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Bound by a brotherhood forged in the hell of a Saracen prison,
eight Blood Swords -- mercenary knights for William the
Conqueror -- set out to claim their legacies the only way they can:
by right of arms, by right of victory, by right of conquest.
For Sir Rohan du Luc, known as the Black Sword, enemies fall easily beneath his assault...until he comes face-to-face with a foe more worthy than any battle-hardened knight. Bold and courageous though she is, Saxon maiden Isabel of Alethorpe cannot stop Rohan de Luc from seizing Alethorpe and its people in the name of William the Conqueror. Then Rohan demands not just the manor, but Isabel herself.
Isabel vows that her heart will remain her own, even if she is forced to allow him to lay claim to her body. But while the lady's lips say no, Isabel's traitorous body is awakened to desire by the seductive attentions of this potent invader. Can she remain true to her Saxon heritage and her hopes that her brother may have survived the battlefield, or will Sir Rohan's skilled touch capture her unwilling heart as surely as his prowess with his sword captured her father's lands?
eight Blood Swords -- mercenary knights for William the
Conqueror -- set out to claim their legacies the only way they can:
by right of arms, by right of victory, by right of conquest.
For Sir Rohan du Luc, known as the Black Sword, enemies fall easily beneath his assault...until he comes face-to-face with a foe more worthy than any battle-hardened knight. Bold and courageous though she is, Saxon maiden Isabel of Alethorpe cannot stop Rohan de Luc from seizing Alethorpe and its people in the name of William the Conqueror. Then Rohan demands not just the manor, but Isabel herself.
Isabel vows that her heart will remain her own, even if she is forced to allow him to lay claim to her body. But while the lady's lips say no, Isabel's traitorous body is awakened to desire by the seductive attentions of this potent invader. Can she remain true to her Saxon heritage and her hopes that her brother may have survived the battlefield, or will Sir Rohan's skilled touch capture her unwilling heart as surely as his prowess with his sword captured her father's lands?
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
21 people are currently reading
1568 people want to read
About the author
Karin Tabke
38 books723 followersKarin is a multi-published, national bestselling, award-winning author.
Karin has sold more than a dozen stories to US publishers: Kensington, Simon & Schuster, and Penguin Random House. Her self-publishing debut, THE CHRONICLES of KATRINA, was met with resounding enthusiasm. Never one to disappoint her readers, Karin happily launched the spinoff series The Bad Boys of the Bay, featuring the heroes she knows so well–hot cops. Translation rights to Karin’s books have been licensed in Japan, Thailand, Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, Italy, Portugal and the UK.
In 2008, Karin’s novel JADED (Simon & Schuster) won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Erotic Romance Suspense. In 2011, her paranormal romance BLOOD LAW (Berkley) won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice award for Best Erotic Fiction and was the first book in her Blood Moon Rising series. In 2012, the second book in the trilogy, BLOODRIGHT, was nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Erotic Paranormal Romance. Karin’s other awards include a CAPA and the Holt Medallion, as well as a finalist nod for the Prism. Her debut single title, GOOD GIRL GONE BAD (Simon & Schuster), was featured in the October 2006 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.
Karin’s most rewarding award, however, was not bestowed for her storytelling skills but for her mentorship of unpublished writers. She was honored to receive RWA’s (Romance Writers of America) Pro Mentor of the Year award in 2008. She has served as president of her local RWA chapter in San Francisco and as Director-at-Large on the RWA National Board of Directors.
Karin has been married to her own hot cop–now licensed Private Investigator–for over thirty years and she writes what she knows. She has also started and sold several profitable businesses, but her true love is writing passionate love stories. When she isn’t writing, Karin loves to travel and does so extensively, meeting readers and sharing her knowledge via workshops at writer conventions and conferences.
Karin has sold more than a dozen stories to US publishers: Kensington, Simon & Schuster, and Penguin Random House. Her self-publishing debut, THE CHRONICLES of KATRINA, was met with resounding enthusiasm. Never one to disappoint her readers, Karin happily launched the spinoff series The Bad Boys of the Bay, featuring the heroes she knows so well–hot cops. Translation rights to Karin’s books have been licensed in Japan, Thailand, Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, Italy, Portugal and the UK.
In 2008, Karin’s novel JADED (Simon & Schuster) won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Erotic Romance Suspense. In 2011, her paranormal romance BLOOD LAW (Berkley) won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice award for Best Erotic Fiction and was the first book in her Blood Moon Rising series. In 2012, the second book in the trilogy, BLOODRIGHT, was nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Erotic Paranormal Romance. Karin’s other awards include a CAPA and the Holt Medallion, as well as a finalist nod for the Prism. Her debut single title, GOOD GIRL GONE BAD (Simon & Schuster), was featured in the October 2006 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.
Karin’s most rewarding award, however, was not bestowed for her storytelling skills but for her mentorship of unpublished writers. She was honored to receive RWA’s (Romance Writers of America) Pro Mentor of the Year award in 2008. She has served as president of her local RWA chapter in San Francisco and as Director-at-Large on the RWA National Board of Directors.
Karin has been married to her own hot cop–now licensed Private Investigator–for over thirty years and she writes what she knows. She has also started and sold several profitable businesses, but her true love is writing passionate love stories. When she isn’t writing, Karin loves to travel and does so extensively, meeting readers and sharing her knowledge via workshops at writer conventions and conferences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
August 11, 2017
I'm just going to warn you, right up front – this is not a light, fluffy romance. It’s brutal, gory, violent, sexist and just about every other miserable day-to-day thing you would expect from the Medieval era. And wow, I really enjoyed this story!
Master of Surrender is the first book in the Blood Sword series, and while it’s not terribly unique – few medieval romance novels are – it grabbed me right from the bloody prologue and kept me reading through the not quite as bloody end.
Sir Rohan du Luc, known far and wide as the Black Sword, is a great hero, and Lady Isabel of Alethorpe is a
January 15, 2011
ok block your ears people im about to scream
"W O WWWWWWWWWWWWWWW"
where do i start .. i didnt really have high expectations for this book maybe because lately most of the higlander books are repetitive and monotonous.. same same its hard to hold my atension, and this really dissapoints me because historical romance is my fav genre .
The forst 50 pages of this book were fabtastic it set a dark scene that was so well written i actually believed i was there ..and then it just got better .. it presents a legacy a prophesy that is fortold by a witch and the adventure starts from there ..
The story line is great .. this author really no's her lingo .... the charecters never slip from their stern personas ..the author never faults in her descriptions of the sourroundings and charecters in regard to these times...
i find when i read historicals that authors tend to slip a little when it comes to wording and phrases
This book is so descriptive and so well written that i think it was one of the best historical of this time i have ever read .. adn the jesting is hillarious
There are 5 black nights that serve england they are mean sons of bitches ruthless preditors
they have been bred to kill and slaughter on the battle field
the hero is flawless.. he is stong .. honourable .. fiesty .. demanding and ruthless and so are his partners in crime ...
But it is the well bred lady isobel that tames his heart.. isobel is a wonderful heroine i loved her from the begining so strong willed with a heart of gold
lady isobel is constantley denying her passion for the dark night ..
the hero and the heroine are constatnly beating heads.. the hero wants lady isobel so bad he will stop at nothing to claim her.. but lady isobel is a well bred lady .. she has the blood of three kings flowing through her veins she will not give up her virtue to a bastard knight nor will she bare his bastard child ...
the more isobel fights her passion the more she is drawn to him ...
She may be able to deny hersef but as the prophesy fortells she can not deny him......
this is a great adventure and love story .. is seriously brilliant ..
"W O WWWWWWWWWWWWWWW"
where do i start .. i didnt really have high expectations for this book maybe because lately most of the higlander books are repetitive and monotonous.. same same its hard to hold my atension, and this really dissapoints me because historical romance is my fav genre .
The forst 50 pages of this book were fabtastic it set a dark scene that was so well written i actually believed i was there ..and then it just got better .. it presents a legacy a prophesy that is fortold by a witch and the adventure starts from there ..
The story line is great .. this author really no's her lingo .... the charecters never slip from their stern personas ..the author never faults in her descriptions of the sourroundings and charecters in regard to these times...
i find when i read historicals that authors tend to slip a little when it comes to wording and phrases
This book is so descriptive and so well written that i think it was one of the best historical of this time i have ever read .. adn the jesting is hillarious
There are 5 black nights that serve england they are mean sons of bitches ruthless preditors
they have been bred to kill and slaughter on the battle field
the hero is flawless.. he is stong .. honourable .. fiesty .. demanding and ruthless and so are his partners in crime ...
But it is the well bred lady isobel that tames his heart.. isobel is a wonderful heroine i loved her from the begining so strong willed with a heart of gold
lady isobel is constantley denying her passion for the dark night ..
the hero and the heroine are constatnly beating heads.. the hero wants lady isobel so bad he will stop at nothing to claim her.. but lady isobel is a well bred lady .. she has the blood of three kings flowing through her veins she will not give up her virtue to a bastard knight nor will she bare his bastard child ...
the more isobel fights her passion the more she is drawn to him ...
She may be able to deny hersef but as the prophesy fortells she can not deny him......
this is a great adventure and love story .. is seriously brilliant ..
October 22, 2016
De verdad qué rabia que no se puedan poner medias estrellas, porque quería darle 4'5. Ha sido uno de los mejores libros de romántica medieval que he leído. Me ha tenido enganchada a la trama durante toda la novela, con personajes muy carismáticos y atrayentes. Muy novedosa no es la historia, porque peca de cliché, pero es que a ver qué van a inventar en un libro medieval que se sitúa en la conquista de Inglaterra por parte de Guillermo el Conquistador.
El protagonista, Rohan, es el bastardo de un noble normando. Él y todos sus guerreros lo son, y tras padecer un infierno en una cárcel musulmana en la Península Ibérica, todos son marcados con el legado de la Espada de Sangre y malditos. Años después, Guillermo ha conquistado Inglaterra y Rohan es uno de sus capitanes en misión de aplastar a los sajones que no se han sometido a obedecer al nuevo rey. Será en el castillo de Rossmoor cuando Rohan encontrará la horma de su zapato: Isabel. Ésta es la hija del señor del castillo, en ausencia de éste y su hermano, ella es la señora del castillo y su deber es velar por su gente y su salvaguarda. Es una mujer aguerrida y con una entereza poco común, inteligente y adelantada a su época, y no duda en ningún momento en enfrentarse al nuevo invasor. Pero lo que empieza con pullas dialécticas y un odio más que evidente, pronto se convertirá en admiración y amor.
Sin duda, éste es un libro de personajes, la historia me ha gustado, pero creo que si no hubiese sido por la personalidad y carácter de los personajes, tan bien elaborado cada uno, creo que habría perdido mucho. Lo que le ha hecho ganar puntos son sin duda Rohan e Isabel. Isabel es sobre todo quien más me ha gustado, he encontrado pocas chicas en romántica que me caigan tan bien, en todo momento sabe lo que quiere, es inteligente y racional, no se deja llevar por pasiones ni majaderías, pero lo mejor es cómo se enfrenta a Rohan. A éste gigantón en más de una escena daban ganas de darle de cachetes, es un bruto, mandón, posesivo y machista, sí, es todo lo que era un hombre de su época, pero es justo y honorable, y aplaudo que no perdiera los nervios al enfrentarse a Isabel en ningún momento, temía que llegara una escena donde llegara a pegarla, o peor, violarla (odio las novelas donde ocurren éstas cosas), pero por suerte no ha ocurrido nada de eso. Simplemente son dos personajes que chocan continuamente y ella está decidida a odiarle, pues jamás se someterá al enemigo.
Pocas sorpresas depara el libro salvo el romance de sus protagonistas, aunque tiene todos los ingredientes típicos de las novelas medievales, invasiones, duelos, saqueos, ataques de enemigos, y siempre: alguien dispuesto a separar a los protagonistas. Todos estos ingredientes están aderezados con una prosa magistral y muy bien cuidada. Realmente me ha gustado cómo escribe Karin Tabke y su labor de investigación, está muy cuidada, salvo un par de detalles que me han chirriado: los protagonistas son demasiados limpios, o él o ella, se tiran medio libro bañándose o limpiándose, esto es totalmente atípico en una novela de ésta época, como lo es que aparezca Rohan secándose con una toalla de algodón (cuando tengo entendido que éste venía de América, y estamos en 1066...). Por lo demás y salvo algunas erratas (error de imprenta de la editorial), el libro es prácticamente perfecto.
Recomiendo el libro a quienes les guste el romance medieval y no teman a los protagonistas brutos, yo los prefiero algo más blandos, gigantoñoños que se derriten ante su chica, pero es un gusto personal.
El protagonista, Rohan, es el bastardo de un noble normando. Él y todos sus guerreros lo son, y tras padecer un infierno en una cárcel musulmana en la Península Ibérica, todos son marcados con el legado de la Espada de Sangre y malditos. Años después, Guillermo ha conquistado Inglaterra y Rohan es uno de sus capitanes en misión de aplastar a los sajones que no se han sometido a obedecer al nuevo rey. Será en el castillo de Rossmoor cuando Rohan encontrará la horma de su zapato: Isabel. Ésta es la hija del señor del castillo, en ausencia de éste y su hermano, ella es la señora del castillo y su deber es velar por su gente y su salvaguarda. Es una mujer aguerrida y con una entereza poco común, inteligente y adelantada a su época, y no duda en ningún momento en enfrentarse al nuevo invasor. Pero lo que empieza con pullas dialécticas y un odio más que evidente, pronto se convertirá en admiración y amor.
