Hechicera

Warriors #2

by Karyn Monk

En la Escocia del siglo XIII, la práctica de la hechicería podía condenarse con la muerte en la hoguera. Ésta es la historia, divertida y tierna, de la relación que surge entre Gwendolyn, una bella mujer acusada de brujería, y Alex MacDunn, un apuesto guerrero que busca en esta misteriosa joven un milagro que salve la vida de su hijo. Sólo existe un problema: Gwendolyn no tiene poderes para hechizar o curar...

UNA MUJER ACORRALADA
Gwendolyn MacSween, acusada injustamente de asesinato y brujería, es condenada por su propio clan a morir quemada en la hoguera. En el último instante, el rescate llega del lugar más inesperado: Alex MacDunn, jefe del poderoso clan rival de los MacDunn... Pero Gwendolyn pronto descubrirá que su rescate no significa la salvación.

UN GUERRERO ATORMENTADO
Alex MacDunn, guerrero y jefe del clan MacDunn, está marcado por un pasado repleto de pérdidas y tragedias. Ahora, su único deseo es capturar la hechicera de los McSween para que salve la vida de su hijo gravemente enfermo... Y cuando esperaba encontrar una vieja bruja, en realidad encuentra una dulce mujer de belleza sobrenatural...

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Medieval Romance, Medieval, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

433 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread: 8/1/23
This book was such a good highlander story! The story starts off with Gwendolyn, accused of witchcraft and murder. As she's about to be burned at the stake, she is saved by Laird Mad Alex. Alex rescues her for one reason, to heal his dying son.

Unfortunately, Gwendolyn is not a witch but will have to pretend to be one, or she'll be sent back to her enemies. Her mother was a healer before being burned for witchcraft when Gwen was a little girl. Gwen memorized her mother's book. She just hopes she can fake it until she can escape later. To be honest, she couldn't have done any worse than the other doctors. She soon comes to care for Alex and his son, and she intends to save him.

She is also facing several enemies

One of the crazy villains is not far behind her, and he wants her! She's has in her possessions a family talisman that grants a wish to the holder every 100 years, and that stone will be his!

Another villian lurks in the castle, causing Gwen deadly accidents. It could be anybody since all of them are scared (some in funny ways) or just hateful to her because she is a witch.

The secondary characters were great and alleviated a lot of comic relief. I love that one of the elders keeps trying to give Gwen a special potion that will kill a witch. He can't grasp that if she's mortal, that will kill her too. I also love Gwen's gory stories that everyone can't stop listening to.

This book is full of waky characters and a well developed story! I highly recommend trying this book if you like highlander hr!

2020**********original review *****
This was a good read! The H and h were great! The side characters were definitely the comic relief. It's different but good.

[Cheesecake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwendolyn MacSween the witch (therefore evil?) and Laird Alex MacDunn the desperate. Desperate enough to steal a witch from her burning pyre!

Life in the middle ages sucked! Especially if you were a witch. Gwendolyn remembers watching her mother burn on a pyre when she was a little girl. Her only company as she grew up was her loving father until he was murdered and she was framed for the deed.

After Alex rescues kidnaps her from the MacSween clan, he tells her she is his prisoner and must use her powers to cure his dying son. He fully believes that she was justly tried by the MacSweens when they found her guilty.

There's a nice slow progression from her being the vilified and untrusted outsider to a cherished member of their clan by the end of the book.
Gwen is used to being stoic and keeping a close watch on those around her. She notices things others do not.
Is she a witch? Well, there are some interesting coincidences...

Alex has grieved so much for his first wife who died 4 years ago, that many think him mad. Is this a love triangle with a ghost?... Not really IMHO. He is drawn to Gwen from the first with more passion than he thought he was capable. The author does a fine job walking the fence between trivializing his love for his first wife, yet not making Gwen seem like second best. There is a suggestion that his first wife's ghost has lingered but not in any corporeal way. Like a feeling of sadness because she dies such a long lingering painful death.

To keep the story from getting too dark, there's a slew of humorous side characers.

There is an OW wannabe. My only complaint was that the story doesn't specify if she gets her just deserts. I like to think Alex would have married the bitch off to a clan as far removed as he could find.

Anyways, I was surprised how much I enjoyed this one as I've had it on my TBR for years!

[Alba Turunen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Estrellitas bien merecidas. Me ha gustado mucho, y me ha tenido enganchada y en vilo durante todo el libro. El primero de la serie ya me gustó un montón, y éste me reafirma en mi decisión de seguir leyendo a Karyn Monk. Además, aunque sea una serie, parece que se pueden leer independientes, porque éste segundo no tiene nada que ver con el primero.

