Review coming soon...
Synopsis: BOOK ONE OF THE SONS OF ODIN SERIES Obsession. Treachery. Revenge. Redemption. Certain themes resonate across the centuries. In ninth-century Ireland, Selia is a girl on the verge of womanhood, frustrated by the confines of her gender and resentful of the freedom her brother boasts of. Intelligent and resourceful in a time when neither is valued in a female, she longs for an escape from her sheltered existence. Fascinated by the tales of Viking raids told by her maidservant, Selia’s hunger for independence is fed through the stories of heathen ferocity she hears at the woman’s knee. A decision to sneak to the city’s harbor to view the Viking longships leads to an encounter with Alrik Ragnarson, a charismatic Viking warlord whose outward beauty masks a dark and tortured mind. With the knowledge that her father is about to announce her betrothal to a man she doesn’t love, Selia marries Alrik and within a day is on the longship bound for Norway and a new life. While Selia’s relationship with her new husband grows, her friendship with his brother Ulfrik grows as well. And as Alrik’s character flaws come to light and tension mounts between the two brothers, Selia begins to have misgivings about her hasty marriage . . . especially when a secret from the past is revealed, one that threatens to destroy them all. My Review: Just because the name Odin is in the title doesn't mean you should think of Loki and Thor. No, picture the viking who worship those gods. From the very beginning the author beautifully paints the setting and it goes from there. In this book the setting seems to be a character in and of itself due to the fact that our main female character goes from the home she knows and loves and travels with her new husband back to a land far and unknown to her. As this journey progresses, you truly get to see the heart of Selia. And man oh man I have got to say I love the woman she is. She isn't some weak and docile girl. She has fight within her, she is smart and truly thinks things through before deciding what to do, and she is kind and willing to see the good in people. The qualities of her character are the only thing that keeps her alive when she leaves Ireland and starts the journey to Norway. She has an inner strength that I absolutely love to see in a female protagonist, and she without a doubt understands the phrase: "There is a time and place for everything." Throughout this book I have laughed, gotten really pissed off (in a good way that shows I like the book and can't stop reading long enough to cook pasta without burning the house down), and I have had to take a pause reading, just to think about what I would do if I were in that situation. I didn't know what to expect walking into this one, but don't let the cover fool you into thinking this is just some cheesy romance novel because it isn't. Its truly a game of chess being played before your eyes if you can recognize the pieces. Each character was in some way moving another character into a different position for their own benefit, and each character had secrets that were truly treacherous, harmful, or just plain interesting to discover. I think main themes that can be seen clear as day are family, culture, love, deceit, and strength. Character review: Selia: Main female character, she was strong of heart and judgement and I loved that. Alrik Ragnarson: Main Male character, He is headstrong, Stubborn and doesn't like to admit when he is wrong. But you get to see him develop and learn, so for that I do like his character. Ulfrik: Brother to Alrik, and Selia's only friend when she leaves. All i'm going to say about him is there is a hell of a lot more that meets the eye. (sorry no spoilers.... READ THE BOOK) Possible reccomendations: 1. Sorry but change the cover, its seriously misleading to all the Amazingness in this book 2. Give some more about whats running through Alriks mind. Synopsis: Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: The love of a king When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family's ambitious plots as the king's interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king and take fate into her own hands. A rich and compelling novel of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, The Other Boleyn Girl introduces a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe and survived by following her heart. My review: This has to be my favorite book of all time. I have read it about 8 times and I still continue to feel a different way each time I read it. From the very beginning of the book(told from Mary's prospective) Mary is a young girl who is knows her duty is to serve her family. She has always known that she is just a pawn on a much larger board. As she rises so does her family. This has brought the question to my head when reading this book: what does the love of ones family cost? She is content at court being in the Queens service until... enter the other Boleyn girl: Anne. She is beautiful, witty, raised at french court, and has a fiery temper that could best the king himself. Anne and Mary love each other but there is a line in the book that best summarizes their relationship: “I was born to be your rival,' she [Anne] said simply. 'And you mine. We're sisters, aren't we? As the book progresses you see the cause and effect of their family moving the girls around for their political gain, The kings fickle love, How the worst betrayal can come from the one you share gowns, a room, and blood with, and how the love of a mother can know no bounds. You truly watch Mary grow up from a mere girl of 14 to a true woman, and what Anne will endure to get to and hold the throne of England and the king who will rule beside her in the most treacherous court in Europe. This book truly makes you wonder: How far will you go to get what you want (Anne)? And at what point in your life do you make the choice of You or Me (Mary)? |
A simple English major and lover of literature, trying to make her way into publishing. ArchivesCategories
All
|