Above the Wind and Fire

by Donna Comeaux Zide

SHE OWNED NOTHING BUT HER BEAUTY...AND HER HONOR
Escaping the conquering Normans when they confiscated her father's estate and imprisoned him, Aylsaun fled through the barren English countryside with only a faithful old family retainer to protect her. He stole to feed her, fought for her against the rapacious Normans; but when he died at their hands, to whom could Aylsaun turn? Only to Brand de Reynard, the russet-haired troubadour whose stolen rabbit she had eaten, who quick-wittedly had saved her from her attackers by claiming she was his wife. He called her a thief; she knew him a liar, yet fate made them traveling companions -- and she would journey with him to the ends of the earth...

Genres: Historical Romance

460 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1983

Reviews

[Chrisangel]

I don't usually read books set in medieval days, but since I liked "Silk and Splendor", I thought I'd try another one by the author.

It wasn't a bad story, but it was too drawn out, one of those books that could have said it all in about 100 pages less. My favorite part was the beginning, when Aylsaun and Brand first meet, the misunderstandings, accusations, sparks, etc., and then their (at first fake and then real) marriage, and all the passion that goes with it.

I didn't appreciate the conflict Ms. Zide set up, with the OM/Villain forcing Aylsaun to annul her marriage to Brand and marry him, in order to save his life, and then Aylsaun having to endure his raping her, while pregnant with Brand's baby. GROSS!!!

There was also a horrible scene, where this same repulsive excuse for a man forces himself on another woman (out of frustrated lust for Aylsaun) who recently had a baby, and drinks the milk from her breast, and she likes it!! She even offers him the other breast!! If you were to ask any woman who's breastfeeding, if some strange man broke into her home and started sucking at her breast and drinking her milk if she'd enjoy it and offer him more, she'd either laugh in your face, or spit in it, or suggest you pay an extended visit to a mental hospital. HOW IN THE WORLD COULD A WOMAN WRITE SUCH TRASH??? Unless this is one of those male HR authors who uses a woman's pen name? Call me sexist, but that would make more sense.

The book took a turn for the silly when, after getting back together and being happy for two years, Brand goes off to battle (what else, in those days?), is missing and presumed dead, a still grieving Aylsaun is kidnapped two years later and taken to a harem, and becomes the property of a man who looks.....

Let's just say: Guess who has amnesia?

This could have been a much better book, I wish Ms. Zide had taken more time to rethink some stuff and edit some others.

[Morena]

When I want to read a popcorn book, it doesn't mean I am OK breaking my teeth on cornophans. This ripper was full of such mind breaking kernels.

the heroine becomes more tolerable once she is married to Brand or whatever his name. I liked that Brand wasn't as obsessed with her as the rest of the men in the story. I also liked the introduction of Alysaun's Saxon, savior, Esmond, who turned out to be a perv. Still that didn't save the book from the contrived plot riddled with unpopped corn. It made zero sense why Alysaun and Brand stayed at Esmond's homestead considering the ills that had passed between them and Esmond and E's mom. My patience cup was drained after Esmond got rid of Brand so he could have Alysaun for himself, and Alysaun, this self-rightous leech, stayed with Esmond acting like his wife, rather than get the fuck away from him, and join Hereward or take holy vows. But I guess being raped by a perv like Esmond was better for ALysaun Leech than seeking sanctuary in a convent.

[Aditya /]

The author has some exquisite vocabulary at times, and paints a very high level of realism into her work. At times I fell in love with the characters and *some* parts of the story. However, large portions of the story, especially the last 1/3 are repugnant, and this book is filled with huge amounts unrealistically negative portrayals of men as a gender. If it were not for the loathsome last 1/3 of the book, I might have been able to recommend it. Unfortunately, the author's talent was wasted with what I viewed as running out of steam for writing a good story, and perhaps (I only guess) reflecting some negative real life experiences with men. This book is really an epic love story, in the literal sense of the word epic. I loved the sweeping storyline and the intricacy with which characters were depicted, but I can't accept the flaws described above.