In the end I don't regret reading the book but only for Isobel's story, the parts in the present were not for me. Especially the first part was dreadfIn the end I don't regret reading the book but only for Isobel's story, the parts in the present were not for me. Especially the first part was dreadful, the second part was slightly better but the main character, Clare either completely bore me to tears or made me want to smack some sense into her. I desperatly wanted her to fight, to take a stand, to do something, anything! Let's just say she was just not a character you want to read about for atleast 400 pages. & don't get me started on the Roylands! Isobel was the saving grace of this story, it was unfortunate that I had already read half of her story in Child of the Phoenix but still I enjoyed the parts about her. What a women. One we all would hope to be if put in her shoes. How do you survive for 4 years in a cage!? Truly a remarkable women. ...more
Overall this book was great, I would have given it 5 stars if not for that part near the end (view spoiler)[where Eleyne was fighting GhostAlexander aOverall this book was great, I would have given it 5 stars if not for that part near the end (view spoiler)[where Eleyne was fighting GhostAlexander away from her and having sex with him... Yes she had sex with a ghost. I didn't have any problem with his spirit being there and watching over her but for me that just went to far. The ending with Alexander and Eleyne running into the crashing tower together was great, a fitting ending to this story but please Mrs Erskine, never again do I want to read about ghost sexs, especially if the rest of the story is just lovely. I get why she did it, nothing really happened during that time in the 'real' Eleyne's (I tend to agree that they where one and the same) life but really a time skip would have been the saving grace here. (hide spoiler)]
Some of the characters where a little bit flat, it's probably because I read Here be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman which honestly probably no one can top but I already had a picture in my mind how Llywelyn, Joan, Dafydd and Gruffydd would be like. In here be dragons they truly came to life, sometimes you hated them but you understood why they did what they did and most importantly you could relate to them. In Child of the Phoenix they where a little one-dimensional. Maybe it's because Eleyne was truly 'the Welsh child' but Dafydd didn't really get away favorably here and for the most part neither did Joan. With a little bit more character development it could have given this novel the extra spark which would pushed it in the league of the wonderfull mrs Penman.
It's seems that I only ever mention the bad parts about a book but it shouldn't stop anyone from reading the story. Overall this was just a great book, set during a very interesting time in history and I can't wait to begin with Kingdom of Shadows which will tell the story of Eleyne's grandchild. ...more
**spoiler alert** I have mixed feelings about this book, it wasn't bad and it kept my interest enough but that was really it. One of my biggest proble**spoiler alert** I have mixed feelings about this book, it wasn't bad and it kept my interest enough but that was really it. One of my biggest problems was the writing style, Circe saying things like 'it was really freaking great' and 'this shit freaks me out'. Yeah I get she is from our world; don't need to shove it in my face, also, do 35 year olds really speak like that? Oh and lets not forget her awesome jewelry, her awesome hair and make up & last but certainly not least her freaking awesome clothes, page after page after page it was described, if it would have been cut the book would have been let say +/- 100 pages shorter?
The rape aspect in this book also was unrealistic to me, not that it happened but the way the few foreigners dealed with it; Hee sir, I will forget you raped me for days straight since I just noticed you are freaking handsome and well just found out you can be great in bed too. Wait, did you just tell me that was part of your culture? Why didn't you tell me right away? I will not only forget it ever happened, I will also forgive you for it. No biggie! I'm going to crush some dreams here but the main character and some others had the Stockholm syndrome (just like Daenerys from asoiaf on which this was btw heavily inspired), or atleast she should have but that's not nearly as romantic as what was portrayed here right?
& the ending, the ending really bothered me. I expected her to return, but that she was forced to return, with no way to get back because her controlling husband was 'afraid' he would 'lose' her again. Really? Are you freaking kidding me? & are we going to adress the big elephant in the room that she was the one who said sorry in the end and not him!? I had hope when she made this very true statement;
''I stuck by Lahn. Through everything that world and he threw at me. He had one trial, Pop. One. And he didn't have to witness anything that turned his stomach. He didn't take his first life. He didn't get betrayed by someone he cared about and nearly lose his life because of it. He just had to believe in me. Simple. Just believe in me. He didn't. He killed what I felt for him. He killed it dead.''
Welp he killed it alright but just briefly because it just jumped right back to life as soon as she was forced back into his arms. I was really hoping she would throw that in his face, but she didn't she just ignored him for a couple of weeks untill that stockholm syndrome kicked back in because well she truly loves him and she was the one who should be sorry for leaving him in the first place when she clearly promised she wouldn't. If you ask me that's typical behaviour for someone in an abusive relationship but let's just put a pretty pink bow on it and call it undying love......more
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