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The Chalice Trilogy #1
The Chalice and the Blade
In one of the most original and stunning debuts of the season, Glenna McReynolds brings historical romance readers the experience they've been waiting a novel of dark magic, stirring drama, and fierce passion that weaves a wondrous, unbreakable spell...
In a land of forbidding castles, sacred prophecies, and unholy betrayals, mystery surrounds the one woman who holds the key to an ancient legacy. She is Ceridwen, an orphan unaware of her immense power--until fate leads her from a secluded abbey into the tower of a feared sorcerer.
Dain Lavrans has no magic in himself, only the secrets of medicine he uncovered while a soldier in the Crusades. But he finally beholds true enchantment in the spell of passion innocently woven by the ethereal Ceridwen. Yet there are many who seek the maiden, all meaning to wrest her power for themselves. Now Ceridwen and Dain must struggle to escape the snares set by friend and foe alike, even as they discover a love that promises to bind them forever.
In a land of forbidding castles, sacred prophecies, and unholy betrayals, mystery surrounds the one woman who holds the key to an ancient legacy. She is Ceridwen, an orphan unaware of her immense power--until fate leads her from a secluded abbey into the tower of a feared sorcerer.
Dain Lavrans has no magic in himself, only the secrets of medicine he uncovered while a soldier in the Crusades. But he finally beholds true enchantment in the spell of passion innocently woven by the ethereal Ceridwen. Yet there are many who seek the maiden, all meaning to wrest her power for themselves. Now Ceridwen and Dain must struggle to escape the snares set by friend and foe alike, even as they discover a love that promises to bind them forever.
475 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 2, 1997
About the author
Glenna McReynolds
25 books36 followersGlenna McReynolds was born March 25, 1953, in Lewiston, ID; she studied at Colorado Mountain College. She is a writer of medieval period and contemporary books and romances. She also publishes under the pseudonym Tara Janzen . McReynolds is a member of several writers organizations in Colorado, including Colorado Romance Writers Association, Colorado Authors League, Romance Writers of America, and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Several of her books have won awards, including a RITA from the Romance Writers of America and a career achievement award from the Romantic Times in 1994.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
May 19, 2017
Despite the neverending magical woo and battle during the last third of the book I actually had fun re-reading The Chalice and the Blade after so many years - I had forgotten juuuuust enough to make this interesting again but still remembered enough to savour the bits I enjoyed when reading the book originally. There are some questionable old school romance elements that I would not accept in my reading today - nothing too terrible, just some cliches - but hey, this book was published 20 years ago and on that account it held up okay. The theme of magic was also dealt with in an interesting manner - the mixture of alchemy, slight of hand, belief and actual magic was really innovative and almost every character had some sort of magical talent in a different way - even things that we would dismiss as bullshit today were performed by the characters with conviction and that was pretty cool and definitely fit the time and place. This is also the main reason why I could not decide for the longest time if the was a historical romance with (very strong) fantasy elements (dragon, lol) or a fantasy romance, haha. As a the downside of historical "accuracy" or even traditional fantasy setting - take your pick - the language was sometimes a bit too elaborate and needlessly complex. Still, I loved the sexual tension between Ceri and Dain, their connection felt real and their motivations were also clear and made sense. Dain, you sexy beast..
Three stars in total, maybe a bit more but definitely not four, so three it is.
Three stars in total, maybe a bit more but definitely not four, so three it is.
October 5, 2013
Book bub really needs to learn the difference between fantasy and romance novel. Fantasy I am all for. Romance novel I can leave for someone else. The second half of the book was fantasy, the first half was romance novel. And the thing of it is, if less time had been spent with crappy lustylicious writing and just a teeny more time given to some deep thoughts of the mystical blah blah it could have really hit it out if the ball park. I mean the hinting to the dark yucky stuff was fine. A little more hinting and less show and tell would have been appreciated. I mean really-it's not like a fantasy reader has no imagination of their own. Hmm?
March 20, 2010
SPECTACULAR! This is a wonderful saga of the Celts and the Fey Folk. Greed for the dragon caves started the war between the sorcerer Dain, the Fey Rhuddlan and the evil Caradoc. Friends once upon a time, the maid Ceridwen is wanted by all for different reasons. I enjoyed the coyness displayed between Ceridwen and Dain. They were interested in each other but wary of giving in to the temptation. The seduction of Ceridwen is magnificent and sexy as hell. The interplay between the horribly tortured ex-crusader (Dain) and the virgin (Ceridwen) is well done and rather entertaining.
If you enjoyed The Bridei Chronicles by Juliet Marillier, then you should really like this book. Kind of the same premiss - political infighting, mages at odds with each other, ill-fated star-crossed lovers, hardships and betrayals. In other words, good stuff!
If you enjoyed The Bridei Chronicles by Juliet Marillier, then you should really like this book. Kind of the same premiss - political infighting, mages at odds with each other, ill-fated star-crossed lovers, hardships and betrayals. In other words, good stuff!
August 4, 2018
First of all, I don’t know how I missed this book in its first incarnation.
I mean, I am a dyed in the wool pagan, Mists of Avalon, wanna be Wiccan, Chronicles of Prydain, medieval Border Marches loving bitch. Straight up.
I wantto love this book so hard. It is heavy on magic, Welsh mythology, and pagan spells. AND it has smut and magical romance.
But I don’t love it that hard.
I mean, I am a dyed in the wool pagan, Mists of Avalon, wanna be Wiccan, Chronicles of Prydain, medieval Border Marches loving bitch. Straight up.
I wantto love this book so hard. It is heavy on magic, Welsh mythology, and pagan spells. AND it has smut and magical romance.
But I don’t love it that hard.
January 9, 2024
Die Geschichte erzählt von der Liebe, die sich zwischen dem Zauberer Dain und der Jungfer Ceridwen entspinnt. Beiden ist es bestimmt zu lernen das mehr Magie in ihnen steckt, als sie vermuten, als sie das Tor zur Drachenwelt öffnen sollen.
Der Anfang nimmt einen gefangen und die Liebesgeschichte verzaubert. Aber im Mittelteil zieht sich die Geschichte unnötig in die Länge,das Ende ist auch recht wirr. Man kommt nicht so recht dahinter, warum alle von Drachen reden, obwohl es doch um riesige Würmer geht. Aber da das nur der erste Teil ist, hege ich die Hoffnung auf ein durchdachtes Gesamtkonzept.
Der Anfang nimmt einen gefangen und die Liebesgeschichte verzaubert. Aber im Mittelteil zieht sich die Geschichte unnötig in die Länge,das Ende ist auch recht wirr. Man kommt nicht so recht dahinter, warum alle von Drachen reden, obwohl es doch um riesige Würmer geht. Aber da das nur der erste Teil ist, hege ich die Hoffnung auf ein durchdachtes Gesamtkonzept.
May 12, 2024
This book has me mixed up! I really loved the story and the writing. This was Romantasy before romantasy. We've got medieval castles and knights, dragons, druidic magic, enemies-to-lovers, kidnapping. I'm also a sucker for a historical prose (mayhaps?!). This book had me intrigued in a lot of great ways but I kept falling asleep while I read! I believe it was the slow pace, maybe, mixed with the relaxing and comforting writing style. Anyways, began this like Wow this could be acotar level and ended up really having to drag myself through by the end. 3.5 ⭐️
March 30, 2023
DNF. Dain casually thinking about raping the FMC...I'm out
April 4, 2011
It was such a typical love story. I didn't think the book would be mainly around the love of Dain and Ceridwen, which made me utterly disappointed. I was hoping for more wows and the romance would take the back seat but it was the other way around.
The characters also bore me and they were very sterotypical. Ceridwen had no redeeming feature and always seemed to contradict herself, Dain seemed to be a honry jerk who liked Ceridwen for no reason other than just because. THe story was interesting, but the first 100-150 pages of flirting were driving me crazy. It was sooo boring. The only character I liked were Snit (but he disappears, his fate unknown) and Morgan (who plunges to his death to nothingness) and both were just shoved aside with little thought.
The ending was rushed, and the storyline very in the background, with the tension between Ceridwen and Dain the main focus. I understand that some people like that kind of stuff, but it wasn't fun at all. I didn't like it that much. They didn't go much into detail on certain things I would have liked, and went into too much detail into things I'd rather have ignored. It was interesting, but very frustrating at the same time. Love stories are so unrealistic with characters.
Overall, the story was okay. The details were good, and the ideas and concepts were pretty fantastic, but it didn't really leave me with a "wow, that was a good read" feel. SO I give it 3 stars. Yay
Random rants:
How can someone get thrown into shivers of anticipation (horniess) from a simple touch on the hand. Seriously? If that was real, no one would touch each other. True love is soo over rated in all love stories. They make love so amplified and it bugged me (for some reason, i ended up reading 3 romance adult novels in a row. They all had this factor, and it started to piss me off)
And it REALLLY bugged me that they kept lowering their lashes and looking through it. How LONG IS THEIR LASHES. When i first read the line, I was thinking, oh interesting. And i tried it, but to no avail. It just looked like i was squinting up (maybe due to my short lashes) but when I kept hearing that line, at least once every chapter, i started to get very irritated. Seriously!?!?
The characters also bore me and they were very sterotypical. Ceridwen had no redeeming feature and always seemed to contradict herself, Dain seemed to be a honry jerk who liked Ceridwen for no reason other than just because. THe story was interesting, but the first 100-150 pages of flirting were driving me crazy. It was sooo boring. The only character I liked were Snit (but he disappears, his fate unknown) and Morgan (who plunges to his death to nothingness) and both were just shoved aside with little thought.
The ending was rushed, and the storyline very in the background, with the tension between Ceridwen and Dain the main focus. I understand that some people like that kind of stuff, but it wasn't fun at all. I didn't like it that much. They didn't go much into detail on certain things I would have liked, and went into too much detail into things I'd rather have ignored. It was interesting, but very frustrating at the same time. Love stories are so unrealistic with characters.
Overall, the story was okay. The details were good, and the ideas and concepts were pretty fantastic, but it didn't really leave me with a "wow, that was a good read" feel. SO I give it 3 stars. Yay
Random rants:
How can someone get thrown into shivers of anticipation (horniess) from a simple touch on the hand. Seriously? If that was real, no one would touch each other. True love is soo over rated in all love stories. They make love so amplified and it bugged me (for some reason, i ended up reading 3 romance adult novels in a row. They all had this factor, and it started to piss me off)
And it REALLLY bugged me that they kept lowering their lashes and looking through it. How LONG IS THEIR LASHES. When i first read the line, I was thinking, oh interesting. And i tried it, but to no avail. It just looked like i was squinting up (maybe due to my short lashes) but when I kept hearing that line, at least once every chapter, i started to get very irritated. Seriously!?!?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2013
This is a historical fiction epic novel of fantastic proportions. It covers ancient mysteries, the Quicken-Tree folk (fey), magicians, Celtic myth and legend to name but a few.
When you read a book that says it has magic in it, what do you imagine? A book filled with flair and pomp, with spell chanting and arm waving? Or do you imagine a more insidious approach, more like the blood that moves your body? You will get the second version with this book. There is flair and pomp but Dain himself says that he is performing tricks. The real magic of this book is subtler, older, less forced. There is the magic of your ancestors, of your lineage, of love, of your survival instinct.
There is a lot to take in with this book, it is an epic after all. But it is definitely worth any time and effort you may put into it. For me, it was time and no effort as I got sucked into medieval Wales and had a hard time leaving, even for sleep.
This book is incredibly well researched and the pace of it is constant throughout. The characters are all fleshed out and have their own idiosyncrasies. My heart really went out to Ceridwen as the story commenced though as she really did seem to have no luck at all, when it came to avoiding capture. But it soon became apparent that although she was easy to capture, it was less easy to actually hold onto her. She has earned her nickname of the Quicksilver Maid! One character I would have liked to have seen more of was Morgan, the Thief of Cardiff. I am hoping that he will somehow make an appearance in later books.
I loved this book. I loved the setting, the writing, the characters but most of all, I loved the fact that for the first time ever, both of my daughters' names have appeared in a book! The next two in this series are definitely on my T-B-R list. Highly recommended.
When you read a book that says it has magic in it, what do you imagine? A book filled with flair and pomp, with spell chanting and arm waving? Or do you imagine a more insidious approach, more like the blood that moves your body? You will get the second version with this book. There is flair and pomp but Dain himself says that he is performing tricks. The real magic of this book is subtler, older, less forced. There is the magic of your ancestors, of your lineage, of love, of your survival instinct.
There is a lot to take in with this book, it is an epic after all. But it is definitely worth any time and effort you may put into it. For me, it was time and no effort as I got sucked into medieval Wales and had a hard time leaving, even for sleep.
This book is incredibly well researched and the pace of it is constant throughout. The characters are all fleshed out and have their own idiosyncrasies. My heart really went out to Ceridwen as the story commenced though as she really did seem to have no luck at all, when it came to avoiding capture. But it soon became apparent that although she was easy to capture, it was less easy to actually hold onto her. She has earned her nickname of the Quicksilver Maid! One character I would have liked to have seen more of was Morgan, the Thief of Cardiff. I am hoping that he will somehow make an appearance in later books.
I loved this book. I loved the setting, the writing, the characters but most of all, I loved the fact that for the first time ever, both of my daughters' names have appeared in a book! The next two in this series are definitely on my T-B-R list. Highly recommended.
February 18, 2015
Read this book like ten years ago, reread it recently. Ugh.
I am somewhat conflicted on this book. While I do really like the plot, and especially the mythological element, I think the characters are a little shallow.
And the style of writing...is trying too hard to be old fashioned. It comes across as very forced (and thus, goes on my nerves).
Also, I don't mind reading sex scenes etc. and I think it's fine to be explicit, but somehow, in this case, they just added to an overall feeling of...I'm not sure, the book being cheap?
It's a bit like fanfiction. If it was fanfiction I'd say "please try to describe your characters in a way that makes them seem more realistic" "no one has to be mesmerizingly beautiful to be a good main character" "try to give your language a more natural feeling" "please send me the lemon, I'm in the mood to read something steamy".
Also, the story just wouldn't end :D it goes on and on, and yeah, I get it, they are in love, they keep staring at reach other, blabla, but let's talk about the mystery of Cerridwens heritage, ok? (by the way, the choice of names wasn't very creative).
I'm not sure if I will read the other books in the series. I'd like to know how the story goes on, but I'm not sure If I'm patient enough. :D
I am somewhat conflicted on this book. While I do really like the plot, and especially the mythological element, I think the characters are a little shallow.
And the style of writing...is trying too hard to be old fashioned. It comes across as very forced (and thus, goes on my nerves).
Also, I don't mind reading sex scenes etc. and I think it's fine to be explicit, but somehow, in this case, they just added to an overall feeling of...I'm not sure, the book being cheap?
It's a bit like fanfiction. If it was fanfiction I'd say "please try to describe your characters in a way that makes them seem more realistic" "no one has to be mesmerizingly beautiful to be a good main character" "try to give your language a more natural feeling" "please send me the lemon, I'm in the mood to read something steamy".
Also, the story just wouldn't end :D it goes on and on, and yeah, I get it, they are in love, they keep staring at reach other, blabla, but let's talk about the mystery of Cerridwens heritage, ok? (by the way, the choice of names wasn't very creative).
I'm not sure if I will read the other books in the series. I'd like to know how the story goes on, but I'm not sure If I'm patient enough. :D
April 4, 2013
This book...I remember trying to read it through several times but in the end putting it down because the story just didnt appeal to me.Also there were some very unpleasant things in it like a mentally challenged girl kept leashed by the villains throne...for certain evil purposes :(((( I cant even..ugh
And of course the female protagonist is a regular Mary Sue. So thank you but no. Ive given you too many chances already.
And of course the female protagonist is a regular Mary Sue. So thank you but no. Ive given you too many chances already.
November 11, 2019
I tend to gravitate to Scots history and I think this is the first book to make me realize how ignorant I am of the Welsh. I'm not a great fan of romance novels but this was married to enough magick and actual history that it made for a good read.
November 3, 2022
This book is a quick read but doesn't have much else going for it my opinion. The story is predictable and the characters are too for the most part. The prosy is overly ornate (every time the author starts a sentence with 'Twas - at least twice per page - I want finish with "...the night before Christmas"). I was also disappointed by McReynold's idea of "good", which seems to be simple naivete and/or chastity. As a result her heroine is insipid. The most interesting character is a desert slave trader named Jalal, who exists only in the memory of one of the characters, and manages to be detestable and yet complex.
McReynolds plays with a number of major deep philosophical questions (about God, desire, human nature), and yet doesn't seem to have anything interesting to say about any of them.
McReynolds plays with a number of major deep philosophical questions (about God, desire, human nature), and yet doesn't seem to have anything interesting to say about any of them.
October 10, 2018
Ich liebe dieses Buch und habe es sicher schon vier- oder fünfmal gelesen. Wer sich hier aber einen Mittelalterroman oder klassische High Fantasy erwartet, der wird sicher enttäuscht, denn dafür ist viel zu viel Liebesgeschichte enthalten. Aber Dain und Ceridwen sind mir sehr ans Herz gewachsen und viele andere der Charaktere auch. Allerdings muss ich zugeben, dass sehr viele Handlungsfäden offen gelassen werden, dass teilweise alles in bisschen wirr ist. Daher gibts trotz "immer wieder gerne lesen" nur drei Sterne.
