Barbarian Slave

The Warrior Brothers of Skye #2

by Jayne Castel

He takes her as his warprize—but she enslaves his soul. Pict and Roman culture collide in this epic Historical Romance set in Dark Ages Scotland.

Lucrezia is the wife of a Roman soldier posted on the northernmost reach of the Empire. Locked in an unhappy marriage upon a desolate outpost, her hopes for happiness are slipping away. However, her life changes forever in the winter of 467 AD. Barbarians from the north band together and attack Hadrian's Wall.

Tarl mac Muin is a Pict warrior with a thirst for battle and glory. He's part of the Barbarian Conspiracy that will change history. But when he takes Lucrezia as his slave, he sets off a chain of events that neither of them could have foreseen.

In an epic adventure that starts at the Roman fort of Vindolanda at Hadrian's Wall and takes Lucrezia north to the wild shores of the Isle of Skye—she discovers love and happiness when she least expects it. Only, a shadow from the past risks ruining everything.

BARBARIAN SLAVE is the second book in THE WARRIOR BROTHERS OF SKYE series. Follow the lives and loves of three warrior brothers: Galan, Tarl and Donnel. Fans of Historical Fiction, Scottish Historical Romance and Historical Action & Adventure. Those who enjoy Kathryn Le Veque, and who loved Donna Fletcher's Pict King series, should enjoy this series set in Dark Ages Scotland.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Scotland, Medieval, Historical Fiction, Fiction

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 29, 2018

About the author

Multi-award-winning author Jayne Castel writes epic Historical and Fantasy Romance. Her vibrant characters, richly researched historical settings and action-packed adventure romance transport readers to forgotten times and imaginary worlds.

Jayne is the author of a number of best-selling series. In love with all things Scottish, she writes romances set in both Dark Ages and Medieval Scotland.

When she's not writing, Jayne is reading (and re-reading) her favorite authors, cooking Italian feasts, and going on long walks with her husband. She's from New Zealand, but now lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

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Jayne loves to hear from her readers - email her at: contact@jaynecastel.com

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Reviews

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it! Really enjoying the era the author chose for this series, fascinating! And Hadrian's Wall is not very far from me so doubly fascinating.

Loved the characters in this one. Yes Tarl was a total cave-man barbarian, but that's what I expected given the time the book was set in. I even didn't mind Lucrezia pushing away, I would have done that in the very least in her circumstances.

Now the wait for Donnel's book.

[Celestine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bring on the REAL barbarian, please!
In Jayne Castel's Barbarian Slave, the barbarian isn't a blue alien with horns on an ice planet (although I do have a soft spot for Ruby Dixon's gentle giants), or even fated mates in outer space. In this case, the barbarian has a real place in history. On Earth. In 4th century Britannia, to be exact. The Romans used all kinds of negative words to identify the marauders that bedeviled their borders. Here the Pictish warrior Tarl is part of an invading force that overtakes Vindolanda Fort along Hadrian's Wall. He saves a beautiful Roman woman with golden skin and midnight hair from rape during the invasion, and takes her as his slave to essentially preserve her life. She is not grateful and he is a strutting peacock, but it all works out in the end.

One of the things I like best about Jayne Castel's books is that her heroes and heroines are not infallible - and neither are they the same personalities with different names. They have real-life problems, suffer from jealousy and insecurity at times, and find maturity and balance through love. Tarl is inordinately brave, handsome and kind. He is also impulsive and lacks confidence and feels as though he needs to prove himself to his older brother. (See Galan's story in Blood Feud). Lucrezia is at first resigned to her life, and then scared and naive, but so beautiful men will fight over her. She also finds her place among the barbarians from the northlands beyond the Roman Empire's influence. Her story of change is particularly satisfying to read.

Jayne Castel picks fascinating threads from the canons of history and brings them alive with her fictional tales. She subtly weaves in the hint of what is to come in Scottish history and enlivens what little is known of the Picts. For instance, female warriors were a rare legend among early Celts (Boudicca, in particular), and Castel is clearly inspired to put her own twist on how women might have been part of the warrior class. There are also unnerving skirmishes between the Pict clans on what is today known as the Isle of Skye that sets the stage for generations of Scottish Highlander feuds. The broch's living quarters add an interesting dimension to an ancient world. And more, much more.

