A Bard's Desire

Eilan Water Trilogy #2

by Cherime MacFarlane

A tale of the twilight of the Roman Empire. Aed, a warrior and a bard has a desire. And he will fight Muirne’s father and kin if he must. Aed built a home for her but they may have to wage war to keep it. All hinges on his ability to evade his uncle and cousins, snatch Muirne and avoid her cousin, Grainne. He wounded Grainne’s pride and her father’s plans. Muirne worked hard over to winter to contain her anger and earn gold from the small flock, all she has left of her inheritance. Aed’s warning to her father and uncle, he would come for her in spring, forces them to try marrying her off before he comes. Ualan agreed to accompany the bard on a raid to take the woman from her kin. The two young men set off in a skin boat for Eire. A shipwreck changes things as does the brothers’ fears of Aed.

476 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2018

About the author

Although born in New Orleans, I am proud to call myself an Alaskan. I have lived here for 37 years, I have survived -40 degrees, hauled water, made bear bacon and live in a cabin. I used a fish wheel to catch salmon coming up the Copper River. I was my second husband's chief mechanic's helper and only roadie. I cut firewood on shares, worked as a cocktail waitress, then as a paralegal for over 26 years. I hold the #80 press card as a reporter for the Copper Valley Views newspaper which ceased publication in the 1980s. I've been writing stories since junior high. Retired now, I can devote my time to what I love.
I came to Alaska by way of Arizona and California. I experienced the building of the pipeline up close. Then my second husband and I moved to Wasilla to get warm. It hardly ever drops past -25 in South Central Alaska. I never thought I would love it so much I never want to leave. The beauty of Alaska is a draw I cannot resist. I love the people and the history. I have been captured by a place I came to under duress. Life does play some interesting tricks on one. I lost my first husband to alcohol. My second husband, the love of my life died as a result of disease. We were not apart more than 24 hours for 20 plus years . I never wanted to be anywhere but with him. He was a man to run the river with.

Reviews

[Bena Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Good
An epic Roman love story which I really enjoyed, once I warmed to the all the terms and names. It was nice that this was an epic fantasy tale - but I did get a bit lost at the beginning with all the new names.

The Bad
I found myself ignoring the dialect as at the start I was trying to decipher every word. It takes some time to get into and I would have given the story 5 stars if it the dialect didn't throw me off the pace.

The Ugly
This is desirable and not ugly in any way. I might need to go back and read book 1 as I really enjoyed it!

[T R · Rating 5 out of 5]

What starts out with titillation burning from the page—sweat soaked thighs, fingers diffing into flesh—is not what it appears to be. I’m captivated by the time I learn this was the stuff of dreams, literally. Aed’s dream. The object of his lust and affection, the love of his life, the woman he doesn’t want to live without, Murine, is who he is dreaming about. Right away I want to know about this couple, I’m invested in the passion our protagonist has for his beloved. But where is she? The answer to this question and Aed’s encounters in his quest to unite with her, against issues he has to handle with his family and opposition from her family, against family tension, is what keeps the plot moving nicely. It is passion that drives this tale and others selfish desires to keep them apart that holds the plot’s tension. Tightly written it is a fantastical adventure that doesn’t lack action. Without diving into and retelling the story and spoiling it for others, suffice it to say this author knows how to write and this is well worth the read.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is even more captivating than the first in the series as it has two lovers, Aed and Murine, desperately trying to reunite -- despite all the obstacles and doubts in their way. The bard is funny and Murine is feisty, willing to forgive, but wanting Aed to grovel first... to show him who's really the boss in the relationship.

One thing (besides the obvious of the plot, setting, characters) that I enjoyed in this story was the different portrayal of the "freedom" of women from the various nationalities mentioned. The more "heathen" and "unrefined" they were, the more the women had their rights. The Picts/Scotti were considered equals; the women from Eire may have had rights, but those could easily be taken away at the whim of men; and the Romans, who considered themselves above all others, treated their women as property. These bits of culture are skillfully woven into the story.

A fun book to read, especially if you love historical romances.

[Cindy Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aed is an honorable man determined to find his love Muirne after she is taken from him.
This author should rework the summary of the story that the potential reader sees as there is a lot more emotion and action than is written there. Both Aed and Muirne work to get back to each other, and each is thwarted along the way by unpredictable persons and events. The author does a good job showing both sides of the journey toward and away from each other. There is good characterization of both major and minor characters. I did find the dialect hard to read, but otherwise a nice, solid story.

[Suzanne Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched and completely authentic. It’s a true love story, with the young hero, Aed, desperate to rescue his heroine, Murine, from her treacherous family, and take her back to the safety of his territory. This historical tale gives a poignant description of the Scottish Highlands along with the tribes and their culture, there is even a glossary at the back to help with those Scottish terms. The dialogue cleverly weaves the local dialect with a strong Scottish brogue into a story that is easy to read in our modern times.