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The Moroccan Empire #3
Do Not Awaken Love
A Spanish nun. A Muslim warlord. The destiny of an empire held between them.
11th century Northern Spain. Isabella has been a nun in the Christian kingdom of Galicia since she was a child, a gifted herbalist leading a quiet and spiritual life, devoted to God. But on a rare journey outside of the convent, she is taken by Viking raiders and sold to Morocco as a slave.
Cruelly treated by her first owner, salvation comes from an unlikely source: Yusuf bin Tashfin, leader of a vast Muslim army intent on conquering North Africa and Spain. Isabella must struggle not only to survive her new life but to hold true to her faith, which is tested by great dangers… and by love.
Can Isabella keep to her holy vows? Will her actions alter the destiny of a rising empire? And when North Africa goes to war with Spain, where will her loyalties lie?
Do Not Awaken Love is the moving finale to the Moroccan Empire historical fiction series. If you enjoy exploring complex emotions and conflicting cultures, then you’ll find yourself immersed in the tenderness and difficulties of Melissa Addey’s captivating novel.
Set out on a stirring journey of love and faith. Buy Do Not Awaken Love today.
11th century Northern Spain. Isabella has been a nun in the Christian kingdom of Galicia since she was a child, a gifted herbalist leading a quiet and spiritual life, devoted to God. But on a rare journey outside of the convent, she is taken by Viking raiders and sold to Morocco as a slave.
Cruelly treated by her first owner, salvation comes from an unlikely source: Yusuf bin Tashfin, leader of a vast Muslim army intent on conquering North Africa and Spain. Isabella must struggle not only to survive her new life but to hold true to her faith, which is tested by great dangers… and by love.
Can Isabella keep to her holy vows? Will her actions alter the destiny of a rising empire? And when North Africa goes to war with Spain, where will her loyalties lie?
Do Not Awaken Love is the moving finale to the Moroccan Empire historical fiction series. If you enjoy exploring complex emotions and conflicting cultures, then you’ll find yourself immersed in the tenderness and difficulties of Melissa Addey’s captivating novel.
Set out on a stirring journey of love and faith. Buy Do Not Awaken Love today.
296 pages, Paperback
First published February 26, 2020
121 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Addey
24 books116 followersI mainly write historical fiction: my first novel, The Fragrant Concubine, was Editor’s Choice at the Historical Novel Society, my latest, The Cold Palace, won the 2019 Novel London award.
I was the Leverhulme Trust Writer in Residence at the British Library and now run regular workshops there. I have a PhD in Creative Writing and have self-published 13 books.
I live in London with my husband and two children.
If you’d like to try my writing, visit my website www.melissaaddey.com to pick up a free novella, The Cup.
I was the Leverhulme Trust Writer in Residence at the British Library and now run regular workshops there. I have a PhD in Creative Writing and have self-published 13 books.
I live in London with my husband and two children.
If you’d like to try my writing, visit my website www.melissaaddey.com to pick up a free novella, The Cup.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 22, 2020
An amazing story of four women’s lives and how they crossed together. Impossible not to love. Loved learning about the Moorish Empire. Don’t miss out.
April 21, 2020
The opening pages of this novel are magnificent; the change of pace as Isabella's life changes from nun on a gentle journey to bound captive is dramatic and superbly handled.
Ms Addey shows Isabella as a woman of her time. She is a Christian nun and as such does not wish to converse with people of other faiths. This might jar our modern sensibilities but it absolutely rings true. What befalls Isabella - including the loss of both her birth name, and her given name of Sister Juliana - gives her cause to reconsider her views, in a way that is both plausible and believable.
Had I read the blurb, I would have been expecting the arrival on the scene of Yusuf, for I have met him before. The author has given us the story of these turbulent times in her other books in this Moroccan series and each is told by a different woman, all of them key players and all connected to Yusuf in some way. Inevitably, then, there is a sense of deja vu, and if you have read any of the other books but particularly if you have read A String of Silver Beads, there are no further surprises. Kella, Yusuf's first wife, has a deep and abiding connection to Sister Juliana which we learn about in A String of Silver Beads and so there are no plot twists here.
What we have instead is the same events told from Juliana's perspective and the story is very much one of character development. Experiences shape her, her relationship with Yusuf is complex and taxing, and she goes through a transformation which makes her a stronger version of what she once was, but it is not an easy journey. Isabella/Juliana is somewhat of a mysterious figure in A String of Silver Beads; here she describes her own story and becomes a central character, an essential part of the narrative.
As always, the sights, sounds and smells of Early Medieval North Africa and of Spain are exquisitely painted. One doesn't read, so much as watch.
Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
Ms Addey shows Isabella as a woman of her time. She is a Christian nun and as such does not wish to converse with people of other faiths. This might jar our modern sensibilities but it absolutely rings true. What befalls Isabella - including the loss of both her birth name, and her given name of Sister Juliana - gives her cause to reconsider her views, in a way that is both plausible and believable.
Had I read the blurb, I would have been expecting the arrival on the scene of Yusuf, for I have met him before. The author has given us the story of these turbulent times in her other books in this Moroccan series and each is told by a different woman, all of them key players and all connected to Yusuf in some way. Inevitably, then, there is a sense of deja vu, and if you have read any of the other books but particularly if you have read A String of Silver Beads, there are no further surprises. Kella, Yusuf's first wife, has a deep and abiding connection to Sister Juliana which we learn about in A String of Silver Beads and so there are no plot twists here.
What we have instead is the same events told from Juliana's perspective and the story is very much one of character development. Experiences shape her, her relationship with Yusuf is complex and taxing, and she goes through a transformation which makes her a stronger version of what she once was, but it is not an easy journey. Isabella/Juliana is somewhat of a mysterious figure in A String of Silver Beads; here she describes her own story and becomes a central character, an essential part of the narrative.
As always, the sights, sounds and smells of Early Medieval North Africa and of Spain are exquisitely painted. One doesn't read, so much as watch.
Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
July 5, 2020
An Epic Tale Of Two Great Loves💕 for All Of Time⏳
ADULT Historical Romance💕 and Adventure🔪 of Northern Africa.
Spain 1048 AD. The Bride👰 Of Christ🙏
Isabella👩 is an only child who is promised to the Lord🙏, by her mother for The miracle of her birth. She enters a Spanish Convent at 12 years old and learns the art of healing and herbs.
On her only trip outside the Convent walls to bring another young girl back to the Convent, they are captured by Viking Raiders. Taken across the strait to Morocco, she is sold into slavery.
Through it all, Isabella🙏 never loses her faith in God🙏, even when the city she lives in is taken over by a fiercely warlike Arab people known as the Almoravids. The home of her former master is taken over as the residence of Yusuf🐺🔪, the second in command of the Almoravid army.
Isabella🙏 and Yusuf🐺🔪 come to have a great, but unconsumated 💘love. She still stands by her Christian faith🙏 as a nun, and Yusuf🐺🔪 respects her as a healer and confidant.
Yusuf must wed the former King's wife👰 as a political move to unite the conquered people. He already had a young wife he left behind when his army came across the mountains. Eventually she joins him, but it's clear, the Queen👸 is all about power and tries to kill her.
Isabella's role in her great love💕 for God🙏and her unrequited love💘 and respect for Yusuf🐺🔪 is the entire subject of this epic book spanning most of Isabella's life. This story is Absolutely stunning in its sweep and majesty!
ARC Provided by Hidden 💎Gems
I also got this ebook with KU.
This is the first book by Author Addey📚 I have read but it won't be the last! The detail and knowledge of everyday ancient life by the author brings this book to life. I was totally immersed and mesmerized! Recommend! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
ADULT Historical Romance💕 and Adventure🔪 of Northern Africa.
Spain 1048 AD. The Bride👰 Of Christ🙏
Isabella👩 is an only child who is promised to the Lord🙏, by her mother for The miracle of her birth. She enters a Spanish Convent at 12 years old and learns the art of healing and herbs.
On her only trip outside the Convent walls to bring another young girl back to the Convent, they are captured by Viking Raiders. Taken across the strait to Morocco, she is sold into slavery.
Through it all, Isabella🙏 never loses her faith in God🙏, even when the city she lives in is taken over by a fiercely warlike Arab people known as the Almoravids. The home of her former master is taken over as the residence of Yusuf🐺🔪, the second in command of the Almoravid army.
Isabella🙏 and Yusuf🐺🔪 come to have a great, but unconsumated 💘love. She still stands by her Christian faith🙏 as a nun, and Yusuf🐺🔪 respects her as a healer and confidant.
Yusuf must wed the former King's wife👰 as a political move to unite the conquered people. He already had a young wife he left behind when his army came across the mountains. Eventually she joins him, but it's clear, the Queen👸 is all about power and tries to kill her.
Isabella's role in her great love💕 for God🙏and her unrequited love💘 and respect for Yusuf🐺🔪 is the entire subject of this epic book spanning most of Isabella's life. This story is Absolutely stunning in its sweep and majesty!
ARC Provided by Hidden 💎Gems
I also got this ebook with KU.
This is the first book by Author Addey📚 I have read but it won't be the last! The detail and knowledge of everyday ancient life by the author brings this book to life. I was totally immersed and mesmerized! Recommend! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
March 1, 2020
The Moorish Empire Series has captured my imagination and my heart from the very first book however I do believe that through this book Melissa Addey has given us the cherry on the cake. Isabella was a catholic nun since the age of twelve, living her life secluded in a convent in Galicia, becoming a learned healer and thinking she would spend the rest of her life safely behind the convent walls. However, this was not to be her fate, as she travels outside the walls to bring back a young girl soon to join the convent nuns when she is kidnapped by raiders and her life is changed forever. She is sold off as a slave in a Muslim land so far across the sea from the land she loved. She is staunch in her catholic beliefs and knew she would do anything to safeguard the vows of celibacy she had taken even at the cost to her life. This is the story of a simple young nun, prejudiced against those of other religions and narrow minded to the extreme who, through the challenges thrown at her during her life, discovers she could open her heart and mind to both Jews and Muslims, and to the love of a man whilst still retaining her virtue, and become a greater woman. She gave her all for love, and changed her own life and those whose lives and paths crossed hers, because love has a way of doing this. This has been an amazing voyage through one woman's life in a different culture which is brought so vividly to life for us, through the magical writing of Melissa Addey, where Al-Andalus is painted in all its vivid hues and all its beautiful smells of spices and where we see Marakush rising from the tent city it started out as, to become a city of towering minarets with prayers which might not have been Isabella's way but of devotion nonetheless. I do not know whether there will be any more books in this series but I do hope so as I am too enamoured with this mixture of cultures and the magnificent historical background presented to us.
March 5, 2020
Book 4 is just as wonderful as the first 3
I have been waiting for the release of this book. The author did a splendid job of weaving the 4 main women’s life together. What a am awesome storyteller !
I have been waiting for the release of this book. The author did a splendid job of weaving the 4 main women’s life together. What a am awesome storyteller !
March 4, 2020
Awesome!
Another wonderful book my Melissa Addey! I have read all of her books and recommend them all! I particularly loved The Moroccan series and thoroughly enjoyed ' Do Not Awaken Love'.
Another wonderful book my Melissa Addey! I have read all of her books and recommend them all! I particularly loved The Moroccan series and thoroughly enjoyed ' Do Not Awaken Love'.
April 14, 2020
First thoughts: it started with The Cup and four books later ended here with this book. Quite amazing. Historical fiction, fascinating. The story of 4 women and one man who could have made history and shaped the making of the world as we knew it at one time. The author takes a storyteller's license to fill in history's gaps to create a fabulous tale! The Cup is currently free!
April 1, 2020
I really love the historical novels by Melissa Addey. I’ve been reading this series which features different main characters with this timeline set in Morocco/Spain in the 11th century. I never knew that there was such a large Muslim kingdom in northern Africa and most of Spain. The author does such a nice job with the research, making the characters believable given the historical facts that she is working from.
Isabella is the main character in this story. She was a very devout nun who lived in a convent and had set off to pick up a young woman who wanted to join the convent. Viking traders kidnap them and they are taken across the sea to Morocco in Africa and sold as slaves.
The story unfolds with her life as a slave going through some twists and turns coping in a foreign Muslim country. She goes through many difficulties but surprising friendships help her through.
There was depth to Isabella’s character as she dealt with the conflict of living among Muslims and being a devout Christian. She befriended women she would not have befriended before. She learned to love and care for people that were a challenge to her initial Christian faith.
There is also a romance involved in the story filled with depth, tenderness and longing.
A very satisfying read! At times I had a hard time putting the book down losing some sleep with the late night reads! Enjoy!
Isabella is the main character in this story. She was a very devout nun who lived in a convent and had set off to pick up a young woman who wanted to join the convent. Viking traders kidnap them and they are taken across the sea to Morocco in Africa and sold as slaves.
The story unfolds with her life as a slave going through some twists and turns coping in a foreign Muslim country. She goes through many difficulties but surprising friendships help her through.
There was depth to Isabella’s character as she dealt with the conflict of living among Muslims and being a devout Christian. She befriended women she would not have befriended before. She learned to love and care for people that were a challenge to her initial Christian faith.
There is also a romance involved in the story filled with depth, tenderness and longing.
A very satisfying read! At times I had a hard time putting the book down losing some sleep with the late night reads! Enjoy!
April 7, 2020
Loved the Moroccan Empire series. A fantastic journey of women. Now, on to the Forbidden City series. I think Ms. Addey is an exceptional writer and I hope the next series is as entertaining as this one.
October 3, 2020
The founding of Marrakesh as the background of one of the best love stories I have ever read - the Moroccan empire series by Melissa Addey
Author Melissa Addey seems to emerge herself in a historic period and then produce a series of novels around one event but from different points of view and - quite impressive - still totally different and interesting. Of course one will more hit a cord with you than others. She did so with the Chinese conquest of the Uygur lands and now also with the Almoravid dynasty in Morocco.
The Almoravid dynasty (Arabic: المرابطون, Al-Murābiṭūn) was an imperial Berber Muslim dynasty centered in Morocco.It established an empire in the 11th century that stretched over the western Maghreb and Al-Andalus. Founded by Abdallah ibn Yasin, the Almoravid capital was Marrakesh, a city the ruling house founded in 1062. The dynasty originated among the Lamtuna and the Gudala, nomadic Berber tribes of the Sahara, traversing the territory between the Draa, the Niger, and the Senegal rivers.
Yusuf ibn Tashfin, also Tashafin, Teshufin, (Arabic: يوسف بن تاشفين ناصر الدين بن تالاكاكين الصنهاجي, romanized: Yūsuf ibn Tāshfīn Naṣr al-Dīn ibn Tālākakīn al-Ṣanhājī; reigned c. 1061 – 1106) was leader of the Berber Almoravid empire. He co-founded the city of Marrakesh and led the Muslim forces in the Battle of Sagrajas. Ibn Tashfin came to al-Andalus from Africa to help the Muslims fight against Alfonso VI, eventually achieving victory and promoting an Islamic system in the region. He was married to Zaynab an-Nafzawiyyah, whom he reportedly trusted politically. (Source: Wikiperdia)
Some of you might be familiar with the Christian hero El Cid. He and Yusuf ibn Tashfin were each other's opponents.
In this series Melissa first creates a fictional first wife for Yusuf ibn Tashfin (after a part 1 novella that is all about incest and guilt and what I think you can skip) and more or less tells the story of Yusuf, Zaynab and the founding of Marrakesh. This will very well do as a historical tale about that. See my review of that novel here: http://www.dutchysbookreviewsandfreeb...
The next novel tells the lifestory of queen Zaynab and although that is an interesting psychological sad story of a woman who craved love her whole life and ended up with empty hands all the time I would keep that story for last as it will create spoilers for part 4 and I think you best read book 2 and then 4 and maybe 1 and 3 for the background.
Book 4 however I found brilliant as it is a story that is all about love. Or like the heroine says at the end: "God send me on a pilgrimage of love".
Sister Juliana was a miracle baby and her parents promised her to the church. At the end of the 10th century and about 30 years old she is her convent's renowned herbalist and next in line to become the mother superior when she is send on a journey to accompany a new novice to the convent. Reading between the lines Sister Juliana gives the impression of being quite a formidable and arrogant woman who frowns when her fellow sister and traveller smiles and greets people on the road. Even when disaster strikes still she looks down upon other people and condemns sinners, Muslims and Jews to hell. For her her chastity as a nun is paramount.
This condescending woman ends up as a scarred and crippled kitchen slave in the middle of the Sahara.
---- BE WARNED SPOILERS AHEAD ----
But then the Almoravids attack and the kitchen women become slaves to one of their generals. Yusuf is a quiet, kind and just man who insist on calling his Christian slave not by her slave name nor her nun-name but Isabella as she was called by her mother. The Almoravids decide to leave the city and Yusuf takes Isabella with him as his private servant to the bare plane where a new city is planned to be build. Slowly during evenings sitting in front of the tent it feels like a kind of friendship is forged between the Muslim general and the Christian nun. But then another major shift happens in Isabella's life and their bond is broken. Or so it seems.
What I found extremely well done is how Isabella tries not to forsake her religious beliefs but over decades first respects but later deeply loves one man of what in her religion will be regarded an unbeliever. You can feel that love from afar grow. From watching from the citywalls how he trains his soldiers and thinking he is doing so well, to wanting his baby badly and yearning for him when he is kneeling in front of her and sobbing in her lap.
It is not at all a steamy romance. For instance "intimacy" is shown when they uncover each other's veiled head and caress each other's face and hair (male Almoravids veiled themselves as Toearegs and she is a nun who covers her hair unlike the Berber women). Nevertheless it becomes quite clear that both share a deep love and respect for each other. What is shown by marriages symbols as a house and by dates.
How she changes from looking down on Muslims and Jews to having Muslim and Jewish sisters, being well acquainted with dark skinned Africans and raising a Muslim. How in fact she recreates her convent. And realises what real love for people is. So as an old woman she is thinking what her God will think of her doing all she has done and concludes that God sent her on a pilgrimage of love.
It is a very moving book. And you can understand why Isabella does what she does and the man she loves is a quiet caring person who respects her religion and can have a good laugh too.
Melissa Addey found a plausible reason for a real historical oddity in the Almoravid history.
5 stars out of 5
Author Melissa Addey seems to emerge herself in a historic period and then produce a series of novels around one event but from different points of view and - quite impressive - still totally different and interesting. Of course one will more hit a cord with you than others. She did so with the Chinese conquest of the Uygur lands and now also with the Almoravid dynasty in Morocco.
The Almoravid dynasty (Arabic: المرابطون, Al-Murābiṭūn) was an imperial Berber Muslim dynasty centered in Morocco.It established an empire in the 11th century that stretched over the western Maghreb and Al-Andalus. Founded by Abdallah ibn Yasin, the Almoravid capital was Marrakesh, a city the ruling house founded in 1062. The dynasty originated among the Lamtuna and the Gudala, nomadic Berber tribes of the Sahara, traversing the territory between the Draa, the Niger, and the Senegal rivers.
Yusuf ibn Tashfin, also Tashafin, Teshufin, (Arabic: يوسف بن تاشفين ناصر الدين بن تالاكاكين الصنهاجي, romanized: Yūsuf ibn Tāshfīn Naṣr al-Dīn ibn Tālākakīn al-Ṣanhājī; reigned c. 1061 – 1106) was leader of the Berber Almoravid empire. He co-founded the city of Marrakesh and led the Muslim forces in the Battle of Sagrajas. Ibn Tashfin came to al-Andalus from Africa to help the Muslims fight against Alfonso VI, eventually achieving victory and promoting an Islamic system in the region. He was married to Zaynab an-Nafzawiyyah, whom he reportedly trusted politically. (Source: Wikiperdia)
Some of you might be familiar with the Christian hero El Cid. He and Yusuf ibn Tashfin were each other's opponents.
In this series Melissa first creates a fictional first wife for Yusuf ibn Tashfin (after a part 1 novella that is all about incest and guilt and what I think you can skip) and more or less tells the story of Yusuf, Zaynab and the founding of Marrakesh. This will very well do as a historical tale about that. See my review of that novel here: http://www.dutchysbookreviewsandfreeb...
The next novel tells the lifestory of queen Zaynab and although that is an interesting psychological sad story of a woman who craved love her whole life and ended up with empty hands all the time I would keep that story for last as it will create spoilers for part 4 and I think you best read book 2 and then 4 and maybe 1 and 3 for the background.
Book 4 however I found brilliant as it is a story that is all about love. Or like the heroine says at the end: "God send me on a pilgrimage of love".
Sister Juliana was a miracle baby and her parents promised her to the church. At the end of the 10th century and about 30 years old she is her convent's renowned herbalist and next in line to become the mother superior when she is send on a journey to accompany a new novice to the convent. Reading between the lines Sister Juliana gives the impression of being quite a formidable and arrogant woman who frowns when her fellow sister and traveller smiles and greets people on the road. Even when disaster strikes still she looks down upon other people and condemns sinners, Muslims and Jews to hell. For her her chastity as a nun is paramount.
This condescending woman ends up as a scarred and crippled kitchen slave in the middle of the Sahara.
---- BE WARNED SPOILERS AHEAD ----
But then the Almoravids attack and the kitchen women become slaves to one of their generals. Yusuf is a quiet, kind and just man who insist on calling his Christian slave not by her slave name nor her nun-name but Isabella as she was called by her mother. The Almoravids decide to leave the city and Yusuf takes Isabella with him as his private servant to the bare plane where a new city is planned to be build. Slowly during evenings sitting in front of the tent it feels like a kind of friendship is forged between the Muslim general and the Christian nun. But then another major shift happens in Isabella's life and their bond is broken. Or so it seems.
What I found extremely well done is how Isabella tries not to forsake her religious beliefs but over decades first respects but later deeply loves one man of what in her religion will be regarded an unbeliever. You can feel that love from afar grow. From watching from the citywalls how he trains his soldiers and thinking he is doing so well, to wanting his baby badly and yearning for him when he is kneeling in front of her and sobbing in her lap.
It is not at all a steamy romance. For instance "intimacy" is shown when they uncover each other's veiled head and caress each other's face and hair (male Almoravids veiled themselves as Toearegs and she is a nun who covers her hair unlike the Berber women). Nevertheless it becomes quite clear that both share a deep love and respect for each other. What is shown by marriages symbols as a house and by dates.
How she changes from looking down on Muslims and Jews to having Muslim and Jewish sisters, being well acquainted with dark skinned Africans and raising a Muslim. How in fact she recreates her convent. And realises what real love for people is. So as an old woman she is thinking what her God will think of her doing all she has done and concludes that God sent her on a pilgrimage of love.
It is a very moving book. And you can understand why Isabella does what she does and the man she loves is a quiet caring person who respects her religion and can have a good laugh too.
Melissa Addey found a plausible reason for a real historical oddity in the Almoravid history.
5 stars out of 5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 25, 2025Want to go behind the scenes of Do Not Awaken Love? Check out this interview with Melissa Addey: https://historicalfictionreader.blogs...
August 14, 2022
This wasn't quite what I was expecting. Between the title, the description, and the epigraphs from the Song of Solomon, I expected more romance. In that, I was disappointed. But of course there are many kinds of love, and the concluding words of this novel were perfect. I deeply appreciated that Addey's heroine is a convincing woman of her time and upbringing, who is haunted by her "sin," who looks down her nose at people of other religions till she truly grows to know them. What a wonderful character arc.
I also appreciated that the Author's Note is included in this audiobook. What a fascinating historical mystery lies at the core of this story, and how well Addey solves it in her vivid and satisfying tale.
Narrator Jenny Myers did a fabulous job. Her voice is warm and expressive, with a vulnerability perfect for Isabella.
I also appreciated that the Author's Note is included in this audiobook. What a fascinating historical mystery lies at the core of this story, and how well Addey solves it in her vivid and satisfying tale.
Narrator Jenny Myers did a fabulous job. Her voice is warm and expressive, with a vulnerability perfect for Isabella.
March 27, 2020
Beautiful, truly believable
Melissa Addey is rapidly becoming one of my favorite historical romance authors. For one, she doesn't do regency. For another, she does her research! This novel is actually her fourth in The Moroccan Empire series, but reads beautifully as a standalone. The detail is priceless, the setting so fully described you can see it, and the characters are pulled from history and given vivid and fascinating lives, distinct personalities, and understated but authentic emotions. This is a too-good-to-be-fiction love story, a true romance, and a moving depiction of a lifetime love. This is a voluntary ARC review.
Melissa Addey is rapidly becoming one of my favorite historical romance authors. For one, she doesn't do regency. For another, she does her research! This novel is actually her fourth in The Moroccan Empire series, but reads beautifully as a standalone. The detail is priceless, the setting so fully described you can see it, and the characters are pulled from history and given vivid and fascinating lives, distinct personalities, and understated but authentic emotions. This is a too-good-to-be-fiction love story, a true romance, and a moving depiction of a lifetime love. This is a voluntary ARC review.
March 16, 2020
This wonderful bit of fiction is based on many historical facts. The story is epic. It involves many cultures and faiths. During the time of El Cid, there were Norsemen raiding Christian countries, selling European slaves to the North African Markets while the Moors conquered everything they could. This is an adventure, a love story, and history bound up into one great story. I was given this ARC by the author for free. This is my honest review. Now, I am off to read the first 3 books in the series.
October 26, 2020
A sweeping series of novels set in North Africa and Spain. a great read for fans of historical
An exceptional work of historical fiction,well researched and edifying. MS. Added has created a love story for the ages. I really enjoyed learning about the culture and history of the rise of a Muslim Empire in North Africa that spread into Spain. Rich characterization of key people and geography. I always enjoy novels with strong female characters with insights into herbal lore of the time.
An exceptional work of historical fiction,well researched and edifying. MS. Added has created a love story for the ages. I really enjoyed learning about the culture and history of the rise of a Muslim Empire in North Africa that spread into Spain. Rich characterization of key people and geography. I always enjoy novels with strong female characters with insights into herbal lore of the time.
May 2, 2022
I have reviewed the novella and the 3 novels of the Moroccan Empire series, each separately. I initially wrote this is not literature, and while this may be true, it is really captivating historical fiction, a genre I never tried before reading Adley’s works. The series had some of the fascination of The Arabian Nights for me. Adley is a wonderful storyteller, like the storytellers that appear in her novels.
March 22, 2022
I enjoyed this fictional story with its historical foundation.
I feel the author has done well. Well constructed.
Narration was also well done but there are a few little glitches where the narrator repeats herself.
There is no course language. There is a hints of abuse and some violence, but not in detail.
I feel the author has done well. Well constructed.
Narration was also well done but there are a few little glitches where the narrator repeats herself.
There is no course language. There is a hints of abuse and some violence, but not in detail.
October 2, 2022
Give star story but one off for poor grammar!
Super set of stories.
Are there no proof readers to correct incorrect grammar? Sat instead of seated all the way through each book. And I when it should be me. Happy to give a free lesson!
Love this author's storytelling. Will probably read the China series....with gritted teeth!
Super set of stories.
Are there no proof readers to correct incorrect grammar? Sat instead of seated all the way through each book. And I when it should be me. Happy to give a free lesson!
Love this author's storytelling. Will probably read the China series....with gritted teeth!
October 19, 2021
Historical fiction at its best
I just completed the last of the four books in this series set in ancient Morocco. As a fan of this genre I highly recommend this well researched and well written saga.
I just completed the last of the four books in this series set in ancient Morocco. As a fan of this genre I highly recommend this well researched and well written saga.
November 6, 2022
I enjoyed the narration of Jenny Myers
This story is set during the time of El Cid, there were Norsemen raiding Christian countries, selling European slaves to the North African Markets while the Moors conquered everything they could. This is an adventure, a love story, one great story.
This story is set during the time of El Cid, there were Norsemen raiding Christian countries, selling European slaves to the North African Markets while the Moors conquered everything they could. This is an adventure, a love story, one great story.
May 13, 2020
Do Not Awaken Love by Melissa Addey has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Premier Award.
www.chillwithabook.com
www.chillwithabook.com
July 1, 2020
I was not a huge fan of this book. I'm not sure what drove my away from it. It was ok but I didn't get excited about it like I did the rest of the series
July 6, 2020
Read in one day. All four books in 5 days. Wonderfully written.
December 28, 2020
I have read all three books , and thoroughly enjoyed them all.
February 16, 2024
Loved reading all 4books in this series.Ancient medical treatments with herbs .etc /fascinating .
Love jealousy all old as time .
Love jealousy all old as time .
August 18, 2025
Amazing!!!! Love this author!
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