Veena’s review of Warrior of Ice (Warriors of Ireland, Book 1) by Michelle Willingham
Historical Romance published by Harlequin Historical 19 Jun 15
The story turned out not quite what I expected but was, nevertheless, quite enjoyable. Killian is a true alpha hero who rises from the ashes of the terrible hand that fate has dealt him. A born warrior and leader of men, he deals with adversity on a daily basis, his loyalty given only to the one person who loves him for himself. When danger comes knocking, he’s willing to step up to the plate and put his life on the line, if needed, to protect those he loves. The story is a nice period piece bringing to life Ireland on the cusp of change with a king who’s trying to unite the feuding tribes in an attempt to stand against the Norman invaders who want to take over and rule.
Taryn is a princess at odds with her mother. When her father is imprisoned by the high king for treason, she steals away from home, determined to find a champion to help her rescue him. As luck would have it, she finds the perfect champion in Killian MacDubh, who sees in her quest a way to fulfill his dreams and keep his sister safe.
Killian is subjected to a horrible life in the tribe where he was raised. Two things never were clear to me in the story. While I understand that serfs and the poor were not treated well in those times, it seems as though the chieftain of Killian’s tribe has a particular vendetta against him. The second is given that Killian’s mother is likely of noble birth and he is suspected to be the high king’s bastard, why did she make the choices she did? I’m not sure that either of these questions are ever answered to my satisfaction in the story.
Those puzzles aside, I enjoyed journeying through the country with Taryn and Killian as they try to stay one step ahead of the friendlies pursuing them. Taryn, who is deathly afraid of horses after a childhood accident, is coaxed on horseback during this time. It’s a fairly straightforward story with a few surprises to keep the reader guessing a bit. I believe the author is laying the groundwork for a complete series and I, for one, will definitely come back to these stories as the series progresses.
Grade: B
Summary:
Locked in a deadly game!
Physically and emotionally scarred, Lady Taryn of Ossoria knows no man would want her for a wife. Nonetheless, she’s determined to free her father from his merciless overlord and enlists powerful warrior Killian MacDubh to help.
He has his own motives for confronting the High King… Born a bastard, Killian longs to carve out a place for himself. Unaware of her true beauty, Taryn is an alluring distraction to his plan, but as traitors are revealed and loyalties tested, their forbidden love becomes the only thing worth fighting for!
