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MacNeil #2
Knight's Blood
Disguising herself as Sir Lindsay Pawlowski, Lindsay MacNeil goes back in time and joins a group of rogue knights to find her son who has been kidnapped by the elfin king, an epic adventure that forces her to choose between reuniting with her family and embracing her warrior's life. Original.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
60 people want to read
About the author
Julianne Lee
12 books40 followersIn the words of Bill Cosby, "I started out as a child." I was born in California, at the age of about zero, on the United States Naval Base at Point Mugu. Dad was a pilot and Mom a former WAVE. For about a year I was an only child, but then my brother was born, and over the years I collected siblings like they were beanie babies. A brother, two sisters, later on a half sister, and we'll not get into the scads of stepbrothers and former stepbrothers.
At twelve I began to write for fun, which I think is the only real reason to write fiction. I figured it beat reality any old day, and I liked sitting at the desk in my room, pretending to be doing something worthwhile. Daydreaming with a purpose, and gradually I realized I could gain approval for the very thing teachers used to criticize me for in class. I wanted to be an actor, and by the age of sixteen my dream - pipe dream - was to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts . But I knew it would never happen. The Academy was in New York, and that was too far away to even contemplate seriously. So I started college as an art major. I was a terrible artist. I did a good job of fooling myself and everyone around me, but eventually I gave up the charade and left home for Los Angeles at twenty.
What, ho! When I got there I found the American Academy had recently opened
up a campus in Pasadena. By the kindness of some people I met in L.A., I was recommended to the school and accepted. The following two years was a turning point, that changed my life in ways that are still unfolding. Though an education in theatre bestows skills that are not terribly marketable in ordinary life, the things I learned at that school have benefited me every day since. Stage fright has not since held the terror it once did. At the school, I discovered I could be funny, a fact that might have saved me a lot of grief had I known it in grammar school. I could have been a fabulous class clown. In addition to this self-discovery, while I was at the Academy I wrote my first novel. In longhand. I still had no idea I wanted to be a writer; all I knew was that there could be peace in living inside a story about someone else.
Almost immediately after graduating from the Academy, I met and married Dale Lee. We left Los Angeles, but I was kicking and screaming the whole way. Twenty-odd years later, I still miss the place. We had two kids right away, so I now had three children, one of each: a boy, a girl, and a husband. There were a couple of acting jobs, most notably two days on "At Close Range," a feature film starring Christopher Walken and Sean Penn, and a TV movie starring Ann-Margaret. But in trying to be an actor in Nashville, I realized most of the other actors in town were looking forward to their big chance to leave for Los Angeles, and I knew that would never be a possibility for me. At thirty I decided I was getting old faster than I was getting famous, so I looked for something to do besides acting and changing diapers. Throughout this time I'd kept writing, though sporadically, and about then I began a second novel. Gradually an inkling came there might be a possibility of becoming published. I sure wasn't any good at anything else I might have done locally. On January 27, 1987 I bought my first copy of Writers Digest. Another turning point in my life. For the next several years I wrote manuscripts, sent the work out, joined writers groups, and workshopped my novels with the Green River Writers in Louisville, KY. After seven years I sold my first short story, Culture Control, to the now defunct Cosmic Unicorn. Immediately afterward I was hired by the local newspaper. From there I went to writing actor interviews for Starlog Magazine , a job for which I was singularly qualified.
I also wrote some video sleeve copy for Fox Home Video. That stands as the most highly paid time per hour I've ever spent, and I loved it even if it did attract sympathy from misguided folks who thought it less
At twelve I began to write for fun, which I think is the only real reason to write fiction. I figured it beat reality any old day, and I liked sitting at the desk in my room, pretending to be doing something worthwhile. Daydreaming with a purpose, and gradually I realized I could gain approval for the very thing teachers used to criticize me for in class. I wanted to be an actor, and by the age of sixteen my dream - pipe dream - was to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts . But I knew it would never happen. The Academy was in New York, and that was too far away to even contemplate seriously. So I started college as an art major. I was a terrible artist. I did a good job of fooling myself and everyone around me, but eventually I gave up the charade and left home for Los Angeles at twenty.
What, ho! When I got there I found the American Academy had recently opened
up a campus in Pasadena. By the kindness of some people I met in L.A., I was recommended to the school and accepted. The following two years was a turning point, that changed my life in ways that are still unfolding. Though an education in theatre bestows skills that are not terribly marketable in ordinary life, the things I learned at that school have benefited me every day since. Stage fright has not since held the terror it once did. At the school, I discovered I could be funny, a fact that might have saved me a lot of grief had I known it in grammar school. I could have been a fabulous class clown. In addition to this self-discovery, while I was at the Academy I wrote my first novel. In longhand. I still had no idea I wanted to be a writer; all I knew was that there could be peace in living inside a story about someone else.
Almost immediately after graduating from the Academy, I met and married Dale Lee. We left Los Angeles, but I was kicking and screaming the whole way. Twenty-odd years later, I still miss the place. We had two kids right away, so I now had three children, one of each: a boy, a girl, and a husband. There were a couple of acting jobs, most notably two days on "At Close Range," a feature film starring Christopher Walken and Sean Penn, and a TV movie starring Ann-Margaret. But in trying to be an actor in Nashville, I realized most of the other actors in town were looking forward to their big chance to leave for Los Angeles, and I knew that would never be a possibility for me. At thirty I decided I was getting old faster than I was getting famous, so I looked for something to do besides acting and changing diapers. Throughout this time I'd kept writing, though sporadically, and about then I began a second novel. Gradually an inkling came there might be a possibility of becoming published. I sure wasn't any good at anything else I might have done locally. On January 27, 1987 I bought my first copy of Writers Digest. Another turning point in my life. For the next several years I wrote manuscripts, sent the work out, joined writers groups, and workshopped my novels with the Green River Writers in Louisville, KY. After seven years I sold my first short story, Culture Control, to the now defunct Cosmic Unicorn. Immediately afterward I was hired by the local newspaper. From there I went to writing actor interviews for Starlog Magazine , a job for which I was singularly qualified.
I also wrote some video sleeve copy for Fox Home Video. That stands as the most highly paid time per hour I've ever spent, and I loved it even if it did attract sympathy from misguided folks who thought it less
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 9, 2024
Knight's Blood is the second book in the Tenebrae trilogy written by author Julianne Lee. I received through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer's program. The book works fine as a stand alone novel, although be forewarned--it ends on a cliffhanger that will leave you most likely wanting to read the final book of the series.
Overall, I found the story to be well written and enteraining. There are shades of the Outlander series here, to be sure. The plot is a bit confusing, as it centers around time travel, so the narrative jumps back and forth from present day London to fourteenth century Scotland. A navy pilot who wooed and won his beautiful wife in the first book of the series, has found himself transported back from a series of adventures in 14th century Scotland (which included being knighted and getting married). When he and Lindsay, his squire aka wife, discovered she was pregnant, at his wife's urging they found help from one of the "wee folk", Nemed, to return to present day London for the birth of their child. Alex returned to his duties as a Navy Pilot. Before long he received word that his wife has given birth to a son. Alex takes a leave of absence from the military to visit his wife and child, but when he arrives in London he is shocked to find their apartment empty with signs of a hasty departure by Lindsay. In the apartment he sees a photo of his newborn son and is shocked to see he has pointed ears--a dead giveaway that the child is not entirely human. Alex immediately suspects Lindsay of having been unfaithful to him. He discovers from a neighbor that their son was kidnapped and Lindsay fled quickly in pursuit of the kidnappers. Fled back in time and to another land. Alex knew he had to do the same, and quickly.
Alex managed to travel back to the general area of his castle as a laird in Scotland and the general time of his lairdship, the 14th century, through the machinations of the "wee folk". However, he arrived naked and very, very ill. He managed to regain his health after a long recuperation during which a grown young man showed up. A young man unmistakably of his lineage who turns out to be his twenty-seven year old son, Trefor; who was not only kidnapped as an infant by the fae, but has now been back in time by a beautiful version of this species, Morag. Trefor is indeed of magical lineage himself, on his mother's side, it turns out. Trefor believes his parents are responsible for abandoning him as an infant and bears a marked hatred of his father, in particular. Alex accepts that he is his son, but feels only antipathy towards him. They begin a quest in search of Alex's wife, Trefor's mother together.
In the meantime, Lindsay has gone back to previous ways of passing as a man to join a militant group of raiders, plundering and wreaking havoc and death upon villages in the far northern reaches of England. A dashing masculine version of the fae named An Reubair is the leader of this group and he is determined to call Lindsay his own and have sons by her. Between trying to keep An Reubair at bay and dealing with the aftermath of a brutal rape (which along with the fatal aftermath is described in graphic detail), Lindsay has her work cut out for her in her quest to search for her lost infant son.
When the "family" finally meets up with one another, they return to the castle of his lairdship Alex MacNeil (who has now been proclaimed an Earl). All is not well, though and this is about as dysfunctional a family as you will find. Trefor is longing for his mother who rejects him outright and refuses even to talk to him. Alex sides with his wife to protect her. Between the two of them, they display an inexplicable cruelty to this albeit unpleasant young man, who is their son and who survived a childhood full of neglect, abuse and cruelty in foster homes. His hatred towards his father is festering and is bound to end up leading to no good. His parents are only fanning the flames. This relationship is the least enjoyable part of the book because such coldness displayed by parents is so unnatural and feels wrong. The other really maddening part of the book is Alex's power displays over his wife in 14th century Scotland, when both of them being from modern London, know that this behaviour is unacceptable.
The story ends on a cliffhanger that will probably leave you wanting to read the third and final book in the trilogy.
Overall, I found the story to be well written and enteraining. There are shades of the Outlander series here, to be sure. The plot is a bit confusing, as it centers around time travel, so the narrative jumps back and forth from present day London to fourteenth century Scotland. A navy pilot who wooed and won his beautiful wife in the first book of the series, has found himself transported back from a series of adventures in 14th century Scotland (which included being knighted and getting married). When he and Lindsay, his squire aka wife, discovered she was pregnant, at his wife's urging they found help from one of the "wee folk", Nemed, to return to present day London for the birth of their child. Alex returned to his duties as a Navy Pilot. Before long he received word that his wife has given birth to a son. Alex takes a leave of absence from the military to visit his wife and child, but when he arrives in London he is shocked to find their apartment empty with signs of a hasty departure by Lindsay. In the apartment he sees a photo of his newborn son and is shocked to see he has pointed ears--a dead giveaway that the child is not entirely human. Alex immediately suspects Lindsay of having been unfaithful to him. He discovers from a neighbor that their son was kidnapped and Lindsay fled quickly in pursuit of the kidnappers. Fled back in time and to another land. Alex knew he had to do the same, and quickly.
Alex managed to travel back to the general area of his castle as a laird in Scotland and the general time of his lairdship, the 14th century, through the machinations of the "wee folk". However, he arrived naked and very, very ill. He managed to regain his health after a long recuperation during which a grown young man showed up. A young man unmistakably of his lineage who turns out to be his twenty-seven year old son, Trefor; who was not only kidnapped as an infant by the fae, but has now been back in time by a beautiful version of this species, Morag. Trefor is indeed of magical lineage himself, on his mother's side, it turns out. Trefor believes his parents are responsible for abandoning him as an infant and bears a marked hatred of his father, in particular. Alex accepts that he is his son, but feels only antipathy towards him. They begin a quest in search of Alex's wife, Trefor's mother together.
In the meantime, Lindsay has gone back to previous ways of passing as a man to join a militant group of raiders, plundering and wreaking havoc and death upon villages in the far northern reaches of England. A dashing masculine version of the fae named An Reubair is the leader of this group and he is determined to call Lindsay his own and have sons by her. Between trying to keep An Reubair at bay and dealing with the aftermath of a brutal rape (which along with the fatal aftermath is described in graphic detail), Lindsay has her work cut out for her in her quest to search for her lost infant son.
When the "family" finally meets up with one another, they return to the castle of his lairdship Alex MacNeil (who has now been proclaimed an Earl). All is not well, though and this is about as dysfunctional a family as you will find. Trefor is longing for his mother who rejects him outright and refuses even to talk to him. Alex sides with his wife to protect her. Between the two of them, they display an inexplicable cruelty to this albeit unpleasant young man, who is their son and who survived a childhood full of neglect, abuse and cruelty in foster homes. His hatred towards his father is festering and is bound to end up leading to no good. His parents are only fanning the flames. This relationship is the least enjoyable part of the book because such coldness displayed by parents is so unnatural and feels wrong. The other really maddening part of the book is Alex's power displays over his wife in 14th century Scotland, when both of them being from modern London, know that this behaviour is unacceptable.
The story ends on a cliffhanger that will probably leave you wanting to read the third and final book in the trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2013
Received from LT April 2013 Batch
Back in the modern world, Alex hears that his wife Lindsay has given birth to their son. He returns to their London flat to hear that their unnamed son has been kidnapped and Lindsay has disappeared.
Seperately, both Lindsay and Alex return to 14th century Scotland - Lindsay to find her son, Alex to find both of them. Lindsay returns to being disguised as a soldier, despite having given birth only a few days before. She falls in with a group of mercenaries led by a fairy lord and under the banner of Nemed the elfin king and presumed kidnapper of her baby.
Alex returns to his castle 6 months after he left, and after a few days has a shock visitor - his adult son who he has never met, arriving on horseback under the American flag - a country that wont exist for another 400 years. Pointy eared and fey, his son bears an extreme hatred of his father (who he believes abandoned him into American foster care), and who has unexplained and unexplainable powers.
Much of the book is spend with Alex and Lindsay being apart and it's only 2/3 of the book before they're reunited. Whilst apart, Alex is made an Earl, and finds that he and Trefor are worlds apart and dont get on. Finally the three are reunited and return to the castle, whilst Lyndsey still refuses to accept the man a mere year younger than herself is the son she gave birth to mere months before. Alex then has the small task of staking claim to the new island that he has been given by the King when Alex was made Earl. The book ends in such a way as to keep some options open for the sequel.
The book contains language and scenes that some people might have issues with (some would call them "triggers") so not really for those of a nervous disposition - I suspect that this is perhaps one of the reasons for some of the more negative reviews out there. There are a few typographical errors (words inserted after a "global replace" was done perhaps?) but they are minor. As with second books it seems to be a faster read than the first one, in part because both the author and the reader have already established the new world in the first book so dont have to recreate it (much!) in the second one
Back in the modern world, Alex hears that his wife Lindsay has given birth to their son. He returns to their London flat to hear that their unnamed son has been kidnapped and Lindsay has disappeared.
Seperately, both Lindsay and Alex return to 14th century Scotland - Lindsay to find her son, Alex to find both of them. Lindsay returns to being disguised as a soldier, despite having given birth only a few days before. She falls in with a group of mercenaries led by a fairy lord and under the banner of Nemed the elfin king and presumed kidnapper of her baby.
Alex returns to his castle 6 months after he left, and after a few days has a shock visitor - his adult son who he has never met, arriving on horseback under the American flag - a country that wont exist for another 400 years. Pointy eared and fey, his son bears an extreme hatred of his father (who he believes abandoned him into American foster care), and who has unexplained and unexplainable powers.
Much of the book is spend with Alex and Lindsay being apart and it's only 2/3 of the book before they're reunited. Whilst apart, Alex is made an Earl, and finds that he and Trefor are worlds apart and dont get on. Finally the three are reunited and return to the castle, whilst Lyndsey still refuses to accept the man a mere year younger than herself is the son she gave birth to mere months before. Alex then has the small task of staking claim to the new island that he has been given by the King when Alex was made Earl. The book ends in such a way as to keep some options open for the sequel.
The book contains language and scenes that some people might have issues with (some would call them "triggers") so not really for those of a nervous disposition - I suspect that this is perhaps one of the reasons for some of the more negative reviews out there. There are a few typographical errors (words inserted after a "global replace" was done perhaps?) but they are minor. As with second books it seems to be a faster read than the first one, in part because both the author and the reader have already established the new world in the first book so dont have to recreate it (much!) in the second one
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2013
You really need to read this series in order or I doubt it will make much sense. That being said, this is becoming a favorite of mine very quickly! In this second book, Lindsey and Alex end up going back to the 14th century, each at different times, to find their son, Trefor, who was kidnapped two days after birth and they think he's been taken to the past. Trefor was kidnapped by the Fae and taken to Tennessee where he was raised in foster homes and when he finds out who his parents are he goes back to the 14th century to find them. He's 27 when he runs into his father who is only a few years older than him at the time. They go in search of Lindsey who when found cannot accept her baby is this man standing in front of her just a year younger than her. There is so much anger Trefor holds inside. This book took me on a journey full of emotion and left me in tears a few times. I have fallen in love with Julianne Lee's writing. Now on to the last in the series.....
February 20, 2023
When Alexander MacNeil returns from deployment, he finds both his wife and his newborn child gone. He quickly discovers that he needs to return to 14th century Scotland if he wants to retain any chance of finding them again.
Knight’s Blood picks up a couple of months after Knight Tenebrae and sees Alex and Lindsay return to medieval Scotland. As they go on their separate adventures, we see the story from both their eyes, which is a nice change from the first book.
Lindsay’s struggles feel real, but Alex quickly shows his unlikable character traits again. The animosity between him and Trefor gets tiring quickly, and Alex’s arguments against chasing after Lindsay wear a little thin after a while.
The story is entertaining enough to keep me reading, but doesn’t hold me captured like I would expect from a truly great book.
Knight’s Blood picks up a couple of months after Knight Tenebrae and sees Alex and Lindsay return to medieval Scotland. As they go on their separate adventures, we see the story from both their eyes, which is a nice change from the first book.
Lindsay’s struggles feel real, but Alex quickly shows his unlikable character traits again. The animosity between him and Trefor gets tiring quickly, and Alex’s arguments against chasing after Lindsay wear a little thin after a while.
The story is entertaining enough to keep me reading, but doesn’t hold me captured like I would expect from a truly great book.
November 19, 2014
Alex MacNeil and his wife Lindsay recently returned to 21st century after being in 1315 awaiting the birth of their child but nothing is as it appears in the future. Alex and Lindsay's baby is kidnapped and replaced with a changeling. Both of them rush to return to the past in search of their son. Alex is confronted with a young man that eerily looks like his brother claiming to be his son. Trefor is an unknown quantity for both Alex and Lindsay. Lindsay wants her baby boy not this young man. Who is behind the kidnapping? Will Alex and Lindsay accept Trefor as their son? Your answers await you in Knight's Blood.
I really like books about time travel. I thought the characters and story were compelling and interesting too. I'll be honest I wasn't a fan of the son. I'll definitely read the next book in the series.
I really like books about time travel. I thought the characters and story were compelling and interesting too. I'll be honest I wasn't a fan of the son. I'll definitely read the next book in the series.
March 30, 2016
Julianne Lee continues the adventure of Alex and Lindsey in the second book, Knight’s Blood and gives it a twist that I honestly haven’t seen coming.
This book might even have more action than the first, if that’s possible and I frankly liked it a lot.
She also adds a bit more fantasy in this one, and it made the story a bit more sinister, which is a good thing.
What made me sad was the relationship between all the main characters as they tried to come to terms with their past, especially Lindsey.
Alex, this time around, looked like he handled the situations a bit better than before.
Like the earlier book, this will appeal to all time travel and medieval romance fans.
This book might even have more action than the first, if that’s possible and I frankly liked it a lot.
She also adds a bit more fantasy in this one, and it made the story a bit more sinister, which is a good thing.
What made me sad was the relationship between all the main characters as they tried to come to terms with their past, especially Lindsey.
Alex, this time around, looked like he handled the situations a bit better than before.
Like the earlier book, this will appeal to all time travel and medieval romance fans.
April 23, 2014
I received this book as a LibraryThing early review.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I started reading it without having read the first book (which I attempted to find halfway through reading this one because I was enjoying it so much) but found it impossible to find it in a Kindle format. It was easy enough to follow without having read the first book though so that was nice.
The writing was done well and the story was engaging. The characters were well developed as was the plot. I would read the first and third book in the series without complaint! In fact, I am now trying to find them as I really need to know the back story and how the future unfolds for the group.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I started reading it without having read the first book (which I attempted to find halfway through reading this one because I was enjoying it so much) but found it impossible to find it in a Kindle format. It was easy enough to follow without having read the first book though so that was nice.
The writing was done well and the story was engaging. The characters were well developed as was the plot. I would read the first and third book in the series without complaint! In fact, I am now trying to find them as I really need to know the back story and how the future unfolds for the group.
February 15, 2012
This is the second in a series, and maybe if I'd realized that before I started and read that first I would have liked it. But as it was, by the end of the book, I did not like and could not sympathize with any of the many characters. They were .... just not very likable in my opinion and I didn't really care about what happened to any of them beyond hoping it would get better. But it never did.
October 26, 2012
Nicht so gut, wie der 1. Band, aber trotzdem interessant und spannend.
Ich gebe 07/10 Punkte. >>>HIER<<< geht es zu meiner Kurzeinschätzung.
Ich gebe 07/10 Punkte. >>>HIER<<< geht es zu meiner Kurzeinschätzung.
June 21, 2018
Couldn't be worse...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews