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Storm Maiden
The beautiful and rebellious daughter of an Irish chieftain, Fiona of Dunsheauna refuses to marry a man she despises and sets out to render herself unmarriageable by allowing a captured Viking warrior, Dag Thorsson, to seduce her. Original.
383 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 29, 2011
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76 people want to read
About the author
Mary Gillgannon
22 books80 followersI write romance novels set in the dark ages, medieval and English Regency time periods and fantasy and historical novels with Celtic influences. My books have been published in Russia, China, the Netherlands and Germany. I was raised in the Midwest but I’ve lived in Wyoming for over thirty years. I work at a public library where I have the enviable job of ordering adult fiction. I’m married and have two grown children, When not working or writing, I enjoy gardening, traveling and reading, of course!
Blog: http://marygillgannon.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.gillgannon
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryGillgannon
Blog: http://marygillgannon.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.gillgannon
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryGillgannon
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 24, 2017
Mary Gillgannon’s Storm Maiden was a book I was excited to pick up. The blurb told of an intriguing story with plenty of conflict. Fiona, an Irish lord’s daughter, is dreading marriage to a man she hates. In her father’s dungeon is Dag Thorsson, an injured Viking captive. Fiona sneaks in to see him, cares for his wounds and tries to seduce him. This seemed to be a primal captor-captive relationship. Too often in these the Viking hero speaks the heroine's language because he was captured by her people as a youth! They cannot understand one another, but can communicate in other ways…
Soon after Vikings, led Dag’s brother, the chieftain of his people, come to Dag’s rescue. Despite his hindering injury to his sword arm, Dag takes Fiona as his captive.
Fiona has to adjust to life as a slave. She cannot communicate with any of the Norse, except for Dag’s brother, who hates her and all the Irish.
The book starts out well enough and the early love scenes are erotically charged. Dag and Fiona quickly fall in love and get along.
The main conflict is that Fiona is not well liked by the Dag’s older brother and his people. Her helpful but intrusive ways are looked upon with scorn by most of the men. Fiona helps the women with birth control and delivers babies. She gives a woman advice on how to sexually please her master. Fiona’s behavior brings negative attention upon her and she is thought to be a witch. Fiona’s a full-fleshed character and one to be admired. This was a strongest part of the book, and I appreciated her struggles to be accepted in this society. She just needed a more challenging hero. After an amazing beginning, things began to fizzle and the romance wasn’t thrilling.
Their romance is challenged only by outside forces, as Dag is torn between respecting his brother, his leader, and his love for Fiona. When there is so little inner conflict between the two it gets a little bland.
There are villains aplenty, but Dag is never there to save the day. This is the most annoying aspect in the novel as Dag’s sword arm is severely injured throughout the story, so he never gets to show off his warrior prowess, which is so essential in a good Viking hero. It’s Fiona who is more of a fighter. And she had many enemies who would make her life miserable.
Dag’s a nice guy. Too nice. As in boring. Hey, I like nice guys heroes, they can make me melt more them some sadistic jerk that treats the heroine like crap. I know the early Norse were democratic men and allowed women to divorce and own their own property, but when you read a Viking romance you expect a little bit of tough-guy persona. I liked sweet aspects of Dag’s, like his love for his dog companion. But when Dag started becoming a mouthpiece for 20th century beliefs like concern for women’s rights and access to birth control, it just rang a bit anachronistic, pulling me out of the story. I read historicals not because I want to see modern-minded characters with historical trappings. If I feel the need for a more modern-minded hero, then I read contemporary romances. I’ve come to believe that a true kick-ass Viking is the rarest hero in historical romance.
Not a bad book, but not a memorable one either.
2 ½ stars
Soon after Vikings, led Dag’s brother, the chieftain of his people, come to Dag’s rescue. Despite his hindering injury to his sword arm, Dag takes Fiona as his captive.
Fiona has to adjust to life as a slave. She cannot communicate with any of the Norse, except for Dag’s brother, who hates her and all the Irish.
The book starts out well enough and the early love scenes are erotically charged. Dag and Fiona quickly fall in love and get along.
The main conflict is that Fiona is not well liked by the Dag’s older brother and his people. Her helpful but intrusive ways are looked upon with scorn by most of the men. Fiona helps the women with birth control and delivers babies. She gives a woman advice on how to sexually please her master. Fiona’s behavior brings negative attention upon her and she is thought to be a witch. Fiona’s a full-fleshed character and one to be admired. This was a strongest part of the book, and I appreciated her struggles to be accepted in this society. She just needed a more challenging hero. After an amazing beginning, things began to fizzle and the romance wasn’t thrilling.
Their romance is challenged only by outside forces, as Dag is torn between respecting his brother, his leader, and his love for Fiona. When there is so little inner conflict between the two it gets a little bland.
There are villains aplenty, but Dag is never there to save the day. This is the most annoying aspect in the novel as Dag’s sword arm is severely injured throughout the story, so he never gets to show off his warrior prowess, which is so essential in a good Viking hero. It’s Fiona who is more of a fighter. And she had many enemies who would make her life miserable.
Dag’s a nice guy. Too nice. As in boring. Hey, I like nice guys heroes, they can make me melt more them some sadistic jerk that treats the heroine like crap. I know the early Norse were democratic men and allowed women to divorce and own their own property, but when you read a Viking romance you expect a little bit of tough-guy persona. I liked sweet aspects of Dag’s, like his love for his dog companion. But when Dag started becoming a mouthpiece for 20th century beliefs like concern for women’s rights and access to birth control, it just rang a bit anachronistic, pulling me out of the story. I read historicals not because I want to see modern-minded characters with historical trappings. If I feel the need for a more modern-minded hero, then I read contemporary romances. I’ve come to believe that a true kick-ass Viking is the rarest hero in historical romance.
Not a bad book, but not a memorable one either.
2 ½ stars
March 5, 2015
Entertaining Viking Tale with an Irish Heroine
First published in 1997, and re-released by the author in 2011, this is a Viking story with an Irish heroine. It begins in Ireland in 805 A.D., but then, with a Viking raid, moves to the land of the Norsemen where Gillgannon puts you in the middle of the Viking culture.
Fiona of Dunsheana, daughter of an Irish chieftain, faced a marriage she didn’t want, one arranged by her father. Being a clever girl, she conceived of a bizarre plan to avoid the marriage by giving herself to a Viking prisoner, Dag Thorsson, which would render her unworthy. Though she goes to Dag and sheds her clothes, he believes she’s one of the fairies he’s heard about and is too injured to do anything anyway. Taking pity on him, Fiona tends his wounds. He recovers—just in time for a Viking raid by his brother where Fiona is taken captive.
Fiona is allowed to live because she saved Dag’s life. Immersed in the Vikings’ culture, she is exposed to a language she does not speak and is dependent upon Dag’s protection. Amazingly, Dag does not take Fiona to his bed, at least not until it’s her idea. Fiona has her challenges. She is mistrusted by the Norse for her understanding of herbs and her modern views that women should be able to control when they have children. Like many Norsemen, when the woman he is coming to care for is shunned by his people, Dag begins to wonder if his future might lie in Ireland.
The pace of the story may seem a bit leisurely, but I appreciated Gillgannon’s research into Viking life reflected in the details of her story, the long houses, the clothing, the food. You get a picture of what it was like to live as a Norseman. Fiona is a strong heroine who continues to see herself as the Irish princess even though she is now a slave. She can also be foolish. Dag seems the understanding male with a soft side for both animals and women, especially Fiona. Some might find him a bit modern in his views, especially for a Viking, but there had to be such men even among the Norsemen at the time.
Gillgannon has included a poem that is delightful. Here are some of the first lines:
My Viking
He says he’s Irish
But I look into those eyes
Blue as the North Sea
And I know he’s an immigrant
Like all the rest
First published in 1997, and re-released by the author in 2011, this is a Viking story with an Irish heroine. It begins in Ireland in 805 A.D., but then, with a Viking raid, moves to the land of the Norsemen where Gillgannon puts you in the middle of the Viking culture.
Fiona of Dunsheana, daughter of an Irish chieftain, faced a marriage she didn’t want, one arranged by her father. Being a clever girl, she conceived of a bizarre plan to avoid the marriage by giving herself to a Viking prisoner, Dag Thorsson, which would render her unworthy. Though she goes to Dag and sheds her clothes, he believes she’s one of the fairies he’s heard about and is too injured to do anything anyway. Taking pity on him, Fiona tends his wounds. He recovers—just in time for a Viking raid by his brother where Fiona is taken captive.
Fiona is allowed to live because she saved Dag’s life. Immersed in the Vikings’ culture, she is exposed to a language she does not speak and is dependent upon Dag’s protection. Amazingly, Dag does not take Fiona to his bed, at least not until it’s her idea. Fiona has her challenges. She is mistrusted by the Norse for her understanding of herbs and her modern views that women should be able to control when they have children. Like many Norsemen, when the woman he is coming to care for is shunned by his people, Dag begins to wonder if his future might lie in Ireland.
The pace of the story may seem a bit leisurely, but I appreciated Gillgannon’s research into Viking life reflected in the details of her story, the long houses, the clothing, the food. You get a picture of what it was like to live as a Norseman. Fiona is a strong heroine who continues to see herself as the Irish princess even though she is now a slave. She can also be foolish. Dag seems the understanding male with a soft side for both animals and women, especially Fiona. Some might find him a bit modern in his views, especially for a Viking, but there had to be such men even among the Norsemen at the time.
Gillgannon has included a poem that is delightful. Here are some of the first lines:
My Viking
He says he’s Irish
But I look into those eyes
Blue as the North Sea
And I know he’s an immigrant
Like all the rest
February 20, 2014
I found this story unpredictable and beautiful. It is filled with unusually creative situations and amazing romance. I always enjoy a strong woman character and the women in this story were all like that. There are many strong women here who do the best of their abilities to maintain family harmony, honouring their lover as well as be a pillar of strength to their community while maintaining their individuality. This historical romance is going to stay in my heart forever.
April 15, 2013
This wasn't as good as I remembered from when I was younger. But I still enjoyed it.
March 20, 2019
A RATHER TUMULTUOUS CLASSIC WITH MILD ANGST, PASSION AND LIVELY CHARACTERS. THIS WAS A RATHER LONG NOVEL SPANNING OVER 300 PAGES.
HERO was scouting the enemy's land on Eire when he was captured, tortured and left for dead beneath the castle dungeon. He's fearful when a beautiful woman he believes as a fairy comes to him, undressing before his fevered eyes, indicating what she wanted from him. But in his state, he could barely rise. It perplexed him even more when she bathe him, fed him and cared for his wounds - this virginal miss. When his brethren attacks and comes for him, he escapes with his unlikely saviour (though she was unconscious). The moment of peace has come to an end when they sail back to his homeland across the ocean and with the language barrier between them it takes awhile before they can finally communicate. Meanwhile, both bungle about with merely actions and he wants her to want him truly and not to win his favour or protection. Despite himself, he cares for her deeply and often protects her from his brother, Jarl and the men who wanted to rape his woman. Dag wasn't a hard character not to like. Having been hurt by a woman who married a man for his riches and not love him, he was hardened against the fairer sex yet this Irishwoman sets his blood afire and soon he will find ways for them to be together.
HEROINE was a bit more tempestuous. In the beginning she wanted to seduce the prisoner to take her Maidenhead but when he was too injured and on the verge of death, she instead nurses him back to slight health. When the Vikings attacked, she was brought back with Dag to a foreign land to become his slave and bed thrall. She fights and resents him all the way but the initial attraction for him doesn't fade, especially when she later realizes that he's been protecting her all along. It took awhile before they finally shared their bodies but boy do they make up for lost time. Turning from shrew to a sweet woman, I can't say I wasn't glad to see her settle down and not act so harshly against Dag. Fiona struggles to find her place in the Viking community when they believed her to be a witch and circumstances that thrust her into these hard situations doesn't help her cause. Her only protector is Dag and she has no friend, except another Irish slave who was against helping her escape.
OVERALL it was quite a story, given its length. I can't say that it was the greatest love story because I didn't think the characters wooed me a 100% percent. I did enjoy their chemistry, banters and heavy sex scenes. For a medieval classic, I'd say it's one of the better ones.
HERO was scouting the enemy's land on Eire when he was captured, tortured and left for dead beneath the castle dungeon. He's fearful when a beautiful woman he believes as a fairy comes to him, undressing before his fevered eyes, indicating what she wanted from him. But in his state, he could barely rise. It perplexed him even more when she bathe him, fed him and cared for his wounds - this virginal miss. When his brethren attacks and comes for him, he escapes with his unlikely saviour (though she was unconscious). The moment of peace has come to an end when they sail back to his homeland across the ocean and with the language barrier between them it takes awhile before they can finally communicate. Meanwhile, both bungle about with merely actions and he wants her to want him truly and not to win his favour or protection. Despite himself, he cares for her deeply and often protects her from his brother, Jarl and the men who wanted to rape his woman. Dag wasn't a hard character not to like. Having been hurt by a woman who married a man for his riches and not love him, he was hardened against the fairer sex yet this Irishwoman sets his blood afire and soon he will find ways for them to be together.
HEROINE was a bit more tempestuous. In the beginning she wanted to seduce the prisoner to take her Maidenhead but when he was too injured and on the verge of death, she instead nurses him back to slight health. When the Vikings attacked, she was brought back with Dag to a foreign land to become his slave and bed thrall. She fights and resents him all the way but the initial attraction for him doesn't fade, especially when she later realizes that he's been protecting her all along. It took awhile before they finally shared their bodies but boy do they make up for lost time. Turning from shrew to a sweet woman, I can't say I wasn't glad to see her settle down and not act so harshly against Dag. Fiona struggles to find her place in the Viking community when they believed her to be a witch and circumstances that thrust her into these hard situations doesn't help her cause. Her only protector is Dag and she has no friend, except another Irish slave who was against helping her escape.
OVERALL it was quite a story, given its length. I can't say that it was the greatest love story because I didn't think the characters wooed me a 100% percent. I did enjoy their chemistry, banters and heavy sex scenes. For a medieval classic, I'd say it's one of the better ones.
November 9, 2018
A very good story; very good writing.
Although I'm not a fan of Viking stories or the time period, this came recommended to me. I have to admit it was a hard read for me for several chapters as I have no love for the Vikings and their violence, but Dag was a good man, who redeemed himself as the chapters went on. The heroine was smart and feisty, just as I like to read them.
I liked her writing so I would search out for of her books if they were in a different time period.
Although I'm not a fan of Viking stories or the time period, this came recommended to me. I have to admit it was a hard read for me for several chapters as I have no love for the Vikings and their violence, but Dag was a good man, who redeemed himself as the chapters went on. The heroine was smart and feisty, just as I like to read them.
I liked her writing so I would search out for of her books if they were in a different time period.
May 26, 2017
Overall pretty good, though some of the conflict felt forced.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews