Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Very good book. The sons of Sigurd continue their quest for revenge over their father's death and the murders of their friends and families. The book opens on the day of the attack. Rurik and his brother Brandt, arrive back at the village for Alarr's wedding only to find heartbreaking scenes of death and destruction. Furious at what has occurred, Rurik vows revenge on those responsible.
Two years later, Rurik has traced one of the culprits, Wilfrid, to Glannoventa. While he is in a local tavern, a young woman approaches him and lures him outside where he is captured. He wakes up later, chained in a cell. After a short time, Lady Annis arrives to question him about his reasons for being there. She heard of his inquiries in the town and suspects she knows the reason but needs to hear it from him.
Lady Annis is Wilfrid's daughter-in-law. Her husband was killed in a battle with Rurik's father, Sigurd. Both she and Wilfrid had reasons to want Sigurd dead. While Wilfrid paid for assassins to kill Sigurd, Annis took a much more active role in her revenge. Since that time, she has suffered from guilt over what she saw and did, and would keep that information from Wilfrid.
I loved the scenes between Annis and Rurik in the cellar. Rurik is furious at being captured (a little embarrassed, too) and is determined to confront Wilfrid. Annis is equally determined to keep him away, for reasons of her own. I loved their confrontations. Both of them are stubborn and have their pride, so neither is willing to back down. There are also obvious sparks between them. It doesn't take long for Rurik to decide to use those sparks to his advantage. I had to laugh as Rurik used a bit of trickery to lure Annis into his cell. Their struggle was short, but intense, with Annis giving Rurik more trouble than he expected. Though he did overpower her, his confidence was short-lived. The heat that flared between them proved to be his downfall, allowing her to escape him. But fate left a little on his side, and he soon managed to escape his cell and go in search of Wilfrid.
What he finds puts an end to his plans for Wilfrid, leaving him searching for a new target for his revenge. He is still a captive, but one with more freedom. He and Annis clash frequently, and Rurik discovers that he enjoys the challenges she presents. Rurik stirs Annis's feelings the way no one has before. When word arrives that the local Dane ruler, Jarl Eirik, is on the way to facilitate a marriage between Annis and one of his men, Wilfrid proposes that Rurik marry Annis. This will protect her, as well as give Rurik something he has longed for - a place to belong.
I loved seeing the struggle that both Rurik and Annis had to accept that this was the best option. But once they accepted their fates, it warmed my heart to see how they were all-in. Their troubles are not over, however. First, Annis has not told Rurik of her part in what happened to his father, and the guilt eats at her. She knows she needs to confess to him, but she also fears his reaction. Second, they must deal with Jarl Eirik and his anger over their marriage. There were some tension-filled moments, but Rurik held his own very well. I liked how Annis worried about him. I also liked that Eirik explained the reasons for his actions. During the weeks that Eirik was there, Annis and Rurik grew closer, but she knew that time was running out to tell Rurik the truth.
I ached for Annis because the truth came out before she could tell him herself. Rurik's feelings of betrayal were devastating, and his fury at Annis is so great that he won't listen to her explanation. Her despair is heartbreaking because she can see that she has destroyed any feelings he might have had for her. What she doesn't realize is that his anger is so intense because of how he feels about her. My heart hurt for her as she made the only decision she could see to solve the problems caused by their falling out. I wasn't sure how they would get their future back on track if she succeeded. I loved Rurik's reaction as he realized how much he had to lose.
Also present in the book were two visitors. The first was Rurik's younger brother, Sandulf, who had also been present on the day of the murders. He spent the last two years searching for the assassins, from England to Constantinople and back. His search brought him to Glannoventa and precipitated the problems between Rurik and Annis. I liked how Annis tried to make amends and provided Sandulf with some vital information. I'm looking forward to his book and seeing what is in store for him. The other visitor was Rurik's twin brother, Danr. He arrived for a visit after hearing of Rurik's marriage. An item discovered in Wilfrid's belongings raised more questions about Sigurd's death and sent Danr off on his own pursuit of answers. It stirred up suspicions that I had in the first book, and I can't wait to see if I am right.
Two years later, Rurik has traced one of the culprits, Wilfrid, to Glannoventa. While he is in a local tavern, a young woman approaches him and lures him outside where he is captured. He wakes up later, chained in a cell. After a short time, Lady Annis arrives to question him about his reasons for being there. She heard of his inquiries in the town and suspects she knows the reason but needs to hear it from him.
Lady Annis is Wilfrid's daughter-in-law. Her husband was killed in a battle with Rurik's father, Sigurd. Both she and Wilfrid had reasons to want Sigurd dead. While Wilfrid paid for assassins to kill Sigurd, Annis took a much more active role in her revenge. Since that time, she has suffered from guilt over what she saw and did, and would keep that information from Wilfrid.
I loved the scenes between Annis and Rurik in the cellar. Rurik is furious at being captured (a little embarrassed, too) and is determined to confront Wilfrid. Annis is equally determined to keep him away, for reasons of her own. I loved their confrontations. Both of them are stubborn and have their pride, so neither is willing to back down. There are also obvious sparks between them. It doesn't take long for Rurik to decide to use those sparks to his advantage. I had to laugh as Rurik used a bit of trickery to lure Annis into his cell. Their struggle was short, but intense, with Annis giving Rurik more trouble than he expected. Though he did overpower her, his confidence was short-lived. The heat that flared between them proved to be his downfall, allowing her to escape him. But fate left a little on his side, and he soon managed to escape his cell and go in search of Wilfrid.
What he finds puts an end to his plans for Wilfrid, leaving him searching for a new target for his revenge. He is still a captive, but one with more freedom. He and Annis clash frequently, and Rurik discovers that he enjoys the challenges she presents. Rurik stirs Annis's feelings the way no one has before. When word arrives that the local Dane ruler, Jarl Eirik, is on the way to facilitate a marriage between Annis and one of his men, Wilfrid proposes that Rurik marry Annis. This will protect her, as well as give Rurik something he has longed for - a place to belong.
I loved seeing the struggle that both Rurik and Annis had to accept that this was the best option. But once they accepted their fates, it warmed my heart to see how they were all-in. Their troubles are not over, however. First, Annis has not told Rurik of her part in what happened to his father, and the guilt eats at her. She knows she needs to confess to him, but she also fears his reaction. Second, they must deal with Jarl Eirik and his anger over their marriage. There were some tension-filled moments, but Rurik held his own very well. I liked how Annis worried about him. I also liked that Eirik explained the reasons for his actions. During the weeks that Eirik was there, Annis and Rurik grew closer, but she knew that time was running out to tell Rurik the truth.
I ached for Annis because the truth came out before she could tell him herself. Rurik's feelings of betrayal were devastating, and his fury at Annis is so great that he won't listen to her explanation. Her despair is heartbreaking because she can see that she has destroyed any feelings he might have had for her. What she doesn't realize is that his anger is so intense because of how he feels about her. My heart hurt for her as she made the only decision she could see to solve the problems caused by their falling out. I wasn't sure how they would get their future back on track if she succeeded. I loved Rurik's reaction as he realized how much he had to lose.
Also present in the book were two visitors. The first was Rurik's younger brother, Sandulf, who had also been present on the day of the murders. He spent the last two years searching for the assassins, from England to Constantinople and back. His search brought him to Glannoventa and precipitated the problems between Rurik and Annis. I liked how Annis tried to make amends and provided Sandulf with some vital information. I'm looking forward to his book and seeing what is in store for him. The other visitor was Rurik's twin brother, Danr. He arrived for a visit after hearing of Rurik's marriage. An item discovered in Wilfrid's belongings raised more questions about Sigurd's death and sent Danr off on his own pursuit of answers. It stirred up suspicions that I had in the first book, and I can't wait to see if I am right.
