Rating: 
Summary: Anyone Heard of the Hieros Gamos?
Review: Ms. Borchardt does a wonderful job in this book of drawing together Pagan and Christian sources. She reaches into Celtic lore, 9th century chistian belief, shamanic ritual and Germanic myth to create a world where religion and forces of nature are in flux. Part of this is the sacred marriage between the male and female principles (hieros gamos). The various sexual acts in this story illustrate the uses of sex from the sacred to the profane. That's not to say they aren't fun-- because they are. But they are an integral and interesting part of the story. It's not necessary that the reader know a lot about 9th century France, shamanism or pagan myth, but it doesn't hurt.
Rating: 
Summary: A teensy bit better than the average bodice-ripper.
Review: The liner notes claimed this book was "an intricate, superbly researched tapestry of the Middle Ages", which gave me hope. And it IS readable, but I was disappointed to discover it was basically just another bodice-ripper. I had hoped to find a book that told a story of this historical era, warts and all. However, in the Borchardt world of the Middle Ages there is excessive rhapsodizing over the ebony hair and ivory skin of the heroine. I was looking for a fine, hearty meal of a book, but this one is more like movie theater popcorn. You enjoy it, but it's not filling, and there's a nagging thought in the back of your mind that it's just empty calories.
Rating:
Summary: A teensy bit better than the average bodice-ripper.
Review: The liner notes claimed this book was "an intricate, superbly researched tapestry of the Middle Ages", which gave me hope. And it IS readable, but I was disappointed to discover it was basically just another bodice-ripper. I had hoped to find a book that told a story of this historical era, warts and all. However, in the Borchardt world of the Middle Ages there is excessive rhapsodizing over the ebony hair and ivory skin of the heroine. I was looking for a fine, hearty meal of a book, but this one is more like movie theater popcorn. You enjoy it, but it's not filling, and there's a nagging thought in the back of your mind that it's just empty calories.
Rating:
Summary: ADVENTURE THAT WILL SWEEP YOU AWAY.
Review: THIS ADVENTURE NOVEL WILL SWEEP YOU AWAY TO DARK MEDIEVAL FORESTS, VIKING LONGSHIPS, AND INTO THE
THE HUMAN HEART. WARRIOR BISHOP OWEN AND HIS LOVE, ELIN MUST BATTLE BRUTAL VIKINGS AND TREACHERY FROM
NOBLEMEN TO SAVE THEIR TOWN.BORCHADT SWEEPS YOU INTO 10TH CENTURY FRANCE A WORLD OF VIOLENCE, A WORLD WHERE PAGANISM IS GIVING WAY TO CHRISTANITY.
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent, gripping, satisfying.
Review: This is one of the finest historicals I have ever read. Above all, the characters, the dialogue, and the relationships were believable and fascinating. I have never read a historical novel with such ironic, witty, and subtle dialogue. Most people writing in other periods seem to think this makes the characters lose all ability to speak in subtle ways. Borchardt's dialogue shines. Plus, the relationship between the two main characters is the meeting of two powerful forces, sexy as hell, and not at all sexist. The sequel, which brings in a second relationship of great power, and manages to end in a way that does not mean one force destroys another and yet is satisfying, is even better. And great fight scenes!
Rating:
Summary: Devote your time to something else
Review: This is the first novel that I have read by Alice Borchardt. I found the beginning to be enthralling, but as the story dragged on, I got bored with the common use of language. It felt as if the novel was written so that it could easily be made into a B Hollywood movie.
The book was much too predictable. I don't think that I will purchase the sequel, 'Beguiled.' However, I may give the author another chance with her latest novel 'The Silver Wolf.'
Rating:
Summary: Great Story but with a surprising disappointment!
Review: When I started this book I was hit by the depth of detail and character development. I thought, This is a keeper!! I'm going to read this book over and over again and enjoy it more each time!! Then, as I came to the last hundred pages or so, I was surprised by a mis-reprint which sent me BACK 30 pages!! Then skipped ahead almost 40 pages to the last scenes!! I missed the end of the main battle and some of the turning point magic!! I want to read more by this author and am looking forward to the sequel but feel sorry that her first book had to have such an inexcusable defect! The story deserves five stars but the misprint makes it three.
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