Jayne Castel has an immersive style of prose. She builds a world full of texture and main characters and side characters that seem real for all that they are the heroes and heroines of their day. Her villains always have a chance of winning, and that is what makes the story so thrilling. Add in a love story that ties emotions to actions and consequences, and you have the components of a great story. Bury yourself in the past with this great book. I thought this sequel was just as good as book one, but the main characters of Tarl and Lucrezia carry this book independently.

Did I have some nitpicks? Sure, but other than wishing Lucrezia thought the barbarian invader was harsh and ugly rather than handsome at the very beginning, I can't remember any. 4.5 rounded to five stars.

Book source: ARC from the author.

[Melanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

First my savior, then my captor...who is he now?

Once again, Jayne Castel crafts a great read set in 4th Century Scotland!

As the wife of a Roman officer stationed at Hadrian's Wall, Lucrezia lives a mostly comfortable life - until it's all ripped away in the blink of an eye. When she woke that fateful morning, never did she expect to be fighting, scratching, and kicking with everything in her to stop a huge barbarian warrior from raping her.

Tarl joined the assault on the Wall to get out from under his chieftain brother's thumb. Perhaps if he returned victorious, his brother would see him as something other than a irrational hot-head. But when he went over the Wall, he never expected to be saving a beautiful Roman woman from being raped by a brutal man.

Later, when Lucrezia refuses to give up the location of the gold that Tarl is sure is stashed somewhere in the house, he takes her as his warprize.

Despite the premise, Barbarian Slave is not a dark read. I thought the author did a good job of taking the story in a more romantic direction. I especially loved the first half of the story, which had some great moments, ones that had me considering what I would do in Lucrezia's situation.

Panic assailed her then, and she looked south. This was it - her last chance. . . She could run now, even with her hands bound. Desperation would give her feet wings.

It's a fine line between TSTL and survival sometimes, and I appreciated the way Lucrezia walked it in this one. Plus, I loved the banter and tension that escalated between them as they journeyed north back to the Isle of Skye.

I wasn't as thrilled with how long it took these two to figure things out once they arrived back at the village, but I did LOVE getting to see Tea and Galan again from book 1. In fact, it was nice being back among all of the village inhabitants - I can't wait for book 3 to read Eithni and Donnel's story!

[AvidReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the hero, plot, setting, secondary characters and the writing style but Heroine, that’s a different story altogether.
I never warmed up to her! Although she was courageous and independent I didn’t like her at all.
Recommended.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ "Battle Royal of Stubborn Wills" Stars!

"You are my air, my sunlight, my warm south wind. You make me want to grab hold of life and cherish it. ~Tarl

Wow! These ancient Pict men are stealing my heart. I just wanted to pull Tarl to me and give him a big hug. He suffered terribly from Middle Child Syndrome. But besides all that, he was nobel, proud and honorable. Lucrezia was STUBBORN! I feel bad for saying this on International Women's Day, but I wanted to yell at her, "GIRL, GIVE IN ALL READY! He'll take care of you." I know! Yank away my Independent Woman card...
Anywho, I knew why she didn't give in, and I liked her. But still... I'm a sucker for caveman. In a book!

So... I liked it a lot. Can't wait for book 3. Jayne Castle has herself a new fan! Happy reading!

[Laura Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story, though not as much as the first. 3 1/2 stars. Really want to read the next one though about the third brother.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 to 3 stars. First HR I can remember reading set in this time period. Barbarian Picts come up against the colonial Romans at Hadrians Wall. A fascinating period of history, and the historical side of the book is done reasonably well, making for an interesting read on one level. The book overall was readable, but not wonderful.

Lucrezia, unhappily married to a Roman who is is posted at the fort there, is kidnapped as a war prize/ slave during a battle with the Picts. Her kidnapper, the barbarian warrior, Tarl, actually saves her from being raped by one of the soldiers. Her husband is lost in the battle.

The story moves on to Tarl's home, the Isle of Skye (as it is known today). There is a kind of road trip, then some time at the fort where Tarl's family lives. The violent fights and battles, with blood and harsh injuries, are interspersed through the book. The times were violent, but I still don't much like reading about it in any detail.