September 30, 2019
The premise of the book starts out alright, but quickly it goes nowhere but fellatio. This is more of a romance novel and an erotica novel rather than fantasy. As such it isn't my cup of tea. I am no prude to smut or 'adult' actions, but when it is inserted for the sake of itself and then repeated rather than develop the plot I tend to think that the book is shallow. It isn't outright horrible, but it isn't good either. Pass.
January 30, 2026
DNF’d 77 pages in. I really wanted to like this because the beginning chapter starts out phenomenal, but then it kind of took a nosedive. I found it increasingly hard to keep track of the plot and started to wonder if I was suddenly illiterate or what. It was just hard to read, and not in a challenging way.
September 13, 2024
I originally read this years ago and I still enjoyed it! I read this series backwards starting with the third book in the trilogy, Prince of Time. I enjoyed that so much, I read the rest of the series.
September 5, 2017
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
November 24, 2017
I found this a difficult read.
August 30, 2021
Pretty good fantasy story set in Wales amongst the faeries and elves.
April 2, 2022
I like the old school vibe but not much else.
November 10, 2022
Very bad near 250 there was 5 pages of just sex and she had to of just explain it in vivid detail. Would not read!
August 28, 2024
Did not finish. Got 1/3 into the book. Too hard to read and the storyline was pretty thin.
February 22, 2013
This book was a challenge for me I loved the world she created but it was I don't know... maybe just to much of it, too much explaining when I wanted more action and more romance this story was about a girl who after the death and separation of her family finds herself captured and wanted by the most deadliest man and some evil creepy guy that wanted her blood to bring them what? I cant remember, well she was saved of course by a handsome guy with a whole lot of drama baggage that he tried his best to forget by becoming a man witch I guess. Yeah thats what I call them anyway they had some type of calling and destiny to be together and open some door that would bring the dragons home but turned out to be a bunch of big worms( I know wtf) I didn't get half of this story but I did like the romance(when they showed some) of the two main characters the love scene which was basically like only once was beautifully done but girrrll I like the juicy stuff gimme gimme more. So anyway I'm just blabbing away as usual This was strange read but I kinda liked it wished there was more romance because these two could have be hotter than some hot sauce.
Heres is my couple
Heres is my couple
October 21, 2013
I guess the lesson here is, sometimes, you really can (or should) judge a book by its cover. I saw this on a freebie fantasy listing, and accessing it through Kindle, came across no front cover, but did encounter a map of ancient Wales and a glossary that indicated a complex plot structure with many varied characters with difficult names. It looked well thought out and well researched, so I decided to give it a go.
It was well researched. The author had an impressive vocabulary and an admirable understanding of social, cultural, and political life in Wales following the Crusades as well as a deep (and at times, poetic) appreciation of pre-Christian nature religions, alchemy, folk myths and traditions, and perceptions and practices of magic. The downside for me was, this was not historical fiction alone, or even sword and sorcery fantasy mixed with historical fiction alone: it turned out to be, foremost, historical romance. There was enough of the other components to keep me reading to see how things would be resolved, but I don't think I'll pursue this trilogy any further, as the undying and ultimate triumph of the love of the hero and the heroine is not what I was looking for as the major focus of the book. The balance went too far that way for my interests--but for some woman who wants her romance fiction embedded in such an engaging mix of sword, sorcery, secret older religions,and Celtic history, this would, I should think, be a very satisfying read.
It was well researched. The author had an impressive vocabulary and an admirable understanding of social, cultural, and political life in Wales following the Crusades as well as a deep (and at times, poetic) appreciation of pre-Christian nature religions, alchemy, folk myths and traditions, and perceptions and practices of magic. The downside for me was, this was not historical fiction alone, or even sword and sorcery fantasy mixed with historical fiction alone: it turned out to be, foremost, historical romance. There was enough of the other components to keep me reading to see how things would be resolved, but I don't think I'll pursue this trilogy any further, as the undying and ultimate triumph of the love of the hero and the heroine is not what I was looking for as the major focus of the book. The balance went too far that way for my interests--but for some woman who wants her romance fiction embedded in such an engaging mix of sword, sorcery, secret older religions,and Celtic history, this would, I should think, be a very satisfying read.
February 24, 2015
Should Actually Be Four and a Half. Stars
I really enjoyed this first book in a new epic fantasy series. The only reason it wasn't given five stars was only regarding a matter of personal preference. I like romance and sex as much as the next person, but I don't understand the need to portray it quite so graphically in a book that otherwise is potentially quite appealing to a younger audience. I know, there is also graphic violence throughout. Both of these factors are matters involving parental guidance and I wouldn't even mention them if I believed the sex as it was presented and, to a lesser degree, the level of description of the. violence, was necessary to advance the plot. Again, this is a personal preference only, and only as it might relate to younger readers. Otherwise the book was very well written and the kind of epic fantasy tale I love to read. I really hesitated before I brought up my concern because it is such a good book. It would still have held my attention without these details. This should be a great series.
I really enjoyed this first book in a new epic fantasy series. The only reason it wasn't given five stars was only regarding a matter of personal preference. I like romance and sex as much as the next person, but I don't understand the need to portray it quite so graphically in a book that otherwise is potentially quite appealing to a younger audience. I know, there is also graphic violence throughout. Both of these factors are matters involving parental guidance and I wouldn't even mention them if I believed the sex as it was presented and, to a lesser degree, the level of description of the. violence, was necessary to advance the plot. Again, this is a personal preference only, and only as it might relate to younger readers. Otherwise the book was very well written and the kind of epic fantasy tale I love to read. I really hesitated before I brought up my concern because it is such a good book. It would still have held my attention without these details. This should be a great series.
March 17, 2013
I really wanted to love this book, as it's set in a period that fascinates me. It's obvious the writer did loads of research, and certainly brings early medieval Wales to life. However, as much as I tried I just couldn't get into the book. The plot moves too slowly for my liking and the heroine is too passive - being injured and unconscious for a couple of chapters!
The novel starts promisingly, but soon stops moving. After the initial spark, the lovers appeared to lack any real chemistry, and as a reader I couldn't find anyone I could relate to in any way. In the end, I got three-quarters of the way through before abandoning it. A real pity, as there are not many books around set in this era. However,I was looking for something a bit more exciting and character-driven and didn't find it here. :-(
The novel starts promisingly, but soon stops moving. After the initial spark, the lovers appeared to lack any real chemistry, and as a reader I couldn't find anyone I could relate to in any way. In the end, I got three-quarters of the way through before abandoning it. A real pity, as there are not many books around set in this era. However,I was looking for something a bit more exciting and character-driven and didn't find it here. :-(
January 18, 2016
This book is a quick read but doesn't have much else going for it my opinion. The story is predictable and the characters are too for the most part. The prosy is overly ornate (every time the author starts a sentence with 'Twas - at least twice per page - I want finish with "...the night before Christmas"). I was also disappointed by McReynold's idea of "good", which seems to be simple naivete and/or chastity. As a result her heroine is insipid. The most interesting character is a desert slave trader named Jalal, who exists only in the memory of one of the characters, and manages to be detestable and yet complex.
McReynolds plays with a number of major deep philosophical questions (about God, desire, human nature), and yet doesn't seem to have anything interesting to say about any of them.
McReynolds plays with a number of major deep philosophical questions (about God, desire, human nature), and yet doesn't seem to have anything interesting to say about any of them.
July 26, 2016
I was interested to read this book based on the setting in medieval Wales, but it turns out that has little bearing on the book. There is little significant reference to anything but the two main characters - the entire book is about the sexual tension between them (ended up skipping pages at a time).
There is no substance to this book beyond the main "romance" - no other character development, and almost no plot. Which was disappointing, because the possibilities for an interesting fantasy tale (the adventure kind, not the smut this is) were there. For me, this book totally failed to deliver on its promise.
There is no substance to this book beyond the main "romance" - no other character development, and almost no plot. Which was disappointing, because the possibilities for an interesting fantasy tale (the adventure kind, not the smut this is) were there. For me, this book totally failed to deliver on its promise.
May 3, 2009
This book was very enjoyable, and I love Glenna Mcreynolds' fantasy world, which is better than many fantasy genre novels I have read - I didn't feel like I was reading another D&D-based book. Not realizing it was part of a series, I had read the second one first, and honestly, I liked it better than this one, but I think it's just that I like the hero and heroine characters better, not that it was necessary a better story. And this one is definitely a good story. Worth reading if you love fantasy and like romance - there's lots of fantasy in here, and just enough romance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews