Take My Monsters: A Retelling of Tam Lin

I Bring the Fire

by C. Gockel

In the wilds of the barbarian north, Roman slave Margusa meets a warrior enchanted and enslaved by an Elf Queen. To set him free, Margusa must first let go of the monsters within herself. A retelling of Tam Lin in Caledonia, Roman Scotland.

Originally published as part of the Once Upon a Quest Anthology.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Retellings

93 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 19, 2021

About the author

C. Gockel got her start writing fanfiction, and she is not ashamed! Much. She received emails, messages and reviews from her fans telling her she should 'do this professionally'. She didn't; because she is a coward and life as a digital designer, copywriter and coder is more dependable. But in the end, her husband's nagging wore her down: "You could be the next '50 Shades of Gray' and I could retire!" Unfortunately, the author isn't much for writing smut. She is sad about this; she'd love for her husband to be able to retire and just work for her so she could nag him.

At the moment, Ms. Gockel is working on the next installment of her Archangel Project series.

Ms. Gockel loves to hear from readers. She can be reached by email at: cgockel.publishing at gmail.com

Her Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/CGockelWrites

Reviews

[Brita Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a retelling of the Roman story of “Tam Lin”. In this story our heroine is a Greek slave who is struggling with with her own monster (happens to be her owner). She is trying to prove that she is fit to help Tam Lin defeat his monster. Aesir steps in to help her and gives her a bit of extra help in order for her to help Tam Lin defeat his monster. The twists and turns in this story and the changes from the original story are nice to read and bring a refreshing read to an old story. Readers new and old to the story of “Tam Lin” will enjoy this short easy read for sure.

This is actually a fun little read and honestly I can say that anyone who reads this will enjoy meeting these character's again in C. Gockel's full length novel's “I Bring the Fire” series. And if you haven't started the “I Bring the Fire” series then you need to start here and then go read that series it is such a great read. This version of Loki is so much fun. You will really enjoy these reads.

[Priscilla King · Rating 4 out of 5]

While C. Gockel's retelling of "Tam Lin" couldn't compare with Pamela Dean's, and doesn't try, it's an interesting little spin-off from her Loki fantasy series. Gockel's heroine is a Greek slave who struggles with her own monster (her owner) to prove herself fit to help Tam Lin defeat his. With a little extra help from the Aesir, anyway. It's a fun read, and readers will look forward to meeting these characters again in the full-length novels in the "I Bring the Fire" series.

[Jan Niblock · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the old ballads and stories about Tam Lin, the girl goes to the castle where he lives. What I liked about this story was that he finds her, a runaway slave. It is a different twist to the story.

It is fun that the author brought in a tie to the “I Bring the Fire” series. If you have not read that series, you really need to. Her version of Loki is by far my favorite and he is much more real than other versions.

[MGB · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slave who's not afraid to be free, and everything it means to get there. She's haunted by what happens around her. She's afraid, but not afraid as she makes her way forward in life and discovers that there can be love. She's not afraid of monsters, she gladly gives hers up and is willing to accept those which come with her future.

Really a great short read.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know anything about the Tam Lin story, so this was new to me. I enjoyed it very much! The slave escaping her master and the adventure that unfolded was well written. But I've come to expect this from the author - I love her Archangel Project series!

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

An very interesting retelling of Tam-Lin starring Margarites, a runaway Roman slave and Tam Lina Celtic warrior enslaved by elves. This short story is set in the same universe as C. Gockel's I Bring the Fire that stars Loki and other Norse gods.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quick read is a great retelling of the ancient Tam Lin Scottish fairytale. I enjoyed it very much as I read it straight through. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I received this ebook from BookFunnel and this is my honest and freely given opinion.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Roman/Norse retelling. We all have monsters- love lets us show ours and accept someone else's

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. Super short so it’s a quick read. I loved the Romance of Tam Lin and Marguerite. It has an interesting twist on Alfheim, elves and the Norse gods.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short sweet love story between a knight forced to work for the elf queen and a runaway slave.

[Alejandra Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
It's an interesting story. I'm not sure I liked the third person present it's written in.

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous.
This short story reveals how some monsters are real but most are in the mind and can be overcome with love and trust.

Great story.
Love and trust can defeat monsters imaginary and real.