But I think my main problem with the story is the central couple. The romance between Lucrezia and Tarl is slow to develop. Striving for some realism, I suppose, the author maintains Lucrezia's fear and hatred of Tarl for (IMO) too long. And Tarl himself is too much the 'gentleman' towards Lucrezia to be fully convincing to me as a man and warrior of his time. I understand the author naturally wished to avoid any suggestion of force or rape between them, but I think I would have enjoyed the book more if there had been a closer connection between the MCs earlier in the book. The romance eventually heated up in the last 20% or so of the book, but by then I was starting to get a little bored with the predictable secondary story relating to Lucrezia's wannabe rapist from earlier in the book.

So. I did enjoy the settings and would like to read more HRs set in this period and place. But I'm not sure whether to read any more by this author or not. For me, the romance side of things was a bit flat and lacking an real emotional connection for the reader, or at least, for this reader.

[Danielle Marx · Rating 5 out of 5]

This trilogy was such a lucky find. I'm just loving it. This is Tarl and Lucrezia story and it didn't disappoint.

The setting of this series is just perfect. The author captures ancient Scotland beautifully and I love her writing style.

I don't want to spoil too much so I will keep it brief. Tarl and Lucrezia are a slow burn but the wait was worth it. The title is a bit misleading. I was expecting a dark steamy read but what actually happens is a bit surprising and not in a bad way. I liked the direction it went.

Looking forward to book 3.
5 stars.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid story by Jayne Castel.

These are shorter novels that are well thought out and written in very interesting and unique time periods.

I really liked this book in particular because the heroine was really great. She's a Roman nobelwoman who was also smart, realistic for her station, and kind. She's obviously put in a bad situation as a slave and she dealt with it exactly how you wish other heroines would.

This particular story did not get too dark either, despite the title, so it was an enjoyable read.

[Coco.V]

🎁Part of The Warrior Brothers of Skye: The Complete Series which is FREE on Amazon today (11/20/2021)! 🎁

[Karen Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Made me think about history and how much of it was buried in my brain. What it would be like to have your life totally at the will of another person and their culture. This story had a very good storyline and a strong female heroin!Could not put it down, thank you Jayne Castle.

[SKM · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me to enjoy a book, I must feel for the characters, be moved by the book/storyline, and the book must have an HEA. It also must be a great enough story that allows me to not stumble over the publishing issues. Barbarian Slave does all of those with expert writing and a story that forces you to love not only the two main characters, but the supporting characters.

Tarl is a man with deep principles and honor. He is running from being undervalued and under appreciated (at least in his mind) by Galan and his tribe. He is striving to prove that he is a strong capable warrior not only to those around him but ultimately to himself. When he meets Lucrezia, he refuses to allow her to be raped by a much larger man. He takes her as his captive, but he becomes her protector.

Lucrezia is in a marriage with love, but no romance due to her husband's preference for men. She wants and yearns for love and children and a sense of belonging but does not believe she will ever achieve them. She meets Tarl as he stops the rape Wurgest is trying to force on her. She becomes his captive, but refuses to become his slave.

While they do not love each other in the beginning, but they both yearn for the love Tarl ultimately brings Lucrezia and she ultimately brings him.

Through many trials Tarl, Lucrezia, and Donnel (who I absolutely love and cannot wait to read about in Battle Eagle with Eithni) finally arrive home where Galan releases Lucrezia as Tarl's slave and allows her to become a free woman. This causes strife and anger amongst the two brothers.

Lucrezia finds herself training to be a warrior with Tea and Alpina. She finds that she is talented and strong and that she belongs with these amazing people.

Due to Tarl saving Lucrezia from rape and a horrible fate, he now faces an enemy from another tribe and ultimately from within himself. This enemy wants revenge and it is up to Tarl to keep that revenge from spilling over onto his entire tribe.

Before the ultimate battle, Tarl and Lucrezia demonstrate their love for one another in a way that written tastefully, clearly, and lovingly. This was not smut like in some books but love in a physical sense. It was beautifully written and needed for the story (even the joking before and after).

There is a loss after the battle and you will cry and mourn. This loss also gives the reader insight into the past and how they view honor. This loss also breaks Tarl and only Lucrezia can help him mend.

Tarl and Lucrezia have their HEA and it is so deserving that you may just tear up once again, I did.

This is the second book in The Warrior Brothers of Skye series and both have had strong, formidable, loving, and brave characters. This entire series is one I will read over and over again. I highly recommend this book because as you read, you feel love, fear, strength, determination, anger, loss, and ultimately a sense of being in the story - you feel and experience everything the characters feel and experience. Jayne Castel has a way of bringing her stories alive as you read them. Her writing is honest and compelling which is why I have read all her historical romance books and why I recommend all of them.

TREMENDOUSLY AMAZING READ. I felt and was moved every second I was reading. Thank you Jayne.

I received an ARC copy of this book.

[Hollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read!

I cannot get enough of Jayne Castel and her stories. Usually I’m reading hisfic battle stories, well, Jayne Castel’s novels are filled with real historical events peppered with romance. The Brothers of Skye is an amazing story and highly recommended!

[Angee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. I enjoyed the story line and was able to connect with the characters. Tarl and Lucrezia had a hell of a time becoming one and the obstacles they had to overcome made this book a page turner. Can't wait to read the third book of the series and hope Donnel's story is just as good if not better.

[Kathy Tatum · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 Brothers Galen, Tarl and Donnell mac Muin live on the “Winged Isle” Eagle Clan Middle son Tarl feels his big brother and clan do not take him seriously. He is known for thinking himself better than everyone, knowing best, but makes impulsive and sometimes rash decisions gets him and the Clan in trouble. Since his brother just became clan chief and marries a Wolf Clan member for peace, which he disagrees with, he takes the opportunity to go fight with others against the Romans at Hadrian’s Wall. The incursion was successful but he makes an enemy of a member of the boar tribe by stealing the slave the boar member is trying to rape. He takes the slave home but things don’t turn out as he plans. Great story, bold characters, strong heroes and beautiful but also strong heroine’s. It was an emotional journey with several twists and turns.

Barbarian Slave was an epic story for me. Jayne Castel goes back to write a series of books that is during the 4th century involving 4 clans on the “Winged Isle” (Isle of SKYE). During this time there was no written word as to the culture of the Pictish People there, language, customs or much of anything to pull history from. She did I a wonderful job. Very descriptive, well written an interesting read.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Deljah · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 77%. This Roman noblewoman took to slavery like a duck to water. Yeah right. I guess once she became a guest acting like she was on holiday, all was well. Language was way too modern this go around. Pulled me out of the story.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series. The second book is about Tarl second brother and it's a great story full of excitement. I really like the way this author's writing style. I can't wait for the third one in this series.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in this series and I was not putting it down, this book kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. A beautiful, well-written book. I received a copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

[Jenna ✨DNF Queen✨Here, Sometimes... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, reading this book was truly an experience. The historical detail was just... amazing. It made my little Scots-loving heart flutter ❤️ Also, I now want to add woad to my garden haha. It’s funny I really had a hard time believing that Lucrezia and Tarl were going to be a convincing couple, but there was an imperfect-ness to the characters that gave them enough realistic hurdles to get over that, by the end, gave them a true authenticity as partners.

I really am dying to read the 3rd book now.. Donnel just broke my heart but I have a feeling he and Eithni will be able to heal each other beautifully! I’d consider that a spoiler but let’s be real, it’s so obvious those two are meant for each other ha!

I’m definitely considering Jayne Castel to be a new favorite author, and for MF nonetheless!

[Lail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and riveting 5 stars! Jayne has masterfully brought a rich compelling story of the different people and their lives between the native Picts and of the "all powerful Romans" who saught to conquer and rule all the world. The fast pace storyline and the complex characters won me over and kept me rooted until the very end. This story will not disappoint.
What did I like the least? Finishing the book, and being a little stressed and over eager to know what will happen to a couple characters who's stories haven't been written yet! Sigh...

[Tessa Verboven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Een verhaal met in de hoofdrol de liefdesrelatie tussen een Romeinse vrouw en een Barbaarse man, dat zich afspeelt in Brittannië en op het Isle of Skye.

Het verhaal blijft helaas plat en voorspelbaar. De schrijfster bouwt op naar een uitvoerig beschreven seksscène in Hollywoodstijl. Op veel punten ontbreekt de geloofwaardigheid van het personage van Lucrezia.

Het leest verder makkelijk weg en is op momenten ook wel spannend. Een vermakelijk snoepje zonder echte diepgang. Vooral interessant om eens wat meer over Isle of Skye te weten te komen.

[Radd Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok. I liked Tarl in this one but was lukewarm about Lucrezia.

I was a bit uncomfortable with the whole attitude that women are a prize of war and can become bed slaves (i.e. raped repeatedly) and no one seems to care. Maybe that was true of the time period, but it still made me uncomfortable in the context of the plot to read about how women were so easily abused and it was just overlooked. But then on the flip side one of the characters was raped in a previous book and people felt sorry for her and understood why she was so scared and withdrawn. I just felt like there were two different messages.

Also, in the previous book Tarl was portrayed as a very selfish character and I didn’t like him. I felt like the character in this book was not the same one introduced in the previous book. So that was a bit of a disconnect for me.

The characters in the first book were prominent in this one, so it would be beneficial to read the series in order.

[Charlotte K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous historical romance by Jayne Castel, whose writing just keeps getting better. Love the description of the Pict culture - the book really brings history to life. The heroine, the Roman Lucrezia, was a very compelling and sympathetic character - married to a husband who could never love her, then almost raped, forced to become a slave to her rescuer, ripped from her home and taken to a foreign land where she is forced to find her way in this new landscape. I particularly like that she wasn't a Mary Sue, who was naturally good at everything. Or a door mat looking of a strong man to rescue her.

The hero Tarl is an equally flawed, well-rounded character - the light-hearted, cocky, younger brother to the chieftain, who must fight to prove himself. and win the heart of Lucrezia.

A thoroughly entertaining story.

[Candy Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the writing, which was well written, the descriptions were lovely, the dialogue fit the storyline.
The plot has a few twists to it, it is historically bent and definitely keeps your attention. Tarl mac Muin, has fought many battles and has the scars to prove it. He is impetuous, and needs a little more maturity, but he loves his brothers. When they go to raid Hadrian's wall and kick out the Romans, he finds Lucrezia and wants to make her his slave, actually he wants to keep her safe. Lucrezia is married and her husband is a centurion, but he is killed during the battle. I loved the feelings between the brothers and also the way the tribe respects each other, after all they are family. Great reading.
I received this ARC free and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A noble woman taken as a slave

You are living your life as you know it. You are married but not happily. This is the beginning of a life for Lucrezia. She is beautiful, olive skinned and married to a Roman soldier Marcus. However, the Eagle clan along with many other tribes decide to stop the Roman's who have come to their land, built a wall to keep them out. Tarl, a cocky man from the Eagle tribe and his brother Donnel, are there to fight. Tarl comes upon Lucrezia being attacked by a monster from the Boar tribe. Tarl stops him and takes Lucrezia as a slave. How her life changes from there. Much to learn and she changes who she is. I can't wait to read the next installment of Donnel's life.

[Mary Valerie Stroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

It is SO hard to put these books down. Jayne Castel is a gifted author, one never gets lost trying to figure who is on first. The story stays on an even keel throughout and normally fast paced. There are no "page filling" sexual activities that cause page turning, which I greatly appreciate. I am looking forward to Donnel's story, he seems to be the most conflicted, should be grand.

[Bea Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was so-so. I really enjoyed the opening half of the book and how determined the h was not to be taken away... but I dunno... the romance felt a bit shallow and flat. After she was set free she avoids the H as much as possible, they barely speak, and their 'coming together' was them just having lusty thoughts about each other as they carried on their separate lives. When they jumped each other I just felt meh about it, lots of physical attraction but no romance.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the “The Warrior Brothers of Skye” series, “Barbarian Slave” takes on the romance of the second of the Eagle clan brothers, introduces some new characters and brings back some old.

Read full review in the 2018 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[sandy forguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk and luci

Great read and well written talon a d luci are wonderful characters from different backgrounds they had many differences to face although taln saved luci from rape when the eagle tribe ent to war on the mainland talon and luci came to love each other as luci trained to be a warrior they had their HEA would highly recommend this series