Another phenomenal book. I just couldn't put it down.
This book is perfection. The characters, the action, the historical background, are all amazingly good. Jayne Castel writes so clearly and concisely with no long-winded or unnecessary passages, that it is easy to follow the story seamlessly, even in the midst of battle scenes, I didn't need to stop and reread anything that was unclear. That is gifted writing!
I didn't think JC could top, Maximus, (Book 1 in The Immortal Highland Centurions Series), but I liked this one even more. She has a gift for writing griping, epic, historical novels with characters that are heroic, admirable larger than life, but still believable.
Background:
Three warriors, survivors of the legendary Ninth Roman Legion who fought against the Picts in ancient Scotland, are captured and for their punishment, are cursed with eternal life. Although it sounds like a dream come true, it isn’t. They live with feelings of sadness, loneliness, and always feeling that they don’t belong.
Cassian is the second of the three immortal friends. He had a wife (300 years ago) whom he loved very much, but since he was cursed with immortality, he remained young while she grew old and died. He has been living with this pain ever since, and refuses to give his heart to another.
In the first book, Maximus, (while fighting his feelings) falls in love with Heather. In this book, Cassian falls in love with Heather's sister, Aila, but he too resists it. These centurions know the pain of outliving their loved ones and can't go through it again, but fate brings Cassian and Aila together during dangerous times between the Scottish and English. Cassian protects Aila and the Laird's ladies from the English by escaping from Stirling Castle. Their escape is absolutely thrilling.
I was concerned that Cassian would forget about his long dead wife, Lilla, after falling in love with Aila, but that didn't happen. It was the perfect balance of honoring his first wife, while falling in love with Aila. This quote from the book exemplifies just how sensitively it was handled:
“I’m scared,” he admitted huskily. “Scared of losing you … and scared we’ll never break this curse. I can’t promise you things will turn out as we both want … but I can vow I will never leave your side.” A tear trickled down her cheek. “Ye must have loved yer wife very much,” she said huskily, “to grieve for her as long as ye did … I hope I can do her memory justice.” His mouth twisted, and he shook his head. “You don’t need to. I did love Lilla … but she’s been gone a long while now. You stand in no one’s shadow, Aila, remember that.”
It was so beautiful and moving to watch Cassian struggle to understand and fight his growing feelings for Aila. He says to her, "You stepped under my guard, Aila De Keith, and I've been fighting a losing battle ever since."
Now that Maximus and Cassian have found love, it is Draco's turn in Book 3 to find his own soul mate. I am devastated that I have to wait until December 3, to find out how the curse will be broken, and I am certain that it will.
I cannot recommend this book enough. This series is one of my favorites.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.