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Saxons of Hyrstow #1
His Viking Captive
Taken by her enemy…
Yrsa Arkyndóttir has sworn a blood oath to avenge her father’s death, but when her clan’s Viking raid fails, Yrsa is taken captive by the rugged Saxon chieftain, Ridley. Injured, Yrsa knows she must escape though as she heals, she finds herself fighting desire for her infuriating captor.
Tempted by the woman who tried to kill him…
Ridley Ward is determined to protect his village, yet he cannot kill the impetuous Yrsa. To ensure her safety, he must keep her presence a secret. Little does Ridley know how much the beautiful Viking will test him.
Amidst growing tension in the kingdom and the threat of their illicit secret being discovered, Yrsa and Ridley must come together to uncover the true meaning of obligation, loyalty, and love.
Yrsa Arkyndóttir has sworn a blood oath to avenge her father’s death, but when her clan’s Viking raid fails, Yrsa is taken captive by the rugged Saxon chieftain, Ridley. Injured, Yrsa knows she must escape though as she heals, she finds herself fighting desire for her infuriating captor.
Tempted by the woman who tried to kill him…
Ridley Ward is determined to protect his village, yet he cannot kill the impetuous Yrsa. To ensure her safety, he must keep her presence a secret. Little does Ridley know how much the beautiful Viking will test him.
Amidst growing tension in the kingdom and the threat of their illicit secret being discovered, Yrsa and Ridley must come together to uncover the true meaning of obligation, loyalty, and love.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2023
24 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
dnf
April 5, 2024Bummer, dnf 8%. Where are all the great Viking romances? We need more Uhtreds (sons of Uhtreds)!
Thanks for saving me the time on this one, Elle Jae.
Thanks for saving me the time on this one, Elle Jae.
January 17, 2023
His Viking Captive by C.A. Fray
His Viking Captive is about Viking Yrsa Arkyndóttir who is determined to avenge her father's death and Ridley Ward, a Saxon whose goal is to protect his village. When Yrsa and her clan raid Ridley's village, Ridley finds her and keeps her captive. They hate each other. But quickly find themselves having to resist the urge to fall for the enemy.
Wow. Just wow. This book kept my attention from the first page to the last. First of all, Yrsa is the exact kind of female protagonist that a woman reader wants and needs. She is smart, strong, and brave. She doesn't need a man to protect her, and I love that about her. She definitely is a feisty one! As for Ridley, my oh my. What a man! Strong, protective, kind, and loyal Ridley will be sure to steal your heart and make you swoon countless times throughout the story.
This story had beautiful well-crafted sentences and an equally incredible plot. It has the perfect amount of spice and action will keep you flipping the pages, begging for more.
Can't wait to read more from C.A. Fray!
His Viking Captive is about Viking Yrsa Arkyndóttir who is determined to avenge her father's death and Ridley Ward, a Saxon whose goal is to protect his village. When Yrsa and her clan raid Ridley's village, Ridley finds her and keeps her captive. They hate each other. But quickly find themselves having to resist the urge to fall for the enemy.
Wow. Just wow. This book kept my attention from the first page to the last. First of all, Yrsa is the exact kind of female protagonist that a woman reader wants and needs. She is smart, strong, and brave. She doesn't need a man to protect her, and I love that about her. She definitely is a feisty one! As for Ridley, my oh my. What a man! Strong, protective, kind, and loyal Ridley will be sure to steal your heart and make you swoon countless times throughout the story.
This story had beautiful well-crafted sentences and an equally incredible plot. It has the perfect amount of spice and action will keep you flipping the pages, begging for more.
Can't wait to read more from C.A. Fray!
April 18, 2023
I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
While I am not used to reading romance focused novels, it was definitely a thrilling read.
The story is fast paced and gets your heart racing with anticipation. I wish some of the characters would have been given more depth and backstory, and a deeper dive into the combat but I can appreciate that is delved deeper into with the fantasy genre I am used to. The author sure knows how to spice things up and make the reader yearn for the romance to build and climax (pun intended). I found myself constantly wanting to turn to the next page to find out the fate of our burley Saxon and our fierce wild Viking. The images painted from character descriptions and the village setting allow the reader to become fully immersed in the story.
I wanted to give this story 5/5 stars, however I do think some of the character development could have gone deeper, specifically with our Viking “princess”. Therefore I will give it a solid 4/5.
Considering this was my first Historical Romance read, I will definitely be on the look out for more of C.A. Fray’s work.
While I am not used to reading romance focused novels, it was definitely a thrilling read.
The story is fast paced and gets your heart racing with anticipation. I wish some of the characters would have been given more depth and backstory, and a deeper dive into the combat but I can appreciate that is delved deeper into with the fantasy genre I am used to. The author sure knows how to spice things up and make the reader yearn for the romance to build and climax (pun intended). I found myself constantly wanting to turn to the next page to find out the fate of our burley Saxon and our fierce wild Viking. The images painted from character descriptions and the village setting allow the reader to become fully immersed in the story.
I wanted to give this story 5/5 stars, however I do think some of the character development could have gone deeper, specifically with our Viking “princess”. Therefore I will give it a solid 4/5.
Considering this was my first Historical Romance read, I will definitely be on the look out for more of C.A. Fray’s work.
Read
April 5, 20242/5 ★ I love vikings, love badass shield maidens, did not love this story.
THOUGHTS
As the synopsis says, our viking FMC, Yrsa, goes on her first raid with her clan + betrothed because she needs to get avenge her father's death, things don't go as planned and she taken captive by the badass warrior Saxon chieftain, MMC, Ridley.
She thinks he's super hot. He thinks she's super hot.
In the battle, (where the FMC and her Viking buddies raided the Saxon village that was minding their own beeswax) the FMC gets stabbed by the MMCs brother, the head priest of the church in the village that the vikings wanted to pilfer. The MMC knows he should kill her but he cannnnnnn't -- instead he sneaks the viking woman home to his hut (HE'S THE CHIEFTAIN OF THIS VILLIAGE!) and the MMC tends to her stab wound, ties her unconscious body up, and when she wakes up, he tells her to be quiet because his Saxon village buddies would do bad things to her if they find out she's alive, because she's a viking.
But don't worry my friends, he doesn't just want to get his hands on her hot bod, or sink his d*ck into her tight wetness, he captured her because he ALSO wants to know where her viking buddies are and the two women they stole from the village. She refuses to tell him. He asks her again. She refuses. He asks her. She refuses...
She is hell bent on escape. Because of course she is. She's a viking who is literally tied up in a hut with her enemy the Saxon CHIEFTAIN, former gig warrior.
In a small village, in a HUT, he's able to HIDE HIS CAPTIVE. Suuuuuuuurrrre.
She's a feisty captive, which makes the MMC want her even more...
I wanted to like it, I love this genre and am so sad this one didn't do it for me.
👀 POV: 3rd person, both MCs
📚 Tropes: enemies to lovers, capture/forced proximity, insta-lust
💟 M/F
➡️ virgin FMC + experienced MMC -- siiiiigh.
🌶️ Spicy Level: 3/5
🔥 How much spice: 2/5
My spicy scale:
🌡️ 5 = high spice pure, full-on spicyyyy!
🌡️ 4 = med—high spice,
🌡️ 3 = med spice,
🌡️ 2 = low spice and
🌡️ 1 = closed door/no spice
WHAT YOU’RE IN FOR:
💠 boring bunch of fighting in the hut about the same thing over and over
💠 boring-er bunch of skimmable clan-politics, and exposition
💠 ridiculously absurd 3rd act
THOUGHTS
As the synopsis says, our viking FMC, Yrsa, goes on her first raid with her clan + betrothed because she needs to get avenge her father's death, things don't go as planned and she taken captive by the badass warrior Saxon chieftain, MMC, Ridley.
She thinks he's super hot. He thinks she's super hot.
In the battle, (where the FMC and her Viking buddies raided the Saxon village that was minding their own beeswax) the FMC gets stabbed by the MMCs brother, the head priest of the church in the village that the vikings wanted to pilfer. The MMC knows he should kill her but he cannnnnnn't -- instead he sneaks the viking woman home to his hut (HE'S THE CHIEFTAIN OF THIS VILLIAGE!) and the MMC tends to her stab wound, ties her unconscious body up, and when she wakes up, he tells her to be quiet because his Saxon village buddies would do bad things to her if they find out she's alive, because she's a viking.
But don't worry my friends, he doesn't just want to get his hands on her hot bod, or sink his d*ck into her tight wetness, he captured her because he ALSO wants to know where her viking buddies are and the two women they stole from the village. She refuses to tell him. He asks her again. She refuses. He asks her. She refuses...
She is hell bent on escape. Because of course she is. She's a viking who is literally tied up in a hut with her enemy the Saxon CHIEFTAIN, former gig warrior.
In a small village, in a HUT, he's able to HIDE HIS CAPTIVE. Suuuuuuuurrrre.
She's a feisty captive, which makes the MMC want her even more...
I wanted to like it, I love this genre and am so sad this one didn't do it for me.
👀 POV: 3rd person, both MCs
📚 Tropes: enemies to lovers, capture/forced proximity, insta-lust
💟 M/F
➡️ virgin FMC + experienced MMC -- siiiiigh.
🌶️ Spicy Level: 3/5
🔥 How much spice: 2/5
My spicy scale:
🌡️ 5 = high spice pure, full-on spicyyyy!
🌡️ 4 = med—high spice,
🌡️ 3 = med spice,
🌡️ 2 = low spice and
🌡️ 1 = closed door/no spice
WHAT YOU’RE IN FOR:
💠 boring bunch of fighting in the hut about the same thing over and over
💠 boring-er bunch of skimmable clan-politics, and exposition
💠 ridiculously absurd 3rd act
January 30, 2023
Excellent story, great character development, and couldn’t put it down! Read it from middle to end in one sitting, as it kept me wanting more and to know what happens at the end.
Fantastic debut novel and cannot wait for more from C.A. Fray!
Fantastic debut novel and cannot wait for more from C.A. Fray!
January 12, 2025
I would have never picked up this book if I didn’t acquire it through a blind book swap, but I was very pleasantly surprised! A love story, but think Lord of the Rings meets 50 Shades of Grey.
March 19, 2023
A lovely historical romance by C.A. Fray! I've read mostly regency romance so to read a romance between vikings and Saxons was a great switch up! I loved both Yrsa and Ridley. Yrsa is the smart-mouthed feisty woman who has spent her life trying to prove herself and won't take shit from anyone. Ridley is the village chieftain with a haunting past trying to move forward and do good. When it comes down to it, Yrsa becomes injured in her clans raid on his village but he can't bring himself to kill her. So he sneaks her back to his home to heal her...but doesnt really think past that. Yrsa is infuriating and it's funny to read how she pushes all if Ridley's buttons. It also creates great tension, and there was some great tension in here!! Over the weeks Yrsa is with Ridely they begin to care about one another and fall into a forbidden, complicated, messy love. In the end their love is tested they both have to fight to save what and who are most dear so they can be together.
Really enjoyed it! Here's what I loved:
🪓 Vikings and Saxons
🪓 Enemies to lovers
🪓 Slow burn
🪓 Forbidden love
🪓 Tension
🪓 Spicy ❤️
I gave it 4 ⭐ and 1 🌶️
Really enjoyed it! Here's what I loved:
🪓 Vikings and Saxons
🪓 Enemies to lovers
🪓 Slow burn
🪓 Forbidden love
🪓 Tension
🪓 Spicy ❤️
I gave it 4 ⭐ and 1 🌶️
March 27, 2023
Do you know how hard it has been to find good Viking romance novels? Searching for medieval or Viking romance that were not written when questionable plot points were the norm (1970s, I'm looking at you) is harder than you think, then I found this book and I'm glad I picked it up!
"His Viking Captive" is true enemies (Saxon MMC and Dane FMC)-to-lovers, forced proximity (he captures and imprisons her...after healing her injuries sustained in a raid!), with a dose of slow burn. It was everything I wanted to read in a Viking romance, and put me in mind - in the best way possible - of Johanna Lindsey or Kathleen E Woodiwiss.
I dislike when reviews describe FMCs as strong or independent and you read a book and that characterizes someone for a chapter then the MMC is introduced and she's a puddle, or "independent" is code for sarcastic / abrasive. In this book Yrsa fights 'til the end, but she remains caring, teasing, and smart. Ridley is a great conflicted chieftain.
There was tension and sword fights and passionate kisses. I am excited for what this series can offer if this is Book One.
"His Viking Captive" is true enemies (Saxon MMC and Dane FMC)-to-lovers, forced proximity (he captures and imprisons her...after healing her injuries sustained in a raid!), with a dose of slow burn. It was everything I wanted to read in a Viking romance, and put me in mind - in the best way possible - of Johanna Lindsey or Kathleen E Woodiwiss.
I dislike when reviews describe FMCs as strong or independent and you read a book and that characterizes someone for a chapter then the MMC is introduced and she's a puddle, or "independent" is code for sarcastic / abrasive. In this book Yrsa fights 'til the end, but she remains caring, teasing, and smart. Ridley is a great conflicted chieftain.
There was tension and sword fights and passionate kisses. I am excited for what this series can offer if this is Book One.
January 5, 2023
"Yrsa's hands went clammy. Her skin ached with a need that she couldn't entirely name. And she couldn't help the feeling that her fate and Ridley's were twined together like ribbons of smoke in the night."
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶
Yrsa has taken a blood oath to avenge her father's death, but when her Viking raid fails, she is taken captive by Ridley, the Saxon chieftain. Injured from the raid & healing, Yrsa knows she needs to escape & finish what she started. Ridley, while trying to protect his village, cant bring himself to kill Yrsa, as he needs information from her . As they test each other, they find themselves harboring feelings other than hatred towards the other, & must come together to save both themselves and the people they love.
This story was so fun to read! I have never read a Viking/Saxon story, and I know this won't be my last! There was action right away, so i was instantly drawn in. & once Ridley took Yrsa, I could not wait for them to fall in love! 😍😍
Who knew I'd fall for a big, burly, Saxon man?! Can we talk about Ridley?! He is THE SWEETEST man. Holy moly. The way he cared for Yrsa had me in a chokehold. Yes, he took her captive, but like he was nice about it? LOL 😆 🥰
Yrsa was the badass female main character we all know & love. Strong, independent, and intelligent.
I loved how we get the backstories from both main characters and the feeling of family & connection with the supporting characters. They all came together & really showed what honor means.
The scene setting was so so good in this book. I keep picturing the woods and river they walked to, and it just sounds so serene and perfect. 🏞
There was tension radiating from Yrsa & Ridley. There were sweet, tender moments. & there were some hot moments that made me blush. I couldn't put the book down, i read it in one sitting! Not to mention, there was a twist that threw all prior plans Yrsa & Ridley had out the window! 😳
Read this if you like:
♡Fast paced story, but a slow burn romance!
♡Enemies to lovers
♡Historical fiction
♡Forced proximity/shared bed trope
♡Found family
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶
Yrsa has taken a blood oath to avenge her father's death, but when her Viking raid fails, she is taken captive by Ridley, the Saxon chieftain. Injured from the raid & healing, Yrsa knows she needs to escape & finish what she started. Ridley, while trying to protect his village, cant bring himself to kill Yrsa, as he needs information from her . As they test each other, they find themselves harboring feelings other than hatred towards the other, & must come together to save both themselves and the people they love.
This story was so fun to read! I have never read a Viking/Saxon story, and I know this won't be my last! There was action right away, so i was instantly drawn in. & once Ridley took Yrsa, I could not wait for them to fall in love! 😍😍
Who knew I'd fall for a big, burly, Saxon man?! Can we talk about Ridley?! He is THE SWEETEST man. Holy moly. The way he cared for Yrsa had me in a chokehold. Yes, he took her captive, but like he was nice about it? LOL 😆 🥰
Yrsa was the badass female main character we all know & love. Strong, independent, and intelligent.
I loved how we get the backstories from both main characters and the feeling of family & connection with the supporting characters. They all came together & really showed what honor means.
The scene setting was so so good in this book. I keep picturing the woods and river they walked to, and it just sounds so serene and perfect. 🏞
There was tension radiating from Yrsa & Ridley. There were sweet, tender moments. & there were some hot moments that made me blush. I couldn't put the book down, i read it in one sitting! Not to mention, there was a twist that threw all prior plans Yrsa & Ridley had out the window! 😳
Read this if you like:
♡Fast paced story, but a slow burn romance!
♡Enemies to lovers
♡Historical fiction
♡Forced proximity/shared bed trope
♡Found family
January 14, 2024
This book was great! The previous most-early set historical I had read was The Bride by Julie Garwood, and I was dubious as to how I would like something set so far back. Fray did such a good job of making the time period accessible - I did skim the first many pages that were mostly battle battle sword stab, but once that finished Ridley and Yrsa's relationship felt real and their chemistry was terrific. Yrsa was the captive in question, and she was such a spitfire, she's always like, let me attack and try to kill you on instinct, oh I guess this would be easier if I pretended to be helpless, too late. Fray does a great job of showing what a burden being head of a village in that time would be, Ridley's despair/guilt on the consequences of the initial raid were so affecting. Their mutual attraction was So Hot, and I loved the resolution of the book and her actions in the final part. #FreetheTannerTwo
January 7, 2023
I cannot say enough about this book! It was amazing. Fray's debut is mind-bogglingly good. I love how consistently tough and smart Yrsa is, how noble and kind Ridley is. The slow-burn had the perfect amount of tension. Fray's writing is beautiful, descriptive, captivating, and solid. Her characters are vivid and pull you in. You'll fall in love with Yrsa and Ridley, of course, but also the host of side characters. And the villain! You love to hate him!
This is one I would absolutely reread because of the rich, poetic writing and the attention to detail and the fantastic characters. Ugh. So good. It was one of my top two reads of 2022, hands-down.
This is one I would absolutely reread because of the rich, poetic writing and the attention to detail and the fantastic characters. Ugh. So good. It was one of my top two reads of 2022, hands-down.
January 19, 2023
I was lucky enough to snag an ARC copy of this book, and as I was/am obsessed with the show The Last Kingdom (Netflix), I was super pleased to find out that this book satisfied the need for a Viking story. Though, it was more Saxon-forward, I was HOOKED on finding out what would happen to Yrsa and Ridley on every page I turned! I’m excited that C.A.Fray is continuing with her other couples for future stories and can’t wait for them to be released. If you’re into period pieces/Vikings/The Last Kingdom, this book will satisfy that love with a slow-burn to keep you warm.
January 21, 2023
Definitely worth the read! His Viking Captive delivered everything I want in a historical romance, a setting I felt could walk through, dynamic characters, plot twists, great dialogue, and a dash or two of spice. You'll be left cheering on the lead characters and wondering what's next for the village of Hyrstow.
February 12, 2023
This was my first Saxon/Viking romance and I really enjoyed it! It features tropes like captor/captive, enemies to lovers, and only one bed. I loved the dynamic between headstrong Yrsa & stubborn Ridley. I just wish Oswald had died—he got off too easily!
March 7, 2023
Fierce and fantastic! ⚔️🔥
This is my first read with Vikings and medieval romance... and it was fantastic! It was just as fierce, sassy, and exciting as I hoped it would be and the romance story was so good! I really enjoyed the warrior characters and loved them as a duo. Great read!!
This is my first read with Vikings and medieval romance... and it was fantastic! It was just as fierce, sassy, and exciting as I hoped it would be and the romance story was so good! I really enjoyed the warrior characters and loved them as a duo. Great read!!
July 25, 2023
Was good until
I only got half way through this book, it started out good but then, all it was is lust and sex, they didn't even have sex yet cause one would start then stop, disgusting with their selves, ruined the storyline for me. I had enough.
I only got half way through this book, it started out good but then, all it was is lust and sex, they didn't even have sex yet cause one would start then stop, disgusting with their selves, ruined the storyline for me. I had enough.
March 18, 2024
Yes! A bit of a slow burn but WORTH THE WAIT. Spicy Scraba mixed with battle scenes sprinkled with tender moments. It had me turning page after page. So excited this is a series, I couldn’t get enough!
December 21, 2022
This book was an emotional whirlwind through and through. The dynamic between Yrsa and her captor is so expertly laid out and leaves the reader hungry for more. Can’t wait to read the next book!
Want to read
March 25, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/25/2023)! 🎁
February 24, 2023
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 💫
Ok let’s start with a little blurb shall we!? Yrsa is a Viking woman participating in her first raid.. of course they are after gold and treasure of plenty but she has one thing she demands to get out of this.. which Saxon killed her father? During the raid Saxons rebel killing some of her people and herself getting captured by the chieftain Ridley… Ridley takes her captive because his heart tells him he can not kill innocents.. he gets much more than just a healing captive in Yrsa! With her feisty attitude and an energy he is automatically drawn to her which begins a beautiful enemies to lovers tale you won’t be able to put down!
The first thing I have to say is the writing completely immerses you into another time period! A time when Vikings threatened Saxon villages and village towns were small, intimate and as close as family! Right away you get thrown into a battle scene that is equally intense and enthralling I was definitely hooked from the start!
Also let me tell you that you will absolutely fall head over heels for both Yrsa and Ridley ! I know I know we usually swoon over the ripped grumpy Viking but Ridley is top notch grump in my book and I’ll be dreaming of him for the next few nights 👀 🔥 and Yrsa is everything you want in a female lead! She says what’s on her mind and fights for what she wants! Isn’t afraid of hurting feelings and throwing punches! Yesss I loved her so much!!
So all in all I have this reading 4 and a half stars! I would recommend this story to ANYONE who loves historical fiction, romance with enemies to lovers and the one bed trope! And I will 💯 read more from this author!!
Ok let’s start with a little blurb shall we!? Yrsa is a Viking woman participating in her first raid.. of course they are after gold and treasure of plenty but she has one thing she demands to get out of this.. which Saxon killed her father? During the raid Saxons rebel killing some of her people and herself getting captured by the chieftain Ridley… Ridley takes her captive because his heart tells him he can not kill innocents.. he gets much more than just a healing captive in Yrsa! With her feisty attitude and an energy he is automatically drawn to her which begins a beautiful enemies to lovers tale you won’t be able to put down!
The first thing I have to say is the writing completely immerses you into another time period! A time when Vikings threatened Saxon villages and village towns were small, intimate and as close as family! Right away you get thrown into a battle scene that is equally intense and enthralling I was definitely hooked from the start!
Also let me tell you that you will absolutely fall head over heels for both Yrsa and Ridley ! I know I know we usually swoon over the ripped grumpy Viking but Ridley is top notch grump in my book and I’ll be dreaming of him for the next few nights 👀 🔥 and Yrsa is everything you want in a female lead! She says what’s on her mind and fights for what she wants! Isn’t afraid of hurting feelings and throwing punches! Yesss I loved her so much!!
So all in all I have this reading 4 and a half stars! I would recommend this story to ANYONE who loves historical fiction, romance with enemies to lovers and the one bed trope! And I will 💯 read more from this author!!
February 1, 2023
If you enjoy tension-filled medieval romance, this book is for you.
August 17, 2025
A page-turning debut filled with action, forbidden romance, loyalty, and revenge. This is a rivals to romance book focused on the historical Viking and Saxon battles. C.A. Fray's debut novel is a page turner with the action and suspense from the very first sentence! The thrill of a viking raid with a twist as we are introduced to Yrsa, a kick butt warrior. She is strong-willed and strong-minded and seeking revenge against the savage Saxons. Ridley is a fierce warrior, the leader of the Saxon people in the raided village. He is a loyal and passionate man. Although not what either of them intended the chemistry is undeniable. You cheer for the forbid romance which is steamy and sometimes complicated, conflicting with the main characters' beliefs of each others clans. The hidden secret is found out, but there are some twists and turns that you would not expect. Yrsa's revenge comes to fruition but not how she or the reader expected! Must read!
***I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review***
***I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review***
November 30, 2025
3.75 stars rounded up
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