What do you think?
Rate this book
Vikings
Dare to enter our world
A horde of battle-hardened warriors.
A village at the mercy of its enemies.
A bargain struck for nine fearful and reluctant brides
Delivered into Viking hands, each bride must accept that she belongs to her new master. But, as wedding nights bring surrender to duty, will fierce lovers also surrender their hearts?
The Highland wilderness is savage, life is perilous, and the future uncertain, but each warrior has sworn protection, and a Viking will stop at nothing to safeguard the woman he loves.
Nine tales of suspense, seduction and adventure, told against the forbidding backdrop of medieval Scotland. Journey together with indomitable heroes and intrepid heroines, as they discover that the raging storms of fear and passion can transform into enduring devotion.
Nine conquering reasons to surrender
Brandr — by Ashe Barker
Forced to wed a fierce Viking warlord to save her people, Eithne must surrender to her husband’s stern discipline, yet his tenderness takes her breath away. A man of his word, Brandr vows to protect her village from its enemies. But what of Eithne? Who will protect her as she learns to care for this ferocious man who now leads her people and holds her heart in his mighty hands?
Steinn — by Lily Harlem
Married to a barbaric beast, Gladys cannot believe her bad fortune. A rough and raw Norseman has taken to her home and her bed as if it’s his right. But never fear, she has plans to do away with him, to rid him from her life… for good.
Steinn is thankful to the gods for his good luck. His new bride Gladys is a sexy little wild cat with curves and an ass to die for. Admittedly she needs a little training, and a fair bit of discipline, but he’ll take her in hand if it’s the last thing he does. Won’t he?
Magnus — by Emmanuelle de Maupassant
Magnus is tortured by memories of his wife’s murder at the hands of savage berserkers, yet commanded to wed. The valiant warrior finds unexpected passion in his new bride’s arms, but can Modwen’s love heal the wounds of his battle-scarred heart — or will another’s jealousy destroy them both?
Jerrik — by Felicity Brandon
Brigid: The last thing I need is a husband, especially some Viking brute commanding my surrender.
Jerrik: Fight all you want, little Pict. You will yield to my desire.
Forced into a union she didn't seek, Brigid is terrified and aroused by Jerrik's masterful behaviour and carnal demands. But, when he saves her son from the ferocious ocean, Brigid realises he may be the hero she needs, as well as the man she craves.
Graeme — by Gianna Simone
Maimed and bitter, Graeme is forced to take a wife from the barbarians invading his shores. Resentful of her invading his solitary life, he vows to bend her to his will. Rinda grudgingly weds a man she barely knows — who hates her nearly as much as she despises him. Yet, despite their shared animosity, the wounded warrior and shield-maiden share an unexpected passion that soon consumes them both.
Thorolf — by Vanessa Brooks
Ailsa, a woman scarred by the brutality of men, knowing peace only in the depths of the forest. Thorolf, a cunning warrior, as fierce as the wolves Ailsa adores. Enemies bound by marriage, their attraction is undeniable. But can her Viking husband tame Ailsa’s wounded heart?
Garth — by Sassa Daniels
A proud warrior, he hides a debilitating weakness. The village outcast, she’s plagued by terrifying visions. Their marriage seems cursed from the start. But, as they come to terms with their union, will they find the love they both need?
Ragnar — by Sky Purington
Intrigued by the symbol on his blade, Myrna chooses Ragnar for her husband. But how is she to love a man who lives in the past? Determined to remain faithful to his deceased wife, Ragnar both fights and craves Myrna, hungry for her healing touch. Will he give in and find sanctuary in her arms? Or will the shocking truth about his dagger end love before it begins?
Bjorn — by Jane Burrelli
A proud shield-maiden vowing never to be possessed by any man. A ruthless Viking warrior swearing to tame the bold beauty. A battle of wills and consuming desire. But who will conquer who?
A horde of battle-hardened warriors.
A village at the mercy of its enemies.
A bargain struck for nine fearful and reluctant brides
Delivered into Viking hands, each bride must accept that she belongs to her new master. But, as wedding nights bring surrender to duty, will fierce lovers also surrender their hearts?
The Highland wilderness is savage, life is perilous, and the future uncertain, but each warrior has sworn protection, and a Viking will stop at nothing to safeguard the woman he loves.
Nine tales of suspense, seduction and adventure, told against the forbidding backdrop of medieval Scotland. Journey together with indomitable heroes and intrepid heroines, as they discover that the raging storms of fear and passion can transform into enduring devotion.
Nine conquering reasons to surrender
Brandr — by Ashe Barker
Forced to wed a fierce Viking warlord to save her people, Eithne must surrender to her husband’s stern discipline, yet his tenderness takes her breath away. A man of his word, Brandr vows to protect her village from its enemies. But what of Eithne? Who will protect her as she learns to care for this ferocious man who now leads her people and holds her heart in his mighty hands?
Steinn — by Lily Harlem
Married to a barbaric beast, Gladys cannot believe her bad fortune. A rough and raw Norseman has taken to her home and her bed as if it’s his right. But never fear, she has plans to do away with him, to rid him from her life… for good.
Steinn is thankful to the gods for his good luck. His new bride Gladys is a sexy little wild cat with curves and an ass to die for. Admittedly she needs a little training, and a fair bit of discipline, but he’ll take her in hand if it’s the last thing he does. Won’t he?
Magnus — by Emmanuelle de Maupassant
Magnus is tortured by memories of his wife’s murder at the hands of savage berserkers, yet commanded to wed. The valiant warrior finds unexpected passion in his new bride’s arms, but can Modwen’s love heal the wounds of his battle-scarred heart — or will another’s jealousy destroy them both?
Jerrik — by Felicity Brandon
Brigid: The last thing I need is a husband, especially some Viking brute commanding my surrender.
Jerrik: Fight all you want, little Pict. You will yield to my desire.
Forced into a union she didn't seek, Brigid is terrified and aroused by Jerrik's masterful behaviour and carnal demands. But, when he saves her son from the ferocious ocean, Brigid realises he may be the hero she needs, as well as the man she craves.
Graeme — by Gianna Simone
Maimed and bitter, Graeme is forced to take a wife from the barbarians invading his shores. Resentful of her invading his solitary life, he vows to bend her to his will. Rinda grudgingly weds a man she barely knows — who hates her nearly as much as she despises him. Yet, despite their shared animosity, the wounded warrior and shield-maiden share an unexpected passion that soon consumes them both.
Thorolf — by Vanessa Brooks
Ailsa, a woman scarred by the brutality of men, knowing peace only in the depths of the forest. Thorolf, a cunning warrior, as fierce as the wolves Ailsa adores. Enemies bound by marriage, their attraction is undeniable. But can her Viking husband tame Ailsa’s wounded heart?
Garth — by Sassa Daniels
A proud warrior, he hides a debilitating weakness. The village outcast, she’s plagued by terrifying visions. Their marriage seems cursed from the start. But, as they come to terms with their union, will they find the love they both need?
Ragnar — by Sky Purington
Intrigued by the symbol on his blade, Myrna chooses Ragnar for her husband. But how is she to love a man who lives in the past? Determined to remain faithful to his deceased wife, Ragnar both fights and craves Myrna, hungry for her healing touch. Will he give in and find sanctuary in her arms? Or will the shocking truth about his dagger end love before it begins?
Bjorn — by Jane Burrelli
A proud shield-maiden vowing never to be possessed by any man. A ruthless Viking warrior swearing to tame the bold beauty. A battle of wills and consuming desire. But who will conquer who?
800 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 18, 2019
570 people are currently reading
630 people want to read
About the author
Ashe Barker
140 books807 followersUntil 2010, Ashe was a director of a regeneration company before deciding there had to be more to life and leaving to pursue a lifetime goal of self-employment.
Ashe has been an avid reader of erotic romance for many years—historical, contemporary, fantasy—you name it. Now, at last in control of her own time and working from her home in rural West Yorkshire, she has been able to realise her dream of writing sexy and compelling stories herself.
She draws on settings and anecdotes from her previous and current experience to lend colour, detail and realism to her plots and characters, but her stories of love, challenge, resilience and compassion are the conjurings of her own imagination. She loves to craft strong, enigmatic men and bright, sassy women to give them a hard time—in every sense of the word.
When she’s not writing, Ashe’s time is monopolised by her role as grandma to a lively toddler. She shares her writing space with a tortoise called Teefer.
Ashe has been an avid reader of erotic romance for many years—historical, contemporary, fantasy—you name it. Now, at last in control of her own time and working from her home in rural West Yorkshire, she has been able to realise her dream of writing sexy and compelling stories herself.
She draws on settings and anecdotes from her previous and current experience to lend colour, detail and realism to her plots and characters, but her stories of love, challenge, resilience and compassion are the conjurings of her own imagination. She loves to craft strong, enigmatic men and bright, sassy women to give them a hard time—in every sense of the word.
When she’s not writing, Ashe’s time is monopolised by her role as grandma to a lively toddler. She shares her writing space with a tortoise called Teefer.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
September 5, 2019
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋💋
Vikings is a great set of stories , a series , all by different authors, all following on from each other .
It’s About a group of Norse Warriors that marry into a Pict clan full of mainly women .
It’s a great book , but in sections I found it slightly repetitive, that made me miss bits and basically switch off to a certain extent.
Although it’s good , I’m afraid I had to take off a star for the reason above.
It is steamy , tense , addictive and enjoyable.
And if you can get past the repetitiveness your in for some great entertainment.
💋💋💋
Vikings is a great set of stories , a series , all by different authors, all following on from each other .
It’s About a group of Norse Warriors that marry into a Pict clan full of mainly women .
It’s a great book , but in sections I found it slightly repetitive, that made me miss bits and basically switch off to a certain extent.
Although it’s good , I’m afraid I had to take off a star for the reason above.
It is steamy , tense , addictive and enjoyable.
And if you can get past the repetitiveness your in for some great entertainment.
July 10, 2019
This was an intriguing introduction to the stories that follow in the box set. It really sets the scene for what is to come. Eithne has assumed the responsibility for their tribe due to her father-in-law’s illness. When marauding Viking boats are sighted, Eithne devises a plan that might save them. This looks to be an exciting series of stories and I’ve preordered the box set. I received a copy via Booksprout and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 1, 2023
Nice start to this Viking series.
Want to read
September 25, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/25/2019)! 🎁
July 19, 2019
This is absolutely fantastic! I'm not done with my reading but I wanted to get a review out there as quickly as possible. If you enjoy Viking stories, if you like any of these authors, or even to discover a whole new world, you must get this anthology! Even the prologue is worth the cost! It's obviously extremely well researched and sounds entirely authentic, based on the prologue by Ashe Barker and Emmanuelle de Maupassant's story. And the novellas can be read out of order.
PROLOGUE by Ashe Barker
Achnaryrie Village, Gaillaibh, the land of the Picts, Scotland 912AD
Achnaryrie is a village of women. Most of the men have been killed, they are lacking in everything, they are defenseless against any attackers. Then, one day, three longships sail in. The Vikings have arrived. The chieftain is ill, and his daughter-in-law Eithne decides to deal with the invaders. She proposes that they not rampage, but settle down and take women for brides.
This is a fabulous prologue and almost a story in itself as Ashe Barker sets the stage for this anthology. At first, I thought there were too many characters to keep track of, but it's to introduce everyone, and it was all right since they all have their stories later on. I purchased this anthology for Emmanuelle de Maupassant's novella, but I will read Ms. Barker's. She was a new author to me, and I was very much impressed with her crisp descriptions, her ability to concisely and clearly establish the setting. She provides all the necessary information, and made me feel the danger and apprehension of the women, and want to know more about the characters. By the end of the prologue, I knew I wanted to read Brandr and Eithne's story. It's very exciting, and Ms. Barker writes exceptionally well.
MAGNUS by Emmanuelle de Maupassant
Magnus, a widower, still mourns his late wife. He had no intention of ever marrying again, but his skills as a blacksmith are needed in the village and he founds himself married to Modwen. She's a widow with two children, her marriage was good, but she is willing to try again. Alas, her new husband doesn't seem to want her.
What a great story! Modwen and Magnus are both older characters, and the dynamic was quite interesting. Those were brutal times, the people were resilient, and it was wonderful to see the romance blossom between Magnus and Modwen. And it did not come easy. The story progresses fluidly, the writing flows effortlessly, and Ms. de Maupassant knows her Vikings and her history. I got a clear picture of the time and place, and the people, as if transported in time. I loved the details on everyday life, and considering the limited number of pages, the characters are surprisingly well fleshed out. Everything felt authentic and believable, and I cared about those people. Very well done!
BRANDR by Ashe Barker (the first novella)
BRANDR picks up right after the epilogue, when an unforseen problem with the negotiations occurred, and Eithne awaits her punishment. Bad enough that she hadn't planned on getting married again, her husband will hate her. Knowing how brutal the Vikings can be, Eithne is afraid, but saving her people had been paramount and she will bear the wrath of her husband stoically.
I did not anticipate the sexy times to start so early in the story, and maybe it was because of the BDSM. Doms are not my jam, neither is the kink featured, and not as it's presented here. But Brandr and Eithne are a good match. Because of the prologue, and the compelling historical setting, I would have liked more story and less sex, but this is just my opinion. I really liked Brandr, apart from his sexual preferences and his reaction to some unexpected news, but I loved Eithne! That's the "danger" when writing an era so convincingly, I want to see more of everyday life, and fewer bedroom scenes. But that's my problem, isn't it? In any case, the romance is well developed and the ending was satisfying.
I appreciate the coordination required to make this anthology work so seamlessly, the editing is good, the research and historical details are fantastic, and the extended prologue prevents info dumping. I love the world and I can't wait to read more.
PROLOGUE by Ashe Barker
Achnaryrie Village, Gaillaibh, the land of the Picts, Scotland 912AD
Achnaryrie is a village of women. Most of the men have been killed, they are lacking in everything, they are defenseless against any attackers. Then, one day, three longships sail in. The Vikings have arrived. The chieftain is ill, and his daughter-in-law Eithne decides to deal with the invaders. She proposes that they not rampage, but settle down and take women for brides.
This is a fabulous prologue and almost a story in itself as Ashe Barker sets the stage for this anthology. At first, I thought there were too many characters to keep track of, but it's to introduce everyone, and it was all right since they all have their stories later on. I purchased this anthology for Emmanuelle de Maupassant's novella, but I will read Ms. Barker's. She was a new author to me, and I was very much impressed with her crisp descriptions, her ability to concisely and clearly establish the setting. She provides all the necessary information, and made me feel the danger and apprehension of the women, and want to know more about the characters. By the end of the prologue, I knew I wanted to read Brandr and Eithne's story. It's very exciting, and Ms. Barker writes exceptionally well.
MAGNUS by Emmanuelle de Maupassant
Magnus, a widower, still mourns his late wife. He had no intention of ever marrying again, but his skills as a blacksmith are needed in the village and he founds himself married to Modwen. She's a widow with two children, her marriage was good, but she is willing to try again. Alas, her new husband doesn't seem to want her.
What a great story! Modwen and Magnus are both older characters, and the dynamic was quite interesting. Those were brutal times, the people were resilient, and it was wonderful to see the romance blossom between Magnus and Modwen. And it did not come easy. The story progresses fluidly, the writing flows effortlessly, and Ms. de Maupassant knows her Vikings and her history. I got a clear picture of the time and place, and the people, as if transported in time. I loved the details on everyday life, and considering the limited number of pages, the characters are surprisingly well fleshed out. Everything felt authentic and believable, and I cared about those people. Very well done!
BRANDR by Ashe Barker (the first novella)
BRANDR picks up right after the epilogue, when an unforseen problem with the negotiations occurred, and Eithne awaits her punishment. Bad enough that she hadn't planned on getting married again, her husband will hate her. Knowing how brutal the Vikings can be, Eithne is afraid, but saving her people had been paramount and she will bear the wrath of her husband stoically.
I did not anticipate the sexy times to start so early in the story, and maybe it was because of the BDSM. Doms are not my jam, neither is the kink featured, and not as it's presented here. But Brandr and Eithne are a good match. Because of the prologue, and the compelling historical setting, I would have liked more story and less sex, but this is just my opinion. I really liked Brandr, apart from his sexual preferences and his reaction to some unexpected news, but I loved Eithne! That's the "danger" when writing an era so convincingly, I want to see more of everyday life, and fewer bedroom scenes. But that's my problem, isn't it? In any case, the romance is well developed and the ending was satisfying.
I appreciate the coordination required to make this anthology work so seamlessly, the editing is good, the research and historical details are fantastic, and the extended prologue prevents info dumping. I love the world and I can't wait to read more.
September 6, 2019
Different stories by different writers about a pict village of women and the men they come to love
Brandr by Ashe Barker: Not exactly enemy to lover feel to the story. I liked the main characters and the setting. Wonder about some of the historical accuracy. Still enjoyable read and a 3.5 ⭐️rating
Steinn by Lily Harlem: he was a dumb and sweet. Gladys a hateful bitch. But I liked their story. Rating 4⭐️
Jerrik by Felicity Brandon: I adored Jerrik and Brigid, and their story. 5⭐️ rating
Magnus by Emmanuelle de Maupassant: Liked that this story was different with an unwilling man and an eager female. Also liked the added suspense with the uncle. Rating 4 ⭐️
Graeme by Gianna Simone: The push and pull between Graeme and Rinda was sizzling hot! Best one until this point. A well earned 5⭐️ rating
Thorolf by Vanessa Brooks: These stories are getting better and better. 5 ⭐️ rating
Garth by Sassa Daniels: Liked the chemistry between the MC, but their story lacked depth. 3 ⭐️ rating
Ragnar by Sky Purington: 4⭐️
Bjorn by Jane Burrelli: Liked the MCs and the story, writing has head hopping, though. 3⭐️ rating.
Brandr by Ashe Barker: Not exactly enemy to lover feel to the story. I liked the main characters and the setting. Wonder about some of the historical accuracy. Still enjoyable read and a 3.5 ⭐️rating
Steinn by Lily Harlem: he was a dumb and sweet. Gladys a hateful bitch. But I liked their story. Rating 4⭐️
Jerrik by Felicity Brandon: I adored Jerrik and Brigid, and their story. 5⭐️ rating
Magnus by Emmanuelle de Maupassant: Liked that this story was different with an unwilling man and an eager female. Also liked the added suspense with the uncle. Rating 4 ⭐️
Graeme by Gianna Simone: The push and pull between Graeme and Rinda was sizzling hot! Best one until this point. A well earned 5⭐️ rating
Thorolf by Vanessa Brooks: These stories are getting better and better. 5 ⭐️ rating
Garth by Sassa Daniels: Liked the chemistry between the MC, but their story lacked depth. 3 ⭐️ rating
Ragnar by Sky Purington: 4⭐️
Bjorn by Jane Burrelli: Liked the MCs and the story, writing has head hopping, though. 3⭐️ rating.
June 30, 2019
The world building is phenominal. The characters are so full of personality they sometimes feel larger than life and yet they each have their own flaws making them totally relatable. There are several generations within the village which makes the interactions and view points of all so much more realistic. What started off as a bargain between Norsemen and Picts has turned into a full on melding of two societies. Growth and passion as individuals, couples, families and community with all the emotions that come with each. The individual work of each author will carry you away as we meet these nine couples and yet their talents have seamlessly combined to make this a box set I won't soon forget and can foresee myself rereading several times.
July 25, 2019
WTF!
I swear, if I could give this book no star I would! Just because a woman becomes aroused it does not equal consent! I am disgusted with this! Please do not waste your money on this. The second story has two RAPE scenes and as far as I'm concerned that woman should have succeeded in killing him. Again, please do not spend money on this.
I swear, if I could give this book no star I would! Just because a woman becomes aroused it does not equal consent! I am disgusted with this! Please do not waste your money on this. The second story has two RAPE scenes and as far as I'm concerned that woman should have succeeded in killing him. Again, please do not spend money on this.
August 5, 2019
Vikings land to raid a Scottish village. They are met by two women and receive an astonishing proposal. This prequel caught my attention immediately. I look forward to reading the continuing story of how the women's lives change. Wow, the tension was already building.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 5/19 :
I have now finished the entire book. It did not disappoint. The 9 stories were great. Each of the women's marriages had trials to resolve, great sex scenes and development of the couples relationships.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 5/19 :
I have now finished the entire book. It did not disappoint. The 9 stories were great. Each of the women's marriages had trials to resolve, great sex scenes and development of the couples relationships.
July 2, 2019
As I read this preamble I wondered how it would play out. Yo be totally honest, I couldn’t stop reading. The characters were / are very strong and totally believable. Storyline is also strong and believable. I can’t wait to see the next instalment, as the beginning is brilliant. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this. Now for the next!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 28, 2020
Terrible
For a start Vikings didn't call themselves Vikings, that became popular in the 19th century.
As for the stories , they are the same awful story over and over again. The women are repeatedly beaten and raped but apparently that's ok because the 'Vikings' are attractive and love them really. The women are treated like disobedient dogs and that all secretly want to be dominated.
These stories and the way the women are portrayed and treated is disgusting.
For a start Vikings didn't call themselves Vikings, that became popular in the 19th century.
As for the stories , they are the same awful story over and over again. The women are repeatedly beaten and raped but apparently that's ok because the 'Vikings' are attractive and love them really. The women are treated like disobedient dogs and that all secretly want to be dominated.
These stories and the way the women are portrayed and treated is disgusting.
March 24, 2022
If you're reading these reviews before buying, there are two things it's helpful to know:
1) There is no disclaimer regarding this book's elements of domestic discipline (dd) or corporal punishment of adult women. Here, it's not always consensual and, in my opinion, goes beyond the realm of "spanking" into beating since the husbands do use switches and belts ("She was sobbing, howling in pain with each stroke;" "They will hurt, and I do not expect you to sit in comfort for several days”). Other reviewers, who have more tolerance for this than I do, will disagree with my view that they're too harsh since the skin isn't broken and there are no bruises. Because there are no disclaimers, however, I feel justified in taking away a star for this (on the plus side, no disclaimer also means that the gatekeepers on this site can't "flame" you for your review with their usual: "Didn't you read the description? How dare you review this poorly when you were warned what it contained"). In addition to the physical punishments, there is one story (Lily Harlem's) that contains rape. Again, other reviewers with more tolerance for this in fantasy than I will say it's "dub-con" (I've never understood these euphemisms; if rape is your fantasy, then own it) because her body responds. Nevertheless, she does protest very strongly, and mentally and emotionally does not want him; he rapes her anyway.
2) As of the time I write this (July 22), many of the five-stars here are for the prologue only. While the reviewers do say as such, the stars are inflating the overall rating for this book and are not based on most of the actual stories.
One final note: I'm not rating these books on historical accuracy. So, I'm not interested in arguments that husbands "spanking" their wives was legal/expected then. First, they were more likely to beat rather than spank. Second, attitudes are much more complex than authors/readers make them out to be, even in the pre-modern era. And finally, no book that contains phrases such as ""pulled a disappearing act" can claim to be historical.
Now onto the actual book. Below is my opinion; take it for what it's worth.
The book is an enemies-to-lovers story and has three (as I saw it) overall themes. One is -- as another reviewer very wisely mentioned -- the importance of moving on from loss. The second is the blending of cultures (particularly welcome in today's anti-immigrant, us-vs.-them world) as each Pict and Viking character shares stories or customs from their respective lands (different wedding rituals, for example; Sassa Daniels' story is particularly strong in this respect). The third is dominance/submission broadly applied to an entire town. That is, the Vikings act as doms (protective providers who rescue the Picts from enemy attacks) and the Picts as submissives (those who swear their obedience in exchange for this protection). The framing device -- nine stories of each Viking husband and Pict bride (there is one exception where the tribal identifications are reversed) -- is based on The Conquered Brides (also by Ashe Barker, one of the authors here), which had a similar set-up (though that one was much less consensual and also deeply unpleasant to read with actual abuse and humiliation). Here, both the men and women are marrying under duress (rather than just the women), but it's the centuries-old marital bargain before the appearance of companionate marriage: each partner brings something tangible to the marriage that has nothing do with love or shared interests. In this case, the Vikings bring the brawn to defend the community, and the Picts provide the land. Of course, since this is romance, love does grow between the couples. And, because it's an erotic romance in this particular genre, the sexual acts are described and often akin to those in BDSM and/or dd. The story is book-ended by those of the two Viking brothers. In the first story, Bjorn will be stabbed by Rhiannon; their conflict is depicted only in the last story. I thought this was a good way of creating suspense in the reader for the entire book.
Overall, each story is well-written with few editing or grammatical errors. Characterization is coherent throughout each story, despite the fact that different writers are depicting some of the same characters. I appreciated the strength of the women (too often absent in books of this genre) and that the men apologized when they were wrong and compromised (again, something too often absent in this genre). There's decent world-building (though the landscape could be better described). While most of the stories were distinct from one another, some of them had the same conflict (dead spouses), so I feel that a couple of them retold the same material. If I have one main complaint it is that the endings to each story were abrupt (though each central conflict is resolved), and the book as a whole could have used an epilogue to wrap it up. While I suspect the ending as it is was a deliberate choice (and, as it was bittersweet, one I could see), I still found it abrupt.
Now, onto each individual tale, which I've labeled by author (some are new to me; others I've read before).
1) Ashe Barker: Let me confess up front that I don't like this author. While the editing and grammar are fine, her dialogue and erotic descriptions are stiff and emotionless, almost clinical, and her male characters equally so (her female ones I find more palatable). While her contemporary books are consensual, her Viking ones are not, and she is yet another in a long, long, long list of authors whose heroes punish their women for very reasonably objecting to being captured, kidnapped, and enslaved ("How dare you try to escape when I'm trying to carry you off" is pretty much how this goes; see, for example, Her Celtic Captor). Therefore, even with the HEA endings, I never warm up to her male characters as they aren't men I'd ever want to meet in real life: their rigidity, lack of humor, and aloofness make them unpalatable to me. While I did feel that way about Brandt, to some extent, and while the prose in places is still cringe-worthy ("She had not appeared to object, but even so, the first time he drove his cock into her tight, hot sheath could have been accomplished with rather more in the way of finesse"), I did feel this story was better. For one thing, though I don't think that what Eithne is punished for was really her fault, I understand why Brandr holds her accountable and why she agrees to it. In addition, Eithne is a very strong heroine who leads the village (too bad she has to ) and it's her plan that sets the plots in motion. She also stands up to him when he's wrong. To his credit, he bends more than Ms. Barker's other heroes in that he does apologize to her. This apology, though, depicts what is a central problem in most of the books in this genre: when the woman makes a mistake, she's punished; the man just has to apologize and "We good?" While his actions are motivated, they're pretty unfair and he should have done more to make up for them. Finally, I had mixed feelings about the ending, since it concludes just as . 3 stars.
2) Lily Harlem: This is the only story with humor as Steinn seemingly cannot comprehend Gladys's dislike of him and meets all of her comical attempts to kill him with disproportionate calm. It is also, however, the only story with rape (as I see it). 3 stars.
3) Felicity Brandon: Others love this author; her "heroes" are too abusive for me and her public punishments/humiliations deeply unappealing (this does not happen here, though it does in The Viking's Conquest). I didn't like this story: I found Jerrik to be a bully as he threatened to birch his wife's young son. Authors: can we please keep the physical punishment of children out of these books? Really, just don't. The reasons Jerrik punished Brigid were absurd as she was the only one who could possibly know (sometimes I wonder if authors use any common sense when writing these books). He also referred to his former days of raping and pillaging. A couple of the other stories do this -- I suppose to make this historically accurate -- for me, it just served as a reminder that these Vikings we were invested in as "heroes" were really no different from anyone else. Finally, this also contained another ending I felt was abrupt (though somewhat heart-warming, which is why I added a star). 2 stars.
4) Emmanuelle de Maupassant: I didn't know this author, but will be reading more of her as this was one of my favorites. For one thing, there was no dd, and I was really struck by how much more respect and caring there were between the non-dd couples than there were between the dd ones (except for the last story). At first Magnus is unkind to Modwen, but his reasons are understandable and he more than redeems himself at the end. I was afraid that . 5 stars.
5) Gianna Simone: I also didn't know this author, but she's one I'll be reading again. I loved that she gave us a hero with a disability (far too rare in this genre which prizes young, white, able-bodied H and h's); and it's clear that the "punishments" are for foreplay only (unlike in the other stories). This is the only tale that has a female Viking warrior and Pict husband, so it also stood out to me for that reason. In addition, Rinda, the warrior, is still (unlike most in this genre). Rinda and Graeme were two people who felt like outsiders who . 5 stars.
6) Vanessa Brooks: This is another author I've read before, who I usually find too harsh, and whose male characters are deeply unpleasant (see, for example, Sir Thomas's Bride). Again, this story isn't as bad. If you're an animal lover, though, it is a tearjerker; I did love how the animals were an important part of the story so it stood out to me. While I found the reasons to punish Ailsa contrived, I liked that she remained strong and that Thorolf worked to earn her trust (unusual for a genre in which most H's just say: "You have to trust me" without actually doing anything to earn that trust). 4 stars.
7) Sassa Daniels: I won't mince words; I hate this author. Her Tamed by Her Mates features a female character who lies about being raped (in the Harvey Weinstein/Jeffrey Epstein/Brett Kavanaugh/Me-Too era, no less) and "heroes" who allow their men to bodyshame the heroine. This story is not much better. Ytha tries to be a good wife to Garth, but he keeps pushing her away. In addition, he punishes her unfairly when it was his ill-temper that created the situation. I also didn't care for Ytha, who was the only weak female character in the book as she kept trying to win his love, even when he was cruel to her (there is submission and then there is abnegation). The book also mentions Garth's indifference to a female slave; I'm not sure why we were supposed to be invested in him after that reveal. (Side note: "infer" and "imply" are not used correctly here.) 1 star.
8) Sky Purington: Another author new to me and another I'd read again. This tale does not have dd and I found Ragnor's making sure that Myrna had food, water, warmth, and rest a thousand times more erotic than the endless birchings of the other stories. Myrna was a great, strong, intelligent, caring character, and her scar added yet more bodily diversity to this book. And I loved how the initially hard Ragnor softened towards her. Finally, I found the unusual, bittersweet backstory interesting and it added an extra layer of tenderness to what was, in some ways, a second-chance romance (I could do, however, without all the cringe-worthy "Odin's Balls" throughout these stories). 5 stars.
9) Jane Burrelli: Though this story had dd, it was a bit more palatable to me than the others since she did try to kill him and Bjorn does ultimately realize that this is not the best way to win Rhiannon's trust. Once he learns her secret, he initially acts stupidly , but he does redeem himself and show a lot of patience and caring. In addition, Rhiannon's secret is not resolved overnight, which I also appreciated. Finally, the climatic battle in this story is well-described with lots of detail, and Rhiannon (a wonderful strong heroine) and Rinda . 5 stars.
For those who like dd that is not outlandishly harsh, this is the book for them. If you don't, I wouldn't recommend it as all but two stories feature it. If you like heterosexual romance, this is the book for you as everyone has an HEA. The erotic scenes are detailed and well-described, though not particularly innovative (then again, I'm not sure how many ways there are to describe sex). And, of course, there are Vikings, hugely popular right now.
Four stars.
1) There is no disclaimer regarding this book's elements of domestic discipline (dd) or corporal punishment of adult women. Here, it's not always consensual and, in my opinion, goes beyond the realm of "spanking" into beating since the husbands do use switches and belts ("She was sobbing, howling in pain with each stroke;" "They will hurt, and I do not expect you to sit in comfort for several days”). Other reviewers, who have more tolerance for this than I do, will disagree with my view that they're too harsh since the skin isn't broken and there are no bruises. Because there are no disclaimers, however, I feel justified in taking away a star for this (on the plus side, no disclaimer also means that the gatekeepers on this site can't "flame" you for your review with their usual: "Didn't you read the description? How dare you review this poorly when you were warned what it contained"). In addition to the physical punishments, there is one story (Lily Harlem's) that contains rape. Again, other reviewers with more tolerance for this in fantasy than I will say it's "dub-con" (I've never understood these euphemisms; if rape is your fantasy, then own it) because her body responds. Nevertheless, she does protest very strongly, and mentally and emotionally does not want him; he rapes her anyway.
2) As of the time I write this (July 22), many of the five-stars here are for the prologue only. While the reviewers do say as such, the stars are inflating the overall rating for this book and are not based on most of the actual stories.
One final note: I'm not rating these books on historical accuracy. So, I'm not interested in arguments that husbands "spanking" their wives was legal/expected then. First, they were more likely to beat rather than spank. Second, attitudes are much more complex than authors/readers make them out to be, even in the pre-modern era. And finally, no book that contains phrases such as ""pulled a disappearing act" can claim to be historical.
Now onto the actual book. Below is my opinion; take it for what it's worth.
The book is an enemies-to-lovers story and has three (as I saw it) overall themes. One is -- as another reviewer very wisely mentioned -- the importance of moving on from loss. The second is the blending of cultures (particularly welcome in today's anti-immigrant, us-vs.-them world) as each Pict and Viking character shares stories or customs from their respective lands (different wedding rituals, for example; Sassa Daniels' story is particularly strong in this respect). The third is dominance/submission broadly applied to an entire town. That is, the Vikings act as doms (protective providers who rescue the Picts from enemy attacks) and the Picts as submissives (those who swear their obedience in exchange for this protection). The framing device -- nine stories of each Viking husband and Pict bride (there is one exception where the tribal identifications are reversed) -- is based on The Conquered Brides (also by Ashe Barker, one of the authors here), which had a similar set-up (though that one was much less consensual and also deeply unpleasant to read with actual abuse and humiliation). Here, both the men and women are marrying under duress (rather than just the women), but it's the centuries-old marital bargain before the appearance of companionate marriage: each partner brings something tangible to the marriage that has nothing do with love or shared interests. In this case, the Vikings bring the brawn to defend the community, and the Picts provide the land. Of course, since this is romance, love does grow between the couples. And, because it's an erotic romance in this particular genre, the sexual acts are described and often akin to those in BDSM and/or dd. The story is book-ended by those of the two Viking brothers. In the first story, Bjorn will be stabbed by Rhiannon; their conflict is depicted only in the last story. I thought this was a good way of creating suspense in the reader for the entire book.
Overall, each story is well-written with few editing or grammatical errors. Characterization is coherent throughout each story, despite the fact that different writers are depicting some of the same characters. I appreciated the strength of the women (too often absent in books of this genre) and that the men apologized when they were wrong and compromised (again, something too often absent in this genre). There's decent world-building (though the landscape could be better described). While most of the stories were distinct from one another, some of them had the same conflict (dead spouses), so I feel that a couple of them retold the same material. If I have one main complaint it is that the endings to each story were abrupt (though each central conflict is resolved), and the book as a whole could have used an epilogue to wrap it up. While I suspect the ending as it is was a deliberate choice (and, as it was bittersweet, one I could see), I still found it abrupt.
Now, onto each individual tale, which I've labeled by author (some are new to me; others I've read before).
1) Ashe Barker: Let me confess up front that I don't like this author. While the editing and grammar are fine, her dialogue and erotic descriptions are stiff and emotionless, almost clinical, and her male characters equally so (her female ones I find more palatable). While her contemporary books are consensual, her Viking ones are not, and she is yet another in a long, long, long list of authors whose heroes punish their women for very reasonably objecting to being captured, kidnapped, and enslaved ("How dare you try to escape when I'm trying to carry you off" is pretty much how this goes; see, for example, Her Celtic Captor). Therefore, even with the HEA endings, I never warm up to her male characters as they aren't men I'd ever want to meet in real life: their rigidity, lack of humor, and aloofness make them unpalatable to me. While I did feel that way about Brandt, to some extent, and while the prose in places is still cringe-worthy ("She had not appeared to object, but even so, the first time he drove his cock into her tight, hot sheath could have been accomplished with rather more in the way of finesse"), I did feel this story was better. For one thing, though I don't think that what Eithne is punished for was really her fault, I understand why Brandr holds her accountable and why she agrees to it. In addition, Eithne is a very strong heroine who leads the village (too bad she has to ) and it's her plan that sets the plots in motion. She also stands up to him when he's wrong. To his credit, he bends more than Ms. Barker's other heroes in that he does apologize to her. This apology, though, depicts what is a central problem in most of the books in this genre: when the woman makes a mistake, she's punished; the man just has to apologize and "We good?" While his actions are motivated, they're pretty unfair and he should have done more to make up for them. Finally, I had mixed feelings about the ending, since it concludes just as . 3 stars.
2) Lily Harlem: This is the only story with humor as Steinn seemingly cannot comprehend Gladys's dislike of him and meets all of her comical attempts to kill him with disproportionate calm. It is also, however, the only story with rape (as I see it). 3 stars.
3) Felicity Brandon: Others love this author; her "heroes" are too abusive for me and her public punishments/humiliations deeply unappealing (this does not happen here, though it does in The Viking's Conquest). I didn't like this story: I found Jerrik to be a bully as he threatened to birch his wife's young son. Authors: can we please keep the physical punishment of children out of these books? Really, just don't. The reasons Jerrik punished Brigid were absurd as she was the only one who could possibly know (sometimes I wonder if authors use any common sense when writing these books). He also referred to his former days of raping and pillaging. A couple of the other stories do this -- I suppose to make this historically accurate -- for me, it just served as a reminder that these Vikings we were invested in as "heroes" were really no different from anyone else. Finally, this also contained another ending I felt was abrupt (though somewhat heart-warming, which is why I added a star). 2 stars.
4) Emmanuelle de Maupassant: I didn't know this author, but will be reading more of her as this was one of my favorites. For one thing, there was no dd, and I was really struck by how much more respect and caring there were between the non-dd couples than there were between the dd ones (except for the last story). At first Magnus is unkind to Modwen, but his reasons are understandable and he more than redeems himself at the end. I was afraid that . 5 stars.
5) Gianna Simone: I also didn't know this author, but she's one I'll be reading again. I loved that she gave us a hero with a disability (far too rare in this genre which prizes young, white, able-bodied H and h's); and it's clear that the "punishments" are for foreplay only (unlike in the other stories). This is the only tale that has a female Viking warrior and Pict husband, so it also stood out to me for that reason. In addition, Rinda, the warrior, is still (unlike most in this genre). Rinda and Graeme were two people who felt like outsiders who . 5 stars.
6) Vanessa Brooks: This is another author I've read before, who I usually find too harsh, and whose male characters are deeply unpleasant (see, for example, Sir Thomas's Bride). Again, this story isn't as bad. If you're an animal lover, though, it is a tearjerker; I did love how the animals were an important part of the story so it stood out to me. While I found the reasons to punish Ailsa contrived, I liked that she remained strong and that Thorolf worked to earn her trust (unusual for a genre in which most H's just say: "You have to trust me" without actually doing anything to earn that trust). 4 stars.
7) Sassa Daniels: I won't mince words; I hate this author. Her Tamed by Her Mates features a female character who lies about being raped (in the Harvey Weinstein/Jeffrey Epstein/Brett Kavanaugh/Me-Too era, no less) and "heroes" who allow their men to bodyshame the heroine. This story is not much better. Ytha tries to be a good wife to Garth, but he keeps pushing her away. In addition, he punishes her unfairly when it was his ill-temper that created the situation. I also didn't care for Ytha, who was the only weak female character in the book as she kept trying to win his love, even when he was cruel to her (there is submission and then there is abnegation). The book also mentions Garth's indifference to a female slave; I'm not sure why we were supposed to be invested in him after that reveal. (Side note: "infer" and "imply" are not used correctly here.) 1 star.
8) Sky Purington: Another author new to me and another I'd read again. This tale does not have dd and I found Ragnor's making sure that Myrna had food, water, warmth, and rest a thousand times more erotic than the endless birchings of the other stories. Myrna was a great, strong, intelligent, caring character, and her scar added yet more bodily diversity to this book. And I loved how the initially hard Ragnor softened towards her. Finally, I found the unusual, bittersweet backstory interesting and it added an extra layer of tenderness to what was, in some ways, a second-chance romance (I could do, however, without all the cringe-worthy "Odin's Balls" throughout these stories). 5 stars.
9) Jane Burrelli: Though this story had dd, it was a bit more palatable to me than the others since she did try to kill him and Bjorn does ultimately realize that this is not the best way to win Rhiannon's trust. Once he learns her secret, he initially acts stupidly , but he does redeem himself and show a lot of patience and caring. In addition, Rhiannon's secret is not resolved overnight, which I also appreciated. Finally, the climatic battle in this story is well-described with lots of detail, and Rhiannon (a wonderful strong heroine) and Rinda . 5 stars.
For those who like dd that is not outlandishly harsh, this is the book for them. If you don't, I wouldn't recommend it as all but two stories feature it. If you like heterosexual romance, this is the book for you as everyone has an HEA. The erotic scenes are detailed and well-described, though not particularly innovative (then again, I'm not sure how many ways there are to describe sex). And, of course, there are Vikings, hugely popular right now.
Four stars.
July 25, 2019
Vikings Look to Conquer
As with any collection of stories, you get some that are great, some that are okay and some that you just don’t like. I reviewed a few of the stories that stood out - for better or worse. All of the stories involve a village of women, children and the elderly who ask for protection from their enemies and in return, offer some of the single women as wives to the Viking warriors. Although each story is a standalone and involve the same characters, these are individual stories of each couple adjusting to their new realities. Contains instances of power exchange, spankings and dubious (or complete lack of) consent.
Brandr-by Ashe Barker
This is where everything kind of starts for the whole book, but it does focus on the couple of Brandr and Eithne. Setting a strong example for the rest of the village, this couple comes together and finds love, respect, honor and safety. I was able to easily connect with the characters and really enjoyed this story.
Steinn-by Lily Harlem
After reading the first two chapters of this story, I was unable to finish it. The scene of Steinn forcing himself on his new wife was upsetting and not necessary (in my opinion) in this type of story. The author tried to justify his actions because she climaxed (again by force - and simple biology), but it just didn’t work for me. This is a story of two people forced together for the greater good of the village and were given no time to get to know each other or adjust to the relationship before he demanded his “husbandly rights”. Without consent, even if married, it is still rape. If you are sensitive to these issues, skip this story.
Thorolf- by Vanessa Brooks
A quote from this story (Viking proverb):
“There is seldom a single wave.”
Like the ocean, life has its cycles of ebb and flow. This story is a good example of this thought. Two enemies learning to trust in each other and eventually find love. Though sad at times, the story is a positive message about life and death and moving forward with purpose.
Ragnar-by Sky Purington
This is a rather ironic story - a man still mourning his first wife and trying to be emotionally detached is determined to permanently remove the stoic mask his new wife wears as a shield. Both are afraid to get emotionally close to one another, but cannot seem to resist the powerful attraction. The stubbornness of these two characters made me want to smack them upside the head at times! A good story about letting go of the past, honoring those that have been lost and living life to its fullest potential.
Bjorn-by Jane Burrelli
Warning: this story deals with the lingering mental issues of rape. Although the incident is not described in detail, enough is implied to be disturbing. Read with caution.
This is a story of a strong woman who goes to extreme lengths to ensure she will never be vulnerable or victimized by a male again. The man who sets his mind to tame her must find the strength, patience, love and actions to convince her he is the man for her. This female character is so strong and courageous enough to finally be able to face her fears. Though a sad story, it is a fitting end to this series of intertwined stories.
Many of the stories in this book have a similar message about letting go of the past, honoring those that have been lost and living life to its fullest potential. The stories seem to be well researched and referenced to a time period and people in history. This is an enjoyable book about Vikings and the lives they changed - for better or worse.
As with any collection of stories, you get some that are great, some that are okay and some that you just don’t like. I reviewed a few of the stories that stood out - for better or worse. All of the stories involve a village of women, children and the elderly who ask for protection from their enemies and in return, offer some of the single women as wives to the Viking warriors. Although each story is a standalone and involve the same characters, these are individual stories of each couple adjusting to their new realities. Contains instances of power exchange, spankings and dubious (or complete lack of) consent.
Brandr-by Ashe Barker
This is where everything kind of starts for the whole book, but it does focus on the couple of Brandr and Eithne. Setting a strong example for the rest of the village, this couple comes together and finds love, respect, honor and safety. I was able to easily connect with the characters and really enjoyed this story.
Steinn-by Lily Harlem
After reading the first two chapters of this story, I was unable to finish it. The scene of Steinn forcing himself on his new wife was upsetting and not necessary (in my opinion) in this type of story. The author tried to justify his actions because she climaxed (again by force - and simple biology), but it just didn’t work for me. This is a story of two people forced together for the greater good of the village and were given no time to get to know each other or adjust to the relationship before he demanded his “husbandly rights”. Without consent, even if married, it is still rape. If you are sensitive to these issues, skip this story.
Thorolf- by Vanessa Brooks
A quote from this story (Viking proverb):
“There is seldom a single wave.”
Like the ocean, life has its cycles of ebb and flow. This story is a good example of this thought. Two enemies learning to trust in each other and eventually find love. Though sad at times, the story is a positive message about life and death and moving forward with purpose.
Ragnar-by Sky Purington
This is a rather ironic story - a man still mourning his first wife and trying to be emotionally detached is determined to permanently remove the stoic mask his new wife wears as a shield. Both are afraid to get emotionally close to one another, but cannot seem to resist the powerful attraction. The stubbornness of these two characters made me want to smack them upside the head at times! A good story about letting go of the past, honoring those that have been lost and living life to its fullest potential.
Bjorn-by Jane Burrelli
Warning: this story deals with the lingering mental issues of rape. Although the incident is not described in detail, enough is implied to be disturbing. Read with caution.
This is a story of a strong woman who goes to extreme lengths to ensure she will never be vulnerable or victimized by a male again. The man who sets his mind to tame her must find the strength, patience, love and actions to convince her he is the man for her. This female character is so strong and courageous enough to finally be able to face her fears. Though a sad story, it is a fitting end to this series of intertwined stories.
Many of the stories in this book have a similar message about letting go of the past, honoring those that have been lost and living life to its fullest potential. The stories seem to be well researched and referenced to a time period and people in history. This is an enjoyable book about Vikings and the lives they changed - for better or worse.
July 18, 2019
Hot alpha vikings, strong feisty brides and steamy sex; what is not to love? I really enjoy anthologies where all the books, by different great authors, revolve around a common starting story. Each book makes you feel like you are there in the Pict village in Scotland catching up on all your friends. And yet each book, written by top authors in historical romance and erotica, has a different spin on the story of Viking warriors (not all of them male!) marrying Pict brides (and 1 groom) to settle in a village that has been devastated by raids from neighboring tribes and outlaws. Almost all the pict men have been murdered. I really liked that the new couples, who had no time for courtship, came from different experiences. Some were widows still grieving the loss of their wife or husband and. as in Magnus or Brandr or Ragnar, the tale will bring a tear to your eye. Others, like Jerrick or Steinn, must "tame" their independent new brides who have no desire to take on another lout of a husband. And two books, Graeme and Bjorn, feature female warriors, one viking and one pict, who do not want to give up their swords to be wives.
"Vikings" also has plenty of suspense and action as the newly merged village must take on treats from their greedy neighbors and even a raid at the end that took me truly by surprise. And there is a lot of hot, powerful viking lust and even some spanking involved, but all in good fun. This is a "must read" set of novellas.
"Vikings" also has plenty of suspense and action as the newly merged village must take on treats from their greedy neighbors and even a raid at the end that took me truly by surprise. And there is a lot of hot, powerful viking lust and even some spanking involved, but all in good fun. This is a "must read" set of novellas.
August 21, 2019
Update: Review of the full book
I enjoyed the 9 short stories of each Viking and his Pict wife. The first few chapters are the same, only with different points of view and how each couple's story developed. Lust was easy to some but not for the others. All of these have spankings but not all have anal sex, so if you're not into that, you might just find you'll like it, you never know.
My favorite story is of Bjorn and Rhiannon, I loved the battle scene at the end.
Note: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review (prologue only)
It started out a bit slow but picked up. I'm very curious about the other stories and we all get a preview of most of the characters. While the other Viking stories I've read involve pillaging, looting, raping, and all the other negative things about Viking raids, this one didn't come to that because of Eithne's quick thinking.
I like that she used the situation to the town's benefit. She's an outsider but couldn't let her home be destroyed. As the reader with the omniscient point of view but leaning towards her perspective, you'd think her proposal was logical and fair. To the characters, both the women and the warriors, it's unheard of and absurd so can't blame the violent reactions.
The prologue really set the tone of the rest of the series and it's a promising start.
I enjoyed the 9 short stories of each Viking and his Pict wife. The first few chapters are the same, only with different points of view and how each couple's story developed. Lust was easy to some but not for the others. All of these have spankings but not all have anal sex, so if you're not into that, you might just find you'll like it, you never know.
My favorite story is of Bjorn and Rhiannon, I loved the battle scene at the end.
Note: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review (prologue only)
It started out a bit slow but picked up. I'm very curious about the other stories and we all get a preview of most of the characters. While the other Viking stories I've read involve pillaging, looting, raping, and all the other negative things about Viking raids, this one didn't come to that because of Eithne's quick thinking.
I like that she used the situation to the town's benefit. She's an outsider but couldn't let her home be destroyed. As the reader with the omniscient point of view but leaning towards her perspective, you'd think her proposal was logical and fair. To the characters, both the women and the warriors, it's unheard of and absurd so can't blame the violent reactions.
The prologue really set the tone of the rest of the series and it's a promising start.
July 23, 2019
Vikings is a wonderful anthology written by nine different authors, writing nine different stories about a group of Viking warriors who arrive in the land of the Picts at the village of Achnaryrie. The Vikings had planned to pillage and plunder the village of Achnaryrie but when they arrived they were instead offered a deal. The deal was that the Viking Jarl and eight of his warriors would marry members of the village, become permanent working members of Achnaryrie, and stay to protect the village from other invaders. Each individual one of the stories focus on one of the nine different couples. This was a very original and unique idea. I loved this anthology because the characters were all related and/or interconnected to one another because they are all living in the village of Achnaryrie. This was especially entertaining and made for a soap opera like series due to the way the stories are tied together. Vikings is an anthology of nine enemies to lovers stories.
July 6, 2019
Wow, this novella really set the stage for the upcoming nine romances. Can’t wait to read them! The characters are strong-willed and intriguing. I love the premise and setup. A struggling village of mostly women is desperate for able-bodied men to fight for them and to procreate with. Vikings come to raid and Eithne strikes a pragmatic bargain with the Jarl. There are intriguing aspects of each of the characters even though we are primarily introduced to Eithne andantes Brandr.
July 23, 2019
Vikings is a wonderful read by various authors, usually I would leave it at that but this book was such a great read is deserves the mention of all authors.
Ashe Barker, Felicity Brandon, Lily Harlem, Venessa Brooks, Jane Burrelli, Sasha Daniels, Emmanuelle De Maupassant, Sky Purlington and Gianna Simone.
Well done ladies 👏👏
Sexual content, they are Vikings.
Stand alone
Highly recommend
I bought this book in appreciation of the authors work
Ashe Barker, Felicity Brandon, Lily Harlem, Venessa Brooks, Jane Burrelli, Sasha Daniels, Emmanuelle De Maupassant, Sky Purlington and Gianna Simone.
Well done ladies 👏👏
Sexual content, they are Vikings.
Stand alone
Highly recommend
I bought this book in appreciation of the authors work
July 4, 2019
Vikings is a thrilling boxed set of nine books by nine great authors. They’re all set within the same time period, each with different characters. There’re nine hot dominating warriors and their strong, sassy, unyielding brides. With lots of danger, bloodshed, and sexy spanking. What’s not to love!
July 2, 2019
I just finished the Prologue and it is sooo good! I can’t wait to read the rest of this book.
October 31, 2019
I was given an ARC of this anthology for an honest review.
Vikings Prologue
5 Stars
Times are hard in early Scotland, and being a village of primarily women and children the village people of Achnaryrie are lucky to have survived as long as they have. Eithne has taken over the day to day decision making in the village as their Chieftain is ill. Hanging on by sheer determination alone they have survived attacks by the surrounding villages until the day Vikings arrive on their shores.
Desperate times deserve desperate measures, or so they say. With nothing left to lose Eithne confronts the Vikings as they arrive on her shore with an offer she hopes they can’t refuse.
Brandr has taken his men out looking for treasure, never could he have imagined what waited for them when they put ashore. Intrigued by Eithne he listens to her and accepts her offer.
Although I’m not sure why at this point Brandr hasn’t just laughed in her face and moved on with his men I am intrigued to find out!
Steinn
3 Stars
Forced to wed, fate has matched Glady’s and Steinn. Steinn is sure that the Gods have favored him, Glady’s not so much. For most of the story I absolutely despised Glady’s as much as she did Steinn. The writing was good and the ending was well done. I guess I’m just not as forgiving as Steinn.
Jerrik
4 Stars
Brigid is a widow with a young son to raise. With a less than satisfying first marriage she is content to live alone, until that choice is taken from her. Jerrik is used to loving and leaving with no thought to his partner once the deed is done and no desire to have a family or children. Loyal to his Jarl he will do as he is told. Can two people who have no interest in marriage find their way to each other?
Magnus
4.5 Stars
Modwen is a weaver and mother, widow of the blacksmith. Alone since her husband passed she is vulnerable to those who would take advantage of her. Magnus lost his wife many years ago, hardening his heart and leaving him with nothing left to live for. Instructed by the Jarl to marry and take over the Forge and teach Modwen’s son the trade, the do as they are told. Can a woman willing to love again thaw the heart of a man who’s long ago dedicated his life only to fighting his way to Valhalla?
Graeme
5 Stars
Graeme is one of the few surviving males, injured in battle he can no longer defend his people, no surprise this has made him a pretty surly fellow, throw in a village of women who want to “save him”, you can’t blame a guy for wanting to keep to himself. Rinda is sister to the Jarl and a Fierce Warrior in her own right, she sees no need to have a husband of family, that would only keep her from her true calling. Forced to marry you would expect sparks to fly.
I loved this story, it didn’t play out at all like I expected it to and I was very pleasantly surprised. I was only disappointed when I got to the end. Graeme has been harboring a secret for many years. I would have loved to see him receive recognition for all his work.
Thorolf
4 Stars
Ailsa’s husband left her when she was unable to bring her pregnancies to full term. She fears he is still alive although everyone else believes he is gone. Chosen to marry one of the invaders she is pared with Thorolf, the Wolf. He has chosen her because she shares the same love of wolves as he. Ailsa has been alone for a long time and has difficulty accepting her husbands rules, causing more than a few issues between them.
The story was well written and independently I would rate it higher, however there were a lot of inconsistencies in this story. While other books in the anthology had minor issues from one to another the number of contradictions in this one constantly pulled me out of the story.
Garth
4.5 Stars
Ytha has spent her life an outcast, living on the edge of the village she yearns to be accepted. When told she has been chosen to marry one of the Vikings she thinks maybe her luck has finally changed. Garth is not happy with the bride he has taken, rumors say she is a witch and cursed. He is cursed as well, or so he thinks. Each has what the either needs to be happy, will they be able to put misconceptions behind them and live happily every after?
Ragnar
5 Stars
Can a Viking intent on plunder find love is the real treasure?
Myrna is a healer. When Vikings arrive on their shores and a deal is made to save their lives by marrying the invaders she is selected to be one of the brides. Recognizing a blade carried by one of the “husbands” an obviously dark and dangerous man she chooses him in order to protect the other women destined to mate with the Vikings.
Ragnar will follow his Jarl’s orders, but he’s not happy about it. He has loved and lost and has no desire to take another wife. Certainly not one who is a healer.
Forced together by fate, can they put their pasts behind them and make a life together? Or will the things they have in common come between them and their HEA? You’ll have to read the story to find out!
Vikings Prologue
5 Stars
Times are hard in early Scotland, and being a village of primarily women and children the village people of Achnaryrie are lucky to have survived as long as they have. Eithne has taken over the day to day decision making in the village as their Chieftain is ill. Hanging on by sheer determination alone they have survived attacks by the surrounding villages until the day Vikings arrive on their shores.
Desperate times deserve desperate measures, or so they say. With nothing left to lose Eithne confronts the Vikings as they arrive on her shore with an offer she hopes they can’t refuse.
Brandr has taken his men out looking for treasure, never could he have imagined what waited for them when they put ashore. Intrigued by Eithne he listens to her and accepts her offer.
Although I’m not sure why at this point Brandr hasn’t just laughed in her face and moved on with his men I am intrigued to find out!
Steinn
3 Stars
Forced to wed, fate has matched Glady’s and Steinn. Steinn is sure that the Gods have favored him, Glady’s not so much. For most of the story I absolutely despised Glady’s as much as she did Steinn. The writing was good and the ending was well done. I guess I’m just not as forgiving as Steinn.
Jerrik
4 Stars
Brigid is a widow with a young son to raise. With a less than satisfying first marriage she is content to live alone, until that choice is taken from her. Jerrik is used to loving and leaving with no thought to his partner once the deed is done and no desire to have a family or children. Loyal to his Jarl he will do as he is told. Can two people who have no interest in marriage find their way to each other?
Magnus
4.5 Stars
Modwen is a weaver and mother, widow of the blacksmith. Alone since her husband passed she is vulnerable to those who would take advantage of her. Magnus lost his wife many years ago, hardening his heart and leaving him with nothing left to live for. Instructed by the Jarl to marry and take over the Forge and teach Modwen’s son the trade, the do as they are told. Can a woman willing to love again thaw the heart of a man who’s long ago dedicated his life only to fighting his way to Valhalla?
Graeme
5 Stars
Graeme is one of the few surviving males, injured in battle he can no longer defend his people, no surprise this has made him a pretty surly fellow, throw in a village of women who want to “save him”, you can’t blame a guy for wanting to keep to himself. Rinda is sister to the Jarl and a Fierce Warrior in her own right, she sees no need to have a husband of family, that would only keep her from her true calling. Forced to marry you would expect sparks to fly.
I loved this story, it didn’t play out at all like I expected it to and I was very pleasantly surprised. I was only disappointed when I got to the end. Graeme has been harboring a secret for many years. I would have loved to see him receive recognition for all his work.
Thorolf
4 Stars
Ailsa’s husband left her when she was unable to bring her pregnancies to full term. She fears he is still alive although everyone else believes he is gone. Chosen to marry one of the invaders she is pared with Thorolf, the Wolf. He has chosen her because she shares the same love of wolves as he. Ailsa has been alone for a long time and has difficulty accepting her husbands rules, causing more than a few issues between them.
The story was well written and independently I would rate it higher, however there were a lot of inconsistencies in this story. While other books in the anthology had minor issues from one to another the number of contradictions in this one constantly pulled me out of the story.
Garth
4.5 Stars
Ytha has spent her life an outcast, living on the edge of the village she yearns to be accepted. When told she has been chosen to marry one of the Vikings she thinks maybe her luck has finally changed. Garth is not happy with the bride he has taken, rumors say she is a witch and cursed. He is cursed as well, or so he thinks. Each has what the either needs to be happy, will they be able to put misconceptions behind them and live happily every after?
Ragnar
5 Stars
Can a Viking intent on plunder find love is the real treasure?
Myrna is a healer. When Vikings arrive on their shores and a deal is made to save their lives by marrying the invaders she is selected to be one of the brides. Recognizing a blade carried by one of the “husbands” an obviously dark and dangerous man she chooses him in order to protect the other women destined to mate with the Vikings.
Ragnar will follow his Jarl’s orders, but he’s not happy about it. He has loved and lost and has no desire to take another wife. Certainly not one who is a healer.
Forced together by fate, can they put their pasts behind them and make a life together? Or will the things they have in common come between them and their HEA? You’ll have to read the story to find out!
November 13, 2019
This is the story of some Vikings that come to a village of mostly women and they strike a deal that some of the Vikings can marry some of the eligible woman provided that they stay and protect the village from the enemies that surround them and have decimated their male population. In exchange, they get to stay, put down roots and marry these women. This set is several short stories of these individual marriages.
The box set was appealing to me because one, the cover, yum. Secondly, it seemed like a good way to see how I liked the writing of several authors.
The first story started off as enjoyable enough, but most of the others followed the same plot line. There was a lot of spanking of the women to teach them obedience. I was not a fan of that, but I can appreciate that this is a super long time ago and maybe that was the cultural norm. I'm not as accepting of the fact that all the women liked it and found it to be a sexual turn-on, and that some of them even said, here is a switch, please punish me, I deserve it for disobeying you, like a small child. Nope, can't say I cared for that at all. And this happens in ever single book.
There were very few of the stories that stood out to me. Maybe the first with the woman who struck the deal with the leader, the blacksmith one, the one with the female Viking, and the last one with the warrior Pict sister. Will any of these stand in my memory 6 months from now? No. They are not terrible, they are pretty well edited, they just aren't memorable.
The box set was appealing to me because one, the cover, yum. Secondly, it seemed like a good way to see how I liked the writing of several authors.
The first story started off as enjoyable enough, but most of the others followed the same plot line. There was a lot of spanking of the women to teach them obedience. I was not a fan of that, but I can appreciate that this is a super long time ago and maybe that was the cultural norm. I'm not as accepting of the fact that all the women liked it and found it to be a sexual turn-on, and that some of them even said, here is a switch, please punish me, I deserve it for disobeying you, like a small child. Nope, can't say I cared for that at all. And this happens in ever single book.
There were very few of the stories that stood out to me. Maybe the first with the woman who struck the deal with the leader, the blacksmith one, the one with the female Viking, and the last one with the warrior Pict sister. Will any of these stand in my memory 6 months from now? No. They are not terrible, they are pretty well edited, they just aren't memorable.
July 19, 2019
Eight Wives👰 For Eight Viking Brothers🐺🔪
And A Viking Warrior Sister👰🔪 for a Pict Man.
When Viking longships pull into the small beach at the Pict village of Archnaryrie, Scotland, 912 AD, there are only women and children there.
The Pict men are all dead but two, and one of them is the old, dying chief. The other is a lame, hateful young man, injured in the constant raids🔪 from another village and bandits👹.
Instead of raiding a village that has nothing, Eithne💃💔, a young widow, talks Brandr🐺🔪🍆⛲, the Jarl of the Vikings, into settling there and taking wives👰 among the widows and young women of child bearing age.
These are their stories!📚
ARC Received from Booksprout🌱
I also got this book for $.99 on Amazon
These are wonderful depictions of primitive village life🏡 back then, plus the men are all big blonde Vikings🐺🔪🍆⛲ and tenth degree Spankmeisters!👋👋👋 ADULTS only!
How could you not love💕 this!?
And A Viking Warrior Sister👰🔪 for a Pict Man.
When Viking longships pull into the small beach at the Pict village of Archnaryrie, Scotland, 912 AD, there are only women and children there.
The Pict men are all dead but two, and one of them is the old, dying chief. The other is a lame, hateful young man, injured in the constant raids🔪 from another village and bandits👹.
Instead of raiding a village that has nothing, Eithne💃💔, a young widow, talks Brandr🐺🔪🍆⛲, the Jarl of the Vikings, into settling there and taking wives👰 among the widows and young women of child bearing age.
These are their stories!📚
ARC Received from Booksprout🌱
I also got this book for $.99 on Amazon
These are wonderful depictions of primitive village life🏡 back then, plus the men are all big blonde Vikings🐺🔪🍆⛲ and tenth degree Spankmeisters!👋👋👋 ADULTS only!
How could you not love💕 this!?
July 30, 2019
What an adventure!
What a read!! This was the best .99 I have ever spent! Vikings: Nine warrior -hero romance is nothing short of amazing! Each viking has their own novela all of the books are written by a different author and all the books are centered around the same storyline.
The Vikings from Skalens are exploring the lands south of Orkney when they come upon a small Pict village. When getting off their long ships they are greeted in the last way they expect. Two woman are standing on the shore! Are they crazy? Usually people run in fear! Brandr their leader is intrigued, he and two of his warriors approach a little whisp of a woman. Eithne is scared to death but she needs to do this for her failing village for if she doesn't they will surely parish. Eithne and Brandr agree to a bargain that her fellow villagers will surely think she has lost her mind!
What a read!! This was the best .99 I have ever spent! Vikings: Nine warrior -hero romance is nothing short of amazing! Each viking has their own novela all of the books are written by a different author and all the books are centered around the same storyline.
The Vikings from Skalens are exploring the lands south of Orkney when they come upon a small Pict village. When getting off their long ships they are greeted in the last way they expect. Two woman are standing on the shore! Are they crazy? Usually people run in fear! Brandr their leader is intrigued, he and two of his warriors approach a little whisp of a woman. Eithne is scared to death but she needs to do this for her failing village for if she doesn't they will surely parish. Eithne and Brandr agree to a bargain that her fellow villagers will surely think she has lost her mind!
July 10, 2019
A Pict village has suffered from attacks from their neighbours until there are only women, the old & infirm left. Then the Vikings arrive. Eithne bravely goes to the beach to meet them & has an offer to make.
Six Vikings to stay & marry six villagers only Brandr the jarl agrees to the bargain if there are nine marriages.
The prologue sets the scene beautifully for the nine stories to follow, it gives some insight to the village & the villagers also the Vikings I can’t wait to read the individual stories as both the villagers & the Vikings have reservations, to say the least, about the bargain
Nine tales of suspense, seduction and adventure, told against the forbidding backdrop of medieval Scotland.
Six Vikings to stay & marry six villagers only Brandr the jarl agrees to the bargain if there are nine marriages.
The prologue sets the scene beautifully for the nine stories to follow, it gives some insight to the village & the villagers also the Vikings I can’t wait to read the individual stories as both the villagers & the Vikings have reservations, to say the least, about the bargain
Nine tales of suspense, seduction and adventure, told against the forbidding backdrop of medieval Scotland.
August 8, 2019
Absolutely brilliant
I liked this book from the very first page. The characters were all wonderfully written in each story. Each story had its own style, but flowed smoothly with the others. Definitely a steamy read . I recommend this to any Viking romance lover. I'm not going to take the time to rate each story individually. Just know that all stories are 4 or 5 stars. I would and could happily read more of this book series set. It would be difficult to pick a favorite character and story.
I will give no spoilers and ruin anything for other readers but I just want to tell Jane Burrelli that I am not real happy with her at the moment. I mean seriously???? 😭😭😭
I liked this book from the very first page. The characters were all wonderfully written in each story. Each story had its own style, but flowed smoothly with the others. Definitely a steamy read . I recommend this to any Viking romance lover. I'm not going to take the time to rate each story individually. Just know that all stories are 4 or 5 stars. I would and could happily read more of this book series set. It would be difficult to pick a favorite character and story.
I will give no spoilers and ruin anything for other readers but I just want to tell Jane Burrelli that I am not real happy with her at the moment. I mean seriously???? 😭😭😭
July 22, 2019
Wow! What a prologue! Ashe Barker sets the stage for this anthology beautifully. Her descriptions and imagery clearly make you long for more. When the Vikings sailed in I felt the women's trepidation. I was only barely familiar with Emmanuel De Maupassant and Sky Purington's writing to start with but I was in for a treat. These are exciting stories of brave women, strong Vikings and the perilous times.
Note: I don't particularly read BDSM or enjoy the disciplinary aspect, that aside this was an interesting read.
August 1, 2019
A wonderful group of stories!
I loved the start if this story and then be able to follow a lot of the newly wed and how the came together. In the meantime also see how everything got better in the village.
So many interesting characters as Eithne who manage to cut a deal with the Viking Jarl Brandr and Jerrik who was faced to not a wife - Brigid - but also a son he knew nothing about when he got married.
I can go on and on about all the characters and their stories, but it’s better to read it yourself. I almost forgot, it’s hot how they interact with each other....
I loved the start if this story and then be able to follow a lot of the newly wed and how the came together. In the meantime also see how everything got better in the village.
So many interesting characters as Eithne who manage to cut a deal with the Viking Jarl Brandr and Jerrik who was faced to not a wife - Brigid - but also a son he knew nothing about when he got married.
I can go on and on about all the characters and their stories, but it’s better to read it yourself. I almost forgot, it’s hot how they interact with each other....
July 7, 2019
I'm so excited! And I just won't hide it...
Ohhhh my stars! This prolog is an introduction to a new series of books that take place in the same village in thew 13th century. This book brings.to life a world that has danger, conflict, passions, battles of will... Seven women forced to marry seven wild, scarred and unknown vikings, what could go wrong? I just can't wait.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ohhhh my stars! This prolog is an introduction to a new series of books that take place in the same village in thew 13th century. This book brings.to life a world that has danger, conflict, passions, battles of will... Seven women forced to marry seven wild, scarred and unknown vikings, what could go wrong? I just can't wait.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 28, 2019
Great
Each author picks up at a new point or point of view in the story line! Builds on the story for the next author, yet there is no copy and paste feel to it. Each ones own flair and creativity is vividly expressed. Alpha male in Viking attire..check ...heroine either ready and waiting or stubborn as hell...check....Rich story....get to meet new authors and their style....check....
Each author picks up at a new point or point of view in the story line! Builds on the story for the next author, yet there is no copy and paste feel to it. Each ones own flair and creativity is vividly expressed. Alpha male in Viking attire..check ...heroine either ready and waiting or stubborn as hell...check....Rich story....get to meet new authors and their style....check....
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews