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Title: Fires of Winter by Johanna Lindsey ISBN: 0-380-75747-8 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 05 February, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.18 (44 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: First in the Trilology
Comment: One of the most endearing things about Ms. Lindsey's writing is that so many of her books are related to one another, by having the same family of characters appearing in different books. This is the story of the Viking Haardrad clan, and in this first book of three, the patriarch of the clan raids a village in Great Britain and comes home with a woman slave for his son, the Lady Breena. The catch is that this aristocratic Lady believed that she had been promised in marriage to this very same man by her now dead father. A promise that the Viking patriarch is all too happy to annul in his fury at these former enemies. Lady Breena is full of spunk and character, and is easily one of Johanna Lindsey's best heroines. Her "master", Garrick, is less appealing, but their story is heart warming. Future books, Hearts Aflame and Surrender My Love (numbers two and three respectively) carry on with the stories of their children. This is an excellent book and well worth reading.
Rating: 5
Summary: One of the very best Viking romances
Comment: I first read Fires of Winter about eighteen months ago and remembered a powerful and highly alluring storyline. Last week, I decided to read it again and found it was even better than I remembered.
I have discovered, as I read through the backlists of many authors, that most romance writing today is very different from the romances of the 1980s. I often find that the formula romances written during that time frame can be very trying to read. But I have also learned that some of the very best gems of romance writing were written during the 1980s. Of all the hundreds of romance books I have read, my top five favorite books include at least three from this 1980s period. I love a story with rich historical detail that concentrates primarily on the hero and heroine. Length of the story (longer than 350 pages), unusual plot lines, and depth of characters are extremely important. Fires of Winter is one such novel that fits all of these criteria as well as just being a downright delicious read. I consider Johanna Lindsey to be one of the best authors of these sweeping historical novels during this period although I have read a couple of hers that I would consider some of the worst.
Garrick Haardrad is a Viking who makes his living through trading overseas. He is the younger son of a Viking chieftain, Anselm the Eager. Unknown to Garrick, his father, Anselm, had promised his hand in marriage to a Celtic lord's daughter. When Anselm arrives in England to supposedly collect his younger son's future bride, he instead attacks the Celtic settlement. The marriage betrothal was merely a trick to allow the Viking raiders easy entrance to the Celtic settlement. Not only does Anselm and his warriors kill the majority of people and steal all that can be stolen, he also takes with him seven captives who will become slaves once they reach Norway.
Lady Brenna is the Celtic lord's daughter that had been promised in marriage, unwillingly, to the Viking chieftain's son. She is one of the seven captives taken back to the Vikings' homeland of Norway. Brenna is a very independent woman and has always been treated like a son rather than a daughter by her father. She is very adept at warrior skills such as wielding a sword, archery, and defending herself with a knife. When Anselm and his warriors attack Lady Brenna's home, she fights the Vikings just like a man. She is a very uncooperative captive and is considered dangerous if not a little mad. Brenna refuses to accept her new role in life - that of a slave. Anselm discovers he actually respects Lady Brenna and decides to give her to his son, Garrick. Brenna is extremely bitter towards Anselm and cannot bear the thought that she will be Garrick's slave rather than his wife.
Brenna's behavior is my main complaint about Fires of Winter. She was always angry. There are few pages in which she is NOT angry. This behavior actually makes Brenna appear immature. But, to give her character due credit, I will admit that she was dealing with one of the hardest heroes I have ever read. Garrick could be just down right mean and he was - many more times than once. Lindsey can write some of the meanest heroes that we still find a way to accept wholeheartedly. Part of the intrigue of Lindsey's heroes is the change they undergo. So, although we see Garrick as unkind, we also see him evolve to a hero you will love.
Usually, I don't appreciate a great deal of fighting as occurs between Garrick and Brenna. It was, however, a really outstanding battle of the wills. I found that I relished this battle of wills because both characters are so well written. They both clearly have their strengths and weaknesses and Lindsey lets us see them as the imperfect people they are and it only adds to the overall appeal of the story. The sensual scenes rate about a 3.5 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). Although Lindsey does not write these scenes in explicit detail, they are still highly sexual. Be warned - these scenes are both consensual and non-consensual. At times, women are not treated with much respect in this book. This story takes place during the Viking era and I actually think this mistreatment of women is true to the time period.
This book had extreme highs and lows and was a fascinating read. There are few books that I find hard to put down but Fires of Winter was definitely in that category. I like to savor the really, really good books and make the reading last. But I found myself making excuses to read the next chapter and then the next. Fires of Winter is probably one my favorite top ten books. This is a book that is about the leads and it is very satisfying. I will soon choose another Lindsey book from her backlist and hope to find yet another jewel.
Rating: 5
Summary: VIKINGS!!
Comment: My fav Vikings. Yummm. (I'm also a sucker for
Pirates & Saxon Warlords & Highlanders). This
is the first in what is my favorite historical
romance series. (I also enjoy Julie Garwood,
Kinley Macgregor, and Teresa Medeiros)
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Title: Hearts Aflame by Johanna Lindsey ISBN: 0380899825 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 01 June, 1987 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Surrender My Love by Johanna Lindsey ISBN: 0380762560 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 01 May, 1994 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Secret Fire by Johanna Lindsey ISBN: 0380750872 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 01 December, 1987 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Tender Rebel (Malory Novels (Paperback)) by Johanna Lindsey ISBN: 0380750864 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 01 June, 1988 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: So Speaks the Heart by Johanna Lindsey ISBN: 0380814714 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 01 May, 1983 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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