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Shackle and Sword
A former slave and innkeeper's son becomes a master slave and swordsman, returning to the land of his upbringing to free a queen from his old master
262 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 21, 2024
Had low expectations going in but this book turned out to be a super fun and quick read.
February 20, 2015
One Saturday I felt like something quick and cheap and cheesy, and I remembered this book I had picked up at Books & Co: Alanna Morland’s Shackle and Sword. The basic concept, as I understood it, was of a young man sold off into slavery who becomes a great hero; I figured it would be well-written enough for the undemanding mood I was in, and full of sex and fighting. And it was all of that – only moreso. I swear, I thought I had read something else by this author and wasn’t overly impressed: I need to try it again, because this was so much more than I expected. Well-written enough, yes – in fact, very nicely written. Full of sex and fighting, yes – but not explicit; for some reason – the romance-y cover, perhaps – I expected blow-by-blow scenes of both, and there was nary a one of either. The sex and violence was largely left to the imagination.
What’s particularly funny is that I’ve been reading an old blog of “fantasy rants” by someone called limyaael, in which long reading – and writing – of the genre lets loose on the classic blunders – some even worse than going up against a Sicilian when death is on the line. The rants I’ve read so far have involved use of language – English and constructed; treatment of horses; treatment of battles; basically, for the most part, all carrying the motto “don’t write it if you don’t know anything about it”. (Like, for example, don’t have a battalion of Elves loosing arrows in a rainstorm. Just sayin’.) I expected Shackle and Sword to ring every single one of the off-notes discussed in this blog …
It didn’t touch a single one, as far as I could see. The slavery of the main character, Farris, was handled realistically but not explicitly; a lot of the worst of the life he lives under the worst masters happens offstage, only hinted at – and what we are shown is sobering. He is, I grant you, a bit prodigious as a fighter and horseman – but the former can be put down to his half-blood heritage. I liked that aspect; the way he is treated by the fae to whom he is related through his long-vanished father was a very pleasant surprise. The latter above, the horsemanship, is also easily enough explained, and doesn’t insult willing suspension of disbelief. Best of all, Farris doesn’t magically turn into a shining hero at any point in the story. He’s bitter and vengeful, but sensible and loyal; he shows himself in several situations to be not as bad as he might have been, and not as good as he might be. He’s a pretty solid, believable character, in a pretty solid, believable setting.
I liked it. I really liked it. I still dislike the cover, and I’m not fond of the title (which comes from a ballad referenced several times in the text), and wouldn’t have wanted to read it in public with those (I don’t on the whole do bodice-rippers) – but I did read it in one three-hour sitting on Saturday, and it raised a tear at the death of a character. It was a very, very pleasant surprise.
What’s particularly funny is that I’ve been reading an old blog of “fantasy rants” by someone called limyaael, in which long reading – and writing – of the genre lets loose on the classic blunders – some even worse than going up against a Sicilian when death is on the line. The rants I’ve read so far have involved use of language – English and constructed; treatment of horses; treatment of battles; basically, for the most part, all carrying the motto “don’t write it if you don’t know anything about it”. (Like, for example, don’t have a battalion of Elves loosing arrows in a rainstorm. Just sayin’.) I expected Shackle and Sword to ring every single one of the off-notes discussed in this blog …
It didn’t touch a single one, as far as I could see. The slavery of the main character, Farris, was handled realistically but not explicitly; a lot of the worst of the life he lives under the worst masters happens offstage, only hinted at – and what we are shown is sobering. He is, I grant you, a bit prodigious as a fighter and horseman – but the former can be put down to his half-blood heritage. I liked that aspect; the way he is treated by the fae to whom he is related through his long-vanished father was a very pleasant surprise. The latter above, the horsemanship, is also easily enough explained, and doesn’t insult willing suspension of disbelief. Best of all, Farris doesn’t magically turn into a shining hero at any point in the story. He’s bitter and vengeful, but sensible and loyal; he shows himself in several situations to be not as bad as he might have been, and not as good as he might be. He’s a pretty solid, believable character, in a pretty solid, believable setting.
I liked it. I really liked it. I still dislike the cover, and I’m not fond of the title (which comes from a ballad referenced several times in the text), and wouldn’t have wanted to read it in public with those (I don’t on the whole do bodice-rippers) – but I did read it in one three-hour sitting on Saturday, and it raised a tear at the death of a character. It was a very, very pleasant surprise.
January 25, 2011
I have been thinking about this so I finally decided I would update with a review.
As a warning, I do speak about plot elements in the book but nothing that isn't revealed by the blurb.
Basically, I think this book had everything it needed to be a good read. And in some ways it was. But there were just a few things that got in the way of me actually being able to really enjoy it.
First, rape is mentioned about 8 billion times. Now, I know rape is something used in a lot of Fantasy novels especially as a weapon against women. But it just seemed like it was too much, and just hitting me in the face with it. And I was really uncomfortable with the fact that a former slave felt like it was okay to use slave girls as he wished, knowing that they could not refuse him even if they wanted to. I don't care if he was really good in the sack. That just seems insulting. It's okay if he has sex with them if they like it, even though they might have refused him if they were free women? That just seemed like it was a bit too close to how he had been treated (although, being a man, naturally he was not used that way frequently) and I'm not sure how a person could do that and feel almost no remorse. He thinks about it at least once or twice during the book but never seems to actually bother to do anything about it and just keeps having sex with slave girls.
In general I also felt as if some parts of the book were a bit rushed. It could have been a longer novel and had some of the interesting parts more fleshed out. When he meets his family's people and they teach him magic, it could have been this big interesting thing but it was maybe 5 pages long. When he meets the princess it is difficult to really be able to believe their love because it all happens so quickly! And the stuff with the gods? They basically have 2 pages worth of content which is just the two of them arguing over him. I think that could have been more fleshed out as well.
All in all I think it had the makings of a good story, but it was just too short and couldn't flesh those out more. And I just couldn't get into the main character who ignored any moral hangups he might have had over having sex with girls who couldn't say no, when he had been in that position only shortly beforehand.
As a warning, I do speak about plot elements in the book but nothing that isn't revealed by the blurb.
Basically, I think this book had everything it needed to be a good read. And in some ways it was. But there were just a few things that got in the way of me actually being able to really enjoy it.
First, rape is mentioned about 8 billion times. Now, I know rape is something used in a lot of Fantasy novels especially as a weapon against women. But it just seemed like it was too much, and just hitting me in the face with it. And I was really uncomfortable with the fact that a former slave felt like it was okay to use slave girls as he wished, knowing that they could not refuse him even if they wanted to. I don't care if he was really good in the sack. That just seems insulting. It's okay if he has sex with them if they like it, even though they might have refused him if they were free women? That just seemed like it was a bit too close to how he had been treated (although, being a man, naturally he was not used that way frequently) and I'm not sure how a person could do that and feel almost no remorse. He thinks about it at least once or twice during the book but never seems to actually bother to do anything about it and just keeps having sex with slave girls.
In general I also felt as if some parts of the book were a bit rushed. It could have been a longer novel and had some of the interesting parts more fleshed out. When he meets his family's people and they teach him magic, it could have been this big interesting thing but it was maybe 5 pages long. When he meets the princess it is difficult to really be able to believe their love because it all happens so quickly! And the stuff with the gods? They basically have 2 pages worth of content which is just the two of them arguing over him. I think that could have been more fleshed out as well.
All in all I think it had the makings of a good story, but it was just too short and couldn't flesh those out more. And I just couldn't get into the main character who ignored any moral hangups he might have had over having sex with girls who couldn't say no, when he had been in that position only shortly beforehand.
September 5, 2015
It's comical how pointless this book is. Plot events occur utterly without significance. It's like reading someone's medieval-fantasy diary. "This happened, then this happened, then this. Then I took out my thwarted manfeels on enslaved women in taverns, whom I empathize with, because I was also a slave. But I like demanding sex from people."
My favorite among the Pointless Plot Events are the gods periodically showing up to have the same argument: "He's a warrior!" "No, see, because he also likes animals!" which... ultimately has no effect on Farris' life or choices.
But he does like animals. The gods say so.
My favorite among the Pointless Plot Events are the gods periodically showing up to have the same argument: "He's a warrior!" "No, see, because he also likes animals!" which... ultimately has no effect on Farris' life or choices.
But he does like animals. The gods say so.
August 28, 2007
I absolutely <3 this book.
Don't let the Harlequin cover mislead you. Although Shackle and Sword is full of cliches, it's charmingly written, and unlike other books I loved as a child, I have no problem pulling this one out yearly to re-read. This is a great fantasy book: it mixes just the right amount of hurt/comfort and angst with romance, and has an ending that will make you smile. An easy, enjoyable read.
Don't let the Harlequin cover mislead you. Although Shackle and Sword is full of cliches, it's charmingly written, and unlike other books I loved as a child, I have no problem pulling this one out yearly to re-read. This is a great fantasy book: it mixes just the right amount of hurt/comfort and angst with romance, and has an ending that will make you smile. An easy, enjoyable read.
May 13, 2023
Shackle and Sword by Alanna Morland – I think I bought this for a quarter at a used bookstore, and it lived up to my expectations of paying a quarter for it! The writing was pretty good, but it did have some slow moments. Happy Reading!
August 23, 2016
A little crude and brutal for my taste, but I enjoyed the story as a whole.
Reminded me a bit of Sharon Shinn.
Reminded me a bit of Sharon Shinn.
December 28, 2023
I absolutely love this book and have read it more times than I can count.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews