Викинг

by Connie Mason

От момента, в който я вижда, облечена само в лунна светлина, Торн Безмилостния разбира, че е омагьосан от къпещата се в горския поток девойка. Иначе как да си обясни дивите сънища, които тормозят нощите му и свирепата страст, изгаряща тялото му? Торн знае само един начин да развали тази силна магия — да грабне магьосницата и да я направи своя. Но когато го извършва, изведнъж разбира, че е изпаднал още повече под властта на Фиона — своята красива робиня.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Medieval, Medieval Romance, Viking Romance, Adult

Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Connie Mason or Cara Miles is the best-selling author of more than fifty historical romances and novellas. Her tales of passion and adventure are set in exotic as well as American locales. Connie was named Story Teller of the Year in 1990 by Romantic Times and was awarded Career Achievement award in the Western category by Romantic Times in 1994. Connie makes her home in Tarpon Springs, Florida with her husband Jerry.

Prior to her first published work in 1984, Connie was a full time homemaker. Always an avid reader, writing was one of Connie's dreams.

In 1995 Connie was featured on a segment of the CBS news show 48 Hours, a television production that devoted an entire program to the romance novel industry. Connie was also featured in an article published by National Inquirer.

In addition to writing and traveling, Connie enjoys telling anyone who will listen about her three children and nine grandchildren, and sharing memories of her years living abroad in Europe and Asia as the wife of a career serviceman. In her spare time Connie enjoys reading, dancing, playing bridge and freshwater fishing with her husband.

Reviews

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actual rating: -10 stars. I'm feeling horribly charitable today.

This review is as long as this book is crappy. Ergo, grab a snack, my Little Barnacles. We should be here a while.

This MacHalo buddy read is brought to you by Connie Mason’s Fabulous Trope Magnifying Machine (FTMM™)! The FTMM™ is guaranteed to take your Romance Piece of Crap™ masterpiece to new, previously unexplored tropilicious heights! Order one today and boldly go where no self-respecting author has dared wander before! The FTMM™, helping writers reach record breaking levels of Acute Tropismitis two million clichés at a time!



Yes! The FTMM™ doubles as a permanent wave machine, too!

Sorry for the commercial break introduction, but times are hard and MacHalos can’t be choosers and stuff. Or is it beggars? I forget. Now back to your regular crappy reviewing.

This book. Such a winner it is. In so many ways. Did you know it made the Pulitzer Prize shortlist a few years ago? It really did. I’m shocked it didn’t win, actually. It is after all a heartfelt, moving story about the power of macho BS love and the deep, indestructible ties it can forge between two supremely dense nitwits wonderful beings. If that isn’t prime Pulitzer material, I don’t know what is. Alas, win the prize this book did not. A shame it is indeed, and I shall do my best to explain why henceforth. But first, please allow me to outline the plot for you. No, no, really, I insist! No problem at all! My pleasure and stuff! Here goes:

This marvelous book tells the beautiful tale of Thorne the Relentlessly Moronic One of the Loins on Fire Relentless and Fiona the Bewitching Harlot of the Masochistic Cleft Learned. It is a brilliant in-depth analysis of social exchanges in Northern Europe in the early Middle Ages. By depicting what happens when TSTL idiots naïve, innocent Christian girls are taken captive rescued by award-winning scumbags kind-hearted Vikings, Connie Mason finally sets the record straight about the so-called Northern Barbarians here. And it was high time someone did. Because Vikings really are nothing like the cruel, heartless, animalistic bunch they usually are described as.



See what I mean?

By Odin’s beard, but Vikings have been unjustly accused of being nothing more than vile savages for centuries! This is so outrageously unfair! How can Vikings be portrayed as arrogant, ferocious, bullheaded, barbarous and violent beasts, when they are naught but love, compassion, kindness and peace? Not to mention how intoxicating², magnetic², powerfully primitive² and compelling they can be while in the throes of rape passion! But more on that later. Now let’s explore how Connie Mason dazzlingly disproves all the abhorrent Viking clichés, shall we?

① Early Viking Feminism.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that all women are sluts and whores who are begging to be ravished 24/7. Just ask the poor non-barbarian dudes. Sorry, I meant the poor non-barbarian victims. Because yes, they are victims. Can you imagine what these unfortunate souls have to go through?! How are they supposed NOT to assault every female contraption they pass, when said contraptions are naught but wanton seductresses in heat whose only mission in life is to spread their legs test the poor, helpless guys’ self-restraint?! And the irony of it is, once the Viking dudes reluctantly succumb to temptation and go all “lecherous attack incoming!” on the Lascivious Ones, they are blamed for it! If that isn’t outrageously unfair, I really don’t know what is.

You want another proof of the above mentioned “truth universally acknowledged?” Take our lovely heroine, Fiona the Bewitching Harlot of the Masochistic Cleft Learned: Thorne the Relentlessly Moronic One of the Loins on Fire Relentless treats her worse than he would a piece of crap is endlessly gushing over her like an inexperienced teenager, but she keeps trying to mess with his sounds-empty-in-there little head, just so that he will ravish her mercilessly. It is the truthful truth, I promise. Fiona is super Machiavellian, you see. Because she knows that only one thing can appease poor Thorne when she gets him confused as fish:

“Open to me, Fiona. Perhaps my confusion will cease when I’m inside you again.”

What a wicked trick to play on an innocent, loving man. Fiona really has no shame, and will do just about anything to get her libidinous way. Just like all shameless females of the Viking Age. I find their behavior so horrendously scandalous that I have decided to set up a helpline for our defenseless, powerless, distressed Viking dudes, to offer them emotional support and provide immediate crisis counseling. So please, all you abused and used non-barbarians out there, don’t be shy or ashamed, call 1-800-VIKINGS-ARE-VICTIMS today and connect with one of our trained how-to-deal-with-sluts counselors!



② Sheer brilliance all around.
There is another huge misconception about Vikings: they are widely believed to be outstandingly slow-witted and remarkably thickheaded. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Vikings are actually quite the egg-headed bunch, and many of them are active members of Mensa. As surprising as this may sound, it has been proven quite scientifically. Yes, quite scientifically indeed. Right. Anyway, Connie Mason repeatedly invalidates the shockingly slanderous “all macho oafs are nitwits, all Vikings are macho oafs, therefore all Vikings are nitwits” syllogism in this book. She makes her quite point subtly, by depicting our intellectually challenged enlightened characters’ behavior. Our dashing hero’s Einstein-like actions are a perfect example of just how astutely clever Vikings really are: Thorne believes dear Fiona bewitched him, you see. (Which she did, since she is a whore and a slut whose sole mission in life is to shamelessly seduce harmless men with her feminine wiles, as you may remember.) So what brilliantly clever plan does Super Perceptive Thorne (SPT™) come up with to escape Fiona’s spell? I’ll let him tell you in his own words:

“Would taking her body and sating himself on her sweet flesh break the spell? It was worth considering.”

Ha! Told you the man was Mensa material! Plus, he “makes love with vigor and zest,” which apparently doesn’t hurt. (I’m not sure I understand what lemon zests have to do with the business at hand—uh-oh, rash alert!—, but I was recently told I was as clueless as my favourite Barnacles, so…Well…You know…STUFF.) I don’t want to spoil it all for you, but believe me when I tell you that sate himself on Fiona’s sweet flesh, Thorne did. Multiple times. Multiple multiple multiple times. Got to give it to him, the man is persistent in his scientific quest to get rid of the witch’s spell. So many hours devoted to thorough experimentation and in-depth research! What dedication! I really don’t know why Thorne hasn’t yet been awarded the Nobel Prize of Ravishingology. If someone deserves it, it’s him!



Thorne came up with that one. Do you believe me now when I tell you the guy is a misunderstood genius?

③ Amazing language skills.
Up until Connie Mason did some intensive research in Viking phraseology, the Northern Non-Barbarian Bunch (NNBB™) was thought to have a very limited vocabulary range. What a bunch of stinking shrimp (no offense, Dear Murderous Children Mine). Their language is a wonderfully rich one, and makes Thesaurus.com green with envy. The Vikings have so many different ways of expressing the same concept, it’s quite mind-boggling. Here, take a look at this little list Connie Mason graciously compiled for you:

• Action verbs: to throb, to impale, to tingle, to pump, to thrust, to sheathe, to shove apart (when referring to shapely legs), to pulse, to rub, to tease, to toss down (violently, if possible. Bed optional).
• Female anatomy: crevice (will weep for Vikings when sleek), center (better if heated), folds, portal (moist is better), cleft, softness, sweetest vessel known to mankind (my personal favorite).
• Male anatomy: loins, staff, shaft (preferably hard and thick), mighty weapon, blade, length (incredible, if possible), manhood, stalwart stallion (now you’re talking!).

See how amazingly creative the Vikings are when it comes to language? It doesn’t get more ingeniously flowery than this, if you ask me.

④ So much heartwarming romance.
As we previously discussed, Vikings tend to suffer from a completely undeserved, cold-hearted bad boy image. Take this well-known painting by Leonardo DaShrimpy, for example:



And that right there is exactly how stereotypes are perpetrated. No wonder our wicked witch of a rape-inducing heroine (remember it’s never too late to call 1-800-VIKINGS-ARE-VICTIMS, Helpless Viking Dudes™!) utters these words at the beginning of the book:

“There wasn’t a soft place on his hard body or a tender spot in his cruel heart.”

She would never have made this defamatory statement, had she gone beyond the bigoted clichés. A good thing Thorne proved her initial assertion wrong and showed her what a complete asshole kind-hearted, romantic Viking he really is:

“Remove your clothing, wife, and lie down on our bed. Spread your legs and welcome your husband inside you with a sweet smile of surrender.”

“Witch or no, spell or not, I must have you. I will have you!”

The guy can be so corny and sentimental, it’s really touching. He’s ready to do just about anything to prove his undying love to Fiona. His feelings for her are so pure, he actually let himself be manipulated into marrying her. It’s the truthful truth, he really did. I’ve told you before what a cunning, vicious, mean one Fiona is. All she’s wanted from day one was for Thorne to die with need for her. So what did she do? She told him that she’d let him have his wicked Viking way with her only if they were married by a Christian priest. And what did In Dire Need of Sex Rehab Besotted Thorne have to say to that? “Hold that thought and spread those legs love, be right back!” So he went and got a priest and five minutes later they were humping around like rabid barnacles in heat lawfully wedded spouses! Now if that isn’t the most romantic thing ever, I don’t know what is. Oh dear, I fear this is too much for my black, withered heart, I’m about to get all emotional and stuff.



Oops, sorry, wrong gif.

And this is how, with much exhaustive investigation, Connie Willis debunked every single Viking trope there ever was and ever will be. She managed this feat without resorting to OTT drama, slightly cumbersome repetitions, complete and utter ridiculousness, eyeroll-generating stupidity, and asinine *waves at Jilly* ludicrosity. Bravo to you, dear madam. Much experience in crappy writing I have, and take the cake this masterpiece does indeed.

➽ And the moral of this Bloody Stinking Fish I Survived This One Now I Can Bloody Shrimping Survive Anything Crappy Non Review (BSFISTONICBSSACNR™) is: I wasn’t nearly drunk enough to read this. But I’m getting there now. All hail Laphroaig and stuff.

P.S. All the chapters is this book are exactly 20 pages long. Looks like there is actually a method to this madness crappiness.



[Pre-review nonsense]

I did not just read this book. I mean, it may seem like I did, but I'm pretty sure I didn't. Because a book like this one simply cannot exist. Surely, no one can willingly write such Abysmally Moronic Crap (AMC™).



Besides, this book has a 3.83 average star rating, which confirms some kind of evil witchery is at work here: if this AMC™ is NOT a figment of my imagination and some wretched, accursed souls like myself have indeed had the misfortune to actually read it for real, then it is clearly impossible that any of said wretched, accursed souls voluntarily rated it more than a single lonesome, pathetic, lame little star. Ergo, this book doesn't exist. And I never read it, obviously.



Why thank you, Spockie and Kitty! Your joint approval is greatly appreciated and stuff.

➽ Full My Two Eyeballs Are Still Firmly in Place Despite the Vigorous Rolling in their Sockets Workout They Got While I Was Reading This Thing If that Isn't a Bloody Shrimping Miracle I Don't Know What Is Crappy Non Review (MTEASFiPDtVRitSWTGWIWRTTItIaBSMIDKWICNR™) to come.



[March 29, 2018]

✉ A message from Goodreads support ✉

We deeply regret to inform you that the superior being nefariously pincer-clad breeder of murderous crustaceans known as Sarah has, much like her boyfriend Geralt the Ex-Monster Slaying Hot Babe Turned Total Bore (GtEMSHBTTB™), been abducted by viciously depraved aliens.



As if this wasn't heartbreaking and distressing and tragic enough, it seems these diabolically perverse creatures replaced Her Glorious Noxiousness Sarah by a Vile, Monstrous, Degenerate Historical Romance-Reading Beast (VMDHRB™). Hence the revoltingly disgusting addition of this PoC™ book to her TBR.

We are currently doing everything in our power to deliver Your Most Beloved Subaquatic Overlord Sarah from the atrociously savage little green guys' two-fingered hands, and have kindly asked Fleet Admiral DaShrimp to assist us in this most hazardous undertaking. Several crustacean platoons have therefore been sent on a decapodic search and rescue mission. We have the most absolute confidence in their beautifully homicidal abilities, and trust they will set their dearest father free posthaste there's a slight chance that she might perhaps maybe kick their shapely exoskeletons six ways to Sunday if they don't . To Infinity and Beyond and Stuff!



✉ End of message from Goodreads support ✉

[Jilly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Usually when I shelve a book on my "Too Stupid to Live" shelf, it is because of the stupidity of the characters in the book. But, in this case, I am adding myself to the mix for reading it. I think I lost brain cells while reading this crappy book.


I tried to take this test to find out, but it didn't seem to work. They didn't even ask me any questions. Weird.

The only good thing about reading this was reading it with the crazy ladies at the MacHalo group. Misery loves company and all that.

So, you might like this book... if you are a rapist. Our hero is a rapist, and so are all of the male characters. It's their thing. Every group has a thing.

But, raping isn't all that's happening here (just the main thing). There is also terrible and stupid dialogue, ridiculously idiotic situations, and an asinine plot. (Notice how I found so many words to say "crappy"? Thank you, Thesaurus!)


How .. .um what's the word?... sad-making.


Oh yeah. Terrible. That's the word I was looking for.

Anywhoooo, here's a quote from the craptastically crappy crap-fest:

How could his hands, stained with the blood of innocent souls, make her flesh tingle and burn?

Depends. Was the tingling and burning stronger upon urination? It could be the gonorrhea. He's done a lot of raping.

