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Last T'En Trilogy #1
Broken Vows
In a world of danger and dark enchantment, the most treacherous magic is desire....
Trained in the arts of war and possessed of extraordinary healing gifts, Imoshen was one of the last of the legendary T'En, an ancient race who'd ruled Fair Isle for six centuries. But now, in the space of a heartbeat, all that Imoshen holds dear is gone...lost to invading soldiers and the relentless general who led them.
All his life Tulkhan had heard tales of the T'En...of exotic women whose wine-dark eyes could see into a man's soul and read his mind. Yet nothing could have prepared him for the reality of Imoshen. Even surrounded by his Elite Guard, the fierce beauty would not surrender. But making the last living T'En royal his captive was a grave mistake. For soon Tulkhan will discover the full force of Imoshen's proud defiance, as this alluring temptress seeks to turn the tables and make her magnificent captor a prisoner of his own raging desire.
From Cory Daniells comes a glorious romantic fantasy set against a backdrop of dark magic and daring, a spellbinding story of a man and a woman at the heart of a deadly conflict...and at the mercy of an irresistible hunger.
Trained in the arts of war and possessed of extraordinary healing gifts, Imoshen was one of the last of the legendary T'En, an ancient race who'd ruled Fair Isle for six centuries. But now, in the space of a heartbeat, all that Imoshen holds dear is gone...lost to invading soldiers and the relentless general who led them.
All his life Tulkhan had heard tales of the T'En...of exotic women whose wine-dark eyes could see into a man's soul and read his mind. Yet nothing could have prepared him for the reality of Imoshen. Even surrounded by his Elite Guard, the fierce beauty would not surrender. But making the last living T'En royal his captive was a grave mistake. For soon Tulkhan will discover the full force of Imoshen's proud defiance, as this alluring temptress seeks to turn the tables and make her magnificent captor a prisoner of his own raging desire.
From Cory Daniells comes a glorious romantic fantasy set against a backdrop of dark magic and daring, a spellbinding story of a man and a woman at the heart of a deadly conflict...and at the mercy of an irresistible hunger.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 6, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 12, 2015
Fantasy romance, with a heavy emphasis on the romance.
Six hundred years ago, T'Imoshen's ancestors, the T'En, conquered the land of Fair Isle. However, over generations of interbreeding, the unique characteristics of the T'En - magical powers and a striking physical appearance (think elvish) - have all but died out. T'Imoshen is nearly the last 'throwback' to have the appearance and powers of the T'En.
One of the only others is her betrothed, Reothe. However, although she's physically attracted to Reothe, something about him has always made her uneasy. (Could it be the fact that he's clearly a pushy, controlling jerk?)
When Fair Isle is conquered by the barbaric, misogynist Ghebites, T'Imoshen finds herself in the position of being the only one who can negotiate with their General, Tulkhan, to try to save her people from a miserable fate. In her attempts to seduce Tulkhan into favorable agreements, she finds herself hopelessly attracted to her people's conqueror (Conveniently, he seems to be the most open-minded of all of his lot, even if he is volatile and suspicious.) Meanwhile, Reothe is leading a rebel group that hopes to overthrow the Ghebite invaders, and he insists that T'Imoshen's rightful place is at his side.
The writing and 'feel' of the story is very 90's, to me. A lot of woman-oriented fantasy with some similarity to this came out around this time. However, this is more romance-oriented than most of them. The majority of this book is the two main characters lusting after each other. However... maybe it's just me, but I wasn't really feeling their relationship. The cultures and the characters - even the magic - is all a bit stereotypical.
The book ends with much more of the story to-come. I haven't quite decided whether to continue with the next books. There are lots of better books out there, but this is a light, fast read and I might just decide to find out what happens next.
(Note: I did think that if I had to read the phrase "wine-dark eyes" one more time, I might've screamed.)
Six hundred years ago, T'Imoshen's ancestors, the T'En, conquered the land of Fair Isle. However, over generations of interbreeding, the unique characteristics of the T'En - magical powers and a striking physical appearance (think elvish) - have all but died out. T'Imoshen is nearly the last 'throwback' to have the appearance and powers of the T'En.
One of the only others is her betrothed, Reothe. However, although she's physically attracted to Reothe, something about him has always made her uneasy. (Could it be the fact that he's clearly a pushy, controlling jerk?)
When Fair Isle is conquered by the barbaric, misogynist Ghebites, T'Imoshen finds herself in the position of being the only one who can negotiate with their General, Tulkhan, to try to save her people from a miserable fate. In her attempts to seduce Tulkhan into favorable agreements, she finds herself hopelessly attracted to her people's conqueror (Conveniently, he seems to be the most open-minded of all of his lot, even if he is volatile and suspicious.) Meanwhile, Reothe is leading a rebel group that hopes to overthrow the Ghebite invaders, and he insists that T'Imoshen's rightful place is at his side.
The writing and 'feel' of the story is very 90's, to me. A lot of woman-oriented fantasy with some similarity to this came out around this time. However, this is more romance-oriented than most of them. The majority of this book is the two main characters lusting after each other. However... maybe it's just me, but I wasn't really feeling their relationship. The cultures and the characters - even the magic - is all a bit stereotypical.
The book ends with much more of the story to-come. I haven't quite decided whether to continue with the next books. There are lots of better books out there, but this is a light, fast read and I might just decide to find out what happens next.
(Note: I did think that if I had to read the phrase "wine-dark eyes" one more time, I might've screamed.)
May 20, 2009
The T'En are a legendary race, exiled from their homeland six centuries ago, washed-up on the shores of Fair Isle where they conquered the people and brought culture, music, art and equality, making it an island rich in trade, wealth and culture. A race of slightly matriarchal aristocrats with silver hair, wine dark eyes and mind powers, Imoshen is the last of them - called a "Throwback" - and her relatively peaceful, complacent land has just been conquered by the invading Ghebites led by General Tulkhan. The invaders are patriarchal and somewhat cruel, but the General - a big, intelligent man - finds there's something more in his attraction to Imoshen, though her spirited mind and temper often throw him off balance.
The Ghebite Empire is young but fierce, the Ghebites having left their nomadic lifestyle behind only three generations ago. They are astoundingly masogynistic and patriarchal, so issues of gender equality play a big part in this trilogy, among other things such as discrimination, politics, rewriting history etc.
Imoshen learns that there is one other T'En Throwback still alive, however: her betrothed, Reothe, leads a band of rebels in the hills. He comes back for Imoshen but by then she has given her word to Tulkhan, and will do whatever she can to save Fair Isle and prevent further bloodshed. But Tulkhan doesn't trust her, though he does listen to her and he definitely desires her - but he can't even trust this desire, for he's heard all about the fabled powers of the T'En.
The great thing about this fantasy story is that it's not about a battle, and the lead-up to the battle - though it does end in a final, deciding battle that, thankfully, is dealt with briefly compared to some other authors - it's more about what happens after being conquered: what happens when two vastly different cultures collide and try to live together. Imoshen, though only 17, feels a great weight of responsibility for although she was an outcast in her own family for being a Throwback, she is at the same time revered. She is a clever young woman, and very strong-willed. Her motivations are clear, though I don't always understand why she doesn't speak honestly with Tulkhan when she so obviously should.
If you like fantasy with some romance going on, it's definitely worth your while to hunt down this book. It's the first in a trilogy but it took me a while to get my hands on the others.
The Ghebite Empire is young but fierce, the Ghebites having left their nomadic lifestyle behind only three generations ago. They are astoundingly masogynistic and patriarchal, so issues of gender equality play a big part in this trilogy, among other things such as discrimination, politics, rewriting history etc.
Imoshen learns that there is one other T'En Throwback still alive, however: her betrothed, Reothe, leads a band of rebels in the hills. He comes back for Imoshen but by then she has given her word to Tulkhan, and will do whatever she can to save Fair Isle and prevent further bloodshed. But Tulkhan doesn't trust her, though he does listen to her and he definitely desires her - but he can't even trust this desire, for he's heard all about the fabled powers of the T'En.
The great thing about this fantasy story is that it's not about a battle, and the lead-up to the battle - though it does end in a final, deciding battle that, thankfully, is dealt with briefly compared to some other authors - it's more about what happens after being conquered: what happens when two vastly different cultures collide and try to live together. Imoshen, though only 17, feels a great weight of responsibility for although she was an outcast in her own family for being a Throwback, she is at the same time revered. She is a clever young woman, and very strong-willed. Her motivations are clear, though I don't always understand why she doesn't speak honestly with Tulkhan when she so obviously should.
If you like fantasy with some romance going on, it's definitely worth your while to hunt down this book. It's the first in a trilogy but it took me a while to get my hands on the others.
June 12, 2011
This is the first book of the Last T'En trilogy. It also appeared as Broken Vows, published by Bantam in the US.
February 7, 2019
The first half was skimmable for me, but I began to become invested in the outcome two thirds in. I really, really wanted Imoshen to win - whichever partner she chose
July 23, 2013
This book literally changed my life.
I found it in my high school library when i was in about year eight. I'm not sure i should have been reading this genre of novel in year eight, but there you go!
I was searching for something, anything to ease the torment of teen hood and bury myself in. This was the salve for my wounds.
As one of the first fantasy novel i'd ever read, it had just the right balance of magic, fear, suspense, gore and romance - ok LOTS of romance - but let's not confuse this with the modern teen-urban fantasy romance literally dripping off the shelves of commercial book stores now days. This novel was not for my age group. It was perhaps for an advanced upper high school reader and above. It covers themes that are decidedly adult and for me, very, very appealing.
I've read The last T'En and it's companion novels over and over again, some five or six times in the years since and I continue to see and feel new elements in the narrative as I grow older and have new experiences of my own.
Rowena (Cory) is a credit to the genre and a personal inspiration for me. She manages to weave a world from words that is full of anguish, passion, complex relationships and societal conflict and upheaval. All of this exists in a land seething with mystery and magic, war, love and gore.
I can't express how much this book and it's sisters mean to me and I assure you they are worth every minute you will spend with them.
I found it in my high school library when i was in about year eight. I'm not sure i should have been reading this genre of novel in year eight, but there you go!
I was searching for something, anything to ease the torment of teen hood and bury myself in. This was the salve for my wounds.
As one of the first fantasy novel i'd ever read, it had just the right balance of magic, fear, suspense, gore and romance - ok LOTS of romance - but let's not confuse this with the modern teen-urban fantasy romance literally dripping off the shelves of commercial book stores now days. This novel was not for my age group. It was perhaps for an advanced upper high school reader and above. It covers themes that are decidedly adult and for me, very, very appealing.
I've read The last T'En and it's companion novels over and over again, some five or six times in the years since and I continue to see and feel new elements in the narrative as I grow older and have new experiences of my own.
Rowena (Cory) is a credit to the genre and a personal inspiration for me. She manages to weave a world from words that is full of anguish, passion, complex relationships and societal conflict and upheaval. All of this exists in a land seething with mystery and magic, war, love and gore.
I can't express how much this book and it's sisters mean to me and I assure you they are worth every minute you will spend with them.
April 13, 2011
Just recently I went somewhere where Rowena was doing a signing. So I thought I should give this book another read.
Just as I remembered, it was amazing!
The characters are well defined, the world is almost real! There are points in this story where you just want to reach forward and shake the characters!
And to respond to some of the other reviews. Tulkhan isn't from a world like our own, he comes from somewhere where women are looked down upon as animals. I think the way he treats Imoshen is more than reasonable in that respect.
Can't wait to receive my copy of the second book in the mail! [THANKS ROWENA!!!!!!]
A MUST read!
Just as I remembered, it was amazing!
The characters are well defined, the world is almost real! There are points in this story where you just want to reach forward and shake the characters!
And to respond to some of the other reviews. Tulkhan isn't from a world like our own, he comes from somewhere where women are looked down upon as animals. I think the way he treats Imoshen is more than reasonable in that respect.
Can't wait to receive my copy of the second book in the mail! [THANKS ROWENA!!!!!!]
A MUST read!
October 13, 2015
The T'En trilogy has been my secret pleasure for years, I've read them so many times that the books are held together with duct tape lol. I read them out loud to my husband once and he loved it to. I have always been team Reothe but I love all of her characters so much and the whole world that she builds for these books. I'd love to read more and many times I've tried to search for books similar to these but alas none hold a candle to them. If you haven't read them give it a try it's totally worth it and you'll be happy that you did, and to the author Cory Daniells I'd love to read more of your stories, its almost embarrassing how many times I've read these.
March 4, 2012
Amazing, Daniells has an amazing gift of creating complex, deep and driven characters that come to life. The story falls naturally, the character and plot development feels organic, as if these people are real. Real cultures, motivations, prejudices and emotions.
November 19, 2010
I read this book under the title of "Broken Vows"... but there are several books with that title. This cover looks newer, so maybe it was changed.
Want to read
November 21, 2008TBR
Read
December 5, 2009Friend gave to me as a "trashy romance". It wasn't that trashy and was pretty good for a fantasy romance. Title must have changed over the years as it was originally under the name of Broken Vows.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews