Amulet's Rapture

Curse of Clansmen and Kings #3

by Linnea Tanner

Blood stains her Celtic home and kingdom. The warrior Druid princess will do anything to retake her throne.

Although Catrin is the rightful heir to the Celtic throne in Britannia, she is lucky to be alive. After witnessing the slaughter of her family at the hands of her half-brother, who was aided by the Romans, she is enslaved by a Roman commander. He disguises her as a boy in the Roman Legion with the belief that she is an oracle of Apollo and can foretell his future. The sole bright spot in her miserable new life is her forbidden lover Marcellus, the great-grandson of the famed Roman general Mark Antony.

But Marcellus has been wounded and his memories of Catrin and their secret marriage were erased by a dark Druidess. Though Marcellus reunites with Catrin in Gaul and becomes her ally as she struggles to survive the brutality of her Roman master, he questions the legitimacy of their marriage and hesitates to help her escape and retake her kingdom. If their forbidden love and alliance are discovered, her dreams of returning to her Celtic home with Marcellus will be shattered.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction

359 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2019

About the author

Award-winning author, Linnea Tanner, weaves Celtic tales of love, magical adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia. Since childhood, she has passionately read about ancient civilizations and mythology. Of particular interest are the enigmatic Celts, who were reputed as fierce warriors and mystical Druids.

Linnea has extensively researched ancient and medieval history, mythology, and archaeology and has traveled to sites described within each of her books in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. Books released in her series include Apollo’s Raven (Book 1), Dagger’s Destiny (Book 2), Amulet’s Rapture (Book 3), and Skull’s Vengeance (Book 4). She has also released the historical fiction short story Two Faces of Janus.

A Colorado native, Linnea attended the University of Colorado and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry. She lives in Fort Collins with her husband and has two children and six grandchildren.

You can subscribe to her website: http://linneatanner.com/

Reviews

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Fans of mythology and Roman history will rejoice when diving into Linnea Tanner’s engaging novel!

Read full review in the 2020 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Richard Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I am floored by "Curse of the Clansmen and Kings". Book 3 in the series "Amulet's Rapture" has completely and thoroughly entertained me. This time Linnea Tanner has told the continuing story as to have (much like the characters in the book) turned my world upside down. Past choices,may not have been the right ones, current choices might be the right ones or not. For the first time in my life I find myself "yearning" for the next book, I have to know what happens next.
The story continues as Catrin's only goal is to stay alive and fulfill the prophecy to save her kingdom. I wont hesitate to say that I was crushed at Catrin's and Marcellus' misfortune (not saying anything else about it). I can't say how Linnea has done it, but she has me cheering for characters whoin the last book "Dagger's Destiny" I had no sympathy for. Linnea has me doubting the outcome of relationships I was so very sure of till now.
The reintroduction of Ferrex (aka The Red Lion) and Trysttan (formally King Amren's second in command) was a joy as both characters leap out of the book always catching my attention and respect. I even feel for Decimus Flavius (Roman commander) in a kind of half hearted way, since he never fails to remind us that he is not a good guy.
Ms Tanner continues to build a world that is rich in it's surroundings as it is rich in the people who live in it. I never have any trouble at all seeing the world the story takes place in not only as Linnea see's it but as the characters see it as well. The writing is always crisp, to the point with very little (if any) filler. The story as always moves smoothly and at a great pace from chapter to chapter.
"Amulet's Rapture" builds beautifully on the 2 books before it and does a marvelous job of telling a story that heralds the coming of book 4 "Skull's Vengence".
Linnea Tanner also includes at the end of the book a few nice touches. A list of both major and minor characters, Notes of research information (which I found very interesting) and a preview of book 4 (which quiet frankly I will not read and it's driving me crazy, LOL).
I want to thank Ms Tanner once again for introducing me to a genre that until I read "Apollo's Raven" i would have never though I could enjoy.
Now I do what must be the hardest thing for any true fan to do, I wait for the next one.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Tanner has once again woven a deep and intriguing tale that is a great blend of history and fantasy!

Read full review in the 2020 September issue of InD'tale Magazine." target="_blank">2020 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Greek mythology and Celtic history, this book series is a great mix of the two. Amulet's Rapture is the third book in the series. I like that even if you haven't read the previous two in the series, you can still understand the plot and get invested in the characters. Catrin and Marcellus have a unique love story and the fact that there are moments when I don't like them and other moments when I'm rooting for them shows good writing by author Linnea Tanner. It shows the depth of their personalities and the realness of the dialogue. I also marvelled at how intricate the myths are and the array of characters in this novel. From magical powers to goddesses and villains, there's a lot that kept me reading this one!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library

My official review for Online Book Club can be found here.*

Amulet's Rapture is the third book in Linnea Tanner's award-winning Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. Although the author provides a short summary of the events that have transpired in the first two books—located prior to the Table of Contents—I strongly recommend that you do not read this book as a stand-alone. So much happens in the first two books that a short summary is not sufficient to prepare you for this epic saga! At this time, two more books are promised in the series, so there is so much of this story left to be revealed!

If you have not yet read the first two books in the series, please do not read the rest of this review. Although I guarantee no spoilers from this book, I am unable to review Amulet's Rapture without revealing some spoilers of events that occurred Apollo's Raven and Dagger's Destiny .

While the events in Apollo's Raven and Dagger's Destiny had spanned only a few months, Amulet's Rapture covers a period of three years. Although there is less action in this installment, there is a greater focus on character development. After the brutal conclusion to Dagger's Destiny, Catrin has been enslaved by the Roman Decimus, who believes her to be an oracle of Apollo. He disguises her as a male so that her true identity will not be discovered and so that the soldiers will not defile her, since he believes her prophetic abilities require her to be chaste. The more Catrin suffers, the further she strays from her love for Marcellus, turning instead toward hate and vengeance. Meanwhile, Marcellus, whose memory was erased by Rhan and Marrock, is struggling internally, feeling as though he has lost his identity. He returns to Eliana, the married older woman who had taken his virginity in his youth, and due to Catrin's mystical powers, Catrin bears witness to his infidelity. In the events that follow, Marcellus experiences personal growth relating to duty, honor, and loyalty.

Some of the dialogue in the series has felt a bit forced, but this issue was especially prominent in Amulet's Rapture. Additionally, there were numerous errors in the text. Although I received two review copies of this book from two different sources, I had actually purchased a copy as well, and the errors are present in both editions. While I felt that the story was stimulating and engaging, I was frequently distracted by the dialogue and errors. Another round of editing would greatly improve the quality of the book.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book and I am really looking forward to the author publishing the next installment!

I would like to thank Online Book Club and NetGalley for providing me with review copies of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #AmuletsRapture

*The content of the Online Book Club review is slightly different as my official review is the property of OBC.

[Mary Yarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Did Apollo send that raven to curse me? Did a Roman priest train you to be a warrior priestess?”

If that was what Tribune Decimus Flavius, Catrin’s Roman master, believed, then who was she to contradict him? And if it kept her alive, then that can only be a good thing, although sometimes it did not feel like that for her family had been slaughtered, and her Roman husband has no memory of her.

Marcellus, the great-grandson of the famed Roman general Mark Antony, left Britannia with no memory of his time there and a stomach wound that continued to fester. He seeks comfort in the arms of a former lover, looking for something familiar, something he can hold on to. But even Eliana’s touch does not settle his troubled mind. Unfortunately, it makes his situation far more precarious, for Eliana is married to another man.

Disguised as a boy and forced to train with the men, Catrin must hide who she is from everyone, but especially from Decimus. For if he knew what she could really do, the consequences do not bear thinking about.

From the soft autumn days of Northern Gaul to a Gladiator arena, Amulet’s Rapture (Curse of Clansmen and Kings #3) by Linnea Tanner is a majestic work of scholarship.

Tanner has carefully woven history with fantasy to create a beautifully told tale that is populated with characters that are worth caring about and are deserving of your time. Filled to bursting with romance, magic, love, hate, betrayal and adventure, Amulet’s Rapture is a story that is next to impossible to put down. I read it in one sitting — there was no way I could tear myself away from these characters and this novel.

The heroine of this story is young Catrin. Catrin was a royal princess and heir to the throne of Brittania, but now she finds herself a slave to Tribune Decimus Flavius. Disguised as a boy to keep her safe, Catrin faces one ordeal after another. Yet her strength of character and her unbreakable Celtic spirit sees her through some very dark days indeed. Her ability to love is tempered only by the realisation that she has been abandoned and must face a bleak future where the only escape would be death. I absolutely adored Catrin. Her portrayal was magnificent. She is a very strong young woman, who has seen unimaginable horrors, and yet her heart is full to bursting with love for Marcellus. Her passion for him burns as brightly as she does. But there is another side to Catrin, she is not just an enslaved princess she is also a raven spirit, and she can manipulate the Wall of Lives —a transitional barrier between the mortal world and the Otherworld. Decimus believes her to be an oracle of Apollo, which she isn’t, but she is indeed quite magical and can shapeshift into a beloved raven. I enjoyed reading about Catrin very much, there was a realism to her characterisation that was tangible.

Oh, Marcellus, where do I begin? Marcellus is, as is expected of a male protagonist in a romantic setting, everything he should be. He is driven to distraction by his love for Catrin, and even though he has no memory of her, his soul is incapable of forgetting — how romantic is that? And because of this, he cannot stay away from her. The consequences of his actions not only for himself but also for Catrin, are catastrophic. However, Marcellus is young and passionate, and so full of gentle grace that it is impossible not to like him. He does put Catrin into danger, but not with intention. He isn’t a bad man, and he does try to atone, but his world and Catrin’s don’t belong together, which is heartbreakingly evident throughout this story. Having not read the other books in this series, I can only surmise that their relationship in Britannia was as passionately consuming as it is in Gaul. Marcellus is a character that I cannot wait to read more about.

There are as several antagonists in this story. The first antagonist is Tribune Decimus Flavius. He may well have saved Catrin's life in Britannia, but his treatment of her is diabolical. He uses her for his own means, and when she has ceased to be useful, he means to destroy her. He is an incredibly manipulative and cold man who I did not take to at all. By the end of the book, I despised him. The other antagonist is Marrock, who is utterly deplorable and incredibly dangerous. His greed for power has seemingly no end — the only one who has any chance of stopping him is Catrin, but because of her situation, there is nothing she can do.

Tanner pens a compelling narrative, and she writes with imagination and a great deal of energy. This is a book that is triumphant in all ways. If you are looking for your next great historical fantasy series set within a realistic Roman backdrop, then look no further than Amulet’s Rapture (Curse of Clansmen and Kings #3) by Linnea Tanner. Fans of Jez Butterworth's Britannia will fall in love with this book.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and would suggest it to anyone who loves reading about historical romance and magic. I was not sure if I would like to read the book because it was slow at first. After reading a few more chapters I was starting to love most of the characters. Cartin the "Ravin Warrior Queen" had me fighting for her to escape the life she thought she was destined to have with a Roman warrior. You go through so many different emotions because you want to scream at Catrin to get a backbone and fight back. I cried when Catrin lost the most important thing in her life it broke my heart to know that she had to go through so much pain alone.

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book without having read the first 2 in the series. There is a very short recap at the start of the book, with A LOT to try and take in. I had to keep going back to reference it at first, just to keep up with all the different characters and what was happening, but it did get easier the more I kept reading.

I really liked the ancient roman setting and it's clear that a lot of effort has gone into the research for the inspiration of this book. It's a very slow burn, which I actually quite enjoy, but I found myself comparing it to a long running soap opera, where everything happens but nothing really happens - if that makes sense.

I liked the characters, the world building, and the writing was good. I also really appreciate the dedication the author has to keeping her story going. I liked the story, but I did find it a little repetitive and a bit tiring with all the back and forth. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book.

[Stephanie Runyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing sequel in this series

Catrin has been renamed and dressed as a boy slave to Decimus. Marcellus is caught with Elaine and must serve as a soldier for Decimus. He discovers Cartrin and she becomes pregnant. However, Decimus is determined to keep them apart. Marcellus is sent to fight rebels and Cardin is sent to be trained as a Gladiatrix.

This is an epic story that pulls at the hope of a forbidden love. I was overwhelmed with the need to continue reading and plan on continuing the series.

[Michelle Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series, Amulets Rapture does not disappoint! Author Linnea Tanner finds success again in this powerfully written book where her readers are transported back to 24 A.D., effortlessly enjoying every picture painted by her well crafted imagery. Tanners' writing is able to evoke a gamut of emotions leaving you breathless at times, unable to put her book down, powerlessly wanting more. She has an ability to fluidly transition from one storyline to another, a Hallmark for her work. This book will keep you on your toes as it depicts the emotional rollercoaster ride of the two main characters, Catrin and Marcellus. Each fighting, not only for their own survival and honor but for Catrin, her family and Kingdom and for Marcellus, the erased memories of his forbidden love for and secret marriage to the Cantiaci warrior Princess.

[Catherine Stratman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic adventure!

This is the first in the series that I have read. There is enough intro to get caught up if you haven't read the other books but this one is so good, I really need to go back and read the other two. The storytelling is just so enthralling I couldn't put it down. There is so much going on and I love the time period. Magic, politics, a raven, ancient Rome, Britannia, action, prophecies.

I received an ARC. This is my honest review.

[Karen Ingalls · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, Linnea Tanner has done extensive research into Roman history, mysticism, anthropology, and religions. For those that had not read books 1 and 2, the author brings the story-line forward smoothly. I had read the previous two books, but it was good to have a little refresher.
This trilogy is one of my favorite books of the year.

[Regina Kiddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caterin was taken from her home and made a slave. This book is about her journey to be free and to return to her homeland to become its queen. Marcellus is the noble Roman she fell in love with. But in Rome he can’t acknowledge her as his. The journey they face is long and difficult!


I read and reviewed this advanced complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley

[Brandy France · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free and I am voluntarily doing a review. Amazing characters that the author wrote in a way that grabs your attention and you get on the edge of your seat with the arresting storyline

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allow a full long day for this action-packed PG15 political historical romance set between AD 4-27 in Rome, Gaul, and Britannia. I had an ARC from NetGalley that got lost in the queue and this is my voluntary review.

[Yvette Calleiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in the series, and I will do my best not to give any spoilers (but it's going to be hard). Catrin was robbed of an easy life by the curse of her father's first wife in book one. In book two, she tried desperately to amend the curse, but nothing worked. This book picks up right where book two left off.

Catrin suffers at the hands of her captor. She stays determined to find her way home to reclaim the throne that was stolen from her by her monster of a half-brother. Through it all, she strives to find Marcellus, the love of her life, and attain his help in taking back her country. Unfortunately, nothing is going right for her.

The author did an amazing job of keeping me engaged in Catrin's struggle through the entire novel. She goes through so much struggle and torment, but she never wavers in fighting to survive to find a way back to Britania to avenge her family. The author keeps the tension high, and the obstacles are never-ending, but each one makes perfect sense.

I am not a big fan of historical romance, but this series has me hooked. I can't wait to read book four!

[Stacey Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amulet’s Rapture is an epic and emotionally gripping continuation of the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. Linnea Tanner masterfully weaves together history, mythology, and romance to create a tale that is both heart-wrenching and inspiring.

Catrin’s journey pulled me in from the very beginning, her resilience despite betrayal, loss, and enslavement is truly powerful. I especially loved the depth of her bond with Marcellus, which adds both tension and hope to the story. The way Tanner blends the brutality of Roman rule with the mystical Celtic elements makes the narrative vivid and unforgettable.

The pacing kept me turning the pages, and the vivid worldbuilding transported me straight into Britannia and Gaul. Tanner’s writing is lyrical yet raw, capturing both the pain of loss and the beauty of love and loyalty.

[Kendra Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not so much about Catrin and Marcellus’s time together, but their time apart. They are both fighting their own battles and have no idea what the other is enduring. Decimus is turned into a villain for this book as he tries to further his own agenda. It’s well written and follows the first two books well.

[cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

not bad but not something ill be reading again

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a pretty okay book. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I know many other people would like this though.
I wrote a full review here, and it explains why I did not enjoy the book: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...