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Devoted #1
Devoted
In this lush epic novel of France's turbulent past, love and war, relgion and mysticisim, mystery and magic intertwine with the everyday passions of men and women swept up in a time of great change. As author Alice Borchardt spins her compelling tale, she reveals her extraordinary talent for fantasy, adventure, and the supernatural. For just as her sister, Anne Rice, made us believe in vampires, Alice Borchardt re-creates a long ao era that lives and breathes on these pages.
Tenth-century France is a land where the Forest People who worship pagan gods are disappearing. Christianity is arriving with a new God and new rulers. And brutal Viking Northmen are swarming from their warships to raze villages and loot the land.
Elin, a woman of the Forest People, is schooled in the strange powers of her mother's people. When Owen, Bishop of Chantalon and a bare twenty-three years of age, rescues Elin from Viking slavery, he knows only that this lovely young woman is a temptation unlike any he has faced before. Yet there is little need for him to choose between his duty and desire, for destiny decrees that they be man and wife. Elin becomes Owen's lady, he becomes her soul, her stars, her sun, and together they usher in a bold new era to Chantalon.
But their idyll is shattered when revolt and betrayal forment, as Vikings attack Chantalon from the north and Owen is captured. It falls to Elin to defend their town, rescue her husband, and preserve the fragile balance of harmony that their love has struck.
A work of deep sensuality and rousing adventure, brimming with colourful characters, Devoted is at once an intricate, superbly researched tapestry of the Middle Ages and an epic of exquisite imagination. Alice Borchardt has written an unforgettable novel that will grip readers on every wondrous page.
Tenth-century France is a land where the Forest People who worship pagan gods are disappearing. Christianity is arriving with a new God and new rulers. And brutal Viking Northmen are swarming from their warships to raze villages and loot the land.
Elin, a woman of the Forest People, is schooled in the strange powers of her mother's people. When Owen, Bishop of Chantalon and a bare twenty-three years of age, rescues Elin from Viking slavery, he knows only that this lovely young woman is a temptation unlike any he has faced before. Yet there is little need for him to choose between his duty and desire, for destiny decrees that they be man and wife. Elin becomes Owen's lady, he becomes her soul, her stars, her sun, and together they usher in a bold new era to Chantalon.
But their idyll is shattered when revolt and betrayal forment, as Vikings attack Chantalon from the north and Owen is captured. It falls to Elin to defend their town, rescue her husband, and preserve the fragile balance of harmony that their love has struck.
A work of deep sensuality and rousing adventure, brimming with colourful characters, Devoted is at once an intricate, superbly researched tapestry of the Middle Ages and an epic of exquisite imagination. Alice Borchardt has written an unforgettable novel that will grip readers on every wondrous page.
467 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
11 people are currently reading
991 people want to read
About the author
Alice Borchardt
14 books274 followersAlice O'Brien was born on 6 October 1939 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. She was one of five sister of Katherine "Kay" Allen and Howard O'Brien. The O'Brien family moved to Richardson, Texas, when Alice was a teenager. She began her nursing career in Houston, where she met and married her husband, Clifford Borchardt. After a 30-year career as a licensed vocational nurse, Borchardt faced staff reductions at the hospital where she worked. Alice's sister, the writer Anne Rice, encouraged her, helped her find an agent, and wrote introductions to several of her books. She wrote seven books. She passed away on 24 July 2007 in Houston, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 19, 2019
4 and 1/2 Stars! A Worthy Medieval Romance Set in 10th Century France
At the time when Vikings were a threat to all in France, Owen, the young Bishop of Chantalon, rises as a hero of the people. At his side is the brave Elin who he freed from the Vikings’ clutches. This is a fascinating historical that features authentic elements as well as genuine faith, mysticism, mystery and magic. The descriptions are vivid, the characters well developed and the story compelling.
Elin becomes Owen's lady and would defend him and his city though it will cost her much. Their budding love comes to a sudden end when Owen is captured, leaving the defense of the city to Elin and Godwin, a warrior who stands by her side.
Owen represents the growing Christianity even as the brutal Northmen rape and pillage, led by the villain Hakon. The Forest People who worship pagan gods are disappearing but they come to Owen’s aid when Elin summons them, for she was raised among them, a princess of her people.
I enjoyed this story as it has great depth and I wanted to know what happened to all the characters who come to Elin and Owen’s aid. The author has captured the different factions in France at the time and the emerging future while bringing us a winning love story.
The sequel is Beguiled.
At the time when Vikings were a threat to all in France, Owen, the young Bishop of Chantalon, rises as a hero of the people. At his side is the brave Elin who he freed from the Vikings’ clutches. This is a fascinating historical that features authentic elements as well as genuine faith, mysticism, mystery and magic. The descriptions are vivid, the characters well developed and the story compelling.
Elin becomes Owen's lady and would defend him and his city though it will cost her much. Their budding love comes to a sudden end when Owen is captured, leaving the defense of the city to Elin and Godwin, a warrior who stands by her side.
Owen represents the growing Christianity even as the brutal Northmen rape and pillage, led by the villain Hakon. The Forest People who worship pagan gods are disappearing but they come to Owen’s aid when Elin summons them, for she was raised among them, a princess of her people.
I enjoyed this story as it has great depth and I wanted to know what happened to all the characters who come to Elin and Owen’s aid. The author has captured the different factions in France at the time and the emerging future while bringing us a winning love story.
The sequel is Beguiled.
January 18, 2018
One of my favourite books ever. They don't write romance like this anymore... I love the way Borchardt recreated the Dark Ages. Her style is assured and intricate, and the characters complex and strong. I love her visceral and intense love scenes and the constant battle of wills between Owen and his pagan wife. The paranormal element is subtly inserted and gives a constant feeling of primeval wonder. There's a beginning of the world feel that Borchardt captured which gives me goose bumps every time I reread this book.
Want to read
June 8, 2023Continuing my ‘read the first chapter of all the books on my physical TBR shelf to see if I really want to keep them’ experiment. I was surprised to find I enjoyed the first chapter, the writing was better than I thought it would be (I was imagining it would be really turgid and weighed down by adjectives) and I'm definitely interested in continuing.
February 23, 2018
This is the second book I have read of hers - wonderful writer. Her descriptions are very eloquent and she does this so different than other writers. Her story line and characters are captivating. She's as good if not better than her sister, Anne Rice - one of my favorites! So sad she is no longer with us but I plan on reading all her books.
September 25, 2018
I loved this book. It was very well written. Great detail without being drawn out or boring. Lots of action & excitement.
This book does have a few explicit love scenes so it may not be a good book for a teenager.
This book does have a few explicit love scenes so it may not be a good book for a teenager.
September 22, 2011
Awesome book! Quite the page turner. I couldn't put it down - I loved all the sword play and magic. The characters were very well drawn and easy to imagine. Definitely a book I'd buy!
September 8, 2025
So silly (at parts), yet so good - slaps just as hard as it did when I was 13.
December 9, 2008
My daughter (17) and I read this and its sequel beguiled over and over. I think its wonderfully written full of detail and history and adventure. I don't like any of her other books that I've tried to read - sooo disappointing! Better than her sister Ann Rice since Im not really a vampire fan, but her sister is also an EXCELLENT writer. I love how the words just flow out of this book!
December 11, 2012
Do not be fooled by lofty descriptions of this book. This isn't some great piece of literature or a touching love story. It's just a run-of-the-mill novel with a dull plot and awkward characters. I heartily recommend that you skip it.
July 20, 2015
"Devoted" - written by Alice Borchardt and published in 1995 by Dutton Books. An enjoyable story of war and romance in 800s England written by the sister of author Anne Rice. An overly religious ending spoils it a bit.
August 9, 2016
Devoted by Alice Borchardt was an interesting read for its 10th century subject matter as well as its fine prose. France is the scene as the merging of the old 'forest people' religions and the new Christianity cause strife. A turbulent time, well explained.
July 2, 2010
This is Anne Rice's sister... she writes just as well! Enjoying this story.
July 21, 2010
I read this book many years ago but it's stayed with me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and wish I owned a copy so that I could read it again.
December 20, 2010
Action, adventure, romance and epic sword fights! What could be better?!
February 22, 2023
This is one really well-written story that carries you along until you don't realize you are reading because you are so deep into the story. It was a lovely and wonderful adventure. I think I have a new author to add to my favs list.
June 26, 2021
This is one of my favorite books. I love the two main characters, the magic, the invading Vikings, the fact that the main character is a married bishop. It's all great. I should read it again.
Read
July 24, 2025A steamy guilty pleasure that is both historical and fantastical.
August 14, 2013
I have no idea how I feel about this book.
It took me five months to finish it. I will say I had started a new job, and life was a little crazy. But, I never really got wrapped up in the story and the world of "Devoted".
Another issue for me, was the characters of Elin and Owen. Elin is a strong, ambitious woman, but she still seems to falls prey to the word of her man. And though Owen is foolish and proud (at first) he still comes out to be the hero, while Elin gets much less honor.
I understand that this book takes place in a different time, and considering the situation, Elin was a hero of sorts, but this book was not WRITTEN in those times.
Borchardt falls short on some of the most important topics for me. She does not develop her characters well, nor the world in which they live. I struggled through every chapter of this book, simply because I hoped Elin would come out to be the hero, and while she is loved by her followers, it is still the man who is worshiped. I was disappointed.
It took me five months to finish it. I will say I had started a new job, and life was a little crazy. But, I never really got wrapped up in the story and the world of "Devoted".
Another issue for me, was the characters of Elin and Owen. Elin is a strong, ambitious woman, but she still seems to falls prey to the word of her man. And though Owen is foolish and proud (at first) he still comes out to be the hero, while Elin gets much less honor.
I understand that this book takes place in a different time, and considering the situation, Elin was a hero of sorts, but this book was not WRITTEN in those times.
Borchardt falls short on some of the most important topics for me. She does not develop her characters well, nor the world in which they live. I struggled through every chapter of this book, simply because I hoped Elin would come out to be the hero, and while she is loved by her followers, it is still the man who is worshiped. I was disappointed.
April 11, 2009
This book was pretty good. I think i've read better fantasy novels before but it might be that this is just a different type of fantasy then I normally read, if that makes any sense. At the start I was rolling my eyes every page or two because it seemed that all the two main characters did was have sex. Although once he got captured it fizzled out. I actually though this book was the first book in the Guinevere series that she wrote, but that was only due to the fact that the book I had picked up listed devoted as the first book she wrote and I mistook that for the first book in that series. I don't know I hope the second book is good though. From the description the second book seems like the same formula as the first so I hope that it seems different when I read it.
May 25, 2013
Found this book at the Booksale. It pumped up my curiosity when I found out that Alice Borchardt's is Anne Rice's sister. Why don't I give her a shot? I told myself. Well, the book is rich in details and history. It is a page turner---you can't seem to find the right moment to stop even if you really have to. I liked how Alice made it accessible for the readers to precisely visualize the likeness of its account.
July 15, 2010
This kind of reminded me of great military adventure books- but from a woman's perspective. I am usually not into this kind of stuff, but I really enjoyed the details and, again, the battle scenes are great. This book really starts going and never lets you take a break, too. Well written, researched, and likeable interesting characters. Quite fun. One of those risks that I'm glad I took.
March 7, 2011
This book was a re-read for me and I have to say that I have no idea why I loved it so much the first time around. This time I'm finding it clunky and dull. The characters are paper-doll thin and cliche and it was just not that good. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going to regret paying out for a bunch of her other books.
April 19, 2011
As far as the story goes, this was an interesting book. But the characters were poorly written, and would do things that were totally out of character. Parts of the witchcraft stuff made absolultely no sense and the story could have been a lot better without it. The fight scenes were the only redeeming quality, they were interesting and well written.
August 6, 2015
I have to agree on most others reviews about this book. The adventure was fun and exciting but the characters were dull and static. There is no way to get emotionally involved with the story and characters. Instead of wishing that this book wasn't over, I feel relieved that I can move on to a better novel.
May 2, 2012
Ich habe ein Buch bei BookCrossing.com registriert!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11100156
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11100156
August 29, 2012
It was good, but I think I need something less dense with information. I didn't like that she started a war in the last 10 pages. I'm hanging on.
September 15, 2014
It was a good story just not one that held my interest. The book was given to me by a friend and I felt obligated to read it. OK but not something I would have picked for myself
July 8, 2014
Ok so its good, i liked it. but I dont think this is my cup of tea
January 15, 2015
1. Teil Mann der Kirche und Frau des alten Glaubens verbünden sich gegen einfallende Wikinger
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews