Ring of Fear

by Anne McCaffrey

Book by McCaffrey, Anne

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Fiction, Gothic, Fantasy, Romantic Suspense, Family

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1971

About the author

Anne Inez McCaffrey was an American writer known for the Dragonriders of Pern science fiction series. She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction (Best Novella, Weyr Search, 1968) and the first to win a Nebula Award (Best Novella, Dragonrider, 1969). Her 1978 novel The White Dragon became one of the first science-fiction books to appear on the New York Times Best Seller list.
In 2005 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named McCaffrey its 22nd Grand Master, an annual award to living writers of fantasy and science fiction. She was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame on 17 June 2006. She also received the Robert A. Heinlein Award for her work in 2007.

Reviews

[Lindig · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this many many years ago and it left a bad bad taste in my mouth (this was written before the author's SF stuff). The heroine was recently raped and is now on the run. Our "hero" finds her at a horse show, shows off his "package" in skintight pants, rescues her from a stable fire, decides that she needs to get over the previous rape so he rapes her (being careful of her burns!), marries her in a whirlwind, hauls her off to his horse estate. Of course, he knows best in all situations and gives orders. When she disobeys, he spanks her and that's how she realizes that he really "loves" her. Gaah. And Ick, too.

[Kerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why did I make myself finish this?

It isn't even like I needed to find out what was going on because I've read it before and I could skip to the last few pages? Why?*

The sexual politics are horrific, the romance is so not romantic, everyone is horrible (except the horses) and the solution is uninteresting.

But mostly, the sexual attitudes, rape (at least it's not on page) and entitledness of the men are awful.

Don't read this. I don't know why I did. Twice.

*I suspect it's because I've been rereading McCaffrey from the beginning (it seemed a good idea when I started, which was when she died, but I may reconsider now) and I couldn't skip this one even though it was terrible.

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ring of Fear is a romantic suspense set among the horse-show circuit in which Nialla Dunn, a young woman running from a violent past, seeks refuge at a Virginia horse farm while a menacing blackmailer and the shadow of her father’s murder threaten her fragile new life.

Rather than a fast-paced thriller, McCaffrey gives us a quietly tense character study braided with equestrian detail. Nialla’s attachment to her horses (Orfeo and Phi Bete), her travel between shows, and the rhythms of stable life root the story in a tangible world even as the suspense coils. I found the novel’s emotional tone unexpectedly tender: McCaffrey writes Nialla’s vulnerability and guarded hope with real compassion, and the courtship and connections she forms feel earned rather than manufactured. The book does not shy away from dark subject matter (including the crimes from Nialla’s past that propel her flight), and those elements are handled in a way that keeps the narrative focused on recovery and resilience rather than sensationalism.

What stayed with me after finishing it was the balance between atmosphere and feeling, the stable smells, show-day pressure, and quiet late-night fears, an atmosphere McCaffrey shapes with economy and warmth. The pacing sometimes leans leisurely (readers expecting nonstop action might find passages reflective), but that same patience allows quieter emotional beats to land: small moments of trust, the healing of routine, and a heroine whose courage is more about endurance than bravado. For fans of romantic suspense or readers curious to see McCaffrey beyond dragons and space, this is a gentle, haunting detour in her bibliography that pairs gothic tension with human tenderness.

Rating: 4 out of 5 — I’m giving it four stars because the novel offers genuine emotional warmth, authentic equestrian atmosphere, and a responsible treatment of difficult themes; it loses one star only because its slower, character-driven pace may not satisfy readers seeking relentless thrills.

[Denise Spicer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another McCaffrey mystery/romance. This book is set in the American “horse” world. The plot is overly long, somewhat convoluted and not very convincing. Though the characters are strong and interesting, the tedious, and definitely gratuitous, descriptions of the main couple’s sex life are a bit much.

[Barbara Burke · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can’t say enough bad things about this book and it’s breaking my heart. I love Anne McCaffrey but I had a really hard time getting through this awful novel. The hero discovers that the heroine is traumatised after being raped and decides the best way to help her get over it – because, as he explains to her, she’s making too much of it – is for him to rape her. She screams and swears and cries...and then she begins to like it. By the time he’s done, she’s all better and in love with him. So, gee, I guess he was right. I didn’t like him from the get-go and this scene certainly cemented my aversion. So later on when he turns her over his knee and spanks her so hard she can’t sit down I had a hard time increasing my antipathy for him. I did it anyway. The heroine, on the other hand, is swooning as she affectionately calls him a wife-beater, because by beating her he’s just proved how much he loves her. I didn’t like her much more than I liked him. But apparently she has a great giggle, so maybe if I’d been able to hear it I would have liked her better.
The plot isn’t too bad. A woman is on the run with her two horses after her father is murdered. It’s a little far-fetched and I refuse to believe that a dedicated horsewoman would ever walk into a stable to check on her horses while wearing sandals, but other than that it passes muster. And there’s a cat.
I first read this book not long after it came out. I didn’t remember it too well, but I never reread it. That should have been a clue that I didn’t much care for it the first time. I don’t remember. I just know I hated it the second time. Stay away.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Damsel in DISTRESS! McCaffrey's version of pathetic, poor woman saved by handsome, rich playboy. Somehow, her mewling disheveled-ness is terrifically attractive to the womanizing hero- so much in fact that he wants to bed her and wed her in under 48 hours. Whew! Yes, there are horses, but they appear to enhance the characters the way a muscle car, or very large truck typically "enhance" a man. Bottom line: dated.

[L.D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Anne McCaffrey but this 'romance' of her's was disturbing and left a bad taste in my mouth. I am glad that her talents and perception of women matured and grew before she wrote the Pern series.

This is not a book to read if one is sensitive to the subject of rape. The entire depiction and healing process that McCaffrey describes is disturbing and offensive. What's even more scarier is that people once believed in those solutions.

[Andrea Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne McCaffrey wrote Ring of Fear because the genre sold well when it was written and she had recently filed for divorce. Despite the dated descriptions and attitudes, I still like this book. It is a well written gothic novel, a genre I don't usually read. The action is fast and the characters are well developed. Yes, atitudes are dated, but the author's story line reflects the times in which it is written. I suggest this book be read by adults and mature teens.

[Lbaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally don't read romances, but I adore Anne McCaffrey, so when I see a book of hers I'll read it, even if it's a romance.

Set in the 50's - maybe the 60's, it was dated, but light and I read it through as a very quick read.

McCaffrey was able to develop characters that you want to know more about, and these characters I would like to meet again - too bad they couldn't emigrate to Pern!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still one of my favorite books to re-read. Even with the heavy 60's clothing and language, I re-read this one at least once a year.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good read!

It was part murder/mystery, part love story, part horse world - and fully McCaffrey.

As is usual with anything she writes, this story was full of wonderful detail, excellent plotting, and characters that felt so real, that I thought I knew them really well by the end.

I'm actually glad that I started to read these books of her individual novels, and novellas, first, rather than starting with the Pern series, as I would have missed reading books that still had everything that is Anne in them, but a totally different genre - this was an excellent read, and I enjoyed it very much.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved this book for years and have read it numerous times.
From some posts here I have the impression other readers are over sensitive to some very simple sex scenes, certainly Rafe is rough around the edges, and has a forceful personality but he certainly never rapes Nialla. Ridiculous, what he does is hardly hard core.
Anyway the rest of this story is very good and the growth of Nialla is well written.
A thoroughly good read.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another early book by Ms. McCaffrey. This is one of my favorites.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as much on this reread as I did back in the 80s when I first read it, but one thing bothered me more than it did before. Spoiler!!! The rape. It really wasn’t because she went into it being promised money for sex but never took it because it was a horrible experience. That bothered me the first reading but this time I got to thinking about the difference in attitudes now and in the 70s when this was written. I was just finishing high school and rape was still viewed as social disgrace just as Nialla views it in the book, more as ruined than victim. That perception changing is one of the best things about the Me Too movement. As a note McCaffrey did not view it as a disgrace, she has the hero disprove to the heroine that she is ruined. I feel Ms. McCaffrey would have approved of Me Too.

[Shirley Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many are familiar with Anne McCaffrey's Dragon's series - but are unaware she has written many contemporary mystery books as well.
This is just one of them. I bought this book when it came out in 1971 - and it is just as great a book now as it was then!
The story of a young girl, Nialla dealing with the murder of her father and being targeted as well. Very scary as she has no experience in handling! She meets the hero..Rafe Clery- and drawn to him but does not want to pull him into her problems.
I have always loved this book for the mystery and romance and mild sex. (Which in 1971 was amazing it even made it into a book, ha!)
All of Anne's books are must reads!!!

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I read this now - 20 years later than when I first read it, I think I would rate this story with a 2 star. As it is, I read it when I was a mere 16 year old and still hoped for white knights. Nialla Dunn is a woman who definitely needs to be saved. While I can be critical of her for being so weak, the reality is this is an accurate reflection of too many women. Depressing.

[Kabrada · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly enjoyable, but there were some moments of severe headshaking. The book shows its age, as I guess today the subject of rape and its consequences would be dealt with very differently.

[Red · Rating 4 out of 5]

A non-dragonrider book, about horse training, with a little soft romance in the side. Right up my alley! =)

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

romantic:(

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book so many times that I've lost track. Some of it is dated, and it's not the author's best work. I still love it though.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ring of Fear
McCaffrey, Anne
one of the contemporary novels of Anne Mccaffrey, showing the dynamic ability she had to write in any genre

[Leesgoodfood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a good story to be told by Anne McCaffrey.

[Inferno Nightfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little romance. A hint of past darkness and the fears that a rape victim would have to overcome plus suspense of a bit of a murder mystery.

Written very early in Anne McCaffrey's career.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A romance novel, and quite dated, but a good read.