to go) I realized the marriage between Magnus and Arian was going to take place regardless because Arian realized she had to put duty before love. I was truly wondering how it was going to work out and how Karin Tabke was going to bring this to a satisfying end because after the marriage Stefan intervenes in a way that was sudden and confusing for me. The resolution seemed too convenient and in my opinion Karin Tabke took the easy way out a bit at first, even if it was a unique and original solution and one I haven’t come across before. Had this solution been approached differently I am sure this installment would have replaced MASTER OF TORMENT as my favorite of the series, as all the other elements of MASTER OF CRAVING worked perfectly for me and the ending of the book was one that will stick with me for a long time.
The story of Stefan and Arian is one that has been written in many romances before: the warrior who kidnaps the princess in order to get what he wants. Yet, with her thorough, historically founded and lifelike writing style Karin Tabke’s delivery of it was very refreshing for me. And even thought I questioned part of the resolution, it is a keeper for me and I am looking forward to the next installment of this series.
Quotes:
Arian to Stefan (she thinks he is a Saxon, and Stefan decides let her):
Be sure, Saxon, to sleep with one eye open, lest you find your sword in your other eye.”
Longing twisted with a desperate need for the woman he could not have. Emptiness filled his soul, and he felt as if there was no reason to take his next breath. For Arian was his life, and without her, ‘twas as if he had no sustenance. And though he would ride, and battle, and see to his king’s needs, the most vital parts of him would be missing. His heart and soul.
A primal possession overcame him with such a force he wanted to throw his head back and howl at the moon, to let all who heard it know that he had claimed his life mate and would fight any man or beast who tried to take her from him.
January 10, 2009
4:58 PM |
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Back Cover:
Wulfson of Trevelyn, trusted knight of William the Conqueror, has never met a man he could not master. But in the tempestuous young widow Tarian of Trent, known as the Lady Warrior, Wulf may finally have met his match. Ordered by the king to eliminate her traitorous bloodline, Wulf captures the lady but hesitates to execute his orders, falling captive himself to her seductive dark beauty.
To Lady Tarian’s dismay, neither her fighting spirit nor her wiles are sufficient to bend Wulfson completely to her will. As she and Wulfson try to stay one step ahead of the angered King, Tarian vows she will not be the loser in their passionate battle, but her own desire for this overpowering stranger threatens not only her body, and her heart, but both of their lives.
King William the Conqueror wants Tarian Godwinson dead and sends his Blood Swords, led by Wulfson of Trevelyn, to kill her in order to protect his kingdom from future threats. When Wulfson arrives at her stronghold, she's been held captive by her dead husband's uncle who is forcing her to marry him for selfish and inappropriate reasons. Wulfson is utterly intrigued by the little lady warrior and soon he is torn between his loyalty and duty to his king and his feelings for the only woman who has ever made him feel and think twice about his given orders.
Because of her heritage Tarian has learned at a young age to fend for herself both in the figurative sense as well as literally with a sword. When in a fight for her life she's left a widow, the vultures start to circle her. There a people who want her safe because of her bloodline, there are people who want her dead because of her bloodline and there are people who plain want her. Tarian soon discovers the motive for the Blood Swords being in her castle and Wulfson's order to kill her. She tries to use her wits to escape her faith, by trapping Wulfson but her plan backfires when she finds herself at his mercy and at the mercy of her powerful feelings for him.
Tarian is known as the lady warrior. She wields a sword like any man can and has stood by her former king and uncle in many battles against the Normans. She used to her hoyden life and no one has cared enough for her to keep her from it. She is willful, strong and proud. She relies only on herself, her nurse Edie and the captain of her guard Gareth. She's also resilient and tenacious. Whatever resistance or misfortune she encounters, she faces it with her clever thinking and her honed battle skills.
Wulfson is the captain of William's private guard, the Blood Swords. He is a seasoned warrior, capable of enduring battle and torture. He is commanding and merciless and up to his encounter with Tarian, he is cold and jaded. No woman ever had the ability to make him turn his head before, or care about her well-being.
There is an abundance in secondary characters, some of which have a bigger role than others. The most important roles are for the people surrounding Tarian, even though the Blood Swords also have a commanding presence in the story. I also got a little glimpse of Rohan, the hero of book 1, who was conveniently present to give Wulf some pointers on how to recognize the love of his life. There was one very irritating secondary character in the form of Tarian's deceased husband's uncle Rangor of Lerwick. He was the proverbial insect you keep swatting at, but refuses to die or go away.
Karin Tabke has once again thrown me in the medieval era with another compelling and rich read. This time in the midst of the intriguing schemes of the Normans, Saxons and Welsh, with a splendid combination of romance and history. She is very consequent in the use of language and very thorough in the historical details. This creates a realistic historical vibe without taking away the reading pace or the intensity of the romance. She not only gave me lifelike historical fiction, but she also gave me a wonderful, heartrending love story that was very unique compared to other Norman/Saxon love stories I have read.
And Karin Tabke knows her love scenes. They are pretty hot and explicit but still they match the rest of the book and the time-period perfectly. They were a true addition to the whole, completing the romance and fitting in with the historical plot. The chemistry between Wulf and Tarian is there from the beginning, but she builds up the tension gradually both sexually and emotionally. They grow into their relationship and deal with the dilemmas they have to face in giving into the feelings between them. This all without losing the traits of their personalities that make them who they are.
I liked this book even more than I did MASTER OF SURRENDER and I think that's partly because of Tarian's character. She is the driving force of this book, taking every situation in stride and making decisions to save herself even if they don't make her happy. She never takes the easy way out and fights for her freedom. The combination of her with Wulf in my opinion was a stronger one than the one of Rohan and Isabel. Also, partly because the plot arc in MASTER OF TORMENT is just that bit more conflicted to make it a rather troublesome journey and we all know satisfaction is better when the effort, to get to it, is greater.
Even when you are very familiar with medieval history, be it from non-fiction or from other historical romance novels, in this second installment of the Blood Sword Legacy series Karin Tabke has provided a refreshing read. It's a rich, action-filled and fast-paced story full of historical details, a story of loyalty, alliances and betrayal. It's also a love story between two adversaries that's full of dilemma and difficulty, laced with the longing for freedom and independence.
And so another member of William the Conqueror’s elite death squad meets his match in battle and love. I enjoyed it immensely and am anxiously awaiting the next Blood Sword to meet his match.
Quotes:
He made her body sizzle and burn as his fingers and lips tortured her flesh. He pushed her to a place she had never imagined, and though she felt as if she stood on the edge of a precipice and wanted to jump off and fly with the eagles, she hung there suspended by wild intense longing.
Wulf to Tarian: "Methinks you are but a hissing kitten with only sharp claws to do her bidding. You will find we Norman dogs digest kittens to break the fast.
July 12, 2008
8:00 AM |
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This book was released on June 24th and I reviewed it for REALMS ON OUR BOOKSHELVES
The year is 1066. William, bastard Duke of Normandy, has claimed the English throne by right of conquest. To quell the Saxon unrest, William sends out his most trusted knights to secure the land. One of those knights is his cousin, Sir Rohan de Luc, known far and wide for his bloody deeds as The Black Sword. . .
Bold and courageous, Saxon maiden Isabel of Alethorpe is the only one left to protect the people of the manor and its lands. When Rohan de Luc seizes Alethorpe, he offers to spare the life of Isabel's young squire in exchange for her willing gift of the charms of her body. Betrothed to another, she vows to that while he may take her maidenhead, her heart will remain her own. But even as her lips say no, Isabel's traitorous body is awakened to desire by the seductive attentions of this potent invader. Can she remain true to her own people, or will Sir Rohan's skilled touch capture her unwilling heart as surely as his prowess with his sword captured her father's lands?
With Rohan du Luc as their fierce and ruthless captain the Blood Sword Knights form William the Conqueror's most feared death squad. They march into Rossmoor, Lady Isabel of Alethorpe's home, and claim it and its inhabitants.
Lady Isabel is not about to let this happen and resists with all her might. But a woman alone (her brother, father and betrothed went to battle) can only do so much. So she allows the Norman to take over her manor and village. Soon Rohan's claim is also laid upon the lady herself and she is tempted to give in to this enigmatic knight who surprises her every time she let's down her guard. But he is still the enemy...Can a Saxon lady give her trust and her heart to a Norman knight who is out for blood?
Rohan is every bit the knight, hardened by suffering and battle. He tells it like it is and is bold and direct. He is fiercely loyal to the people he trusts.
Isabel is the quintessential medieval maiden, the lady of the manor. Loyal and dutiful at any cost, willing to fight for her people and offer them protection and support. But she's also intelligent and fierce and compassionate. She knows how to pick her battles and when to cooperate in order to survive.
Rohan is tempted by Isabel's strength and innocence and Isabel is impressed by Rohan's commanding presence and slowly more feelings of respect and admiration develop between them. But Rohan does not welcome his feelings for Isabel to the point he starts to lash out at her every time they threaten to thaw his cold hart. Isabel takes it in stride and parries him verbally just as hard, despite her treacherous bodily response to him.
I was familiar with the concepts of brotherhoods of warriors in the paranormal genre but with the Blood Swords Karin Tabke has created an intriguing and promising band of mercenary knights who are there for each other at all times, womanizing, drinking, conquering and bantering. I loved the interactions and the camaraderie between the knights. Both their history and future are fascinating and I hope we will get to read all their stories.
The secondary cast is an enrichment to the story, some have crucial roles in the plot, others are more important regarding the development of the main characters, but they are all complementary in their own way.
From the first page of the prologue, I felt swept back in to time, taken to the past, medieval times where brave knights endure horrifying times in enemy prisons, staring death in the eye after endless torture. Where the Saxons and Normans are at each other’s throats, fighting over crowns and lands. But also where as in all times, past or present, love conquers all. Even between sworn enemies.
If you enjoy the kind of captivating, historically well founded and thoroughly researched medieval romances like Paula Quinn's or Monica McCarty's (as I do) then you can add Karin Tabke to your list! She writes with an authenticity that takes you away to past times. She combines it with a heartfelt and emotional romance and an action-packed and fast-paced plot. All depicted against the background of battle and war.
The basics in this historical romance are known and familiar: A Norman knight takes a Saxon manor and claims its lady to be his. She resists, he chases and she ultimately submits. This books starts as any medieval historical romance, but Tabke's eye for detail and her descriptive talent make it a full, rich and original story, with a mesmerizing and compelling quality to it. There are scenes that were rather bloody, violent and ruthless but they fit the authentic historical feel of the book.
This is a novel of bloodshed and passion, trust and loyalty, conflict and desire, friendship and sacrifice. It's a solid first book in a promising new historical series that has left me waiting for the next installment with a healthy dose of eager anticipation.
The year is 1066. William, bastard Duke of Normandy, has claimed the English throne by right of conquest. To quell the Saxon unrest, William sends out his most trusted knights to secure the land. One of those knights is his cousin, Sir Rohan de Luc, known far and wide for his bloody deeds as The Black Sword. . .
Bold and courageous, Saxon maiden Isabel of Alethorpe is the only one left to protect the people of the manor and its lands. When Rohan de Luc seizes Alethorpe, he offers to spare the life of Isabel's young squire in exchange for her willing gift of the charms of her body. Betrothed to another, she vows to that while he may take her maidenhead, her heart will remain her own. But even as her lips say no, Isabel's traitorous body is awakened to desire by the seductive attentions of this potent invader. Can she remain true to her own people, or will Sir Rohan's skilled touch capture her unwilling heart as surely as his prowess with his sword captured her father's lands?
With Rohan du Luc as their fierce and ruthless captain the Blood Sword Knights form William the Conqueror's most feared death squad. They march into Rossmoor, Lady Isabel of Alethorpe's home, and claim it and its inhabitants.
Lady Isabel is not about to let this happen and resists with all her might. But a woman alone (her brother, father and betrothed went to battle) can only do so much. So she allows the Norman to take over her manor and village. Soon Rohan's claim is also laid upon the lady herself and she is tempted to give in to this enigmatic knight who surprises her every time she let's down her guard. But he is still the enemy...Can a Saxon lady give her trust and her heart to a Norman knight who is out for blood?
Rohan is every bit the knight, hardened by suffering and battle. He tells it like it is and is bold and direct. He is fiercely loyal to the people he trusts.
Isabel is the quintessential medieval maiden, the lady of the manor. Loyal and dutiful at any cost, willing to fight for her people and offer them protection and support. But she's also intelligent and fierce and compassionate. She knows how to pick her battles and when to cooperate in order to survive.
Rohan is tempted by Isabel's strength and innocence and Isabel is impressed by Rohan's commanding presence and slowly more feelings of respect and admiration develop between them. But Rohan does not welcome his feelings for Isabel to the point he starts to lash out at her every time they threaten to thaw his cold hart. Isabel takes it in stride and parries him verbally just as hard, despite her treacherous bodily response to him.
I was familiar with the concepts of brotherhoods of warriors in the paranormal genre but with the Blood Swords Karin Tabke has created an intriguing and promising band of mercenary knights who are there for each other at all times, womanizing, drinking, conquering and bantering. I loved the interactions and the camaraderie between the knights. Both their history and future are fascinating and I hope we will get to read all their stories.
The secondary cast is an enrichment to the story, some have crucial roles in the plot, others are more important regarding the development of the main characters, but they are all complementary in their own way.
From the first page of the prologue, I felt swept back in to time, taken to the past, medieval times where brave knights endure horrifying times in enemy prisons, staring death in the eye after endless torture. Where the Saxons and Normans are at each other’s throats, fighting over crowns and lands. But also where as in all times, past or present, love conquers all. Even between sworn enemies.
If you enjoy the kind of captivating, historically well founded and thoroughly researched medieval romances like Paula Quinn's or Monica McCarty's (as I do) then you can add Karin Tabke to your list! She writes with an authenticity that takes you away to past times. She combines it with a heartfelt and emotional romance and an action-packed and fast-paced plot. All depicted against the background of battle and war.
The basics in this historical romance are known and familiar: A Norman knight takes a Saxon manor and claims its lady to be his. She resists, he chases and she ultimately submits. This books starts as any medieval historical romance, but Tabke's eye for detail and her descriptive talent make it a full, rich and original story, with a mesmerizing and compelling quality to it. There are scenes that were rather bloody, violent and ruthless but they fit the authentic historical feel of the book.
This is a novel of bloodshed and passion, trust and loyalty, conflict and desire, friendship and sacrifice. It's a solid first book in a promising new historical series that has left me waiting for the next installment with a healthy dose of eager anticipation.
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- Pearl
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- 39, married to my real life romance hero, addicted to TV shows, reading romance novels and Twitter. I'm a chronic (e)book hoarder and my absolute favorite genres within romance fiction are contemporary romance and romantic suspense, but I don't shy away from historical, paranormal or erotic romance either. Even the occasional (urban) fantasy romance, futuristic and sci fi romance may make it to my Mount TBR. This is my corner of the world wide web where I let you know what books I'm hoarding, reading and reviewing.
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