Wind Child

by Nancy Harding

Set against the ancient world of the Scythian tribes of 513 B.C., Wind Child is a passionate, exhilarating, unforgettable tale.

The laws of her people decreed that men should rule—and women obey. She would defy every tradition.

Born to an ancient nomad tribe of the steppes, beautiful, blue-eyed Arima was the Scythian chief's proud daughter. Yet she would go to the tent of the man her father chose, and that man would own her as he did his horse...and value her less.

But when a traveling stranger stopped at her village, his sensuous gaze tapped a wellspring of desire at her very core—a thirst for passion and freedom that would not be denied. Into the night they fled, and when they parted, her lover's kiss was a brand burned forever into Arima's fierce heart.

Now as the mighty Persian empire massed its armies, the fugitive princess' valor shone keen as a dagger. In an age like no other, one woman would ride forth to meet the glorious challenge of the future—in the searing flames of love and war.

Genres: Fiction

331 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1990

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, I'm not really finished but I don't want to read this after all. I remember being vaguely disappointed with it when I first read it years ago, but other than that sensation, I couldn't remember much about the story.

Turns out it is a young woman yearning for independence and freedom, like any other 17 year old girl would. Only difference is this one, a princess named Arima, lives in ancient Scythia and in the first chapter is feeling both guilty and excited about picking blackberries. Real work! Just like the slaves do! But when her father discovers why she was the last of the women to return to camp that day, she is beaten. And so starts the resentment and even more yearning for freedom.

Perhaps I did not give it enough of a chance. Perhaps I am just in a sour mood and have no patience for Girl Grows Up type of stories at the moment. Whatever the reason, I decided to close the book and leave Arima to herself.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't mind reading this book, even though it always felt like the action was being told from the wrong perspective. Like when something exciting would happen we would watch from the sidelines instead of experiencing it first hand. And then I got to the end, which was just a major let down. Do not recommend.