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The Secret Swan
Shana Abé has captured the imagination of readers everywhere with her superbly sensual tales of forbidden love. Now she weaves the exquisite story of a man and woman torn apart by fate — who realize years later that love's second bloom is the one that matters most.
At fifteen Lady Amiranth St. Clare became the bride of Tristan Geraint. She thought all of her dreams had come true — until she learned on her wedding day that Tristan had married her only for her bloodline.
A week later Tristan deserted her for the glories of battle. Heartbroken, Amiranth felt she'd been abandoned, not knowing that Tristan had become a prisoner of war — nor that he would one day return to the life he didn't know he wanted until it was taken away.
Eight long years pass before Tristan finally comes home. A beautiful woman greets him in the garden, claiming to be Amiranth's cousin. Yet somehow she seems hauntingly familiar, with an ethereal radiance that stirs him deep within his heart. Is she really his wife, grown into a lady of breathtaking beauty — or another woman who has awakened within him a passion he has never known?
To discover the truth, Tristan must reveal the secrets of what happened those years he was away — and find the love that was closer than he ever imagined....
At fifteen Lady Amiranth St. Clare became the bride of Tristan Geraint. She thought all of her dreams had come true — until she learned on her wedding day that Tristan had married her only for her bloodline.
A week later Tristan deserted her for the glories of battle. Heartbroken, Amiranth felt she'd been abandoned, not knowing that Tristan had become a prisoner of war — nor that he would one day return to the life he didn't know he wanted until it was taken away.
Eight long years pass before Tristan finally comes home. A beautiful woman greets him in the garden, claiming to be Amiranth's cousin. Yet somehow she seems hauntingly familiar, with an ethereal radiance that stirs him deep within his heart. Is she really his wife, grown into a lady of breathtaking beauty — or another woman who has awakened within him a passion he has never known?
To discover the truth, Tristan must reveal the secrets of what happened those years he was away — and find the love that was closer than he ever imagined....
393 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 3, 2001
65 people are currently reading
891 people want to read
About the author
Shana Abe
30 books2,003 followersShana Abé is the award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of seventeen books, including the acclaimed Drákon Series and the Sweetest Dark Series.
She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California, and currently resides in the mountains of Colorado with her very patient husband and a lot of pets.
She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California, and currently resides in the mountains of Colorado with her very patient husband and a lot of pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
August 18, 2009
I thought instead of raving about this on every which page of GoodReads, I should just review the book and give the poor masses a break.
At least part of the reason that I was taken with The Secret Swan may be because I had somewhat low expectations. This is not my first Shana Abé. I loved her cunning dragon earls in her Drákon novels-- but I just don't like medieval romance. The heroes always come off as stupid brutes trying to learn Middle English. Swan was a pleasant surprise.
There's no Middle English. No "Zounds!" or "thee" or "Come here, wench!" I don't care if you're Shakespeare reincarnated. Middle English will never be sexy. Abé uses something closer to modern English in dialogue and the same elegant language and succinct exposition -no bloating- we've come to expect from her, rife with imagery:
I particularly liked the realism in the story. Amiranth grows up besotted with Tristan Geraint, sneaking glances at him whenever she can, carefully dropping hints to her guardians that she wouldn't mind a marriage to a certain knight-- but Tristan is like any other young man, in fact, perhaps more shallow, and their arranged marriage is like many, distant and barely tolerated. Though he is polite, Tristan is far more interested in war than his young, mousy bride, who has never been as pretty as her cousin, and leaves her at the earliest opportunity.
Then he comes back. Dun, dun, DUHHHHHN. There are no soap opera reunions, however. No shrieking or shouting matches. The the melancholy tone (hence, my comparison to Private Arrangements), tension and angst between Amiranth and Tristan is subtle and stretches throughout the novel. Amiranth holds herself apart from the husband she no longer trusts to love and care for her, and Tristan must win her back in small strides and demonstrations, gradually. These two were developed very well, especially Tristan who is a complex amalgam of the knight he was and the man stranded in a war prison for eight years, by turns haunted and gallant. I thought Abé's characterization of him was much more in-depth and realistic than many romances. He is scary at times, just as a man at odds with the world might be.
Amiranth herself is quite clever for a romance heroine (save for the fact she keeps Tristan at a distance for so long; no one's perfect). I was grateful that she wasn't another romance heroine wearing trousers. Her strength was her resourcefulness, e.g. she is a convincing actress where it benefits the hero, hides incriminating evidence, etc., at a time when her survival was not always guaranteed.
I think this would appeal to readers looking for a subtle romance and not afraid to see their heroes' mistakes, regret and reconciliation. Oh, and fans of dark heroes. >:D Hehehe.
At least part of the reason that I was taken with The Secret Swan may be because I had somewhat low expectations. This is not my first Shana Abé. I loved her cunning dragon earls in her Drákon novels-- but I just don't like medieval romance. The heroes always come off as stupid brutes trying to learn Middle English. Swan was a pleasant surprise.
There's no Middle English. No "Zounds!" or "thee" or "Come here, wench!" I don't care if you're Shakespeare reincarnated. Middle English will never be sexy. Abé uses something closer to modern English in dialogue and the same elegant language and succinct exposition -no bloating- we've come to expect from her, rife with imagery:
"He was dressed as the rest of the young men around him were, in fine tunics and colorful hose, each wearing the heraldry of the lord they served. He blended in well with them. Were it not for just one stray beam of sunlight sliding along the floor, she might not have noticed him at all.As she gets older, Amiranth still waxes poetic about her knight, but she starts to notice his man's figure and dangerous eyes, after Tristan has returned from war a changed man. Needless to say, Abé's carefully manipulated and emphasized details leave the reader breathless throughout the novel.
But the sunlight was there, slanting down from a window high above, and at just the moment when she glanced his way he took a half-step into the light, jostled by a friend, the two of them laughing softly together.
She felt as if she had stepped, unsuspecting, into a vat of honeyed nectar, thick and sweet, filling her, suspending her even as she died within it. A blissful death—or an excruciating life—to gaze upon him, to bear witness to this beauty disguised as an ordinary squire. Amiranth had never before seen such dark splendor, such grace in a boy."
I particularly liked the realism in the story. Amiranth grows up besotted with Tristan Geraint, sneaking glances at him whenever she can, carefully dropping hints to her guardians that she wouldn't mind a marriage to a certain knight-- but Tristan is like any other young man, in fact, perhaps more shallow, and their arranged marriage is like many, distant and barely tolerated. Though he is polite, Tristan is far more interested in war than his young, mousy bride, who has never been as pretty as her cousin, and leaves her at the earliest opportunity.
Then he comes back. Dun, dun, DUHHHHHN. There are no soap opera reunions, however. No shrieking or shouting matches. The the melancholy tone (hence, my comparison to Private Arrangements), tension and angst between Amiranth and Tristan is subtle and stretches throughout the novel. Amiranth holds herself apart from the husband she no longer trusts to love and care for her, and Tristan must win her back in small strides and demonstrations, gradually. These two were developed very well, especially Tristan who is a complex amalgam of the knight he was and the man stranded in a war prison for eight years, by turns haunted and gallant. I thought Abé's characterization of him was much more in-depth and realistic than many romances. He is scary at times, just as a man at odds with the world might be.
Amiranth herself is quite clever for a romance heroine (save for the fact she keeps Tristan at a distance for so long; no one's perfect). I was grateful that she wasn't another romance heroine wearing trousers. Her strength was her resourcefulness, e.g. she is a convincing actress where it benefits the hero, hides incriminating evidence, etc., at a time when her survival was not always guaranteed.
I think this would appeal to readers looking for a subtle romance and not afraid to see their heroes' mistakes, regret and reconciliation. Oh, and fans of dark heroes. >:D Hehehe.
May 30, 2009
Even though I didn't like the plot or the romance, I have to say that Shana Abe can write. There's nothing wrong with the way she describes the setting, the people, or the customs. The only bad part is that her writing - in this book at least - tends to tell and not show. Because of this, I just couldn't believe that Amiranth and Tristan were truly in love.
At age 15, Amiranth was wed by order of King Edward to Tristan Gerault, the young knight that she had loved from afar since she was a girl. When she overhears Tristan and a friend discussing his lacking plain bride, she is understandably crushed. Her wedding night is little more than abjectly horrible, she is taken to a remote, forbidding estate, and the next morning her groom heads off for war in France.
Eight years later, the plague has swept through the estate, leaving sole survivor Amiranth. She, however, has decided to leave her own life behind and presume the identity of her beloved, beautiful cousin, Lily, whom she had always admired and who she now very closely resembled. Her plans are thwarted when her dead husband returns, although he doesn't realize it's Amiranth. And so, not knowing where he's been or what he's been through, she decided to deceive him and pursue a life of her own.
What Tristan has been through, though, was a horrendous eight years of imprisonment. His title has been given away to his brother, his home no longer under his control, and his wife, he is told, dead from the plague. He has nothing, and so he clings tightly to "Lily".
It's here that the book sort of loses me. First of all, I hate deceptive protagonists, and although I can sort of understand why Amiranth wanted to leave behind her old life, she held on to the deception far too long. We're not really privy to most of either of their emotions until they show them to each other, so it's unclear when Amiranth's resentment softens, and it's equally unclear when Tristan's remorse, lust, and dependency turns into love. In the end, I just couldn't buy that either of them loved each other. They still hardly even knew one another, let alone be ready to trust absolutely and live together happily. Kind of a disappointing read from an author I've heard good things about. C
At age 15, Amiranth was wed by order of King Edward to Tristan Gerault, the young knight that she had loved from afar since she was a girl. When she overhears Tristan and a friend discussing his lacking plain bride, she is understandably crushed. Her wedding night is little more than abjectly horrible, she is taken to a remote, forbidding estate, and the next morning her groom heads off for war in France.
Eight years later, the plague has swept through the estate, leaving sole survivor Amiranth. She, however, has decided to leave her own life behind and presume the identity of her beloved, beautiful cousin, Lily, whom she had always admired and who she now very closely resembled. Her plans are thwarted when her dead husband returns, although he doesn't realize it's Amiranth. And so, not knowing where he's been or what he's been through, she decided to deceive him and pursue a life of her own.
What Tristan has been through, though, was a horrendous eight years of imprisonment. His title has been given away to his brother, his home no longer under his control, and his wife, he is told, dead from the plague. He has nothing, and so he clings tightly to "Lily".
It's here that the book sort of loses me. First of all, I hate deceptive protagonists, and although I can sort of understand why Amiranth wanted to leave behind her old life, she held on to the deception far too long. We're not really privy to most of either of their emotions until they show them to each other, so it's unclear when Amiranth's resentment softens, and it's equally unclear when Tristan's remorse, lust, and dependency turns into love. In the end, I just couldn't buy that either of them loved each other. They still hardly even knew one another, let alone be ready to trust absolutely and live together happily. Kind of a disappointing read from an author I've heard good things about. C
January 27, 2016
The Secret Swan is a beautiful historical romance about a fifteen year old girl named Lady Amiranth St Clare, who has been hopelessly in love with eighteen year old Earl of Haverlocke, Tristan Geriant since she was just a little girl. The day finally arrives and all her dreams and fantasies come true, she is about to marry the love of her life. But at last, Tristan only married her out of duty and for her bloodline. Soon after they are wed, he abandons her at one of his manors -Safere- and rides out to seeks his true passion, the glory of war.
8 long years as passed and Tristan has finally come home. He sees a lovely, achingly familiar, woman in the garden and learns that it is his wife's cousin, Lady Lily Granger and comes to learn that he has lost a great deal while being presumed dead. His title, his identity and his wife, Amiranth. But there is is still the lovely Lily...but is she really who she clams to be? She has stirred something deep and passionate in Tristan's heart.
Can he finally be the man he's always meant to become?
This is only the second book I've read from Shana Abé and I think it's safe to say that I finally found a historical author who's books I simply adore. The only other book I've read from her was The Smoke Thief, and while I have the rest of the series at the ready, I picked up The Secret Swan in hopes to find a sweet romance.
And that's exactly what I found.
I consider myself a simple-minded reader so I've never been one for this genre since, truthfully, I usually don't understand half of what I'm reading, but Abé's book are never dulled down by heavy traditional tongue, which as always intimated me in other reads. Her writing makes me crave historical romance. She makes it easy to absorb myself within the characters drama and the engaging story-line.
Tristan and Amiranth story is filled with so many different emotions. It is a simply enough story, overly predictable and doesn't have any huge stunning revelation, but it's also filled with steady complications, constant wonder, and aching anticipation.
It's the getting there that makes it so worth the read.
Tristan was an arrogant ass and his fame-seeking was his downfall, but he was so young and the past of a regretful mind has a way of changing a mans spirit and eventually he has come to learn of what is truly important in life. Love.
Amiranth has felt the sting of betrayal. Love and loneliness has slapped her in the face repeatedly and she has become a bitter version of herself. A fresh identity? A different life? How easy would it be to disappear and slip into someone else. It appeals to her in so many ways that she has even convinced herself that's it's the right thing to do and within time even believe that he was just a dream, after all. Till the love of her life unexpectedly comes back and with it seduces all her younger emotions, a raging force of a feared hope and resentment.
Together they will learn the true versions of their past and find a happiness that should have always been within their reach.
Bottom line, I loved it! It's a stunning, charming story about love, fate, betrayal, regret and ultimately second chances. I savored every single word. I may still be wary when it come to historical romance but I know now that when ever I'm in the mood for this genre I'll look to Shana Abé's books. I'm convinced that they're all hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.
8 long years as passed and Tristan has finally come home. He sees a lovely, achingly familiar, woman in the garden and learns that it is his wife's cousin, Lady Lily Granger and comes to learn that he has lost a great deal while being presumed dead. His title, his identity and his wife, Amiranth. But there is is still the lovely Lily...but is she really who she clams to be? She has stirred something deep and passionate in Tristan's heart.
Can he finally be the man he's always meant to become?
This is only the second book I've read from Shana Abé and I think it's safe to say that I finally found a historical author who's books I simply adore. The only other book I've read from her was The Smoke Thief, and while I have the rest of the series at the ready, I picked up The Secret Swan in hopes to find a sweet romance.
And that's exactly what I found.
I consider myself a simple-minded reader so I've never been one for this genre since, truthfully, I usually don't understand half of what I'm reading, but Abé's book are never dulled down by heavy traditional tongue, which as always intimated me in other reads. Her writing makes me crave historical romance. She makes it easy to absorb myself within the characters drama and the engaging story-line.
Tristan and Amiranth story is filled with so many different emotions. It is a simply enough story, overly predictable and doesn't have any huge stunning revelation, but it's also filled with steady complications, constant wonder, and aching anticipation.
It's the getting there that makes it so worth the read.
Tristan was an arrogant ass and his fame-seeking was his downfall, but he was so young and the past of a regretful mind has a way of changing a mans spirit and eventually he has come to learn of what is truly important in life. Love.
Amiranth has felt the sting of betrayal. Love and loneliness has slapped her in the face repeatedly and she has become a bitter version of herself. A fresh identity? A different life? How easy would it be to disappear and slip into someone else. It appeals to her in so many ways that she has even convinced herself that's it's the right thing to do and within time even believe that he was just a dream, after all. Till the love of her life unexpectedly comes back and with it seduces all her younger emotions, a raging force of a feared hope and resentment.
Together they will learn the true versions of their past and find a happiness that should have always been within their reach.
Bottom line, I loved it! It's a stunning, charming story about love, fate, betrayal, regret and ultimately second chances. I savored every single word. I may still be wary when it come to historical romance but I know now that when ever I'm in the mood for this genre I'll look to Shana Abé's books. I'm convinced that they're all hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.
January 3, 2015
Dark, unusual, and rewarding romance in the saddest of settings, a castle devastated by the plague. The Black Death wiped out entire villages and a substantial portion of medieval Europe's population, so there must have been many instances where a warrior returned after years away to find few or no survivors. In this story, a knight has come home to reclaim the wife and castle he abandoned 8 years ago when he joined the Crusades. What he finds is a castle and village all but empty in the aftermath of the plague - and a woman who informs him that his bride is among the dead. What ensues is both a mystery and a love story of haunting beauty. It's less about the question of the woman's real identity than of how the returning warrior can win the trust and affection of someone he abandoned. Both people have survived nightmarish experiences. They need each other, but how can she admit to needing him when she blames him for leaving her alone and unprotected? A lovely story.
June 22, 2021
I don’t understand why I haven’t heard about this author before last night. I stumbled on this book not on accident; I have been proactively searching for the next best book to read for quite some time now after a string of *meh’s from more popular authors. I realize I have become so picky with my historical romance: if it doesn’t give me joy, I let it go. How freeing the feeling to Marie Kondo books easily.
I know this one appealed to me right away after a few pages on the prologue. By the time I finished the prologue, I simply couldn’t stop. I was completely transported in Shana Abe’s brilliant mind.
This is loyalty, love, making mistakes and growing up done really nicely. This is dark, angsty, and piercing. Amiranth and Tristan are characters one will love and root for. The author is a skilled writer. She is beautifully poetic; the complete opposite of purple prose. I feel as though this was written just for me; finally a book I can reread and feel at home.
Now onto the next adventure- her other books!
I know this one appealed to me right away after a few pages on the prologue. By the time I finished the prologue, I simply couldn’t stop. I was completely transported in Shana Abe’s brilliant mind.
This is loyalty, love, making mistakes and growing up done really nicely. This is dark, angsty, and piercing. Amiranth and Tristan are characters one will love and root for. The author is a skilled writer. She is beautifully poetic; the complete opposite of purple prose. I feel as though this was written just for me; finally a book I can reread and feel at home.
Now onto the next adventure- her other books!
April 1, 2025
This book was given to me and I'm glad it was because otherwise, I might never have read it. I'm not sure I ever would have picked it up and decided to read it but I did. It is set during the black death and therefore has some unique situations than I usually get with my historical romances - even the ones set during the middle ages. It has a pretty good grovel from the hero and he has some good character growth in the book as well.
Read this book if you like second chances, she falls first, arranged marriages, care-taking/sick bed scenes, and a romance with a mystery plot. Due to the fact that this was published in 2001, there is some non-con situations so take care if you choose to read this although I wouldn't call this a bodice ripper.
Read this book if you like second chances, she falls first, arranged marriages, care-taking/sick bed scenes, and a romance with a mystery plot. Due to the fact that this was published in 2001, there is some non-con situations so take care if you choose to read this although I wouldn't call this a bodice ripper.
October 27, 2019
This is what historical romances should be! It was realistic, considering how young our couple was when they wed, and so romantic in spots that I swooned! Loved it!
September 17, 2014
Some Spoilers Here. But I'm not hiding them.
I like romance novels. I think they get a bad reputation from pretentious readers, but I like a book that will make me smile, that has characters I can cheer for, that just takes me away from my daily hustle for a little while. Romance novels -- the ones that aren't trying to imitate the Sookie Stackhouse series or 50 Shades of Grey -- are the mac and cheese in my literary life. Sure, you can live without it, but why would you want to?
I could live without this book. It used to rank among my favorites, and now I question if the books that are my favorites actually were that good.
The characters didn't strike me as people. The hero, Tristan, is imprisoned for eight years while fighting in France, and he returns to his estate in search of his wife, whom he had abandoned. Much of the story is told through his perspective, allowing Abé to write about how breathtaking the heroine is: her golden hair, her pale skin, her golden hair lying on the pillow, her breasts, her golden hair floating in the wind. It is a novelized Pantene commercial.
But, really, there is not much else to say about Amiranth. I suppose you could make an argument that she is resilient, but I'd counter that her cousin is resilient. Her cousin, Lily, pushes her through all the off-stage hardships and conveniently dies before Tristan makes it to the castle to reclaim his wife. Also conveniently, Amiranth has blossomed from a plain girl to a stunning, golden-haired woman. (There's no deep psychological reasoning for this, like in Persuasion. She just grows up and thins out.) She assumes her cousin's identity in order to deceive her husband.
I felt like there was no connection -- to say nothing of sexual tension -- between these two. They weren't even friendly with each other. They went through the motions. "Okay. So we have to go to this convent. Okay. So we have to go to the castle. Okay. So you need to pretend to be my wife. (hehe, says Abé, she really is your wife!) We'll have sex now. Come 'ere."
Which brings me to . . . Abé's and Tristan's casual dismissal of Amiranth and her desires. She's treated like she doesn't know what she really wants. Tristan knows what she wants. He wants to have sex with her, and she'll enjoy it . . . eventually. Her only experience was her wedding night, when she was a virgin, and she fears sex will hurt every time, that Tristan will humiliate her again. But, as Abé says through Tristan, she doesn't know what she's turning down, so he'll just keep pressuring her, and he'll show her. The one time she actually says "No," though she eventually offers him her passive body, Tristan accepts her refusal. Abé and he are certain that Amiranth is wrong for it: "Tristan pulled away from her, away from the bed. The curtains swirled at his touch, whispering in the night, tugging at the air behind him as he left her room, left his wife alone in her bed, with only her blankets to comfort her -- and no comfort for him at all." Maybe being alone is a comfort to Amiranth, Shana. Far better than rape.
So, no, snickering at your heroine for not desiring sex with a man who abandoned her doesn't win any affection from me. The heroine is wooden; even so, I wish she were treated better. The hero is supposed to be the epitome of female fantasies, but he's just a bully and not at all seductive. The plot is okay, but I wish all the action was not reserved for the end of the book.
I like romance novels. I think they get a bad reputation from pretentious readers, but I like a book that will make me smile, that has characters I can cheer for, that just takes me away from my daily hustle for a little while. Romance novels -- the ones that aren't trying to imitate the Sookie Stackhouse series or 50 Shades of Grey -- are the mac and cheese in my literary life. Sure, you can live without it, but why would you want to?
I could live without this book. It used to rank among my favorites, and now I question if the books that are my favorites actually were that good.
The characters didn't strike me as people. The hero, Tristan, is imprisoned for eight years while fighting in France, and he returns to his estate in search of his wife, whom he had abandoned. Much of the story is told through his perspective, allowing Abé to write about how breathtaking the heroine is: her golden hair, her pale skin, her golden hair lying on the pillow, her breasts, her golden hair floating in the wind. It is a novelized Pantene commercial.
But, really, there is not much else to say about Amiranth. I suppose you could make an argument that she is resilient, but I'd counter that her cousin is resilient. Her cousin, Lily, pushes her through all the off-stage hardships and conveniently dies before Tristan makes it to the castle to reclaim his wife. Also conveniently, Amiranth has blossomed from a plain girl to a stunning, golden-haired woman. (There's no deep psychological reasoning for this, like in Persuasion. She just grows up and thins out.) She assumes her cousin's identity in order to deceive her husband.
I felt like there was no connection -- to say nothing of sexual tension -- between these two. They weren't even friendly with each other. They went through the motions. "Okay. So we have to go to this convent. Okay. So we have to go to the castle. Okay. So you need to pretend to be my wife. (hehe, says Abé, she really is your wife!) We'll have sex now. Come 'ere."
Which brings me to . . . Abé's and Tristan's casual dismissal of Amiranth and her desires. She's treated like she doesn't know what she really wants. Tristan knows what she wants. He wants to have sex with her, and she'll enjoy it . . . eventually. Her only experience was her wedding night, when she was a virgin, and she fears sex will hurt every time, that Tristan will humiliate her again. But, as Abé says through Tristan, she doesn't know what she's turning down, so he'll just keep pressuring her, and he'll show her. The one time she actually says "No," though she eventually offers him her passive body, Tristan accepts her refusal. Abé and he are certain that Amiranth is wrong for it: "Tristan pulled away from her, away from the bed. The curtains swirled at his touch, whispering in the night, tugging at the air behind him as he left her room, left his wife alone in her bed, with only her blankets to comfort her -- and no comfort for him at all." Maybe being alone is a comfort to Amiranth, Shana. Far better than rape.
So, no, snickering at your heroine for not desiring sex with a man who abandoned her doesn't win any affection from me. The heroine is wooden; even so, I wish she were treated better. The hero is supposed to be the epitome of female fantasies, but he's just a bully and not at all seductive. The plot is okay, but I wish all the action was not reserved for the end of the book.
May 8, 2021
This is solidly written. I felt like the characters were really moving though their world rather than through a poorly constructed and slapped together setting.
The whole book hinges on Amiranth being madly in love with this guy. At some point she even claim she "knows him better than she knows herself". But the thing is, they never actually spent any meaningful time together. She fell in love with him by watching him from afar and finding him the perfect physical specimen. Then she projected onto him some noble qualities she assumed he had because he was so good looking. And I found that hard to believe.
In the end he turns into a real pos, breaking his promises to her because she lied to him first so he can. I guess his word isn't his bond. He also heavily pressures her into sex when she does not want to. But it's okay because in his many long years of imprisonment he fell in love with her somehow and also became better at sex somehow. So that makes up for him being a liar and an almost rapist I guess.
The whole book hinges on Amiranth being madly in love with this guy. At some point she even claim she "knows him better than she knows herself". But the thing is, they never actually spent any meaningful time together. She fell in love with him by watching him from afar and finding him the perfect physical specimen. Then she projected onto him some noble qualities she assumed he had because he was so good looking. And I found that hard to believe.
In the end he turns into a real pos, breaking his promises to her because she lied to him first so he can. I guess his word isn't his bond. He also heavily pressures her into sex when she does not want to. But it's okay because in his many long years of imprisonment he fell in love with her somehow and also became better at sex somehow. So that makes up for him being a liar and an almost rapist I guess.
April 21, 2014
One of those really painful to read stories. But oh so beautifully written it stole my breath away!
April 17, 2020
H30,h23
They wed when she was 15...it was the heroine who fell for hero first and asked her brother to arrange the marriage.....hero Tristan was pissed at being forced....but mostly he was confused how to feel about his new marriage and bride.
It was always his plan to go to war against French....so he left her after depositing the heroine, Amiranth in a distant estate.....he goes for war but is defeated and held in prison for long 8yrs....the first chapter is, when he escapes and comes to the estate to find it almost empty, but finally finds a lone woman in garden....she seemed familiar but he couldn't place her.
Later it was revealed that everyone was afflicted with plague leaving Amiranth and her beautiful cousin Lily....but at last Lily also succumb to death....giving Amiranth an opportunity to exchange identities.
And the story continues......I could have given it 4 stars but the story kept dragging....I so wished it would end soon when I was at 60%......so 3 stars.
They wed when she was 15...it was the heroine who fell for hero first and asked her brother to arrange the marriage.....hero Tristan was pissed at being forced....but mostly he was confused how to feel about his new marriage and bride.
It was always his plan to go to war against French....so he left her after depositing the heroine, Amiranth in a distant estate.....he goes for war but is defeated and held in prison for long 8yrs....the first chapter is, when he escapes and comes to the estate to find it almost empty, but finally finds a lone woman in garden....she seemed familiar but he couldn't place her.
Later it was revealed that everyone was afflicted with plague leaving Amiranth and her beautiful cousin Lily....but at last Lily also succumb to death....giving Amiranth an opportunity to exchange identities.
And the story continues......I could have given it 4 stars but the story kept dragging....I so wished it would end soon when I was at 60%......so 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2023
Read for ATY Winter Reading Challenge, prompt: Read a book that has one of the gifts referred to in The Twelve Days of Christmas shown on its cover - "swans-a-swimming"
*Please read new_user's review of this book (should be the first one you see), which says exactly what I wanted to say but more more eloquently!*
Man, even when I was annoyed by this book, it was still a page-turner. I guess it's a testament to how much I enjoyed Abé's other book since I picked this up even though I knew off the bat that it had 3 of my least favorite tropes:
1. Enemies-to-lovers (although this was one-sided and not mutual, so not as bad)
2. Mistaken/Hidden Identity (thankfully only present for about half the book)
3. Ugly Duckling (the cover/blurb made it seem that this was going to be a major plot point, but it actually wasn't very central to the book or characters at all).
Here's what the book did right:
- Once the mistaken/hidden identity is inevitably uncovered, the ML is not angry at the deception, but is elated because it's his best-case scenario. This is a low bar, but I can't tell you how many times it's driven me crazy to read books where characters are angry instead of happy that they did, in fact, fall in love with the right person because of the "deception of the lies" or whatever. We avoided that here, and are able to move on with the rest of the plot instead of dragging it out until a character finally gets over it.
- As mentioned above, the ugly duckling thing is misleading because while the FL does become more beautiful as she gets older, the reason this is important is because it increases her resemblance to her cousin, not because she's treated any differently or anything like that.
- If you like dark possessive heroes, the ML of this book is that to a T. He brims with dark energy, his eyes are sometimes described as "cold and bright" and as if he is withholding something dark within him. And this is going to sound really cheesy, but he never hurts the FL because that energy comes from how passionately he loves her, although sometimes she is cautious around him (and even a little afraid) when he has the aura of a wild animal.
Example of a brief scene in the hallway, after ML Tristan finds his brother alone with his wife, Amiranth:
This scene might not be the best example without context because you might think he's doubting or accusing her of something, but when he's saying "unlikely" he's referring to his distrust of his brother, not of her. "Silky threat" similarly speaks to a threat to his brother. Essentially, Tristan loves Amiranth to a violent degree but restrains himself despite wanting to attack those who put his wife in danger.
There are more scenes with a lot more intensity, where Amiranth actually feels slightly afraid, but I feel like they wouldn't be good examples without context since they might make it seem like he's actually threatening to her, lol. He's more bark than bite because
Overall, I also liked that once we got past the initial hidden identity thing, we got to see how fiercely protective the main couple was of each other and saw them work together while working on their own relationship.
I also liked that the title was meaningful, and how the swan represented .
*2023 Around the Year Reading Challenge*
Prompt #37: A book with the theme of returning home
*Please read new_user's review of this book (should be the first one you see), which says exactly what I wanted to say but more more eloquently!*
Man, even when I was annoyed by this book, it was still a page-turner. I guess it's a testament to how much I enjoyed Abé's other book since I picked this up even though I knew off the bat that it had 3 of my least favorite tropes:
1. Enemies-to-lovers (although this was one-sided and not mutual, so not as bad)
2. Mistaken/Hidden Identity (thankfully only present for about half the book)
3. Ugly Duckling (the cover/blurb made it seem that this was going to be a major plot point, but it actually wasn't very central to the book or characters at all).
Here's what the book did right:
- Once the mistaken/hidden identity is inevitably uncovered, the ML is not angry at the deception, but is elated because it's his best-case scenario. This is a low bar, but I can't tell you how many times it's driven me crazy to read books where characters are angry instead of happy that they did, in fact, fall in love with the right person because of the "deception of the lies" or whatever. We avoided that here, and are able to move on with the rest of the plot instead of dragging it out until a character finally gets over it.
- As mentioned above, the ugly duckling thing is misleading because while the FL does become more beautiful as she gets older, the reason this is important is because it increases her resemblance to her cousin, not because she's treated any differently or anything like that.
- If you like dark possessive heroes, the ML of this book is that to a T. He brims with dark energy, his eyes are sometimes described as "cold and bright" and as if he is withholding something dark within him. And this is going to sound really cheesy, but he never hurts the FL because that energy comes from how passionately he loves her, although sometimes she is cautious around him (and even a little afraid) when he has the aura of a wild animal.
Example of a brief scene in the hallway, after ML Tristan finds his brother alone with his wife, Amiranth:
"Did he distress you, my lady?"
The edge of danger to him had returned. Amiranth avoided his look. "No, not at all."
"A strange thing, to find my wife meeting alone - in the dark -with my brother."
"An accident. He came upon me by chance."
He waited, and so she went on, nervous, "He only wanted to - speak of his childhood."
"How very...unlikely."
Her fingers curled against his grip. "It is truth."
"Is that all?"
"He is just a boy, my lord."
"He is a man, my love. Don't mistake it." His fingers locked with hers, warm and strong, almost too tight. "You have a man already, Amiranth. I dislike competition."
"He's not..." She couldn't finish her sentence, the words choked in her throat.
"No," Tristan agreed, silky threat. "He's not."
This scene might not be the best example without context because you might think he's doubting or accusing her of something, but when he's saying "unlikely" he's referring to his distrust of his brother, not of her. "Silky threat" similarly speaks to a threat to his brother. Essentially, Tristan loves Amiranth to a violent degree but restrains himself despite wanting to attack those who put his wife in danger.
There are more scenes with a lot more intensity, where Amiranth actually feels slightly afraid, but I feel like they wouldn't be good examples without context since they might make it seem like he's actually threatening to her, lol. He's more bark than bite because
Overall, I also liked that once we got past the initial hidden identity thing, we got to see how fiercely protective the main couple was of each other and saw them work together while working on their own relationship.
I also liked that the title was meaningful, and how the swan represented .
*2023 Around the Year Reading Challenge*
Prompt #37: A book with the theme of returning home
December 24, 2016
I can't believe that after all these years and re-purchasing of this book I haven't written a review before. These types of stories are what I crave whenever I'm in a reading stump. We have the heroine Amiranth who isn't the prettiest or richest, but has enough unrequited love for the hero Tristan. Something happens that allows them both to marry, but they don't remain together long, and Amiranth grows to resent Tristan's absence. In order to escape her fate of living together with Tristan again once he returns from war, she pretends to be her beautiful cousin whom she grew up resembling, and had unfortunately passed away due to plague. Of course we have our hero starving of emotions, and latches on to the supposed cousin of Amiranth, Lily, since his wife is dead. Through the rest of the book, Tristan starts to fall in love with Lily, and asks for her hand in marriage, which of course, Amiranth wouldn't want. He tries his hardest to get her attention, until he realises the truth about her identity and the fate of a little tomb with tiny bluebells. I'm a sucker for these stories, it's got the hero grovelling in a believable manner, it has him trying his best to remedy this mutual unrequited love, and the heroine who turns from an ugly duckling to a swan. This is by far my favourite of Ms. Abe's romances.
January 17, 2013
Unrequited love, years apart and misunderstandings, this love story is not a light, happy one.
Amiranth had a crush on Tristan for years and was ecstatic when her brother arranged for them to get married. Tristan barely noticed her, even after they got married, drunk on excitement for joining England's "glory war".
He leaves her in one of his estates and leaves off to war, to return years later and find it abandoned but for her, who pretends she's her beloved cousin. So, the two finally take the time to get to know each other, trying to overcome the obstacles on their way, Amiranth's deception among them.
They have a lot of ground to cover and getting to their happy ending isn't easy, but after revelations about their respective pasts and admitting their feelings, they eventually get there.
The story is set in the 1300's, a time period I'm not used to reading stories about, and things are kind of darker and a lot less civilized.
Interesting and well written story.
Amiranth had a crush on Tristan for years and was ecstatic when her brother arranged for them to get married. Tristan barely noticed her, even after they got married, drunk on excitement for joining England's "glory war".
He leaves her in one of his estates and leaves off to war, to return years later and find it abandoned but for her, who pretends she's her beloved cousin. So, the two finally take the time to get to know each other, trying to overcome the obstacles on their way, Amiranth's deception among them.
They have a lot of ground to cover and getting to their happy ending isn't easy, but after revelations about their respective pasts and admitting their feelings, they eventually get there.
The story is set in the 1300's, a time period I'm not used to reading stories about, and things are kind of darker and a lot less civilized.
Interesting and well written story.
October 26, 2013
The book started in a beautiful manner as it captured the reunion of a long lost earl who finally found his way back from the war after 8 years of captivity and his bride, the young girl he left behind soon after the wedding. That girl has grown in his absence into a stunning independent woman, who no longer looks upon him with adoration in her eyes, who in fact denies her own identity in order to remain free and unchained to any man. Unfortunately, the last part of the book was taken up by his fight to be recognised as the true earl and their story was pushed to the side and rushed into a conclusion after the build up of emotions. Still the writing was lovely, and I will check out her other books.
June 17, 2011
I admit that when I first read this a month ago, I really really enjoyed it. It reminded me of one of my favorite books... Something Wonderful. But I'm giving it 3 stars because I just now had to go back and read the summary to remember what this book was about. I guess that means that the story doesn't really just Grab and Stick with you. But... one thing I'll give this book is that both the hero and heroine are extremely likeable throughout the book... which leaves to rooting for them to work things out.
January 27, 2018
This is not a bad book, I guess. It's nice that there's an awareness of the currents that bring them together: that Tristan is marrying for bloodlines and Amiranth for wealth.
I don't have much else to say about this book. I liked how decisive Tristan was, although
I don't have much else to say about this book. I liked how decisive Tristan was, although
September 3, 2016
Like my rating said, it was an ok book.
I liked the characters, but I didn't have much feelings for them. I read it expecting it to get better, for me to develop feelings for them and I wanted to know how the author would get them together or how Tristan would realize she was his wife all along and how he'd react.
The book isn't bad, it just wasn't what I was hoping it would be.
I think you should read it without expectations, then maybe you'll enjoy it more than I did.
I liked the characters, but I didn't have much feelings for them. I read it expecting it to get better, for me to develop feelings for them and I wanted to know how the author would get them together or how Tristan would realize she was his wife all along and how he'd react.
The book isn't bad, it just wasn't what I was hoping it would be.
I think you should read it without expectations, then maybe you'll enjoy it more than I did.
October 2, 2014
A disappointingly quiet book with a tepid plot. The hero was a bit of a jerk. The heroine would have been better off without him. Also, surprised she stayed at that abandoned little manor for so long.
Read
April 2, 2011It's so wonderfully written with bittertaste that leaves me aching....
March 6, 2022
THIS WAS SO ROMANTIC IN THE CLASSICAL WAY! I loved how MC-centric it was, and the beauty of young love scorned and how much life can change a person. The setting was written after recent the Black Plague, and it was so damned interesting, I couldn't put it down!
AMARINTH's love for TRISTAN was pure, and it was the young girl's love that turned into bitterness and rejection when she overheard him and another boy calling her plain, while her cousin was the beauty of her family. In all truth, Amarinth was only 15, and Tristan no better than 18. They were all uncertain of life, immature and too starry eyed to have anything solid planned out - at least to a 21st century reader. Amarinth has loved Tristan from afar, and even though rejected, tried to make the best out of her marriage, and though rare and awkward, she did share a moment or two with her new husband before he "abandoned" her in his country house Safare near the border of France where he soon left to fight the war. 8 years later, our story begins with Tristan coming home after escaping for his life as a French captive, looking for his wife. It's amazing what captivity and torture can do to a man, and changed him from frivolous, haughty lord to a man bent on coming home to love, family and security.
Unlike most classic heroines, I found Amarinth to be endearing. She was both gentle but strong, and smart/firm when needed to be. It might have been wrong of her to assume the identity of her dead cousin even when her husband returned, but who could blame her? She thought her husband didn't want or love her, and that he was dead. To protect herself and her heart, she believed it was best for everyone to believe Amarinth was dead, and that she was Lily.
TRISTAN on the other hand, returned a completely changed man. Boy to man. The author wrote a very vivid and poignant monologue of his return which I felt deeply and his pain, and longing for his wife whom he knows he had wronged. Amarinth was who kept him alive while in captivity, and she's the reason he's come home, despite believing her to be dead after seeing "Lily". Still, something about Lily felt familiar and he couldn't help falling for her as they endured several hardships - no food, no servants, sickness, the scorn of the black plague and the fact that Tristan's brother is now the Earl instead of him. It's frightening how easily anyone could undermine one's identity or failed to be recognize during that era, without technology and an identification card. I'd say Tristan learned his lesson from his youth, in fact, he disliked his old self and I could see the changes of his character, especially how self-sufficient and caring he was for Lily, and she for him.
OVERALL this was a beautiful love story of two young "children" who married far too early, was torn apart by the war and scheming individuals, and growing up to find love again. I enjoyed how level-headed the characters were, the palpable attraction between Tristan and Amarinth and how their close encounters with death created a bond that couldn't be denied no matter what happened in the past.
AMARINTH's love for TRISTAN was pure, and it was the young girl's love that turned into bitterness and rejection when she overheard him and another boy calling her plain, while her cousin was the beauty of her family. In all truth, Amarinth was only 15, and Tristan no better than 18. They were all uncertain of life, immature and too starry eyed to have anything solid planned out - at least to a 21st century reader. Amarinth has loved Tristan from afar, and even though rejected, tried to make the best out of her marriage, and though rare and awkward, she did share a moment or two with her new husband before he "abandoned" her in his country house Safare near the border of France where he soon left to fight the war. 8 years later, our story begins with Tristan coming home after escaping for his life as a French captive, looking for his wife. It's amazing what captivity and torture can do to a man, and changed him from frivolous, haughty lord to a man bent on coming home to love, family and security.
Unlike most classic heroines, I found Amarinth to be endearing. She was both gentle but strong, and smart/firm when needed to be. It might have been wrong of her to assume the identity of her dead cousin even when her husband returned, but who could blame her? She thought her husband didn't want or love her, and that he was dead. To protect herself and her heart, she believed it was best for everyone to believe Amarinth was dead, and that she was Lily.
TRISTAN on the other hand, returned a completely changed man. Boy to man. The author wrote a very vivid and poignant monologue of his return which I felt deeply and his pain, and longing for his wife whom he knows he had wronged. Amarinth was who kept him alive while in captivity, and she's the reason he's come home, despite believing her to be dead after seeing "Lily". Still, something about Lily felt familiar and he couldn't help falling for her as they endured several hardships - no food, no servants, sickness, the scorn of the black plague and the fact that Tristan's brother is now the Earl instead of him. It's frightening how easily anyone could undermine one's identity or failed to be recognize during that era, without technology and an identification card. I'd say Tristan learned his lesson from his youth, in fact, he disliked his old self and I could see the changes of his character, especially how self-sufficient and caring he was for Lily, and she for him.
OVERALL this was a beautiful love story of two young "children" who married far too early, was torn apart by the war and scheming individuals, and growing up to find love again. I enjoyed how level-headed the characters were, the palpable attraction between Tristan and Amarinth and how their close encounters with death created a bond that couldn't be denied no matter what happened in the past.
June 29, 2024
Finally a great book! Really really well done - it has the subtlety and artistry that is so lacking in most romances. none of the burning loins stuff, although there is sexual content. I would almost give it 5 stars, except for the end - it was satisfying, but there is a mystery involved and it felt both rushed and predictable. I felt also that the dialogue at the climax of that mystery - the confrontation - wasn't as well written as the rest of the book. I guess it wasn't supposed to really be a mystery, as it's apparent who the culprit was, but the resolution was too pat, the plot line too simple and maybe not quite believable. Still, I really enjoyed this one - a pleasure to read. Reminded me of the Scorpio races in it's characterization and prose.
December 19, 2020
Lots and lots of pain and angst. Though the story itself dragged a bit, the emotions continued to be intense. The sort-of mystery played out to the very end. The eventual HEA both emotionally and sexually was believable. Don’t look for any love scenes before about half way, but the tension is there, and when it finally happens, it’s as well-written as the rest of the book. Nice writing and historical and setting detail, but only as needed :>). I’ll look for more by this author.
March 19, 2022
a lot of underdeveloped potential
parts of the story that wouldve been interesting to expand on were left untouched
The h's time when abandoned at the manor was not discussed at all
that was a huge waste
it could have given us more insight into her growth
not nearly enough groveling
the end comes and it doesnt really feel like they love each other
if anything the H just gets more abusive
parts of the story that wouldve been interesting to expand on were left untouched
The h's time when abandoned at the manor was not discussed at all
that was a huge waste
it could have given us more insight into her growth
not nearly enough groveling
the end comes and it doesnt really feel like they love each other
if anything the H just gets more abusive
January 1, 2021
3.5 stars
Beautiful prose, strong narrative. Good character development but it could have gone further. The story flowed smoothly & no flaws stick out. I suppose I wish I could have connected with Amarinth better. She was so guarded & bitter through the whole story (with good reason). Overall, great novel.
Beautiful prose, strong narrative. Good character development but it could have gone further. The story flowed smoothly & no flaws stick out. I suppose I wish I could have connected with Amarinth better. She was so guarded & bitter through the whole story (with good reason). Overall, great novel.
July 20, 2020
Nelogicky střídá tykání/vykání/tykání.
Na kilometry je v roce 1349 brzo.
s. 22 se pohupovaly se ve vánku
s. 42 Tristan. „jsi
s. 80 pomoc.“ pronesl
s. 91 strhané rysy
s. 131 v__divokých
s. 140 správče
špatné dělení slov - s. 120, 164
ji/jí - s. 45
uvozovky - s. 20
Na kilometry je v roce 1349 brzo.
s. 22 se pohupovaly se ve vánku
s. 42 Tristan. „jsi
s. 80 pomoc.“ pronesl
s. 91 strhané rysy
s. 131 v__divokých
s. 140 správče
špatné dělení slov - s. 120, 164
ji/jí - s. 45
uvozovky - s. 20
November 11, 2017
Beautiful!
January 27, 2018
Prisoner of the French for eight years, Tristan has to win back his lands as well as his wife
January 22, 2023
4.5 stars
August 15, 2023
I could not like the hero...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews