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Merlin's Legacy #1
Daughter of Fire
Vivienne of Amesbury, the secret daughter of the great sorcerer Merlin, is cursed never to know love, but her passions are stirred by Norman knight Rorke FitzWarren, who seeks a healer for his sovereign. Original.
447 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 21, 2011
A typical Norman/Saxon start to the story. The Norman's overcome the Saxon's in battle and immediately show their dominance by terrorizing and killing the villagers. They are brutal with no regard to age (they kill the youngest to the oldest) or religious buildings (the abbey is completely trashed). Rorke FitzWarren is a brutal warrior and even have the nerve to capture a healer (Vivian) and threaten her people if she doesn't heal the new king of England. Of course, she falls madly in love with him and vice versa. What is it with these medieval women who fall victim to their conquerors? I guess survival makes you don't strange things. Rorke has a bad childhood and cannot love anyone...until he finds Vivian. And Vivian is basically cloistered at the Abbey and is virgin and knows no better. Even with all the cliches, it was a great book. I especially liked the link to Merlin, Vivian is his daughter you know and 500 years old. Gotta love it.
February 22, 2017
So, I read this years ago and while I still love the story itself, oh God, the writing! Weird, clunky sentences. Shoving the images of fire, a phoenix, and a weaver at a tapestry. And I'm pretty sure that some things were changed between the print version I read 10 years ago and the digital one I read recently. Great concept, just not very well executed.
December 22, 2024
This is my second time reading this book, and I feel conflicted keeping it at such a low rating, because there are interesting things here (historical details about England in 1066, or any instance in which Vivan gets swept away healing someone). But there are also things that bring the story down. Some of these aren't unheard of in romance novels (for instance, how the male lead's story kind of gets tossed aside), and others that could be credited to the author trying to portray how brutal the world is (there's a lot of assault mentioned or alluded to in this story), but when you combined that with the poor writing quality--by which I mean the egregious amount of typos, missing words, and sentences that were clearly rewritten without the earlier versions of those sentences being completely deleted from the draft--I just can't give this book more stars. It almost feels like you're reading an early draft of the book that hadn't gone to an editor yet. And it's a shame because stories don’t have to be perfect in romance novels, because they’re suppose to be like candy for the brain. And stories can be gritty, because hey, some people like that flavor. But the expectation is that the writing itself should be smooth. Especially if the story’s going to try to be gritty! One or two typos is fine, but when you can't even clear a page. . .
It's a shame, because the idea was good. But I can't recommend this.
And of course, I have also arranged my takeaway thoughts on the plot itself into a haiku, as is my way:
"As ashes grow cold
On what was before, the spark
For what’s next is trust."
It's a shame, because the idea was good. But I can't recommend this.
And of course, I have also arranged my takeaway thoughts on the plot itself into a haiku, as is my way:
"As ashes grow cold
On what was before, the spark
For what’s next is trust."
April 18, 2019
I’m waiting until I read the fourth (lol!!) book to really confirm this because it is the only book I explicitly remember, but I think this is the romance series that got me into romance and the first romance series I ever read (courtesy of family parties I was too young to avoid that were held at my great aunt’s house, where my aunt’s bookshelf of old romance novels resided).
And I get it!! I mean, I pretty much only read stuff set in the 19th century or later now, but I can understand why thirteen-year-old me got hooked. There’s interesting heroines, the heroes are... kind of an interesting preview into my later love for Mr. Darcy (lots of man pain), the sexy times are pretty muted (important for a thirteen-year-old who knew nothing about sex), there’s a lot of plot (less sexy times means more plot?), the world is actually kind of cool in how magic meet history, and every story is connected!
Almost-thirty-year-old me has some very different concerns that thirteen-year-old me, of course. As the top review on here says, it is Not Good that the relationship begins and is premised upon, through the end!!!, coercion. Sure, Vivian is never physically shackled, but threatening to end the livelihoods and lives of everyone she knows and loves in order to ensure her cooperation...? Yeah, there’s a lot of analogy about taming a wild falcon, and Vivian resists and mentions this, but it is really because she has been told to never have sex because she would then lose her powers! not because of the Bad Dynamics underneath it all! Suffice to say, the relationship development and character development were Not Great.
Anyway, it is just clear that the 1990s were... a different time, as this whole Joe Biden thing is demonstrating. Rorke’s behavior is the ultimate example of how wildly different things are, now. The bar is real low for him. It’s basically like because he didn’t outright kill anyone in the first ten pages, he remains a viable love interest. But I suppose going into this read knowing this made all of it... not okay, but I just rolled my eyes and kept going. It helps knowing that none of these books are available in e-book from the five libraries I use, so I know they’re not currently widely read. So it’s fine! (That did mean, though, that I bought them.)
But anyway, almost-thirty-year-old me saw the reveal from a mile away (which may just have to be with media exposure being very different now, too—the “riddle” is astoundingly obvious), and yet, remained pretty riveted! The plot works. There is a lot to be said for how much I appreciate when women who have Powers in media actually live their lives like actual people concerned about how it could go badly for them. That the Merlin reveal doesn’t come about for awhile, that the truth doesn’t come out until much later, actually kept things moving along pretty well, even guessing how it would end.
So yeah, I’ll be reading the next three books...! They’re decent, all excusing of bad romance stuff aside.
And I get it!! I mean, I pretty much only read stuff set in the 19th century or later now, but I can understand why thirteen-year-old me got hooked. There’s interesting heroines, the heroes are... kind of an interesting preview into my later love for Mr. Darcy (lots of man pain), the sexy times are pretty muted (important for a thirteen-year-old who knew nothing about sex), there’s a lot of plot (less sexy times means more plot?), the world is actually kind of cool in how magic meet history, and every story is connected!
Almost-thirty-year-old me has some very different concerns that thirteen-year-old me, of course. As the top review on here says, it is Not Good that the relationship begins and is premised upon, through the end!!!, coercion. Sure, Vivian is never physically shackled, but threatening to end the livelihoods and lives of everyone she knows and loves in order to ensure her cooperation...? Yeah, there’s a lot of analogy about taming a wild falcon, and Vivian resists and mentions this, but it is really because she has been told to never have sex because she would then lose her powers! not because of the Bad Dynamics underneath it all! Suffice to say, the relationship development and character development were Not Great.
Anyway, it is just clear that the 1990s were... a different time, as this whole Joe Biden thing is demonstrating. Rorke’s behavior is the ultimate example of how wildly different things are, now. The bar is real low for him. It’s basically like because he didn’t outright kill anyone in the first ten pages, he remains a viable love interest. But I suppose going into this read knowing this made all of it... not okay, but I just rolled my eyes and kept going. It helps knowing that none of these books are available in e-book from the five libraries I use, so I know they’re not currently widely read. So it’s fine! (That did mean, though, that I bought them.)
But anyway, almost-thirty-year-old me saw the reveal from a mile away (which may just have to be with media exposure being very different now, too—the “riddle” is astoundingly obvious), and yet, remained pretty riveted! The plot works. There is a lot to be said for how much I appreciate when women who have Powers in media actually live their lives like actual people concerned about how it could go badly for them. That the Merlin reveal doesn’t come about for awhile, that the truth doesn’t come out until much later, actually kept things moving along pretty well, even guessing how it would end.
So yeah, I’ll be reading the next three books...! They’re decent, all excusing of bad romance stuff aside.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2017
Now this series was one of my absolute favorites when I was younger. I loved the first four books after that they became a little too repetitive but still well worth the read. Full of magic, romance and mystery I've held onto this lovely series for years. Some day I may even re-read them. Very enjoyable overall.
October 13, 2024
It was tough to get through this book. What happened with Mally? Ther character building was not great either! I liked vivian but wish i got to know her and the relationship with her father better. Many unanswered questions in this book.
June 1, 2025
I've read and re read this book so many times I'm so happy to find these on the Kindle her original name was Quinn Taylor Evans and I couldn't find her then I googled it and found Carla I'm so happy I was able to find her I'm re reading all her books all over again!!!
October 7, 2023
Great take on the Battle of Hastings!
Loved this story and all the characters in it. Well written and cleverly told. Will read all that this author writes! Thanks so much!
Loved this story and all the characters in it. Well written and cleverly told. Will read all that this author writes! Thanks so much!
February 3, 2024
I liked it
A true fantasy romance. The characters were interesting and fully fleshed out. Good was good and evil was evil. Well written story.
A true fantasy romance. The characters were interesting and fully fleshed out. Good was good and evil was evil. Well written story.
April 14, 2024
Fantastic series
January 10, 2025
outstanding
Impossible to put down..it is spell binding. I can’t wait to read the second addition of Merlin’s legacy . Recommend this book to anyone interested in a wonderful read.
Impossible to put down..it is spell binding. I can’t wait to read the second addition of Merlin’s legacy . Recommend this book to anyone interested in a wonderful read.
April 15, 2025
Vivian of Amesbury has spent her entirely life in the abbey, the priest a man whom she considers a father and old woman whom she considers a mother. It’s to spare their lives that forces Vivian into the custody of the Norman invaders. They have come seeking a powerful healer as their King is badly wounded and to save him, Rorke FitzWarren and his knights are willing to slaughter everyone Vivian cares about to get to her. She has the gift of foresight and healing and has dedicated her life to helping anyone who has need of that gift, no matter who the person is. It’s hard, though, to follow this vow when the enemy is killing your countryman and threatening your family. Despite holding a great resentment towards Rorke, Vivian goes with him and heals the King with her gift. Problem is, Rorke witnesses her true powers and now refuses to let her leave.
Rorke is a loyal man, a warrior who is known to be cold and ruthless on the battlefield. However, laying eyes on the beautiful Saxon healer, and he is instantly a lost man. Never before has a woman sparked within him this tenderness and protectiveness. It’s a great hardship to keep his wits about him as she has a habit of escaping his keeping to tend to wounded soldiers, on both sides but she makes him feel alive.
As the Norman invades conquer London, Rorke and his Saxon beauty grow closer and closer. Even with the threat of violence surrounding the city and a dark menacing presence not of this world, the Knight and his Lady fall in love.
I adored this book. I loved the history (though I can’t say is 100% true to fact), and I loved the faithfulness to the time period when it came to dialogue and day to day interactions. There’s nothing more frustrating to me the when a book set in 1500’s has characters speaking like they are in California in 1990’s. Luckily this author maintained the scene and therefore I was able to lose myself in the writing all the more. My only compliant? Maybe it was a tad bit long. I felt like it could have been shortened so that there’s not chapters of lull. Other than that, I was enjoying myself.
Rorke was a charming character because his desire/love for Vivian was obvious from their first interaction. Even when she gave him no signs that she returned any such desire, Rorke was a lost man. He could have a dog on a leash honestly. Vivian was a great character who didn’t rely on anyone but wasn’t blind to any aid that came her way. I enjoyed them together.
Rorke is a loyal man, a warrior who is known to be cold and ruthless on the battlefield. However, laying eyes on the beautiful Saxon healer, and he is instantly a lost man. Never before has a woman sparked within him this tenderness and protectiveness. It’s a great hardship to keep his wits about him as she has a habit of escaping his keeping to tend to wounded soldiers, on both sides but she makes him feel alive.
As the Norman invades conquer London, Rorke and his Saxon beauty grow closer and closer. Even with the threat of violence surrounding the city and a dark menacing presence not of this world, the Knight and his Lady fall in love.
I adored this book. I loved the history (though I can’t say is 100% true to fact), and I loved the faithfulness to the time period when it came to dialogue and day to day interactions. There’s nothing more frustrating to me the when a book set in 1500’s has characters speaking like they are in California in 1990’s. Luckily this author maintained the scene and therefore I was able to lose myself in the writing all the more. My only compliant? Maybe it was a tad bit long. I felt like it could have been shortened so that there’s not chapters of lull. Other than that, I was enjoying myself.
Rorke was a charming character because his desire/love for Vivian was obvious from their first interaction. Even when she gave him no signs that she returned any such desire, Rorke was a lost man. He could have a dog on a leash honestly. Vivian was a great character who didn’t rely on anyone but wasn’t blind to any aid that came her way. I enjoyed them together.
June 14, 2017
One of the best paranormal medieval romance books of all time! This was my second time to read this book and till this day, it was like reading it for the very first time. This is the kind of magic i want to read- not those "run-of-the-mill kind of i'll just cast a spell kind of thing and lets see what happens.." This magic had the heroine walking through walls and causing fireball explosions! See! Action-packed kind of magic.. and when Rorke and Vivian get together?? Holy camoly! now that is what i call "magical!"
As for the action, there was a favorite scene of mine wherein Rorke goes down on one knee to kill an evil wolf - that was the kind of scene i could actually see in my head and omg! i can imagine how sexy Rorke would look! *fan face*
There was also one thing that caught my eye- the definition of Beautiful.. - that is one word which we take for granted and just throw it around without really getting into the definition of the word.. Here, Ms. Simpson hit it right on the head with her definition..
"Beautiful - It was a word for mystical, unearthly things not of this world, seen but once, and then never again but in a dream...."
