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Loki's Daughters
4 1/2 Stars Romantic Times!
The Vikings are coming. And these men don't have rape and pillage on their minds. They mean to stay, and take wives. The easy way or the hard way.
When Celtic maid Arienh surprises a Viking in the hills, she thinks she's doomed. In the downhill chase, she stabs him and escapes, leaving him to die in the rain and mud. But he doesn't die, and instead forces his way out of the freezing rain into her cottage. Meaning to calm him and protect her Celtic village from potential violence, Arienh tends his wound. But the dying man confuses her with his teasing, and in the middle of the night wakes her with a kiss and the bizarre assertion that she belongs to him.
Not in her lifetime. Torn by rage and loss from years of predation by Vikings, with all the men in her village and family lost to Viking raids, Arienh has poured her life into protecting the remaining women and children of her village. She hates Vikings. She would never submit to one. And she will never forgive.
Ronan knows she doesn't recognize him, but he has never forgotten her. As a young boy he was forced to join his cruel uncle in his marauding, and during a raid on her village Ronan sacrificed his only chance of escape to hide Arienh from his Viking kin. He has finally found her again, only to be wounded at her own hand. How can he prove he is not like other Vikings when he has brought more of his kind with him and they all have the same intention, to take over the land of the village women who hate them, and worse, turn them all into wives?
The Vikings are coming. And these men don't have rape and pillage on their minds. They mean to stay, and take wives. The easy way or the hard way.
When Celtic maid Arienh surprises a Viking in the hills, she thinks she's doomed. In the downhill chase, she stabs him and escapes, leaving him to die in the rain and mud. But he doesn't die, and instead forces his way out of the freezing rain into her cottage. Meaning to calm him and protect her Celtic village from potential violence, Arienh tends his wound. But the dying man confuses her with his teasing, and in the middle of the night wakes her with a kiss and the bizarre assertion that she belongs to him.
Not in her lifetime. Torn by rage and loss from years of predation by Vikings, with all the men in her village and family lost to Viking raids, Arienh has poured her life into protecting the remaining women and children of her village. She hates Vikings. She would never submit to one. And she will never forgive.
Ronan knows she doesn't recognize him, but he has never forgotten her. As a young boy he was forced to join his cruel uncle in his marauding, and during a raid on her village Ronan sacrificed his only chance of escape to hide Arienh from his Viking kin. He has finally found her again, only to be wounded at her own hand. How can he prove he is not like other Vikings when he has brought more of his kind with him and they all have the same intention, to take over the land of the village women who hate them, and worse, turn them all into wives?
341 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2002
127 people are currently reading
909 people want to read
About the author
Delle Jacobs
22 books49 followersI write write write. Sometimes I travel. Then I write some more. And I have a great family who understand that I write write write.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
July 12, 2012
Fairly quickly into the book, there was one thing that went through my mind - that this was an awful lot like the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Except that it was with Viking men and Celt women and there wasn't a lot of singing.
I have to say that this book was a very enjoyable one. I always get put off by romance books, because most of the ones I've read don't develop the romance. At all. It goes from instant-attraction to love within a matter of pages.
That wasn't this book. In fact, even though there were romances between a lot of the characters, I felt that they were handled realistically. The characters were interesting and engaging enough to capture my attention and they came across as real people and not the two-dimensional almost parody characters I've read far too many books about. There were definitely moments where I laughed and pretty much fell in love with the characters. As soon as I get money, I will be buying more by this author.
I have to say that this book was a very enjoyable one. I always get put off by romance books, because most of the ones I've read don't develop the romance. At all. It goes from instant-attraction to love within a matter of pages.
That wasn't this book. In fact, even though there were romances between a lot of the characters, I felt that they were handled realistically. The characters were interesting and engaging enough to capture my attention and they came across as real people and not the two-dimensional almost parody characters I've read far too many books about. There were definitely moments where I laughed and pretty much fell in love with the characters. As soon as I get money, I will be buying more by this author.
March 16, 2011
Loki's Daughters was an entertaining Kindle cheapie with Celts and Vikings (who are not the pillaging kind, but much harder to get rid of.)
The pranks by the Celtic women whose village is taken over by huge hunky Vikings, were fun and are what earned the women the nickname of Loki's daughters. The way one of the pranks backfires on the women is particularly eye-opening. I liked that author Jacob's didn't rush the transition from fear and suspicion and that it took patience and a sense of humor for the Vikings to gain the trust of the women who had lost so much in their previous encounters with Viking raiders in the past.
There are really two pairs who are the focus of the story. The first pair: Ronan who has returned to claim the red-haired girl he saved when they were both young. But the woman he finds is not that girl - Arienh has been strengthened by adversity and Ronan nearly looses his life to her when he finally encounters her again. In a more supporting role, are Ronan's brother Egil and Birgit, a fragile woman who really suffered at the hands of the raiders.
I'd have been happy with either of the Viking brothers as leading men, both were great and both were really different. And I'd have had a hard time choosing between them, so it was great that there was a romance for each of the siblings - and I was happy that I didn't have to wait for a sequence to get Egil and Brigit's tale. My only nit with the story, was a secret which drove both Arienh and Birgit actions and dragged on a bit too long.
Loki's Daughters was one of those great Kindle finds - I really happy to have stumbled on to it.
The pranks by the Celtic women whose village is taken over by huge hunky Vikings, were fun and are what earned the women the nickname of Loki's daughters. The way one of the pranks backfires on the women is particularly eye-opening. I liked that author Jacob's didn't rush the transition from fear and suspicion and that it took patience and a sense of humor for the Vikings to gain the trust of the women who had lost so much in their previous encounters with Viking raiders in the past.
There are really two pairs who are the focus of the story. The first pair: Ronan who has returned to claim the red-haired girl he saved when they were both young. But the woman he finds is not that girl - Arienh has been strengthened by adversity and Ronan nearly looses his life to her when he finally encounters her again. In a more supporting role, are Ronan's brother Egil and Birgit, a fragile woman who really suffered at the hands of the raiders.
I'd have been happy with either of the Viking brothers as leading men, both were great and both were really different. And I'd have had a hard time choosing between them, so it was great that there was a romance for each of the siblings - and I was happy that I didn't have to wait for a sequence to get Egil and Brigit's tale. My only nit with the story, was a secret which drove both Arienh and Birgit actions and dragged on a bit too long.
Loki's Daughters was one of those great Kindle finds - I really happy to have stumbled on to it.
November 2, 2012
Loki's Daughters (Kindle Edition)
I really really hated Arienh and she brought the whole story down for me!! Arienh was saved by Ronan years earlier when his uncle forced him to help invade the village that Arienh and her family lived. Ronan saves her from being raped and killed or sold into slavery. He did this at the determent of his own life. Ronan suffers under is uncles so called care. Ronan returns years later to take Arienh as his wife thus the story begins. I understood at first why Arienh didn't trust him or any other Northman or Viking, because her father, brother and cousin had been killed by their invasion to their village and her beloved sister Birgit was raped and badly beaten, leaving her blind and pregnant. Ronan and the other Northman who accompany him set out to gain the women of the areas trust, hoping to make them wives. These women have no men to help them they are staving and their cottages are falling down. They are living in a very bad way. The Northman bring them food and start repairing the village. But oh no thats not good enough for Arienh, she takes their gifts of food and help to repair the village, but in return she and her fellow women play mean, hurtful and silly pranks on the Northman. The Northman just take this stupidity because they want the women to trust them. Eventually with all the nice things the Northman are doing for them the other women start to trust them and a few are falling in love. OH NO NOT Arienh she has to put a stop to this, because she is losing control. Ronon is patient and kind and loving and very generous to Arienh and her sister and Sexy as hell but Arienh constantly rejects him, uses him and accuses him of breaking his word to her, when she is the one breaking her promises and word. Arienh is mean, self centered and very immature. At the end when she finally excepts Ronan as her husband it wasn't believable she had done to much to damage to the relationship and I wished that Ronan had found another women in the village to make his wife. I wanted him to just dumped the stupid Arienh. This story had way to much angst, from beginning to end angst. The other side romances is what kept me reading and they were far more entertaining and realistic. I enjoyed the side stories with Birgit and Egil, Liam Birgit's son and the other characters were written very good. That's why the book gets 2 star instead of 1!!! If you like a lot of Angst then you will like this book. I didn't like it.
I really really hated Arienh and she brought the whole story down for me!! Arienh was saved by Ronan years earlier when his uncle forced him to help invade the village that Arienh and her family lived. Ronan saves her from being raped and killed or sold into slavery. He did this at the determent of his own life. Ronan suffers under is uncles so called care. Ronan returns years later to take Arienh as his wife thus the story begins. I understood at first why Arienh didn't trust him or any other Northman or Viking, because her father, brother and cousin had been killed by their invasion to their village and her beloved sister Birgit was raped and badly beaten, leaving her blind and pregnant. Ronan and the other Northman who accompany him set out to gain the women of the areas trust, hoping to make them wives. These women have no men to help them they are staving and their cottages are falling down. They are living in a very bad way. The Northman bring them food and start repairing the village. But oh no thats not good enough for Arienh, she takes their gifts of food and help to repair the village, but in return she and her fellow women play mean, hurtful and silly pranks on the Northman. The Northman just take this stupidity because they want the women to trust them. Eventually with all the nice things the Northman are doing for them the other women start to trust them and a few are falling in love. OH NO NOT Arienh she has to put a stop to this, because she is losing control. Ronon is patient and kind and loving and very generous to Arienh and her sister and Sexy as hell but Arienh constantly rejects him, uses him and accuses him of breaking his word to her, when she is the one breaking her promises and word. Arienh is mean, self centered and very immature. At the end when she finally excepts Ronan as her husband it wasn't believable she had done to much to damage to the relationship and I wished that Ronan had found another women in the village to make his wife. I wanted him to just dumped the stupid Arienh. This story had way to much angst, from beginning to end angst. The other side romances is what kept me reading and they were far more entertaining and realistic. I enjoyed the side stories with Birgit and Egil, Liam Birgit's son and the other characters were written very good. That's why the book gets 2 star instead of 1!!! If you like a lot of Angst then you will like this book. I didn't like it.
July 13, 2011
I found this free on Amazon.com for Kindle, and read it in less than 24 hours.
The story begins with 9th Century Cumbria where a village is inhabited by Celt women only, after raid, after raid of Vikings who killed their men in their wake. Arienh is the rock of the whole village of women, but as hard as she tries they aren't doing good. What changes everything is when Arienh runs into a lone Viking in the hills, he tries to capture her only to be stabbed to his and her surprise by Arienh.
Her conscience eventually nags enough that she allows the dying Viking the warmth of her cabin she shares with her sister and her nephew. As it happens he doesn't die, but his brother does show up to collect him.
The women see trouble right away as the men begin to feel far too much at home in their valley. As the men decide to stay and court the women for their wives Arienh will have none of it and the battle is ready to begin. Sneaky battle that is. Arienh in the front and center has decided to make the men's stay in their valley as unpleasant as possible, to drive them elsewhere.
It's not easy to come to terms that these men, who call themselves Northmen and not Vikings, are not the same Vikings who raider and raped the village in the years before.
While Arienh worries over her sister and nephew she finds that she's not quite immune to her Viking's courting after all, which gets her to heap of trouble.
The story is nice trip to Middle Ages in a soft romantic way. I myself have a soft spot for historical romance genre, after having grown up with the medieval romances written by Kaari Utrio.
I really did like this book, but I think reading it at the end of the winter would have been perfect.
You can find this book for free at amazon.com and at the author's blog.
Rating :
+ ☆ ☆ ☆ ★ ★
Good book, well worth reading
Music: Loreena McKennitt, expecially "Skellig"( http://youtu.be/EWvG2fLSypY )
The story begins with 9th Century Cumbria where a village is inhabited by Celt women only, after raid, after raid of Vikings who killed their men in their wake. Arienh is the rock of the whole village of women, but as hard as she tries they aren't doing good. What changes everything is when Arienh runs into a lone Viking in the hills, he tries to capture her only to be stabbed to his and her surprise by Arienh.
Her conscience eventually nags enough that she allows the dying Viking the warmth of her cabin she shares with her sister and her nephew. As it happens he doesn't die, but his brother does show up to collect him.
The women see trouble right away as the men begin to feel far too much at home in their valley. As the men decide to stay and court the women for their wives Arienh will have none of it and the battle is ready to begin. Sneaky battle that is. Arienh in the front and center has decided to make the men's stay in their valley as unpleasant as possible, to drive them elsewhere.
It's not easy to come to terms that these men, who call themselves Northmen and not Vikings, are not the same Vikings who raider and raped the village in the years before.
While Arienh worries over her sister and nephew she finds that she's not quite immune to her Viking's courting after all, which gets her to heap of trouble.
The story is nice trip to Middle Ages in a soft romantic way. I myself have a soft spot for historical romance genre, after having grown up with the medieval romances written by Kaari Utrio.
I really did like this book, but I think reading it at the end of the winter would have been perfect.
You can find this book for free at amazon.com and at the author's blog.
Rating :
+ ☆ ☆ ☆ ★ ★
Good book, well worth reading
Music: Loreena McKennitt, expecially "Skellig"( http://youtu.be/EWvG2fLSypY )
August 5, 2011
AUTHOR: This is my 1st time reading one of Delle Jacob’s books. I’m not impressed with “LOKI’s DAUGHTERS”. I found the content to be repetitive. If romance books provided (3) separate layers of “something that you can sink your teeth into”, this book only made it to the first layer. I never give up on an author and “fully” intend and look forward to reading another book by Delle. I want to be fair.
SYNOPSIS -
Many years ago the Celtic village was attacked by Vikings. A handful of women, children and one elderly man managed to hide themselves and survived. One young girl was hidden by a young Viking boy during the attack. Now as an adult, the Viking returns to seek his love, the young woman that he rescued so many years ago.
PASSION SCALE: This book gets (2) ASTERICK because the level of being argumentative takes away from the passion found in the romantic parts of the book. Intimacy is few and far between.
* NOT very descriptive and requires imagination
** WILL make you wiggle a little)
*** WISH it was me;
**** OH BODY, whew;
***** EROTICA and well over the top
FAVORITE PART: Feathers everywhere and how they got there.
LEAST FAVORITE PART: Arienh’s totally over cooked and over done character page after page after page.
YOU WILL LIKE THIS BOOK IF YOU LIKE: Historical romance, Vikings, Celts
This book gets TWO Stars. Romance books = 2 central characters, 1 male, 1 female…...we have that;
One or both of the main characters are in peril……..nope not per se; They work together to resolve the situation……nope; The perilous situation brings them together........nope not from the point of working together during a perilous situation but they do come together…..eventually
SYNOPSIS -
Many years ago the Celtic village was attacked by Vikings. A handful of women, children and one elderly man managed to hide themselves and survived. One young girl was hidden by a young Viking boy during the attack. Now as an adult, the Viking returns to seek his love, the young woman that he rescued so many years ago.
PASSION SCALE: This book gets (2) ASTERICK because the level of being argumentative takes away from the passion found in the romantic parts of the book. Intimacy is few and far between.
* NOT very descriptive and requires imagination
** WILL make you wiggle a little)
*** WISH it was me;
**** OH BODY, whew;
***** EROTICA and well over the top
FAVORITE PART: Feathers everywhere and how they got there.
LEAST FAVORITE PART: Arienh’s totally over cooked and over done character page after page after page.
YOU WILL LIKE THIS BOOK IF YOU LIKE: Historical romance, Vikings, Celts
This book gets TWO Stars. Romance books = 2 central characters, 1 male, 1 female…...we have that;
One or both of the main characters are in peril……..nope not per se; They work together to resolve the situation……nope; The perilous situation brings them together........nope not from the point of working together during a perilous situation but they do come together…..eventually
March 10, 2012
This is my first time reading a Delle Jacobs work's and I will say as of now it was the best historical romance I've ever read!
So many thrills, laughs, excitement, a touch of mystery, love and more all rolled up into one unique work. Between the males (Vikings) and females (Celts) there is much mischief and games to keep you turning the pages, smiling and holding on to your seat.
Being through so much throughout their lives the woman are all weary of their visitors. Vikings do not have a great reputation all around. After giving in to one of them by allowing him shelter everything changes in ways that none have asked for. After being independent, alone and strong for so long can these Celt women accept any change and any help from another? Can they trust these strangers? You will find out much is not what it seems and even at the worst turn in life one can still find peace and happiness with Loki's Daughters.
So many thrills, laughs, excitement, a touch of mystery, love and more all rolled up into one unique work. Between the males (Vikings) and females (Celts) there is much mischief and games to keep you turning the pages, smiling and holding on to your seat.
Being through so much throughout their lives the woman are all weary of their visitors. Vikings do not have a great reputation all around. After giving in to one of them by allowing him shelter everything changes in ways that none have asked for. After being independent, alone and strong for so long can these Celt women accept any change and any help from another? Can they trust these strangers? You will find out much is not what it seems and even at the worst turn in life one can still find peace and happiness with Loki's Daughters.
hiatus
August 7, 2016The title of this book is a misnomer there is no Loki and there definitely are no Loki's Daughters. I went into this book expecting a norse fantasy novel and what I got was an overdone romance something. Don't get me wrong it's not overly badly written, there is much worse out there, but the plot and the characters left much to be desired.
February 7, 2013
Okay so this book wasn't for me, i am not saying that is was a bad book or anything because i liked most of the characters but, really this is a character influnced book and there is nothing wrong with that unless you are like me and sort of hate Arienh - one of main ladies. I'm not going to go in depth about what this book was about because that is what the summary is for and i didn't finish reading it.... soo there is that. i got more than half way through and i just had to stop because my biggest issues were
1) Arienh's grudge is still going, i understand she would be upset that Vikings are there but they have been nothing but kind and helpful even saved them from another attack, never once have they forced themselves upon the women. So get over yourself and start accepting the hunky viking man already! jesus.... anyways moving on from that
2) Arienh's sister Brigit is blind - oh my gosh you didn't know? well trust me you will by 30 pages into this book and don't worry about forgetting because its in the book over and over and over and over again, heavy sigh...and more than that though its probably the main conflict of the book yup which leads me to point 3
3) the only real conflict that the book had was Brigit's conflict well at least where i left off i stopped reading because there was no action and maybe that is for you but i need somethings to happen and mostly they are going about their lives just trying to win the women over but i felt disconnected from Arienh and totally in love with Ronan i just couldn't do it anymore...
So what i have to say about this? i am not a historical fiction reader i just don't do it that much so as just a reader to reader if you are looking for something a little laid back more about the characters and not a whole lot of action sure go for it, but like i said i didn't finish reading this... sorry but its true....so i don't know what happens in the last half and i looked around on other reivews and saw so hehe i cheated
If you decide to read this, well Enjoy your read. i liked somethings about it but for me it didn't feel like it was going anywhere so i'm going to stop while im ahead
1) Arienh's grudge is still going, i understand she would be upset that Vikings are there but they have been nothing but kind and helpful even saved them from another attack, never once have they forced themselves upon the women. So get over yourself and start accepting the hunky viking man already! jesus.... anyways moving on from that
2) Arienh's sister Brigit is blind - oh my gosh you didn't know? well trust me you will by 30 pages into this book and don't worry about forgetting because its in the book over and over and over and over again, heavy sigh...and more than that though its probably the main conflict of the book yup which leads me to point 3
3) the only real conflict that the book had was Brigit's conflict well at least where i left off i stopped reading because there was no action and maybe that is for you but i need somethings to happen and mostly they are going about their lives just trying to win the women over but i felt disconnected from Arienh and totally in love with Ronan i just couldn't do it anymore...
So what i have to say about this? i am not a historical fiction reader i just don't do it that much so as just a reader to reader if you are looking for something a little laid back more about the characters and not a whole lot of action sure go for it, but like i said i didn't finish reading this... sorry but its true....so i don't know what happens in the last half and i looked around on other reivews and saw so hehe i cheated
If you decide to read this, well Enjoy your read. i liked somethings about it but for me it didn't feel like it was going anywhere so i'm going to stop while im ahead
August 23, 2014
I listened to the audiobook edition of this novel, and I think I might have enjoyed it more if I'd read the ebook edition. The narrator, Amanda Ronconi, read with a lot of expression and kept the pace going, but sometimes she was a little over the top. She read the characters with accents, and while the Celtic was fine, her Northman accent was awful - and kept changing throughout the book.
Others have covered the plot points, so I won't go there. The characters in the story had great potential, but I couldn't help getting frustated with Areinh, and her single-minded thinking. Why can't women in fiction books stop and talk to someone - maybe their lives wouldn't be so full of angst. At times I just wanted to shake her and point her to Ronan and tell her to explain to him why she was so hot and cold.
There were some very humorous scenes in the book, and I enjoyed the lightness of that - especially when everything else was so angsty and overwrought.
Some editing probably would make this a better book. I will probably try another book by this author, but not another by this *narrator.
*Edit: So, the next book I chose to listen to, "Thirteenth Child" by Patricia Wrede, is narrated by Amanda Ronconi - and she is doing an excellent job with it - so my opinion of her reading of "Loki"s Daughters might be unjust.
Others have covered the plot points, so I won't go there. The characters in the story had great potential, but I couldn't help getting frustated with Areinh, and her single-minded thinking. Why can't women in fiction books stop and talk to someone - maybe their lives wouldn't be so full of angst. At times I just wanted to shake her and point her to Ronan and tell her to explain to him why she was so hot and cold.
There were some very humorous scenes in the book, and I enjoyed the lightness of that - especially when everything else was so angsty and overwrought.
Some editing probably would make this a better book. I will probably try another book by this author, but not another by this *narrator.
*Edit: So, the next book I chose to listen to, "Thirteenth Child" by Patricia Wrede, is narrated by Amanda Ronconi - and she is doing an excellent job with it - so my opinion of her reading of "Loki"s Daughters might be unjust.
February 7, 2011
I was searching for a cheap book to read on my kindle. I found this one and was surprised by how good it was. Usually the 99 cent books are short and disappointing but this one was neither. It is a fully fleshed out story of strong naive women trying to stand up to the Northmen who decided to live in their town. I realize the plot is ridiculous but I still enjoyed it and even laughed out loud a few times.
July 18, 2011
Really liked this. There were a couple points were the suspension of disbelief required was a little excessive, but the characters were compelling and the story was interesting and well-written. It's been added to my list of books to re-read.
June 22, 2016
A wonderful historical romance - lusty Vikings that only want to help and distrusting and warlike Celtic maidens who don't want Vikings in their lives - lots of misunderstandings, laughter and edge of seat scar moments - because yes there are baddies!!!
October 4, 2013
I gave this book three stars. in some places I glanced over paragraphs because it would drag on about how the character was feeling about things, but it was written well enough that I already knew. thus skimming allot. it was a good book, just not great.
July 10, 2011
Absolutely refreshing take on the fluctuating powers in play in British Isles around the first millennium.
Read
February 12, 2013I wasn't crazy about the style this was written in. Somewhat difficult to follow. This dnf is simply a case of too many books laying about to struggle with one that doesn't grab me.
August 23, 2016
I got this title free on Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
Loki's Daughters came very close to being a 5 star read for me. I loved it.
Ugh! These heroes! So freaking sweet!
Give this one a try.
Loki's Daughters came very close to being a 5 star read for me. I loved it.
Ugh! These heroes! So freaking sweet!
Give this one a try.
April 20, 2020
Overall a very frustrating read.
The story started out very good The atmosphere was very heavy and gritty. Soon that dissolved into basic slice of life. I don't mind slice of life, but I like knowing what I'm getting into and the story should've been more consistent in tone.
I liked the heroine and the hero, which was probably why I stuck around till the end. Arienh was a strong, independent leader, without being masculine. Ronan was gentle, capable, and sometimes funny. Liam, Arienh's nephew, was cute and a realistically written kid.
The entire story was a convoluted mess. Arienh wants to be with Ronan, and her sister wants to be with Ronan's brother, yet the story comes up with nonsensical reasons to draw out this unnecessary, dumb drama.
1. Arienh and Birgit are afraid that the Vikings might take Birgit's son Liam away from her because she isn't able to care for him. The logical solution would be to ask them whether they planned on taking her son from her but somehow no one ever thinks of that.
2. The women of the valley have been told that Vikings abandon the elderly and the weak to die. So the entire story's drama revolves around the women trying to hide Birgit's blindness. However they acknowledged early on that most stories that they've heard are nonsense?? Also, no Northener ever tried to discard of that old man Ferris, who's the most useless person in the village. There is even a weak, sick, and elderly person in the Vikings' own ranks, Ronan's father! So why the women would think that they'd cast Birgit out, who contributed so much to their community, made zero sense. This 'conflict' was brought up about a hundred times, as if it'll make sense if only you repeat it often enough. The characters even acknowledged this, but it didn't really affect the story in any way. It was almost as if the author wanted to acknowledge that she knew that this made no sense. The fact that she's self-aware doesn't make this any more enjoyable to read.
The title of the book doesn't live up to the group of women it's referring to. The Northeners call the women that because they play pranks on them to get them to leave the valley. These pranks were so silly and dumb, I could only roll my eyes. They poured salt-water into the men's alcohol and hid their clothes while they were bathing. So silly. And how would this help to get the men to leave the valley?? So many of these women were so stupid. Sometimes I felt as if Arienh was the only one with a brain. No wonder she's been appointed as the unofficial leader. They all agreed that they had to stay away from the Vikings. Yet Arienh is the only one working towards that goal while the rest of them is comparing the men's dick sizes. WHAT?
There were so many strange scenes throughout the story. I think they were meant to come of as sexy and playful, but they were merely off-putting.
1. When they stole the men's clothes, the women hid in the bushes to find out whether the Vikings dicks were as big as they were told (SO DUMB). The men decide to take revenge by intentionally getting a hard-on and chase the women around (WHO EVEN THINKS TO WRITE OF SOMETHING SO STUPID????). Now most women gather their last brain cell and decide that this is the time to abort mission and get the hell away. But Birgit, being the genius she is, stubbornly stays put until the guy's junk is almost in her face because "she wants to see", even though Arienh begs her to get away. Then Ronan grabs Arienh, his brother grabs Birgit, and it's supposed to be funny and sexy when the situation, objectively, was just scary. Imagine naked two giants with hard-ons flinging you over the shoulder and running off.
2. When Liam gets deadly injured, Ronan and his brother spend the night at Arienh's and Birgit's hut to look after the little boy. At the end of the day, Arienh is so exhausted that she drops into her bed with Ronan. Ronan kisses Arienh. Birgit gets upset. Next morning, Birgit kisses Ronan's brother. Arienh gets upset. (THEY CAN NEVER MAKE UP THEIR MINDS IT'S SO ANNOYING) Then Birgit gets all playful, as if her son wasn't about to die a couple of hours ago. Imagine sleeping in a bed with man, while your sister and his brother sleep in the other, the respective couples making out with each other while your nephew who was on the brink of death moments ago is sleeping and you're all in the same room. SO STRANGE.
That entire drama with Ronan's uncle felt like it was thrown in just to artificially create some sense of danger and excitement. I didn't take the character serious.
The story started out very good The atmosphere was very heavy and gritty. Soon that dissolved into basic slice of life. I don't mind slice of life, but I like knowing what I'm getting into and the story should've been more consistent in tone.
I liked the heroine and the hero, which was probably why I stuck around till the end. Arienh was a strong, independent leader, without being masculine. Ronan was gentle, capable, and sometimes funny. Liam, Arienh's nephew, was cute and a realistically written kid.
The entire story was a convoluted mess. Arienh wants to be with Ronan, and her sister wants to be with Ronan's brother, yet the story comes up with nonsensical reasons to draw out this unnecessary, dumb drama.
1. Arienh and Birgit are afraid that the Vikings might take Birgit's son Liam away from her because she isn't able to care for him. The logical solution would be to ask them whether they planned on taking her son from her but somehow no one ever thinks of that.
2. The women of the valley have been told that Vikings abandon the elderly and the weak to die. So the entire story's drama revolves around the women trying to hide Birgit's blindness. However they acknowledged early on that most stories that they've heard are nonsense?? Also, no Northener ever tried to discard of that old man Ferris, who's the most useless person in the village. There is even a weak, sick, and elderly person in the Vikings' own ranks, Ronan's father! So why the women would think that they'd cast Birgit out, who contributed so much to their community, made zero sense. This 'conflict' was brought up about a hundred times, as if it'll make sense if only you repeat it often enough. The characters even acknowledged this, but it didn't really affect the story in any way. It was almost as if the author wanted to acknowledge that she knew that this made no sense. The fact that she's self-aware doesn't make this any more enjoyable to read.
The title of the book doesn't live up to the group of women it's referring to. The Northeners call the women that because they play pranks on them to get them to leave the valley. These pranks were so silly and dumb, I could only roll my eyes. They poured salt-water into the men's alcohol and hid their clothes while they were bathing. So silly. And how would this help to get the men to leave the valley?? So many of these women were so stupid. Sometimes I felt as if Arienh was the only one with a brain. No wonder she's been appointed as the unofficial leader. They all agreed that they had to stay away from the Vikings. Yet Arienh is the only one working towards that goal while the rest of them is comparing the men's dick sizes. WHAT?
There were so many strange scenes throughout the story. I think they were meant to come of as sexy and playful, but they were merely off-putting.
1. When they stole the men's clothes, the women hid in the bushes to find out whether the Vikings dicks were as big as they were told (SO DUMB). The men decide to take revenge by intentionally getting a hard-on and chase the women around (WHO EVEN THINKS TO WRITE OF SOMETHING SO STUPID????). Now most women gather their last brain cell and decide that this is the time to abort mission and get the hell away. But Birgit, being the genius she is, stubbornly stays put until the guy's junk is almost in her face because "she wants to see", even though Arienh begs her to get away. Then Ronan grabs Arienh, his brother grabs Birgit, and it's supposed to be funny and sexy when the situation, objectively, was just scary. Imagine naked two giants with hard-ons flinging you over the shoulder and running off.
2. When Liam gets deadly injured, Ronan and his brother spend the night at Arienh's and Birgit's hut to look after the little boy. At the end of the day, Arienh is so exhausted that she drops into her bed with Ronan. Ronan kisses Arienh. Birgit gets upset. Next morning, Birgit kisses Ronan's brother. Arienh gets upset. (THEY CAN NEVER MAKE UP THEIR MINDS IT'S SO ANNOYING) Then Birgit gets all playful, as if her son wasn't about to die a couple of hours ago. Imagine sleeping in a bed with man, while your sister and his brother sleep in the other, the respective couples making out with each other while your nephew who was on the brink of death moments ago is sleeping and you're all in the same room. SO STRANGE.
That entire drama with Ronan's uncle felt like it was thrown in just to artificially create some sense of danger and excitement. I didn't take the character serious.
December 2, 2022
This book has one of the most insufferable female lead characters I’ve ever read. Arienh behaves like an idiot for the entire book and completely ruined any chance that I might enjoy reading it.
In a nutshell, Arienh would rather let her entire village of women (the men have all been killed) needlessly suffer a slow and painful death of starvation - or a violent death/rape/slavery by Viking raiders - rather than accept help. Why? Because the men offering to help and literally save their lives are not full blooded Celts, they are only half-blooded. She does everything in her power to drive them away and cause them pain even though they have done nothing but protect them and provide for them. Honestly, why would anyone want to help this shrew?
This is the whole story but it’s so repetitive that we get the same nonsense about a hundred times in different situations. It’s just awful and tedious to get through. This was almost a one star review for me, but I gave it 2 stars because I liked the beginning of the book. I kept holding out hope that it might have a decent ending, but it did not. It was abrupt, unsatisfying and left me wishing I had DNF’d it.
In a nutshell, Arienh would rather let her entire village of women (the men have all been killed) needlessly suffer a slow and painful death of starvation - or a violent death/rape/slavery by Viking raiders - rather than accept help. Why? Because the men offering to help and literally save their lives are not full blooded Celts, they are only half-blooded. She does everything in her power to drive them away and cause them pain even though they have done nothing but protect them and provide for them. Honestly, why would anyone want to help this shrew?
This is the whole story but it’s so repetitive that we get the same nonsense about a hundred times in different situations. It’s just awful and tedious to get through. This was almost a one star review for me, but I gave it 2 stars because I liked the beginning of the book. I kept holding out hope that it might have a decent ending, but it did not. It was abrupt, unsatisfying and left me wishing I had DNF’d it.
May 4, 2018
A fascinating historical romance with an exciting approach.
Initially I read this book in the late 90's. I started reading it again to capture the greatness and the enjoyment of a great writer's novel. This novel takes you back to the time of the Celtics and the Vikings. It is a story of people setting aside their differences to maintain all have food, shelter, tools,cloth, and security from maurders. Through many hard periods they slowly grew as one township. Love was found and rejoiced. This book makes you feel like you have time traveled, it is that detailed. I highly recommend this novel.
Initially I read this book in the late 90's. I started reading it again to capture the greatness and the enjoyment of a great writer's novel. This novel takes you back to the time of the Celtics and the Vikings. It is a story of people setting aside their differences to maintain all have food, shelter, tools,cloth, and security from maurders. Through many hard periods they slowly grew as one township. Love was found and rejoiced. This book makes you feel like you have time traveled, it is that detailed. I highly recommend this novel.
January 18, 2025
Perceptions
Arienh is a young woman who took over learning from her father when her brother was taken. Now there are no men in their valley accept old Ferris who is very old. Because of this Arienh has taken over doing the male jobs in the valley trying to save the people who are left.
Ronan is returning to this valley looking for the young girl he saved, 10 years ago, from being taken by his uncle to be sold into slavery.
How can a Norseman win the hand of a Celt when all she know of Vikings ( his kind) is murdering and pilidging?
Arienh is a young woman who took over learning from her father when her brother was taken. Now there are no men in their valley accept old Ferris who is very old. Because of this Arienh has taken over doing the male jobs in the valley trying to save the people who are left.
Ronan is returning to this valley looking for the young girl he saved, 10 years ago, from being taken by his uncle to be sold into slavery.
How can a Norseman win the hand of a Celt when all she know of Vikings ( his kind) is murdering and pilidging?
May 27, 2017
Arienh ist so zu sagen die Anführer eines Dorf. Hier gibt es kaum Männer, da die tödlichen Überfälle der Wikinger fast alle auf die ein oder andere Weise holt hat. In einer stürmischen Nacht verletzt sie einen von ihnen und er schafft es zur ihrer Hütte. Sie pflegt ihn, aber sein Verhalten ist anders. So als wären sie sich schon mal begegnet. Ronan scheint jemand aus ihrer Kindheit zu sein.
Als ich den Buchtitel gelesen haben erwartet ich irgendwie eine Fantasygeschichte. Doch es war eine historische Liebesgeschichte. Zur Kelten und Wikingerzeit, sehr interessant, spannend und anschaulich geschrieben. Doch auch sehr humorvoll, romantisch und voller Liebe und auch Hass. Die Charaktere waren sehr unterschiedlich und doch hatte jeder etwas zum liebgewinne dabei. Sogar der mürrische Schmied. ;) Die Hauptgeschichte spielt um Arienh und Ronan, doch gibt es auch ein paar schöne Nebengeschichte. Man lernt viel über Wikinger und Kelten, über Männer und Frauen. Das manche Streiche wirklich sehr witzig sein können. ;) Ich liebe dieses Buch und während des Schreibens der Rezension bin ich am überlegen ob ich es noch mal lese.
Als ich den Buchtitel gelesen haben erwartet ich irgendwie eine Fantasygeschichte. Doch es war eine historische Liebesgeschichte. Zur Kelten und Wikingerzeit, sehr interessant, spannend und anschaulich geschrieben. Doch auch sehr humorvoll, romantisch und voller Liebe und auch Hass. Die Charaktere waren sehr unterschiedlich und doch hatte jeder etwas zum liebgewinne dabei. Sogar der mürrische Schmied. ;) Die Hauptgeschichte spielt um Arienh und Ronan, doch gibt es auch ein paar schöne Nebengeschichte. Man lernt viel über Wikinger und Kelten, über Männer und Frauen. Das manche Streiche wirklich sehr witzig sein können. ;) Ich liebe dieses Buch und während des Schreibens der Rezension bin ich am überlegen ob ich es noch mal lese.
August 25, 2017
Lol I'd Daughters
Here is another wonderful story by Delle Jacobs. She is a wonderful writer. This story is about two different races and their beliefs about them. Learning to overcome their fears regarding the other race. I really enjoyed reading Delle Jacobs stories. This is the third one I read of her stories. She always makes me feel like I am there watching everything that is happening. I hope you will enjoy reading this book as much as I did.
Here is another wonderful story by Delle Jacobs. She is a wonderful writer. This story is about two different races and their beliefs about them. Learning to overcome their fears regarding the other race. I really enjoyed reading Delle Jacobs stories. This is the third one I read of her stories. She always makes me feel like I am there watching everything that is happening. I hope you will enjoy reading this book as much as I did.
May 15, 2021
2.5 down Middle.....
It was an interesting look at the Celts and the Vikings or Northmen..... The way they lived the traditions....
But the relationship between Arienh And Ronan was so tedious, Arienh would sleep with Ronan then run away... she does this most of the book, by the end i was just so fed up with her.
But the tricks the girls play at the start was fun!
It was an interesting look at the Celts and the Vikings or Northmen..... The way they lived the traditions....
But the relationship between Arienh And Ronan was so tedious, Arienh would sleep with Ronan then run away... she does this most of the book, by the end i was just so fed up with her.
But the tricks the girls play at the start was fun!
June 22, 2017
Romance vs. Culture
As one of her early writings I found this storyline every bit as intriguing and captivating as later works. It was an easy yet compelling read that I hardly put down! Thank you Ms. Jacobs!
As one of her early writings I found this storyline every bit as intriguing and captivating as later works. It was an easy yet compelling read that I hardly put down! Thank you Ms. Jacobs!
August 10, 2018
I felt like I was reading Seven Brides for Seven Brothers with the location in ancient Britain. The Celt women were "helpless " but had survived for a period with no men. The Northmen showed up and were willing to save them. Blah blah blah. Boring story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 29, 2020I enjoyed this book
I thoroughly enjoyed this book I have not read Anything regarding this era in the past so I will look forward to reading more in the future. I did think that as the book ended quite sharply I felt it could’ve done with an epilogue.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book I have not read Anything regarding this era in the past so I will look forward to reading more in the future. I did think that as the book ended quite sharply I felt it could’ve done with an epilogue.
June 1, 2017
Good
It was good. Well written. The author kept me hooked on this book. The ending was kind of weak, though.
It was good. Well written. The author kept me hooked on this book. The ending was kind of weak, though.
February 28, 2018
Too much frigging angst.
February 2, 2019
Link's Daughter's
This was an excellent book and I would highly recommend this book to any one who wants an excellent read.I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
This was an excellent book and I would highly recommend this book to any one who wants an excellent read.I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
June 13, 2019
Loved it
Added to my favorites, I just loved this book. I loved all the characters and the storyline. I recommend for anyone who loves a feel good historical romance.
Added to my favorites, I just loved this book. I loved all the characters and the storyline. I recommend for anyone who loves a feel good historical romance.
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