¿Y qué nos encontramos aquí? Estamos en la Escocia de principios del siglo XIII, y Gwendolyn, una joven del clan MacSween va a ser quemada en la hoguera por bruja, a manos de su propio clan. Y por otro lado está Alex, el laird del clan MacDunn, un hombre apodado "El Loco", y con un hijo moribundo, que necesita la ayuda de la bruja Gwendolyn para que sane a su hijo. Así que delante de todo el clan, irrumpe con sus guerreros y salva a Gwendolyn de las llamas para llevársela con él. Pero ésta afrenta no quedará impune. Robert, el hermano menor del laird MacSween se la tiene jurada a Gwendolyn, la desea y la desprecia a partes iguales, pero hay algo de ella que quiere, y no descansará hasta conseguirlo.

De éste libro, al igual que del primero, me han encantado las diatribas y guerras dialécticas entre los personajes. Al principio con la llegada de Gwendolyn al clan MacDunn, donde se verá la gran ignorancia de la gente de la época, y no sólo la ignorancia de conocimientos, si no también la gran ignorancia que existía en el ámbito de la medicina, y cuánto mal hizo el miedo y la superstición. Las escenas entre Gwendolyn y el pequeño David me han encantado. También las escenas de las discusiones y disparates que soltaban los ancianos del clan (creo que a ésta autora le encanta esto último, en su primer libro también hubo ancianos de éste tipo que me hicieron soltar más de una carcajada). E incluso las discusiones entre Gwendolyn y Elspeth, la curandera del clan, a la que llegas a odiar con todas tus fuerzas. Los protagonistas me han encantado, pero los secundarios no se han quedado atrás.

En cuanto a la historia de amor, tarda en llegar, bastante. A mí me ha gustado porque no es un amor empalagoso. Tenemos a Gwendolyn, una joven que siempre vivió aislada y fue el centro de burlas de su clan por ser bruja, una muchacha que sólo tuvo contacto con su padre hasta que éste murió, y que debido a su falta no sabe cómo amar, pero tiene mucho que ofrecer. Y Alex, un hombre que amó profundamente a su esposa, que enloqueció a su muerte, y que aún vaga por sus tierras por la noche "hablando" con su fallecida esposa. Sobre todo para Alex no es fácil volver a enamorarse, pero desde el principio se siente atraído por Gwendolyn. El resto, hay que leerlo para saberlo.

Si acaso lo único que me ha decepcionado es que es muy evidente quién estaba tras los ataques a Gwendolyn para que huyera del clan MacDunn. Y seré mal pensada, pero creía que los ataques y la enfermedad de David tenían unos motivos más perversos que la verdadera razón por la que está en dicha condición, pero pensándolo con la cabeza fría, me parece un acierto de la escritora lo que realmente padece. Y en el final, me han faltado páginas, quería algo más, un poco más, y eso que no es un libro corto, pero lo he disfrutado un montón.

En breve seguiré con la serie y leeré el tercero y último libro.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot tell you how much I truly loved this book... I mean honest to god I hated when it ended.
This was not a run of the mill story... there is elements of paranormal but nothing really in your face.. more like touches of magic. There is a abused and mistreated heroine who has never had a friend outside of her beloved father.... she was ostracized by her village for her mother being killed as a witch and every illness or bad luck that befalls the village is her ever doing.....

We begin the story with her being prepared to be burned at the stake.... however there is a man who is barely living... he has buried a beloved wife and is now in need of the witch to bring back to his village.

The story is so wonderful I do not want to spoil.... but I will give you hints.... there are more than 1 evil OW, there is danger for our heroine as well as heartbreaking events.

They however are a couple you pray they will get a HEA...... I laughed...alot.... I gritted my teeth...ALOT... and I cried... a bit... okay more than a bit as the mistreatment of the heroine and her absolute acceptance reminded me of a bullied kid in modern times and it broke my heart.....

I love this book... can you tell.... I left this book on my desk... to pick up again... I have over 16,000 books in my kindle account and I have no less than 5000 physical books in my house (not counting my amish library) and I want this book on my desk to grab when I need that emotional exhale....

[Lisa Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Medieval romance books I have read. It made my cry and laugh. The main and secondary characters were wonderful and the action was steady. Great insight into the heroine's feelings of isolation. Wonderful love story.

Update: This one is on my ‘favorites’ list and now that I see Amazon has it available via Kindle I thought I would do a quick review here. I have recently re-read it and it still holds up. If you are looking for a book with a good medieval Scotland setting, this is a very good one with a twist. The beginning starts with the heroine about to be burned at the stake as a witch. Gwendolyn has endured prejudice and rejection all her life and the author does a wonderful character study of her. She is one of the strongest fragile persons in many a book. In an enjoyable Robin Hood fashion, Mad Alex saves her. Karyn Monk is such a good writer she is able to take the reader back to a time when many people were superstitious and yet manages to bring today’s issues to life, i.e. those of being ostracized and bullied. She made me cry, she made me laugh. I felt for these characters, including the secondary ones, even if the later are somewhat one-dimensional. This is the book that made Karyn Monk an auto-buy author for me.

[Serena Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

este libro me ha sorprendido gratamente, por su sencillez y por la forma de ser de sus personajes, esta autora cada vez me gusta mas

10/10

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 4 out of 5]

В зората на 13-ти век ловът на вещици е повсеместно явление на Албиона и из шотландските пущинаци. На една от тях предстои да се покатери на кладата под дюдюканията и ругатните на забавляващата се на зрелището тълпа. Никой обаче не е предвидил, че водачът на клана МакДън, известен още като “лудия” МакДън, в отчаяния си опит да намери лечение за безнадеждно болното си единствено дете, е решен да отвлече от кладата осъдената вещица и да рискува със свръхспособностите и за медицински цели, след като пиявиците, кръвопускането и отварите не са свършили работа. Гуендолин е повече от щастлива да отърве кладата, но сега наистина трябва да се преструва на вещица, за да оцелее в новата обстановка. Фактът, че трите сърдити старчета-стрейшини на клана МакДън решават да я тестват за добре дошла първо с отровно биле, местната конкурентна лечителка сипе люти проклятия за присъствието на дявола, а някой току се опитва да я разчисти от замъка не помагат за спадане напрежението.

Историята е много сладка, забавна и романтична, мярва се и един вълшебен камък и много неочаквани промени във времето, а Гуендолин се оказва неочаквано добра лечителка като просто не спазва тогавашните лекарски “правила”. Суеверията са доста живо пресъздадени, както и някои “медицински” общоприети практики, от които косата не просто настръхва, а може направо да окапе. Повереникът и е много сладко дете, а любовните искри с таткото хвърчат въпреки постоянно сипещия се по магически причини дъжд. Подходяща сгряваща история за есенен ден.

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty funny! I enjoyed all the secondary characters as they really added to the story. It was blatantly obvious who the villain/villain's were...and the insta-love always annoys me. Other than than it was enjoyable!

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE WITCH AND THE WARRIOR is the second book in 'The Warrior' series but it is fine to read as a 'stand alone'. I did and I had no problem. Set in Scottish medieval times it is about a young woman falsely accused of being a witch. At the beginning of the story the heroine, Gwendolyn MacSween, has already been accused and is suppose to be burned.

'Mad Alex' MacDunn is watching all the activity from a distance. He had tried to purchase the witch but he did not succeed. His men are in place and when things come to a head he kidnaps Gwen. His hope is that this young woman can cure his son. He lost his wife four years ago and he refuses to lose his son who is near death's door.

I can't say that there was anything exceptional about the romance. The storyline was simple: a tortured soul who finds love in the least likely of places. MacDunn's people are skeptical at best, some are even eccentric. Perhaps because of its lack of guile the tone was monotonous in some ways. Still, I persisted. Long before the end I figured out who was the one to cause all the problems. I just assumed the hero and heroine should have also.

I rated this story three stars because the author gave the story enough punch to keep me intrigued. If I was allowed, I would have given it 2 1/2 stars. I enjoyed MacDunn's companions. Brodick, Cameron and Ned each had redeeming qualities. Isabella was somewhat annoying but her personality paid off in the end. Alex's son David was written with interest though I had a hard time understanding why Alex kept him at a distance. The author explained Alex's reasons but I didn't buy into it. Lastly, I wanted Gwen to find happiness. She was an only child who lost her mother early in life. Her father loved her and tried his best but he had to keep them away from the townspeople for fear they would harm her. He ended up paying with his life, something you find out at the beginning of the book.

The Warrior Series: ONCE A WARRIOR #1, THE WITCH AND THE WARRIOR #2 and THE ROSE AND THE WARRIOR #3.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in Karyn Monk's Warriors series. My first by this author. It won't be the last. There were times I thought the author dwelt on the secondary characters more than the relationship between the H/h but overall it was a satisfying read.

[Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first erotica book I ever red; and I loved it, and I still love it. From time to time I re-read it and I always squeak like a teenage girl... I tottally recommended if you like Highlands scenary :)

[omianh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, specially suprised by the supernatural aspect it took towards the end. Seeing how I always believed Gwendolyn was not a witch!

Anyway I connected much more with Gwen than the hot laird and I think it was because the author had him burning with passion, acting non-challant, or acting like a madman. I couldn't figure out who exactly he was and I lost him a little bit. I also felt the romance/intimate moment came at awkward moments with them and I think the author should have introduced love more delicately seeing how most of the story revolved around his son.

At the end I have so say that I was surprised no one was poisoning the poor kid David. I always thought that one of the hateful women around were the ones trying to kill him off. David's situation was perhaps the most compelling thing about the story. Overall I enjoyed the book~

[Cruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting main characters with depth and growth, surrounded by caricatures. They're fun and all, but light and shallow, keeping the story from developing real depth.

An interesting look at illness, healthcare, and beliefs in a time without scientific process. In fact, giving Gwendolyn Real Magic, and contrasting that with her Mother scientific thoughts and subsequent death, takes a light, easy story to an extra level. And gives us a light story with teeth. And results in a memorable book.

A solid story.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3JVZE72...

[JENNIFER · Rating 5 out of 5]

The was my all time favorite book. I actually own this book and read it time and time again on occasions. It is a must read for all because the author actually takes you into the story and you feel as one of the characters.

[Thea · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolutely favorite historical romances ever read. This book had me cracking up in the middle of the bookstore, trying to muffle it and failing miserably. I must've looked crazy. That's when I knew -- this book was a keeper.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like tales of witches, warriors and Scotsmen then you will LOVE this book. The hero and heroin are so fleshed out in the book you think you are watching them on TV.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty entertaining! It kept me company while I was at home sick the past couple of days, so I appreciate it for that. 3.5 stars

[Paranormal Romance · Rating 2 out of 5]

The heroine is about to be burnt at the stake for witchcraft when she's saved by the hero and his men. Then hero has a very sick son and she is his last hope for a cure. But the heroine doesn't believe she's a witch and she's certainly no healer. Though she does have common sense and isn't ruled by the religion of her time. She at first wants nothing more than to escape her new prisoner to seek revenge for her murder father but it's very soon that she becomes attached to the boy and will do anything to save him.

The hero was so all over the map when it came to his personality that I found it near impossible to follow. When he's speaking to people outside his clan he puts on this crazy, aloof act. When he's speaking to his clansmen he's easy going and quite lax with his leadership. When it comes to the heroine, more often than not he's yelling at her for something. This was probably the first time, at least in my memory, that I really truly disliked the hero. I found him to stupid, ignorant and utterly selfish. He's absolutely tortured by the death of his wife. That's fine, that's the be expected by how much he loved her. But he sleeps with the heroine while still admitting to be madly in love with the dead wife. He instantly prays for forgiveness and I never really felt the love he had for the heroine to be authentic. It felt like a possession. Also, his clansman tried to kill the girl about 5 times during the book and he never addressed punishment onto them. It really did feel like had very little control over his people and that I didn't like. A laird should have the psychical and mental presence to hold power. He didn't give two shits about his son, that's a fact. The boy lay dying and never once did he make the effort to sit with him or offer him comfort. True, he was scared to death to lose him and normally there's that breakthrough in a character that wakes him up to how much he's hurting other people but that never happened with this story. The boy was completely forgotten with the uproar over the heroine and the other clan wanting her returned.

I finished the book before thinking ' hey, what the hell happened to the child?'. His mysterious sickness, (which had to be poisoning, there's no other way to explain him becoming violently ill after certain meals) was never explained. Ok, so... he eats bread for the rest of his life? that's the solution? There were serious plot holes that were so blatant that it seriously throws you off. Also, the heroine is a witch. Despite the refusal of having any powers, she can and does control the weather and eases pain in others. I did like the heroine as a character. I found her to be level headed, down to earth and kind. She wasn't forward thinking in her healing duties but instead she was only caring for the comfort of her patients. Overall, this book was a disappointment. I felt jarred between the drama of some scenes and the weird comedic tones of others. I wish the author had picked what theme she wanted and stuck to it.

[Jules2016 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully enchanting and un-put-downable. Loved the scarred and vulnerable yet strong and assertive laird who was driven mad by grief due to his wife's death. As for the heroine, I love it when authors make them smart, rational and possessed with a skill that helps in the service of others.

I'm not a big secondary character person but this book was one of the exceptions. No annoying bratty kids or secondary characters who took up too much time in the book.

Long story short this is the story about A woman who was accused of killing her father and has been ostracized and ignored by her clan her entire life because they thought she was a witch. The story starts with her about to be burned at the stake for witchcraft.

One of the guest's at the burning is the laird of a nearby clan. He and his men rescue the heroine as she is about to be set on fire and take her back to his keep demanding that she cast a spell to save his son's life believing that she is really a witch. The son is 10 years old and is dying of an on known ailment.

Almost everyone at the new keep hates the heroine believing she will bring death and distraction to their clan and one person is actively trying to kill her.

Then there is the brother of the laird from her own clan who desperately wants to capture the heroine believing she has a magical stone that can grant any person one wish.

This is a fun and sexy ride and a book that I think many people will definitely enjoy.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was assigned as part of a challenge for this year, and I was uncertain about reading it as I'm not drawn to the Scottish Highland Laird romances. However, this book was quite interesting as it follows a young woman who has been an outcast in her own clan. She is used to being alone and shunned through no fault of her own. However, she was very loved by her father and is also quite intelligent. These are her saving graces. The internalization of the automatic dislike and distrust of others who know nothing about her is sad, but she has a chance to overcome it.

The hero is completely out of touch with his emotions. He is physically strong, intelligent, a widower who misses his wife, and superstitious. He is also not above taking advantage of his position of power, which could have been worse than it was.

The progression of the story, with its mysteries and intrigue, was interesting. And some of the superstitious talk of the clan members was funny, although at times disturbing and cruel. I was unsurprised at who the unknown villain was as I had suspected that person from the beginning. And there is a wise woman who seems to know everything, but I am unsure how.

In the end I really enjoyed the book and am glad I read it.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first night of Gwendolyn MacSween’s planned rescue nothing seemed to be going right. After all, Alex known as Mad MacDunn leads his men in and out of another Laird’s clan. He take’s with him Gweendolyn, his goal, but also captures Isabella to escape, another hostage.
Which lead’s the Laird wanting his daughter Isabella to be returned safe and unharmed. And this is where Gwendolyn learns of a life outside of the MacSween clan and lands. A place she had been persecuted as a witch most of her life. It is in fact since her mother’s death when Gwendolyn was a mere child.
MacDunn continues his rescue operation in spite of the terrible odds of his being captured upon his return to his own Laird and land. Once he returns, his clan does not appreciate his rescue attempts of a well known witch.

[Laeeqah Ebrahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap! I loved this. This is a perfect mixture of hotness, humor, love, danger, action and excitement! And the three elders? Loved that touch. They are so awesome and funny. And Macdunns love for his wife? This was very touching and definitely one of my favorite reads thus far. And I admit I was a bit disappointed when I realized that Karyn Monks has only published 11 books😭😭😭 that I will finish in no time and I'm already in love with her writing. And will definitely look forward to her next novels.

[Ria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. A familiar story, unremarkable in delivery with an okayish central romance and an underwhelming finale. I wish more had been done with Alex and his oddball warriors, there was more fun to be had there.

I don't think I'll remember much about this book beyond the overuse of the phrase 'lips crushing' and the hilariously Fabio-esque cover featuring an odd pose for the couple in which the hero appears to be trying to seductively bite the heroine's nose...

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect to love this as much as I did! I'm usually disappointed by Scottish Highland romances, but this one really worked for me. I'm especially glad the author didn't try to render the dialogue into Scots, the only non-Scottish author I've read who could pull that off is Diana Gabaldon. And, most of all, I did not expect this to be so genuinely funny! I love a historical romance with a good sense of humor.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was on a cruise and was too old to hang out at the teen center. Lame. So I checked out the onboard library. Sometimes it was a bit embarrassing to be seen reading it on deck because of the obnoxious cover art. Other than that, it was a fun intro to the female romance genre. It definitely saved me from boring days at sea.

[Mashara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this one during a withdrawal syndrome between Outlander books. It is hilariously bad and it was the first I ever heard of a whole subculture of erotica involving scots, which is even more hilarious.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the first romance novel I ever read. Monk is a gifted writer and she not only fills the pages with romance, but with humor. Her characters are strong and memorable. This is one you want to read more than once!!

[LectoraEstherica · Rating 4 out of 5]

En realidad 3.5
Me lo leí porque es el libro favorito de mi madre y está bastante bien. Es romántico pero con trama y el protagonista masculino no tiene trastornos de personalidad ni nada por el estilo. Es bonito.

[Cheryl Tollestrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting enough to hold my attention.

[Karen Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, really enyoyed it.