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Sons of the North #2
The Iron Princess
A Sons of the North Romance novel from Sandra Lake, author of The Warlord’s Wife, who takes readers to 12th-century Scandinavia where two hearts clash in furious passion…
The daughter of a Northern warlord, Katia is known as the Iron Princess for her mettle in battle. Headstrong and defiant, she instigates sword duels on a whim with little regard for her own safety. Katia would rather die on her feet as a warrior than live as a token wife and child bearer for a husband who keeps her castled as if she were a prisoner.
Lothair is the illegitimate son of the Duke of Saxony, who was granted the title of baron, a castle and lands. Raised in an atmosphere of mistrust and deceit, he rejects the concept of husbandry and wants a life of purpose and sacrifice in the pursuit of security for the Baltic Sea.
And when fate brings the Iron Princess and reluctant baron together, Katia and Lothair discover they are kindred spirits with fiery temperaments—and insatiable desires—to match…
The daughter of a Northern warlord, Katia is known as the Iron Princess for her mettle in battle. Headstrong and defiant, she instigates sword duels on a whim with little regard for her own safety. Katia would rather die on her feet as a warrior than live as a token wife and child bearer for a husband who keeps her castled as if she were a prisoner.
Lothair is the illegitimate son of the Duke of Saxony, who was granted the title of baron, a castle and lands. Raised in an atmosphere of mistrust and deceit, he rejects the concept of husbandry and wants a life of purpose and sacrifice in the pursuit of security for the Baltic Sea.
And when fate brings the Iron Princess and reluctant baron together, Katia and Lothair discover they are kindred spirits with fiery temperaments—and insatiable desires—to match…
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2015
45 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Lake
3 books41 followersBerkley Romance/InterMix published Sandra Lake's debut historical romance, The Warlord's Wife in March 2015. The Iron Princess, book 2 in the Sons of the North series, is set for release June 16, 2015.
Sandra Lake was raised in rural Canada and married her childhood sweetheart (who at times was more like her childhood nemesis). They are currently living happily-ever-after along with their sons and unruly husky.
Sandra Lake was raised in rural Canada and married her childhood sweetheart (who at times was more like her childhood nemesis). They are currently living happily-ever-after along with their sons and unruly husky.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 14, 2015
I would like to thank Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP for an ARC of this book.
First off I love the cover of this book. I think it's just beautiful!
The beginning of the book was great with Katia, the princess, dressing up as a boy and fighting in the duels they had at the castle. I thought this was going to be a story about another strong woman.
Her stepfather, the King, Jarl Magnus didn't have a problem with her learning sword fighting and he and her mom didn't plan on pawning her off to the best man to marry, they were going to let her make this decision. I thought her family were really cool in this regard for back in those days. And the King treated her like his own daughter. She had I think 5 brothers. I lost count as they weren't dominate characters in the book.
Now even though the King didn't mind her learning the sword, he did not want her participating in any duels etc. She had a sword master named Rikard. She had all of her guards, her best friend Tosha and Rikard to say nothing so she can fight in the games. They were all against it of course and only agreed to let her if she gave up when it got bad. She holds her own pretty good but gets a good blow and makes everyone freak and want to attack the poor man that had no idea who he was fighting. He was livid when he found out and thought she was stupid. This is where she meets the man she decides is the love of her life. This would be Lothair.
So that's all of the spoiler ish I'm going to say about the book. It goes on that Katia takes off with Tosha to be a spy on Andrei. She wants to prove to her stepfather that she can help in missions and things. So, this doesn't bode well and she almost gets them killed, but Lothair is there to save them with his men.
This leads to a mission of getting them back home safe and sound. There is a lot of running from people, a few bloody fights, and a lot of irritation from Katia. From the point when they were saved she did a few good things helping out but she whined too much for me. The love of her and Lothair takes up the whole rest of the book with a few other things thrown in.
I did like the book, I loved the time frame, I loved the idea of a heroine, the landscape, but it just needed a little bit less of Katia being a brat!
I would like to go back and read the first one and read any more in the series to see what all happens.
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
First off I love the cover of this book. I think it's just beautiful!
The beginning of the book was great with Katia, the princess, dressing up as a boy and fighting in the duels they had at the castle. I thought this was going to be a story about another strong woman.
Her stepfather, the King, Jarl Magnus didn't have a problem with her learning sword fighting and he and her mom didn't plan on pawning her off to the best man to marry, they were going to let her make this decision. I thought her family were really cool in this regard for back in those days. And the King treated her like his own daughter. She had I think 5 brothers. I lost count as they weren't dominate characters in the book.
Now even though the King didn't mind her learning the sword, he did not want her participating in any duels etc. She had a sword master named Rikard. She had all of her guards, her best friend Tosha and Rikard to say nothing so she can fight in the games. They were all against it of course and only agreed to let her if she gave up when it got bad. She holds her own pretty good but gets a good blow and makes everyone freak and want to attack the poor man that had no idea who he was fighting. He was livid when he found out and thought she was stupid. This is where she meets the man she decides is the love of her life. This would be Lothair.
So that's all of the spoiler ish I'm going to say about the book. It goes on that Katia takes off with Tosha to be a spy on Andrei. She wants to prove to her stepfather that she can help in missions and things. So, this doesn't bode well and she almost gets them killed, but Lothair is there to save them with his men.
This leads to a mission of getting them back home safe and sound. There is a lot of running from people, a few bloody fights, and a lot of irritation from Katia. From the point when they were saved she did a few good things helping out but she whined too much for me. The love of her and Lothair takes up the whole rest of the book with a few other things thrown in.
I did like the book, I loved the time frame, I loved the idea of a heroine, the landscape, but it just needed a little bit less of Katia being a brat!
I would like to go back and read the first one and read any more in the series to see what all happens.
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
June 19, 2015
The iron princess literally ran straight to wherever the trouble was at every turn. So that provided for a lot of action and fighting. The romance was cute, although it wasn't until after more than half the book was done that Lothair finally realized he had true feelings for Katia. The sex scenes were hot, but didn't happen until more towards the end. Katia's need to be a hero and save everyone made me want to smack her silly more than a few times, but overall a good book.
July 26, 2016
Rhaaaaa Lothaiiiiire *coeur coeur coeur*
Le pauvre aussi, Katia c'est pas un cadeau xD elle fonce tête la première dans tous les dangers possible et heureusement qu'il est là pour la sauver xD
Le pauvre aussi, Katia c'est pas un cadeau xD elle fonce tête la première dans tous les dangers possible et heureusement qu'il est là pour la sauver xD
July 27, 2015
The Iron Princess
I very much enjoyed reading The Iron Princess by Sandra Lake. I honestly had a difficult time putting the book down as Katia threw herself blindly into one adventure after another. Who wouldn't want to keep reading to see what she'd do next and find out how she planned, or didn't plan, to execute her next mission. The characters each had a depth to their personality making them seem real. The spirited Katia is such a believable character, that you almost couldn't help but feel for not only her, but Lothair. I am not very familiar with this particular time period in history as this was my first Viking novel, but the amount of research going into this book had to have been very in depth including the political landscape of the time. If you enjoy romance, anything to do with the Vikings, and complex characters, I think you would really reading "The Iron Princess" as much as I did. Reviews are always difficult for me since I try so hard not to give away too much of the story and spoil the reading for others, but would like to let other readers know how entrancing I found this book to be. The attention to detail was amazing to me also. Read it for yourself and see what you think. I couldn't help but mentally compare the personality of this Katia with my grand-daughter Katya. Lol Mine is impulsive also, so I'm sure parenting has to be a challenge. Fantastic Read in my opinion.
I very much enjoyed reading The Iron Princess by Sandra Lake. I honestly had a difficult time putting the book down as Katia threw herself blindly into one adventure after another. Who wouldn't want to keep reading to see what she'd do next and find out how she planned, or didn't plan, to execute her next mission. The characters each had a depth to their personality making them seem real. The spirited Katia is such a believable character, that you almost couldn't help but feel for not only her, but Lothair. I am not very familiar with this particular time period in history as this was my first Viking novel, but the amount of research going into this book had to have been very in depth including the political landscape of the time. If you enjoy romance, anything to do with the Vikings, and complex characters, I think you would really reading "The Iron Princess" as much as I did. Reviews are always difficult for me since I try so hard not to give away too much of the story and spoil the reading for others, but would like to let other readers know how entrancing I found this book to be. The attention to detail was amazing to me also. Read it for yourself and see what you think. I couldn't help but mentally compare the personality of this Katia with my grand-daughter Katya. Lol Mine is impulsive also, so I'm sure parenting has to be a challenge. Fantastic Read in my opinion.
June 17, 2015
Originally posted at Smexy Books
http://smexybooks.com/2015/06/review-...
I enjoyed book one of this series, The Warlord’s Wife. A witty antagonistic based romance that pits a strong-willed heroine against an equally strong-willed and grumpy hero. Their journey to happily ever after is filled with bickering, dithering, drama, a few misunderstandings, some very lovely groveling, and steamy make up sex. I fully expected book two to hold a similar appeal for me. Well written, action packed, and expertly revealed as book one, I had high hopes that this installment would also leave me fully satisfied.
Unfortunately, the heroine, Katia, made it very hard for me to enjoy. I’m all for a character experiencing growing pains as they follow their path to their destiny but this heroine never learns from her mistakes. And these are life threatening mistakes. From the beginning to the very end she leaps from pot to fire over and over and over again.
We first met Katia in book one as a child. She is Lida’s daughter from another marriage and was the key factor in Lida agreeing to marry the Jerl. The Jerl grows to love Katia unconditionally and she becomes his princess. Now years later, Katia is all grown up and looking for some adventure of her own. Strong, willful, and resourceful, Katia is fully trained as a shield maiden and wants the same rights as the warriors under her father. When she is denied this, she takes matters into her own hands. Joining in a show of strength at a local fair, she comes close to losing her head when she pits herself against a much stronger opponent.
Her opponent, Baron Lothair, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Saxony, is not amused by Katia’s deception and proceeds to artfully put her in her place. When Katia begins to make cow eyes at him, Lothair knows he’s in trouble. Raised in a household where his birth but not his mother was held high esteem, Lothair has no use for marriage. All he wants is to sail the Baltic Sea and keep it safe from marauders and enemy forces. Katia is a distraction he has no need for.
In the beginning, I enjoyed Katia’s independence and snarky nature. She was given every opportunity any male would have been given (to an extent) so her strength, skill, and intelligence is to be expected. However, as time went on, I grew to loathe her. While I could understand her desires-who doesn’t want to be in charge of their own destiny and strive to become more than an ornament to decorate some man’s arm and bed-her youth and upbringing is a flaw. She runs roughshod over everyone-never thinking of the danger to herself or those tasked with keeping her safe. Her overly privileged life had her truly believing all she had to do was bat her eyes or smile her “special smile” and all would be forgiven. She rebels against her femininity yet at the same time uses it to get her way. She was selfish, manipulative, impulsive, and never learned from her mistakes. Her need to do what she wanted to prove her worth on the battlefield often placed her directly under the blade of the knife and of course she had to be saved by someone. Every. Single. Time.
For example: Katia lies to her family when she takes a detour from a summer vacation to go spy in enemy territory. She is convinced her father has no idea people are plotting war with him. Only SHE can find the enemy’s plans and save her people. She takes her best friend with her and they pose as serving girls-not thinking that in this era, serving girls were almost always viewed as prostitutes and the victims of multiple rapes in less than stellar households. Only when she almost falls victim to an overzealous soldier who refuses to take no for an answer does it hit her that she and her bff could be raped and murdered and no one will ever know what happened to them. Luckily, Lothair and his friends appear and rescue her and her friend but her overzealous actions continue to place them all in danger. Her moment of clarity finally arrives but only at the very end of the story.
*facepalm*
The romance has a strong foothold in the story, blending well with the various subplots as Katia and Lothair bicker and exchange barbed quips on their way to true love. Similar to Katia’s parent’s story-except in here the groom is the reluctant one-this couple has to work hard to find any common ground. Easier said than done when one denies their attraction and one keeps running off to “save the world.” I loved that Lothair sees right through her manipulations and called her on them. He tries to teach her the art of listening and compromise but it never seems to take. Political intrigue and deception back the tension fraught action scenes and bloody battles; helping to take my attention from Katia and her increasingly irritating actions.
A familiar set of faces make up a solid secondary cast of characters; along with some new ones. Jerl Marcus and his wife try to reign Katia in, explaining over and over and over just how dangerous her actions are. Katia’s grandmother spout random quotes at odd times while Lothair’s friends offer humor and advice to try to help him deal with her feelings for Katia.
While I enjoy the historical background of this particular series, intriguing arc, and the vibrant characters and subplots that inhabit it; I found this one took heroine too far down the rabbit hole and wasn’t able to redeem her in my eyes.
RATING: C-
http://smexybooks.com/2015/06/review-...
I enjoyed book one of this series, The Warlord’s Wife. A witty antagonistic based romance that pits a strong-willed heroine against an equally strong-willed and grumpy hero. Their journey to happily ever after is filled with bickering, dithering, drama, a few misunderstandings, some very lovely groveling, and steamy make up sex. I fully expected book two to hold a similar appeal for me. Well written, action packed, and expertly revealed as book one, I had high hopes that this installment would also leave me fully satisfied.
Unfortunately, the heroine, Katia, made it very hard for me to enjoy. I’m all for a character experiencing growing pains as they follow their path to their destiny but this heroine never learns from her mistakes. And these are life threatening mistakes. From the beginning to the very end she leaps from pot to fire over and over and over again.
We first met Katia in book one as a child. She is Lida’s daughter from another marriage and was the key factor in Lida agreeing to marry the Jerl. The Jerl grows to love Katia unconditionally and she becomes his princess. Now years later, Katia is all grown up and looking for some adventure of her own. Strong, willful, and resourceful, Katia is fully trained as a shield maiden and wants the same rights as the warriors under her father. When she is denied this, she takes matters into her own hands. Joining in a show of strength at a local fair, she comes close to losing her head when she pits herself against a much stronger opponent.
Her opponent, Baron Lothair, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Saxony, is not amused by Katia’s deception and proceeds to artfully put her in her place. When Katia begins to make cow eyes at him, Lothair knows he’s in trouble. Raised in a household where his birth but not his mother was held high esteem, Lothair has no use for marriage. All he wants is to sail the Baltic Sea and keep it safe from marauders and enemy forces. Katia is a distraction he has no need for.
In the beginning, I enjoyed Katia’s independence and snarky nature. She was given every opportunity any male would have been given (to an extent) so her strength, skill, and intelligence is to be expected. However, as time went on, I grew to loathe her. While I could understand her desires-who doesn’t want to be in charge of their own destiny and strive to become more than an ornament to decorate some man’s arm and bed-her youth and upbringing is a flaw. She runs roughshod over everyone-never thinking of the danger to herself or those tasked with keeping her safe. Her overly privileged life had her truly believing all she had to do was bat her eyes or smile her “special smile” and all would be forgiven. She rebels against her femininity yet at the same time uses it to get her way. She was selfish, manipulative, impulsive, and never learned from her mistakes. Her need to do what she wanted to prove her worth on the battlefield often placed her directly under the blade of the knife and of course she had to be saved by someone. Every. Single. Time.
For example: Katia lies to her family when she takes a detour from a summer vacation to go spy in enemy territory. She is convinced her father has no idea people are plotting war with him. Only SHE can find the enemy’s plans and save her people. She takes her best friend with her and they pose as serving girls-not thinking that in this era, serving girls were almost always viewed as prostitutes and the victims of multiple rapes in less than stellar households. Only when she almost falls victim to an overzealous soldier who refuses to take no for an answer does it hit her that she and her bff could be raped and murdered and no one will ever know what happened to them. Luckily, Lothair and his friends appear and rescue her and her friend but her overzealous actions continue to place them all in danger. Her moment of clarity finally arrives but only at the very end of the story.
*facepalm*
The romance has a strong foothold in the story, blending well with the various subplots as Katia and Lothair bicker and exchange barbed quips on their way to true love. Similar to Katia’s parent’s story-except in here the groom is the reluctant one-this couple has to work hard to find any common ground. Easier said than done when one denies their attraction and one keeps running off to “save the world.” I loved that Lothair sees right through her manipulations and called her on them. He tries to teach her the art of listening and compromise but it never seems to take. Political intrigue and deception back the tension fraught action scenes and bloody battles; helping to take my attention from Katia and her increasingly irritating actions.
A familiar set of faces make up a solid secondary cast of characters; along with some new ones. Jerl Marcus and his wife try to reign Katia in, explaining over and over and over just how dangerous her actions are. Katia’s grandmother spout random quotes at odd times while Lothair’s friends offer humor and advice to try to help him deal with her feelings for Katia.
While I enjoy the historical background of this particular series, intriguing arc, and the vibrant characters and subplots that inhabit it; I found this one took heroine too far down the rabbit hole and wasn’t able to redeem her in my eyes.
RATING: C-
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2015
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.
**This is a DNF review**
Damn and blast. I loved the first book in the Sons of the North series, The Warlord's Wife, so much that I thought for sure I'd love this one. Although I still love this author's writing, this particular book wasn't for me.
I guess my main, overall issue with this book was that I was bored to tears reading it. I have no interest in Anglo-Saxon/Viking history and politics and I would say that the majority of was I read in this book was focused on those topics. I got to the 36% mark and almost all of that was the main characters espousing their views politics, explanations of politics and political alliances, what those alliances might mean, and fears about an upcoming war. Most of it was probably supposed to look like character building but I had no enjoyment of it. Plus, there was little to no romance as far as what I read.
Another issues I had, although much more minor, was that Katia, the heroine, who is the daughter of the aforementioned Warlord's Wife, was just a little girl in Book 1. And I loved her character. But here, at the start of this book, she's 16 years old. I don't care for such huge time jumps between books. Also, I don't want to read about the desires and crushes of a teenaged girl, tomboy or not. I totally understand that back in the time this book was set, 16 years old was definitely old enough to be married and to have a kid but not in THIS day and I have no desire to read about a 16 year old as if she were an adult.
I didn't find the hero very likable but I have no doubt that he would have been better as the book progressed. But at least he was 18 years old at the start of The Iron Princess. Of course, I actively dislike Young Adult and New Adult books so it wouldn't have helped with my liking of this book in any case.
This book just wasn't for me. I think readers who like politics and spy games might enjoy this book. To be totally honest, I had no desire to even read Katia's story. She was one of the great things about Book 1 but she just wasn't quite interesting enough to hold my attention for an entire book. I was hoping more for Hok's book but it looks like that won't happen if the author has skipped ahead 10 years or so from the time of Book 1. I hate to say it but I was just entirely too bored to continue on and finish this book. But I still love this author's writing and will absolutely check out whatever she does next!
**This is a DNF review**
Damn and blast. I loved the first book in the Sons of the North series, The Warlord's Wife, so much that I thought for sure I'd love this one. Although I still love this author's writing, this particular book wasn't for me.
I guess my main, overall issue with this book was that I was bored to tears reading it. I have no interest in Anglo-Saxon/Viking history and politics and I would say that the majority of was I read in this book was focused on those topics. I got to the 36% mark and almost all of that was the main characters espousing their views politics, explanations of politics and political alliances, what those alliances might mean, and fears about an upcoming war. Most of it was probably supposed to look like character building but I had no enjoyment of it. Plus, there was little to no romance as far as what I read.
Another issues I had, although much more minor, was that Katia, the heroine, who is the daughter of the aforementioned Warlord's Wife, was just a little girl in Book 1. And I loved her character. But here, at the start of this book, she's 16 years old. I don't care for such huge time jumps between books. Also, I don't want to read about the desires and crushes of a teenaged girl, tomboy or not. I totally understand that back in the time this book was set, 16 years old was definitely old enough to be married and to have a kid but not in THIS day and I have no desire to read about a 16 year old as if she were an adult.
I didn't find the hero very likable but I have no doubt that he would have been better as the book progressed. But at least he was 18 years old at the start of The Iron Princess. Of course, I actively dislike Young Adult and New Adult books so it wouldn't have helped with my liking of this book in any case.
This book just wasn't for me. I think readers who like politics and spy games might enjoy this book. To be totally honest, I had no desire to even read Katia's story. She was one of the great things about Book 1 but she just wasn't quite interesting enough to hold my attention for an entire book. I was hoping more for Hok's book but it looks like that won't happen if the author has skipped ahead 10 years or so from the time of Book 1. I hate to say it but I was just entirely too bored to continue on and finish this book. But I still love this author's writing and will absolutely check out whatever she does next!
September 25, 2015
I can safely say that I enjoyed the first book more than the second book. Our heroine the first time round was a sensible young woman, and in the first chapters our heroine this time round - Katia - seemed like a likable heroine as well. But unfortunately, everything went downhill from there on. By the time I reached the final pages, I was very certain that Katia was a very spoiled brat (even if she was 19 and should be considered an adult by that time's standards) and I wouldn't want anything to do with her. Ever.
The second flaw I had with this book, had to do with historical accuracy. While I'm no expert on Swedish, Danish, or German history, I do know when something's off with Estonian historical details. I wouldn't even rant here, if it weren't for the fact that these errors were mentioned not once, not twice, but several times throughout the entire book. First of all, Estonia's now-capital Tallinn was NOT called Tallinn in the 1160's, especially in Scandinavia. It was called Lindanäs and surely one could discover this fact by using a simple Google search. The second grave mistake in my eyes, was calling Estonia Estonia. Estonia was not a unified country back then. We had several counties and we were not united by a single banner. And the third mistake, was calling an Estonian Bercik. Bercik is in no way an Estonian name, and that mistake could be rectified by using a Google search engine or any other if you don't like Google...
My rant continues HERE.
The second flaw I had with this book, had to do with historical accuracy. While I'm no expert on Swedish, Danish, or German history, I do know when something's off with Estonian historical details. I wouldn't even rant here, if it weren't for the fact that these errors were mentioned not once, not twice, but several times throughout the entire book. First of all, Estonia's now-capital Tallinn was NOT called Tallinn in the 1160's, especially in Scandinavia. It was called Lindanäs and surely one could discover this fact by using a simple Google search. The second grave mistake in my eyes, was calling Estonia Estonia. Estonia was not a unified country back then. We had several counties and we were not united by a single banner. And the third mistake, was calling an Estonian Bercik. Bercik is in no way an Estonian name, and that mistake could be rectified by using a Google search engine or any other if you don't like Google...
My rant continues HERE.
July 8, 2015
Brilliant and Creative Writing! Adventurous and Love Inspiring!
Wow, this has to be the best Viking Romances I have ever read. I am blown away. This author has definitely got talent with weaving a story. I was so enthralled with the story I couldn't put it down. It was so visually enhanced and emotionally thrilling. The character building is so addicting that you actually become enamored of all the action, adventures, and un-denying love between the main characters Katia and Lothair.
I loved the first story in the series and recommend you read it (The Warlords Wife) before reading this one in order to get a full understanding of Katia's background. Though it is not necessary because it works great as a stand alone but you will get a more detail regarding her family and origins.
The love scenes were sweet and tender but got the point across. 1 flame
In my opinion this is a BEST SELLING AUTHOR and I put her right up there with Diana Gabaldon. Brilliant and Creative Writer!
I highly recommend this to all Historical Romance Readers and I look forward to reading more of Sandra Lakes's writing.
Excellent Read!
Wow, this has to be the best Viking Romances I have ever read. I am blown away. This author has definitely got talent with weaving a story. I was so enthralled with the story I couldn't put it down. It was so visually enhanced and emotionally thrilling. The character building is so addicting that you actually become enamored of all the action, adventures, and un-denying love between the main characters Katia and Lothair.
I loved the first story in the series and recommend you read it (The Warlords Wife) before reading this one in order to get a full understanding of Katia's background. Though it is not necessary because it works great as a stand alone but you will get a more detail regarding her family and origins.
The love scenes were sweet and tender but got the point across. 1 flame
In my opinion this is a BEST SELLING AUTHOR and I put her right up there with Diana Gabaldon. Brilliant and Creative Writer!
I highly recommend this to all Historical Romance Readers and I look forward to reading more of Sandra Lakes's writing.
Excellent Read!
June 20, 2015
Wonderful story
I read several books a week and usually it is a so so book. One I never cars to read again. This is full of adventure. Read Her mothers book first.
I read several books a week and usually it is a so so book. One I never cars to read again. This is full of adventure. Read Her mothers book first.
November 29, 2022
Also A Wonderful Story!
I really enjoyed this book. Katia and Lothair. I called him Luther. They sure went through hell and back to be together. I loved the characters and storyline so much. He came to his senses and realized he could be happy with a wife. I loved the way they ended but I want more lol. I wanted to reach through my iPad and strangle the Prince and her half brother’s half sister. Dumb woman!! On to the last book. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💜💜💜💜💜
I really enjoyed this book. Katia and Lothair. I called him Luther. They sure went through hell and back to be together. I loved the characters and storyline so much. He came to his senses and realized he could be happy with a wife. I loved the way they ended but I want more lol. I wanted to reach through my iPad and strangle the Prince and her half brother’s half sister. Dumb woman!! On to the last book. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💜💜💜💜💜
December 18, 2019
Not as good as the first, but still very cute. I sometimes felt confused by the change in perspective. Sometimes there was a "***" to show the change but sometimes it changed from one paragraph to the next.
July 14, 2021
Annoying heroine
Don't know why I didn't return this book..The most annoying, immature heroine I've ever read..never thought of the consequences of her foolish actions, her husband deserved better..
Don't know why I didn't return this book..The most annoying, immature heroine I've ever read..never thought of the consequences of her foolish actions, her husband deserved better..
January 28, 2018
4.5stars
November 25, 2018
She was an irritating character but loved the story over all. Amazing!
May 1, 2020
I enjoyed reading. It was not as good as the first one.
August 12, 2021
Too much
Maria was too much for me. She was headstrong, and any trouble to be found she would find it. Good read
Maria was too much for me. She was headstrong, and any trouble to be found she would find it. Good read
August 23, 2025
5 stars!!
Another wonderful book by this author! I'm so glad that we got to see the characters from her last book as well as learn The fate of their cherished daughter. 5 stars A+
Another wonderful book by this author! I'm so glad that we got to see the characters from her last book as well as learn The fate of their cherished daughter. 5 stars A+
October 13, 2025
I would almost say it is better than the first book in the series… I was definitely very drawn in and could not put it down.
October 16, 2016
Excellent plot, consistent characterization (yes even if the heroine will drive you batty often with her hell bent go forth without thinking attitude). There are a lot of historical facts thrown into the mix so if you are not really big on those you might find this book dragging. However the romance was very good with believable timelines and plotting.
August 25, 2015
I did not read the first book in this series, but I went into this book with the hopes that it could be read as a stand alone book. I had no issues reading this book as a stand alone. I did not feel like I missed out on a lot. From my understanding, the main character in this book is the daughter of the woman in the first book. So, I do think this book can be read as a stand alone. However, readers might enjoy this book even more if they read the other book in this series first.
The first couple chapters of this book were really engrossing. I found the first chapters to be action packed and interesting. However, the book quickly got very slow. There was a lot of political talk in this book. I loved the historical setting, but I really had no interest learning about the politics in depth. I found those parts were slow and uninteresting for me. I enjoyed the book where there was a lot action and romance. The political conversations just seemed slow and it made the plot drag. The parts of this book that had action and romance were really addictive. I thought the author did a really good job with those scenes.
The main character in this book, Katia, was a really strong female. I loved how she stood up for what she believed in and wanted to be more than a pretty face. However, she sometimes came off as an immature brat. There were times when I wanted to tell her to shut up and just listen to those around her. She also just caused unnecessary drama with her bratty ways at times. I wish there would have been more character development with her. I also wish she didn't pick as many fights as she did with Lothair. I felt like they were constantly fighting. I love a romance were the characters hate each other at first, but then fall in love. However, the arguments in the book seemed to last the entire book. I was annoyed with both Katia and Lothair because they would tell each other half truths or just argue for what felt like no reason.
When Katia and Lothair were not fighting, I found myself really enjoying their relationship. I loved the way they met, and I also really enjoyed where their relationship left off at the end of the book. The romance was paced nicely so it did not feel like insta-love. It definitely took some time for them to completely fall in love with each other. I thought the author did great job with that. I also really enjoyed the action within this book, especially whenever Katia was kicking booty. I loved reading the scenes were Katia was showing off her sword skills.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I think readers who enjoy historical romances will really love this book. Sure, there were things that I disliked about this book, but I did like the book as a whole. I would be interested in reading other books in this series if Sandra writes more.
3.5 / 5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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*This ebook was given to me in exchange for a honest review.*
The first couple chapters of this book were really engrossing. I found the first chapters to be action packed and interesting. However, the book quickly got very slow. There was a lot of political talk in this book. I loved the historical setting, but I really had no interest learning about the politics in depth. I found those parts were slow and uninteresting for me. I enjoyed the book where there was a lot action and romance. The political conversations just seemed slow and it made the plot drag. The parts of this book that had action and romance were really addictive. I thought the author did a really good job with those scenes.
The main character in this book, Katia, was a really strong female. I loved how she stood up for what she believed in and wanted to be more than a pretty face. However, she sometimes came off as an immature brat. There were times when I wanted to tell her to shut up and just listen to those around her. She also just caused unnecessary drama with her bratty ways at times. I wish there would have been more character development with her. I also wish she didn't pick as many fights as she did with Lothair. I felt like they were constantly fighting. I love a romance were the characters hate each other at first, but then fall in love. However, the arguments in the book seemed to last the entire book. I was annoyed with both Katia and Lothair because they would tell each other half truths or just argue for what felt like no reason.
When Katia and Lothair were not fighting, I found myself really enjoying their relationship. I loved the way they met, and I also really enjoyed where their relationship left off at the end of the book. The romance was paced nicely so it did not feel like insta-love. It definitely took some time for them to completely fall in love with each other. I thought the author did great job with that. I also really enjoyed the action within this book, especially whenever Katia was kicking booty. I loved reading the scenes were Katia was showing off her sword skills.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I think readers who enjoy historical romances will really love this book. Sure, there were things that I disliked about this book, but I did like the book as a whole. I would be interested in reading other books in this series if Sandra writes more.
3.5 / 5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for a honest review.*
April 23, 2016
The Iron Princess (Sons of the North #2)
By: Sandra Lake
5/5 stars
Katia is the daughter of Lida and the adopted daughter of Jarl Magnus. She has been the apple of both her mother & father’s eyes for many years. She was always indulged since Magnus could never say no to her. She was brought up learning how to protect herself and being able to wield a sword like a shield-maiden. Her mind also works in ways that men don’t believe that women are able to think. But this also causes her to be dissatisfied with her lot in life. She wants to be in on the strategy planning meetings and help in any way that she can. But women were not allowed in those meetings or even, generally consulted.
Lothair, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Saxony, was passed off as the son of the Duke’s barren sister and her husband. Thus he was granted the title of Baron, lands and wealth as an heir. He met a young Katia in Tronscar when he had wild ideas about living on the Baltic Sea and protecting the lands from pirates. But one thing he never wanted was to be a husband because of all the lies & deceit that he had grown up with. But Katia did stir something in him, but it was something that he smothered because he respected her & her father too much.
Five years later, Lothair and his principles have changed greatly and he has become even more cynical. One thing that hasn’t changed is his idea about marriage. But Katia is even more daring, brave and challenging the older she has gotten. Now, most of the time, her plans were hasty, ill-conceived and ill-advised. She usually just found herself in more trouble than what would have happened if she hadn’t tried to intervene. Yes, this sometimes did get annoying and you just wanted to shake some sense into her. Also, I always imagined shield-maidens to be more ruthless and less prone to foolhardiness. But that could just be Viking lore in my mind.
As it ends up, Lothair spends most of his time rescuing and saving Katia on her ill-conceived journey. Lothair is generally annoyed with Katia and her inability to trust him to keep her safe and her instinct to run headlong into danger. But Lothair develops an attraction to Katia and it is unnerving to him. For one, he never planned on wanting anything more from a woman and two, she is the daughter of Jarl Magnus, whom he both respects and fears. Katia has nursed her unrequited love for Lothair for over 5 years. But while on the long road home, they develop as friends to something deeper.
I loved Katia’s story and I’m glad that I took a chance on this author. I’ really looking forward to more work from this author.
By: Sandra Lake
5/5 stars
Katia is the daughter of Lida and the adopted daughter of Jarl Magnus. She has been the apple of both her mother & father’s eyes for many years. She was always indulged since Magnus could never say no to her. She was brought up learning how to protect herself and being able to wield a sword like a shield-maiden. Her mind also works in ways that men don’t believe that women are able to think. But this also causes her to be dissatisfied with her lot in life. She wants to be in on the strategy planning meetings and help in any way that she can. But women were not allowed in those meetings or even, generally consulted.
Lothair, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Saxony, was passed off as the son of the Duke’s barren sister and her husband. Thus he was granted the title of Baron, lands and wealth as an heir. He met a young Katia in Tronscar when he had wild ideas about living on the Baltic Sea and protecting the lands from pirates. But one thing he never wanted was to be a husband because of all the lies & deceit that he had grown up with. But Katia did stir something in him, but it was something that he smothered because he respected her & her father too much.
Five years later, Lothair and his principles have changed greatly and he has become even more cynical. One thing that hasn’t changed is his idea about marriage. But Katia is even more daring, brave and challenging the older she has gotten. Now, most of the time, her plans were hasty, ill-conceived and ill-advised. She usually just found herself in more trouble than what would have happened if she hadn’t tried to intervene. Yes, this sometimes did get annoying and you just wanted to shake some sense into her. Also, I always imagined shield-maidens to be more ruthless and less prone to foolhardiness. But that could just be Viking lore in my mind.
As it ends up, Lothair spends most of his time rescuing and saving Katia on her ill-conceived journey. Lothair is generally annoyed with Katia and her inability to trust him to keep her safe and her instinct to run headlong into danger. But Lothair develops an attraction to Katia and it is unnerving to him. For one, he never planned on wanting anything more from a woman and two, she is the daughter of Jarl Magnus, whom he both respects and fears. Katia has nursed her unrequited love for Lothair for over 5 years. But while on the long road home, they develop as friends to something deeper.
I loved Katia’s story and I’m glad that I took a chance on this author. I’ really looking forward to more work from this author.
September 5, 2015
This is a interesting book. You have a young princess who doesn’t really fit into her role. She wants to be more. She wants to help her family by being a warrior. Katia is a stubborn, strong young woman who believes that there is more to her than becoming a wife to a prince. She starts out not wanting to be married and in some ways she is a spoiled girl. She is hot tempered as well. Katia meets Lothair when she is deceptive so she may be join in the sword competition against the men of Saxony. Lothair is just as stubborn and headstrong as Katia. He doesn’t believe in love and marriage due to the way his mom is treated by his dad. He wants to find his way in the world but isn’t sure how. They are both good people just stuck in societal roles they wish not to be in.
When they meet it is tense and wrought with the undeniable attraction neither wishes to admit to. They argue politics and strategy with one another and for the first time she is a equal. Lothair’s views on women’s roles is opposite of what she is used to. When she does a bold move they realize how they feel but due to again societal pressures nothing comes of it. A few years later they meet again but Lothair is the one that continually saves her. As they go on the treacherous mission to get Katia home they grow closer. Katia wants so badly to help save her home but her feeling for Lothair do becomes more passionate. I love how Lothair stays a gentlemen. these two continuously deny their feelings but get closer to one another. Katia at one moment in a rash decision seals their fate to one another.
Many misunderstandings come from this and Katia feels that yet again her rashness has harmed someone. These two never really discussed their feelings for each other and when Lothair does Katia doesn’t really believe him. she continuously goes off and does things without telling him and this hurts him. He wants to be there for her but she doesn’t truly trust him as he does her. It is heartwrenching when he makes the decision he does after she continuously pushes him away. The ending had me smile.
A story of finding your equal and love with them as they show you respect and trust. Finding your destiny and fighting it but also growing and loving. Finding out who you are and what you want and fighting for it until there is no fight left and than having your destiny find their truths as well. A beautiful fun love story between a feisty rash princess and a baron who think they never want to marry coming together in a fun and spirited and at times dangerous way.
When they meet it is tense and wrought with the undeniable attraction neither wishes to admit to. They argue politics and strategy with one another and for the first time she is a equal. Lothair’s views on women’s roles is opposite of what she is used to. When she does a bold move they realize how they feel but due to again societal pressures nothing comes of it. A few years later they meet again but Lothair is the one that continually saves her. As they go on the treacherous mission to get Katia home they grow closer. Katia wants so badly to help save her home but her feeling for Lothair do becomes more passionate. I love how Lothair stays a gentlemen. these two continuously deny their feelings but get closer to one another. Katia at one moment in a rash decision seals their fate to one another.
Many misunderstandings come from this and Katia feels that yet again her rashness has harmed someone. These two never really discussed their feelings for each other and when Lothair does Katia doesn’t really believe him. she continuously goes off and does things without telling him and this hurts him. He wants to be there for her but she doesn’t truly trust him as he does her. It is heartwrenching when he makes the decision he does after she continuously pushes him away. The ending had me smile.
A story of finding your equal and love with them as they show you respect and trust. Finding your destiny and fighting it but also growing and loving. Finding out who you are and what you want and fighting for it until there is no fight left and than having your destiny find their truths as well. A beautiful fun love story between a feisty rash princess and a baron who think they never want to marry coming together in a fun and spirited and at times dangerous way.
December 1, 2015
Katia - She's a fierce heroine, who often times thinks a few steps ahead of herself without thinking of the danger she puts herself or others in.She was a bit too fearless and had a huge hero complex. She wouldn't be satisfied until she saved the world. She ended up being a damsel in distress more times than she should have, but she entertained me. Like stories with "Anne Boleyn," she was a woman before her time. She had ideas of equality and refused to keep her mouth shut when it was for the best. I suppose if I were born back then, I would have been like that too. A bit less dimwitted though.
Lothair - He can be my hero any day. He had all the characteristics of the man you want to read about in a romance novel. He was hot in the bedroom, tough in battle, brave, charming and a little mysterious. He was a highborn bastard, and struggled with the idea of it, which made him very human. I fell in love with him, and at times felt sorry for him that he had to keep saving his heroine from the stupid ideas that were in her pretty little head. But he did it gracefully. A real virile man, and suited perfectly for the era of the book.
I would like to read a book about his father. He sounded like a very interesting man, and handsome too.
Plot - From the moment I started to read this book it kept me interested, and turning pages. It was very suspenseful. Each scene was well paced, and the author kept them coming. Even toward the end of the book, she pulled out a few more conflicts that may have made the book feel a little too dense, but overall, I think she pulled it off. I was satisfied with the ending, and closed the book smiling.
I liked all of her characters well except for the ones I wasn't suppose to. One scene in particular made my stomach churn, but I thought it was well played by Katia. Without spoiling it for others, I will just use the words, "chicken bones" and you will understand after you read it. ;)
The cover is beautiful. I'm quite happy the person who designed it tried to cover the horned helmet. LOL! I have a thing about that. If you are a Viking fan you will get what I mean.
This book was given as a copy to review by NetGalley, my review is written with honesty and without any ties to the author. I did not receive any monetary gain from doing so.
Lothair - He can be my hero any day. He had all the characteristics of the man you want to read about in a romance novel. He was hot in the bedroom, tough in battle, brave, charming and a little mysterious. He was a highborn bastard, and struggled with the idea of it, which made him very human. I fell in love with him, and at times felt sorry for him that he had to keep saving his heroine from the stupid ideas that were in her pretty little head. But he did it gracefully. A real virile man, and suited perfectly for the era of the book.
I would like to read a book about his father. He sounded like a very interesting man, and handsome too.
Plot - From the moment I started to read this book it kept me interested, and turning pages. It was very suspenseful. Each scene was well paced, and the author kept them coming. Even toward the end of the book, she pulled out a few more conflicts that may have made the book feel a little too dense, but overall, I think she pulled it off. I was satisfied with the ending, and closed the book smiling.
I liked all of her characters well except for the ones I wasn't suppose to. One scene in particular made my stomach churn, but I thought it was well played by Katia. Without spoiling it for others, I will just use the words, "chicken bones" and you will understand after you read it. ;)
The cover is beautiful. I'm quite happy the person who designed it tried to cover the horned helmet. LOL! I have a thing about that. If you are a Viking fan you will get what I mean.
This book was given as a copy to review by NetGalley, my review is written with honesty and without any ties to the author. I did not receive any monetary gain from doing so.
August 24, 2015
I love unconventional romances. There's something fresh and unique about them. I love it when it's a historical romance a little more, just because I read them so sparingly these days. The Iron Princess is definitely one that stands out for a number of reasons. The first is the time period in which it is set and the second is the location. Even better, the story features some characters from a book that precedes it, although you don't have to read it to keep up with what's going on.
Katia is the daughter of a powerful Jarl or warlord and she's received training in combat. She's no weakling. She's smart, brave, and proactive. She doesn't take no for an answer but will find a way to make things happen. I really admired that about her. Katia is also a little reckless even though she's got the best intentions at heart. I loved seeing her try to reconcile her attraction to Lothair and her desire to avoid marriage. It was very entertaining to see which would rule, her heart or her head. When it comes to Lothair, he also has power at his fingertips. He's also a child of nobility but the circumstances of his birth have soured him on his life, something I got. Lothair is looking to do something and finding a wife is not it.
Lothair and Katia are both passionate hot heads, Katia more so. The two butt heads often and it strengthens the tension between them. The two had amazing chemistry and I enjoyed seeing them get along as much as I did seeing them bicker. I think part of the reason that works out so well is because they were thrown together in a high pressure situation. Speaking of which, I loved the history lesson about the politics of the time. I was on edge for a large portion of the book. I wasn't sure what was going to happen and since the story is very fast paced there wasn't much time to stop and ponder what was going to happen next.
I think Sandra Lake has done a wonderful job at crafting a story that's suspenseful, romantic, and entertaining. I read this book in a handful of hours and in one sitting. It didn't matter if I was happy, on edge, angry, or sad, there was no way I could put this book down. My emotions were fully engaged. I don't know how Sandra is going to top this book, but I'm looking forward to it.
Katia is the daughter of a powerful Jarl or warlord and she's received training in combat. She's no weakling. She's smart, brave, and proactive. She doesn't take no for an answer but will find a way to make things happen. I really admired that about her. Katia is also a little reckless even though she's got the best intentions at heart. I loved seeing her try to reconcile her attraction to Lothair and her desire to avoid marriage. It was very entertaining to see which would rule, her heart or her head. When it comes to Lothair, he also has power at his fingertips. He's also a child of nobility but the circumstances of his birth have soured him on his life, something I got. Lothair is looking to do something and finding a wife is not it.
Lothair and Katia are both passionate hot heads, Katia more so. The two butt heads often and it strengthens the tension between them. The two had amazing chemistry and I enjoyed seeing them get along as much as I did seeing them bicker. I think part of the reason that works out so well is because they were thrown together in a high pressure situation. Speaking of which, I loved the history lesson about the politics of the time. I was on edge for a large portion of the book. I wasn't sure what was going to happen and since the story is very fast paced there wasn't much time to stop and ponder what was going to happen next.
I think Sandra Lake has done a wonderful job at crafting a story that's suspenseful, romantic, and entertaining. I read this book in a handful of hours and in one sitting. It didn't matter if I was happy, on edge, angry, or sad, there was no way I could put this book down. My emotions were fully engaged. I don't know how Sandra is going to top this book, but I'm looking forward to it.
July 20, 2015
I won a free copy of this book by being one of the first responders to a post by this author. Normally I read Scottish/English medieval novels so this was a bit of a change for me.
I read some of the other reviews where they lashed out at the heroine in this book, Katia. I didn't see her as a twit running into danger requiring to be rescued. I saw a strong-minded, trained swordswoman who thought she could make a difference in the world by helping her father stay in power. She meets Lothair and falls in love immediately. Lothair has other ideas and wants nothing to do with a wife thinking that his purpose in life is to travel with the hopes of peace but most assuredly finds that battles will commence. He and his mercenary friends are skilled and ready for anything.
I thought the book definitely held my interest and I actually picked it up throughout the day to read....just one more chapter needing to know what happened next but I found most of the dialog more "modern" than what would have been spoken back then. There were many clichés, I thought, that would be spoken today, not back then.
That said, it was the only complaint I have. The book was well-written with very few errors and had a plot that beckoned you to read on. I loved the character, Katia. I think she felt like she wanted to be a warrior instead of embroidering by a window all day long. I think that each time she "got into trouble", she honestly felt like she could handle herself and the situation. I had more of a problem with Lothair who was so pig-headed and stubborn you wanted to smack some sense into him. Not knowing how he honestly felt drove her to many of her actions. It was a really good read and certainly worth your time.
I read some of the other reviews where they lashed out at the heroine in this book, Katia. I didn't see her as a twit running into danger requiring to be rescued. I saw a strong-minded, trained swordswoman who thought she could make a difference in the world by helping her father stay in power. She meets Lothair and falls in love immediately. Lothair has other ideas and wants nothing to do with a wife thinking that his purpose in life is to travel with the hopes of peace but most assuredly finds that battles will commence. He and his mercenary friends are skilled and ready for anything.
I thought the book definitely held my interest and I actually picked it up throughout the day to read....just one more chapter needing to know what happened next but I found most of the dialog more "modern" than what would have been spoken back then. There were many clichés, I thought, that would be spoken today, not back then.
That said, it was the only complaint I have. The book was well-written with very few errors and had a plot that beckoned you to read on. I loved the character, Katia. I think she felt like she wanted to be a warrior instead of embroidering by a window all day long. I think that each time she "got into trouble", she honestly felt like she could handle herself and the situation. I had more of a problem with Lothair who was so pig-headed and stubborn you wanted to smack some sense into him. Not knowing how he honestly felt drove her to many of her actions. It was a really good read and certainly worth your time.
October 31, 2015
Great great book.
Iron princess review.
This book was even more awesome than the first. It didn't have the headhopping and in general the writing was better. However there were still numerous places where the author switched tenses.
But the middle "journey" part of the book went on too long without a lot of action. Not much to further the external or internal conflict. Barely any sexual tension and it was much needed. So much opportunity not take advantage of.
Middle draggggggged on. I kept waiting for something to happen, wishing for tension of some kind. Then I got some tension and still a major lack of action. And it still dragged on.
The urgency was lost pretty early on. In the middle I mean. Even with several mishaps/adventures there wasn't enough to keep the story going. Which is why it felt like a drag.
Then I got to the point where the tension was sexual but unfortunately that was taken too far as well, to the point I absolutely hate when a book lands here. When you say yourself, "oh my God, will he just screw her?" Doesn't make for a pleasant read. This only got WORSE after their first more-than-a-kiss encounter. It was beyond frustrating.
The back-and-forth got annoying in the heroine is a very strong person so having her be wishy-washy was unbelievable and credible to her character. It would've been better, more like her, if she just stood up to him and started yelling but being fickle was irritating.
The end action was rushed, as if it was an add-on.
It bugged me that she never said the L-Word.
But I loved the book. After all that "negative" stuff I know that might be hard to believe but Lake has created a rich world that leaves me wanting more.
I cannot wait for book 3.
Iron princess review.
This book was even more awesome than the first. It didn't have the headhopping and in general the writing was better. However there were still numerous places where the author switched tenses.
But the middle "journey" part of the book went on too long without a lot of action. Not much to further the external or internal conflict. Barely any sexual tension and it was much needed. So much opportunity not take advantage of.
Middle draggggggged on. I kept waiting for something to happen, wishing for tension of some kind. Then I got some tension and still a major lack of action. And it still dragged on.
The urgency was lost pretty early on. In the middle I mean. Even with several mishaps/adventures there wasn't enough to keep the story going. Which is why it felt like a drag.
Then I got to the point where the tension was sexual but unfortunately that was taken too far as well, to the point I absolutely hate when a book lands here. When you say yourself, "oh my God, will he just screw her?" Doesn't make for a pleasant read. This only got WORSE after their first more-than-a-kiss encounter. It was beyond frustrating.
The back-and-forth got annoying in the heroine is a very strong person so having her be wishy-washy was unbelievable and credible to her character. It would've been better, more like her, if she just stood up to him and started yelling but being fickle was irritating.
The end action was rushed, as if it was an add-on.
It bugged me that she never said the L-Word.
But I loved the book. After all that "negative" stuff I know that might be hard to believe but Lake has created a rich world that leaves me wanting more.
I cannot wait for book 3.
June 30, 2016
Well, the crazysauce did not stop with this one and in fact kept going.
The good:
I liked how Katia turned out as an adult (mostly), and both her and Lothair were interesting main characters while Lars and Tosha were good supporting characters along with others from the first book in the series.
The development of the relationships between these four were interesting and dynamic.
The travel and reasons behind what they were doing was interesting and provided urgency and movement to the story.
The bad:
Good fucking lord was Katia an idiot, and so was her father Magnus. He apparently lived up to his promise to train her as a shieldmaiden, then refused to give her anything to do with her training and gift for languages, leaving her to hare off on her own in search of a Good Cause to Help Her Family. Multiple times. UGH.
Lothair and Katia kept assuming the other was too good for them and never talked about anything, until events forced them to wed. This was sweet in the first meeting when they were 16/20, but less so four years later when they meet again and spend months together. That's not good character development, that's sloppy writing.
Oh look, headstrong Katia loses a pregnancy that she didn't know existed, and is now a properly chastened submissive wife. What the actual fuck?
I mostly finished reading just to see what happened, not out of any enjoyment of the second half or so of the story. There really wasn't much romance, IMO, although the traveling and politics provided a bit of interest to stop the book from falling totally flat. We were rolling at a solid 3 stars for entertainment value until the surprise! lost pregnancy, which knocked it down a star for me. I'm not planning on picking up the third book in the series or any others.
The good:
I liked how Katia turned out as an adult (mostly), and both her and Lothair were interesting main characters while Lars and Tosha were good supporting characters along with others from the first book in the series.
The development of the relationships between these four were interesting and dynamic.
The travel and reasons behind what they were doing was interesting and provided urgency and movement to the story.
The bad:
Good fucking lord was Katia an idiot, and so was her father Magnus. He apparently lived up to his promise to train her as a shieldmaiden, then refused to give her anything to do with her training and gift for languages, leaving her to hare off on her own in search of a Good Cause to Help Her Family. Multiple times. UGH.
Lothair and Katia kept assuming the other was too good for them and never talked about anything, until events forced them to wed. This was sweet in the first meeting when they were 16/20, but less so four years later when they meet again and spend months together. That's not good character development, that's sloppy writing.
Oh look, headstrong Katia loses a pregnancy that she didn't know existed, and is now a properly chastened submissive wife. What the actual fuck?
I mostly finished reading just to see what happened, not out of any enjoyment of the second half or so of the story. There really wasn't much romance, IMO, although the traveling and politics provided a bit of interest to stop the book from falling totally flat. We were rolling at a solid 3 stars for entertainment value until the surprise! lost pregnancy, which knocked it down a star for me. I'm not planning on picking up the third book in the series or any others.
June 23, 2015
A "Sons of the North Romance" novel, #2, but can be read as a stand alone. See, "The Warlord's Wife". A continuing family saga set against the backdrop of 12th-century Scandinavia. Two hearts clash in passion and so much more.
The heroine, Katia, is impulsive, strong-willed and runs head long into trouble time and again, without thinking things though. The hero, Lothair, is the illegitimate son of the Duke of Saxony, whose looking for a place of his own, not a wife. What he falls into is, he and his friends, are continuously having to save Katie from herself and their foe.
A fast paced, adventure filled story, with passion, danger, and wickedness. The story has some political intrigue, sword fighting, betrayal, mistrust, passion, romance, and learning to love. The author weaves political intrigue in nicely with a story of a female wielding swordsman, the trouble she gets herself and her friend into, as well as a tale of love and sacrifice.
Well written with intrigue and romance. I enjoyed the secondary characters as well, they added to the storyline, greatly. There were a few tear jerking moments as well. I look forward to the next installment. Fans of Historical Romance, and Scandinavian intrigue are sure to enjoy, " The Iron Princess". An enjoyable and satisfying read!
*Received for an honest review from the publisher via Net Gallery*
**Cross-posted on My Book Addiction Reviews*
Rating: 4
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
The heroine, Katia, is impulsive, strong-willed and runs head long into trouble time and again, without thinking things though. The hero, Lothair, is the illegitimate son of the Duke of Saxony, whose looking for a place of his own, not a wife. What he falls into is, he and his friends, are continuously having to save Katie from herself and their foe.
A fast paced, adventure filled story, with passion, danger, and wickedness. The story has some political intrigue, sword fighting, betrayal, mistrust, passion, romance, and learning to love. The author weaves political intrigue in nicely with a story of a female wielding swordsman, the trouble she gets herself and her friend into, as well as a tale of love and sacrifice.
Well written with intrigue and romance. I enjoyed the secondary characters as well, they added to the storyline, greatly. There were a few tear jerking moments as well. I look forward to the next installment. Fans of Historical Romance, and Scandinavian intrigue are sure to enjoy, " The Iron Princess". An enjoyable and satisfying read!
*Received for an honest review from the publisher via Net Gallery*
**Cross-posted on My Book Addiction Reviews*
Rating: 4
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
July 10, 2015
Sandra Lake is a new and up and coming historical romance author. The Iron Princess is one of best Viking Romances I have read in a long time! It is adventurous and love inspiring! I was so enthralled with the story I couldn't put it down. The characters are, Lothair the illegitimate son of the Duke of Saxony, who’s looking for a place of his own. He feels there is no need for a wife so our heroine Katia has him struggling with his decision throughout the book. Katia is the adopted daughter of Jarl Magnus. She is a spoiled girl who is impulsive and strong willed, but the Jarl has allowed her to learn how to wield a sword with his men. She was been brought up learning how to protect herself and she is able to wield a sword like a shield-maiden and along with the training her mind does not always think like a woman , but as a warrior which tends to get her into trouble along the way. The stories scenes are visually enhance and an emotional roller coaster of events. The love scenes were sweet and tender so that you can feel the un-denying love between the main characters Katia and Lothair. The story is adventurous, intriguing and love Inspiring! I know you will greatly enjoy Katia and Lothair’s story!!!
June 18, 2015
Everyone has a guilty pleasure or two. Things that always work to make you happy, but they are usually things that are outside your comfort zone and that is what makes them "guilty" pleasures. For me, this Sons of the North series is something of a guilty pleasure.
Katia is the adopted daughter of a powerful Jarl. She is the beloved adopted daughter and her parents love her dearly - but have given her a bit too much freedom. This freedom has created a headstrong, spunky princess, who is capable of wielding a sword to defend herself. Though she is witness to a loving marriage, Katia is different from her mother. She will never allow herself to be a wife and under the control of a male. That is just something that Katia feels she can never do. Even when she meets the Duke of Saxony's nephew, Katia may have feelings for him, but not enough to give up her freedom.
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2015/0...
Katia is the adopted daughter of a powerful Jarl. She is the beloved adopted daughter and her parents love her dearly - but have given her a bit too much freedom. This freedom has created a headstrong, spunky princess, who is capable of wielding a sword to defend herself. Though she is witness to a loving marriage, Katia is different from her mother. She will never allow herself to be a wife and under the control of a male. That is just something that Katia feels she can never do. Even when she meets the Duke of Saxony's nephew, Katia may have feelings for him, but not enough to give up her freedom.
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2015/0...
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