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Viking Era #3
Lord of Raven's Peak
The third novel in #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter's Vikings series.
Merrik Haraldsson, the younger brother of Rorik, the Lord of Hawkfell Island, embarks on a journey that begins in Kiev where he comes away with two slaves--Laren and her younger brother. Laren wants to tell stories to earn enough silver and gold to buy her and her little brother from Merik, only he refuses to sell her. And now that she's his, he must protect her when she's accused of murder, then save her yet again when he discovers her secrets.
Merrik Haraldsson, the younger brother of Rorik, the Lord of Hawkfell Island, embarks on a journey that begins in Kiev where he comes away with two slaves--Laren and her younger brother. Laren wants to tell stories to earn enough silver and gold to buy her and her little brother from Merik, only he refuses to sell her. And now that she's his, he must protect her when she's accused of murder, then save her yet again when he discovers her secrets.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
April 3, 2021
This one is my favorite of the viking series. I have reread it several times.
June 29, 2023
The romance was very lacking. It seemed to focus more on the two murder mysteries. The hero doesn't become lord of Raven's Peak until maybe halfway through the book. I can't recall if there is one likable female side character in this book. The majority of them were either jealous bullies or .
April 29, 2019
“Non era stupida. Sapeva che cosa succedeva ai bambini lasciati nella fossa degli schiavi. Morivano. Lo aveva già visto accadere. Oppure lì in quello strano paese abusavano sessualmente di loro finché i loro padroni non si stancavano. Taby non sarebbe sopravvissuto a tale esperienza. Non pianse. Le lacrime appartenevano a un tempo remoto, un passato ormai confuso, offuscato e grigio, dopo che i nitidi contorni dei ricordi si erano sgretolati in fretta, così in fretta nella morsa della fame e della crudeltà e nella volontà assoluta di sopravvivere. Si chiese se non dovesse semplicemente farla finita adesso, perché non c’era motivo di andare avanti. Si era sforzata di sopportare, in passato, per il bene di Taby; si era detta: sopravvivrò per Taby. Ma era difficile. Anche se dentro di lei l’odio bruciava ancora intensamente, la sete di vendetta ardeva violenta, sembrava che non le fosse rimasto altro. Ma c’era Taby il suo fratellino. Aveva tenuto vivo il suo spirito, accesa la sua determinazione a vivere; se non ci fosse stato lui, se non avesse avuto bisogno di lei, se non avesse saputo che se moriva sarebbe morto anche lui, avrebbe chiuso semplicemente gli occhi per sempre.”
.
Lo storico di cui vi parlo oggi è Il signore della rupe di Catherine Coulter secondo libro della sua serie Vichinga, il terzo non è mai stato tradotto e anche adesso la Mondadori non ne fa parola, perciò possiamo presumere che questa trilogia rimarrà ancora una volta incompiuta.
Merrik è un mercante e si sta recando al mercato degli schiavi per comprarne uno per la madre. Ma, mentre si trova lì, vede un bambino di sei anni che piange disperato per essere stato separato dal fratello maggiore, comprato da un padrone che non sembra apprezzare il suo carattere ribelle. Merrik, senza neanche riuscirsi a spiegare il perché, prova un istinto di protezione enorme per quel piccolo indifeso e non solo lo compra, ma nottetempo per farlo felice rapisce il fratello che nel frattempo ha ricevuto una durissima punizione. Portato sulla sua nave, Merrik si accorge che il giovane sta molto male e, nel tentativo di curarlo, apprende due cose: la prima è che è stato frustato duramente e le ferite hanno provocato la febbre, la seconda è che non è un ragazzo ma una giovane donna che negli ultimi anni si è fatta credere un uomo, per impedire di essere ben più che picchiata. Se Merrik pensa di essersi meritato la sua riconoscenza, ben presto si dovrà ricredere: Lauren ha una lingua incredibilmente abile e una grande capacità di rasentare sempre punizioni per la sua insolenza. Eppure quella lingua che la mette sempre nei guai è anche la sua dote più grande, in grado di tessere meravigliose storie. Lauren, infatti, si rivela essere uno scaldo ben più bravo del loro e presto gli uomini rimangono affascinati dalle sue storie, ma l’arrivo a casa di Merrik cambia ogni cosa. I genitori sono morti, e ora è tutto di Erik il fratello maggiore, un uomo che tratta i suoi schiavi e persino la moglie come cose e metterà in moto una serie di eventi che porteranno Merrik ha sposare Lauren per proteggerla. Ma in questo modo la ragazza sarà costretta a rivelare la verità su se stessa e il fratello Taby.
Questa serie è caratterizzata da una narrazione cruda e veritiera della vita del tempo, che se da una parte rende tutto interessante, dall’altra la priva di gran parte del romanticismo. Lauren è una donna dai mille segreti, la vediamo sembrare impavida nel difendersi e nel difendere a spada tratta il fratellino. È stata capace di sopravvivere a due anni di schiavitù, ingannando i suoi padroni, e facendo sopravvivere un bambino di pochi anni, che risulterà essere davvero molto importante. Traditi senza sapere bene da chi, il loro avrebbe dovuto essere un destino ben diverso, e solo l’incontro con Merrik ha impedito loro di morire. Merrik da subito appare ben diverso dagli uomini che lo attorniano, è gentile, non approfitta degli schiavi per cattiveria, e si contrappone alla figura di suo fratello maggiore. Erik è un uomo che non esita a brutalizzare la moglie, a prendersi ogni schiava su cui posa gli occhi che sia consenziente o meno, un uomo crudele che finirà per ricevere la giusta ricompensa.
È un libro sicuramente insolito e originale, per la quasi totalità delle sue pagine. Merrik non è attratto in modo particolare da Lauren, certo la trova piacevole e a un certo punto la porterà nel suo letto, ma sarà Taby colui che amerà davvero. Lo ama come amerebbe un figlio, prova per questo bambino un sentimento assoluto, lo vuole sapere al sicuro e amato ed è disposto a difenderlo con tutte le sue forze. Per questo motivo ha ideato il rapimento di Lauren, e per lo stesso motivo farà qualunque cosa per tenerlo con sé. Sarà un grande dolore per lui sapere che non potrà allevarlo personalmente. Non vi è nessuna ragione per questo atteggiamento così particolare, la stessa Lauren per gran parte della storia sarà cosciente che ogni gentilezza di Merrik è causato dall’essere la sorella di Taby. L’ultima parte cambia completamento scenario, da una fattoria ci troveremo alla corte di Rollone, Duca di Normandia, dove verremo a capo di una spirale di tradimenti e congiure, in un intricato piano alla ricerca della verità. Carino, abbastanza scorrevole, ma non molto romantico anche se ho trovato la lettura piacevole.
.
Lucia63 - per RFS
.
Lo storico di cui vi parlo oggi è Il signore della rupe di Catherine Coulter secondo libro della sua serie Vichinga, il terzo non è mai stato tradotto e anche adesso la Mondadori non ne fa parola, perciò possiamo presumere che questa trilogia rimarrà ancora una volta incompiuta.
Merrik è un mercante e si sta recando al mercato degli schiavi per comprarne uno per la madre. Ma, mentre si trova lì, vede un bambino di sei anni che piange disperato per essere stato separato dal fratello maggiore, comprato da un padrone che non sembra apprezzare il suo carattere ribelle. Merrik, senza neanche riuscirsi a spiegare il perché, prova un istinto di protezione enorme per quel piccolo indifeso e non solo lo compra, ma nottetempo per farlo felice rapisce il fratello che nel frattempo ha ricevuto una durissima punizione. Portato sulla sua nave, Merrik si accorge che il giovane sta molto male e, nel tentativo di curarlo, apprende due cose: la prima è che è stato frustato duramente e le ferite hanno provocato la febbre, la seconda è che non è un ragazzo ma una giovane donna che negli ultimi anni si è fatta credere un uomo, per impedire di essere ben più che picchiata. Se Merrik pensa di essersi meritato la sua riconoscenza, ben presto si dovrà ricredere: Lauren ha una lingua incredibilmente abile e una grande capacità di rasentare sempre punizioni per la sua insolenza. Eppure quella lingua che la mette sempre nei guai è anche la sua dote più grande, in grado di tessere meravigliose storie. Lauren, infatti, si rivela essere uno scaldo ben più bravo del loro e presto gli uomini rimangono affascinati dalle sue storie, ma l’arrivo a casa di Merrik cambia ogni cosa. I genitori sono morti, e ora è tutto di Erik il fratello maggiore, un uomo che tratta i suoi schiavi e persino la moglie come cose e metterà in moto una serie di eventi che porteranno Merrik ha sposare Lauren per proteggerla. Ma in questo modo la ragazza sarà costretta a rivelare la verità su se stessa e il fratello Taby.
Questa serie è caratterizzata da una narrazione cruda e veritiera della vita del tempo, che se da una parte rende tutto interessante, dall’altra la priva di gran parte del romanticismo. Lauren è una donna dai mille segreti, la vediamo sembrare impavida nel difendersi e nel difendere a spada tratta il fratellino. È stata capace di sopravvivere a due anni di schiavitù, ingannando i suoi padroni, e facendo sopravvivere un bambino di pochi anni, che risulterà essere davvero molto importante. Traditi senza sapere bene da chi, il loro avrebbe dovuto essere un destino ben diverso, e solo l’incontro con Merrik ha impedito loro di morire. Merrik da subito appare ben diverso dagli uomini che lo attorniano, è gentile, non approfitta degli schiavi per cattiveria, e si contrappone alla figura di suo fratello maggiore. Erik è un uomo che non esita a brutalizzare la moglie, a prendersi ogni schiava su cui posa gli occhi che sia consenziente o meno, un uomo crudele che finirà per ricevere la giusta ricompensa.
È un libro sicuramente insolito e originale, per la quasi totalità delle sue pagine. Merrik non è attratto in modo particolare da Lauren, certo la trova piacevole e a un certo punto la porterà nel suo letto, ma sarà Taby colui che amerà davvero. Lo ama come amerebbe un figlio, prova per questo bambino un sentimento assoluto, lo vuole sapere al sicuro e amato ed è disposto a difenderlo con tutte le sue forze. Per questo motivo ha ideato il rapimento di Lauren, e per lo stesso motivo farà qualunque cosa per tenerlo con sé. Sarà un grande dolore per lui sapere che non potrà allevarlo personalmente. Non vi è nessuna ragione per questo atteggiamento così particolare, la stessa Lauren per gran parte della storia sarà cosciente che ogni gentilezza di Merrik è causato dall’essere la sorella di Taby. L’ultima parte cambia completamento scenario, da una fattoria ci troveremo alla corte di Rollone, Duca di Normandia, dove verremo a capo di una spirale di tradimenti e congiure, in un intricato piano alla ricerca della verità. Carino, abbastanza scorrevole, ma non molto romantico anche se ho trovato la lettura piacevole.
.
Lucia63 - per RFS
June 9, 2025
Slightly better than 3 not quite 4. It started out strong but the last few hours were odd and felt like they didn’t really fit well with the storyline. Plot 4 (1-10) steaminess 4(1-10)
August 25, 2016
Intriguing Viking Tale with a heroine who is a Skald, a teller of stories
This is the third in Coulter’s Viking series (see list below) and the second in her Viking trilogy. As with the others, it’s a good one. And, it’s rather unique. The heroine is a skald (a storyteller), so there are stories within the story and very cleverly done, too. I admire Coulter’s ability to do that so smoothly. She gives us a feeling for how important storytelling was to the Viking culture while weaving it into an intricate plot and a great romance. I loved it.
Set in 916, beginning in Kiev (and thence to Norway and Normandy), this is the story of Merrik Haraldsson (younger brother to Rorik from Lord of Hawkfell Island), a Viking who stops at the slave market to buy his mother a woman to help with the weaving. What he gets instead are two young boys he saves from a fate worse than death. And, as it turns out, one of the boys is actually a girl—18-year-old Lauren. A girl with beautiful breasts and a sharp tongue—and a mysterious past she won’t speak of.
Lauren has some ability as a skald, a teller of stories, and holds Merrik and his men spellbound with her tales. Lauren’s purpose is to gain their silver to buy her freedom and that of her younger brother, Taby. The two of them were abducted from her home and sold into slavery two years ago and they have barely survived. Merrik finds her enchanting, no matter her red hair and her skinny body (from near starvation) and he loves Taby and has no intention of letting him go.
Richly drawn characters and meticulous research are blended with the Viking culture, treachery, murder, cruelty and lust—a superb job. It’s going on my best Viking Romances list along with the others in the series I’ve read. I recommend it!
Viking Series:
SEASON OF THE SUN (related but not a part of the trilogy)
LORD OF HAWKFELL ISLAND
LORD OF RAVEN'S PEAK
LORD OF FALCON RIDGE
This is the third in Coulter’s Viking series (see list below) and the second in her Viking trilogy. As with the others, it’s a good one. And, it’s rather unique. The heroine is a skald (a storyteller), so there are stories within the story and very cleverly done, too. I admire Coulter’s ability to do that so smoothly. She gives us a feeling for how important storytelling was to the Viking culture while weaving it into an intricate plot and a great romance. I loved it.
Set in 916, beginning in Kiev (and thence to Norway and Normandy), this is the story of Merrik Haraldsson (younger brother to Rorik from Lord of Hawkfell Island), a Viking who stops at the slave market to buy his mother a woman to help with the weaving. What he gets instead are two young boys he saves from a fate worse than death. And, as it turns out, one of the boys is actually a girl—18-year-old Lauren. A girl with beautiful breasts and a sharp tongue—and a mysterious past she won’t speak of.
Lauren has some ability as a skald, a teller of stories, and holds Merrik and his men spellbound with her tales. Lauren’s purpose is to gain their silver to buy her freedom and that of her younger brother, Taby. The two of them were abducted from her home and sold into slavery two years ago and they have barely survived. Merrik finds her enchanting, no matter her red hair and her skinny body (from near starvation) and he loves Taby and has no intention of letting him go.
Richly drawn characters and meticulous research are blended with the Viking culture, treachery, murder, cruelty and lust—a superb job. It’s going on my best Viking Romances list along with the others in the series I’ve read. I recommend it!
Viking Series:
SEASON OF THE SUN (related but not a part of the trilogy)
LORD OF HAWKFELL ISLAND
LORD OF RAVEN'S PEAK
LORD OF FALCON RIDGE
January 11, 2023
I absolutely adore this series, and I love this story above all three. Catherine Coulter is a master weaver of stories, a skald, talented and imaginative. I wish there were more books in this series.
I started this last year and did grow bored- but it was not the book’s fault. I was in a really bad reading slump and would pick up anything that was fast to read to get over it. But despite this, this story stayed with me. I did not forget it, and I would always be anxious to know what happened next.
You know that usual love story where a heroine hides who she really is, and then when the hero discovers it, he does not care, but still wishes to marry her anyway? Then you’d think that is the end- we got our happily ever after. But no. This story has more to offer, and I just love the suspense/ thriller aspect that it brings to the table.
Laren is a princess of Normandy, and she was abducted from her bed together with her brother, Taby, and were sold to the slave market. Merrick, a young Viking lord, saw her and Taby, and bought them, not knowing that he was changing his fate as he did so.
Again, as CC’s style, there are very colorful secondary characters. Rollo, the first duke of Normandy (who did not wnter the scene until later), Daeglin, the skald whose job was stolen from him by the talented Laren, Erik the pervert brother of Merrick, Cleve the slave, Sarla Erik’s wife, Hallad, Helga, Ferlain…and so much more.
There’s romance, murder, a slave turned free man, betrayal, a fight for the throne, and sibling cattiness, what more do you look for? It’s also such a pleasure to read the witty banter between Merrick and Laren. I love that above all. 4.5 stars.
I started this last year and did grow bored- but it was not the book’s fault. I was in a really bad reading slump and would pick up anything that was fast to read to get over it. But despite this, this story stayed with me. I did not forget it, and I would always be anxious to know what happened next.
You know that usual love story where a heroine hides who she really is, and then when the hero discovers it, he does not care, but still wishes to marry her anyway? Then you’d think that is the end- we got our happily ever after. But no. This story has more to offer, and I just love the suspense/ thriller aspect that it brings to the table.
Laren is a princess of Normandy, and she was abducted from her bed together with her brother, Taby, and were sold to the slave market. Merrick, a young Viking lord, saw her and Taby, and bought them, not knowing that he was changing his fate as he did so.
Again, as CC’s style, there are very colorful secondary characters. Rollo, the first duke of Normandy (who did not wnter the scene until later), Daeglin, the skald whose job was stolen from him by the talented Laren, Erik the pervert brother of Merrick, Cleve the slave, Sarla Erik’s wife, Hallad, Helga, Ferlain…and so much more.
There’s romance, murder, a slave turned free man, betrayal, a fight for the throne, and sibling cattiness, what more do you look for? It’s also such a pleasure to read the witty banter between Merrick and Laren. I love that above all. 4.5 stars.
December 17, 2010
This got boring about half-way through so I don't even want to finish it.
October 19, 2025
This viking series has been fun, but each book has left me wishing the books were slightly better. The settings and plots are fun but each book has needed just a bit more tension or historical writing to make it better than 3 stars.
I loved the set up of this middle book with Merrick buying slaves and ending up with the FMC, who he thinks is a boy at first.
There were definitely some sweet moments and classic Catherine Coulter type plot stuff but I was kind of bored still with this one as a whole. I’m glad it ended happy tho.
I loved the set up of this middle book with Merrick buying slaves and ending up with the FMC, who he thinks is a boy at first.
There were definitely some sweet moments and classic Catherine Coulter type plot stuff but I was kind of bored still with this one as a whole. I’m glad it ended happy tho.
November 22, 2024
3.5 rounded up
August 31, 2025
A lo mejor es la traducción, pero no me ha gustado mucho cómo está escrito. La historia ha sido un poco caótica con tanto asesinato y vuelta de rosca de quién había sido, que no se revelaba hasta el final. Un poco deprisa y corriendo. Sin embargo, una lectura fácil y entretenida.
November 6, 2008
After posting the list of Viking romances to the ERT group I discovered I had Catherine Coulter's Lord of Raven's Peak in the TBR pile and decided to read it.
It was not as bad as I thought it be, I must say Merrick was quite a civilized and non violent viking which surprised me. I thought the story could use more depth and somethings we a bit odd but in general it was entertaining and a bit surprising. As to the story Merrick, a viking, is in Kiev to buy slaves when he sees a little boy of six teriified because his older brother has just been sold and he is alone. Merrick buys the little boy and is oddly attracted to him (like father and son, not sexually!). To keep him happy he descides to steal the boy's brother from his new master, which he does but ends up discovering said boy is a girl and another slave escapes and comes with them. It is odd that not only he would feel as strongly about a boy he just met but also that he would return from the slave market without having bought the slaves he was intending to and running not to be discovered but the man he stole the boy/girl from from.
Laren, the boy/girl slave, doesn't seem to know when to shup up, even after being rescued and reunited with her brother she keeps a proud atitude and answers back to Merrick. She makes an enemy of his Skald when she decides to continue a story he started and soon they all realize she is better than him. When they reach Merrick's farm his parents are dead and his brother is the new Lord. Erick is the stereotype of the ruthless, mean viking. Hits his wife, keeps mistress and feels like can use any slave he feels like it. And of course he wants Laren... Merrick doesn't want him to have her because that would bring pain to Taby (weird how many times he speaks of not paining Taby) so he pretends she is his mistress which she eventually becomes.
I think the worst part of the book is that one really doesn't see how they fall in love. Laren does feel a pain in her chest every time Merrick says she is only important because of her brother but other than that we really don't feel why shoud they fall in love. And Coulter's first sex scenes between characters always leave with a mix of frustation and amusement. They are generally bad for the woman (but this one wasn't as bad as some I've read by her...) and her heroines always end up saying something too naive and ridiculous like Laren telling Merrick that he must needs practice because another woman has told her it only hurts the first time, so if they practive it wont hurt anymore. It should be amusing but sometimes it's just silly.
Eventually someone get's killed and Laren is blamed. To save her from certain death Merrick decides to marry her. I never understood how he came up with such punishment. And Laren finally tells him she is a princess of Normandy, the niece of Rollo and Taby is an important piece of the dinasty as he is heir. Merrick tells everyone such and they stop believing in Laren's guilt because such pure blood couldn't lie(such logic reasoning this is). So they both go to Normandy and look for Rollo who welcomes his niece back and they decide they must discover who kidnapped and sold both Laren and her brother to slave traders.
I felt the book changed in tone here. If before with had a viking setting of a farmstead and the way of life in a long house, here we are in a palace and surrounded by court intrigues. Several people could be the guilty ones, including Laren's two half sisters, and I think Coulter does a bit too thorough a job to send us in one direction. Having Merrick respond to his wife's sister kisses was a bit odd...
After they solve this mystery they go back to Merrick's farm accompanied by Laren's father to pick Taby up. There they find that all is not what it seems and soon another man is attacked the same way as Erick and there's a new mystery to unravel and the conclusion was, to me a surprising one. So as you can see there are many plot twists that kept me entertained, maybe too many in fact. I think that it probably the result of it being written 15 years ago. Too many things happening and not enough depth, but entertaining nonetheless!
Grade: C
It was not as bad as I thought it be, I must say Merrick was quite a civilized and non violent viking which surprised me. I thought the story could use more depth and somethings we a bit odd but in general it was entertaining and a bit surprising. As to the story Merrick, a viking, is in Kiev to buy slaves when he sees a little boy of six teriified because his older brother has just been sold and he is alone. Merrick buys the little boy and is oddly attracted to him (like father and son, not sexually!). To keep him happy he descides to steal the boy's brother from his new master, which he does but ends up discovering said boy is a girl and another slave escapes and comes with them. It is odd that not only he would feel as strongly about a boy he just met but also that he would return from the slave market without having bought the slaves he was intending to and running not to be discovered but the man he stole the boy/girl from from.
Laren, the boy/girl slave, doesn't seem to know when to shup up, even after being rescued and reunited with her brother she keeps a proud atitude and answers back to Merrick. She makes an enemy of his Skald when she decides to continue a story he started and soon they all realize she is better than him. When they reach Merrick's farm his parents are dead and his brother is the new Lord. Erick is the stereotype of the ruthless, mean viking. Hits his wife, keeps mistress and feels like can use any slave he feels like it. And of course he wants Laren... Merrick doesn't want him to have her because that would bring pain to Taby (weird how many times he speaks of not paining Taby) so he pretends she is his mistress which she eventually becomes.
I think the worst part of the book is that one really doesn't see how they fall in love. Laren does feel a pain in her chest every time Merrick says she is only important because of her brother but other than that we really don't feel why shoud they fall in love. And Coulter's first sex scenes between characters always leave with a mix of frustation and amusement. They are generally bad for the woman (but this one wasn't as bad as some I've read by her...) and her heroines always end up saying something too naive and ridiculous like Laren telling Merrick that he must needs practice because another woman has told her it only hurts the first time, so if they practive it wont hurt anymore. It should be amusing but sometimes it's just silly.
Eventually someone get's killed and Laren is blamed. To save her from certain death Merrick decides to marry her. I never understood how he came up with such punishment. And Laren finally tells him she is a princess of Normandy, the niece of Rollo and Taby is an important piece of the dinasty as he is heir. Merrick tells everyone such and they stop believing in Laren's guilt because such pure blood couldn't lie(such logic reasoning this is). So they both go to Normandy and look for Rollo who welcomes his niece back and they decide they must discover who kidnapped and sold both Laren and her brother to slave traders.
I felt the book changed in tone here. If before with had a viking setting of a farmstead and the way of life in a long house, here we are in a palace and surrounded by court intrigues. Several people could be the guilty ones, including Laren's two half sisters, and I think Coulter does a bit too thorough a job to send us in one direction. Having Merrick respond to his wife's sister kisses was a bit odd...
After they solve this mystery they go back to Merrick's farm accompanied by Laren's father to pick Taby up. There they find that all is not what it seems and soon another man is attacked the same way as Erick and there's a new mystery to unravel and the conclusion was, to me a surprising one. So as you can see there are many plot twists that kept me entertained, maybe too many in fact. I think that it probably the result of it being written 15 years ago. Too many things happening and not enough depth, but entertaining nonetheless!
Grade: C
April 15, 2010
3.5 stars
Merrik Haraldsson,(younger brother of Rorik) while trading in Kiev rescues a young boy Taby(5) and his brother and their friend Cleve(20) from slavery and takes them home. He soon finds out that Taby's brother is a girl in disguise called Laren(18). They settle in and Laren tells storys for money hoping to buy their freedom to return home. When she is accused of murder and Merrick wants to marry her to protect her she tells him her background. She is the niece of Duke Rollo and Taby is his heir, they were kidnapped and sold into slavery 2 years previous. They marry and Merrick brings them home and try's to find out who wanted them dead.
A compassionate Viking? Well if there is such a thing Merrick is it. He is not abusive but WTF was going on with his relationship with the boy Taby??? Even Cleve says that Merrick will love his brother-in-law Taby more than he will love his own sons! Laren's storys were no great contribution to the book, I found myself skimming them. Laren was also annoying, didn't she know when to shut up? Even after being rescued by Merrick after 2 years in slavery she was mouthy to him, TSTL Heroine. I loved the story and Cleve and apart from the above gripes I enjoyed the book most of the series.
Merrik Haraldsson,(younger brother of Rorik) while trading in Kiev rescues a young boy Taby(5) and his brother and their friend Cleve(20) from slavery and takes them home. He soon finds out that Taby's brother is a girl in disguise called Laren(18). They settle in and Laren tells storys for money hoping to buy their freedom to return home. When she is accused of murder and Merrick wants to marry her to protect her she tells him her background. She is the niece of Duke Rollo and Taby is his heir, they were kidnapped and sold into slavery 2 years previous. They marry and Merrick brings them home and try's to find out who wanted them dead.
A compassionate Viking? Well if there is such a thing Merrick is it. He is not abusive but WTF was going on with his relationship with the boy Taby??? Even Cleve says that Merrick will love his brother-in-law Taby more than he will love his own sons! Laren's storys were no great contribution to the book, I found myself skimming them. Laren was also annoying, didn't she know when to shut up? Even after being rescued by Merrick after 2 years in slavery she was mouthy to him, TSTL Heroine. I loved the story and Cleve and apart from the above gripes I enjoyed the book most of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2023
I was thinking of giving this 3 stars, but this book kept surprising me until the very end. None of the subplots went as I expected, and honestly I delighted in the richness this brought to the plot. I also really liked how Merrick begins questioning the status quo of his reality, and even reflects upon the consent of his previous sexual encounters. This is something I've never seen in a historical romance before and although it was not a main plot point it stood out to me.
July 22, 2017
loved it. off to read the next one.
December 30, 2020
By and1515
He'd made his way through the markets the smells and sounds could be difficult to deal with while he searched for a new slave.
Merrik knew the ways of the world as he watched two brothers being separated he choose the younger one.
Cleve had learned to endure anything and everything since he's life was turned into a never ending nightmare.
Laren was worried about her little brother more so then herself but there had to be hope because what would become of any of them without hope.
Okay so things didn't go quite like he'd planned when Merrik tried to rescue his little guy's older brother.
Three slaves when he'd only meant to buy one well at least he'd only spent coin on the one.
The last thing he'd expected was to realize taby's sibling wasn't a boy at all but a girl. No she was a young woman.
His trip was filled with more problems then he would have liked but now they'd reached their final destination he took one look at him brother's face.
Both of their parents were gone due to some illness and of course his mother would have taken care of those suffering.
Merrik knew deep down his brother wasn't a very good man the way he even treated his own wife was shameful but there wasn't much he could do whole living under his roof.
Laren was having a hard time trying to stay out of Merrick's brother's way even when he kept demanding he should be able to do as he liked with her in his home however Merrik kept putting his foot down.
Laren knew the time had come to share their tragic story with Merrik so he'd understand why she thought she couldn't say yes.
But in the end she did.
And Merrik couldn't help but think how lucky he was in the end especially after all the craziness they resently survived.
He'd made his way through the markets the smells and sounds could be difficult to deal with while he searched for a new slave.
Merrik knew the ways of the world as he watched two brothers being separated he choose the younger one.
Cleve had learned to endure anything and everything since he's life was turned into a never ending nightmare.
Laren was worried about her little brother more so then herself but there had to be hope because what would become of any of them without hope.
Okay so things didn't go quite like he'd planned when Merrik tried to rescue his little guy's older brother.
Three slaves when he'd only meant to buy one well at least he'd only spent coin on the one.
The last thing he'd expected was to realize taby's sibling wasn't a boy at all but a girl. No she was a young woman.
His trip was filled with more problems then he would have liked but now they'd reached their final destination he took one look at him brother's face.
Both of their parents were gone due to some illness and of course his mother would have taken care of those suffering.
Merrik knew deep down his brother wasn't a very good man the way he even treated his own wife was shameful but there wasn't much he could do whole living under his roof.
Laren was having a hard time trying to stay out of Merrick's brother's way even when he kept demanding he should be able to do as he liked with her in his home however Merrik kept putting his foot down.
Laren knew the time had come to share their tragic story with Merrik so he'd understand why she thought she couldn't say yes.
But in the end she did.
And Merrik couldn't help but think how lucky he was in the end especially after all the craziness they resently survived.
March 3, 2021
I liked this better than I thought I might. The plot was complicated and layered, the feel of the world was realistic with just the right bit of idealization (because, hello, romance novel), and the prose was good. Some of the characters were quite interesting, too, and I wanted more about them. The hero and heroine were upper mid-tier, though - not the best but definitely not the worst. The main point of contention was the sudden shift in the relationship. For all of the build-up, it was like a switch suddenly flipped in a way that felt contrived. Luckily, Coulter made me believe that, in the end, these two worked together and it was real. That was just a pretty rough hiccup there, phew.
Also, though, wtf was with that very last bit to the ending? If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about. That heel turn was about as believable as something Vince McMahon engineered.
Also, though, wtf was with that very last bit to the ending? If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about. That heel turn was about as believable as something Vince McMahon engineered.
April 26, 2019
Discretamente piacevole, tutto sommato, sino a 1/3.
Poi anziché una storia di Vichinghi, mi sembrava d'essere costretta a vedere uno di quegli sceneggiati tipo "il Segreto" che mia madre segue da anni (chi lo ha ucciso? nooo; di chi è il figlio? nooo.... aspetta quando abbiamo giaciuto, credevo ti fosse appena finito il flusso mestruale... ma allora sei incinta di me o di lui..., ecc.),
Quando credevo d'essere al limite di sopportazione, gli impuniti pensano bene di trasferirsi a Rouen, alla corte del Duca Rollone... e di ricominciare: ma allora figlia non sei morta... oh, padre non sei fuggito... ma io credo fossi tu l'assassino... te l'ho confidato, vero, ma scherzavo...).
Finale nel ridicolo.
Lettura estenuante. Per me non un top tra gli introvabili.
Poi anziché una storia di Vichinghi, mi sembrava d'essere costretta a vedere uno di quegli sceneggiati tipo "il Segreto" che mia madre segue da anni (chi lo ha ucciso? nooo; di chi è il figlio? nooo.... aspetta quando abbiamo giaciuto, credevo ti fosse appena finito il flusso mestruale... ma allora sei incinta di me o di lui..., ecc.),
Quando credevo d'essere al limite di sopportazione, gli impuniti pensano bene di trasferirsi a Rouen, alla corte del Duca Rollone... e di ricominciare: ma allora figlia non sei morta... oh, padre non sei fuggito... ma io credo fossi tu l'assassino... te l'ho confidato, vero, ma scherzavo...).
Finale nel ridicolo.
Lettura estenuante. Per me non un top tra gli introvabili.
April 13, 2023
This started so well then crashed and burned. I could mention several things that went wrong but I will focus on the strangest relationship I have ever read about in an HR. The hero loved her little brother more than he loved the heroine. She said it and accepted it, he was broken hearted when he thought the boy had to leave, she even wondered if he could love his own children as much as he loved Taby. There was no explanation of why he felt so attached to the boy, I didn’t see the H/H having a connection, none of the relationships made sense.
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January 3, 2023Merrik Haraldsson, the younger brother of Rorik, the Lord of Hawkfell Island, embarks on a journey that begins in Kiev where he comes away with two slaves--Laren and her younger brother. Laren wants to tell stories to earn enough silver and gold to buy her and her little brother from Merik, only he refuses to sell her. And now that she's his, he must protect her when she's accused of murder, then save her yet again when he discovers her secrets.
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July 4, 2019This was set back in Viking times. I found it a lot more believable and more fun than what i read before from Catherine Coulter. She does suspense storylines so much better than what she was doing in the beginning. This one I liked.
September 28, 2019
The hero and heroine were two dimensional. The story had some twists and turns but they seemed forced and thrown in just to add a twist not something smooth that fits in and feels seamless.
Meh. Okay to read once but not twice and not worth owning.
Meh. Okay to read once but not twice and not worth owning.
November 20, 2021
This book was... something. So much intrigue and twists that it felt like two stories smashed together until their plots screamed in pain. I came for the lady skald and left with a dissatisfied taste in my mouth.
December 3, 2021
Good
This was really enjoyable. The storyline was very interesting and exciting. The characters were brought together in a way the was quite interesting and some of the references were to the other nooks in this series but only briefly
This was really enjoyable. The storyline was very interesting and exciting. The characters were brought together in a way the was quite interesting and some of the references were to the other nooks in this series but only briefly
February 25, 2024
Strange book, kinda hated it, but also couldn't stop reading it. The characters weren't very consistent, and their changes in personality weren't explained by any form of personal growth. But I think the mysteries of the two murders and the main characters' past kept me engaged.
July 10, 2024
Definitely an improvement to Lord of Hawkfell Island. Merrik was very likable and I loved the interactions between him and Laren. The major downfall of the novel is the plot twist (one too many) with Sarla.
November 29, 2025
So far the best book of the series. Loved the ML, man above men. And the FL was a badass, blunt, intelligent, strong, brave. So refreshing after the first 2, I was fearing they would be similar, but no, book after book it gets so much better.
October 12, 2017
I liked the historical references but the plot was weak and lacked cohesion.
January 5, 2018
November 2016
Lord of Ravens Peak devolved from something magical to something nightmarish. The story branched out so much it was irritating to read in the end.
Lord of Ravens Peak devolved from something magical to something nightmarish. The story branched out so much it was irritating to read in the end.
January 14, 2020
Once I got into the story line, it really kept me entertained! I liked both the main characters and their individual personalities.
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