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Into the North
As enemies unite, every path leads into the storm.
Marcus
When Marcus’s legion is decimated and he’s taken prisoner at the hands of the barbarians, he has one thought on his mind—escape. But the man who has claimed him, the warrior with the gray eyes that seem to bore into his soul, has no intention of letting him go.
The barbarian lands are harsh and cold, and not everyone is happy to have a Roman living in their village. As tensions rise and spilled blood becomes inevitable, Marcus will have to make his final choice: run and survive alone as he always has or take the ultimate risk to find what he never knew he needed.
Agnar
Agnar never thought anyone would catch his eye again after his wife was murdered by an enemy clan. But the moment he saw the Roman’s inescapable face, it brought Agnar’s world to a halt. Bound by law and culture, did the only thing he could to save him—take him as a thrall.
But the Roman’s mysterious dark eyes are not the only ones that hold secrets. Pulled between two loyalties with the future of his people at stake, Agnar is forced to make a critical choice: sacrifice one kind of love for another or lose both forever.
This is a tale of love trying to break through in a dark world. It’s a slow burn, steamy, MM historical romance. It is also a standalone with a guaranteed hea. Please note that this book is not for the faint of heart. There could be some triggering content.
Marcus
When Marcus’s legion is decimated and he’s taken prisoner at the hands of the barbarians, he has one thought on his mind—escape. But the man who has claimed him, the warrior with the gray eyes that seem to bore into his soul, has no intention of letting him go.
The barbarian lands are harsh and cold, and not everyone is happy to have a Roman living in their village. As tensions rise and spilled blood becomes inevitable, Marcus will have to make his final choice: run and survive alone as he always has or take the ultimate risk to find what he never knew he needed.
Agnar
Agnar never thought anyone would catch his eye again after his wife was murdered by an enemy clan. But the moment he saw the Roman’s inescapable face, it brought Agnar’s world to a halt. Bound by law and culture, did the only thing he could to save him—take him as a thrall.
But the Roman’s mysterious dark eyes are not the only ones that hold secrets. Pulled between two loyalties with the future of his people at stake, Agnar is forced to make a critical choice: sacrifice one kind of love for another or lose both forever.
This is a tale of love trying to break through in a dark world. It’s a slow burn, steamy, MM historical romance. It is also a standalone with a guaranteed hea. Please note that this book is not for the faint of heart. There could be some triggering content.
536 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2022
421 people are currently reading
3322 people want to read
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February 12, 2025
Re-read 2/11/2025
My old review still remains true. I can’t explain how much I love this book. It tears my heart out and stitches the pieces back together. Marcus is a Roman who becomes a slave to a barbarian named Agnar after he is defeated in battle. At first he is trapped in a strange village with tight walls and cold staring eyes. But then he and Agnar begin to grow close and their gentle moments are so fragile and precious, which makes other parts of this book prick like thorns. I love Marcus, he simply wants comfort and a home. A place where he can live with gentle thoughts, a place where he isn’t alone. Agnar is kind hearted and always seems to put others' needs before his own. They are both incredibly well written and it’s not just the characters. The writing in general is stunning, the descriptions, the hurt/comfort, the way everything just fits together. At times the plot had me in such a tight grasp I felt like I was suffocating. This book is a gem that makes me cry and also wraps me in a warm hug.
8/25/2023
I was afraid to start this book because I thought I wouldn’t like it. But I was totally wrong and I’m so happy I gave it a chance. The writing was fantastic. The storyline was just👌. I can’t explain how much I loved this.
My old review still remains true. I can’t explain how much I love this book. It tears my heart out and stitches the pieces back together. Marcus is a Roman who becomes a slave to a barbarian named Agnar after he is defeated in battle. At first he is trapped in a strange village with tight walls and cold staring eyes. But then he and Agnar begin to grow close and their gentle moments are so fragile and precious, which makes other parts of this book prick like thorns. I love Marcus, he simply wants comfort and a home. A place where he can live with gentle thoughts, a place where he isn’t alone. Agnar is kind hearted and always seems to put others' needs before his own. They are both incredibly well written and it’s not just the characters. The writing in general is stunning, the descriptions, the hurt/comfort, the way everything just fits together. At times the plot had me in such a tight grasp I felt like I was suffocating. This book is a gem that makes me cry and also wraps me in a warm hug.
8/25/2023
I was afraid to start this book because I thought I wouldn’t like it. But I was totally wrong and I’m so happy I gave it a chance. The writing was fantastic. The storyline was just👌. I can’t explain how much I loved this.
![Profile Image for Imme [trying to crawl out of hiatus] van Gorp.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1700013408i%2F101358081._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
did-not-finish
July 17, 2023DNF @24%
In the very first few chapters I thought this was going to be great. Agnar seemed reverent and kind-hearted when it came to Marcus, and it looked like he wanted to treat him well. However, in the blink of an eye, he changed. Agnar became rough, cold and uncaring towards him, and with that, he ruined their entire dynamic for me.
I don’t mind the captor/captive trope, but I need the captor to care. I need the captor to fight for the love of the captive, to feel remorse and want to earn forgiveness.
Basically, I want the captor to have the upper hand physically, but the captive to have all the power emotionally.
I’m just not interested in a story of literal abuse. No thanksss.
Oh, and also, there is hardly any dialogue in this, and most of it is drawn-out descriptions. That’s definitely not my favourite type of writing, and tends to bore me to death.
So, I’m giving up. I don’t DNF often, but nothing about this is holding my interest.
In the very first few chapters I thought this was going to be great. Agnar seemed reverent and kind-hearted when it came to Marcus, and it looked like he wanted to treat him well. However, in the blink of an eye, he changed. Agnar became rough, cold and uncaring towards him, and with that, he ruined their entire dynamic for me.
I don’t mind the captor/captive trope, but I need the captor to care. I need the captor to fight for the love of the captive, to feel remorse and want to earn forgiveness.
Basically, I want the captor to have the upper hand physically, but the captive to have all the power emotionally.
I’m just not interested in a story of literal abuse. No thanksss.
Oh, and also, there is hardly any dialogue in this, and most of it is drawn-out descriptions. That’s definitely not my favourite type of writing, and tends to bore me to death.
So, I’m giving up. I don’t DNF often, but nothing about this is holding my interest.
June 11, 2023
⭐︎
4.5 Stars Rounded Up!
⭐︎
This was a very strong first outing for this new author.
Set in ancient roman times, our MC's meet on the battlefield. During a battle between the Romans and some Germanic tribes, it goes very, very badly for the Romans. Marcus is one of the few left standing.
He's a good fighter, and holds his own against Agnar, a big, tall, strong germanic warrior. But he's not enough for many 'barbarians' as Marcus thinks of them, and he gets captured.
He's about to be killed by the barbarians when he and Agnar, who already has a slight connection on that field, lock eyes.
To save Marcus from dying, Agnar takes him as a 'thrall' which is the same thing as a slave.
And while soon after they reach Agnar's village, things change between them from master/slave type deal, the fact that Marcus is a slave hangs over his head.
Agnar is a good man and treats Marcus well, but no matter how well he treats him, he still owns Marcus. Marcus wants to be a free man, and he starts planning his escape early, before he starts falling for Agnar.
Agnar never truly wanted Marcus to be his slave, but to save his life it was his only option. His village wouldn't accept Marcus being there as anything else. The Romans and Germanic tribes obviously have a bloody, heated history and both factions clearly hate each other.
But Agnar had a wife, who died 6 years previously, and her brother is their Chieftan's son, and like a brother to Agnar. That connection makes him a little blind to his very deep hatred for Marcus and how far he's willing to go to get Marcus dead or close to it.
But Agnar is the 'owner' of Marcus and the brother - Sigfrid, I think, is his name - can't technically do anything to Marcus without Agnar's permission. But that doesn't stop Sigfrid from slowly, over time, escalating his horrid behavior towards Marcus. Even threatening to rape him several times.
Marcus tries to tell Agnar of it, but Agnar won't hear of it. He and Sigfrid have a long history, and he was there for Agnar after Agnar's wife's death, got him out of the worst of his grief. It makes Agnar practically blind fo Sigfrid's worsening behavior.
There's also another Germanic tribe/village that seems to be plotting something against them, as a few of them have been seen on their village land. It's only a matter of time before something happens there as well.
But as Marcus becomes more engrained in the village, not only falling for Agnar, but making friends with several villagers as well, Marcus slowly comes to the conclusion that he doesn't want to go.