So, if you like rapists, and stupid people, you will like this book.

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

I really have to stop buying books based on being entranced with the covers and stepbacks. This is the third I've started and left unfinished, thanks to the romance moving too fast without any development.

This was bought on a day when I got a little carried away at the thrift store. They had a really good romance selection that day, and of course there was the "buy 4 books, get the 5th free" promotion they always have. I recognized Connie Mason's name, and the premise didn't sound too bad.

I should have known better. WHEN WILL I LEARN, DAMN IT???

"I do not want the Viking. He is too powerful, too big, too... male."

Yeah, those are all excellent reasons for not wanting to fulfill a supposed destiny with the guy who abducted you, is convinced you're a witch, and made you his slave.

"He wants to make me his whore."

Now you're getting closer.

There was too much talk of prophecies and thing being "in the stars." Throw in a jealous betrothed and another rapey Viking and you can see why I've set this one aside.

Even though I DNFed this at page 92, I won't deprive you of the artwork within. Behold my boyfriend's the model's glorious face!



You're welcome! ;)

[Maria Dimitrova · Rating 1 out of 5]

Buddy read with the MacHalo Ladies. I blame them for this insanity. But at least we had fun hating on Thorne The Moron.

WARNING SPOILERS

Actual rating: -1000 stars.

See my rating? That's the IQ of the characters. Not combined, it's the IQ of every single character in this book. I could feel myself getting dumber as I read this!

Most of the people would have a problem with the whole "Hey, let's rape and murder the female lead" coming from almost all of the male characters. But that doesn't bother me. I mean it's the Middle Ages, they're vikings, let's go with the stereotype. What I'm mad at is that the moronic male lead does the stupidest things ever. Like blaming his own inability to control his desires and obsessive personality on witchcraft. It can't be that you're a dick, it must be something she did. Yes, let's blame the woman for taking a bath naked and being in his way. URGH! But my favourite moment of utter stupidity was when after they're married and she's pregnant let's leave her in the house of a man who wanted to rape her from the moment he laid eyes on her, tried to rape her numerous times and you believe he actually did rape her, under the same roof as your ex-fiance who tried to kill you after you broke the engagement because of said wife because your little shit of a brother doesn't want her in his hall even though she saved his and everyone else's fucking lives! What could possibly go wrong??? Guess what? Everything! Everything went wrong! Because you're a fucking moron who deserves to have his dick cut off and fed to the dogs and his skull turned into a cup. And it won't take much to do the latter as your head is already empty! Tell me, Oh Almighty Thorne, where you born this way or did the numerous hits on the head during battles killed every single brain cell you ever possessed? And don't let me start on his family! Let's just say that seeing the breeding stock he comes from I understand how he can be this dumb. You see it's genetics. Poor Fiona! All her kids will be mentally handicapped.

Fiona is another problem in this book for me. She had some potential in the beginning but she quickly devolved to a sex starved idiot who think only about Thorne's big male shaft. And then when he abandons her and is the reason behind her miscarriage she FUCKING FORGIVES HIM! This was the moment when I knew that there's not a single redeeming thing in this whole book. I felt so disgusted, so fucking angry and so disappointed, I just don't have the words to properly describe it.

So to summarize: I HATE THORNE! I HATE HIS FAMILY! I HATE FIONA! I HATE THIS FUCKING BOOK!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread 7/24/23:

This is still an enjoyable read. Actually, it's pretty tame for a CM book. I really love this couple. If you're looking for a good Viking book, I would highly recommend this book!

Original review 2020

I liked this book a lot. I don't know why?? Thorne believes he has been bewitched and only killing the witch will save him. He can't kill Fiona, so he takes her back with him. Thorne's family believes and continues to believe Thorne is bewitched. So everything that goes wrong is Fiona's fault. I wanted to scream at this ignorance. The concept should have gotten old, but it didn't. Fiona is a great healer, and I just love her strength!

Sidenote: The H doesn't sleep with the h till after they get married. So, no forced intercourse

[Simona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got what I expected, i.e., an alpha hero who was frankly quite simple minded, a beautiful bewitching maiden, good chemistry between them. The antagonists were justifiably bitter but didn't do much to warrant their ultimate fate. I'd have prefer an alternative ending because I loved all the characters.

[Nancy D Miz-Firefly aka Sparky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Viking! Is a story about a guy lead around by his dumb handle and the poor woman destined doomed to fall in love with him.

This story has it all. Vikings; unwilling maidens, lust, forced sex, prophecy, betrayal, deceit, sacrifice and above all stupidity. So much stupidity. Thorn the Relentless (AKA Thorne the Brickable, because he seriously needs a brick to the head) meets his doom destiny when he encounters Fiona the Learned bathing in a stream. She is stunningly beautiful and sets his body aflame (ack!). Does he look upon her perfection and think, ‘I’d love to wake up to that every morning for the rest of my life’?

Nope. Thorne is VIKING in a time Vikings were MEN and maidens were target practice. He takes one look at Fiona and is be-spelled. This wench is HIS. That’s what she gets for bathing naked outdoors right? -sidebar- Fiona earned ‘the learned’ part of her name because she is an unparalled healer, not a mental giant, the poor thing. Hence the naked outdoor bathing. Did she not have an ewer at home?

Anywhoo, Fiona takes one look at Thorne and thinks rapist. And she is smart enough to know when a Viking is about to rape you, you fight dirty and run like hell. Crisis averted…. For a while.

One year later, Thorne is obsessed with her perfection. No woman appeals to him. None are as appealing, or taste as divine as the Raven-haired temptress who knocked him on his ass and boogied. His desire for her is unquenchable. She has cursed him to long for her and burn. The witch. His family notices his lack of manly vigor. That conversation goes something like this.

Brother: “Why do you rarely touch women these days Thorne?”
Thorne: “Well, there was this witch.”
Father: “Gadzooks! You're be-spelled. Quick, go kill her so you can marry your rich fiancé.”

Eureka! Kill the witch. He’s not a superstitious man - he says so all the time (usually right before behaving like a superstitious nit) He is a decisive man - he makes that plain often too (usually right before doing an epic 180) He will kill the witch and lift the curse. For certain. Or, you know have his way with her, a lot.



At no point does it occur to Thorne (the Relentless Brickable) that maybe the beautiful young woman that he Can Not Stop Thinking About might be just a smokin’ hot babe. Luckily for Fiona, Thorne can’t bring himself to kill her. He takes her home, as his slave so he can get her out of his system and kill her later. Or make her lift the curse, then have his way with her, either’s good with him.

For the record, Fiona is not a witch. If she were, she’d turn Thorne into a toad or a carbuncle. But the curse bit is a riot and gets a lot of play. On the way home Thorne decides he has waited long enough (probably Eight Whole Hours – however did he survive?) Curse or no he will have her now. He’ll do anything – not marriage, of course, that would be absurd. but one way or another his drought is ending now. That conversation goes something like this.

Thorne: “Nothing will stop me. I will have you now.”
Fiona: “Not without marriage.”
Thorne: “Fine.”
Fiona: “By a priest.”
Thorne: “Wait here, I'll be right back.”



Half of the people back home want Fiona dead. The other half want to rape her. Half of the people who want her dead probably wouldn’t mind raping her first. Oh, and the wedding goes over about as well as you would expect. His family is horrified, and his fiancé - well let’s just say she isn’t going to take that laying down.

If I could rate the first half of this book separately I’d probably give it a 3. Thorne and his little brain kept me in stitches. And Fiona deserves an award for not killing him. She is sweet, funny and spunky.

The second part gets a 0.01.

Despite Thorne being the most pig-headed lunk around Fiona falls in love with him and then bad things happen. A lot of bad things. She didn’t do anything, but Fiona gets all the blame. And Thorne (the Blockhead) believes it all.



By the time Thorne realized what a lucky bastard he was I wanted Fiona to kill him, steal his boat and haul ass home.

She doesn’t, of course. I would have. I wasn’t exaggerating about the bad things. But if she had, we wouldn’t have gotten to see Thorne avenge some of the wrongs done to Fiona. Which I think was probably the point of the story. Even the most Barbaric imbecile can redeem himself. Thorne, you truly are one lucky bastard.

[Lady Raven RAVE! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viking for me was a good book and I have read this book 3 times and the ending for me was just so sweet. It was a little annoying with the father and brother calling Fiona a witch every couple pages. That became irritating.However, other than that it's a really good book from beginning to end and I enjoyed Fiona and Thorne's story. Of course Connie Mason's love scenes are always good. I think so personally.


*Re read 4/13/2012 and it's an oldies but goodies that I still love.

[Regan Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and ½ Stars - Viking Saga from the Isle of Man to Norway

I struggled with what rating to give this book. I really did. I am a huge fan of Connie Mason’s historical romances and usually give her 4 or 5 stars without blinking an eye. But this one, though it shows the polish of an experienced author, had some negatives that detracted.

Set in 850-851 AD, on the Isle of Man and in Norway, this is the story of Thorne the Relentless, eldest son of a Norwegian jarl, who on his return from plundering the Norman coast, happens onto the village where Fiona the Learned, a healer, lives on the Isle of Man (in the Irish Sea off the northwest coast of England). He would say he was summoned by her siren song and becomes so obsessed with the dark haired beauty he (and everyone else, it seems) believes she has bewitched him. Though Fiona, ever resourceful, escapes his clutches, a year later he returns to “kill the witch” whose memory still plagues him. After plundering Fiona’s village, Thorne is talked into keeping her alive and taking her back to his home in Norway—where his betrothed, Bretta awaits him.

This story has some great characters, including Fiona, who comes across as courageous and wise, and Brann, the wizard from Man. The book reflects considerable research into the origins of the peoples on the Isle of Man, and the plundering habits of the Norse, which I found fascinating. The descriptions of the healing remedies Fiona applied to save lives were also intriguing (and, I suspect, quite accurate). The prologue and beginning are very exciting, too, so I was all prepared for a great story.

But there were some negatives that crept in that kept me from giving it the 5 stars I might have: (1) there was a lot of sex (so much so I lost count of the love scenes and began to think of Thorne and Fiona as rutting rabbits); (2) Thorne was awfully slow to see who she really was and to admire her true character. Instead, he constantly repeats the sentiment she is a witch, which made him seem dense (though she did have powers that seemed to increase as the story went along); and (3) some of it seemed repetitive. The villains (Bretta and her brother Rolo) were also a bit repetitive in their many attempts to “kill the witch.” Still, for all that, both the ending and the Epilogue are satisfying.

[Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Set in 850AD Thorne the Viking lands on the Isle of Man and sees a beautiful dark haired maiden bathing, she manages to escape him but he cannot get her out of his mind. He returns with more ships to capture the woman, she must be a witch to have enthralled him so badly he intends to kill her and end her spell over him. But when it comes to it he cannot do it, so he captures her and takes her home with him as his slave.

Thorne is betrothed to another woman so when he brings Fiona home Bretta his intended is less than pleased. But Thorne is determined to break the spell Fiona has cast upon him.

What a load of tripe this book is, Fiona is just too good to be true, Thorne like all the other men in this story blaming their own shortcomings on the women. I felt sorry for Bretta Thorne's betrothed I kept hoping her attempts to kill Fiona and Thorne would succeed, no such luck.

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was this a good book? No. Did I enjoy reading it? Sometimes. But you best bet that when Ms. Connie starts talking about agriculture on the fjords or iron ore in peat bogs she is 100% correct. The research is there. That being said, if I ever saw Thorne in real life, it's on sight. The man is a walking red flag factory.

Also is Christian porn a thing? Because if so, be prepared before reading this one. It was the most conservative relationship involving turgid members that I have ever seen.

All in all, more God focused than anyone wanted or needed.

[❋ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of potential but fell a little flat. Characters were quite one-dimensional and predictable. It was an okay read, felt like it was dragging a bit but stuck with it for sheer curiosity.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

"No witchcraft, Viking. Brann says our destiny is written in the stars and Brann is a great wizard. 'Tis not the fate I would wish for myself, but I will have to make the best of it."


The only thing that irritated me so much was both Thorne and Fiona were so stupid to believe Bretta & Rollo (the siblings/antagonist) over and over again. Otherwise, I had wonderful time reading this in one sitting :-)

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, a bit tedious in how both mcs believed, multiple times, two specific people who are known liars and tried to kill them both; like, of course, it makes total sense to believe those two. It was good for an afternoon but not worth a 2nd read.

[Su · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got cheesier and more fantastic than ever towards the end.
Sometimes conversation was silly and repetitive.

[Lyre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Totally stupid. The two stars are all for Fiona, my sympathize with her.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, I own a book like this, not that I know where it is. I remember reading this when I was a teenager. Scandalous, I know! I did not, and I still do not read many books like this. From what I remember, I really liked this for what it was and believe it or not, I liked the plot parts and skimmed the sex. I only gave it a 3(not lower or higher) just based on vague memories from 14/15 year old me. Maybe one day I will find it and do a reread and shock myself that I once liked this?? or maybe I'll still like it??

[April Brookshire · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one sucked worse than lutefisk. The characters were boring, the plot predictable. I like it when a good villian surprises me. I almost knew the evil plans of the villians before they did themselves. I'm a HUGE Connie Mason fan and most of her stuff is entertaining as hell. So she wrote one crap book? She's still a bodiceripper diva!

[Jena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread 2021 3 stars.
Original rating 4 stars.

Incredibly repetitive!


——————————————-
I'm a sucker for a story with an obsessed alpha hero. Despite the corniness of this story, I liked it.

[Kayla Holthe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring, annoying and stupid. How's that for a review.

[Hanife · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bu yorum aynı zamanda Romancekolikte yayınlanmıştır.


Bu kitabı baya uzun süredir aramaktaydım. Bir ara Viking diye sayıkladığım zamanlar bulamadığım diye çok üzülmüştüm ama şimdi ki aklıma olsa kızardım kendime. Ha, kitap kötü değildi ama beni deli eden türlü olayla birleştirilmiş bir hikayesi vardı.

İlk başlarda kendimi hızlı bir treni binmiş gibi hissettim. Cidden olaylar o kadar baş döndürücü şekilde hızlı oldu ki, olduktan çok sonra bana farkındalık geliyordu neredeyse.

Sonrasında ise oğlumuzun bildiğiniz kas kafalı olması olayı bir güzel sıvadı desek yeridir. Komikti yahu. Acınacak derecede. Adam ona bir kere bile yalan söylemeyen kızın dediğine katiyen inanmıyor ama kaç kere yalan dolanını yakaladığı kişilerin söylediklerine hemen inanıp atlıyor.

Her bir komploda saçımı başımı yolacaktım "Artık yeter!" dedirtti. Kızımız ise valla gariban. Kaderinin bir gün Viking'e gönlünü kaptırması olduğuna inandırtılarak büyütülmüş bir kızcağız. Bu Viking'de hödük çıkınca ne yapsın kızcağız, kaderim budur diye katlandı. Gerçi başlarda savaştı ama esir alınmışsın, köyün işgal altında gibi bir şey. Adamda kafaya koymuş seni öldürecekti, son anda fikrini değiştirip yaşamanı istiyor. Sana ne yapacağı meçhul.

Korkacak bir durum ama kızımız yine cesurca direniyor. Herkes kızdan cadı diye korkuyor. İstisnasız. Oğlan kız beni büyüledi diye salmış lafı bir kere durdurabilene aşkolsun. Hödük, kıza kapıldığını açıklayacağına bunu kitap boyunca büyüye vurdu. Bak yine hatırladımda sinirlerim zıpladı. Oyh. Neyse efenim oğlanın olmaz olasıca bir nişanlısı var. Her işe muzur. Kızı ne yapsamda attırsam, insanların gözünden düşürsem diye elini ardına koymuyor. Abiside kızı isteyince iş birliği yapıyorlar.

Thorne bu aralar kıza sahip olsam acaba büyülenmiş halim daha beter olur mu olmaz mı düşüncelerine boğulmuş şekilde. Kızda evlenmeden asla diyor mu? Şaka gibi adam kızla evleniyor. Bu hızlı kararına bir güzelde pişman ediyorlar mı? Babası kızı gelini olarak kabul etmez, birdee nişanlısının getireceği serveti isterken, ikinci kardeşe pas atılan Bretta kudurmuş durumdadır.

Şımarık cadı Thorne'u zehirle öldürmeye çalışır. Herkes kızımız ve onun yanında gelen akıl hocasını suçladığından Thorne'u iyileştirmek için yanına yaklaştırmazlar. Oğlanın babasıda tam kızı öldürtecekken Bretta'nın abisi ben alır bir daha da buralara getirmem diyip kızı götürür.

Ben burada "Bu kız Rolo'nun metresi olup, bir de hamile kalırsa yakar, yıkarım bu kitabı!" modundayım elbette. Gel gelelim oğlumuzun kızın akıl hocasının yardımıyla iyileşmesi uzun süre dursun bu arada kızımızda bitkilerle Rolo'yu iktidarsız ediyor. Thorne bir de iyileştikten sonra kızın onu zehirlediğini öğrenince evliliğinin iptal olduğunu ilan ediyor. Bretta'nın da yaptıkları ortaya çıkınca kızı evine yolluyorlar.

Fiona yani kızımıza da hemen yetiştiriyor kocan seni boşadı diye pis yelloz. Ama oğlan Bretta'nın ardından kızı almaya geliyor. Rolo'da seve seve kızı veriyor. Vikingler malum yataktaki becerileriyle övünürler. Adam çok içerlemiş bu iktidarsızlık durumuna. Thorne'u babası reddetmiş, aklının başında olmadığını söylemiştir. Eğer o kızın peşine giderse mirasını kardeşine geçirecektir. Thorne bunları göze alarak Fiona ile yola çıkar ama kız yoldayken bir şeyler "görür." Thorne'un evi işgal altındadır. Hemen giderler ama Thorne'un babası sizlere ömür. Adam son nefesinde bile cadıyı öldürün diye söyleyince Thorolf yani oğlumuzun kardeşi direkt kıza atılır ama Thorne araya girer.

Kızımız iki gün odada mahzur gibi kalırken cenazeler yapılır. Ondan sonrada gemiyle kızın diyarına yolculukları başlar. Üç günlük yola gelmişlerken kızımız tekrar bir şeyler "görür" ve hayda tekrar başa dönerler. Bu sefer durum feci. Thorolf kaçırılmış, evleri yok edilmiş. Kurtarma operasyonunda da Thorne yaralanıyor. Bu arada ev filan olmayınca komşularında yani bakın siz şu tesadüfe Rolo'larda kalmak zorundalar. Oğlumuz iyileşe dursun kızımız hamile olduğunu öğreniyor. Tabii, Bretta durur mu? Ortalığı mikser gibi karıştırıp duruyor. Thorne'a karnındaki Rolo'dan diyor her fırsatta. Adamda şaka gibi kıza inanmıyor. Kızımız ne kadar aldırmazlıktan gelsede içinde bir acı bu durum.

Gel zaman git zaman oğlumuz iyileşiyor. Rolo o aralar eve 14lük bir gelin getirmiş. Thorne da soruyor bu çocuk senden mi? Roloda öyleyse bile ben istemiyorum senin olsun diyerek gururunu koruyor leş kargası. O arada Thorolf abisini yeni evlerin inşaatı için çağırdığında kızımız orada bir yardımcı kolesiyle kala kalıyor. Yeni gelin kötü muamele gördüğünden Fiona ona yardım edip Rolo'yu iktidarsız edince adam çıldırıyor. Kızı dövüyor. Bretta'nında yönlendirmesiyle bunları köle diye sattırıyor. Fiona son dakika yeni gelini evine gönderirse kabul edeceği bir anlaşma sunuyor.

Fiona ve kölesi satılıyor. Köle tüccarının evinde bir süre kalıyor. Adam sonra avda kaza geçirip yaralanınca, kızımızda iyileştirmesi halinde onları serbest bırakmasını talep ediyor. Ve olanda bu oluyor. O arada Thorneda Rolo'lara kızı görmeye gitmiş. Birde güzel yalanlar döşemişler mi oğlana? Ama bir şeyin yanlış olduğunu sezmekte. Gecede kölelerden biri oğlana durumu anlatınca ilk ışıkla köle tüccarına gidiyor. Adamda gittiklerini söyleyince karlar içinde mücadeli yolculuk başlıyor. İki gün sonra bulabiliyorlar kızları. Ama tam geldikleri vakit Fiona düşük yapmakta. O kulübede baya bir süre kalıyorlar. Thorne diğer ikiliyi gidecekleri yere yolluyor geride Fİonayla beraber iyileşmesini bekliyorlar.

Kıza oğlanın onun satılması istediğini söylemişler. Birde çocuğunu kaybedince adamdan nefret ediyor tabii. Neyse bu durum kısa bir sürede düzeltilince, çiftimizde eski hallerine dönünce Rolo'nun eski karısının ailesine sığınıyorlar. BÜtün bir kış orada kalıp bahardaki saldırı için plan yapıyorlar. Bahar gelincede kızlar gelmek için direniyorlar. Malum Viking kadınlarıda savaşa giderler. Az gidip uz gidip altı günde ulaşıyorlar. Rolo çoktan savaşa hazır bir şekilde. Rika'nın - eski eşinin- babası çeyizinin geri verilmesini istiyor, Roloda kabul etmeyince yarın savaş olacağı ilan ediyor. Savaşa Thorolfta katıldı. Rika ile evlenmek istiyor savaş sonrası.

Savaş kanlı sürerken düşman bozguna uğratılıyor. Brettada kaçarken kızımızı esir tutup güvenliğini sağlamaya çalışıyor. Kızımızda tam gemiye bindirileceği zaman denize atlıyor zırhıyla. Kurtulması bir mucize olarak görülüyor. Bu olayın akabinde çiftimiz zaferlerini "sevinçle" kutlarken hikaye iki yıl sonrasına atlıyor.

Kızımızın eski adasına yerleşmişler. İkide erkek çocukları olmuş. Herkes mutlu bir şekilde yaşarken Thorolf geliyor. Bütün insanlarıyla. Yer kavgası için bıktığını ve buraya yerleşmek istediğini söylüyor ve huzurlu, mutlu bir son ile kitabımızı kapatıyoruz.

[Nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh dear. This book might have been good if we could have cut the constant witch accusations and the impotence, on repeat sections of the book. But if that was gone the book might have only been 60 pages. Uh our hero is just freaking dumb through out the entire book just a constant barrage of 'witch, bewitched, enchantment, spells' nonsense on a loop. While the heroine is calmly trying to explain she just normal...but she isn't cause she's got visions! Which are simply convenient for the plot, and kinda makes her a witch. And everyone makes the same mistakes over and over again. Why does the hero repeatedly trust people who lie and try to kill him? Wake the hell up! The heroine allows herself to be left in horrible situations again and again and bad things happen again and again. The hero is sooo dumb he has to be healed twice by the heroine's friend and the heroine. But easily believes that this crazy woman took care of him, when he KNOWS the heroine is a healer...you too dumb to live sir. The places were repeated and deaths were repeated and friends are made in the same ways. The book is just a loop of repeating things. Skip! Read the Pirate Prince instead, you're welcome!

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started off cheesy and unbelievable then it’s stayed that way … DNF 50%. Thorne was convinced she was a witch and had bewitched her because her spirit called to him from the sea, she saw her in all her glory and had to have her, but she got away from him and for a year he would have no other but her in his mind while he was in Norway. He went back and took her. While she is with him his stupidity puts her in terrible situation after terrible situation - there was no way for “love to grow.” Dumb.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started out with a good premise, but it just went downhill from there.

I love a good sex scene and romance, but bl**dy hell... how much sex scenes did we truly need? I skipped most of them. It was just too much.. the book went on longer than it needed to. I swear it was just to add in more sex scenes!

[Shelley Jo Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually love to read her books and have read many of them. This book was good. I liked the plotting and story line but I felt there was too much sex in this book.I got to where I skipped over those parts.

[Ana Apostolova-Mlazeva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Слаба история, повтаряща се сюжетна линия, и двамата главни герои си нямат капка доверие, а многократно се връзват на хора, чиито намерения са очевидно лоши, но въпреки всичко приемат думите им без съмнение.

[shms · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing much to say about this other than I was hard put to finish this.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aghhhhhhh the book is soooo gooooooooooood ...
Just read it ....

[Coleen Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steamy

[Mihika in lovezone]

Stupid boring plot.