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Land's End #2
Rowena and the Dark Lord
Dark magic…dark passions…
When Rowena is abducted from Arizona and taken back to medieval Land’s End, one thing is clear: she must learn to control her powers of magic. It isn't easy being a modern girl in an archaic land, and when Rowena accidentally conjures up a Roman Legion in mid-battle, Land's End is on the brink of a war that could jeopardize everything and everyone she loves.
The stakes are raised when the Dark Lord reappears and traps Rowena in a cyclone of lust and passion. Once again she is torn between the man she loves and the mage who fires her desire.
Book 2 in the Land's End series.
When Rowena is abducted from Arizona and taken back to medieval Land’s End, one thing is clear: she must learn to control her powers of magic. It isn't easy being a modern girl in an archaic land, and when Rowena accidentally conjures up a Roman Legion in mid-battle, Land's End is on the brink of a war that could jeopardize everything and everyone she loves.
The stakes are raised when the Dark Lord reappears and traps Rowena in a cyclone of lust and passion. Once again she is torn between the man she loves and the mage who fires her desire.
Book 2 in the Land's End series.
188 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2013
3 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Melodie Campbell
46 books106 followers"the Canadian literary heir to Donald Westlake"
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
NEWS: THE GODDAUGHTER DOES VEGAS is on the Ontario Library Association 2020 Forest of Reading GREAT STORIES list!
THE B-TEAM has been shortlisted for the 2019 Arthur Ellis Award for Excellence in Crime Writing! Melodie Campbell is a double finalist this year, with A SHIP CALLED PANDORA (Mystery Weekly Magazine) being a finalist in the short story category.
THE GODDAUGHTER'S REVENGE has won the DERRINGER AWARD and the ARTHUR ELLIS AWARD for Crime Writing!
The Toronto Sun called her Canada's "Queen of Comedy." Library Journal compared her to Janet Evanovich.
Melodie got her start writing comedy so it's no surprise that reviewers and editors have called her fiction "hilarious" and "laugh-out-loud funny". She has over 200 publications, including 40 short stories, 15 novels, and has won 10 awards for fiction.
"The Goddaughter" a comic mob caper, has been called "Just right for Janet Evanovich fans...impossible not to laugh" by Library Journal.
"The Goddaughter's Revenge" from Orca books, was dubbed 'Real Gold' by the Hamilton Spectator. It won the Derringer Award in the States, and the Arthur Ellis Award in Canada.
Book 5 in the series, "The Bootlegger's Goddaughter" was a finalist for the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak Award. Book 6 in the series, "The Goddaughter Does Vegas" is now available.
Top 100 Bestseller "Rowena Through the Wall," was the first novel in the Land's End comic time travel fantasy series. The entire Land's End trilogy is a Top 50 Amazon Bestseller (all books).
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
NEWS: THE GODDAUGHTER DOES VEGAS is on the Ontario Library Association 2020 Forest of Reading GREAT STORIES list!
THE B-TEAM has been shortlisted for the 2019 Arthur Ellis Award for Excellence in Crime Writing! Melodie Campbell is a double finalist this year, with A SHIP CALLED PANDORA (Mystery Weekly Magazine) being a finalist in the short story category.
THE GODDAUGHTER'S REVENGE has won the DERRINGER AWARD and the ARTHUR ELLIS AWARD for Crime Writing!
The Toronto Sun called her Canada's "Queen of Comedy." Library Journal compared her to Janet Evanovich.
Melodie got her start writing comedy so it's no surprise that reviewers and editors have called her fiction "hilarious" and "laugh-out-loud funny". She has over 200 publications, including 40 short stories, 15 novels, and has won 10 awards for fiction.
"The Goddaughter" a comic mob caper, has been called "Just right for Janet Evanovich fans...impossible not to laugh" by Library Journal.
"The Goddaughter's Revenge" from Orca books, was dubbed 'Real Gold' by the Hamilton Spectator. It won the Derringer Award in the States, and the Arthur Ellis Award in Canada.
Book 5 in the series, "The Bootlegger's Goddaughter" was a finalist for the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak Award. Book 6 in the series, "The Goddaughter Does Vegas" is now available.
Top 100 Bestseller "Rowena Through the Wall," was the first novel in the Land's End comic time travel fantasy series. The entire Land's End trilogy is a Top 50 Amazon Bestseller (all books).
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 8, 2013
Melodie Campbell's "Rowena and the Dark Lord", the second book in the Land's End series, is an entertaining follow-up to the book that introduced us to Rowena Revel, "Rowena Through the Wall."
The book begins where the last book left off, with Rowena and her former student, now sidekick Kendra back in the "real" world, each with their chosen man from the magical, medieval world of Land's End. The men are having a hard time adjusting to life in 21st century Arizona, so Rowena and Kendra take them to a renaissance faire, where all hell breaks loose.
Rowena finds herself back in Land's End, where she's desired by a dark sorcerer and not one but two Viking warlords. She also meets a long-lost relative; the only wizard left in Land's End; and Damned Horse, the only animal she's ever encountered (remember, Rowena's a veternarian, and has a special gift with animals) who doesn't like her.
AS the story moves along, Rowena begins to take control of her own destiny, and starts to use the magical powers she inherited from her mother - with chaotic results.
As in the first book, there's plenty of action, both on the field of battle and in the bedroom. There's also plenty of humor, and some great new characters that we're sure to see again, as there's another book in this series on the way.
Like the first book, "Rowena and the Dark Lord" is very well written, and again it's narrated in Rowena's voice (with one short and fun interlude from Kendra's perspective). All in all, I highly recommend it, and I'm looking forward to the promised book #3 in the series, "Rowena and the Viking Warlord".
The book begins where the last book left off, with Rowena and her former student, now sidekick Kendra back in the "real" world, each with their chosen man from the magical, medieval world of Land's End. The men are having a hard time adjusting to life in 21st century Arizona, so Rowena and Kendra take them to a renaissance faire, where all hell breaks loose.
Rowena finds herself back in Land's End, where she's desired by a dark sorcerer and not one but two Viking warlords. She also meets a long-lost relative; the only wizard left in Land's End; and Damned Horse, the only animal she's ever encountered (remember, Rowena's a veternarian, and has a special gift with animals) who doesn't like her.
AS the story moves along, Rowena begins to take control of her own destiny, and starts to use the magical powers she inherited from her mother - with chaotic results.
As in the first book, there's plenty of action, both on the field of battle and in the bedroom. There's also plenty of humor, and some great new characters that we're sure to see again, as there's another book in this series on the way.
Like the first book, "Rowena and the Dark Lord" is very well written, and again it's narrated in Rowena's voice (with one short and fun interlude from Kendra's perspective). All in all, I highly recommend it, and I'm looking forward to the promised book #3 in the series, "Rowena and the Viking Warlord".
May 6, 2015
This was better than the first book in the series. I really just would like Rowena to make up her mind on what she wants. She is a flirt and needs to pick a guy!
February 14, 2017
This would be 4 stars except for the ending. The ending is a cheat. Much like Star Trek putting things through the transporter backwards. Thankfully the series as a whole is a solid 4 stars.
November 23, 2015
This is the second in the Land's End series. In the first we learned that Rowena, or Row as she is usually referred to, discovered a portal in her classroom when two men in medieval clothing suddenly appeared through the wall of her classroom, witnessed by both Row and her grad student Kendra. So begins this extraordinary adventure of magic and time travel, because the next time, Rowena is whisked through the wall into a medieval world of lusty men. A witch's curse years before caused no baby girls to be born henceforth. Obviously, with no women in their country, this young, hearty female immediately gets the attention of every male in Land's End. But it turns out that Rowena's mother was originally from Land's End and is in fact, a princess, and she had escaped through a portal, married and gave birth to Rowena. A fact that Rowena never knew.
Now with child, and living in Scottsdale, Arizona with Kendra and two medieval knights she pulled through the time portal, all is not well in paradise. Her partner Thane from Land's End is getting restless. As new King of Sargon, he blames himself for abandoning his troops, he feels a sense of separation from himself, a man out of time. But Kendra has a plan to interest Thane and Richard. A medieval festival has come to town. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? They can join the revelers wearing their own armor and the girls their dresses from Land's End, but can they pull it off? Their men don't even speak English, a fortune teller has given Rowena a special charm, one she has seen before in Land's End and there is magic in the air, sensed by Row. This second book is more magical and possibly even more unique than the first, and that is really saying something! Melodie writes full out imagination, action and humour. I love her method of story-telling.
A new portal opens as Rowena and Kendra are walking down the street. A confused Gareth steps out and takes Rowena back through this portal, leaving the rest behind. But what's this? Gareth is not in Land's End! Rowena is alone and the portal has closed. She has also torn another dress, a very common occurrence in the life of Row. Fortunately, when Thane, Richard and Kendra finally manage to appear, Row will soon meet Kendra's friend, the wizard Val, who is an expert tailor among other magical things and will hopefully be able to keep Rowena dressed!
There is much more magic in this second book as Rowena begins to learn what she is capable of. Her mother had been a witch and, so it appears, is Rowena, though as yet she has a lot to learn. Studying a book of spells, she inadvertently conjures up a complete Roman army in mid-battle. Not only that, but they are from another time again. There is so much new and different in this second book, a shorter read but full from cover to cover. A lot is explained, a lot is unexplained, and I look forward to the next installment! How will she return the Romans? How will she rescue Gareth from the in-between, or can she? How can she avoid the pull of Cedric's magic? Will her unborn baby be safe in this world? So many questions. Melodie Campbell will have her hands full in writing Book 3, but she is definitely up to the job. Such wonderful creativity, humour, and magic has gone into this series, and historically she has obviously done a great deal of research.
Now with child, and living in Scottsdale, Arizona with Kendra and two medieval knights she pulled through the time portal, all is not well in paradise. Her partner Thane from Land's End is getting restless. As new King of Sargon, he blames himself for abandoning his troops, he feels a sense of separation from himself, a man out of time. But Kendra has a plan to interest Thane and Richard. A medieval festival has come to town. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? They can join the revelers wearing their own armor and the girls their dresses from Land's End, but can they pull it off? Their men don't even speak English, a fortune teller has given Rowena a special charm, one she has seen before in Land's End and there is magic in the air, sensed by Row. This second book is more magical and possibly even more unique than the first, and that is really saying something! Melodie writes full out imagination, action and humour. I love her method of story-telling.
A new portal opens as Rowena and Kendra are walking down the street. A confused Gareth steps out and takes Rowena back through this portal, leaving the rest behind. But what's this? Gareth is not in Land's End! Rowena is alone and the portal has closed. She has also torn another dress, a very common occurrence in the life of Row. Fortunately, when Thane, Richard and Kendra finally manage to appear, Row will soon meet Kendra's friend, the wizard Val, who is an expert tailor among other magical things and will hopefully be able to keep Rowena dressed!
There is much more magic in this second book as Rowena begins to learn what she is capable of. Her mother had been a witch and, so it appears, is Rowena, though as yet she has a lot to learn. Studying a book of spells, she inadvertently conjures up a complete Roman army in mid-battle. Not only that, but they are from another time again. There is so much new and different in this second book, a shorter read but full from cover to cover. A lot is explained, a lot is unexplained, and I look forward to the next installment! How will she return the Romans? How will she rescue Gareth from the in-between, or can she? How can she avoid the pull of Cedric's magic? Will her unborn baby be safe in this world? So many questions. Melodie Campbell will have her hands full in writing Book 3, but she is definitely up to the job. Such wonderful creativity, humour, and magic has gone into this series, and historically she has obviously done a great deal of research.
July 12, 2013
My review:
I loved the first book and I definitely enjoyed this one, too! Melodie's writing is very good. It is easy to read, it is filled with fanciful characters, it's funny and it's interesting. She never loses your attention and keeps you imprisoned from the first page until the end.
Plot:
Rowena is back from Land's End in Arizona, but she is taken back to Land's End quicker than anticipated. Back in Land's End she needs to come in terms with her magical powers to protect herself and the ones she loves and after she finds more of her family and witches, she learns and grows stronger. Never mind that during the learning process she conjures up a Roman Legion to Land's End which makes the whole situation even more complicated as it already is with all these hunky men around her.
I can't describe enough how much I enjoy Melodie's writing style. It's like a fresh breeze during hot weather. She puts a lot of creativeness into her stories and spices it up with twists and turns and keeps surprising you. She makes you laugh, she forces you to think, she gets you to raise your eyebrows in surprise more than once, her writing is utterly entertaining and positive!
I also loved that in Rowena and the Dark Lord there were two point of views - Rowena's and Kendra's. The change between these two flowed very smoothly and both of them were clearly different and noticeable.
Characters:
Rowena is still Rowena - fun and flirty, with the exception that she makes wiser decisions in this book, she seems matured. I think it is because she is pregnant and needs to protect not only herself but also the baby from the evil forces of the Dark Lord.
I can't help but liking the antihero of the book - the Dark Lord. I have a special weak spot for him, because he is charming and would do absolutely anything to keep Rowena for himself. I admired that.
If you leave Rowena and her friend Kendra aside, the book is filled with testosterone and lots of men! Boy was I glad to see Lars the Viking! He is probably my favorite guy next to Thane in this book.
Generally:
Rowena and the Dark Lord is not only a perfect summer read, it is also very romantic, entertaining, funny and fanciful! It's a perfect book escaping from the reality. I highly recommend it!
I loved the first book and I definitely enjoyed this one, too! Melodie's writing is very good. It is easy to read, it is filled with fanciful characters, it's funny and it's interesting. She never loses your attention and keeps you imprisoned from the first page until the end.
Plot:
Rowena is back from Land's End in Arizona, but she is taken back to Land's End quicker than anticipated. Back in Land's End she needs to come in terms with her magical powers to protect herself and the ones she loves and after she finds more of her family and witches, she learns and grows stronger. Never mind that during the learning process she conjures up a Roman Legion to Land's End which makes the whole situation even more complicated as it already is with all these hunky men around her.
I can't describe enough how much I enjoy Melodie's writing style. It's like a fresh breeze during hot weather. She puts a lot of creativeness into her stories and spices it up with twists and turns and keeps surprising you. She makes you laugh, she forces you to think, she gets you to raise your eyebrows in surprise more than once, her writing is utterly entertaining and positive!
I also loved that in Rowena and the Dark Lord there were two point of views - Rowena's and Kendra's. The change between these two flowed very smoothly and both of them were clearly different and noticeable.
Characters:
Rowena is still Rowena - fun and flirty, with the exception that she makes wiser decisions in this book, she seems matured. I think it is because she is pregnant and needs to protect not only herself but also the baby from the evil forces of the Dark Lord.
I can't help but liking the antihero of the book - the Dark Lord. I have a special weak spot for him, because he is charming and would do absolutely anything to keep Rowena for himself. I admired that.
If you leave Rowena and her friend Kendra aside, the book is filled with testosterone and lots of men! Boy was I glad to see Lars the Viking! He is probably my favorite guy next to Thane in this book.
Generally:
Rowena and the Dark Lord is not only a perfect summer read, it is also very romantic, entertaining, funny and fanciful! It's a perfect book escaping from the reality. I highly recommend it!
May 24, 2014
Melodie Campbell has sent Rowena back to Land’s End in Rowena and the Dark Lord. We meet up with some old friends, notably Rowena’s lovers, and make some new friends, notably Roman soldiers from even another era. They intertwine to give us a fun look at both Arizona and Land’s End.
“The world in between Arizona and Land’s End was a world I had never paused long enough to view. Previously, the portal had sucked me up and spit me out on the other side, without much time for sightseeing in between.”
The adventure starts when Rowena is dragged through the time travel portal and transported to Land’s End from Arizona. She meets up with Cedric, the Dark Lord, learns about her magical powers and conjures up a whole Roman Legion. She is accompanied through this adventure by a wolf named Loki, her horse, Lightning, Richard, and Kendra, her friends and Thane, a former (and present) lover, as well as several other people.
Where will she end this adventure and who will be with her at the end? You must read this rollicking adventure and be transported with her. I personally enjoyed a genre that I don’t normally read, so I can unconditionally recommend it to readers who like time travel and a really fun read.
Melodie Campbell started her writing career with comedy and has progressed to hilarious fiction writing. She has over 200 publications, including 100 comedy credits, 40 short stories and 7 novels. She is the Executive Director of Crime Writers of Canada. She lives in Oakville, Ontario, Canada with her family and giant Frankenpoodle.
She has won 9 awards for fiction and her book The Goddaughter’s Revenge won the 2014 Derringer.
“The world in between Arizona and Land’s End was a world I had never paused long enough to view. Previously, the portal had sucked me up and spit me out on the other side, without much time for sightseeing in between.”
The adventure starts when Rowena is dragged through the time travel portal and transported to Land’s End from Arizona. She meets up with Cedric, the Dark Lord, learns about her magical powers and conjures up a whole Roman Legion. She is accompanied through this adventure by a wolf named Loki, her horse, Lightning, Richard, and Kendra, her friends and Thane, a former (and present) lover, as well as several other people.
Where will she end this adventure and who will be with her at the end? You must read this rollicking adventure and be transported with her. I personally enjoyed a genre that I don’t normally read, so I can unconditionally recommend it to readers who like time travel and a really fun read.
Melodie Campbell started her writing career with comedy and has progressed to hilarious fiction writing. She has over 200 publications, including 100 comedy credits, 40 short stories and 7 novels. She is the Executive Director of Crime Writers of Canada. She lives in Oakville, Ontario, Canada with her family and giant Frankenpoodle.
She has won 9 awards for fiction and her book The Goddaughter’s Revenge won the 2014 Derringer.
March 16, 2014
This review will be for ASIN: B00CIZZS70
Disclaimer: I was gifted this Kindle book for an honest review by the author. Thank you!!
I love the Rowena books! This is the second one. The first was Rowena Through the Wall. And the magic is that the wall at the back of the classroom that Rowena teaches in, leads to another land far less advanced in culture than 2013 Arizona. It is a land where magic can still be used. And women are nonexistent due to a curse. So when Rowena appears the men fall over themselves to own her.
But this review is for book two. Rowena is now pregnant with one of the men's baby. She is able to use magic in this faraway land but finds she must visit Arizona once in a while. Due to things that happened in the previous book, Rowena is blessed and cursed to have even more modern people involved in this wall travel. Whew!
I love how Melodie Campbell is able to make both worlds seem very real. I love the characters and animals that are part of Rowena's life on either side of the wall. And the plot is spot on. So exciting!
Book two doesn't leave you with a cliffhanger, but there is a chapter for book three at the end of book two. Darn! Now I can't wait to read that one! Great job, Ms. Campbell!
Disclaimer: I was gifted this Kindle book for an honest review by the author. Thank you!!
I love the Rowena books! This is the second one. The first was Rowena Through the Wall. And the magic is that the wall at the back of the classroom that Rowena teaches in, leads to another land far less advanced in culture than 2013 Arizona. It is a land where magic can still be used. And women are nonexistent due to a curse. So when Rowena appears the men fall over themselves to own her.
But this review is for book two. Rowena is now pregnant with one of the men's baby. She is able to use magic in this faraway land but finds she must visit Arizona once in a while. Due to things that happened in the previous book, Rowena is blessed and cursed to have even more modern people involved in this wall travel. Whew!
I love how Melodie Campbell is able to make both worlds seem very real. I love the characters and animals that are part of Rowena's life on either side of the wall. And the plot is spot on. So exciting!
Book two doesn't leave you with a cliffhanger, but there is a chapter for book three at the end of book two. Darn! Now I can't wait to read that one! Great job, Ms. Campbell!
May 11, 2013
One of the usual problems that I have when it comes to reading series, is there is such a space in time between the novels, that there is a chance you might have forgotten some details in the books. And even more, if you happen to find a series, and you get the second book first, you might be even more confused. With this book that was NOT the case at all.
In my situation, I have not read the first book in the series, however even starting to read this one I wasn’t as lost as I thought I might be. It seems as though Melodie has a sixth sense and was able to include enough details to where you had an understanding of what happened in the first book.
The characters that were in this book were well written and very detailed; as well as with the story line. Of course, there is the drama aspect of books, and this one certainly has the twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. You want to know more about what is going to happen next. There were parts in this book that I thought I had figured out, but of course Melodie throws a curve in there!!!
This is the first book by Melodie that I have read, but I will be sure to read more!
In my situation, I have not read the first book in the series, however even starting to read this one I wasn’t as lost as I thought I might be. It seems as though Melodie has a sixth sense and was able to include enough details to where you had an understanding of what happened in the first book.
The characters that were in this book were well written and very detailed; as well as with the story line. Of course, there is the drama aspect of books, and this one certainly has the twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. You want to know more about what is going to happen next. There were parts in this book that I thought I had figured out, but of course Melodie throws a curve in there!!!
This is the first book by Melodie that I have read, but I will be sure to read more!
August 27, 2013
So enthralled with Melodie Campbell's first book, Rowena Through the Wall, I immediately picked up this next book in her Land's End series. Just as laugh-out-loud funny, fast-paced, and page turning as her first book, Rowena and the Dark Lord kept me up late and night and coming back for more. Such a unique story that involves magic, wizards, witches, and love. Rowena's relationships with all she comes into contact with make this a novel worth reading again and again.
I'm looking forward - EAGERLY - for the next book in her Land's End series. I said this in my review of her first book but it bears repeating: Melodie Campbell's books are priced far too low for the outstanding content received. What a deal with a squeal for readers!!
I'm looking forward - EAGERLY - for the next book in her Land's End series. I said this in my review of her first book but it bears repeating: Melodie Campbell's books are priced far too low for the outstanding content received. What a deal with a squeal for readers!!
August 13, 2014
Book 2 of the Rowena Series, was just as good as the 1st. I was so drawn into the the book I was about to read it in one day! it was amazing.
This book starts off a few weeks after Row, Thane, Kendra and Richard all go back through the portal. Thane is depressed at the way he left his men on the battlefield and Row is so sad that she made him choose between her and his honor.
Row is kidnapped again by Gareth and brought back to Land's End once again, but this time she is completely alone. But it works out for her, she discovers some new friends and even a family member she didn't know still existed in Land's End.
So much happens in this book it's hard not to give anything away so I'm going to say if you liked the 1st one you will love the 2nd one. The story flows with such ease it's like Lands End is right in front of you. You can feel the sun on your skin and the green grass under your feet. Just amazing writing from an amazing author, thank you!
This book starts off a few weeks after Row, Thane, Kendra and Richard all go back through the portal. Thane is depressed at the way he left his men on the battlefield and Row is so sad that she made him choose between her and his honor.
Row is kidnapped again by Gareth and brought back to Land's End once again, but this time she is completely alone. But it works out for her, she discovers some new friends and even a family member she didn't know still existed in Land's End.
So much happens in this book it's hard not to give anything away so I'm going to say if you liked the 1st one you will love the 2nd one. The story flows with such ease it's like Lands End is right in front of you. You can feel the sun on your skin and the green grass under your feet. Just amazing writing from an amazing author, thank you!
August 19, 2013
Changed over from less humour to more story line. It seemed shorter but that could have been because there weren't quite so many turn arounds and kidnapping. More like trying to create and develop the world rather than just making fun of the bodice rippers. I dont know if I'm liking Cedric more or less but I'm leaning towards more and poor Thane isn't really getting anywhere in this story. He's the nice guy that you thought you wanted to be with and then can really stand once the dust settles.
September 4, 2013
This was the first book I have read from this author. And I know this is the second book in the series, but it didn't matter. The way Melodie wrote this book, I knew exactly what was going on. I loved this book so much, I'm now reading the first.
Wow, so happy I stumbled upon this fantastic author.
Wow, so happy I stumbled upon this fantastic author.
October 11, 2014
3.5/5.0
Say farewell to boring old-fashioned love triangles, everyone, Ms. Campbell is taking readers to an angst-free land of love, lust and excitement!
Read full review in the 2014 October issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Say farewell to boring old-fashioned love triangles, everyone, Ms. Campbell is taking readers to an angst-free land of love, lust and excitement!
Read full review in the 2014 October issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews