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Adora
PAPERBACK
440 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
230 people are currently reading
992 people want to read
About the author
Bertrice Small
216 books1,125 followersBertrice Williams was born on December 9, 1937 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, the daughter of Doris S. and David R. Williams, both broadcasters. She studied at Attended Western College for Women and Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School. On October 5, 1963, she married George Sumner Small, a photographer and designer with a History Major at Princeton. They had a son Thomas David. She lived on eastern Long Island for over 30 years. Her greatest passions were her family; Finnegan and Sylvester, the family cats; Nicki, the elderly cockatiel who whistles the NY Mets charge call; her garden; her work, and just life in general.
Published since 1947, Bertrice Small was the author of over 50 romance novels. A New York Times bestselling author, she had also appeared on other best-seller lists including Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and the L.A. Times. She was the recipient of numerous awards including Career Achievement for Historical Romance; Best Historical Romance; Outstanding Historical Romance Series; Career Achievement for Historical Fantasy; a Golden Leaf from the New Jersey Romance Writers chapter of Romance Writers of America; an Author of the Year (2006) and Big Apple Award from the New York City Romance Writers chapter of RWA, and several Reviewers Choice awards from Romantic Times. She had a "Silver Pen" from Affair De Coeur, and an Honorable Mention from The West Coast Review of Books. In 2004 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine for her contributions to the Historical Romance genre. And in 2008 she was named by ROMANTIC TIMES along with her friends Jennifer Blake, Roberta Gellis and Janelle Taylor, a Pioneer of Romance.
Bertrice Small was a member of The Authors Guild, Romance Writers of America, PAN, and PASIC. She was also a member of RWA's Long Island chapter, L.I.R.W., and is its easternmost member on the North Fork of Eastern Long Island.
Published since 1947, Bertrice Small was the author of over 50 romance novels. A New York Times bestselling author, she had also appeared on other best-seller lists including Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and the L.A. Times. She was the recipient of numerous awards including Career Achievement for Historical Romance; Best Historical Romance; Outstanding Historical Romance Series; Career Achievement for Historical Fantasy; a Golden Leaf from the New Jersey Romance Writers chapter of Romance Writers of America; an Author of the Year (2006) and Big Apple Award from the New York City Romance Writers chapter of RWA, and several Reviewers Choice awards from Romantic Times. She had a "Silver Pen" from Affair De Coeur, and an Honorable Mention from The West Coast Review of Books. In 2004 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine for her contributions to the Historical Romance genre. And in 2008 she was named by ROMANTIC TIMES along with her friends Jennifer Blake, Roberta Gellis and Janelle Taylor, a Pioneer of Romance.
Bertrice Small was a member of The Authors Guild, Romance Writers of America, PAN, and PASIC. She was also a member of RWA's Long Island chapter, L.I.R.W., and is its easternmost member on the North Fork of Eastern Long Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
September 6, 2019
Does Not Conform to Historical Romance Expectations of Today
It’s no secret to HR-lovers that the genre of today is very different from what it used to be.
This book in no way resembles HR as we know it today. To try to fit this particular historic novel anywhere into the template used today for the genre is very much like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. In truth, the only thing in this book that resembled an HR is the “historic” element. That’s it, and nothing else.
This book is more like a “life and times” novel of the heroine from about the age of 4, that took place during the last days of the Byzantine empire and the rise of the Ottoman Turkish Sultinate. I really like how the author captured the time period and the politics of the time. I truly felt transported to the past—and that is what I want from any type of historical genre and Bertrice Small delivers.
This was my first time reading this author and I’m looking forward to reading more of her old novels.
I recco this novel with caution: Do not look for historical romance in this book. It used to be HR, but it isn’t anymore. If you are interested in delving into the evolution of the genre and can read about sex that by today’s standards is unacceptable/un-pc? by all means, check it out. Just don’t look for a romance. Romance as we know it today is not found in this book.
You Have Been Warned.
Peace
It’s no secret to HR-lovers that the genre of today is very different from what it used to be.
This book in no way resembles HR as we know it today. To try to fit this particular historic novel anywhere into the template used today for the genre is very much like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. In truth, the only thing in this book that resembled an HR is the “historic” element. That’s it, and nothing else.
This book is more like a “life and times” novel of the heroine from about the age of 4, that took place during the last days of the Byzantine empire and the rise of the Ottoman Turkish Sultinate. I really like how the author captured the time period and the politics of the time. I truly felt transported to the past—and that is what I want from any type of historical genre and Bertrice Small delivers.
This was my first time reading this author and I’m looking forward to reading more of her old novels.
I recco this novel with caution: Do not look for historical romance in this book. It used to be HR, but it isn’t anymore. If you are interested in delving into the evolution of the genre and can read about sex that by today’s standards is unacceptable/un-pc? by all means, check it out. Just don’t look for a romance. Romance as we know it today is not found in this book.
You Have Been Warned.
Peace
August 31, 2023
DNF, circa pg 150.
Most low reviews for this book are centered on the racy and/or rapey content. Me? I don’t GAF about that. I’ve read many Old Skool rippers; traitorous bodies, gross deflowerings, + creepy heroes are par for the course. That’s fine. I like the un-PC whackadoodle content—that’s why I read Old Skool rippers. Duh. 🙃
No, what inspires my Adora DNF is that it’s dull as dirt. I’ve read Bertrice Small several times before,** & each one strikes me the same—it doesn’t matter how much crazy sexual schlock you cram into a romance when your writing is so uber-pedestrian & your characters are so uber-flat & your infodumps are so uber-dry. (And I daresay these characters can smother all libido in a 10-mile radius, because that hazy aphrodisiac-fueled orgy with Alexander the Great was almost as exciting as a visit to the eye doctor. Zzzz.) I simply DO NOT CARE what happens to anyone in this book, & I’m tired of wasting time on it. Toodles! 😗
Standard 2-star DNF.
**This is my…fifth? sixth?…attempt to connect with Bertie’s style, but it ain’t happening. I really don’t understand why she’s so beloved.
Most low reviews for this book are centered on the racy and/or rapey content. Me? I don’t GAF about that. I’ve read many Old Skool rippers; traitorous bodies, gross deflowerings, + creepy heroes are par for the course. That’s fine. I like the un-PC whackadoodle content—that’s why I read Old Skool rippers. Duh. 🙃
No, what inspires my Adora DNF is that it’s dull as dirt. I’ve read Bertrice Small several times before,** & each one strikes me the same—it doesn’t matter how much crazy sexual schlock you cram into a romance when your writing is so uber-pedestrian & your characters are so uber-flat & your infodumps are so uber-dry. (And I daresay these characters can smother all libido in a 10-mile radius, because that hazy aphrodisiac-fueled orgy with Alexander the Great was almost as exciting as a visit to the eye doctor. Zzzz.) I simply DO NOT CARE what happens to anyone in this book, & I’m tired of wasting time on it. Toodles! 😗
Standard 2-star DNF.
**This is my…fifth? sixth?…attempt to connect with Bertie’s style, but it ain’t happening. I really don’t understand why she’s so beloved.
December 18, 2024
I’ve decided to revise my review of Adora. I think I was too nitpicky before. One of the things that drives me crazy about bodice rippers are the stereotypical, shallow characters that sometimes seem to be shoved down my throat as being the ‘good guys’. I’ve been told Beatrice Small has a way of writing annoying, breathtakingly lovely, amazing dynamo heroines who can do no wrong, and then pairs them up with douchebag heroes that you’d actually like to see get offed by the enemy. And this book is no exception.
But what if I let that go? What if I just embrace the whacky trashiness of this book and not grumble about the characters? Then Adora starts looking better and better. There was a sort of unpredictable craziness to this book. Small surprised me a couple of times, and she isn’t afraid to go into squicky sex scenes, which many authors are afraid to do now. Small also knows her history, (although I wish she hadn’t used so many info dumps). Most of these characters are true historical people, and I thought that was pretty cool the way she followed history, but also followed her plot.
I originally gave Adora three stars but I’m going to change that and give it three and half. As a bodice ripper goes, I think this book was entertaining. :D
But what if I let that go? What if I just embrace the whacky trashiness of this book and not grumble about the characters? Then Adora starts looking better and better. There was a sort of unpredictable craziness to this book. Small surprised me a couple of times, and she isn’t afraid to go into squicky sex scenes, which many authors are afraid to do now. Small also knows her history, (although I wish she hadn’t used so many info dumps). Most of these characters are true historical people, and I thought that was pretty cool the way she followed history, but also followed her plot.
I originally gave Adora three stars but I’m going to change that and give it three and half. As a bodice ripper goes, I think this book was entertaining. :D
February 4, 2021
Well..not sure just how I feel about Adora and her story.
I was looking forward to reading this book as it was set in the Byzantine Empire, one of which I didn't know too much about.
Being the"detailed" person that I am, I was looking forward to some historical background in this book.
I forgot for a moment this is after all a Bodice-Ripper,OTT Bertrice Small fan fare.
But the author did give me enough to keep me into the story,(while not exactly historically correct)
I decided to just "go with it" and Ms.Small has once again entertained me with an interesting tale of a Princess and the men who love and lust after her.
Lots of betrayals, poison, torture, romance (of the obsessive-kinky kind)that kept me rolling my eyes, yet turning the page just to see what OTT thing could happen next.
Despite my rolling of eyes at certain parts and dislikes,the story held my interest and it was well paced and didn't at all drag.
As for the characters..Hmm..cant say I really liked or cared for any of them, which accounts for the 3 star rating.
There just wasn't anything "outstanding" about them, nor was I able to "bond" if you will to their character.
But if I had to pick one it would be Adora.
No matter what she went through, she bounced right back up.
I found her to have not only respect for herself, but also a strong sense of "duty" to those she loved even if they didn't deserve it.
Ok so now for my "peeves."
First off the author has Adora at the beginning at age 4, but has her acting like a 13 year old in speech and manner.
Then at age 14 she is described as a 16-18 year old would be, also with very strong sexual desires and knowledge of one.
Really? 14?
Well guess I was into other things at that age..boring me.
Then when her son is 6 years old he is affronted by a slave so he reaches over and drags the slave to the floor to bow down..that's one strong 6 year old you got there mama.
So..please when describing an action said or done have it match the characters age or ability.
Then spelling errors and sentences that didn't make sense.
I am not one to catch these often but holy moley was there ever a lot of these!
I do wonder if it has been corrected in the new issue?
Repeated words by said lover of the moment...lord if I had to hear Alexander call her "beauty" after EVERYTHING he said to her one more time!?
Well it almost went flying, but was saved by the next lover *whew*
And last but not least the wedding night between Adora and Orkan.
After hearing certain things that happen I braced myself..well I wont go into that as it would give it away but what bothered me most about "that" night was not the "act" itself
(The author likes to throw in a shocker here and there) but again..Ms.Small you have placed a 14 year innocent CHILD in this scene?!
Tsk-Tsk..I can handle your style, just leave the kiddies out OK? Make the female characters older is all I ask.
I was going to give it a 4 star but for that It remains a 3.
Otherwise the rest of the story/plot was good and I liked how she brought the end about.
This was a fun OTT Bodice Ripper only Bertrice Small can do.
I was looking forward to reading this book as it was set in the Byzantine Empire, one of which I didn't know too much about.
Being the"detailed" person that I am, I was looking forward to some historical background in this book.
I forgot for a moment this is after all a Bodice-Ripper,OTT Bertrice Small fan fare.
But the author did give me enough to keep me into the story,(while not exactly historically correct)
I decided to just "go with it" and Ms.Small has once again entertained me with an interesting tale of a Princess and the men who love and lust after her.
Lots of betrayals, poison, torture, romance (of the obsessive-kinky kind)that kept me rolling my eyes, yet turning the page just to see what OTT thing could happen next.
Despite my rolling of eyes at certain parts and dislikes,the story held my interest and it was well paced and didn't at all drag.
As for the characters..Hmm..cant say I really liked or cared for any of them, which accounts for the 3 star rating.
There just wasn't anything "outstanding" about them, nor was I able to "bond" if you will to their character.
But if I had to pick one it would be Adora.
No matter what she went through, she bounced right back up.
I found her to have not only respect for herself, but also a strong sense of "duty" to those she loved even if they didn't deserve it.
Ok so now for my "peeves."
First off the author has Adora at the beginning at age 4, but has her acting like a 13 year old in speech and manner.
Then at age 14 she is described as a 16-18 year old would be, also with very strong sexual desires and knowledge of one.
Really? 14?
Well guess I was into other things at that age..boring me.
Then when her son is 6 years old he is affronted by a slave so he reaches over and drags the slave to the floor to bow down..that's one strong 6 year old you got there mama.
So..please when describing an action said or done have it match the characters age or ability.
Then spelling errors and sentences that didn't make sense.
I am not one to catch these often but holy moley was there ever a lot of these!
I do wonder if it has been corrected in the new issue?
Repeated words by said lover of the moment...lord if I had to hear Alexander call her "beauty" after EVERYTHING he said to her one more time!?
Well it almost went flying, but was saved by the next lover *whew*
And last but not least the wedding night between Adora and Orkan.
After hearing certain things that happen I braced myself..well I wont go into that as it would give it away but what bothered me most about "that" night was not the "act" itself
(The author likes to throw in a shocker here and there) but again..Ms.Small you have placed a 14 year innocent CHILD in this scene?!
Tsk-Tsk..I can handle your style, just leave the kiddies out OK? Make the female characters older is all I ask.
I was going to give it a 4 star but for that It remains a 3.
Otherwise the rest of the story/plot was good and I liked how she brought the end about.
This was a fun OTT Bodice Ripper only Bertrice Small can do.
April 2, 2018
This is possibly the worst book I've ever read in my entire life. I have a very long novel length review coming about why this is disgusting, problematic and to be avoided. Do yourself a favor and don't read it.
This cover is literally one of the ugliest things I have ever seen in my entire life. It is so fugly, and part of me dies whenever I look at it. But I'm going to read this, even though I'm cringing read the description. I'm ready to roast this, and hate it.
----------------
Rating: ★ | .5 star (Manuel was the only halfway decent part of this book)
This is the worst book I have ever read in my entire life.
This book should be marked with trigger warnings for rape, abuse, violence, pedophilia, incest, and child abuse among other things. If any of those things upset you a lot, do not read this book. Basically, this book is hecka problematic.
If you need more proof why this book is absolute shit I give you one sentence from this book:
"Then she surprised him by speaking, and her voice was so sweet that his hot seed thundered into the hidden valley of her womb. (PG. 177). I swear SJM wrote that line, and I never want to hear anything remotely like that in my life.
Full roast available here!
---
(APRIL FOOLS, that was all a big joke. I still hate this book.)
Update: I've since reread this and decided to change my rating. THIS IS NOW MY NEW FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME!
April 21, 2021
(I can't stop myself)
In this one, we have Theadora, the Princess of Byzantine, having to fulfill a marriage contract in return of soldiers from the Ottoman empire. There, she fell in love with her husband's prince (yeah, that's normal).
From there on, a lot of things happened.
In this one, we have Theadora, the Princess of Byzantine, having to fulfill a marriage contract in return of soldiers from the Ottoman empire. There, she fell in love with her husband's prince (yeah, that's normal).
From there on, a lot of things happened.
February 2, 2025
Much like her debut novel The Kadin, Bertrice Small's epic historical fiction Adora takes place mostly in the harem of the powerful ruler of the Ottoman Empire, albeit this story takes place about a century prior to The Kadin's setting.
Adora is the affectionate nickname given by the Sultan Murad to his favorit, Theodora, a Byzantine Princess who, in the fashion of Small heroines, is far better educated, spirited and of course beautiful than the average woman of her time lol.
There are plenty of horrendous things that happen to Adora, who is treated again and again like a chattel and political pawn by her family, be it her parents, siblings, spouses,or her own children. On top of it, she has to endure rape, enslavement, trafficking, betrayal, adultery, loss and grief galore, dehumanization, torture, pedophilia, incest, you name it, Small has included it. It is not all bleak of course. Adora fights for and gets what she craves, love, adoration, respect, adventure, happiness, romance, power.
Adora is not a flawless book. Similar to the Kadin, it attempts to cram into one book a multitude of events spanning the life of one very busy Princess. It also has hilarious purple prose and definitely questionable characters, including the heroine.
These are not super cutesy cookie-cutter characters who fight for pure love, justice and rainbows. They are very true to their real-life historical inspirations: yes, there really was a Sultan Murad and a Princess Theodora although as usual, Small takes her liberties with historical facts. These characters are shrewd, pragmatic, ambitious, and occasionally given to blood lust. Adora'sister Helena, the Byzantine Empress, makes Cersei Lannister look like Pippi Longstockings.
This is not a Barbara Cartland tame and cute romance, nor is it serious historical fiction . But it has spirit, and magic. RIP Bertrice Small. You have my respect forever. There won't be another one like you.
Adora is the affectionate nickname given by the Sultan Murad to his favorit, Theodora, a Byzantine Princess who, in the fashion of Small heroines, is far better educated, spirited and of course beautiful than the average woman of her time lol.
There are plenty of horrendous things that happen to Adora, who is treated again and again like a chattel and political pawn by her family, be it her parents, siblings, spouses,or her own children. On top of it, she has to endure rape, enslavement, trafficking, betrayal, adultery, loss and grief galore, dehumanization, torture, pedophilia, incest, you name it, Small has included it. It is not all bleak of course. Adora fights for and gets what she craves, love, adoration, respect, adventure, happiness, romance, power.
Adora is not a flawless book. Similar to the Kadin, it attempts to cram into one book a multitude of events spanning the life of one very busy Princess. It also has hilarious purple prose and definitely questionable characters, including the heroine.
These are not super cutesy cookie-cutter characters who fight for pure love, justice and rainbows. They are very true to their real-life historical inspirations: yes, there really was a Sultan Murad and a Princess Theodora although as usual, Small takes her liberties with historical facts. These characters are shrewd, pragmatic, ambitious, and occasionally given to blood lust. Adora'sister Helena, the Byzantine Empress, makes Cersei Lannister look like Pippi Longstockings.
This is not a Barbara Cartland tame and cute romance, nor is it serious historical fiction . But it has spirit, and magic. RIP Bertrice Small. You have my respect forever. There won't be another one like you.
July 26, 2010
This book is absolutely crazypants, and I mean that with all the love in my heart. It was written back in 1985, when bodices were still being ripped (I hate that term, but it's appropriate for back then). I read this first back as a teenager and fell in love with it, and have re-read it every few years since.
Small is known for her wildly reaching storylines, and this one does not disappoint. There's an old man husband, a man she cannot have, seductive pirates, court intrigues, a hero that rapes her until she likes it, a murderous sister, you name it. LOVED IT. There's also a lot of history mixed in with the fiction here - Theodora Cantacuzene was a real person, and though her adventures might not have gone exactly as they were written here, I have to give Small tons of kudos for getting a lot of history (and as far as I know, fairly accurate history) and period details into her books.
Small is known for her wildly reaching storylines, and this one does not disappoint. There's an old man husband, a man she cannot have, seductive pirates, court intrigues, a hero that rapes her until she likes it, a murderous sister, you name it. LOVED IT. There's also a lot of history mixed in with the fiction here - Theodora Cantacuzene was a real person, and though her adventures might not have gone exactly as they were written here, I have to give Small tons of kudos for getting a lot of history (and as far as I know, fairly accurate history) and period details into her books.
March 6, 2018
Bertie is one of my favorite BR authors. I can't take it seriously, but it's like eating delicious junk food. :P
This book has a lot of history to it, to balance out all the OTT smut and hardcore content. I'm still disappointed that Alexander the Great's bisexuality was completely ignored. I am still loling over Adora's eyes being amethyst-colored.
This is an old skool bodice-ripper, and it is pretty hardcore. Gird your loins before reading.
Trigger Warnings:
Rape
Child Rape (not implied, but not descriptive)
Violence
Torture
Murder
Harem
This book has a lot of history to it, to balance out all the OTT smut and hardcore content. I'm still disappointed that Alexander the Great's bisexuality was completely ignored. I am still loling over Adora's eyes being amethyst-colored.
This is an old skool bodice-ripper, and it is pretty hardcore. Gird your loins before reading.
Trigger Warnings:
Rape
Child Rape (not implied, but not descriptive)
Violence
Torture
Murder
Harem
September 17, 2023
I could take a bath in a vat of acid and still feel unclean after reading this.
April 10, 2022
Ok, lets see. I have not read a Bertrice Small book in over 30 years. This looked interesting, for some reason. Perhaps a walk down memory lane was what roped me in? I mean 30 years ago, this was adventure, history, true love prevails, etc... Everything I loved in a book!
So fast forward 30 adult years later, and I am not loving this book!
Child brides, and forced sexual relations, with the Ottoman and Byzantine empires as a backdrop. Yeah, this was just not a good read for me. The history part of this book definitely interested me. But that's about it.
So fast forward 30 adult years later, and I am not loving this book!
Child brides, and forced sexual relations, with the Ottoman and Byzantine empires as a backdrop. Yeah, this was just not a good read for me. The history part of this book definitely interested me. But that's about it.
January 31, 2011
This book is disgusting.
If it's possible to give this 0 star, i would.
Dear Ms. Small, this is the last time i visit your world of men or pigs or whatever they are. Thank you very much.
---------------------------
(The next morning)
I am in the process of filling my Calibre with BS's books. Then i stumble upon Adore, such a name with a lovely sypnosis abt a at-the-first-sight love. A hopeless romantic and sucker for love at first sight as I am, I jump right at the assumption of a sweet romance. Then i read this review. Guess what? I still read it.
Lord know i should be punished for not listenning to those warning.
*crying*
I am a ferminist. I know some may think ferminism is not sexy but I don’t fkg care. And the ferminist inside me scheeching like crazy when I read this. Women in BS’s world were treated like chattel. No. not only the kind of common treatment from the history itself but, hell, I never ever seen an author’s disregard to his/her characters as BS. Welcome to a world of women-living-in-harem, virgin-deflowered-as-fast-as-hen-can-lay-eggs and sex is lurrrvveee, no women can form a sound opinion except our heroin who, when BS thinks is necessary, become unbelievably submissive. Now, first she is fall in lust with Murad but think it is love. Fine, she just so young and spoiled then. Orkhan, her husband, begged by her father, get her deflowered by a wooden dildo because he can’t bother going through that trouble and then involved her in his perversion such as arousing a 10 year old girl and witnessing him raping that girl. She even told that she was vomitted. Then at the middle of the book, she describe her feeling toward him as “friengly” because she bought many beautiful slave girl so she don’t have to suffer his attention. “Flawless”, “courage”, “intelligent “ of even the you-are-so-beautiful-i-cant-help-loving-you bit I was prepared, but this shallow, NO. And next, she submit to Murad’s domination eventhough he treated her as a slave, no, MORE WORSE, insulted her, threatened her, beated her and raped her . Because he bought her from her sister and he LURVE her so he can make her serving him as a master and rape her not just once, mind you. And because she LURVE him too, she cant escape and the notion of “her fate is with Murad” (after being at covent of his father, Orkhan, at a pirate’s ship, at Orkhan’s harem then at the same pirate’s harem) just popped in her head, she surrendered. I have read about ugly, dumb, deaf or even cripple heroin was treated better by their authors. I would rather be a ugly, dumb, deaf or even cripple one with dignity rather than being beautiful but lame.
If it's possible to give this 0 star, i would.
Dear Ms. Small, this is the last time i visit your world of men or pigs or whatever they are. Thank you very much.
---------------------------
(The next morning)
I am in the process of filling my Calibre with BS's books. Then i stumble upon Adore, such a name with a lovely sypnosis abt a at-the-first-sight love. A hopeless romantic and sucker for love at first sight as I am, I jump right at the assumption of a sweet romance. Then i read this review. Guess what? I still read it.
Lord know i should be punished for not listenning to those warning.
*crying*
I am a ferminist. I know some may think ferminism is not sexy but I don’t fkg care. And the ferminist inside me scheeching like crazy when I read this. Women in BS’s world were treated like chattel. No. not only the kind of common treatment from the history itself but, hell, I never ever seen an author’s disregard to his/her characters as BS. Welcome to a world of women-living-in-harem, virgin-deflowered-as-fast-as-hen-can-lay-eggs and sex is lurrrvveee, no women can form a sound opinion except our heroin who, when BS thinks is necessary, become unbelievably submissive. Now, first she is fall in lust with Murad but think it is love. Fine, she just so young and spoiled then. Orkhan, her husband, begged by her father, get her deflowered by a wooden dildo because he can’t bother going through that trouble and then involved her in his perversion such as arousing a 10 year old girl and witnessing him raping that girl. She even told that she was vomitted. Then at the middle of the book, she describe her feeling toward him as “friengly” because she bought many beautiful slave girl so she don’t have to suffer his attention. “Flawless”, “courage”, “intelligent “ of even the you-are-so-beautiful-i-cant-help-loving-you bit I was prepared, but this shallow, NO. And next, she submit to Murad’s domination eventhough he treated her as a slave, no, MORE WORSE, insulted her, threatened her, beated her and raped her . Because he bought her from her sister and he LURVE her so he can make her serving him as a master and rape her not just once, mind you. And because she LURVE him too, she cant escape and the notion of “her fate is with Murad” (after being at covent of his father, Orkhan, at a pirate’s ship, at Orkhan’s harem then at the same pirate’s harem) just popped in her head, she surrendered. I have read about ugly, dumb, deaf or even cripple heroin was treated better by their authors. I would rather be a ugly, dumb, deaf or even cripple one with dignity rather than being beautiful but lame.
Want to read
January 17, 2020Kindle Unlimited Classic romance
January 4, 2019
This was the first erotic Historical Romance I have ever read!! Bertrice Small is the best Historical Romance writer I have ever read!
Theadora and Murad are an extremely beautiful love story. This story is rich in details, history, and narrative. The attention to every single detail is incredible.
There is drama, death, love, war and sensual steamy love! This book, as well as all her books are tastefully well written.
RIP Ms. Bertrice Small!
Theadora and Murad are an extremely beautiful love story. This story is rich in details, history, and narrative. The attention to every single detail is incredible.
There is drama, death, love, war and sensual steamy love! This book, as well as all her books are tastefully well written.
RIP Ms. Bertrice Small!
January 24, 2017
No....just hard NO! I only read a sample but that was enough. The girl is only what?13-14 years old and been groomed for sex and touched and all. I know this happens all the time ,I know it's Arabic historical novel and it was (still is) a norm in some cultures but I don't want to read about it in ROMANCE novels ! As a mother of a little girl ,this shit is more like a horror story for me.
April 15, 2022
My 100th book of 2022! Another book was going to be my 100th read, but I was finding myself bored with the book and would have rated it 2 stars (I might DNF it, not sure), and I didn't want my 100th book to be one I didn't really enjoy, so I picked this one up instead.
Theodora is given to the sultan, a man 50 years her senior, when she's 10 (I believe). She secretly meets the sultan's son Murad and they fall in love. He nicknames her "Adora". Both believe that Theodora's marriage to the sultan will remain unconsummated, but when she's 13, Adora is called to grace the sultan's bed and remain there till she falls pregnant. Murad thinks that Adora betrayed her and he treats her cruelly. It's crazy for me to think of girls losing their virginity at 13 (or even 6--soldiers raping little girls after conquest). I know I wasn't anywhere close to ready to have sex at 13. The sex scene involves Adora's hymen being broken with a phallus (seriously, the sultan was so lazy he couldn't have just thrust through that himself??) and some female-on-female action (the other harem girls).
Theodora has 3 husbands throughout her life: Orkhan, a pirate and later king Alexander, and finally Murad, who become the next sultan. Though she falls in love with Alexander, Murad is the love of her life. Though I wanted her and Murad to be together, I was still sad with what happened to Alexander. He didn't deserve Bertrice Small doing that to him just so Adora could end up with Murad.
There was this one chapter I loved and thought to myself, "This is 4 stars." I was eagerly awaiting the next chapter, which started with a history lesson that slightly bored me. Why I'm not giving this 4 stars is that the whole concept of the other women bugged me. I know Murad is a sultan and sultans would have multiple wives and/or women in their harem. I still don't like hearing that he beds other women occasionally or even need to read the graphic sex scenes of him doing it with other women!! The sex scene (s?) of Murad with the other harem ladies made me cringe. If I was Adora, I wouldn't have even let my chief eunuch obtain women for my love's harem in the first place.
A romantic speech of Murad was ruined by this quote: "The others I desire occasionally, for a man requires variety." NO! Then Adora was like what do I need to do to retain his interest? Here, I was thinking to myself he's not doing anything to try to retain your interest! Why must the women try harder??
I was also thinking to myself how if one man had at least a hundred women in his harem...how is there enough women for other men? You're depriving these women of finding/being with their soulmates because you're greedy.
Anyway, the way the book ends is kind of sad and I almost cried.
I looked up Murad on Google, but I found no mention of a wife named Theodora.
Theodora is given to the sultan, a man 50 years her senior, when she's 10 (I believe). She secretly meets the sultan's son Murad and they fall in love. He nicknames her "Adora". Both believe that Theodora's marriage to the sultan will remain unconsummated, but when she's 13, Adora is called to grace the sultan's bed and remain there till she falls pregnant. Murad thinks that Adora betrayed her and he treats her cruelly. It's crazy for me to think of girls losing their virginity at 13 (or even 6--soldiers raping little girls after conquest). I know I wasn't anywhere close to ready to have sex at 13. The sex scene involves Adora's hymen being broken with a phallus (seriously, the sultan was so lazy he couldn't have just thrust through that himself??) and some female-on-female action (the other harem girls).
Theodora has 3 husbands throughout her life: Orkhan, a pirate and later king Alexander, and finally Murad, who become the next sultan. Though she falls in love with Alexander, Murad is the love of her life. Though I wanted her and Murad to be together, I was still sad with what happened to Alexander. He didn't deserve Bertrice Small doing that to him just so Adora could end up with Murad.
There was this one chapter I loved and thought to myself, "This is 4 stars." I was eagerly awaiting the next chapter, which started with a history lesson that slightly bored me. Why I'm not giving this 4 stars is that the whole concept of the other women bugged me. I know Murad is a sultan and sultans would have multiple wives and/or women in their harem. I still don't like hearing that he beds other women occasionally or even need to read the graphic sex scenes of him doing it with other women!! The sex scene (s?) of Murad with the other harem ladies made me cringe. If I was Adora, I wouldn't have even let my chief eunuch obtain women for my love's harem in the first place.
A romantic speech of Murad was ruined by this quote: "The others I desire occasionally, for a man requires variety." NO! Then Adora was like what do I need to do to retain his interest? Here, I was thinking to myself he's not doing anything to try to retain your interest! Why must the women try harder??
I was also thinking to myself how if one man had at least a hundred women in his harem...how is there enough women for other men? You're depriving these women of finding/being with their soulmates because you're greedy.
Anyway, the way the book ends is kind of sad and I almost cried.
I looked up Murad on Google, but I found no mention of a wife named Theodora.
will-never-read
August 17, 2012ROFLMAO. A reviewer after my own heart (and Zosia's)
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July 7, 2018
This is a problematic work even by campy bodice ripper standards. Adora takes a strange 360 turn in her stance on her incredibly unfair, sexist circumstances 3/4 into the book that makes her character seem unreliable and oddly removed from her situation. Also the author loves to throw in mini history lessons and fact dumping to move the story forward. The "hero" , Murad, is completely hypocritical, abusive and awful. The villain, Helena, is a cruel, calculating paralell throughout the story only to meet....absolutely no retribution in the end.
The appeal is the fast paced, unpredictability of the story and cluster fuck of drama that I couldn't seem to step away from. Also, the unexpected death of two different characters was surprisingly affecting and tearjerking.
I guess if you like your bodice rippers tragic, dark, extremely non-pc, and can stand to watch a heroine with a modern mind and intelligence get undermined into being less human than a walking uterus and pair of tits by every person in power, then you could do worse.
If you want to read about a strong willed, intelligent, witty, hot girl stuck in the ancient patriarchy that actually contrives to gain power and influence and succeeds (sort of) I highly recommend Roxana by Helene Moreau.
The appeal is the fast paced, unpredictability of the story and cluster fuck of drama that I couldn't seem to step away from. Also, the unexpected death of two different characters was surprisingly affecting and tearjerking.
I guess if you like your bodice rippers tragic, dark, extremely non-pc, and can stand to watch a heroine with a modern mind and intelligence get undermined into being less human than a walking uterus and pair of tits by every person in power, then you could do worse.
If you want to read about a strong willed, intelligent, witty, hot girl stuck in the ancient patriarchy that actually contrives to gain power and influence and succeeds (sort of) I highly recommend Roxana by Helene Moreau.
December 5, 2011
It's comforting that some things will never change. I mean...ever. This author's specialty is old-school bodice-rippers. We're talking arranged marriages with tall, dark, brooding stranger. Dare I say it, we're talking pirate captains. Her books might as well just have the cover blurb: "Don't! Stop! Don't...stop. Don't stop!" No. Really.
But she also is known for packing in a lot of historical detail. Basically, NC-17 history buff brain candy. But as I was reading this on my Kindle (no, I can't explain why I bought this) I started thinking 'this plot seems familiar...if she gets abducted on the high seas by a pirate captain, I'll know I've already this one'. Guess what happened? That's right. But turns out I *hadn't* read this one - it takes place in Byzantium, so the setting was new - but apparently, there's a high seas pirate 'incident' in every book! I just feel comforted by the trashy continuity somehow. Good times.
But she also is known for packing in a lot of historical detail. Basically, NC-17 history buff brain candy. But as I was reading this on my Kindle (no, I can't explain why I bought this) I started thinking 'this plot seems familiar...if she gets abducted on the high seas by a pirate captain, I'll know I've already this one'. Guess what happened? That's right. But turns out I *hadn't* read this one - it takes place in Byzantium, so the setting was new - but apparently, there's a high seas pirate 'incident' in every book! I just feel comforted by the trashy continuity somehow. Good times.
October 12, 2013
it was actually a very nice 1 n i liked it very much up2 the point where alexander was killed n murad claimed andora as his slave. der, it went downhill 4me. it's not the author's fault. she actually narrated it as it was in reality back in those days..dat is murad kept a harem of women n fucked them at the same time as andora. he had all women he lusted after in his harem. frankly, it disgusted me. i can't like this kind of hero. it repulsed me too much. also, by the end, the story was focused too much on war n plots like dat
dnf-or-skimmed
December 22, 2022If you decide to go into this book, you must understand this: it's not really a romance.
It's far more akin to just straight historical fiction, with a decent focus on how the main character, a noblewoman in 14th century Turkey, is essentially viewed only in the lens of a this exotic, sexual fantasy that all the men around her wish to experience, constantly mixing up love and lust, which is probably where the labeling of "romance" came into being.
It reads very much like just telling the life story of Theadora, rather than trying to showcase some grand, incredible romance she experiences because, frankly, anytime anyone claims to "love" or "be in love" it's in a very sexually charged/attraction based way. It's more about powerful men exerting their power and Adora trying to make the best of her circumstances than mutual respect, understanding, and fondness.
Like, the way the author describes 13 year old girls as being "women" and having adult men assault them really detracts from this having the qualities of a romance novel and often feels more so like something I'd see written in a biography of a historical figure. The author even describes one of Adora's older sisters, at age 13, as having a plump golden breast and lust in her eye who rubs her budding breasts against the backs of young soldiers as they're fleeing the city after the death of the previous sultan--like damn, right out of the gate. It's very weird.
(also, the author is bad at math; she goes to the trouble to describing the amount of time between the birth of each of Adora's siblings but fucks up the numers in compounding ways; this would all have been solved had she just written their names and ages straight out instead of trying to be like "sophia followed after 18 months later and then the youngest was four, with her brother two years older" like it's a fucking math problem you get in elementary school)
The male lead is more focused on Adora being this highly sexual creature "made for pleasure" than on any quality of her personality--in fact, he often seems to resent that she's smart and thinks she should shut up and spread her legs for him. He even blames Adora for losing her virginity to her husband, his father and the sultan, and wants to hurt her over it and eventually comes to like, regard her as a "whore" he rapes and wants to force into his harem against her will despite this being a really stupid way of feeling when he fully understands that she was forced into all this as a child and proclaimed to love her and want her as a wife.
Like it's all just very stupid and unappealing in a "romance." But like, in a historic kind of mindset, you could see how Murad, even as terrible as he is, would be more appealing to a woman who's gone through a lot of shit over her husband who was even worse than his terrible son.
Even the slightly better romantic option of Alexander (who is called Alexander the Great very confusingly because the figure you think of when you hear that was alive in like 300 BC, and this is taking place in the 1300s AD, so... why on earth the author chose to name him that is beyond me) who appreciates Adora's mind and talking to her as a person, is so wrapped up in how badly he wants to fuck her that he drugs her and, in her altered state of consciousness where she can't consent because she thinks she's in a dream, rapes her just because he couldn't accept that she said no.
Overall, Adora's life is pretty sad. Her father sells her off. Her husband is an old man that brutalizes her. She's forced to get pregnant at age 13. The man she thought she loved is a creep who seduced her at 13 and blames her for everything that happened with her husband. Everywhere she goes a man tells her she should shut up and fuck him because she was made to pleasure men and nothing more. Her family basically abandons her. Her sister tries to have her and her son killed. The man she thinks she loves rapes her and calls her a whore. Her son kind of turns into a monster. The world is falling apart with war in the Middle East between Muslims and Christians and the fall of Constantinople.
I ended up cutting off before chapter 13, which is the start of part 3 where I believe she reunites with Alexander. I skimmed a little to find the ending and it's basically just, she eventually gets with Murad, has another son, the son grows up, Murad eventually dies because of war, the son marries a European woman and becomes sultan of an empire, Adora lives to be old and gray, she passes and reunites with Murad in the afterlife.
As I said, it reads much more like describing the life events of a historical figure than a romance. If you go into this read with that in mind and ignore all the author's weird attempts to make it seem tantalizing (every time she described a child as having cone shaped breasts with long coral nipples I wanted to die), it's actually pretty good historical immersion with nice writing (although the copy I read never capitalizes titles like it should, like, if a title is attached to a name, it gets capitalized, i.e. Lady Adora/Princess Adora, and when it's not attached and isn't being used in place of a name, it's lower case.
I just didn't particularly want to continue with the sad life story of a woman who got like 0 sympathy for how much trauma she endured from the age of 10 nor did I want to swallow the 1947582th description of sexual abuse towards minors and children, so I didn't want to continue knowing the truth of the kind of book I was reading.
It's far more akin to just straight historical fiction, with a decent focus on how the main character, a noblewoman in 14th century Turkey, is essentially viewed only in the lens of a this exotic, sexual fantasy that all the men around her wish to experience, constantly mixing up love and lust, which is probably where the labeling of "romance" came into being.
It reads very much like just telling the life story of Theadora, rather than trying to showcase some grand, incredible romance she experiences because, frankly, anytime anyone claims to "love" or "be in love" it's in a very sexually charged/attraction based way. It's more about powerful men exerting their power and Adora trying to make the best of her circumstances than mutual respect, understanding, and fondness.
Like, the way the author describes 13 year old girls as being "women" and having adult men assault them really detracts from this having the qualities of a romance novel and often feels more so like something I'd see written in a biography of a historical figure. The author even describes one of Adora's older sisters, at age 13, as having a plump golden breast and lust in her eye who rubs her budding breasts against the backs of young soldiers as they're fleeing the city after the death of the previous sultan--like damn, right out of the gate. It's very weird.
(also, the author is bad at math; she goes to the trouble to describing the amount of time between the birth of each of Adora's siblings but fucks up the numers in compounding ways; this would all have been solved had she just written their names and ages straight out instead of trying to be like "sophia followed after 18 months later and then the youngest was four, with her brother two years older" like it's a fucking math problem you get in elementary school)
The male lead is more focused on Adora being this highly sexual creature "made for pleasure" than on any quality of her personality--in fact, he often seems to resent that she's smart and thinks she should shut up and spread her legs for him. He even blames Adora for losing her virginity to her husband, his father and the sultan, and wants to hurt her over it and eventually comes to like, regard her as a "whore" he rapes and wants to force into his harem against her will despite this being a really stupid way of feeling when he fully understands that she was forced into all this as a child and proclaimed to love her and want her as a wife.
Like it's all just very stupid and unappealing in a "romance." But like, in a historic kind of mindset, you could see how Murad, even as terrible as he is, would be more appealing to a woman who's gone through a lot of shit over her husband who was even worse than his terrible son.
Even the slightly better romantic option of Alexander (who is called Alexander the Great very confusingly because the figure you think of when you hear that was alive in like 300 BC, and this is taking place in the 1300s AD, so... why on earth the author chose to name him that is beyond me) who appreciates Adora's mind and talking to her as a person, is so wrapped up in how badly he wants to fuck her that he drugs her and, in her altered state of consciousness where she can't consent because she thinks she's in a dream, rapes her just because he couldn't accept that she said no.
Overall, Adora's life is pretty sad. Her father sells her off. Her husband is an old man that brutalizes her. She's forced to get pregnant at age 13. The man she thought she loved is a creep who seduced her at 13 and blames her for everything that happened with her husband. Everywhere she goes a man tells her she should shut up and fuck him because she was made to pleasure men and nothing more. Her family basically abandons her. Her sister tries to have her and her son killed. The man she thinks she loves rapes her and calls her a whore. Her son kind of turns into a monster. The world is falling apart with war in the Middle East between Muslims and Christians and the fall of Constantinople.
I ended up cutting off before chapter 13, which is the start of part 3 where I believe she reunites with Alexander. I skimmed a little to find the ending and it's basically just, she eventually gets with Murad, has another son, the son grows up, Murad eventually dies because of war, the son marries a European woman and becomes sultan of an empire, Adora lives to be old and gray, she passes and reunites with Murad in the afterlife.
As I said, it reads much more like describing the life events of a historical figure than a romance. If you go into this read with that in mind and ignore all the author's weird attempts to make it seem tantalizing (every time she described a child as having cone shaped breasts with long coral nipples I wanted to die), it's actually pretty good historical immersion with nice writing (although the copy I read never capitalizes titles like it should, like, if a title is attached to a name, it gets capitalized, i.e. Lady Adora/Princess Adora, and when it's not attached and isn't being used in place of a name, it's lower case.
I just didn't particularly want to continue with the sad life story of a woman who got like 0 sympathy for how much trauma she endured from the age of 10 nor did I want to swallow the 1947582th description of sexual abuse towards minors and children, so I didn't want to continue knowing the truth of the kind of book I was reading.
February 20, 2013
I archived this on my kindle so I never have to see it again... The first quarter was perfect for a Small novel, (having loved 'Rosamund' and 'Lara') but the wtf-inducing cherry popping freaked me the fk out. Some nasty sht. I stopped right then and pushed it as far away as possible... Before continuing (and being freaked out by more wtf inducing stuff) until my mum found out and barred me from it.
September 12, 2016
Horrible acts of child rape. I do not recommend at all.
December 26, 2020
This is one of the first romance novels I read as a young girl. I fell in love with its depiction of Byzantium, and the spread of the Ottoman Empire. It holds up!
February 22, 2022
What a total mess. I’m not sure this should even qualify as a romance. Wth 🤡
October 1, 2011
It would have been 5 stars but the over description killed it for me .
Read
March 27, 2018This is a wonderful story
June 29, 2023
Wow! Very impressed with the audibly version. Not a romance per say, lots of triggers.
August 26, 2016
I'm not much into romances but this book came to me in a free box of books and was on someone's wish list when I entered it on my TBR pile so I decided to read it.
This is a historical romance and therefore, in my mind, raises it slightly above a simple modern romance. The history lessons were, for the most part interesting, although tedious at times. I get the impression that the title character is a real person from history who's life the author took artistic license in embellishing and fleshing out. You must understand the context of the life and era in which Adora resided in order to accept what she does in order to survive or thrive. Adora's life is chronicled from beginning to end and it isn't wrapped up in a neat little package with a tidy pink bow. Her loves, romances, and marriages are simplistic even though the author tries to give them dimension with their complications. I wasn't happy with the supposed happy ending (in the sections of the book or the true end) but I could appreciate that the author didn't want the life to be perfect. I think the author's attempt at making the story feel more real by making life imperfect was a valid attempt.
If you don't care for romances, skip it. If you like them, especially historical romances, you won't feel this book is a waste of time.
This is a historical romance and therefore, in my mind, raises it slightly above a simple modern romance. The history lessons were, for the most part interesting, although tedious at times. I get the impression that the title character is a real person from history who's life the author took artistic license in embellishing and fleshing out. You must understand the context of the life and era in which Adora resided in order to accept what she does in order to survive or thrive. Adora's life is chronicled from beginning to end and it isn't wrapped up in a neat little package with a tidy pink bow. Her loves, romances, and marriages are simplistic even though the author tries to give them dimension with their complications. I wasn't happy with the supposed happy ending (in the sections of the book or the true end) but I could appreciate that the author didn't want the life to be perfect. I think the author's attempt at making the story feel more real by making life imperfect was a valid attempt.
If you don't care for romances, skip it. If you like them, especially historical romances, you won't feel this book is a waste of time.
November 2, 2015
What did I just read?
I was very excited to read a romance novel that wasn't set in Great Britain or the American West... unfortunately this book is basically a bunch of rapes surrounding by relatively interesting historical events. The characters have less depth than they do memory, and the whole book has a bizarrely meandering plot. It could be attributed to historical accuracy, but it's mostly sex scenes with no emotional build-up or pay-off, sprinkled with occasional historical elements. Also, the main character is the Mary Sueiest of the Mary Sues.
I was very excited to read a romance novel that wasn't set in Great Britain or the American West... unfortunately this book is basically a bunch of rapes surrounding by relatively interesting historical events. The characters have less depth than they do memory, and the whole book has a bizarrely meandering plot. It could be attributed to historical accuracy, but it's mostly sex scenes with no emotional build-up or pay-off, sprinkled with occasional historical elements. Also, the main character is the Mary Sueiest of the Mary Sues.
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