Veena’s review of The Iron Princess (A Sons Of The North, Book 2) by Sandra Lake
Historical Romance published by Intermix 16 Jun 15
I loved Ms. Lake’s debut book, The Warlord’s Wife, and have been looking forward to the sequel, especially since it features Katia, the delightful young girl who the warlord adopts as his daughter and loves unconditionally. Katia, however, does not live up to her earlier promise, having grown into a very privileged and spoiled princess who is definitely used to getting her own way without caring whom she tramples. While this makes for a cute plot and creates a lot of conflict and adventures for the author to write about, her character gets a bit tiresome.
Katia has been raised as the apple in her adopted father’s eye, even as her mother bears him a lot of sons. She has been taught weapons and the art of defending herself, even as none of the men in her father’s demesne dare to challenge her in fear of retaliation should his beloved daughter be hurt in any way. Chafing at what she views as restrictions, she disguises herself as a young lad to accept a challenge by a visiting young nobleman. For the first time Katia is smitten and almost instantly rebuffed. It is not a pretty scene.
Even as the book skips a time gap of some years and takes us to the newest scrape that Katia has managed to find her way into that brings her back into Lothair’s sights, it doesn’t appear as though the years have made Katia any wiser. Poor little princess who has been indulged as women rarely were in that time and yet still forced to deal with the restrictions that force her out of her father’s war room or other strategy meetings.
Determined to prove herself she takes off with her friend and maid to the court of one her father’s most dangerous enemies. It is fortunate that her childhood nemesis Lothair is on hand to facilitate a rescue. Their flight and journey through dangerous lands in dangerous times makes for interesting reading. Katia, however, grows tiresome when time after time she makes headstrong decisions while ignoring all wisdom. Of course, this makes her an easy prey for an enemy when the time comes.
I like Ms. Lake’s writing style and I definitely enjoy the Norwegian and Scandinavian history that is a part of these stories. I think this one does not do it for me because my expectations were so high and Katia is so irritating as a character.
Grade: C
Summary:
Sons of the North Romance novel from Sandra Lake, author of The Warlord’s Wife, who takes readers to 12th-century Scandinavia where two hearts clash in furious passion…
The daughter of a Northern warlord, Katia is known as the Iron Princess for her mettle in battle. Headstrong and defiant, she instigates sword duels on a whim with little regard for her own safety. Katia would rather die on her feet as a warrior than live as a token wife and child bearer for a husband who keeps her castled as if she were a prisoner.
Lothair is the illegitimate son of the Duke of Saxony, who was granted the title of baron, a castle and lands. Raised in an atmosphere of mistrust and deceit, he rejects the concept of husbandry and wants a life of purpose and sacrifice in the pursuit of security for the Baltic Sea.
And when fate brings the Iron Princess and reluctant baron together, Katia and Lothair discover they are kindred spirits with fiery temperaments—and insatiable desires—to match…
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
