The Wolf and the Dove

Feb 01, 2011 Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, bodice-ripper, saxon-england, medieval, rape, hero-alpha, early-norman-england, no-no-no-yes-yes, illegitimacy, hero-is-chained-in-my-basement, heroine-annoying-and-way-annoying, skimmed-a-lot, the-ending-blows, 3-stars, overrated

Ever read a book where you wished you could rescue a character and give them the story that their awesomeness deserves? That was the case with Wulfgar in this meandering mess of a medieval.

Poor Wulfie...my poor, noble alpha Wulfie. Worse heroes like rape-ape Garth McClellan (Savage Surrender) got a rollicking joyride that never let up on the thrills and derring-do, and the cipher Giles St. Talvert (The Last Carnival) is in a romance so well-executed with nary a word wasted that it continues to b...more Ever read a book where you wished you could rescue a character and give them the story that their awesomeness deserves? That was the case with Wulfgar in this meandering mess of a medieval.

Poor Wulfie...my poor, noble alpha Wulfie. Worse heroes like rape-ape Garth McClellan (Savage Surrender) got a rollicking joyride that never let up on the thrills and derring-do, and the cipher Giles St. Talvert (The Last Carnival) is in a romance so well-executed with nary a word wasted that it continues to blow my mind.

So WTF is the deal with Kathleen Woodiwiss? Apart from an addiction to word count and a fear of plot, that is. Granted, I've only read 2 1/2 (ish) of her books, but for the two that I've actually finished, I noticed a distinct pattern:

1) 100-150 pages of set-up and (relatively, YMMV) interesting goings-on;
2) 250-300 pages of repetitive wheel-spinning and nonsensical actions by either the hero or heroine (but usually the chick);
3) 50 pages of whiplash action;
4) 5-10 pages of wrapping up dangling threads in a bright, shiny day-glo package with flashing neon ribbon.

The book started out well and I was getting good vibes from it. But about halfway through, I had to admit to myself that I was only reading (er, well, skimming ~~a bit here and there~~ at a gallop, if I'm being completely honest) because of Wulfgar. My commitment to continue sure wasn't for Aislinn, who is one of the more bipolar heroines I've come across. KEW obviously liked writing about Aislinn smiling and giggling and being all giddy and winsome because she would have the broad flipflop in her moods all the time.

Yeah, I know by now I should be used to the whole "daylight hatin' and moonlight matin'" schtick that passes for H/h relations in oh-so-many romances, but this one was even more schizo IMO. It peaked when (view spoiler) Made no sense and annoyed me mucho.

But Wulfie was worth the extra day or two it took me to skim through this one. If there had been less descriptive crap and stuck-in-neutral narrative, I might have been compelled to gobble up every scene he was in and read it more closely. But both faults dragged the whole book down, Wulfie included. The poor guy did the best he could with what he was given. Despite being yummily alpha, he was unable to reach in through the window and shift the car into gear because Woodiwiss the Puppet Master was all too happy to bounce in her seat and grin at the (unmoving) scenery.

Without the rather OK cast of supporting characters it'd be a 1 for the sheer and utter boredom of Nothing. Happening. At. All. So 2 stars. But Wulfie put up with a lot from both heroine and author, so I give him an extra star.(less)

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Aug 20, 2008 Misfit rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: wall-banger, anachronisms-ahoy, disney-medieval

Appalling! The worst medieval romance I have ever read. The Wolf and the Dove starts in 1066 as William has invaded England and the conquering Normans take control of the Saxons and their lands. I'd go into the plot in detail, but so many other reviewers have already done so I don't see the need to rehash it again. What I want to address are the many many things I found wrong with this book,

* I'm not a history major but I thought that after conquering England William inter-married the Norman an...more Appalling! The worst medieval romance I have ever read. The Wolf and the Dove starts in 1066 as William has invaded England and the conquering Normans take control of the Saxons and their lands. I'd go into the plot in detail, but so many other reviewers have already done so I don't see the need to rehash it again. What I want to address are the many many things I found wrong with this book,

* I'm not a history major but I thought that after conquering England William inter-married the Norman and Saxon nobility to ensure a harmonious transition, but Lady Aislinn is turned into a slave to be used at Wolfgar's whim? Not only that, but when he brings his "slave/mistress" to London he takes her to court and presents her to William!!??
* Aislinn is eighteen years old, that's right eighteen years old, beautiful, educated, intelligent and unmarried. Eighteen years old and unmarried when girls were married at fourteen and fifteen, and a spinster at 16. Righto.
* I know the heroine always has to be beautiful and all the guys desire her, but come on! By page 200 I've lost count of how many times her bodice has been ripped and she's been groped. Maybe this was where the term bodice ripper came from!
* Well bred women in medieval times kept their hair braided and covered, yet Aislinn's glorious tresses are always flowing free, for all to see and no one is shocked. Worse yet, not once, but twice she's so carried away to hurry to greet new arrivals that she forgets to put her shoes on!!?? Helloooooooo...
* While I don't expect historical accuracy in a romance, there was just one too many outright boners in this book that just had me rolling my eyes. Potatoes and Velvet in the 11C? I don't think so.

Worst of all, at least for this reader, was no chemistry at all between Aislinn and Wolfgar, a death knell for a romance novel. Aislinn was a spineless twit and Wolfgar was a pompous overbearing macho male chauvinist p.....well you know what. The book was long winded and I found myself skipping many pages on my way to the final and painful ending. I have read other books by Woodiwiss and while not high fiction I've found them a pleasant way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon. However, this book is not one of them, and I strongly urge other potential readers to consider all the opinions carefully before making this your reading choice. For those looking for well written, historically accurate tales of England at the time of the Conquest, I would recommend Elizabeth Chadwick's The Winter Mantle or THE CONQUEST. As quoted on some of her book jackets, the next best thing to time travel. (less)

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Dec 22, 2012 Sabrina Van Goethem marked it as to-read

Shelves: i-own-this-book, historical-romance

A wonderfully detailed historical romance! I love reading about this time period, and the author has really managed to bring history to life here. The love scenes could have been a bit more 'described' in my opinion (they are actually not described at all) but the great attention to historical details makes up for that.

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Jul 16, 2009 Ginnie Leiner rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of the best bodice rippers I ever read as a young impressionable woman!

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Nov 24, 2010 Kasey rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, bodice-rippers, paperback, historical

This one had so much potential for greatness, but it dragged on for what seemed like FOREVER, going from one conflict to another and another. And in the end, the main/original conflict was resolved almost too easily and presented like a gift with a nice little bow which (after the long, drawn out story) felt unrealistic and hastily put together merely because the story had to end. The way I see it, the story was unnecessarily lengthy and a lot the word count could have been better used to create...more

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May 09, 2009 Allison (The Allure of Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-it, historical-romance, 2009

I can see, having finished this, why it is considered a classic of historical romance. I hate reading stories about rape-HATE!-but for some reason, I was drawn to the characters in this story anyway. And, at the end, it turns out she was never really raped at all, so I'm glad i didn't put it down at the beginning.

I loved the characters, and I thought Wolfgar's character development was pretty believable, it took him a long time to give in to his feelings.

I definitely recommend this for historica...more

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Dec 16, 2012 Yumru rated it 4 of 5 stars

Yine güzel bir hikaye yazmış yazar,her kitabını bitirdiğimde boşluğa düşüyor şimdi ne okusam dedirtiyor hep:)Ama bu hikayede tek sıkan nokta savaşta geçen o uzun uzadıya ayrılık,bana göre konu gereksiz uzatıldı gibi geldi.Birde kız kardeşinin tavırlarına o kadar sakin yaklaşması çileden çıkartmadı değil hani.

Konu olarak değişikti ama Kat Martinin bizde çıkan romanı tarih olarak bu kitaptan sonra yazılmış olması acaba bir esinlenme söz konusumu diye düşündüm,normalde kitapları benzetmeyi sevmem a...more

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May 06, 2013 Kari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013ch

This was my first Woodiwiss book. I had a lot of expectations since this is a classic 70´s romance (which I think everyone has read at some point). It was very well-written, the dialogue was very "medieval" and you feel like you're right there in the middle of the story. At times I found it very long, like the author could've chopped off 150 pages and it wouldn't have made a difference. Wulfgar, the hero, is very "medievally" barbaric but I found him oddly attractive :). Aislinn was a bit of a w...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Gina Conkle rated it 5 of 5 stars

If Dream of Me by Josie Litton is #1 on my keeper shelf, Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss is #2. I've read this book so many times, I can't even recall the number.

AD 1066 and William the Conqueror defeats the Saxons. One Saxon maid, Aislinn, tried to care for her Norman dominated keep. Her father's dead and her mother's gone mad. In rides Wulfgar. The Conqueror gave this Norman warrior the prize of Darkenwald and all that's in it.

Wulfgar yields no soft spot for women, but he wants order...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Contessina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, favorite-authors, historical-romance, alpha-male-character, books-i-will-never-forget, favorites, five-stars, he-is-mine, hero-i-adore, heroine-i-adore, i-want-to-be-his-wife, irritable-hero, jealous-hero, made-me-cry, mistress-heroine, noble-heroine, obsessed-hero, possessive-hero, rake, strong-heroine

1066 senesinin Norman işgâli altındaki Britanya'sı ...

Okumaya başladığınız daha ilk dakikalarda muazzam Darkenwald Mâlikânesinin leydisi, bir Sakson kızı , alev saçlı Aislinn 'i boynuna bir ip geçirilmiş vaziyette zafer sarhoşluğundan kayışı iyice koparmış işgalcilerin arasında oradan oraya sürüklenirken göreceksiniz . Daha sonra yüreklere korku salan Kurt lakaplı Norman Wulfgar'ın komutanlarından biri olan miğde kaldıran Ragnor de Marte tarafından tecâvüze uğrarken . Üstelik Aislinn mâlikâneni...more

1066 senesinin Norman işgâli altındaki Britanya'sı ...

Okumaya başladığınız daha ilk dakikalarda muazzam Darkenwald Mâlikânesinin leydisi, bir Sakson kızı , alev saçlı Aislinn 'i boynuna bir ip geçirilmiş vaziyette zafer sarhoşluğundan kayışı iyice koparmış işgalcilerin arasında oradan oraya sürüklenirken göreceksiniz . Daha sonra yüreklere korku salan Kurt lakaplı Norman Wulfgar'ın komutanlarından biri olan miğde kaldıran Ragnor de Marte tarafından tecâvüze uğrarken . Üstelik Aislinn mâlikânenin tecâvüze mağruz kalan sayısı belirsiz kızlarından yalnızca biri .

Bekliyorsunuz ki Wulfgar arz-ı endâm ettiğinde ortamdaki yoğun , iç boğucu atmosfer dağılacak , kızcağızı kolundan tuttuğu gibi çekip kurtaracak ... Yok öyle dâvâ ...Wulfgar'ın Aislinn'e göz koymasının akabinde kızca çektirdiklerinin Ragnor'un yaptıklarından tek farklı Ailslinn'i bu nefret ettiği Demir Kurt'un dokunuşlarına karşı duyarsız kalabilmek için mütemâdiyyen kendisi ile mücâdele hâlinde kalması .

Aislinn , kendisini ''Piçin fâhişesi '' konumuna düşüren bu adama gönlünü kaptırmamak , ondan nefret etmek için kendini zorluyor . Fakat bilmiyor ki kendisi hiç farklında olmasa bile inceden inceye Wulfgar'ın yüreğinde yer ediyor , onu fethediyor . Bu anlamda yazar , okuru Wulfgar'ın mı yoksa Aislinn'in mi daha büyük bir kumandan olduğu mevzuunda tereddüte düşürüyor .

Adamın düşündüğü , düşünebileceği , düşünmek isteyeceği son şey evlilik ve bunu Aislinn'e dolaysız yoldan , tereddütsüz söylüyor . Yâni metres ve tutsak olmaya mahkûm olmakla birlikte eğer hâmile kalırsa bir piçi doğurmaya da mahkûm . Bunu öğrenen gururlu genç kızımız Wulfgar'ın içine , eğer böyle bir şey gerçekleşirse intihar edebileceği konusunda
kurt düşürüyor . Bu sahnede aslında Wulfgar'ın Aislinn'i kaybetmekten ne kadar korktuğunu ''Böyle bir şey yapmayacağından emin olmak için seni yanıma zincirleyeceğim , '' sözlerinden açıkça anlayabiliyoruz . Üstelik Asilinn , insan hayatını kutsal bulduğunu ve olası bir hâmilelikte Wulfgar çocuğu sâhiplense de sâhiplenmese de onu doğuracağını söylediğinde adamın içi ferahlıyor . Fakat ikisinin de korktuğu asıl mesele eğer Aislinn hâmileyse çocuğun Wulfgar'dan mı yoksa Ragnor'dan mı olacağı meselesi ki bu mevzu beni de uzun süre huzursuz etti . Zîrâ beklenen hâmilelik gerçekleştiğinde işin rengi iyice değişiyor ki o dakikalarda Asilinn ve Wulfgar'la birlikte ecel terleri döktüğümü îtirâf etmeyi borç bilirim .

Woodiwiss kitaplarının bir diğer vazgeçilmezi fettan kadın karakterler ki bunu Wulfgar'ın kız kardeşi Gwyneth karakterinde ziyâdesiyle göreceksiniz .Zîrâ Aislinn'e tecâvüz eden Ragnor'a yanık bu şirret , adam Aislin'den gözünü alamıyor diye kıcağıza etmedik eziyet, atmadık iftirâ bırakmıyor . Bilhassa şu kırbaç mevzuunda Gwyenth'i kendi donunun lastiği ile boğmak isteyebilirsiniz . Haklı da olursunuz . Fakat şu tiksinç mevzuda Ragnor , Aislinn'in peşinde tilki gibi dolaştıkça Wulfgar'ın kıskançlığının kabardıkça kabarması hoşuma gitmedi desem yalan olur . Velhâsıl-ı kelâm , Wulfgar'ın hissî anlamda biraz hırpalanması şarttı azîzim .

Kanaatimce Woodiwiss , bayrağı Margaret Mitchell'dan devralmış ; Brenda Joyce 'a devretmiştir . Usta kalemler arayan müdâvim okurların muhakkak okuması, romanlarının havasını soluması gereken bir yazardır Woodiwiss. Klasikleşmiş bir kalem , tecrübeyle pişmiş bir üslup , zarif bir edebî kaabiliyet ve ince bir rûhun birleşiminden doğan bir senfoni ...

The Wolf And The Dove'un ortaçağ romanları içerisinde sivrilen , kendine has bir üslûbu ve kurgusu var . Woodiwiss , karakterlerini çetrefilli yollarda , çıkmaz sokaklarda , kan revân içinde dolaştırmayı seviyor . Büyük aşkları meşakkatli görevlerle sınıyor, muazzam mücâdelelerle pişiriyor . Olay örgüsüyle hayretler içinde bırakıyor , zaman zaman okurun yüreğinde hassas bir yer bulup gıdıklıyor . Ve ben sözlerimi Wulfgar'dan bir alıntıyla sonlandırarak sözü Woodiwiss 'e ve Woodiwiss okurlarına bırakıyorum :

''Kalbimde öyle bir yer var ki Sakson kızı , yalnızca sen incitebiliyorsun . ''

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Mar 09, 2013 KatLynne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: g-historical-romance, medieval, keeper, favorite-treasures, bodice-ripper, 2009-reads, 2013-reads, made-me-laugh, one-of-my-fav-authors, hero-alpha-warrior, hero-hot-alpha, hero-totally-hot, heroine-with-backbone-smart-strong

3/6/2013 - Re-read with my local book group

The Wolf and the Dove is Kathleen Woodiwiss’s second novel written. It’s a rather lengthy Viking Historical with over 500 pages, all of which I devoured as I enjoyed a re-read with my local book peeps. While I was happy to find it’s still among my all time favorites, I realize this book may not work for others.

Woodiwiss is well known for taking the romance genre into the bedroom in 1972. Still you will not find explicit sex scenes. The Wolf and the Dov...more 3/6/2013 - Re-read with my local book group

The Wolf and the Dove is Kathleen Woodiwiss’s second novel written. It’s a rather lengthy Viking Historical with over 500 pages, all of which I devoured as I enjoyed a re-read with my local book peeps. While I was happy to find it’s still among my all time favorites, I realize this book may not work for others.

Woodiwiss is well known for taking the romance genre into the bedroom in 1972. Still you will not find explicit sex scenes. The Wolf and the Dove was first published in 1974, two years after ... “The modern romance genre was born with Avon’s publication of Kathleen Woodiwiss’s, The Flame and the Flower.... the first romance novel "to [follow] the principals into the bedroom."

The year is 1066 and Saxon England is being invaded by the Normans who have taken up the cause of the soon to be King William. Eighteen year old Aislinn of Darkenwald becomes an object of the spoils of war and now belongs to Wulfgar, the Iron Wolf of Normandy. While he’s a fierce alpha warrior, he’s also fair to those under his rule. And even though he may be the enemy, Aislinn is intrigued by this handsome stranger.

Woodiwiss completely captures my attention within the first few pages and I enjoyed every minute of the tempestuous journey of Wulfgar and his Aislinn, captor and slave. There’s angst, jealousy, treachery, passion, and sizzling chemistry. There’s a miraculous HEA ending where everything is wrapped up in a neat little bundle. It’s totally unbelievable, but I loved it and it worked for me.

Also, you’ll find things that aren’t historically correct. Again, not a problem for me. When I read romance, I’m looking more for the relationship aspects rather than a high percentage of historical accurate detail.

What I did find on my re-read is one of the sexiest warriors I’ve read. Woodiwiss gives great insight into Wulfgar’s feelings concerning love and marriage. I found Aislinn to be a heroine that I loved. She falls hard for this sexy warrior, and while he may be satisfied with their relationship as it is, she wants commitment.

Kathleen Woodiwiss was an amazingly talented author who has given me many hours of pleasure within the pages she’s penned. I’m delighted to find she still sits among my favorites after all these years.(less)

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Mar 03, 2012 Kerrie marked it as did-not-finish · review of another edition

I was told on Very Good Authority to simply throw in the towel and bail because this book is a big buttload of Nothing Happening. My valiant completist side was being sorely tested by pg. 136 when I quit. Aislinn was bipolar, giggling while tasting the rain right after being dour and bitchy. It was as though Woodiwiss had created a coy, disarming, precious character and then threw her into a plot that required conflict, hatred, and some STRENGTH. Aislinn had none. We only knew that Aislinn was (...more

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Aug 04, 2007 Inara rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: lovers of historical romance

Shelves: novels-romance-historical

Title in German:
Der Wolf und die Taube

This was the first book I ever read by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and it´s still my most loved one. The story between Aislinn the daughter of a Saxon baron and Wulfgar a Norman and how they came to love each other in a time of war, conquest and upheaval makes me still sighing happily and my eyes suspiciously bright. Wulgar is my epitome of a noble knight, kind and strong, tender and yet a great warrior and I almost fell instantly in love with him at the age of 17...more

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May 08, 2011 Debora rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fisicamente_posseduto, preferiti, ebook

Primo libro letto di questa bravissima autrice di romance storici. Il Lupo e la Colomba è uno di quei romanzi che, una volta chiusi, ti spinge immediatamente a cercare altri titoli della stessa scrittrice, la curiosità di leggere altri scenari e altri personaggi da amare è incontenibile.

Cosa distingue un semplice romanzetto rosa da una BEL Romance Storico? Semplice. Oltre che uno scenario ben curato e il più attinente possibile alla realtà, quello che conferisce a un romance una marcia in più è...more Primo libro letto di questa bravissima autrice di romance storici. Il Lupo e la Colomba è uno di quei romanzi che, una volta chiusi, ti spinge immediatamente a cercare altri titoli della stessa scrittrice, la curiosità di leggere altri scenari e altri personaggi da amare è incontenibile.

Cosa distingue un semplice romanzetto rosa da una BEL Romance Storico? Semplice. Oltre che uno scenario ben curato e il più attinente possibile alla realtà, quello che conferisce a un romance una marcia in più è la "capacità di far innamorare i protagonisti".

Un romanzo che ti fa innamorare i protagonisti in pochi colpi di Cupido e che poi, eventualmente, introduce qualche elemento negativo che vuole dividere i nostri neo piccioncini è un romanzo facile da scrivere. Magari carino, senza dubbio, ma pur sempre non troppo difficile da scrivere.

Un romanzo che si concentra attentamente sulla natura umana, sui sentimenti, sulle inclinazioni e le passioni dei protagonisti e li porta, pagina dopo pagina, a tramutare il loro rapporto iniziale in amore è un romanzo difficile da scrivere. Arrivare a far nascere una storia d'amore fra due personaggi, partendo da una situazione difficile come l'odio derivante dall'assassinio di un familiare è ancor più difficile. Due persone possono detestarsi per molti motivi, ma l'odio profondo di chi è stato privato della sua vita, dei suoi affetti, della sua indipendenza, del suo orgoglio e della sua dignità... Beh, la capacità mostrata dalla Woodiwiss, nel contesto, è davvero ammirevole. Non a caso "Il Lupo e la Colomba" è considerato uno dei suoi migliori romanzi, se non proprio il migliore in assoluto.

Ambientato nel Medioevo, Aislinn si ritrova prigioniera nelle sua stessa casa, passando di fatto da membro della nobiltà a semplice schiava, o peggio giocattolo sessuale del nuovo padrone, guerriero di Guglielmo il Conquistatore, del castello appartenuto a suo padre, Signore di Darkenwald.

Wulfgar è il nuovo padrone di Aislinn, padrone della sua vita e della sua umanità. Può fare di lei ciò che vuole e come vuole, è bottino di guerra, ne più ne meno. Aislinn, nonostante ciò, non si arrende e pur essendo il giocattolo sessuale del Padrone, continua tenacemente a proteggere tutti coloro che prima abitavano il castello da vera Signora qual'è sempre stata abituata a essere.

Lo scontro fisico fra i due è impari, Wulfgar la sovrasta e la annienta come e quando vuole ma è la forza della Colomba che lo attrae e lo diverte. Nulla sembra piegare la vecchia Signora del castello, nemmeno le angherie più disumane. Dritta come un fuso, orgogliosa e testarda continua a volersi liberare dal giogo a cui è stata costretta dalla circostanza.

Ed è qua che il romanzo si innalza, superiore, sopra agli altri. Se la trama di per se sembra ripercorrere un filo quasi scontato, è lo scontro continuo fra le due forti e appassionate personalità del Lupo e della Colomba che ci trattengono incollati alle pagine di questo romanzo.

Si sfidano, continuamente, in un eterno balletto che li porterà più volte a ferirsi l'anima a sangue per poi, inspiegabilmente, a curarsi a vicenda, rispettandosi. Ed è infatti il rispetto il primo stadio di questa trasformazione che li porterà dall'odio all'amore.

E seppur l'esito, fra i due, sembra scontato, sarà proprio questo processo di trasformazione a sconvolgere e coinvolgerà il lettore in ogni loro singola avventura dalle tinte forti della predominazione e della passione.

I lettori più disincantati potranno obiettare che, come sempre, sono pur sempre le protagoniste femminili a subire (o a dover subire) una trasformazione più radicale e che necessita inevitabilmente di un grande sacrificio di orgoglio. In effetti è così, la parte più sventurata, maltrattata e più giustificata per il suo odio è proprio Aislinn che, piano piano, si ritroverà innamorata di Wulfgar, nonostante tutto.

Effettivamente questo aspetto, se non fosse stata per la bravura dell'autrice, sarebbe risultato oltremodo grottesco. Come può una donna stuprata, ridotta in schiavitù e privata di ogni sua dignità innamorarsi di colui che ha contribuito alla morte del padre e alla follia della madre? No, logicamente non si può, ma la Woodiwiss è stata così brava nel coltivare questo sentimento impossibile che, alla fine, si finisce per giustificare questa forte ma dolcissima Cenerentola che, con tutta la dignità di una regnante, riuscirà a piegare un Guerriero nelle vesti di una semplice schiava.
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Apr 18, 2013 Chiara Allegranti rated it 4 of 5 stars

Un guerriero Normanno e una giovane nobildonna inglese...una storia d'amore!
Tranquilli non è così "semplice" come può sembrare!
L'attacco al Castello di Aislin è duro, cattivo e non lascia spazio all'immaginazione!
Non potevo credere che Wulfgar fosse questo, infatti......
Beh dopo come Cenere nel Vento che ho letto 3 volte, sono andata in cerca di tutto quello che ha scritto Kathleen e questo è stato il mio secondo "incontro" con i suoi romanzi....ed è cresciuto ancora di più la mia passione per l...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Chy rated it 1 of 5 stars

Saw this mentioned in a couple of places, and there always seems to be a copy at the used-book store (and a different one, just about every time.) So, hey, let's just see.

I spent a good part of it scowling and saying, "This isn't romance."

I mean, I think it might have been a much better book if it wasn't romance. I'm not sure what the purpose would have been---maybe just historical? That could have worked, dude. It could have been a modern writer's take on a medieval Wuthering Heights (not that...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Johanna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Wolf and the Dove
by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

Genre: Historical Romance

Likes a swift and bitter wind, Wulfgar, "the Iron Wolf of Normandy," sweeps down from the North at the head of an invincible army to claim the land and people of Darkenwald. But proud and beautiful Aislinn will never grovel before the fearsome invader.

A princess of Saxon blood, Aislinn burns with hatred for the mighty Norman knight who has destroyed her home. And she plots her revenge -- even as she submits to her enemy's pass...more The Wolf and the Dove
by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

Genre: Historical Romance

Likes a swift and bitter wind, Wulfgar, "the Iron Wolf of Normandy," sweeps down from the North at the head of an invincible army to claim the land and people of Darkenwald. But proud and beautiful Aislinn will never grovel before the fearsome invader.

A princess of Saxon blood, Aislinn burns with hatred for the mighty Norman knight who has destroyed her home. And she plots her revenge -- even as she submits to her enemy's passionate will. But she in unprepared for the fire her daring foe awakens within her. And, ultimately, it is the powerful Wolf himself who is vanquished, undone by a heart that aches for his courageous and sensuous captive -- and by a love that threatens their separative loyalties and their lives.

Aislinn has to deal with the harsh facts that she's lost her father, her home, her mother's sanity, her innocence, and her royal future when the Normans invade Darkenwald. The last thing she has left to give is her love and that is something she could never relinquish to any knight . . . that is until Wulfgar enters her world. Since the invasion, all she has known is brutally rough manners and disgustingly forced affection, but this new Lord of the castle doesn't offensively touch her at night and appears almost fair in his treatment of Darkenwald's people. Can old wounds be healed by true passion and can both Aislinn and Wulgar overlook their strong prejudices against each others heritage in hopes of becoming united?

Truly Amazing! I've always heard rave reviews in regards to this story and I even went out and bought the book almost a year ago. It sat on my library shelf for a few months until I picked it up and attempted to begin. . .sadly, I got easily distracted and it went back on the shelf. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I noticed it again and how happy I am. The history was fantastic! The characters where both enthralling and endearing! The overall story was captivating! I wish it wouldn't have ended!!

The book almost spellbinds the reader in a way that they become so emotionally involved in the tale, that they can't put it down. You'll want to scream with fury at Ragnor's treatment at the beginning of the story. You'll want to feel remorse for all the changes Darkenwald's people will have to endure. You'll get giddy along with Wulfgar's playful bantering about Aislinn's stubbornness. You'll be shocked at all the different ways to betray a person. Its truly an emotional roller-coaster that you'll only be too happy to keeping enjoying.

The story is long, complex, and I think it spans almost two years in time, so be prepared to become immersed during the Norman/Saxon era, circa 1060s. You'll witness not only the lives of slaves within the castles, but also the luxurious royal court of the new King, William the Conqueror, and the harshness of the English countryside as well. Aislinn and many other prominent figures will take on many different rolls throughout The Wolf and the Dove, so never fear, the book doesn't get slow, tedious, or boring at any time due to all the continuous character development. Overall, I'm happy to add this story to one of my favorites and definitely recommend this to all readers who love classic historic romances.

Likes: Kirwick was possibly my favorite character. He had a lot to overcome throughout the tale, but he did it in grace, good humor, and loyalty.

Dislikes: Besides the harsh topics brought up (like rape, senseless murder, etc.) that grabs at your emotions in a negative way, there is really not much to complain about.(less)

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Mar 28, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-p

Le château de Darkenwald est pris d'assaut par les hommes de Guillaume le Conquérant, les Normands venus envahir l'Angleterre et détrôner son Roi actuel. Ragnor, personnage infâme, massacre ses habitants et prend comme butin de guerre la jeune Aislinn, fille du seigneur de ce château qu'il a assassiné. Mais bien vite Ragnor doit céder sa place au véritable nouveau maître des lieux, Wulfar. Ce nouveau maître normand va imposer sa loi sur ses nouvelles terres et Aislinn va être toute désignée pour...more Le château de Darkenwald est pris d'assaut par les hommes de Guillaume le Conquérant, les Normands venus envahir l'Angleterre et détrôner son Roi actuel. Ragnor, personnage infâme, massacre ses habitants et prend comme butin de guerre la jeune Aislinn, fille du seigneur de ce château qu'il a assassiné. Mais bien vite Ragnor doit céder sa place au véritable nouveau maître des lieux, Wulfar. Ce nouveau maître normand va imposer sa loi sur ses nouvelles terres et Aislinn va être toute désignée pour "partager" sa couche...
Mêlé d'aventures, de trahisons et bien sur d'amuuuuuur... ce livre se lit très bien et même si j'avoue avoir eu une bouffée d'émotion à la fin du livre, je n'ai pas été plus emportée que ça... je m'attendais à beaucoup mieux au vu des autres commentaires. J'ai été déçue de ne pas y voir et ressentir les mêmes choses que les autres lectrices. Dommage...
Pourtant les personnages sont attachants. L'auteur nous propose un héros masculin vraiment très "proche" de ce que l'on peut s'imaginer des chevaliers de l'époque: beau, sexy mais en même temps rustre, goujat et un brin violent! Exit le beau chevalier qui appelle sa fiancée "ma mie" et qui fait montre de galanterie!! Mais bon à la limite ça ça m'a bien plu.
Par contre, même si Aislinn nous paraît très forte au début, sa force et sa rage perdent vite leur souffle et je ne l'ai pas trouvé très combative. Elle se fait vite à son sort finalement (mais qui l'en blâmerait!!). Les personnages secondaires sont assez intéressants aussi et apportent un réel plus à l'histoire.
Mais bon l'histoire, justement et bien... elle est un peu plate je trouve. A part les multiples "assauts" de Wulfar sur Aislinn, pas grand chose ne se passe...
J'attendais beaucoup plus de ce livre, mais j'ai quand même il faut le dire passer un bon moment dans l'Angleterre médiévale au temps des guerres entre Normands et Saxons, comme à chaque fois que je lis un livre de la collection A&P!!(less)

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Jan 29, 2012 Serena rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: casual-reading, not-historical, romance, good-except, sexual-violence, reviewed

Before I begin (before you begin to read this) I want to say that while I've read and reread this book (upwards of three times, at a conservative guess) I have not done so within the past year or two, so some aspects are a bit fuzzy in my mind.

I liked the book in general, though it is definitely not 'high literature' - nothing of the sort. It was one of the first 'pure romance' novels I read, and I seem to recall picking it up at the book sale at my library mainly because the dark knight depicte...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Richa rated it 2 of 5 stars

What a disappointment!
This book came so highly recommended and I was so excited to finally get on with it... but what a waste.
The Heroine, supposedly a spitfire, acts like a complete sissy in front of the "enemy" - The hero.
Just 25 pages into the book and the "Hero" (who is indirectly responsible for the heroine's father's death as well as that of several of the her country men)is getting glances from the the heroine with "something akin to tenderness" in them ?!!! Really!? And he is the same ma...more

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Sep 13, 2011 S.N. McKibben rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: skimmers, romatics

Recommended to S.N. by: Mom

Reading the intro for the book is a tad bit misleading. It says our main heroine vows to destroy our hero but really what happens is she falls in love with him at first sight, kiss-whatever.

I was waiting for her to make some plan of revenge as the back cover says which never came about. Nay this is a book about the daughter of the Lord of Darkenwald who becomes a slave to the conqueror of her home and people and then nags him to death to marry her. Which nagging a man to death about marriage I'...more

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Oct 04, 2010 Slavena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

When I read historical romances even written by authors 200 years ago (like Jane Austen) I understand them as if they have been written now but just for that period of time. This book however felt as if it was written 800 years ago or at least someone from Shakespearean. It was difficult to get into reading it and to be honest I didn’t understand half of the conversations, but I am not English born so that might be a factor, dialogue in this book was confusing to me.

The sex scenes in this book w...more

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Sep 28, 2010 Jane Stewart rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance-prior-to-wwll

I liked it, but the characters were too dated for me.

The female characters are written from a mindset of 34 years ago: love and serve your husband, family and others in the community, never complain and turn the other cheek when hurt. Women were valued for their beauty and compliance. Yes, this character type may be historically accurate for 1066, but I prefer a little more vinegar in my heroines. Aislinn was too perfect for me. Wulfgar conquered the Darkenwald lands previously held by Aislinn’s...more I liked it, but the characters were too dated for me.

The female characters are written from a mindset of 34 years ago: love and serve your husband, family and others in the community, never complain and turn the other cheek when hurt. Women were valued for their beauty and compliance. Yes, this character type may be historically accurate for 1066, but I prefer a little more vinegar in my heroines. Aislinn was too perfect for me. Wulfgar conquered the Darkenwald lands previously held by Aislinn’s father. He made Aislinn his mistress/slave. He raped her repeatedly but he was gentle about it, and she enjoyed it. She never acted like she wanted sex because she wanted Wulfgar to marry her first, but once he started kissing her, she was consumed by passion. Wulfgar’s hateful sister Gwyneth arrives and takes Aislinn’s clothes and tries to hurt Aislinn every day in any way. Aislinn always turns the other cheek and never complains about Gwyneth to Wulfgar. A rival knight Ragnor wants Aislinn and makes repeated attempts to harm Wulfgar to get her.

The plot begins with William, Duke of Normandy, invading England. Wulfgar was born in England but raised in Normandy and is a loyal knight fighting for William. England is eventually conquered and William crowned King of England. Wulfgar is given title to Darkenwald and other lands. Wulfgar was born a bastard with an unloving mother and a father who sent him away. He has hated women all of his life. He uses women for sex but never wants to marry. Wulfgar is a great warrior and a wise, kind leader, except for two things: he doesn’t get rid of Gwyneth when he should and he is insensitive to and repeatedly rapes Aislinn.

Gwyneth is hateful, spiteful and does things to harm Aislinn, Wulfgar and the people in the community. I was annoyed that Wulfgar did not send her away. He should have married her off or sent her to a convent. Instead, he allowed her to live in his home. It was like having a poisonous snake living with him for months.

Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: eleven. Setting: 1066 England. Copyright: 1974. Genre: historical romance.(less)

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Jun 07, 2009 Ingela Hyatt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, kathleen-e-woodiwiss

She was the daughter of the lord of Darkenwald, proud, wise, and uncommonly beautiful, but now Aislinn is but a slave to the conquering Normans, a plaything for the man who killed her father. Sitting in the hall with rope tied about her neck and forced at the feet of her captor, she watches helplessly as the Normans ransack her home and abuse her mother. But she will have her revenge—no Norman will ever conquer her, nor will she ever give up the only home she has ever known.

Born as a bastard an...more She was the daughter of the lord of Darkenwald, proud, wise, and uncommonly beautiful, but now Aislinn is but a slave to the conquering Normans, a plaything for the man who killed her father. Sitting in the hall with rope tied about her neck and forced at the feet of her captor, she watches helplessly as the Normans ransack her home and abuse her mother. But she will have her revenge—no Norman will ever conquer her, nor will she ever give up the only home she has ever known.

Born as a bastard and scorned by his mother, Wulfgar has come to hate women. Though dispised because of his birth, he is fair and just with all whom he meets. When he arrives at Darkenwald to discover the knight he sent, Ragnar, to secure the town has killed the old lord and most of his serfs, Wulfgar becomes furious and suspicious. But when he espies the courageous Aislinn struggling to bury her father—he wants her. Never has he met a more beautiful or bold wench with such a stout heart—and he will tame her by every gentle and seductive means necessary.

Aislinn shall never willingly submit to any Norman—her hatred for them knows no bounds—until she meets the handsome and formidable Wulfgar, who challenges her at every turn. Despite the fact he is a bastard and a Norman, he seems unusually honest and is more handsome than any man has a right to be. Why does his kiss make her insides quiver? Why does he prefer to chain her to the foot of the bed instead of raping her as Ragnar has done? He is kind and fair, but his justice is swift and terrible. How is she to resist this man who asks nothing of her, but seduces her into offering everything? Why is his heart so hard where women are concerned, yet his touch so gentle?

Wulfgar has always been able to love a woman and leave her without nary a thought to cloud his mind. Yet, when William the Conquer demands his presence in London for his coronation, it is Aislinn who haunts his every thought—the softness of her fiery hair, her womanly fragrance, the passion in her touch, the feel of her in his arms. The vixen must have bewitched him—it can be the only explination, for Wulfgar must have her at his side, no matter the cost.

Shocked by Wulfgar’s summons, Aislinn is only too eager to join her Norman knight in London. But how can she give herself to a man who will never wed her, who holds only pain and hatred for women in his heart? How can she ever turn his mind to the tenderness she would give, nay the love which has grown inside her? He told her no woman had ever tarried in his mind, yet he called for her. He swore never to waist his hard earned monies on a female, yet he lavishes her with gifts. But he refuses to give her the one thing she so desperately yearns for—his love. Will she ever soften this hardened warrior’s heart? Can she ever make him acknowledge the love burning within herself? Or will the enemies plotting against them succeed in ripping them apart and destroying them forever?

The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss is a classic epic tale of love, passion, and revenge. The historical detail beautifully enhances this sweeping story and pulls the reader into the turbulent time of the Norman Conquest. Aislinn and Wulfgar are such deep and complex you can’t help but yearn for the gentle dove to tame the wild wolf and show him the power of love. This novel has been on my keeper shelf for many years now, and after re-reading it, I have to say it is no wonder Kathleen Woodiwiss inspired a genre which has taken the world by storm. With elegant prose, deeply emotional characters, and exciting settings, Ms. Woodiwiss was a master of her craft. Whether a novice to the genre or an old fan, I highly recommend you read (or re-read as the case may be) The Wolf and the Dove and be prepared to be swept away into a world long past... (less)

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Apr 30, 2009 Roylin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, favorites

This was one of the first real romance novels I have every read---and I did it when I was in the 5th grade(hope my mother does not see this). But yes, my mother's friend gave her a bunch of books that she did not know what to do with anymore(they belonged to her mother who just died). Knowing that I was a serious books worm, my mother passed them to me.

Amoung them was this book, which was so old you could crush the pages into dust jusy by touching them. But I started reading it and loved it! I l...more

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Aug 23, 2009 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: lust-romance, historical-fiction-med-ren

I think there is a point in most women's lives where they have read trashy romance novels. For me, it was my junior and senior years in high school and my freshmen year of college. I had a friend in high school who actually had to hide such books in her underwear drawer. Her mother would've flipped out. We pretty much read them because of the trashy romance novel sex scenes. Except for the Guardian Angel. He read Harlequin Romances; I'm not sure why.

And then.

And then I read one too many where th...more I think there is a point in most women's lives where they have read trashy romance novels. For me, it was my junior and senior years in high school and my freshmen year of college. I had a friend in high school who actually had to hide such books in her underwear drawer. Her mother would've flipped out. We pretty much read them because of the trashy romance novel sex scenes. Except for the Guardian Angel. He read Harlequin Romances; I'm not sure why.

And then.

And then I read one too many where the heroine was raped by the "romantic" lead. Admittedly these were books published in the late 70s and early 80s (used bookstores sold them cheap). There was one called The Pirate's Doxy (or something like that). Poor Miss Virgin gets mistaken for a prostitute when she is really a seamstress, gets taken aboard a ship because the captain needs a hooker to get over his ex. He rapes Miss Virgin, believing that she was playacting. He's really sorry, and they fall in love. SAY WHAT?

It's amazing how that can just turn your stomach. You can no doubt see why I stopped reading trashy romance novels. The fact that I minored in history also undoubtedly had something to do with it. Who wants to read a trashy romance about Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon (or Anne Boleyn) when you know how the relationship ends? Except, I didn't really stop reading them. I just call it urban fantasy, and the heroine can turn into werewolf (or a demon or whatever), so it has fantastic elements, though sometimes less sex scenes. The women tend to kick butt, however. I also re-read Outlander this summer.

There has to be something about romance books that speak to women (and at least one male). Maybe it is the sex scenes, especially with the younger readers. Maybe it is the prefect guy, the romantic lead, though I doubt this last considering how many rapes seem to occur. I understand the whole "rape fantasy" psyche idea, but that is different than describing a real rape, isn't it? Even in UF you can see this rape fantasy being overplayed and never really examined, for instance, in the later Anita Blake novels, though who is the victim and who is the rapist is sometimes unclear. Maybe these types of rape-romance books are written by men for men. (This would also explain Lifetime, the channel of women in trouble needing rescuing).

Maybe women dig romance books because such books are our version of James Bond. This theory would also apply to soap operas. Think about it. Is James Bond really that realistic? Can he really drink and shot straight? Would all those women really want him (and remember he wasn't always played by Connery or Craig)? Would a bad guy really reveal his plan before trying to kill Bond, and walk out without making sure the super-spy is dead? All those women and no STDs or screaming babies?

Maybe romance books are a female version of Bond. Here is, the books say, a man who is tamed by the love of a good women. He becomes more understanding and sympathetic as the love story progresses. He's really good in bed. He pleasures her, not the other way around. They are the perfect match, at first sexually and then mentally and emotionally. In romance books, at least in some, the woman does change the man; she does have some power to do this. Even in the Doxy book I cited above, the rapist became "nicer", more "emotional". She changes him by simply being who she is. Sovereignty, the Wife of Bath says, is what women want, maybe romance books offer a picture of that.

It's true that there are books that play with the standard cliches of romantic fiction. Outlander, for instance, inverts the standard virgin and experienced roles, as well the ages, which is why I still like it. While The Wolf and the Dove doesn't do this exactly, I still have my copy. I liked this book because there is no character rape. There is a near rape, and how this is not a rape is absolutely wonderfully explained. (It sounds weird, but if you read the book, you'll see). The would be rapist is not the romantic lead, but the villain. There really is romance in the book and not simply sex. I suppose to even call this book a trashy romance novel is doing it a slight injustice. It is a romance novel, a woman's story. And for whatever reason, something women like. If you are thinking of reading a romance book, this is a good one. It doesn’t insult women and is charming told. The female character is also strong emotionally, as is her mother. Woodiwiss deals with the theme of the conquered and the conqueror very well. The book is something of an examination of these roles, and, therefore, not a typical romance. (less)

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Nov 15, 2012 HÜLYA YILMAZ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Kurt ve Kumru-Kathleen E.Woodiwisi

Orjinal Adı The Wolf and the Dove Goodreads puanı 5/4,14 Benim puanım 5/5
Şu ana kadar okuduğum en güzel orta çağ romanı ama oldukça da sert..

Çünkü roman Normanların İngiltere'yi işgal ettiği dönem yani Ortaçağın en sert dönemi olan 1066 da William’ın İngiltere’ye saldırdığı Saxson'ları esir alıp,topraklarını ele geçirdiği dönemde geçiyor..Kitabın daha ilk sayfalarında gerilmeye başladım diyebilirim..

Çünkü romandaki sahne çok acımasızca başlıyor..Normanlar tar...more Kurt ve Kumru-Kathleen E.Woodiwisi

Orjinal Adı The Wolf and the Dove Goodreads puanı 5/4,14 Benim puanım 5/5
Şu ana kadar okuduğum en güzel orta çağ romanı ama oldukça da sert..

Çünkü roman Normanların İngiltere'yi işgal ettiği dönem yani Ortaçağın en sert dönemi olan 1066 da William’ın İngiltere’ye saldırdığı Saxson'ları esir alıp,topraklarını ele geçirdiği dönemde geçiyor..Kitabın daha ilk sayfalarında gerilmeye başladım diyebilirim..

Çünkü romandaki sahne çok acımasızca başlıyor..Normanlar tarafında işgal edilmiş bir kale ve İşgal edilen kalede yaşanan insanlık ötesi katliamlar..Kalenin efendisi öldürülmüş, .Boynuna bir ip bağlanan Darkenwald Malikânesinin kızı Aislinn ve kızını korumaya çalışan kalenin hanımının dizlerinin üzerinde süründürülmesi..Bu insanlık dışı manzaradan Demir Kurt Wufgar'ın kumandanı Ragnor de Maret sorumlu..İğrenç bir komutan..

Kalenin kızına iğrence tacavüz ettiği satırları nefret ederek okudum... Ertesi gün roman kahramanı Demir Kurt Wulfgar kaleye geliyor ..Aislinn'in karşılaşmaları..Aislinn Wulfgar'ın Ragnor'dan farklı olduğunu daha adil olduğunu anlıyor..Birbirlerinden nefret ediyorlar..Wulfgar onun güzelliğinden etkileniyor..

Ve Demir Kurt Wulfgarın nasıl biri olduğunu merak edersek, sevgisiz bir aileden gelmesi annesi kocasının savaşlara gidip kendisini ihmal etmesini bağışlayamamış şefkâtsiz bir annedir..Bunun acısını özellikle büyük oğlu Wulfgar'dan çıkartıyor..Babası ise onu piç olarak kabul edip uzaklara gönderiyor..Ailesinden sevgi görememiş bie adam..İşte bu sevgisizlik yüzünden kadınları sadece cinsel amaçla için kullanmış ve asla evlenmeyi düşünmüyor..Kadınları kullanmayı seviyor ama onlardan nefret ediyor...
.
Aislinn'i ilk iş Ragnor'un elinden alıyor..Aislinn'e Ragnor gibi acımasızca tecavüz etmiyor ama bir nevi baştan çıkararak tecavüzünü devamlı gerçekleştiriyor..Onu metresi ve kölesi yapıyor.. Aislinn'in ilk önce güzelliğinden büyüleniyor.Sonrada cesareti ve kişiliğinden etkilenmeye başlıyor....

Daha sonra kaleye Babası ve kız kardeşi geliyor.. Babası elindeki her şeyi kızı dışında kaybetmiş bir adam ve kız kardeş Gwyneth hani dersiniz koynunuzda yılan beslemek deyimi bu kadına çok da güzel uyuyor...Kaleye geldiği andan itibaren Aislinn ile devamlı uğraşıyor..akla hayale gelmeyecek entirakalar ile uğraşıyor..Tek zayıf yönü var Ragnor ona aşık olup neredeyse onu kölesi oluyor..O ne derse onu yapıyor...Ragnor ise Aislinn'i takıntı haline getiriyor..Onu Wulfgar'ın elinden almak için Gwyneth'i kullanmakta tereddüt etmiyor..

Aisslinn ise neredeyse kusursuzluk timsali başına gelenleri büyük bir vakur ile kabullenirken cesaret ve gücünü asla kaybetmiyor...Wulfgar'ı o iyiliği ve güzelliği ile dize getiriyor..Güzellik derken karakter ve huy olanından bahsetmek istiyorum..
Wulfgar ona o kadar bağlanıyor ki Ragnor ile dövüşmekten kaçınmadığı gibi kaybetmekten de çok korkuyor..Onun hasretini çektiği satırları okumak çok güzeldi..Özellikle odalarında her yerde Aislinn'i görmesi onu araması...Okuyun bence çok seveceksiniz...
Yazar mekanı çağı ve aşkı o kadar güzel harmanlayıp bize aktarmış ki..Tekrar tekrar bu yazara hayran oldum...Kitabı özellikle sonlarına doğru elimden bırakamadım..Wulfgar'ın Aislinn'e aşık olduğunu ve yaşamının ondan başka öneminin olmadığını anladığı sahne müthişti..Kucağındaki bebeğin babası olup olmadığını bilmediği halde onu kucağında tutup o koca şövalyenin kollarında uyuttuğu sahne çok özeldi...

(less)

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Mar 06, 2009 Barbara M. rated it 3 of 5 stars

2 or 3 Star? I couldn't decide. It was better than "Ok", but not as good as "I liked it"...Ha, does that make sense? I have to admit I did love the end though about how her mother came through for her... So I have to give my opinion on how men were back in the day...good gosh they were aholes! I wouldn't have lasted long back then with all the wench this and wench that, and slave this and slave that. With my big mouth they would've had me strung up on a pole (to stay)!

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May 13, 2013 Nisa Andani rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, fiksi, gagasmedia

The Wolf and The Dove, Gairah Sang Serigala (Gagasmedia)

Ga mesti review pake bahasa inggris kan ya? huehehe ketauan banget ga jago bahasa inggrisnya :P

Seperti biasa, sebelum ke inti review, aku mau curhat sedikit mengenai novel dewasa terjemahan ini.

Ga tau kenapa dari dulu aku ga hobi baca novel terjemahan. Mungkin pernah beberapa kali baca, tapi itu pun bukan novel-novel tebal seperti novel ini. Setiap kali ke toko buku pun aku ga pernah berniat menengok ke rak novel terjemahan yang biasanya...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Ebru Aydın rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5
O yarım puanı da sırf ''kumru'' hitabı için kırıyorum.

Kurt ve Kumru /Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
‘’Kumru’’ ben bu hitap yüzünden kitaptan yarım puan kırdım ve 4.5 verdim. Kaldıramıyorum. Nasıl olur da ‘’kumrum’’ hitabını Ragnor denen o öküz yapar. Yazar bu kitapta beni çileden çıkardı. Reva mı bu şimdi ?? Elin öküzü kıza ‘’kumrum’’ desin , ben de bunu normal karşılayayım. Hiç de bile.
Kitap baştan sona bir şaheser.Daha giriş bölümünde sizi ele geçiriyor. Ama bu yazarın tecavüzle ilgili bir takıntı...more 4.5
O yarım puanı da sırf ''kumru'' hitabı için kırıyorum.

Kurt ve Kumru /Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
‘’Kumru’’ ben bu hitap yüzünden kitaptan yarım puan kırdım ve 4.5 verdim. Kaldıramıyorum. Nasıl olur da ‘’kumrum’’ hitabını Ragnor denen o öküz yapar. Yazar bu kitapta beni çileden çıkardı. Reva mı bu şimdi ?? Elin öküzü kıza ‘’kumrum’’ desin , ben de bunu normal karşılayayım. Hiç de bile.
Kitap baştan sona bir şaheser.Daha giriş bölümünde sizi ele geçiriyor. Ama bu yazarın tecavüzle ilgili bir takıntısı var bence.İhtiras Çiçeği’nden sonra bu kitapta da görünce biraz şaşırdım.Neyse..
Bir piç olarak dünyaya gelene Wulfgar Norman ve Sakson’lar arasındaki savaşın süre geldiği bu zamanlarda William’ın en iyi şövalyelerinden biridir ve onun adına Sakson topraklarını yağmalayıp gasp eder.Tabi bu sırada kendi görevlendirdiği birkaç adamın –ki aralarından biri Ragnor olan öküz- Darkenwald Malikanesi’ni ele geçirmesi ve Darkenwald’lı Aislinn’i yani oranın prensesini kirletmesiyle başlıyor her şey. Kızın Ragnor tarafından köpek misali boğazına ip geçirilerek tecavüze uğraması ise tam bir dehşet anı.Wulfgar Darkenwald’ı görmek için gittiğinde güzeller güzeli, asi , ama yaralı Aislinn ile karşılaşır ve onun büyüleyici çekiciliğine kapılır. Eh , işte bu karşılaşmanın incisi Aislinn’de kendini yağmurdan kaçarken doluya tutulmuş bulur ve Ragnor yerine Wulfgar’ın koruması altına girmeyi tercih eder.
Aislin’in kitap boyunca çektiği sıkıntı beni delirtti. Zaten bir de annesi 46 denecek derecede delirince –özellikle sonun da kadının 46 olduğuna kanaat verdim- zavallı kız her şeyle tek başına yüzleşmek zorunda kalıyor.Wulfgar deseniz tam bir öküz (!) Bir insan bu kadar odun olamaz.Mümkün değil.Kendisi gayri meşru bir şekilde dünyaya gelmiş ve bunu çok acı verici bir şekilde öğrenmiş.Bu yüzden de başta annesi olmak üzere tüm kadınlardan nefret ediyor. Sonuç olarak da elinin altında Aislinn olduğu için tüm acısını ondan çıkarıyor.Bir bölümünde üvey babası ‘’Öfkeni ve acını kız kardeşin ve benden çıkar. Aislinn herkesten daha masum.’’ diyordu. Ki gerçekten de öyle ama Wulfgar kitap boyunca herkesin içinde kızı sürekli küçük düşürdü.
Ha , tabi bir de Ragnor’un sürekli etrafta dolaşması mevzusu var.Bu kısımlardan ötürü Wulfgar’ı kınadım.Kız için ‘’O benim. Benim olanı kimseyle paylaşmam.’’ diye söyleniyor ama Ragnor’da her yerde kıza sulanıyor.Adamın her yerden çıkması ve ‘’kumrum’’ demesi beni çileden çıkardı.
Aislinn’e gelince çoğu yerde onu da yadırgadım. Yahu adama kafa tutuyor ama olur olmaz şeye de boyun eğiyor.Nasıl bir kişilik çözemedim kızı.Gerçi onun psikolojisini de anlamak lazım.Kendi krallığında tecavüze uğruyor , yetmiyor kapatma durumuna düşüyor.Dahası bir de Wulfgar’ın üvey kız kardeşi –resmen süpürgesiz cadı- Gwyneth kızı gerek sözleri gerekse hareketleriyle yerden yere vuruyor. Hatta bir kısımda olayı kırbaçlamaya kadar götürmeye kalktı. Ama Wulfgar’ın olayı öğrenmesiyle ‘’ Dikkat et kardeşim . Senin başkasına yaptığını ben sana yapmaktan çekinmem.’’ diyerekten gerekli mesajı veriyor.Fakat nafile bir çaba.Zira Gwyneth tam bir pislik olduğunu kitabın her satırında her cümlesinde hareketleriyle bağıra bağıra gözünüze sokuyor.Bir de Ragnor’u onurlu bir şövalyeymiş gibi savunması yok mu , tam bir komedi.
Wufgar’ın 400 sayfa boyunca ben de edindiği kötü izlenim ise ‘’Kalbimde öyle bir yer var ki Sakson Kızı , yalnızca sen incitebiliyorsun.’’ cümlesi ile tamamen silinip gitti.
Güzel bir kitaptı Kathleen E. Woodiwiss’den okuduğum ikinci kitap ama İhtiras Çiçeği hala gözümde eşsiz. :)))
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