What do you think?
Rate this book
Fire Dance
A mysterious castle.
A deadly gift.
A missing, unwilling bride.
And a Norman knight determined to conquer all.
Ordered by his King to carry out a cryptic command—kill a wicked sorcerer lord, seize his castle, and take his daughter as a wife—Alain de Crency expects a fierce battle. Instead he discovers a defenseless castle, the daughter missing, and the sorcerer dead, shrouded in a magnificent purple cloak. With no knowledge of the evil lurking within it, Alain takes the cloak as his own before investigating the whereabouts of his supposed betrothed.
Upon Alain’s arrival, Melisande, the sorcerer’s daughter who begrudgingly learned her father’s sinister trade, hides in plain sight as a servant. But Alain suspects this beautiful blonde knows more than she claims, and he resolves to uncover the truth—if he can resist his burning desire for her.
Soon Melisande realizes her father’s infernal magic reaches beyond the grave—and that only Alain can save her people from the menacing evil. But with Alain’s new cloak dyed in poison, can Melisande save her people’s savior without revealing her dark secrets to the man who’s captured her heart?
A deadly gift.
A missing, unwilling bride.
And a Norman knight determined to conquer all.
Ordered by his King to carry out a cryptic command—kill a wicked sorcerer lord, seize his castle, and take his daughter as a wife—Alain de Crency expects a fierce battle. Instead he discovers a defenseless castle, the daughter missing, and the sorcerer dead, shrouded in a magnificent purple cloak. With no knowledge of the evil lurking within it, Alain takes the cloak as his own before investigating the whereabouts of his supposed betrothed.
Upon Alain’s arrival, Melisande, the sorcerer’s daughter who begrudgingly learned her father’s sinister trade, hides in plain sight as a servant. But Alain suspects this beautiful blonde knows more than she claims, and he resolves to uncover the truth—if he can resist his burning desire for her.
Soon Melisande realizes her father’s infernal magic reaches beyond the grave—and that only Alain can save her people from the menacing evil. But with Alain’s new cloak dyed in poison, can Melisande save her people’s savior without revealing her dark secrets to the man who’s captured her heart?
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2001
194 people are currently reading
722 people want to read
About the author
Delle Jacobs
22 books49 followersI write write write. Sometimes I travel. Then I write some more. And I have a great family who understand that I write write write.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
November 13, 2011
More like 2.5 stars. I'm not sure about the historical accuracy but it IS a historical romance fiction, leaning more on the romance side ;) I have to confess that there were many times that I wanted to slap the main characters Melisande and Alain, out of frustration. That line from Cool Hand Luke comes to mind..."What we have here is a failure to communicate". That seems to be the basis of some romance novels - for whatever reason, the main couple can NOT lay their cards on the table and just say what they're SO afraid of saying. 9 times out of 10, it's not that bad. But that they're all ready so in love with each other, even though they haven't admitted it to each other or to themselves, that the big bad secret(s) won't dissolve their feelings for each other. Or, at least, not for long. True love, after all, wins out over everything.
This book reminds me of the first Highlander book by Karen Marie Moning - they share the same template. So if you like that kind of story, you'll like this. It's a fun, light, fast read, if you have a high threshold for eye-rolling. I did learn some things like "beck" means stream and "fells" means mountains. And that people back then had allergies to cats. There were some funny cat scenes.
This book reminds me of the first Highlander book by Karen Marie Moning - they share the same template. So if you like that kind of story, you'll like this. It's a fun, light, fast read, if you have a high threshold for eye-rolling. I did learn some things like "beck" means stream and "fells" means mountains. And that people back then had allergies to cats. There were some funny cat scenes.
March 10, 2011
In the year 1092 A.D., in the land of Cumbria, a young maid stands and watches the self-proclaimed servant of Satan draw his last breath by her hand. The people of his land called him Fyren. She called him Father. Knowing that her death is inevitable but desperate to save her lands and people from the ravages of a war that she can not win, Melisande commands Fyren to the fires of hell and urges her own Saxon knights to give over to the approaching Norman lord with no bloodshed. Then she strips from her body the tells of her identity and disappears into the anonymity of servitude, so the new Lord will never suspect the horrifying secrets and dark terrors that mark her so egregiously.
Alain de Crency had never taken a holding so peaceably before, but it seemed no sooner did he enter the castle on orders from his king then the peoples therein kneel to swear fealty. But that is not the only command that Alain must follow, so when he is told that the Lady Melisande, given to him to wed by king's decree, has fled the walls of her home, Alain was greatly discontented. He is tasked not only in securing the lands and surrounding areas for the king's journey towards further conquest, but now too finding...and wedding...the former lords daughter.
But the longer he is at his new home, the more a pale, serious, and somber servant girl named Edyt catches his eye and stirs his blood. Flashes of challenge...and sometimes terror...flare in her eye, and the people of the holding seem to pay great mind to her words. Suspicion roused, he watches the fair maid like a hawk about to swoop down on its prey, even as rumors of sorcery and witchcraft and the evil machinations of warriors and kingdoms tighten their nooses around them both. One has no trust, only certainty of her own demise, the other has no meanness, but no answers to far too many perplexing questions. And to save the people they each call their own, they must join together in ways that may forever damn them both.
For fans of historical romance, Fire Dance Dance should not be missed. Rich in character and deep in plot, steeped in historical accuracy (barring a few tweaks for creative license), I was surprised at the complexity and depth of this book and the sophistication of its telling. Delle Jacobs has a deft hand with secrets and tragedy, hope and love, war and politics, weaving them all together into a fine tapestry of pure reading enjoyment.
Alain is a good, if uncomplicated soul, with a strong sense of right and wrong and a determination and dedication that was truly knightly. Wise to the ways of war and to the demands of loyalty and fealty, he was so utterly perplexed by the contradictions of Melisande that it tempered his character and prevented him from tilting too far into perfection. He was realistic and quite likable, even when he was being a bit of a boorish male - or...especially then. Melisande, however, is where Jacobs really shined her creative light. Complex, haunted, and flawed, Melisande is both a woman of her time and a progressive free thinker, and while those two things should be mutually exclusive, wonderfully they are not. The tragedies she has suffered are immense and unthinkable, but her reactions and the actions she takes are completely believable and understandable. As a character, I found her frustrating and charming, and even, occasionally, a bit of a shrew, but instead of disliking her, I marveled at how adeptly Jacobs painted her, and how sympathetic a character she was because of it.
The plot was simply great. Layered with magic, brushed with superstition, colored with science, tempered with humor, and trimmed with warfare, the journey of Alain and Melisande through the pages was nearly epic in scope. Secondary and ancillary characters added weight and substance to the story and filled out the novel nicely. I was particularly fond of Alain's second Chretien and Melisande's protector Gerard. They were quite characters, and the plot thread about Gerard's family in particular was tense and action-packed, if short. Chretien's past was heartbreaking, and he was a much needed sensible voice for Alain...whose emotions often got the better of him. As a whole, the characters were vital to the vibrancy and impact of the plot and the overall book.
There were times I struggled with the style of the cadence and language in the narrative. It felt very authentic to the time period, so I can hardly consider that a critique of the author's choices, but it wasn't always easy to suss out the meanings of things without having to really think about what I was reading. For being a long and very thorough book, though, I found myself gobbling it up, and got a little frustrated when I had to slow down to understand what I was reading.
There were some peculiar transitions in the narrative, and the occasional scene change with abrupt and inexplicable leaps in time. One in which Melisande was unconscious and sick at the end of one chapter and near to fine at the next page with no explanation was very disconcerting and off-putting. And honestly, I could have done without the majority of the warfare between neighboring holdings. There wasn't really enough historical backstory given to fully understand the goals and politics involved with the monarchy, so the battle scenes and conflict with Saxons weren't always successful aspects of the story, but it did provide an interesting glimpse into history.
One of the things that impressed me most about the book, though, was the brilliant portrayal of science and ailments, and the importance of learning and education in a time when so few were learned. With seamless precision, Jacobs fashioned characters with absolutely believable fears and superstitions, ignorant to the calm predictability of science, full of dread certainty of consequences for sorcery and demonic possession. The way those issues were developed and dealt with, along with the completely satisfying evolution of the romance between Alain and Melisande, were my favorite parts of the book, and what truly set it apart from so many formulaic historical romances.
Rich with history and full of solid storytelling, Fire Dance was a far more satisfying and pleasing read than I was expecting. I thoroughly enjoyed it, despite not being a huge fan of the genre, and found the characters and their story to be compelling, interesting, memorable, and ultimately entertaining.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
Alain de Crency had never taken a holding so peaceably before, but it seemed no sooner did he enter the castle on orders from his king then the peoples therein kneel to swear fealty. But that is not the only command that Alain must follow, so when he is told that the Lady Melisande, given to him to wed by king's decree, has fled the walls of her home, Alain was greatly discontented. He is tasked not only in securing the lands and surrounding areas for the king's journey towards further conquest, but now too finding...and wedding...the former lords daughter.
But the longer he is at his new home, the more a pale, serious, and somber servant girl named Edyt catches his eye and stirs his blood. Flashes of challenge...and sometimes terror...flare in her eye, and the people of the holding seem to pay great mind to her words. Suspicion roused, he watches the fair maid like a hawk about to swoop down on its prey, even as rumors of sorcery and witchcraft and the evil machinations of warriors and kingdoms tighten their nooses around them both. One has no trust, only certainty of her own demise, the other has no meanness, but no answers to far too many perplexing questions. And to save the people they each call their own, they must join together in ways that may forever damn them both.
For fans of historical romance, Fire Dance Dance should not be missed. Rich in character and deep in plot, steeped in historical accuracy (barring a few tweaks for creative license), I was surprised at the complexity and depth of this book and the sophistication of its telling. Delle Jacobs has a deft hand with secrets and tragedy, hope and love, war and politics, weaving them all together into a fine tapestry of pure reading enjoyment.
Alain is a good, if uncomplicated soul, with a strong sense of right and wrong and a determination and dedication that was truly knightly. Wise to the ways of war and to the demands of loyalty and fealty, he was so utterly perplexed by the contradictions of Melisande that it tempered his character and prevented him from tilting too far into perfection. He was realistic and quite likable, even when he was being a bit of a boorish male - or...especially then. Melisande, however, is where Jacobs really shined her creative light. Complex, haunted, and flawed, Melisande is both a woman of her time and a progressive free thinker, and while those two things should be mutually exclusive, wonderfully they are not. The tragedies she has suffered are immense and unthinkable, but her reactions and the actions she takes are completely believable and understandable. As a character, I found her frustrating and charming, and even, occasionally, a bit of a shrew, but instead of disliking her, I marveled at how adeptly Jacobs painted her, and how sympathetic a character she was because of it.
The plot was simply great. Layered with magic, brushed with superstition, colored with science, tempered with humor, and trimmed with warfare, the journey of Alain and Melisande through the pages was nearly epic in scope. Secondary and ancillary characters added weight and substance to the story and filled out the novel nicely. I was particularly fond of Alain's second Chretien and Melisande's protector Gerard. They were quite characters, and the plot thread about Gerard's family in particular was tense and action-packed, if short. Chretien's past was heartbreaking, and he was a much needed sensible voice for Alain...whose emotions often got the better of him. As a whole, the characters were vital to the vibrancy and impact of the plot and the overall book.
There were times I struggled with the style of the cadence and language in the narrative. It felt very authentic to the time period, so I can hardly consider that a critique of the author's choices, but it wasn't always easy to suss out the meanings of things without having to really think about what I was reading. For being a long and very thorough book, though, I found myself gobbling it up, and got a little frustrated when I had to slow down to understand what I was reading.
There were some peculiar transitions in the narrative, and the occasional scene change with abrupt and inexplicable leaps in time. One in which Melisande was unconscious and sick at the end of one chapter and near to fine at the next page with no explanation was very disconcerting and off-putting. And honestly, I could have done without the majority of the warfare between neighboring holdings. There wasn't really enough historical backstory given to fully understand the goals and politics involved with the monarchy, so the battle scenes and conflict with Saxons weren't always successful aspects of the story, but it did provide an interesting glimpse into history.
One of the things that impressed me most about the book, though, was the brilliant portrayal of science and ailments, and the importance of learning and education in a time when so few were learned. With seamless precision, Jacobs fashioned characters with absolutely believable fears and superstitions, ignorant to the calm predictability of science, full of dread certainty of consequences for sorcery and demonic possession. The way those issues were developed and dealt with, along with the completely satisfying evolution of the romance between Alain and Melisande, were my favorite parts of the book, and what truly set it apart from so many formulaic historical romances.
Rich with history and full of solid storytelling, Fire Dance was a far more satisfying and pleasing read than I was expecting. I thoroughly enjoyed it, despite not being a huge fan of the genre, and found the characters and their story to be compelling, interesting, memorable, and ultimately entertaining.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
July 31, 2014
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Fire Dance by Delle Jacobs
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Publication Date: August 22, 2007
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Bought from Amazon
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
It is hard for me to put in words how much I absolutely love a book, when it happens. There are only a handful of books that I have ever truly loved, and those books are usually ones that are not reviewed by me, because it is hard for me to say how much I love the book without giving away crucial parts of the plot. Nevertheless, this is one of those books, and after re-reading it several times in two days, I can piece together non-spoiler sentences. This book was the last book I read in 2012.
Summary (from Amazon):
A mysterious castle.
A deadly gift.
A missing, unwilling bride.
And a Norman knight determined to conquer all.
Ordered by his King to carry out a cryptic command—kill a wicked sorcerer lord, seize his castle, and take his daughter as a wife—Alain de Crency expects a fierce battle. Instead he discovers a defenseless castle, the daughter missing, and the sorcerer dead, shrouded in a magnificent purple cloak. With no knowledge of the evil lurking within it, Alain takes the cloak as his own before investigating the whereabouts of his supposed betrothed.
Upon Alain’s arrival, Melisande, the sorcerer’s daughter who begrudgingly learned her father’s sinister trade, hides in plain sight as a servant. But Alain suspects this beautiful blonde knows more than she claims, and he resolves to uncover the truth—if he can resist his burning desire for her.
Soon Melisande realizes her father’s infernal magic reaches beyond the grave—and that only Alain can save her people from the menacing evil. But with Alain’s new cloak dyed in poison, can Melisande save her people’s savior without revealing her dark secrets to the man who’s captured her heart?
What I Liked:
I am going to keep this short – just about everything! I love historical romance, the Medieval Age, fantasy, and a little paranormal. Those characteristics make up one of my favorites genres. So, when I bought this book, I had very high expectations; fortunately, Delle Jacobs delivered. Knights, haunted castles, bloodshed, defiance, magic, lies… this book had it all.
I was intrigued by Ms. Jacobs’ simple yet complex plot. There were many layers: the pending marriage, taking over the other strongholds, the purple cloak, and Fyren’s deception. Each layer is briefly touched, and then completely expounded upon, yet woven together.
Also, I liked seeing the growth of Alain and Melisande’s relationship. I like Ms. Jacobs’ twist on medieval men and women; Alain was fierce and courageous, yet gentle and unforceful. Melisande was not a simpering girl, but a brilliant, defiant woman.
What I Did Not Like:
This book was predictable. The romance always is, with romance books. The ending of the story could be discerned, as soon as all of the layers are revealed. And while I liked the different take of medieval men and women, I found it strange.
I was also very, very confused with all of the names of the places and people and the scenery outside of the castle. It was not until the end of the book that I put everything together that it started making sense. I was a little lost while reading it.
Would I Recommend It:
Yes. But this is an adult book, so exercise some discretion.
Rating:
4 stars. As far as historical romances mixed with fantasy go, this is a good one.
Fire Dance by Delle Jacobs
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Publication Date: August 22, 2007
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Bought from Amazon
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
It is hard for me to put in words how much I absolutely love a book, when it happens. There are only a handful of books that I have ever truly loved, and those books are usually ones that are not reviewed by me, because it is hard for me to say how much I love the book without giving away crucial parts of the plot. Nevertheless, this is one of those books, and after re-reading it several times in two days, I can piece together non-spoiler sentences. This book was the last book I read in 2012.
Summary (from Amazon):
A mysterious castle.
A deadly gift.
A missing, unwilling bride.
And a Norman knight determined to conquer all.
Ordered by his King to carry out a cryptic command—kill a wicked sorcerer lord, seize his castle, and take his daughter as a wife—Alain de Crency expects a fierce battle. Instead he discovers a defenseless castle, the daughter missing, and the sorcerer dead, shrouded in a magnificent purple cloak. With no knowledge of the evil lurking within it, Alain takes the cloak as his own before investigating the whereabouts of his supposed betrothed.
Upon Alain’s arrival, Melisande, the sorcerer’s daughter who begrudgingly learned her father’s sinister trade, hides in plain sight as a servant. But Alain suspects this beautiful blonde knows more than she claims, and he resolves to uncover the truth—if he can resist his burning desire for her.
Soon Melisande realizes her father’s infernal magic reaches beyond the grave—and that only Alain can save her people from the menacing evil. But with Alain’s new cloak dyed in poison, can Melisande save her people’s savior without revealing her dark secrets to the man who’s captured her heart?
What I Liked:
I am going to keep this short – just about everything! I love historical romance, the Medieval Age, fantasy, and a little paranormal. Those characteristics make up one of my favorites genres. So, when I bought this book, I had very high expectations; fortunately, Delle Jacobs delivered. Knights, haunted castles, bloodshed, defiance, magic, lies… this book had it all.
I was intrigued by Ms. Jacobs’ simple yet complex plot. There were many layers: the pending marriage, taking over the other strongholds, the purple cloak, and Fyren’s deception. Each layer is briefly touched, and then completely expounded upon, yet woven together.
Also, I liked seeing the growth of Alain and Melisande’s relationship. I like Ms. Jacobs’ twist on medieval men and women; Alain was fierce and courageous, yet gentle and unforceful. Melisande was not a simpering girl, but a brilliant, defiant woman.
What I Did Not Like:
This book was predictable. The romance always is, with romance books. The ending of the story could be discerned, as soon as all of the layers are revealed. And while I liked the different take of medieval men and women, I found it strange.
I was also very, very confused with all of the names of the places and people and the scenery outside of the castle. It was not until the end of the book that I put everything together that it started making sense. I was a little lost while reading it.
Would I Recommend It:
Yes. But this is an adult book, so exercise some discretion.
Rating:
4 stars. As far as historical romances mixed with fantasy go, this is a good one.
December 30, 2012
Sometimes a sultry romance is just what the doctor ordered. Honestly, books like this just make me laugh. You have to take them for what they are. This is a historical-romance, emphasis on the romance. Characters are going to act out of character and, thankfully, their speech patterns are modernized.
The point is, if you want a story about two people falling in love, in spite of the odds, and you don't mind a few steamy scenes, then go for it. If you are looking for a historical accont of the Normans conquering the Anglo-Saxons and going after Scotland, you should probably find a history book.
So, yeah, I liked it, because it was fun and I like reading books set in the medieval ages. Melisande has a wicked horrible father, so when she hears the Normans are coming to take over, she finds a way to dispose of her father and she turns her castle over to them. Because of her own past, and archaic notions of demons, she doesn't feel worthy to marry the new Lord, Alain de Crency, even though she is supposed to. So, she hides from him. Right under his nose as a maid servant. Of course, that little plot doesn't last long and he soon discovers her. Is anyone surprised that he was already falling in love with her? No? Good, that means that you really know how a romance novel is supposed to read.
So anyway, he falls for her, but he can't seem to vanquish her demons and she doesn't trust him. Through a random series of events, they start to trust each other. She is still worried that he won't accept her because she's not a virgin, though that is no fault of her own. (Using your mad powers of romance deducation, you should be able to figure out who did this to her.) She is also worried about the purple cloak that he uses. It is the same cloak that her father poisoned and used to kill her mother. But Alain won't seem to part with it. This is one part of the story that fell flat. It seemed kind of dumb to me that such a deal was made about this cloak. It was lame.
The point is, if you want a story about two people falling in love, in spite of the odds, and you don't mind a few steamy scenes, then go for it. If you are looking for a historical accont of the Normans conquering the Anglo-Saxons and going after Scotland, you should probably find a history book.
So, yeah, I liked it, because it was fun and I like reading books set in the medieval ages. Melisande has a wicked horrible father, so when she hears the Normans are coming to take over, she finds a way to dispose of her father and she turns her castle over to them. Because of her own past, and archaic notions of demons, she doesn't feel worthy to marry the new Lord, Alain de Crency, even though she is supposed to. So, she hides from him. Right under his nose as a maid servant. Of course, that little plot doesn't last long and he soon discovers her. Is anyone surprised that he was already falling in love with her? No? Good, that means that you really know how a romance novel is supposed to read.
So anyway, he falls for her, but he can't seem to vanquish her demons and she doesn't trust him. Through a random series of events, they start to trust each other. She is still worried that he won't accept her because she's not a virgin, though that is no fault of her own. (Using your mad powers of romance deducation, you should be able to figure out who did this to her.) She is also worried about the purple cloak that he uses. It is the same cloak that her father poisoned and used to kill her mother. But Alain won't seem to part with it. This is one part of the story that fell flat. It seemed kind of dumb to me that such a deal was made about this cloak. It was lame.
February 11, 2013
I recently purchased this book off of an Amazon.com sale. I didn't really have any expectations, as this wasn't an author I typically read, but it sounded interesting.
I was impressed with this book from the beginning. I usually like a lot of Historical Romances, and this book takes place in the year 1092 A.D. in what will become England. The story is about a woman, Melisande whose father is a cruel Lord who tormented her and his people. Ordered by King Rufus, Norman Lord Alain De Crency is to storm and take the castle and marry the Lady Melisande, no questions asked, Alain thought he would be in for a battle and a dull, ugly bride.
Upon arriving at the castle, Alain learns of Fyren, the previous Lord's death, about an hour before his arrival. The knights had all been ordered to let the Norman Lord take the castle, but the Lady of the castle had "disappeared".
Fearing the Norman's reaction when he learned all of her secrets, Lady Melisande disguises herself as a housekeeper, allowing her to still run the castle and the people, and keep an eye on the Norman Lord.
Melisande's plan does not last for long, as Alain soon discovers her secrets, although he has to painfully peel them back layer by layer.
Melisande must learn to trust, smile, and love, which are all things that have been missing for most of her life.
With a mix of history, science, and sorcery, Jacobs tells a very entertaining tale of a love that must be fought for, every step of the way.
I was impressed with this book from the beginning. I usually like a lot of Historical Romances, and this book takes place in the year 1092 A.D. in what will become England. The story is about a woman, Melisande whose father is a cruel Lord who tormented her and his people. Ordered by King Rufus, Norman Lord Alain De Crency is to storm and take the castle and marry the Lady Melisande, no questions asked, Alain thought he would be in for a battle and a dull, ugly bride.
Upon arriving at the castle, Alain learns of Fyren, the previous Lord's death, about an hour before his arrival. The knights had all been ordered to let the Norman Lord take the castle, but the Lady of the castle had "disappeared".
Fearing the Norman's reaction when he learned all of her secrets, Lady Melisande disguises herself as a housekeeper, allowing her to still run the castle and the people, and keep an eye on the Norman Lord.
Melisande's plan does not last for long, as Alain soon discovers her secrets, although he has to painfully peel them back layer by layer.
Melisande must learn to trust, smile, and love, which are all things that have been missing for most of her life.
With a mix of history, science, and sorcery, Jacobs tells a very entertaining tale of a love that must be fought for, every step of the way.
July 10, 2013
I loved this book!! Melisande and Alaine were both likable characters that I truly WANTED to have a HEA. I loved the plot with its surprises and twists and the author did a fantastic job of creating a world so real, I dreamed about it last night. That's truly unusual for me!
I highly recommend this book to readers of historical romance. The only thing I cannot speak of, for or against, is how accurate the period details are. I'm not a history buff, but I know some historical romance readers are and can get very annoyed if the details don't make sense in the time period. As a NON-history-buff, nothing was blatantly wrong that I could tell. I do suspect the men in this story had attitudes far more generous toward women than what men of that time period had, but I don't consider it romantic to have a woman treated like a piece of meat or as a slave, either. I definitely prefer the fantasy Ms. Jacobs created.
So, why didn't I give this book 5 stars if I loved it so much? Because I feel the severe physical, sexual, and mental abuse suffered by Melisande would have made an intimate emotional relationship and sex far more difficult for her than what was portrayed. Yet she did have good male role models in the knights who befriended her, so maybe she's pretty special that way. Who knows? But because of that possibility, I decided to accept her as is and enjoy the ride.
I will most certainly be looking at more of Delle Jacobs work! A truly talented lady, for sure.
I highly recommend this book to readers of historical romance. The only thing I cannot speak of, for or against, is how accurate the period details are. I'm not a history buff, but I know some historical romance readers are and can get very annoyed if the details don't make sense in the time period. As a NON-history-buff, nothing was blatantly wrong that I could tell. I do suspect the men in this story had attitudes far more generous toward women than what men of that time period had, but I don't consider it romantic to have a woman treated like a piece of meat or as a slave, either. I definitely prefer the fantasy Ms. Jacobs created.
So, why didn't I give this book 5 stars if I loved it so much? Because I feel the severe physical, sexual, and mental abuse suffered by Melisande would have made an intimate emotional relationship and sex far more difficult for her than what was portrayed. Yet she did have good male role models in the knights who befriended her, so maybe she's pretty special that way. Who knows? But because of that possibility, I decided to accept her as is and enjoy the ride.
I will most certainly be looking at more of Delle Jacobs work! A truly talented lady, for sure.
February 10, 2017
Entertaining, and the hero was sweet.
A large part of the plot hinged on the heroine being irrational/ stupid, though.
A large part of the plot hinged on the heroine being irrational/ stupid, though.
March 9, 2015
Fighting the legacy of a wicked man.
Seriously twisted villain has reigned terror & perversion on his people especially his family. Even though laid to rest the repercussions still surge.
A heroine emotionally scarred & tormented uses her healing skills, vast knowledge and compassion to help her people as well as support the conquering Lord.
The Norman Lord is keenly observant and a great strategist. Both are needed for discovering his betrothed, marrying her & helping to fight the demons that plague her.
I found this book fascinating with references to alchemy, war strategies, even primitive surgery and the ending explosive. Will look for more of this author.
Seriously twisted villain has reigned terror & perversion on his people especially his family. Even though laid to rest the repercussions still surge.
A heroine emotionally scarred & tormented uses her healing skills, vast knowledge and compassion to help her people as well as support the conquering Lord.
The Norman Lord is keenly observant and a great strategist. Both are needed for discovering his betrothed, marrying her & helping to fight the demons that plague her.
I found this book fascinating with references to alchemy, war strategies, even primitive surgery and the ending explosive. Will look for more of this author.
October 29, 2010
So I read this because 1. it was free 2. I thought The Mudlark was a cute book and 3. you can't see the cover art on the kindle very well.
Anyway, this was not in the same league as the other Jacobs book I read, this was definitely in "I have to have sex with you to save your life" camp. This is what happens when you are on a plane for 14 hours.
Anyway, this was not in the same league as the other Jacobs book I read, this was definitely in "I have to have sex with you to save your life" camp. This is what happens when you are on a plane for 14 hours.
June 28, 2011
OMG this book was so good! So many twists and turns. And a really, wonderful, satisfying love story. This is the first Delle Jacobs book I've read but it won't be the last.
November 9, 2024
This was a book I picked up when I first got my Kindle (nearly 14 years ago) so I really can't remember why I picked it up, though I think the fact that it was free probably helped. This is a historical romance book set in medieval times.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked how it felt more historically accurate, in period typical attitudes, as well as in the world itself, but it was still kinder in many ways. I liked how Melisande was so intelligent and how the fact that she was a woman made that dangerous, but Alain understood that side of her and even encouraged it. I liked how she had very good reason to keep her secrets and how the nightmares that lurked in her head were absolutely terrifying.
The romance was okay, this wasn't the biggest draw for me if I'm honest. But I did really like Melisande and who she was as a person and how she inspired loyalty in the people around her, as well as the backstory behind all of that too. And the way she dealt with the man from her nightmares, and used her memory and her mind to get herself out of trouble and facing her fears.
Definitely a book I would recommend. 4 stars!
I really enjoyed this book. I liked how it felt more historically accurate, in period typical attitudes, as well as in the world itself, but it was still kinder in many ways. I liked how Melisande was so intelligent and how the fact that she was a woman made that dangerous, but Alain understood that side of her and even encouraged it. I liked how she had very good reason to keep her secrets and how the nightmares that lurked in her head were absolutely terrifying.
The romance was okay, this wasn't the biggest draw for me if I'm honest. But I did really like Melisande and who she was as a person and how she inspired loyalty in the people around her, as well as the backstory behind all of that too. And the way she dealt with the man from her nightmares, and used her memory and her mind to get herself out of trouble and facing her fears.
Definitely a book I would recommend. 4 stars!
August 22, 2019
A woman before her time?
This story was set in historical Britain- William Rufus (William the Red) sat on the English throne. The Normans were conquers and were fear across the land.
I enjoyed the characters the author created and Melisandre was definitely a woman who had walked through fire and finally came out the other side. And how could you not fall for Alain - the big Norman who falls for her before he even knows who she is - yet refuses to pursue her out of loyalty to his promised bride.
Were there problems with this story - yes. We’re the characters frustratingly stubborn in their resolve to not share their secrets - yes. However, I liked the story any way.
This story was set in historical Britain- William Rufus (William the Red) sat on the English throne. The Normans were conquers and were fear across the land.
I enjoyed the characters the author created and Melisandre was definitely a woman who had walked through fire and finally came out the other side. And how could you not fall for Alain - the big Norman who falls for her before he even knows who she is - yet refuses to pursue her out of loyalty to his promised bride.
Were there problems with this story - yes. We’re the characters frustratingly stubborn in their resolve to not share their secrets - yes. However, I liked the story any way.
December 8, 2024
This book had a lot of potential and could have been good. However, the storytelling was a mess in so many ways that I can’t even explain, and there was a lot of sexism in it (and I’m not talking about the time period being sexist, or a character being sexist, I mean the story was sexist). There is also a lot of descriptions of really brutal rape & murder, as well as an implied incest, which is just not something that fits the tone of a romance book.
Also, I’m not a fan of the arranged marriage/hate to love trope when it comes to an actual romance book (in fiction overall it’s fine, but in romance I want to be rooting for the couple, not…hoping they won’t be stuck with each other).
Also, I’m not a fan of the arranged marriage/hate to love trope when it comes to an actual romance book (in fiction overall it’s fine, but in romance I want to be rooting for the couple, not…hoping they won’t be stuck with each other).
July 13, 2017
Someone walks around hiding in plain sight and her people don't give her away but she still manages to give them orders under the nose of the new laird. Pleeeze. Instant attraction to the person who has taken control of your property. Insert eye rolls. If I had not been injured and bored to death I would not have finished this. It was loaded on my Kindle as a First Read and was free. Would I buy it? No.
February 14, 2021
I never thought I'd enjoy a romance novel as much as I did this one, especially considering it's not exactly my go-to genre to read.
However, Delle Jacobs strikes a perfect balance of emotional romance, raunch, suspense, and action, seasoned with just a sprinkle of the fantastical to create a historical romance that delights with every turn of the page.
An easily recommended read!
However, Delle Jacobs strikes a perfect balance of emotional romance, raunch, suspense, and action, seasoned with just a sprinkle of the fantastical to create a historical romance that delights with every turn of the page.
An easily recommended read!
September 3, 2019
I loved how Melisande's torturous past was revealed in layers, and my heart bled for her with each one. Strong characterizations and Melisande's and Alain's opposing goals kept the tension high. The descriptions were so detailed I could picture the action playing out like a movie on the big screen.
December 4, 2021
Surprisingly good read!
Nice character development, twisty plot, villains, heroes and a cat. What more can you ask for? Oh yes, an intelligent female heroine that survived the worst and still...
Nice character development, twisty plot, villains, heroes and a cat. What more can you ask for? Oh yes, an intelligent female heroine that survived the worst and still...
September 10, 2022
Intriguing
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. My first encounter with the author. It was interesting, suspenseful, full of distinctive characters and laced with class .. I would recommend .
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. My first encounter with the author. It was interesting, suspenseful, full of distinctive characters and laced with class .. I would recommend .
June 6, 2017
Good historical romance. Not as much romance as I like, but good story line.
June 26, 2017
Fast moving.
A book about overcoming fear. Situations seemed very real and believable. The talk over maps and how the illiterate solders needed to be guided was interesting.
A book about overcoming fear. Situations seemed very real and believable. The talk over maps and how the illiterate solders needed to be guided was interesting.
July 7, 2017
I listened to the audio book it was good.
January 15, 2019
Better than I expected.
March 23, 2019
Delle Jacobs
Delle Jacobs is a masterful weaver of stories. Bringing together loveable, believable plot and characters to life and uniting them together into a riveting plot.
Delle Jacobs is a masterful weaver of stories. Bringing together loveable, believable plot and characters to life and uniting them together into a riveting plot.
Read
January 18, 2021Read about a paragraph, definitely not for me. Verified by other reviews. Can probably skip this author.
May 17, 2021
good lord this was boring. The supposed to be sexy leading man reads like King Phillip from Sleeping Beauty
January 3, 2023
Slow start but in the end I loved it
April 29, 2013
I have read many historical fiction books that take place after the Norman Conquest of England. I didn't have much of a problem with the research done on this novel because there really wasn't much there that I thought had much to do with this particular time in history. I could see that the author took pains to correctly portray the way the people of that time period spoke. There wasn't too much that sounded like modern speech. However, I found the plotting of the book to be poorly done. I didn't really understand why Melisande was so sure that the Alain would kill her if he discovered her. But she disquised herself as one of the servants of the castle in order to blend in. But when Alain was speaking to the roomful of servants, she brought attention to herself by trying to leave the room. She also gave herself the job of being the housekeeper; a job that would often bring her into the direct viscinity of Alain. She really didn't come across as having too much common sense.
And why the big difficulty getting that poisonous cape/cloak from Alain? It seems to me that she could have simply told him that it was soaked in arsenic(or whatever they did to it), and that would have been the end of it.
I also don't think it was historically accurate that Alain was so understanding about Melisande not being a virgin. I don't think a lack of virginity for a nobly born woman would have been readily accepted...especially where incest was involved.
I think there were lots of places in the plotting that didn't make sense.
I also thought that there wasn't really very good character development. I didn't ever really feel much chemistry between Alain and Melisande.
I thought it would take forever for Rufus to arrive. And when he was kidnapped, why not just kill him right away? That didn't make any sense to me.
I kept reading this book in the hope that more would happen to make me care about what happened to the characters in the book, but it never happened. I was disappointed.
And why the big difficulty getting that poisonous cape/cloak from Alain? It seems to me that she could have simply told him that it was soaked in arsenic(or whatever they did to it), and that would have been the end of it.
I also don't think it was historically accurate that Alain was so understanding about Melisande not being a virgin. I don't think a lack of virginity for a nobly born woman would have been readily accepted...especially where incest was involved.
I think there were lots of places in the plotting that didn't make sense.
I also thought that there wasn't really very good character development. I didn't ever really feel much chemistry between Alain and Melisande.
I thought it would take forever for Rufus to arrive. And when he was kidnapped, why not just kill him right away? That didn't make any sense to me.
I kept reading this book in the hope that more would happen to make me care about what happened to the characters in the book, but it never happened. I was disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2015
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Fire Dance is a somewhat silly historical romance - with an emphasis on the romance since the history part is daft. Admittedly, I only made it half way through the Audible narration before the constant eye rolling was about to cause me vision loss. The funny thing is - I don't mind a bit of supernatural elements or alternate universe. But seriously, the plot has to at least be believable and with some modicum of attempt to put history in the historical - or just make it a straight fantasy.Story: Melisande's sorcerer/lord father has died and the Normans are at the gate. She decides to impersonate a maid in order to avoid a forced marriage to the handsome and just knight Alain de Crency. But Alain needs to wed the daughter of the lord - even as he pursues the beautiful maid - little knowing that her hearsay could destroy all he is building.
So yes, this is a romance and if you don't look too closely at it, you may enjoy it. The dialogue, characters, etc. are all very modernized and clearly we have clean peasant (and knight) syndrome. As well, actions that should get characters beaten, raped, or murdered never seem to happen. About half way through the Audible version of this, I'd had enough with the stupidity of both Alain and Melisande. He was borderline incompetent as a knight (ok, seriously, how hard is it to find one girl of a certain age and description - knowing she is hiding from him - and not figure out it is the woman without calluses, well educated, and who talks back to him?). And her actions were so patently stupid as to wonder how she put on a dress...er kirtle...in the morning.
I never even made it to the sorcery part, the romance was too wince worthy. I listened to the Audible version and the male narrator was perhaps a bit too gruff for the part.
June 2, 2014
This was an interesting early historic romance. I love the times of knights and honorable kings. This was a great fictional story during the time of King Rufus who succeeded King Henry. It was a time when lands were conquered then controlled. This is a very positive situation.
A young Heiress was left alone when at first her mother, then her evil father died. King Rufus called a beloved Lord knight to conquer that land and wed the young princess and would be given the title of Lord and the castle and land would become his with the Lady. He was instructed to marry her and accept her without questions. When he and his knights arrived, no battle was necessary... the Heiress was missing. None of the people "owned up" to knowing where she was. The Lord Knight was persistent in finding her and eventually he did.
The Heiress was loved by her people and had suffered greatly under her father's rule. She felt no grief at his death whatsoever. She wanted no more killing or suffering of her people so asked they summit with no more bloodshed. What ensued further keeps the reader in suspense until the very end.
The story took a slight 'hitch' at the end but the author recovered very well. This was full of suspense and intrigue. It would have been perfect for even the YA audience as well, but there were a couple of unnecessary, intimate sex scenes which makes it inappropriate for a younger audience.
The Title is "fitting" and the book cover is perfect!
Because of the writing skills of Della Jacobs and story content, my review must still give this book a very strong Four Stars rating.
A young Heiress was left alone when at first her mother, then her evil father died. King Rufus called a beloved Lord knight to conquer that land and wed the young princess and would be given the title of Lord and the castle and land would become his with the Lady. He was instructed to marry her and accept her without questions. When he and his knights arrived, no battle was necessary... the Heiress was missing. None of the people "owned up" to knowing where she was. The Lord Knight was persistent in finding her and eventually he did.
The Heiress was loved by her people and had suffered greatly under her father's rule. She felt no grief at his death whatsoever. She wanted no more killing or suffering of her people so asked they summit with no more bloodshed. What ensued further keeps the reader in suspense until the very end.
The story took a slight 'hitch' at the end but the author recovered very well. This was full of suspense and intrigue. It would have been perfect for even the YA audience as well, but there were a couple of unnecessary, intimate sex scenes which makes it inappropriate for a younger audience.
The Title is "fitting" and the book cover is perfect!
Because of the writing skills of Della Jacobs and story content, my review must still give this book a very strong Four Stars rating.
April 7, 2021
This could have been a good book except for two bad problems--it was way too long for the story it had to tell and often seemed to spin its wheels in neutral getting no where--I have no idea why the author added so much padding but a condensed version would have been much better. The most fatal flaw is an idiot plot, a plot that necessitates the people involved be total idiots or there would be no plot since the solution to the problems is so obvious. It involves characters acting in ways no sensible, rational human being would, so they cease to be realistic, sympathetic, and likable and can no longer engage the reader, who is gritting her teeth in frustration over the stupidity of it all. Don't ask me why the selfish heroine sat back and let her husband be gradually poisoned because she was, for no good reason, unwilling to simply tell him--the author's explanations just didn't work, and I couldn't possibly dream up any good alternative reasons for her callousness either--it was just that idiotic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews