This is the third in Graham's excellent
Viking trilogy. Set in 9th century Ireland (Eire), England and the north coast
of France, the trilogy tells the stories of Prince Olaf of Norway, the first
Lord of the Wolves, and his bride, Princess Erin, the daughter of the Irish
High King, the Ard-Righ of Tara, and their descendants.
I warn you that the Viking men in this
series are strong willed, arrogant and domineering and those in the last two
books are half Irish. Their loves are independent, stubborn and courageous
women who have lost much and still can fight with the best of the men. They
have no intention of allowing a Viking male who has taken everything from them to
dominate them. But then wolves and the cubs of wolves mate for life or so says
the druid who is advisor to the Irish king's family--and these men are wolves.
Each of the marriages is arranged over the objection of the females who fight
the husbands laying claim to their lands and to them.
This third in the series tells the
story of Olaf and Erin's son, Conar, who like his father is known as the Lord
of the Wolves for he has been great in battle, and Countess Melisande whose
castle lies on the north coast of France. Melisande's father, Count Manon, a
virile and handsome man, loves his daughter deeply and takes pride in her
beauty, her intelligence and her independence. At nearly 13, he knows her
growing beauty and her vulnerability as Countess will require that she must one
day wed and he's been surveying worthy candidates for the eventual day. With
such a purpose in mind, he invites the Wolf's son, Conar, from Eire (Ireland)
who he's been impressed with before, to visit his lands in France and meet Melisande.
He will not force her to consider him if she doesn't like him, however.
Conar arrives just as the Count is
slain by a neighbor who covets his daughter and his lands. With the Count's men
now leaderless, and believing Conar will protect their lands, they decide
Melisande must marry Conar (though the marriage cannot be consummated for many
years). Melisande, who takes an instant dislike to the arrogant and demanding
Viking, is forced into the marriage. Conar is only willing to marry the
difficult child to get the lands. Once wed (in a hasty ceremony), he sends her
away to Ireland to his sister who is a nun so she can grow up. His family falls
in love with her and many years later he decides to come for her. But she has
escaped to his brother, Eric, who is in England. She has no intention of being
Conar's wife in truth. She wants an annulment. But Conar will "never"
let her go.
Conar gave his body to his mistresses
and his mind and heart to his family and his rune reader, the lovely blonde
Brenna. So it was a bit hard to see how he could love Melisande, However, it
does come together in the end. It’s a worthy installment in the series, and as
always, Graham delivers a good tale. She can create tension between a couple,
that’s for sure.
The
Viking Trilogy:
Golden
Surrender
The
Viking’s Woman
Lord
of the Wolves
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