But things get dicey when he forgets to get rid of where he hid supplies he planned to take with him when he escaped when he first got there, and he left the village for a walk in the forest.
Agnar lets Sigfrid's words seep into his mind, and he is angry at Marcus for a long time.
I, personally, would have liked there being less time spent on the angst of their 'separation' as it were and spent a little time once they got back together near the very end.
Once the angst happens and their relationship comes to a halt, a lot of pages are spent on their separation and Marcus just getting through the day to day with Agnar practically ignoring him.
The climax is good and these two finding each other again is so good, but we go from Marcus wanting to take it slow to see if he'll stay in a few months time, to the epilogue where they're already at the place where they're back together, together.
I just wish we had gotten maybe another chapter or two of them rebuilding what had beeb broken and less of the time of them being broken, especially when that stretch of the book was just a lot Marcus doing mundane tasks every day and trying to stave off boredom.
I just wanted to see some of them rebuilding the trust and everything.
But, aside from that niggle, I did absolutely adore this, and I adored Marcus and Agnar together. Their chemistry was so good and the romance was done so well. These two went on quite the journey of technically being enemies to being in love with each other.
I just couldn't put this down unless I had to. It was over 500 pages, but it didn't feel like it. It just flowed together so well and went by so quickly, and I loved it.
I definitely recommend this. Two MASSIVE thumbs up from me. I, for one, absolutely can't wait for more from this new author. If her romances in the future are anything like this one, then I'm so excited for them.
Can't wait! 😍😘🥰
This was a very strong first outing for this new author.
Set in ancient roman times, our MC's meet on the battlefield. During a battle between the Romans and some Germanic tribes, it goes very, very badly for the Romans. Marcus is one of the few left standing.
He's a good fighter, and holds his own against Agnar, a big, tall, strong germanic warrior. But he's not enough for many 'barbarians' as Marcus thinks of them, and he gets captured.
He's about to be killed by the barbarians when he and Agnar, who already has a slight connection on that field, lock eyes.
To save Marcus from dying, Agnar takes him as a 'thrall' which is the same thing as a slave.
And while soon after they reach Agnar's village, things change between them from master/slave type deal, the fact that Marcus is a slave hangs over his head.
Agnar is a good man and treats Marcus well, but no matter how well he treats him, he still owns Marcus. Marcus wants to be a free man, and he starts planning his escape early, before he starts falling for Agnar.
Agnar never truly wanted Marcus to be his slave, but to save his life it was his only option. His village wouldn't accept Marcus being there as anything else. The Romans and Germanic tribes obviously have a bloody, heated history and both factions clearly hate each other.
But Agnar had a wife, who died 6 years previously, and her brother is their Chieftan's son, and like a brother to Agnar. That connection makes him a little blind to his very deep hatred for Marcus and how far he's willing to go to get Marcus dead or close to it.
But Agnar is the 'owner' of Marcus and the brother - Sigfrid, I think, is his name - can't technically do anything to Marcus without Agnar's permission. But that doesn't stop Sigfrid from slowly, over time, escalating his horrid behavior towards Marcus. Even threatening to rape him several times.
Marcus tries to tell Agnar of it, but Agnar won't hear of it. He and Sigfrid have a long history, and he was there for Agnar after Agnar's wife's death, got him out of the worst of his grief. It makes Agnar practically blind fo Sigfrid's worsening behavior.
There's also another Germanic tribe/village that seems to be plotting something against them, as a few of them have been seen on their village land. It's only a matter of time before something happens there as well.
But as Marcus becomes more engrained in the village, not only falling for Agnar, but making friends with several villagers as well, Marcus slowly comes to the conclusion that he doesn't want to go.
But things get dicey when he forgets to get rid of where he hid supplies he planned to take with him when he escaped when he first got there, and he left the village for a walk in the forest.
Agnar lets Sigfrid's words seep into his mind, and he is angry at Marcus for a long time.
I, personally, would have liked there being less time spent on the angst of their 'separation' as it were and spent a little time once they got back together near the very end.
Once the angst happens and their relationship comes to a halt, a lot of pages are spent on their separation and Marcus just getting through the day to day with Agnar practically ignoring him.
The climax is good and these two finding each other again is so good, but we go from Marcus wanting to take it slow to see if he'll stay in a few months time, to the epilogue where they're already at the place where they're back together, together.
I just wish we had gotten maybe another chapter or two of them rebuilding what had beeb broken and less of the time of them being broken, especially when that stretch of the book was just a lot Marcus doing mundane tasks every day and trying to stave off boredom.
I just wanted to see some of them rebuilding the trust and everything.
But, aside from that niggle, I did absolutely adore this, and I adored Marcus and Agnar together. Their chemistry was so good and the romance was done so well. These two went on quite the journey of technically being enemies to being in love with each other.
I just couldn't put this down unless I had to. It was over 500 pages, but it didn't feel like it. It just flowed together so well and went by so quickly, and I loved it.
I definitely recommend this. Two MASSIVE thumbs up from me. I, for one, absolutely can't wait for more from this new author. If her romances in the future are anything like this one, then I'm so excited for them.
Can't wait! 😍😘🥰
February 23, 2023
I sat on this review, ruminating on what I wanted to write and waffling over my rating. Part of me genuinely loved this story of Marcus, a Roman soldier taken captive by Agnar, a Germanic warrior, after his legion was decimated in battle. Enthralling! Poignant! So much five-star material!
But! For me - and everyone's mileage will surely vary - the potential was unrealized, particularly regarding the relationship development and the rushed ending. Still, realization of full potential is difficult, especially for a first-time author. Into the North was a gripping novel, and I would both recommend and read it again.
Agnar, whose name I often misread as "Anger" - not ideal! - was a reluctant captor. So impressed with Marcus' ferocity and courage during battle, he takes him as a thrall to save his life. But a reluctant captor is still a captor. Kudos to the author for reaffirming that true equality couldn't exist, while also dissecting Marcus' ordeal in subtle yet no less affecting ways. Marcus, hardened by trauma and loss, is harsher and more reserved than the open, kind Agnar. The lust and affection ebb and flow beneath the weight of Agnar's ownership of Marcus. At times, the story reminded me of an old-school - but not the rapey or abusive kind - romance. Agnar was by turns sweet and obstinate, and Marcus collapsed inward before striking out defiantly. Hurts-so-good, push-pull, angsty sweetness.
Back to the but! I wanted more grit in the relationship, more color and nuance in its evolvement. A slower burn. I also had to suspend disbelief regarding Marcus' language skills and overlook a few "modern-isms." The climax was thrilling but unfolded too quickly; desired key scenes were missing from the aftermath. The epilogue was very sweet, if focused on events of lower interest to me.
Finally, since many other reviewers addressed it, I will too. Authors who write anal sex should consistently address lubrication and preparation. The author did in the first two sexual encounters - but then just stopped?? I don't know if we were supposed to assume that they were still doing these things, but I didn't, and some later scenes made me squirm - not in a good way! Perhaps it was an oversight, or even an unconscious heteronormativity bias, but it would be important to consider in future books.
Into the North was a unique and well-written story that, although not perfect, kept me engaged. As a general matter, I beg more authors to please, PLEASE write more books like this! The time period and setting are severely underrepresented in historical romance, especially LGBTQ. But, I would also love to see Marcus, Agnar and other characters from their world again; in fact, I actively hope for it. Regardless of whether or not that comes to fruition, I eagerly await more stories from Amber Huxley!
But! For me - and everyone's mileage will surely vary - the potential was unrealized, particularly regarding the relationship development and the rushed ending. Still, realization of full potential is difficult, especially for a first-time author. Into the North was a gripping novel, and I would both recommend and read it again.
Agnar, whose name I often misread as "Anger" - not ideal! - was a reluctant captor. So impressed with Marcus' ferocity and courage during battle, he takes him as a thrall to save his life. But a reluctant captor is still a captor. Kudos to the author for reaffirming that true equality couldn't exist, while also dissecting Marcus' ordeal in subtle yet no less affecting ways. Marcus, hardened by trauma and loss, is harsher and more reserved than the open, kind Agnar. The lust and affection ebb and flow beneath the weight of Agnar's ownership of Marcus. At times, the story reminded me of an old-school - but not the rapey or abusive kind - romance. Agnar was by turns sweet and obstinate, and Marcus collapsed inward before striking out defiantly. Hurts-so-good, push-pull, angsty sweetness.
Back to the but! I wanted more grit in the relationship, more color and nuance in its evolvement. A slower burn. I also had to suspend disbelief regarding Marcus' language skills and overlook a few "modern-isms." The climax was thrilling but unfolded too quickly; desired key scenes were missing from the aftermath. The epilogue was very sweet, if focused on events of lower interest to me.
Finally, since many other reviewers addressed it, I will too. Authors who write anal sex should consistently address lubrication and preparation. The author did in the first two sexual encounters - but then just stopped?? I don't know if we were supposed to assume that they were still doing these things, but I didn't, and some later scenes made me squirm - not in a good way! Perhaps it was an oversight, or even an unconscious heteronormativity bias, but it would be important to consider in future books.
Into the North was a unique and well-written story that, although not perfect, kept me engaged. As a general matter, I beg more authors to please, PLEASE write more books like this! The time period and setting are severely underrepresented in historical romance, especially LGBTQ. But, I would also love to see Marcus, Agnar and other characters from their world again; in fact, I actively hope for it. Regardless of whether or not that comes to fruition, I eagerly await more stories from Amber Huxley!
January 25, 2023
FFS what happened to a proud Roman, who suddenly turned into a door mat 3/4 through the book? He got body snatched? Had personality transplant? Was visited by aliens?
It was a solid 4 star read until all the pointless unfounded begging, which was so out of character it took the stage and spoiled the book. And then when the “conflict” finally came to head, the author went the cliche route of a sudden attack as a distraction from issues on hand, instead of having the characters reconcile their differences, how predictable and boring. Just like that the book went from an excellent read to WTF?!
It seems like the author could not figure out an unconventional way to resolving the dilemma, so having Marcus put up a token of protest and pretend to “think about it” instead of folding like a wet paper towel right away had to do the trick? He was promised that things “would be different and his trust would be earned” by Agnar, but then author just skips forward and we are not shown on page what changed? As a matter of fact one the “big misgivings” - Marcus being seen as a mere slave by others even after he was “freed” was not resolved at all, on the contrary he is still treated like dirt by other members of the clan. But suddenly he is fine with that and just “wants a quiet life”, because of what? Big bad love? By the dude who humiliated him, chained him, treated him like property, fucked him with a token of “just say no” (ever tried saying no to person who has complete power over you, has threatened to gag and to whip you and not in a hot kinky way? Yeah, me neither). And then a couple of “heartfelt apologies” magically solves everything, so that avalanche of abuse did not happen? Whaaa?
One of the reviewers complained that the book was as too dark, which does not present any issues for me. Slavery is not sweet, loss of freedom, personhood and power imbalance are not light cute topics for your typical romance book.
However, relationship dynamics should be believable and here lies the crux of the matter - nothing that I have read portrayed a believable resolution for a slave and a slave owner relationship dynamic, cliched and rushed ending aside. It could have been a great book if only author took her time to work through the issues. One cannot spend 90% of the book raining abuse on protagonist’s head only to solve everything with a nice cute bow on top in the last 10%. It does not work this way.
2.5 stars rounded down for disappointment.
P.S. I do like the writing style overall and hope that the author will address the cliches and the problem of the rushed ending in time for a new book.
It was a solid 4 star read until all the pointless unfounded begging, which was so out of character it took the stage and spoiled the book. And then when the “conflict” finally came to head, the author went the cliche route of a sudden attack as a distraction from issues on hand, instead of having the characters reconcile their differences, how predictable and boring. Just like that the book went from an excellent read to WTF?!
It seems like the author could not figure out an unconventional way to resolving the dilemma, so having Marcus put up a token of protest and pretend to “think about it” instead of folding like a wet paper towel right away had to do the trick? He was promised that things “would be different and his trust would be earned” by Agnar, but then author just skips forward and we are not shown on page what changed? As a matter of fact one the “big misgivings” - Marcus being seen as a mere slave by others even after he was “freed” was not resolved at all, on the contrary he is still treated like dirt by other members of the clan. But suddenly he is fine with that and just “wants a quiet life”, because of what? Big bad love? By the dude who humiliated him, chained him, treated him like property, fucked him with a token of “just say no” (ever tried saying no to person who has complete power over you, has threatened to gag and to whip you and not in a hot kinky way? Yeah, me neither). And then a couple of “heartfelt apologies” magically solves everything, so that avalanche of abuse did not happen? Whaaa?
One of the reviewers complained that the book was as too dark, which does not present any issues for me. Slavery is not sweet, loss of freedom, personhood and power imbalance are not light cute topics for your typical romance book.
However, relationship dynamics should be believable and here lies the crux of the matter - nothing that I have read portrayed a believable resolution for a slave and a slave owner relationship dynamic, cliched and rushed ending aside. It could have been a great book if only author took her time to work through the issues. One cannot spend 90% of the book raining abuse on protagonist’s head only to solve everything with a nice cute bow on top in the last 10%. It does not work this way.
2.5 stars rounded down for disappointment.
P.S. I do like the writing style overall and hope that the author will address the cliches and the problem of the rushed ending in time for a new book.
September 8, 2025
I don't even know how to write a review for this book, but if a story were practically made for me, it would be this one. I mean, mm romance + ancient Rome? It could not be more tailored to me.
During the reign of the Divine Augustus, Rome tried to expand its domains in Germania; the allied Germanic tribes, with the insight and knowledge obtained by Arminius, decided to ambush and massacre the Roman legions in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
One of the survivors of this battle was our baby boy, Marcus. Marcus is just a legionary fighting for Rome, but somehow he finds himself being first offered in sacrifice and then suddenly saved by his new owner/captor, Agnar.
Agnar is this very badass, huge sort of Germanic Viking warrior who is also a widower, but since the first time he sees Marcus, he is completely smitten with him and doesn't waste any time telling Marcus how beautiful he is.
Even though Marcus is a slave, we don't see any forced sexual relationship between him and Agnar; instead, their relationship sort of progresses (a bit fast if I'm honest) in an organic way, and we can see how their feelings start to get involved. There is obviously some resentment and a wanting to be free again from Marcus because up to now, he was a free man, and now he is just a slave. We also have the annoying and evil brother-in-law/chief of the tribe in waiting, who hates Marcus and is dedicated to seeing him suffer.
There is some angst there due to the circumstances of their relationship and the political climate they are living but overall, they can find their HEA.
A special mention to all the side characters in the village who treat Marcus as one of them, and to Marcus's ability to be underestimated and a complete badass murder machine!
Also, huge bravo to the author for this debut novel; it was very well-researched and written. I read it in a day because I couldn't stop.
During the reign of the Divine Augustus, Rome tried to expand its domains in Germania; the allied Germanic tribes, with the insight and knowledge obtained by Arminius, decided to ambush and massacre the Roman legions in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
One of the survivors of this battle was our baby boy, Marcus. Marcus is just a legionary fighting for Rome, but somehow he finds himself being first offered in sacrifice and then suddenly saved by his new owner/captor, Agnar.
Agnar is this very badass, huge sort of Germanic Viking warrior who is also a widower, but since the first time he sees Marcus, he is completely smitten with him and doesn't waste any time telling Marcus how beautiful he is.
Even though Marcus is a slave, we don't see any forced sexual relationship between him and Agnar; instead, their relationship sort of progresses (a bit fast if I'm honest) in an organic way, and we can see how their feelings start to get involved. There is obviously some resentment and a wanting to be free again from Marcus because up to now, he was a free man, and now he is just a slave. We also have the annoying and evil brother-in-law/chief of the tribe in waiting, who hates Marcus and is dedicated to seeing him suffer.
There is some angst there due to the circumstances of their relationship and the political climate they are living but overall, they can find their HEA.
A special mention to all the side characters in the village who treat Marcus as one of them, and to Marcus's ability to be underestimated and a complete badass murder machine!
Also, huge bravo to the author for this debut novel; it was very well-researched and written. I read it in a day because I couldn't stop.
October 3, 2024
Stockholm Syndrome but make it ✨Roman/Viking✨
Considering this is captivity romance I expected this to be alot darker, but this actually was a reasonably sweet romance (although maybe that says more for my scale of darkness in what I read).
Really I only had some minor issues with the book. I felt a little bit like their initial hooking up was a bit too easily achieved and given the circumstances wouldn’t have minded a longer boil on that chemistry. Also given the length of the book and how strong the first and last 25% of this was, I found the middle half dragged a little and could have been a lot snappier.
Marcus was definitely the most interesting character for me and some of my favourite scenes are when he just unleashes and surprises everyone by just becoming a little murder machine and I enjoyed his relationships with the side characters in the village.
This book does heavily feature slavery and captivity in a world/time where it is very normalized, and aside from the experiences and POVs of Marcus himself, the focus of the story does not include reflections or commentary on the morality of owning slaves. So I think you need to just respect your own thresholds with regards if the content of this book is right for you. It’s worth noting that there is no dub-con/non-con in this story though.
Given that this is an indie debut I was impressed by the quality of writing and found the world to be engaging (although sad they haven’t released anything more than this in 2022). It’s the first book in a while that I found myself ignoring my bed time and just hoping for the best being sleep deprived at work.
Considering this is captivity romance I expected this to be alot darker, but this actually was a reasonably sweet romance (although maybe that says more for my scale of darkness in what I read).
Really I only had some minor issues with the book. I felt a little bit like their initial hooking up was a bit too easily achieved and given the circumstances wouldn’t have minded a longer boil on that chemistry. Also given the length of the book and how strong the first and last 25% of this was, I found the middle half dragged a little and could have been a lot snappier.
Marcus was definitely the most interesting character for me and some of my favourite scenes are when he just unleashes and surprises everyone by just becoming a little murder machine and I enjoyed his relationships with the side characters in the village.
This book does heavily feature slavery and captivity in a world/time where it is very normalized, and aside from the experiences and POVs of Marcus himself, the focus of the story does not include reflections or commentary on the morality of owning slaves. So I think you need to just respect your own thresholds with regards if the content of this book is right for you. It’s worth noting that there is no dub-con/non-con in this story though.
Given that this is an indie debut I was impressed by the quality of writing and found the world to be engaging (although sad they haven’t released anything more than this in 2022). It’s the first book in a while that I found myself ignoring my bed time and just hoping for the best being sleep deprived at work.
August 28, 2023
What an impressive debut! I was so hooked on this I couldn’t put it down. This is set in 9 AD after the Battle of Teutoburg Forest, in a place that I believe is now modern day Sweden and the Auiones appear to be a real clan, based on my googling. I loved the story of Marcus and Agnar. Lovely cover too.
This wasn’t as dark as I expected and I really liked that about it. Yes there is some bad stuff going on but it felt appropriate and necessary for that time period and the setting. It never felt just thrown in for shock value, for the purpose of smut or to ‘fit the bill’ for a dark romance.
Agnar is a reluctant captor and is essentially soft hearted and gentle but he is in a tough situation and I really felt for him. I understood his actions, his desperation and conflicting loyalties are clear. He doesn’t exert his power sexually over Marcus in a forceful way nor physically abuses him for the fun of it. He is not cruel. His actions which are not so great are all fitting to the storyline and in my eyes understandable given the situation. I really liked this, it’s more of a gentle slave/owner story but still with enough physical violence to make it realistic for warring barbarian tribes set in that time.
I always have some niggles but I don’t normally write about them as I don’t expect perfection but one that kept popping into my brain was how damn fluent Marcus was in the clans language. Surely he wouldn’t have such a high degree of fluency, especially in the beginning. I would have loved him to have a more basic understanding and for this to grow throughout the story. Occasionally the dialogue felt too modern which threw me out of the story at times.
I also would have loved some time shown between them reconnecting and rekindling their relationship in the end. This is a common complaint for me so maybe im just a big softie who likes seeing the couples established but I just would have loved an extra few chapters with them in the end before the epilogue because we are told they reconnect but don’t necessarily see it. This is very relationship focussed story though from quite early so I didn’t feel lacking in the romance factor at all. I just didn’t want it to end.
I loved this and will definitely be on the lookout for future books by Amber Huxley.
This wasn’t as dark as I expected and I really liked that about it. Yes there is some bad stuff going on but it felt appropriate and necessary for that time period and the setting. It never felt just thrown in for shock value, for the purpose of smut or to ‘fit the bill’ for a dark romance.
Agnar is a reluctant captor and is essentially soft hearted and gentle but he is in a tough situation and I really felt for him. I understood his actions, his desperation and conflicting loyalties are clear. He doesn’t exert his power sexually over Marcus in a forceful way nor physically abuses him for the fun of it. He is not cruel. His actions which are not so great are all fitting to the storyline and in my eyes understandable given the situation. I really liked this, it’s more of a gentle slave/owner story but still with enough physical violence to make it realistic for warring barbarian tribes set in that time.
I always have some niggles but I don’t normally write about them as I don’t expect perfection but one that kept popping into my brain was how damn fluent Marcus was in the clans language. Surely he wouldn’t have such a high degree of fluency, especially in the beginning. I would have loved him to have a more basic understanding and for this to grow throughout the story. Occasionally the dialogue felt too modern which threw me out of the story at times.
I also would have loved some time shown between them reconnecting and rekindling their relationship in the end. This is a common complaint for me so maybe im just a big softie who likes seeing the couples established but I just would have loved an extra few chapters with them in the end before the epilogue because we are told they reconnect but don’t necessarily see it. This is very relationship focussed story though from quite early so I didn’t feel lacking in the romance factor at all. I just didn’t want it to end.
I loved this and will definitely be on the lookout for future books by Amber Huxley.
December 15, 2022
This book works quite well as a story exploring the culture shock of being a Roman forced to live with a Germanic tribe, but not so much as a romance. The setting seems to be based on at least some research (I spent a lot of time on Wikipedia reading about the various battles and Germanic tribes mentioned) and I enjoyed imagining what daily life would be like for people during this time period.
But I’m dubious that a slaver-slave relationship can ever be written in a satisfying way, especially not when the setting is not a fantasy one where the author has more leeway to write a culture where the moral and ethical problems might differ from those that exist in the real world. This book did an okay job showing what Marcus and Agnar’s thought processes would have been like, though Marcus’s immediate interest in Agnar was awfully convenient. However, Agnar’s change of heart at the end was incredibly unsatisfying and unconvincing. It happens almost entirely off-page, and he only ever offers a vague apology for his “mistakes” without elaborating on them. There’s a huge difference between realizing that taking someone as a slave is unambiguously immoral and that trying to have a romantic relationship with them is impossible and wrong, on the one hand, and feeling that some of your previous actions were justified but you should have been more trusting, on the other. It’s completely unclear where Agnar falls on the spectrum between these two positions, and without knowing where he stands, I simply cannot see his relationship with Marcus as a positive thing. Vague promises to “start over as equal” simply do not cut it, because a man who believes he was justified to be angry at his slave for not obeying orders or being “grateful” for protection cannot be a good romantic partner.
While it may be unrealistic and ahistorical to expect a character like Agnar to realize that slavery is wrong, full stop, I feel you can either write a realistic historical fiction story or an unrealistic romance story based on this premise, but not both. Here, the author tried to split the difference and it didn’t work for me.
Also, books where the characters have penetrative sex 99% of the time and it’s always without lube or prep feels heteronormative in a way I don’t enjoy.
But I’m dubious that a slaver-slave relationship can ever be written in a satisfying way, especially not when the setting is not a fantasy one where the author has more leeway to write a culture where the moral and ethical problems might differ from those that exist in the real world. This book did an okay job showing what Marcus and Agnar’s thought processes would have been like, though Marcus’s immediate interest in Agnar was awfully convenient. However, Agnar’s change of heart at the end was incredibly unsatisfying and unconvincing. It happens almost entirely off-page, and he only ever offers a vague apology for his “mistakes” without elaborating on them. There’s a huge difference between realizing that taking someone as a slave is unambiguously immoral and that trying to have a romantic relationship with them is impossible and wrong, on the one hand, and feeling that some of your previous actions were justified but you should have been more trusting, on the other. It’s completely unclear where Agnar falls on the spectrum between these two positions, and without knowing where he stands, I simply cannot see his relationship with Marcus as a positive thing. Vague promises to “start over as equal” simply do not cut it, because a man who believes he was justified to be angry at his slave for not obeying orders or being “grateful” for protection cannot be a good romantic partner.
While it may be unrealistic and ahistorical to expect a character like Agnar to realize that slavery is wrong, full stop, I feel you can either write a realistic historical fiction story or an unrealistic romance story based on this premise, but not both. Here, the author tried to split the difference and it didn’t work for me.
Also, books where the characters have penetrative sex 99% of the time and it’s always without lube or prep feels heteronormative in a way I don’t enjoy.
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December 4, 2022I liked the beginning, it suggested some possible darker content. Sadly that didn't happen. It is a sweeter story than I expected, and the sex scenes didn't help at all, in fact it might have ruined the enjoyment for me. I would have preferred if it happened a bit later into the story.
The non-communication (out of fear) caused a lot of misunderstandings and there was a lot of back and forth where Agnar would want to believe his heart but his mind would get in the way.
Marcus's inner turmoil was interesting to watch and I enjoyed that part.
The course of the story was predictable, the ending rushed. Skimmed the epilogue.
2.5 stars rounded up. The writing is solid. I think this could have been easily turned into a duet or a series, and that would have been more interesting than the predictable HEA.
The non-communication (out of fear) caused a lot of misunderstandings and there was a lot of back and forth where Agnar would want to believe his heart but his mind would get in the way.
Marcus's inner turmoil was interesting to watch and I enjoyed that part.
The course of the story was predictable, the ending rushed. Skimmed the epilogue.
2.5 stars rounded up. The writing is solid. I think this could have been easily turned into a duet or a series, and that would have been more interesting than the predictable HEA.
October 9, 2023
2.5⭐️
Another book that is way too long and dragged on and on🙄🥱 I was into the romance between Marcus and Agnar in the first half of the story, but the second half all Agnar did was piss me off😐 The only thing that me and him can agree on is that Marcus does indeed deserve better. Marcus slayed (literally) and some of the side characters were amazing❤️ Slagfid however…🤢🤢🤢
Another book that is way too long and dragged on and on🙄🥱 I was into the romance between Marcus and Agnar in the first half of the story, but the second half all Agnar did was piss me off😐 The only thing that me and him can agree on is that Marcus does indeed deserve better. Marcus slayed (literally) and some of the side characters were amazing❤️ Slagfid however…🤢🤢🤢
December 7, 2022
I wanted to cry for Marcus for so much of this book. And absolutely slap some sense into Agnar. Very frustrating, but in a good way that I enjoyed.
July 10, 2024
My worst thing in romance is when MC 1 says "You must hate me," [for an assorted multitude of heinous crimes committed across a majority of the time they've known each other], and MC 2 goes, "I don't hate you."
Like.....why not?! Why the fuck don't you hate him?
My thoughts on this book in the order I had them....
1. Sigh. This guy is going to be whipped for trying to help his tribesmate and all you have to say is...
“But I have seen the strength of spirit inside you on the battlefield. You will get through it.”
I know this early in the book Agnar has no loyalties to Marcus but I'd rather you shut up than say this.
HOW DO WORDS OF AFFIRMATION HELP BEFORE A WHIPPING?!
Like OMG you shouldn't have🥰🥰🥰. Really. You shouldn't have. JFC.
'Only then, when he had no more strength left for them to take, did he hear Agnar take the whip from Slagfid.'
As a Bitter Reader™, it's going to take a LOT for me to forgive this.
2. Tying someone on a tree and gagging them because they walked away from you in an argument. Sigh. Slave/master dynamics are so hard to swallow because one person literally doesn't get to say no.
3. And what makes it worse is that Agnar really doesn't see an issue. All he thinks is how he's been so tolerant. Chaining him up by the leg. Forbidding him to move beyond the house, or the boundaries of the village. He's genuinely baffled why a former Roman soldier won't just obey 💀. The little Roman keeps forgetting his place.
'Forget his place? How could he possibly forget?'
RIGHT?! He's literally chained to 'his place'.
4. And it doesn't end there lol. This MF has the AUDACITY to ask...
“Tell me, Marcus, are you not happy in my home?”
Hmmm. Let's brainstorm. Forced into slavery. Tied up. Relegated to women's work when he's allowed out of the house. Looked down on by everyone he meets. His owner's bestie tries to kill him every chance he gets and his owner repeatedly won't believe him about it.
Yes. It's baffling why Marcus wouldn't be happy. He has so much!
5. “Whip me if you wish. Sell me. I no longer care.”
Fucking finally! I almost cheered when Marcus snapped because there's no way he stayed down bad this long.
6. Does it make it better or worse that Agnar really is generally a man who says wild things and assumes they're okay?
“Rest now, warrior. When we meet next, we will be brothers once again.” after killing your bestie is crazy💀💀💀💀
This man really is a joker. But at least he's got jokes for everyone, not just Marcus.
7. "Will you still love me when you can no longer order me silent or keep me trapped inside the village?”
Is this not a heartbreaking thing to have the man you claim to love ask you? Is it not a terrible indictment of your behavior?
Because literally every time Agnar hasn't got his way with Marcus, there's been hell to pay. And it's somehow worse that he's not even a stereotypical villain. He's generally a Nice Guy™ so no wonder that Marcus keeps hope alive.
8. I will say though, that through all this, the ONLY reason I didn't DNF this is because it was easy to see why Agnar acted the way he did. Did I like it for Marcus? Absolutely the fuck not. But looking at it from Agnar's POV, his hesitance to trust made sense. Especially because his bestie who had always had his best interests at heart was constantly in his ear about it.
Realistically speaking, Marcus was very SUS. And the circumstances of their meeting didn't help. Neither did the fact that there were never any witnesses to Slagfid's attacks, nor any verifiable bruises.
So I will give grace for that. And also, this further reinforces my belief that dual POV absolutely kicks it out of the park if one of the MC's is going to be on demon time. For this specific book, without that aspect, I'd have found Agnar too unforgiveable to redeem.
9. I like that Marcus TRIED to make him work for it. I wish we'd seen a lot more of him doing the apology tour but oh well. It is what it is.
"But if you need a reminder of how far an Auione will go for the one he loves, you need only insult Marcus again.”
Fiiiiiine. Maybe he's doing a little better.
I'd have rated this 5 stars if we'd got more on the grovel and changed behavior. I'd have liked to see Agnar treating Marcus like an equal, and Marcus making him sweat a little.
But it's really great work for a debut novel.
Like.....why not?! Why the fuck don't you hate him?
My thoughts on this book in the order I had them....
1. Sigh. This guy is going to be whipped for trying to help his tribesmate and all you have to say is...
“But I have seen the strength of spirit inside you on the battlefield. You will get through it.”
I know this early in the book Agnar has no loyalties to Marcus but I'd rather you shut up than say this.
HOW DO WORDS OF AFFIRMATION HELP BEFORE A WHIPPING?!
Like OMG you shouldn't have🥰🥰🥰. Really. You shouldn't have. JFC.
'Only then, when he had no more strength left for them to take, did he hear Agnar take the whip from Slagfid.'
As a Bitter Reader™, it's going to take a LOT for me to forgive this.
2. Tying someone on a tree and gagging them because they walked away from you in an argument. Sigh. Slave/master dynamics are so hard to swallow because one person literally doesn't get to say no.
3. And what makes it worse is that Agnar really doesn't see an issue. All he thinks is how he's been so tolerant. Chaining him up by the leg. Forbidding him to move beyond the house, or the boundaries of the village. He's genuinely baffled why a former Roman soldier won't just obey 💀. The little Roman keeps forgetting his place.
'Forget his place? How could he possibly forget?'
RIGHT?! He's literally chained to 'his place'.
4. And it doesn't end there lol. This MF has the AUDACITY to ask...
“Tell me, Marcus, are you not happy in my home?”
Hmmm. Let's brainstorm. Forced into slavery. Tied up. Relegated to women's work when he's allowed out of the house. Looked down on by everyone he meets. His owner's bestie tries to kill him every chance he gets and his owner repeatedly won't believe him about it.
Yes. It's baffling why Marcus wouldn't be happy. He has so much!
5. “Whip me if you wish. Sell me. I no longer care.”
Fucking finally! I almost cheered when Marcus snapped because there's no way he stayed down bad this long.
6. Does it make it better or worse that Agnar really is generally a man who says wild things and assumes they're okay?
“Rest now, warrior. When we meet next, we will be brothers once again.” after killing your bestie is crazy💀💀💀💀
This man really is a joker. But at least he's got jokes for everyone, not just Marcus.
7. "Will you still love me when you can no longer order me silent or keep me trapped inside the village?”
Is this not a heartbreaking thing to have the man you claim to love ask you? Is it not a terrible indictment of your behavior?
Because literally every time Agnar hasn't got his way with Marcus, there's been hell to pay. And it's somehow worse that he's not even a stereotypical villain. He's generally a Nice Guy™ so no wonder that Marcus keeps hope alive.
8. I will say though, that through all this, the ONLY reason I didn't DNF this is because it was easy to see why Agnar acted the way he did. Did I like it for Marcus? Absolutely the fuck not. But looking at it from Agnar's POV, his hesitance to trust made sense. Especially because his bestie who had always had his best interests at heart was constantly in his ear about it.
Realistically speaking, Marcus was very SUS. And the circumstances of their meeting didn't help. Neither did the fact that there were never any witnesses to Slagfid's attacks, nor any verifiable bruises.
So I will give grace for that. And also, this further reinforces my belief that dual POV absolutely kicks it out of the park if one of the MC's is going to be on demon time. For this specific book, without that aspect, I'd have found Agnar too unforgiveable to redeem.
9. I like that Marcus TRIED to make him work for it. I wish we'd seen a lot more of him doing the apology tour but oh well. It is what it is.
"But if you need a reminder of how far an Auione will go for the one he loves, you need only insult Marcus again.”
Fiiiiiine. Maybe he's doing a little better.
I'd have rated this 5 stars if we'd got more on the grovel and changed behavior. I'd have liked to see Agnar treating Marcus like an equal, and Marcus making him sweat a little.
But it's really great work for a debut novel.
December 10, 2022
This book was so frustrating, but absolutely riveting. Any book that can make me feel as much as this one did deserves high praise. I can’t believe it was a debut novel. I will be reading whatever she puts out next.
It’s a prisoner of war love story, but I wouldn’t exactly call it dark. It’s not full of rape, but it is violent. I was intensely frustrated by the miscommunication and the cruelty of one of the MCs. If that had been the only trope to build towards our great “big issue,” then I think I would have put the book down. Luckily, there was so much happening that I could actually forgive those issues and not be completely put off by the Stockholm syndrome actions of the other MC.
I’m very impressed with how everything was resolved. I couldn’t imagine how it would work out in a way that would be satisfying, but it really was…for every part. There was redemption, independence, strength of character, and something very satisfying in a location where the callback was just perfection. I don’t think an ending has been this satisfactory for me in a long while.
Excellent debut!
It’s a prisoner of war love story, but I wouldn’t exactly call it dark. It’s not full of rape, but it is violent. I was intensely frustrated by the miscommunication and the cruelty of one of the MCs. If that had been the only trope to build towards our great “big issue,” then I think I would have put the book down. Luckily, there was so much happening that I could actually forgive those issues and not be completely put off by the Stockholm syndrome actions of the other MC.
I’m very impressed with how everything was resolved. I couldn’t imagine how it would work out in a way that would be satisfying, but it really was…for every part. There was redemption, independence, strength of character, and something very satisfying in a location where the callback was just perfection. I don’t think an ending has been this satisfactory for me in a long while.
Excellent debut!
December 13, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up for being a début. I hugely enjoyed this sweeping historical romance between a Roman soldier defeated in battle, and the barbarian who claims him as a slave. The book is long, but the narrative is clear and simple. There isn't a lot of complexity or nuance in this story, but it was well-written and kept me engaged the entire time. There were moments I wanted to yank my hair out in frustration, but I kept on reading. Marcus, our poor Roman slave, suffers so many trials in his new life, but creeps into the heart of his captor - Agnar - and a passionate but conflicted romance begins. They are incredibly hot together, like the sex scenes were short, but top-tier. The action was fast-paced and exciting. The ending satisfying and just a little bit cheesy. I also felt like the day-to-day life of a Germanic villager in whatever-BCE was well-portrayed. I would recommend this for fans of engaging historical. Looking forward to any future work by Amber Huxley.
April 6, 2023
Everyone always wonder why he was trying to escape. Like, bitch, you enslaved me.
The romance was weird and definitely didn't seem to progress normally. But they were cute, in a way. However, no one seems to understand why he might not like you after you enslaved him.
Loved the setting and the pairing, this might kick off an interest in ancient nomad romances.
The romance was weird and definitely didn't seem to progress normally. But they were cute, in a way. However, no one seems to understand why he might not like you after you enslaved him.
Loved the setting and the pairing, this might kick off an interest in ancient nomad romances.
March 24, 2023
Blown Away!
What made me pick up this book and read it? I have no idea. This is definitely outside of my norm, but I am soooooo glad that I read it! It’s unlike anything I’ve read. It was perfection. A Barbarian and a Roman warrior? What an unexpected match.
Angar is a barbarian that takes Marcus as his thrall/slave after the Barbarians overpowered the Romans in battle. The connection between these two was instant. Even in the midst of a battle, Angar and Marcus saw something in each other’s eyes that brought comfort. Angar was a gentle giant. Much to the dismay of his fellow barbarians, he his gentle, kind, and totally smitten with his “little Roman”. I loved him so much! Marcus was a total bad ass! Even as he was held captive he did not hide his warrior heart. He was brave and extremely strong willed. Underneath the tough exterior was a man that just wanted a place to call home. I really enjoyed these two together. Both of them had their fair share of trauma and pain. Even though they were from two different worlds, their chemistry was sexy, passionate and completely organic. Marcus was a “thrall” but Angar treated him otherwise.
This author does an incredible job of world building. This story was exciting and I never could predict what would happen next. There were so many obstacles and battles these two had to overcome. I I highly highly recommend you guys check this story out. It is definitely one of my new favorite stories ever. 5 stars across the board. This story was spectacular!
What made me pick up this book and read it? I have no idea. This is definitely outside of my norm, but I am soooooo glad that I read it! It’s unlike anything I’ve read. It was perfection. A Barbarian and a Roman warrior? What an unexpected match.
Angar is a barbarian that takes Marcus as his thrall/slave after the Barbarians overpowered the Romans in battle. The connection between these two was instant. Even in the midst of a battle, Angar and Marcus saw something in each other’s eyes that brought comfort. Angar was a gentle giant. Much to the dismay of his fellow barbarians, he his gentle, kind, and totally smitten with his “little Roman”. I loved him so much! Marcus was a total bad ass! Even as he was held captive he did not hide his warrior heart. He was brave and extremely strong willed. Underneath the tough exterior was a man that just wanted a place to call home. I really enjoyed these two together. Both of them had their fair share of trauma and pain. Even though they were from two different worlds, their chemistry was sexy, passionate and completely organic. Marcus was a “thrall” but Angar treated him otherwise.
This author does an incredible job of world building. This story was exciting and I never could predict what would happen next. There were so many obstacles and battles these two had to overcome. I I highly highly recommend you guys check this story out. It is definitely one of my new favorite stories ever. 5 stars across the board. This story was spectacular!
September 11, 2023
3.75 stars
Yes, I enjoyed this book. But I must admit, I expected more.
“But I will tell you,” Granmar said, his voice rising so Agnar could hear him clearly over the crackle of the fire and the howling winds outside. “There are many in this village who have seen what you have not, and those who good-hearted people gather around can tell you more than words ever could.”
Yes, Agnar should have seen this earlier!
Yes, I enjoyed this book. But I must admit, I expected more.
“But I will tell you,” Granmar said, his voice rising so Agnar could hear him clearly over the crackle of the fire and the howling winds outside. “There are many in this village who have seen what you have not, and those who good-hearted people gather around can tell you more than words ever could.”
Yes, Agnar should have seen this earlier!
April 1, 2023
I am struggling with how to rate this, on one hand I really did enjoy the book and I thought it was well done especially given this is the authors first published novel. On the other hand I felt many parts of the story were rushed while others dragged on, and I would have loved to see a more in depth resolution at the end.
I liked the premise, loved the dynamic between Marcus and Agnar (I was into it, sue me), loved many of the side characters and the internal struggle Marcus went through. I wish their relationship had taken longer to develop, and I wish we had gotten a longer ending that expanded on them reconnecting and starting over. It felt like we skipped it entirely and that sucked after going through the obligatory rough patch. All in all, pretty impressive for a first book, I'll definitely check the author out in the future!
I liked the premise, loved the dynamic between Marcus and Agnar (I was into it, sue me), loved many of the side characters and the internal struggle Marcus went through. I wish their relationship had taken longer to develop, and I wish we had gotten a longer ending that expanded on them reconnecting and starting over. It felt like we skipped it entirely and that sucked after going through the obligatory rough patch. All in all, pretty impressive for a first book, I'll definitely check the author out in the future!
January 19, 2023
This didn’t really work for me. I’m ok with “slave to lover” genre, but this was missing a lot of what I’d expect to see from that concept. It was nearly insta-love which just doesn’t seem realistic to me. The plot was also incredibly predictable. Sex scenes were basically the same: penetration with no lube or prep. I skimmed a lot of it.
2/5 because it was well written and well researched.
2/5 because it was well written and well researched.
September 10, 2024
Historical MM Romance
Roman x Barbarian
Captive / Slave
Super Emotional
Great Side Characters
Med Burn Spice
Wow, what an amazing book! I loved every minute of this, even though my emotions (and blood pressure) were all over the place while reading. Immediately after finishing I went to find the authors other books and was amazed to find out this is their first book! Wow. I will defiantly be on the watch for more.
This story starts off with intense action right away. Marcus is a Roman soldier that is in the middle of a battle, fighting for his life as he watches Barbarians over take his unit and kill and capture all the Roman soldiers. During the battle he comes against Agnar, a giant of a man that is able to overtake him. Once the battle is over, Marcus is lined up with the survivors, ready to be executed when he locks eyes with Agnar, and something that the giant sees in him makes him stop the execution, and claim Marcus as his thrall (slave).
This is a Captive/Slave story that’s very well done IMO. You can see as the two start to develop feelings for each other that Marcus never loses himself or forgets the fact the he is still a slave and the balance is not equal, and therefore the relationship is not a good one. I was so angry on behalf of Marcus. There were so many times that I could almost feel angry tears because of the things that he went through. Even though Agnar was a gentle giant, and cared so much for Marcus, he still had loyalty to his village and was sometimes blinded by that loyalty. That was so frustrating. BUT there was an HEA and so it was all worth it, but my goodness! You are put through a wide range of emotions with this one! Thankfully there are some amazing side characters (including an ornery horse) that balance out all the angst.
Roman x Barbarian
Captive / Slave
Super Emotional
Great Side Characters
Med Burn Spice
Wow, what an amazing book! I loved every minute of this, even though my emotions (and blood pressure) were all over the place while reading. Immediately after finishing I went to find the authors other books and was amazed to find out this is their first book! Wow. I will defiantly be on the watch for more.
This story starts off with intense action right away. Marcus is a Roman soldier that is in the middle of a battle, fighting for his life as he watches Barbarians over take his unit and kill and capture all the Roman soldiers. During the battle he comes against Agnar, a giant of a man that is able to overtake him. Once the battle is over, Marcus is lined up with the survivors, ready to be executed when he locks eyes with Agnar, and something that the giant sees in him makes him stop the execution, and claim Marcus as his thrall (slave).
This is a Captive/Slave story that’s very well done IMO. You can see as the two start to develop feelings for each other that Marcus never loses himself or forgets the fact the he is still a slave and the balance is not equal, and therefore the relationship is not a good one. I was so angry on behalf of Marcus. There were so many times that I could almost feel angry tears because of the things that he went through. Even though Agnar was a gentle giant, and cared so much for Marcus, he still had loyalty to his village and was sometimes blinded by that loyalty. That was so frustrating. BUT there was an HEA and so it was all worth it, but my goodness! You are put through a wide range of emotions with this one! Thankfully there are some amazing side characters (including an ornery horse) that balance out all the angst.
September 10, 2025
4.25 stars ⭐️
This is such an impressive debut novel! The writing is incredibly smooth and totally sucked me in. The first half of the book was a 5-star read for me, but I needed Agnar to do WAY MORE repair work at the end to make up for his behaviour. . Despite this *petite* qualm, this was a great read and I would absolutely pick up anything this author publishes in the future ☺️.
This is such an impressive debut novel! The writing is incredibly smooth and totally sucked me in. The first half of the book was a 5-star read for me, but I needed Agnar to do WAY MORE repair work at the end to make up for his behaviour. . Despite this *petite* qualm, this was a great read and I would absolutely pick up anything this author publishes in the future ☺️.
August 10, 2023
Overall book rating: 4.5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 5
This one was a recommendation from a friend that caught my attention at the right time.
Thank you, Martin for this one!
I will start off with: If this is the authors debut, I see LOADS of potential, and a great possibility for a New Favourite Author on my personal list.
There was a bunch of things that is right up my alley.
• Historical / Soldiers
• Shades of Darkness
• Slavery (Hey don’t judge its fiction!)
• Underdogs
• Gentle Giants
• Likeable supporting characters
• And A Freaking Horse I loved!
I so enjoyed the world building. I could picture the scenes in my head right from the start.
The connection between two soldiers from different camps. I liked how that was done. How Agnar doesn’t initially just jump in and save Marcus but is forced to decide on his actions maybe a tad faster than he would have wanted to.
I liked the progression of things between them, but I would have liked it even if it was a bit slower. Because of the circumstances between them I feel it would have still held my attention.
I absolutely HATED Slagfid right from the get go. Once I learned of his head injuries in a previous attack, I kind of started to wonder if he suffered brain trauma due to those. I tried really hard to see him in that light from then on, because he had to be a better person growing up if Agnar is so close to him? Right?
Due to the closeness between Agnar and Slagfid, Agnar is really kind of blind to his transgressions. But if you get to know Agnar, his kind heart and loyal soul, I understood why he didn’t just jump fence and stand 100% behind Marcus.
They grew up together, they are family. Would you not question the stranger in your midst when suddenly your brother is made out to be all things bad? I think Agnar is a man of his word and he believed that of his “brother” as well. But Slagfid is not what he once was unfortunately. And even his own father tries to warn Agnar of that in very subtle ways.
There were really tough times to read through. Times my heart broke for both Marcus and Agnar. There were times I wanted to jump up and down with glee! The debacle at the GAMES coming to mind for instance.
Marcus is NOT a pushover. I loved his spirit. He would not lie down and give up. He tried to choose his battles carefully. Measuring up what he felt for Agnar against what seems to be an impossible future. Not standing down at times it might have surely made his life better. From the beginning he shows what he is made of and I loved him dearly.
I have to agree with Martin. The scene in the clearing at the end, was really epic in so many ways. Full circle and all that. I read it 3 times. I might just go back one more time.
The skip of time to the Epilogue part. Well, I also would have wanted a little more but I understand why the author chose to do it this way. I would not complain if she gave us more detail really but I’m still a happy reader.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a very pleasant surprise and I will be looking out for more in the future.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 5
This one was a recommendation from a friend that caught my attention at the right time.
Thank you, Martin for this one!
I will start off with: If this is the authors debut, I see LOADS of potential, and a great possibility for a New Favourite Author on my personal list.
There was a bunch of things that is right up my alley.
• Historical / Soldiers
• Shades of Darkness
• Slavery (Hey don’t judge its fiction!)
• Underdogs
• Gentle Giants
• Likeable supporting characters
• And A Freaking Horse I loved!
I so enjoyed the world building. I could picture the scenes in my head right from the start.
The connection between two soldiers from different camps. I liked how that was done. How Agnar doesn’t initially just jump in and save Marcus but is forced to decide on his actions maybe a tad faster than he would have wanted to.
I liked the progression of things between them, but I would have liked it even if it was a bit slower. Because of the circumstances between them I feel it would have still held my attention.
I absolutely HATED Slagfid right from the get go. Once I learned of his head injuries in a previous attack, I kind of started to wonder if he suffered brain trauma due to those. I tried really hard to see him in that light from then on, because he had to be a better person growing up if Agnar is so close to him? Right?
Due to the closeness between Agnar and Slagfid, Agnar is really kind of blind to his transgressions. But if you get to know Agnar, his kind heart and loyal soul, I understood why he didn’t just jump fence and stand 100% behind Marcus.
They grew up together, they are family. Would you not question the stranger in your midst when suddenly your brother is made out to be all things bad? I think Agnar is a man of his word and he believed that of his “brother” as well. But Slagfid is not what he once was unfortunately. And even his own father tries to warn Agnar of that in very subtle ways.
There were really tough times to read through. Times my heart broke for both Marcus and Agnar. There were times I wanted to jump up and down with glee! The debacle at the GAMES coming to mind for instance.
Marcus is NOT a pushover. I loved his spirit. He would not lie down and give up. He tried to choose his battles carefully. Measuring up what he felt for Agnar against what seems to be an impossible future. Not standing down at times it might have surely made his life better. From the beginning he shows what he is made of and I loved him dearly.
I have to agree with Martin. The scene in the clearing at the end, was really epic in so many ways. Full circle and all that. I read it 3 times. I might just go back one more time.
The skip of time to the Epilogue part. Well, I also would have wanted a little more but I understand why the author chose to do it this way. I would not complain if she gave us more detail really but I’m still a happy reader.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a very pleasant surprise and I will be looking out for more in the future.
March 11, 2025
5 I've-never-wanted-to-throttle-two-bullheaded-arrogant-men-more-in-my-entire-life stars
stg, every stockholm syndrome-esque book I read takes 6 months off my life expectancy.
this must be the year of historical romances for me - I can't seem to stop eating ts up.
pretty sure I've had this book on my kindle for almost a year now, but I'm so glad I gave it a chance. also, ty Huxley for promising a hea in blurb, not sure if I could've handled all the stressful bs otherwise. excellent story, worldbuilding, characters, everything🙏. new favorite author <3
stg, every stockholm syndrome-esque book I read takes 6 months off my life expectancy.
this must be the year of historical romances for me - I can't seem to stop eating ts up.
pretty sure I've had this book on my kindle for almost a year now, but I'm so glad I gave it a chance. also, ty Huxley for promising a hea in blurb, not sure if I could've handled all the stressful bs otherwise. excellent story, worldbuilding, characters, everything🙏. new favorite author <3
December 24, 2022
Somebody commented that the sex all starts too soon, and I agree, and was also weirdly “oooh, fill me up, big-boy” for the people and the times. I felt that it was all a little rushed, without enough tension. It bugged me too that there was a constant emphasis on how much smaller Marcus was, which felt very millennial fanfic. However, the writing was sound and I finished it without grumbling too much!
July 31, 2024
It was fine. No more “okays” after the first few mistakes. They don’t belong in Ancient Rome!
3.5 rounded up.
3.5 rounded up.
March 2, 2023
A very good debut novel, Into The North is a beautiful story of lol e, hope and forgiveness. This is not a dark story, I think it was more tender, so if you’re looking for that it will not meet your expectations.
There are moments that dragged, I thought we’d get a bit more action but I enjoyed Marcus and Agnar’s love story. I’m really excited to read more by this author!
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Updated review:
I wanted to take the time and give a more in depth review. I thought this book was a really great debut, as I said before. I love the premise of the barbarian taking the Roman as a thrall and then falling in love. Especially when the barbarian is a sweet, loving man.
Marcus is the Roman soldier who is taken as a thrall after his regiment loses their battle against the Barbarians. Marcus is not one to be controlled easily and he goes through some painful lessons. I loved his spirit even when I was thinking “don’t say anything”.
Agnar is the barbarian who has a heart of gold. He does treat Marcus like a thrall at times but he never wants to. He is taken by Marcus from the moment they face each other on the battlefield. He was married once and his wife had been killed by another group of barbarians. He hasn’t felt like this since his wife and he doesn’t want to lose Marcus. Unfortunately he has the pressure of his fellow barbarians, especially his best fried Slagfid, to deal with.
There was no real clear villain at first for me, was it Spagfid or was it the other tribe and Barbarian that was defeated by Marcus? I thought we’d get more fighting and in between we’d be swept away by a love story.
I thought the sex started out of the blue. I wanted more build up between them. I also thought the sex was boring.
This is not a dark read, it’s not even close. Marcus starts to become friendly with certain villagers and those relationships were a great addition to the story. I thought a lot was drawn out and I thought if the story moved at a faster pace it would have been even better.
I did want to see these men figure out a way to be together. I was rooting for them. I wish there was more communication between them though.
The writing was really good. This author has a lot of potential. It will be interesting to see what she comes out with next.
There are moments that dragged, I thought we’d get a bit more action but I enjoyed Marcus and Agnar’s love story. I’m really excited to read more by this author!
**********************************************************
Updated review:
I wanted to take the time and give a more in depth review. I thought this book was a really great debut, as I said before. I love the premise of the barbarian taking the Roman as a thrall and then falling in love. Especially when the barbarian is a sweet, loving man.
Marcus is the Roman soldier who is taken as a thrall after his regiment loses their battle against the Barbarians. Marcus is not one to be controlled easily and he goes through some painful lessons. I loved his spirit even when I was thinking “don’t say anything”.
Agnar is the barbarian who has a heart of gold. He does treat Marcus like a thrall at times but he never wants to. He is taken by Marcus from the moment they face each other on the battlefield. He was married once and his wife had been killed by another group of barbarians. He hasn’t felt like this since his wife and he doesn’t want to lose Marcus. Unfortunately he has the pressure of his fellow barbarians, especially his best fried Slagfid, to deal with.
There was no real clear villain at first for me, was it Spagfid or was it the other tribe and Barbarian that was defeated by Marcus? I thought we’d get more fighting and in between we’d be swept away by a love story.
I thought the sex started out of the blue. I wanted more build up between them. I also thought the sex was boring.
This is not a dark read, it’s not even close. Marcus starts to become friendly with certain villagers and those relationships were a great addition to the story. I thought a lot was drawn out and I thought if the story moved at a faster pace it would have been even better.
I did want to see these men figure out a way to be together. I was rooting for them. I wish there was more communication between them though.
The writing was really good. This author has a lot of potential. It will be interesting to see what she comes out with next.
November 8, 2022
I loved this book so much I couldn't put it down once I started to read it. This author is very promising (this is only her first book! And just... WOW!) I will keep my eyes open for what comes next, keep up the excellent work.
May 21, 2023
Forced to endure it, his heart grew raw and heavy in his chest. It was as if his soul were close to the surface, making everything more distinct.
3.5 stars. I have kinda mixed feelings. I really liked a lot about this book, and I had a great time getting to know these characters and watching them fall for each other, but there are so many things that could have been done better, with more dexterity and nuance, that would have made me really love this.
This is a historical romance between a Roman soldier and a warrior from a Germanic tribe. Marcus, the Roman, is captured after a failed campaign, and Agnar takes him back to his village. I can't really comment much on the historical accuracy because this is obviously a time period that I don't know much about, but it's nice to read a historical that's not set in Regency times, and specifically Regency England. The change of scenery is great. There is a grittiness and a darkness here that was well written, and I really appreciated it. Some of the language was a bit too modern, but it didn't bother me much. This is described as a dark historical romance, but it definitely didn't get as dark as I was thinking. Which isn't a bad thing. I would much rather this scenario, rather than me thinking I was getting a typical romance and ending up with something darker. And, I mean, it's a captor/captive romance, and Marcus is taken as a slave, and the brutality and humiliation that he goes through (with others, not really Agnar... but also Agnar, to a degree) is seen on page. I think it ended up being just as dark and serious as it needed to be, without ever getting too brutal.
This describes itself as a slow burn, and I would definitely disagree. If it had been slow burn, I would have liked it even more than I did. Marcus never resigns himself to serfdom, and he's almost always thinking of escape, but the way he quickly falls for Agnar pushes all of that to the back of his mind. And I have to admit, I fell for the romance and the chemistry between both of them so much that it slipped from my mind for a bit too. Agnar is strong and kind and patient, and I liked the bit of push and pull before Marcus really starts falling for him. Also, it seemed historically realistic/apt that Agnar didn't change his views at the drop of a hat. Still, I think all of that would have been so much more meaningful if it had taken them longer to start up their romantic and sexual relationship.
My biggest complaint, I think, is that a lot of the emotional development and realisations seemed to happen off page. Agnar has a best friend who is poisoning his mind against Marcus, and that was believable enough to me, but there were several key moments that we just heard about in hindsight, and didn't get to experience. It made a lot of the emotional parts of the book fall a little bit flat. There are little time skips moments in their relationship when I would've really liked to see a day by day progression. I'm most upset that
I still overall really liked this, though. It had all the hallmarks of the really intense, swoon-worthy romance that I love, albeit with a darker side. And it was really easy to read. Usually I don't finish books this long this quickly (just about two days for me to read) without the aid of an audiobook, so the fact that I almost couldn't put this down says a lot good about it. I just really think that we could have dug deeper into the characters, and wrung even more emotion out of this situation. All in all though, a very good debut, and I look forward to the author's other works.
Content warnings:
Whenever there is a misshapen thing, Agnar will find it and love it as if it were created just for him.
dnf
May 6, 2023Not a dark romance. Getting really tired of people marketing grey-ish romances as dark romances. This was pretty pc for a slave/master historical romance between a Roman solider and a Germanic tribesman. I mean if you are looking for a sweeter slow-burn romance I'm sure you will like this. If you are looking for a dark, historical romance this is not it. It's not badly written either, it's just really tame for the context.
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