Sin duda, éste es un libro de personajes, la historia me ha gustado, pero creo que si no hubiese sido por la personalidad y carácter de los personajes, tan bien elaborado cada uno, creo que habría perdido mucho. Lo que le ha hecho ganar puntos son sin duda Rohan e Isabel. Isabel es sobre todo quien más me ha gustado, he encontrado pocas chicas en romántica que me caigan tan bien, en todo momento sabe lo que quiere, es inteligente y racional, no se deja llevar por pasiones ni majaderías, pero lo mejor es cómo se enfrenta a Rohan. A éste gigantón en más de una escena daban ganas de darle de cachetes, es un bruto, mandón, posesivo y machista, sí, es todo lo que era un hombre de su época, pero es justo y honorable, y aplaudo que no perdiera los nervios al enfrentarse a Isabel en ningún momento, temía que llegara una escena donde llegara a pegarla, o peor, violarla (odio las novelas donde ocurren éstas cosas), pero por suerte no ha ocurrido nada de eso. Simplemente son dos personajes que chocan continuamente y ella está decidida a odiarle, pues jamás se someterá al enemigo.
Pocas sorpresas depara el libro salvo el romance de sus protagonistas, aunque tiene todos los ingredientes típicos de las novelas medievales, invasiones, duelos, saqueos, ataques de enemigos, y siempre: alguien dispuesto a separar a los protagonistas. Todos estos ingredientes están aderezados con una prosa magistral y muy bien cuidada. Realmente me ha gustado cómo escribe Karin Tabke y su labor de investigación, está muy cuidada, salvo un par de detalles que me han chirriado: los protagonistas son demasiados limpios, o él o ella, se tiran medio libro bañándose o limpiándose, esto es totalmente atípico en una novela de ésta época, como lo es que aparezca Rohan secándose con una toalla de algodón (cuando tengo entendido que éste venía de América, y estamos en 1066...). Por lo demás y salvo algunas erratas (error de imprenta de la editorial), el libro es prácticamente perfecto.
Recomiendo el libro a quienes les guste el romance medieval y no teman a los protagonistas brutos, yo los prefiero algo más blandos, gigantoñoños que se derriten ante su chica, pero es un gusto personal.
February 2, 2011
Dark Knight, Rohan du Luc, and his 7 fellow knights, were saved from torture and a brutal death by a witch who bound the eight men by blood and foretold of their prophesy and released them to fulfill their legacy; and so became the Blood Swords.
Fierce, ruthless and hardened, the Blood Swords will stop at nothing to claim what is theirs and Rohan has claimed Isabel and her castle as his, but Isabel won’t just hand over the keys to her castle, nor will she submit her virtue to him. Isabel is strong and feisty and can be just as fierce as Rohan, never letting him run over her or letting him get the best of her. She is determined to keep her castle and her virtue, and he is just as determined to take both! What ensues is a page-turning tug of war and I loved every minute of it!
In the first part of the book, you will more than likely NOT like the hero, Rohan. He is a jerk of the first class and it will take some time to warm to him.. but fear not, you will grow to love him just as Isabel does! I had a very clear picture of Rohan in my mind whilst reading this.. have you ever watched the BBC miniseries of Robin Hood? Well, Richard Armitage plays Guy of Gisborne and is exactly the way I picture Rohan..
Fierce, ruthless and hardened, the Blood Swords will stop at nothing to claim what is theirs and Rohan has claimed Isabel and her castle as his, but Isabel won’t just hand over the keys to her castle, nor will she submit her virtue to him. Isabel is strong and feisty and can be just as fierce as Rohan, never letting him run over her or letting him get the best of her. She is determined to keep her castle and her virtue, and he is just as determined to take both! What ensues is a page-turning tug of war and I loved every minute of it!
In the first part of the book, you will more than likely NOT like the hero, Rohan. He is a jerk of the first class and it will take some time to warm to him.. but fear not, you will grow to love him just as Isabel does! I had a very clear picture of Rohan in my mind whilst reading this.. have you ever watched the BBC miniseries of Robin Hood? Well, Richard Armitage plays Guy of Gisborne and is exactly the way I picture Rohan..
May 24, 2021
This had so much potential. The first half is really great and the ending is meh. I thought I had a real bodice ripper on my hands for awhile there. Oh well it was better than most. At first I couldn't put it down. There were sparks of talent here. I would read the author again.
September 26, 2009
I reviewed this on Amazon last year:
I've been looking for a new good medieval and Karin Tabke's first effort hits the mark. I got it Friday evening after a long week's work and stayed up until 2am to finish it, barely pausing to eat and breathe. This was an intense, exhausting story. The tension and the violence are quite draining to read.
The plot is good, although hardly original. Norman conqueror/Saxon maiden has been done many times before. The story takes place in the weeks between Hastings and William's coronation. Armed groups infest the country, killing and terrorizing. Only a ruthless hero can impose order and hunt down the evildoers. Rohan is ruthless. No fluffy, modern-man-disguised-in-armor here. His dealings with everyone, including the heroine are very realistic for the time. Some might find them overly so. He doesn't hesitate to demand Isabel's obedience and body, in public. (Note: no abuse or rape of the heroine occurs).
Isabel is a determined heroine with a strong sense of duty to her people. She behaves intelligently for the most part. Note to author: 2 score means 40 not 20, I'm sure you did not mean for her to be 40 yrs old! The romance is strong, though it takes an awfully long time for them to admit they love each other. The sex scenes are few - they don't get going til around page 200 and the heroine doesn't lose her virginity til page 300. However the sexual tension remains high throughout, because Rohan is determined that Isabel will honor their bargain, and Isabel is equally determined not to risk pregnancy and being left with an illegitimate child. I didn't quite understand why Rohan couldn't offer her marriage earlier to resolve this impasse.
The dialog and descriptions are good and not obviously anachronistic. The writing is good. The secondary characters are good. So why not 5 stars? I found the violence and brutality excessive. Now I'm not one to demand a sanitized, prettified version of the Middle Ages with shiny armor and nice guys. But when you find yourself reading about the hero lopping someone's arms off, being branded with hot iron, other folks getting eyes gouged out and heads on pikes, you know you're not in Kansas anymore. It all got to be too much, and much as I like this book, I'm not sure I'll read it again. I doubt I will be buying the next in the series either, unless the gore is toned down considerably. I appreciate realism but I don't want nightmares when I read a romance. So 4 stars it is.
I've been looking for a new good medieval and Karin Tabke's first effort hits the mark. I got it Friday evening after a long week's work and stayed up until 2am to finish it, barely pausing to eat and breathe. This was an intense, exhausting story. The tension and the violence are quite draining to read.
The plot is good, although hardly original. Norman conqueror/Saxon maiden has been done many times before. The story takes place in the weeks between Hastings and William's coronation. Armed groups infest the country, killing and terrorizing. Only a ruthless hero can impose order and hunt down the evildoers. Rohan is ruthless. No fluffy, modern-man-disguised-in-armor here. His dealings with everyone, including the heroine are very realistic for the time. Some might find them overly so. He doesn't hesitate to demand Isabel's obedience and body, in public. (Note: no abuse or rape of the heroine occurs).
Isabel is a determined heroine with a strong sense of duty to her people. She behaves intelligently for the most part. Note to author: 2 score means 40 not 20, I'm sure you did not mean for her to be 40 yrs old! The romance is strong, though it takes an awfully long time for them to admit they love each other. The sex scenes are few - they don't get going til around page 200 and the heroine doesn't lose her virginity til page 300. However the sexual tension remains high throughout, because Rohan is determined that Isabel will honor their bargain, and Isabel is equally determined not to risk pregnancy and being left with an illegitimate child. I didn't quite understand why Rohan couldn't offer her marriage earlier to resolve this impasse.
The dialog and descriptions are good and not obviously anachronistic. The writing is good. The secondary characters are good. So why not 5 stars? I found the violence and brutality excessive. Now I'm not one to demand a sanitized, prettified version of the Middle Ages with shiny armor and nice guys. But when you find yourself reading about the hero lopping someone's arms off, being branded with hot iron, other folks getting eyes gouged out and heads on pikes, you know you're not in Kansas anymore. It all got to be too much, and much as I like this book, I'm not sure I'll read it again. I doubt I will be buying the next in the series either, unless the gore is toned down considerably. I appreciate realism but I don't want nightmares when I read a romance. So 4 stars it is.
November 7, 2014
I don't even know where to begin with this. I'm giving it two stars not because it isn't a good story. It is. It is exciting, action-packed and emotionally satisfying. The heroine is likable and strong-willed and the hero is totally alpha. It is a story that grabs you from the start. The reason I am giving this book two stars is because it is very similar to a book I read as a teenager called The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss,
. At first, I tried to decide whether it felt familiar because both books are a medieval romance. They both take place when William the Conquerer invades England in 1066. Since I don't read that many medieval romances, maybe it is a common timeframe. But then the similarities continue: 1. both heroes are bastards 2. both heroes have a half-brother who hates him 3. both heroines are healers 4. both have a resentful Saxon maiden character, I could go on. Not only are the characters alike in too many ways, but there are similar events and small details - a duel, a character with a severe leg injury that requires a searing and a poultice and who recovers in front of the hearth, a nervous maidservant. The dramatic conflict facing the couple is also the same. I could go on, but I don't want to give away too many spoilers.
If I had never read the first book, I would have thoroughly enjoyed this one. As it is, I battled my conscious throughout as I continued to find on-going similarities and that completely took away from my experience.
. At first, I tried to decide whether it felt familiar because both books are a medieval romance. They both take place when William the Conquerer invades England in 1066. Since I don't read that many medieval romances, maybe it is a common timeframe. But then the similarities continue: 1. both heroes are bastards 2. both heroes have a half-brother who hates him 3. both heroines are healers 4. both have a resentful Saxon maiden character, I could go on. Not only are the characters alike in too many ways, but there are similar events and small details - a duel, a character with a severe leg injury that requires a searing and a poultice and who recovers in front of the hearth, a nervous maidservant. The dramatic conflict facing the couple is also the same. I could go on, but I don't want to give away too many spoilers. If I had never read the first book, I would have thoroughly enjoyed this one. As it is, I battled my conscious throughout as I continued to find on-going similarities and that completely took away from my experience.
April 7, 2024
Reread-20224
I downgraded this to a 4 star.
The heroine irritated me somewhat. She was stubborn and came across like a shrew at times.
But enjoyed the overall story line.
I downgraded this to a 4 star.
The heroine irritated me somewhat. She was stubborn and came across like a shrew at times.
But enjoyed the overall story line.
April 30, 2008
I am going to be really honest here. I really didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. As a general rule, I don’t read many Medieval Romances. It’s not that I don’t like them, because I do…I just don’t seek them out. Well, after reading Master of Surrender by Karin Tabke, I am going to give the genre some serious reconsideration from now on!
Our story starts in the year 1059 at Jubb Prison, Viseu, Iberia. Rohan de Luc, the bastard son of a Norse nobleman, and his men are imprisoned and are close to death. They are shackled, starved and tortured. Just as they are about to be executed, they are saved by a mysterious old woman. Before the weary men can thank her, she cuts them all on the chin, and claims that the blood on the dagger unites them. She calls them the Knights of the Blood Sword, and states that their seed with only be fertile with the women destined to bear them sons. But, it comes with the high price of spilling the blood of her kin.
Seven years later, the Saxon and the Norse are fighting to rule England. Rowan and his men known as the Black Swords have earned the reputation of being fierce, and ruthless.
Saxon, Lady Isabel of Alethorpe can’t believe her eyes when Rowan comes to her father’s estate and claims it under the name of William the Conqueror. Her father and brother are away at war against the Norse, so she is responsible for the lands and the villages that surround it. When she sees that she can not stop Rowan and his men from taking over the estate, she barters and fights to keep everyone she is responsible for safe…even if that means surrendering her body to the handsome Norman.
I really liked the characters in this book. Isabel and Rowan are both smart, strong and loyal. First to their country, then to one another. Rohan hasn’t had love in his life. Having a mother who didn’t care about him, and being hated because of his lineage, he has only had his men to rely on.
The relationship between Rowan and Isabel was truly a beautiful thing to read. Both characters are noble and stubborn. When they first meet they are attracted to one another despite the fact that they are enemies. Their relationship gradually builds from mistrust and anger, to respect and friendship and eventually love. Their chemistry was sizzling throughout the novel and when they finally admitted their love for one another it was wonderful to behold.
But, there are secrets between them and a fierce war that can tear the young lovers apart. Will their love conquer all, or will it be lost forever?
October 27, 2008
A mediocre and painfully predictable cookie cutter medieval romance.
It starts out well but then you know the road that this book is going to take very fast. You’ve got the annoying villain who keeps making a come-back, the hero who should’ve told the heroine the truth from the get-go and you can’t for the life of you figure out why he kept the info a secret in the first place, and of course there’s even the TSTL heroine moment where you’re saying “gawwwd don’t tell me she’s going to open the door with the big bad monster behind it is she (!)” :-/
The writing doesn’t always come off as “medieval” like some better romances do. There is some good steam in the novel but that’s about it and that’s pretty much what saves it from a 2 star rating because it was original given the genre. It’s the kind of book you feel like you’ve read 100 times already only better versions. About halfway through I found myself turning the pages just so I could get to the end because I just didn’t care about the characters and their rampant stupidity anymore.
A ho hum, sigh, how many pages to the end, blah read.
It starts out well but then you know the road that this book is going to take very fast. You’ve got the annoying villain who keeps making a come-back, the hero who should’ve told the heroine the truth from the get-go and you can’t for the life of you figure out why he kept the info a secret in the first place, and of course there’s even the TSTL heroine moment where you’re saying “gawwwd don’t tell me she’s going to open the door with the big bad monster behind it is she (!)” :-/
The writing doesn’t always come off as “medieval” like some better romances do. There is some good steam in the novel but that’s about it and that’s pretty much what saves it from a 2 star rating because it was original given the genre. It’s the kind of book you feel like you’ve read 100 times already only better versions. About halfway through I found myself turning the pages just so I could get to the end because I just didn’t care about the characters and their rampant stupidity anymore.
A ho hum, sigh, how many pages to the end, blah read.
December 30, 2014
Master of Surrender
4 Stars
The year is 1066 and William the Conqueror has invaded England with his legions of knights and mercenaries. Rohan du Luc, a Norman knight and leader of the Blood Swords, William’s elite guard, takes possession of Rossmoor, a Saxon stronghold, and its spirited lady, Isabel Alethorpe. As the conflict between the Saxons and the Normans rages outside the walls of the keep, so does the battle of wills between a woman who would retain her virtue at all costs and a man determined to claim her body, heart and soul.
Although written in 2008, this book shares many similarities with the bodice rippers of the 1980s. Rohan du Luc is a typical medieval hero - autocratic, arrogant and domineering. He sincerely believes that the heroine is his to do with as he wishes and is not shy of expressing his desires quite forcefully.
The heroine, however, is cut from a different cloth. Isabel is feisty and fearless with an exceedingly sharp tongue and more than her share of backbone. Her clashes with Rohan, in and outside the bedchamber, constitute the lions share of the plot and are the best aspect of the book. Although they are hardly equals, Isabel holds her own against the overbearing Rohan and even manages to get the upper hand on occasion. Their romance is intense and steamy, and Tabke certainly knows how to turn on the sexual tension.
The subplot involving Rohan’s diabolical half-brother and his nefarious plans is much weaker with a stereotypical villain and a rather anti-climactic ending. Moreover, there are several unexplained elements that detract from the whole. For instance, how exactly did Rohan and the other Blood Swords escape from the dungeons in Jubb? Moreover, who was Eleanor and why was Henri so furious at Rohan’s perceived betrayal?
The secondary cast is mainly comprised of Rohan’s brothers-in-arms. Each is unique in his own way and they are interesting as a group despite their paucity of page time.
All in all, Master of Surrender is not for readers who prefer their romance civilized and politically correct. The story it true to the time period and as such reflects the violence, brutality and misogynism of 11th century England. Nevertheless, the writing is good, the romance is hot and the action exciting. So give it a try and you might be pleasantly surprised as I was.
4 Stars
The year is 1066 and William the Conqueror has invaded England with his legions of knights and mercenaries. Rohan du Luc, a Norman knight and leader of the Blood Swords, William’s elite guard, takes possession of Rossmoor, a Saxon stronghold, and its spirited lady, Isabel Alethorpe. As the conflict between the Saxons and the Normans rages outside the walls of the keep, so does the battle of wills between a woman who would retain her virtue at all costs and a man determined to claim her body, heart and soul.
Although written in 2008, this book shares many similarities with the bodice rippers of the 1980s. Rohan du Luc is a typical medieval hero - autocratic, arrogant and domineering. He sincerely believes that the heroine is his to do with as he wishes and is not shy of expressing his desires quite forcefully.
The heroine, however, is cut from a different cloth. Isabel is feisty and fearless with an exceedingly sharp tongue and more than her share of backbone. Her clashes with Rohan, in and outside the bedchamber, constitute the lions share of the plot and are the best aspect of the book. Although they are hardly equals, Isabel holds her own against the overbearing Rohan and even manages to get the upper hand on occasion. Their romance is intense and steamy, and Tabke certainly knows how to turn on the sexual tension.
The subplot involving Rohan’s diabolical half-brother and his nefarious plans is much weaker with a stereotypical villain and a rather anti-climactic ending. Moreover, there are several unexplained elements that detract from the whole. For instance, how exactly did Rohan and the other Blood Swords escape from the dungeons in Jubb? Moreover, who was Eleanor and why was Henri so furious at Rohan’s perceived betrayal?
The secondary cast is mainly comprised of Rohan’s brothers-in-arms. Each is unique in his own way and they are interesting as a group despite their paucity of page time.
All in all, Master of Surrender is not for readers who prefer their romance civilized and politically correct. The story it true to the time period and as such reflects the violence, brutality and misogynism of 11th century England. Nevertheless, the writing is good, the romance is hot and the action exciting. So give it a try and you might be pleasantly surprised as I was.
August 4, 2011
The year is 1059.
Jubb Prison, Viseu, Iberia
Rohan du Luc, a mercenary knight, and the bastard son of a nobleman, lay chained in a filthy cell, being tortured along with his band of seven other knights. Until a witch defies her brother to help the eight mercenary knights escape, at which time she sets in motion the prophecy of the Blood Sword, binding the eight knights together. As part of the prophecy, only a specific woman can bear each of them sons, and with it comes a price.
1066, Six years later. There is a war going on, over the rightful heir to the throne in England. William Duke of Normandy, (William the Conqueror) and his army of Normans invade England to oust King Harold. These armies are taking over lands and people in the name of William, and coercing the people to swear allegiance to William.
The Blood Sword knights who are the personal guard to William, ride into Rossmore estate in Alethorpe, England, Lady Isabel's father and brother are away at battle, so she is the one who is left to see over the land and her people in their absence. Despite putting the castle on lock down when the knights arrive and all the precautions that were made, the knights still overtake the castle.
Rohan de Luc heads up this band of Blood Sword knights, and he is mean, chauvinistic, and dangerous. And when his half brother, born of noble blood shows up on the scene, the plot thickens. (There’s plenty of plot in this book)
BE WARNED:
This is darker story, it is violent, and bloody. It is emotional, and just an incredibly fabulous story that gripped me at the prologue and didn’t let go until the end. The characters were outstanding, Rohan, for all his surliness discovers some things about himself, and truly turns out to be Isabel's hero. Isabel is just the kind of heroine I love. She is strong willed, compassionate, and stubborn as hell. I like that she never bowed to Rohan, she made him earn everything, and he became a better man for it. I loved that all these ruthless knights for all their faults, aren't the barbarians that they first come across as, and I loved watching the armor come off.
There was lots of steamy sexual tension between Isabel and Rohan, but there is definitely a progression to this, as Isabel hates him in the beginning, as did I. It was different, not just loving the hero right away.
This was my first read from this author, and definitely won’t be my last! I can hardly wait to get to the next book. This book was sooo good, I need to thank my friend Annie for pointing my in the direction of this author.
September 11, 2020
The beginning of this story starts out pretty badass. A bunch of men imprisoned in a pit with thousands of flesh eating bats. They're tortured until some mysterious woman saves them (after giving them all scars with a knife & doing some blood oath).
And for me, that was the best part of the entire story. *sigh. Part of it stems from me not being in the right headspace for the type of book this is...which is basically a trashy bodice ripper. I say 'trashy' endearingly though. I found this author's writing style engaging, but there was so much emphasis on this couple's lust for each other I started to lose interest. I can't believe I just said that. It almost sounds...prudish of me? I just finished a historical romance that had literally no descriptive sex scenes and it was one of the most incredible love stories I've read (My Lord Monleigh). I probably sound like a grandma, but I was craving the focus to be on romance not the lust. This always happens when I discover a book that becomes an all time favorite. No book I read after it comes close to being as good and I end up unsatisfied. I literally took breaks from this book to reread my favorite scenes from My Lord Monleigh. I might try a few more historical romances, but usually to beat a book hangover like this I just have to switch genres completely.
So, back to this book. The plot, while coherent, was not as epic in scale as I'd hoped (especially for a knight such as Rohan. He deserved more adventure than what he got in this book). The plot was rather straightforward & predictable. The villain was lame & boring. I might have rated this 3.75 stars and rounded up to 4 stars but the boring villain definitely kept this at 3 stars for me.
The author did a good job making this group of knights brutish, sexist, violent, yet with a thread of camaraderie & a chilverous streak. Ladies who like a 'brotherhood' of men type of stories who all find their women will probably like this series. I'm moving on.
And for me, that was the best part of the entire story. *sigh. Part of it stems from me not being in the right headspace for the type of book this is...which is basically a trashy bodice ripper. I say 'trashy' endearingly though. I found this author's writing style engaging, but there was so much emphasis on this couple's lust for each other I started to lose interest. I can't believe I just said that. It almost sounds...prudish of me? I just finished a historical romance that had literally no descriptive sex scenes and it was one of the most incredible love stories I've read (My Lord Monleigh). I probably sound like a grandma, but I was craving the focus to be on romance not the lust. This always happens when I discover a book that becomes an all time favorite. No book I read after it comes close to being as good and I end up unsatisfied. I literally took breaks from this book to reread my favorite scenes from My Lord Monleigh. I might try a few more historical romances, but usually to beat a book hangover like this I just have to switch genres completely.
So, back to this book. The plot, while coherent, was not as epic in scale as I'd hoped (especially for a knight such as Rohan. He deserved more adventure than what he got in this book). The plot was rather straightforward & predictable. The villain was lame & boring. I might have rated this 3.75 stars and rounded up to 4 stars but the boring villain definitely kept this at 3 stars for me.
The author did a good job making this group of knights brutish, sexist, violent, yet with a thread of camaraderie & a chilverous streak. Ladies who like a 'brotherhood' of men type of stories who all find their women will probably like this series. I'm moving on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2009
This is a very good start to The Blood Sword Legacy series. Book is well written and really draws out the characters (both male and female leads) as well as the surroundings. It makes you feel like you're right there in medieval times. Totally amazing how authors do that when we haven't a clue what it was really like back then. Just started reading book two and loving it. There are eight brothers in the Blood Swords can't wait for the next installment.
April 5, 2020
No words can't describe how much I loved Blood Swords Legacy Book 1. This is the 1st book I read from Karin Tabke and I was impressed with her writing.
Read
July 16, 2022Started out great then was so boring I
Put it on the DNF list.
Put it on the DNF list.
July 15, 2012
Well, my experiment (to read a book I would never ordinarily pick up) was both a success (I read it) and a failure (I remembered exactly why this is the kind of book I would never pick up!).
In the interest of fairness to the book, I'm going to leave my biggest issue with it to the end, recognizing that my biggest issue might just be a matter of taste, and other people might like that sort of thing. I'm first going to look at what I thought of the book apart from that issue.
I thought it was well-written, in that the author clearly understands and can use grammar, and may be familiar with Strunk and White. I probably wouldn't have gotten through this book at all if not for that. So that's a mark in it's favour.
The book opens with our "hero" (heavy air-quotes around that, since he's basically a huge asshole, pardon my language) in a prison filled with flesh-eating bats, basically waiting to die. That's a pretty awesome set-up. Obviously we know he must escape, since the book wouldn't exist without him, but how and why and what happens are pretty interesting questions to me at this point.
Unfortunately none of them get answered. There's a torturer, and then a girl who appears in the prison (somehow, we don't know why or who she is) and then she knifes the torturer and makes a prophesy about the hero and his boys, and then... who knows. The chapter ends and the next scene is of our heroine, several years after the hero escaped. And we never find out how he escaped. We learn who the girl is and what happens to her (she gets eaten by the bats) but never why she risked and lost her life for them. Not to mention that the hero and his boys had wounds from torture and what, they just walked out of this death prison? I doubt it! There's a huge opportunity here to tell an awesome story, but the author sets it up and then fades to black, abandons it for (IMO) a much less interesting story. I was disappointed right from the beginning.
The second opportunity for a great story comes in the second chapter, when the 'hero' and his boys and storming our heroine's castle, intent on it's capture. It's here that we're told our heroine is super feisty and vivacious. She refuses them entry, they break down the door, she submits unwillingly, blah blah. If she was REALLY feisty, the next part would have hear either trying to murder the 'hero' (she has ample opportunity since he makes her share his bed, and yes that sound you hear IS my eyes rolling) or escaping and bringing some sort of freedom fighters or something to take back her castle. But no, the whole time we're being told she's feisty really what she's doing is bitching about being captured and not doing anything about it, except for minor displays of defiance.
So if I had written this book, the whole dungeon escape would have gotten airtime or I wouldn't have started in the dungeon, and the heroine would have been feisty enough to actually do something about her lot, instead of just acting like a petty three year old who can't get what she wants.
The characterization and character development is pretty bad... like I said, we're told the heroine's feisty but she doesn't do anything to prove it. And the 'hero' is a total asshole. Obviously they fall in love, since this is a romance, but we're more told that now they are in love instead of shown. I can maybe believe him falling for her. But he treats her like shit the whole book and is a complete ass, and his only redeeming quality appears to be his sexual prowess, which brings me to the really big reason this book is not for me, and that is...
Completely unrelenting sexism. This book might be fantasy fulfilment to some, but to me it reads like Stockholm syndrome and sets feminism back several millennia. The hero is a TOTAL ASS. And the heroine falls for him for no other reason than his dominance, rape (I'm sorry, just because there was no penis-in-vagina action doesn't make the sexual violation of another human being ok), and apparently giant member (oh yes, her mouth even falls open in shock when she sees it, and I'm not kidding!) somehow become attractive to her. Any book that contains the phrase "what she thought was an intimate evening despite his near rape of her" is not a book for me.
I debated with giving this one 2 stars just because that kind of thing (submission, etc) is appealing to some people, just not to me. But I've decided that I just can't really support rape fantasy in any form. I am all for people pleasing themselves as they wish, but I just think it's wrong to want someone to treat you like garbage. So I'm giving it one star and steering clear of this subset of the genre. Are all historical romances like this? I'd really love to read one that wasn't...
In the interest of fairness to the book, I'm going to leave my biggest issue with it to the end, recognizing that my biggest issue might just be a matter of taste, and other people might like that sort of thing. I'm first going to look at what I thought of the book apart from that issue.
I thought it was well-written, in that the author clearly understands and can use grammar, and may be familiar with Strunk and White. I probably wouldn't have gotten through this book at all if not for that. So that's a mark in it's favour.
The book opens with our "hero" (heavy air-quotes around that, since he's basically a huge asshole, pardon my language) in a prison filled with flesh-eating bats, basically waiting to die. That's a pretty awesome set-up. Obviously we know he must escape, since the book wouldn't exist without him, but how and why and what happens are pretty interesting questions to me at this point.
Unfortunately none of them get answered. There's a torturer, and then a girl who appears in the prison (somehow, we don't know why or who she is) and then she knifes the torturer and makes a prophesy about the hero and his boys, and then... who knows. The chapter ends and the next scene is of our heroine, several years after the hero escaped. And we never find out how he escaped. We learn who the girl is and what happens to her (she gets eaten by the bats) but never why she risked and lost her life for them. Not to mention that the hero and his boys had wounds from torture and what, they just walked out of this death prison? I doubt it! There's a huge opportunity here to tell an awesome story, but the author sets it up and then fades to black, abandons it for (IMO) a much less interesting story. I was disappointed right from the beginning.
The second opportunity for a great story comes in the second chapter, when the 'hero' and his boys and storming our heroine's castle, intent on it's capture. It's here that we're told our heroine is super feisty and vivacious. She refuses them entry, they break down the door, she submits unwillingly, blah blah. If she was REALLY feisty, the next part would have hear either trying to murder the 'hero' (she has ample opportunity since he makes her share his bed, and yes that sound you hear IS my eyes rolling) or escaping and bringing some sort of freedom fighters or something to take back her castle. But no, the whole time we're being told she's feisty really what she's doing is bitching about being captured and not doing anything about it, except for minor displays of defiance.
So if I had written this book, the whole dungeon escape would have gotten airtime or I wouldn't have started in the dungeon, and the heroine would have been feisty enough to actually do something about her lot, instead of just acting like a petty three year old who can't get what she wants.
The characterization and character development is pretty bad... like I said, we're told the heroine's feisty but she doesn't do anything to prove it. And the 'hero' is a total asshole. Obviously they fall in love, since this is a romance, but we're more told that now they are in love instead of shown. I can maybe believe him falling for her. But he treats her like shit the whole book and is a complete ass, and his only redeeming quality appears to be his sexual prowess, which brings me to the really big reason this book is not for me, and that is...
Completely unrelenting sexism. This book might be fantasy fulfilment to some, but to me it reads like Stockholm syndrome and sets feminism back several millennia. The hero is a TOTAL ASS. And the heroine falls for him for no other reason than his dominance, rape (I'm sorry, just because there was no penis-in-vagina action doesn't make the sexual violation of another human being ok), and apparently giant member (oh yes, her mouth even falls open in shock when she sees it, and I'm not kidding!) somehow become attractive to her. Any book that contains the phrase "what she thought was an intimate evening despite his near rape of her" is not a book for me.
I debated with giving this one 2 stars just because that kind of thing (submission, etc) is appealing to some people, just not to me. But I've decided that I just can't really support rape fantasy in any form. I am all for people pleasing themselves as they wish, but I just think it's wrong to want someone to treat you like garbage. So I'm giving it one star and steering clear of this subset of the genre. Are all historical romances like this? I'd really love to read one that wasn't...
September 19, 2015
Not that this book was bad. It was just very boring. A rather formualic medieval story centering around the wars between the Normans and Saxon. A formidable Norman warrior taking over the Saxon land and fair maiden of the keep. Isabel is a indignant Saxon lady who was forced to tolerate attentions from Rohan, the Norman warrior who had come to claim her home. I don't mind tried plots but I tire of Isabel and her indignation. Yeah yeah you have your pride and you will not bow to the Normans. You wait for your father and your brother and your betrothed. The Norman shall not have your maidenhead for the barbarian that he is. Blah blah blah. I was yawning when Isabel lashed out her venomous hatred toward the Normans. Woman you lost. Get over it.
August 27, 2015
As a romance reader as of 2008, I have quite a lot of reading make-up to do... Now I knew that Karin Tabke wrote some pretty awesome paranormal books, but now finding out she wrote these AWESOME Historical Romances makes me all giddy, because I am all about the historical romance...
MASTER OF SURRENDER is a wild ride from start to finish. Author Karin Tabke can write a sensual scene as easily as she writes a fight to the death. I enjoyed this book immensely and have moved happily on to the next one.
MASTER OF SURRENDER is a wild ride from start to finish. Author Karin Tabke can write a sensual scene as easily as she writes a fight to the death. I enjoyed this book immensely and have moved happily on to the next one.
April 30, 2011
I had heard good things about this series and the blurb on the back sounded interesting. Just the writing didn't grab me and the hero didn't really either. Oh well.
March 15, 2010
I Loved this book from beginning to end so much so I am going to read the next book in the series now.
May 5, 2013
I loved it! I couldn't put it down.
August 29, 2020
De nuevo una de mis temáticas favoritas, romántica medieval.
Aunque les he cogido un poco de miedo y rechazo a las sagas/trilogías, que están tan de moda, esta me sorprendió desde primera hora, a pesar de ser la típica historia de que se conocen, se enamoran, luchan por su amor y finalmente son felices para siempre juntos. Por ello, siempre bajo mi opinión, lo que enriquece este tipo de lecturas es como se desarrolla, como nos mete dentro de sus letras y nos hace estar en el mismo escenario que los protagonistas. La autora ha conseguido atrapar hasta el final, en una historia intenso y apasionada.
Decir que me encantaron los personajes principales, sobre todo Isabel, una noble sajona que se ve sola ante una invasión de sus tierras a manos de los normandos.
Aunque les he cogido un poco de miedo y rechazo a las sagas/trilogías, que están tan de moda, esta me sorprendió desde primera hora, a pesar de ser la típica historia de que se conocen, se enamoran, luchan por su amor y finalmente son felices para siempre juntos. Por ello, siempre bajo mi opinión, lo que enriquece este tipo de lecturas es como se desarrolla, como nos mete dentro de sus letras y nos hace estar en el mismo escenario que los protagonistas. La autora ha conseguido atrapar hasta el final, en una historia intenso y apasionada.
Decir que me encantaron los personajes principales, sobre todo Isabel, una noble sajona que se ve sola ante una invasión de sus tierras a manos de los normandos.
dropped
March 28, 2017a few chapters in, and there's no plot in sight. this bodice ripper has nothing i haven't read a hundred times before, but it does have shallow characters and horrible writing. can't be bothered to continue, and don't feel justified giving a rating based on the little i managed to read.
November 22, 2016
Norman Rohan du Luc awaited death in a brutal Iberian prison along with his brothers at arms, fellow mercenaries and an unknown Saracen. Punished for surviving the horrific brutality inflicted on them, the men are bound as the Brotherhood of the Blood Swords and began sharing a legacy and cutting swaths of victory across the continent.
Seven years later, having become a notorious death squad for William the Conqueror, Rohan and the Brotherhood seize Rossmoor, easily overwhelming the unskilled Saxon villagers. As part of his personal booty, Rohan lays claim to Lady Isabel of Alethorpe while the squad settles into their new home.
Humiliated and proud, Isabel tries to protect herself as well as her people from the horrors Rohan has learned to inflict on others after years as a mercenary and at the hands of the Iberian prison's torturer. Rohan brings ruthlessness, a hard hand and his inexplicable attraction to the battle of wits and wills that he has started with the fierce, spirited, warrior-like noblewoman destined to be his.
While Isabel's actions seem to contradict her words and veer from her goal, make no mistake, Rohan's not a moral and virtuous knight in the popular vernacular, he's thoroughly a blackguard with his own sense of honor and at times. For my taste, their traits and actions added to the heat between them and their presence was felt whether they were being unlikeable and/or villainous, on or off the page.
War is hell and gentle readers may have difficulty with the visceral, brutal and generally horrific treatment inflicted on and by characters the medieval time period is infamous for in this well written and detailed read. To the victor go the spoils.
Rating: 4stars
Seven years later, having become a notorious death squad for William the Conqueror, Rohan and the Brotherhood seize Rossmoor, easily overwhelming the unskilled Saxon villagers. As part of his personal booty, Rohan lays claim to Lady Isabel of Alethorpe while the squad settles into their new home.
Humiliated and proud, Isabel tries to protect herself as well as her people from the horrors Rohan has learned to inflict on others after years as a mercenary and at the hands of the Iberian prison's torturer. Rohan brings ruthlessness, a hard hand and his inexplicable attraction to the battle of wits and wills that he has started with the fierce, spirited, warrior-like noblewoman destined to be his.
While Isabel's actions seem to contradict her words and veer from her goal, make no mistake, Rohan's not a moral and virtuous knight in the popular vernacular, he's thoroughly a blackguard with his own sense of honor and at times. For my taste, their traits and actions added to the heat between them and their presence was felt whether they were being unlikeable and/or villainous, on or off the page.
War is hell and gentle readers may have difficulty with the visceral, brutal and generally horrific treatment inflicted on and by characters the medieval time period is infamous for in this well written and detailed read. To the victor go the spoils.
Rating: 4stars
July 11, 2014
So this is the beginning of a new series about a group of knights bound together by unspeakable torture.
The beginning hinted at something meatier and gritty than what I actually got when I dived in to read.
I have only recently begun to enjoy medieval novels. I find them a bit more stereotypical than the stereotypical Regencies. Again, the set up hinted at meatier characters ala Through A Dark Mist by Marsha C.
And yet, I don't know that I really liked either the hero or heroine.
On the other hand, I have liked many of Connie Mason's medieval novels. Those have been guilty pleasures. I guess I have to take points off this book because it tricked me.
First half of book:
Hero: I own your lands now and I want you. Give me your virginity.
Heroine: No way.
Middle of book:
Hero: You will burn for me.
Heroine: In your dreams.
Last half of book
Hero: I will have you yet and explore all your charms.
Heroine: I will be ruined. Save me for a husband that I don't think will ever come.
The hero BEGS and flirts and taunts his way through the whole book. How did he fall in love with this girl? Is it because she withholds? Is it because she talks back? I don't know. She finally lets him have it after all of their verbal sparring. Gee, what convinced her?
The supporting characters will eventually get their own books. The only one who interested me is Thorin. I'm sure he is probably the hero of Book 2.
The villains are not really villainous and the addition of the hero's useless brother is kind of well, useless.
Overall,it was a quick read but I really wanted more from it.
The beginning hinted at something meatier and gritty than what I actually got when I dived in to read.
I have only recently begun to enjoy medieval novels. I find them a bit more stereotypical than the stereotypical Regencies. Again, the set up hinted at meatier characters ala Through A Dark Mist by Marsha C.
And yet, I don't know that I really liked either the hero or heroine.
On the other hand, I have liked many of Connie Mason's medieval novels. Those have been guilty pleasures. I guess I have to take points off this book because it tricked me.
First half of book:
Hero: I own your lands now and I want you. Give me your virginity.
Heroine: No way.
Middle of book:
Hero: You will burn for me.
Heroine: In your dreams.
Last half of book
Hero: I will have you yet and explore all your charms.
Heroine: I will be ruined. Save me for a husband that I don't think will ever come.
The hero BEGS and flirts and taunts his way through the whole book. How did he fall in love with this girl? Is it because she withholds? Is it because she talks back? I don't know. She finally lets him have it after all of their verbal sparring. Gee, what convinced her?
The supporting characters will eventually get their own books. The only one who interested me is Thorin. I'm sure he is probably the hero of Book 2.
The villains are not really villainous and the addition of the hero's useless brother is kind of well, useless.
Overall,it was a quick read but I really wanted more from it.
September 21, 2014
The first book in the Blood Sword Legacy series by Karin Tabke. Set in Medieval England during the times of William the Conqueror. Sir Rohan du Luc, known as the Black Sword, is a knight of William the Conqueror and come to claim Alethorpe for him. Isabel of Alethorpe is a young Saxon maiden, determined to stay true to her Saxon heritage.
A bit more intense and dark than many of the Medieval romances I've read. Yet it was written in a way that kept me enthralled.
A bit more intense and dark than many of the Medieval romances I've read. Yet it was written in a way that kept me enthralled.
August 16, 2009
I wasn't sure where Karin Tabke was going to go with this series. I had read two of her other novels and enjoyed them but didn't LOVE them. This book however ... I loved loved LOVED!! It went on my keeper shelf (which doesn't happen very often) and I will definitely be getting the rest of the series.
April 17, 2012
I liked how it was not all fluff and romance. It was hard and at times brutal, like the time in was set in.
August 27, 2013
I really liked this story, even though there is much violence, because it seems consistent with the era. The characters are logical and realistic, and the plot well done.
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