I haven't had the chance to read the second and the third one so i'll get to it right now.. This book is definitely going into my faves list!! I need more books like this one Ms. Simpson! Please!!!!!
As for the action, there was a favorite scene of mine wherein Rorke goes down on one knee to kill an evil wolf - that was the kind of scene i could actually see in my head and omg! i can imagine how sexy Rorke would look! *fan face*
There was also one thing that caught my eye- the definition of Beautiful.. - that is one word which we take for granted and just throw it around without really getting into the definition of the word.. Here, Ms. Simpson hit it right on the head with her definition..
"Beautiful - It was a word for mystical, unearthly things not of this world, seen but once, and then never again but in a dream...."
I haven't had the chance to read the second and the third one so i'll get to it right now.. This book is definitely going into my faves list!! I need more books like this one Ms. Simpson! Please!!!!!
March 27, 2010
DAUGHTER OF FIRE - VG
Taylor-Evans, Quinn - 1st of series
From Fantastic Fiction: Set in England in the time of William the Conqueror, the first novel in this marvelous series that explores what might have been if Merlin had had three beautiful daughters, each possessing just a touch of magic, resolved to use her special skills to battle evil, and determined to find love.
A very enjoyable book.
Taylor-Evans, Quinn - 1st of series
From Fantastic Fiction: Set in England in the time of William the Conqueror, the first novel in this marvelous series that explores what might have been if Merlin had had three beautiful daughters, each possessing just a touch of magic, resolved to use her special skills to battle evil, and determined to find love.
A very enjoyable book.
July 3, 2016
I never finished this series so I'm rereading the first 3 then continuing on. I really love the author's writing style and descriptions for characters as well as settings. It really pulls you in and the lore is just fantastic. So glad I was able to get a copy for my kindle. I did wish that one of the villians (won't spoil it here) was more prominent in the book, but overall some of the suspense kept me on my toes and that's ok.
May 26, 2018
Loved it
I read this series years ago and lost the books. Having a love of Merlin, Author and the knights of the round table, I surely enjoyed this twist into the life of Merlin. Did he gave children and how did they fair was always a thought. Great job in writing this book and I look forward to reading the rest in the series.
I read this series years ago and lost the books. Having a love of Merlin, Author and the knights of the round table, I surely enjoyed this twist into the life of Merlin. Did he gave children and how did they fair was always a thought. Great job in writing this book and I look forward to reading the rest in the series.
August 9, 2021
Hyggelig lesning og lett sommerlektyre. Bærer preg av tidlig utkommet og oversatt fantasy i norsk språkdrakt, og dermed litt sånn klønete til tider. Snev av kiosk-preg, romantikk og litt prangende formuleringer på "elskovens gleder". Kjekk, barsk ridder og ung uskyldig pike - jada. Uansett er det helt kurant å slække hjernen med såpass rett-fram handling, og en hendig tankeflukt fra hverdagen.
February 2, 2014
Wlldn: Nrmn Rorke brngs Sxn Vivian 2 heal Wm Conqrr; hr cousel bcms imp as hr dr. gfts, chmstry btw grws. Lk R lots, V bttr, 2nds grt but too much 'trvl btw wrlds' 2 vst Merlin /dad & fghtg 'drknss' w/lght
Read
April 21, 2008This is a very good book for those of us who want to escape the world for just a few minutes. Not much truth to it but a real good adventure read.
September 13, 2009
I love Arthurian stories. This one was not quite what I expected. Although I enjoyed it I would have preferred more about Merlin and Arthur.
Read
December 6, 2010This was a great book, the first romance book I ever read that involved mystical things. Had me craving for the rest of the series which was as wonderful as this one.
January 12, 2014
A very nice example of the genre. Exactly what one reads these for. I will be trying the next in the series.
February 23, 2017
It got my interest from the beginning, but left me wanting more from the story.
November 26, 2012
Sometimes you need cheesy, smutty historical romance books in your life.
August 11, 2016
I enjoyed this fantasy read. It was easy to read and I found the world interesting and wanted to know more about it.
August 13, 2014
This is a fairly quick and enjoyable medieval romp with delightful fantasy undertones.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
November 1, 2015
Not quite a bodice ripper but almost. Captive falls for capturer. Genuinely enjoyed reading it and enjoyed the characters but feel they are not fully developed.
January 7, 2013
Long time since I have read this one, but I remember liking it well
April 25, 2017
Love these books. I bought the entire series and read them several times. Wonderful. Would recommend them to anyone.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews