Back to claim his crown
…and his wife!
Prince Teon married the Viking chief's daughter Revna to
prevent a war, only to leave immediately to fight another one. Now, he's
returned to claim his crown! He's stunned to discover the love his people have
for Revna, and by the intensity of their unexpected connection. Teon tells
himself he only needs Revna as an ally, until the passion of their belated
wedding night promises they could be so much more…
Terrific book. Teon and Revna were forced to marry to
prevent a war. Revna was young and hopeful of a successful marriage. Teon is
angry because he blames Revna's father for his mother's death. He then leaves
to continue fighting other conflicts and stays away for eight years, returning
only when he hears of his father's death.
I loved Revna. Instead of returning to her father's home,
she stuck it out in her new life. As a Viking woman in a Saxon kingdom, she is
looked at with suspicion and distrust. I liked hearing about how she earned the
love and respect of the people around her by being the caring and compassionate
woman she is. I also liked how she retained her Norse heritage and customs.
That heritage is helpful during the siege as she uses her skills to help defend
the castle. I also liked her independence, as shown by how she stood up to Teon
when he tried to cut her out of things she'd been doing for years.
Teon was harder to like throughout most of the book. From
the start, he takes out his prejudices against the Vikings on Revna, treating
her with cruelty and contempt. After his return, he continues to do so, blaming
her for anything wrong. He even refuses to consummate the marriage, not wanting
to "taint" his pure Saxon blood with her heathen blood. He isn't
happy about his growing desire for her.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Teon
and Revna. Because of the siege, they are forced to work together, and their
growing attraction becomes harder to resist. Teon's blind prejudice against
Revna takes hit after hit as she shows her care and compassion for Teon's
people. Despite his vow to avoid tainting his bloodline, he rationalizes taking
Revna to bed to stop his distraction during the fighting. There are a few sweet
scenes between them, but even then, Teon pulls away, recalling his reasons for
his hatred. When he goes too far, Revna sneaks away, and Teon finally realizes
the truth of his feelings.
Teon's hatred of the Vikings lies in events involving his
parents and Revna's father. I enjoyed the slow revealing of those events and
the truth behind them. Revna's determination and bravery in pursuing the truth
also opened Teon's eyes to the things he didn't know. Teon's father's past
comes back to bite Teon when his illegitimate half-brother lays siege to the
castle, determined to take Teon's castle, crown, and wife. The details of the
fight are vividly described, making it easy to feel part of the action. The
resolution of the siege is intense, with several twists that kept me glued to
the pages. I loved the ending and seeing Teon embrace his feelings for Revna.
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