Category: Ancient Britain

The Sword of Light by Heather Graham

On By TracyIn Ancient Britain, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Irish Historical, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Romantasy, Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Sword of Light: A NovelThe Sword of Light: A Novel by Heather Graham

Tracy’s Rating Print Edition: 3 of 5 stars

Tracy’s Rating Audiobook    : 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: October 14, 2025

Deidre, the daughter of a Rí, is a proud and determined warrior, when she is given a magical sword during an attack by Northmen, she wields it with success and realizes it is the mythical Sword of Light. When she dreams of a great battle to come, she is then tasked with defending her homeland and uncovering a traitor among the Irish kings. This begins a quest to find gifts from Tuatha Dé Danann, which are reported to help the people of Éire during times of great need. She is joined by Kylin, the son of a Northman who married an Irish lass. She doesn’t trust him, but as they spend time together, she learns that they share a bond and feelings begin to grow.
Kylin, a fierce warrior and ally to the Rí, also dreams of a battle to come and joins Deidre on this perilous quest. He knows she doesn’t trust him because his father came to Éire from the North, but Kylin loves his home and will do whatever it necessary to protect it and Deidre. He proves himself time and again to her, and slowly their relationship develops into mutual respect each other’s strengths and skills, but deeper feelings will have to wait until they complete their quest.

I was excited to read this book as it is a blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and romance, drawing on Celtic mythology and Irish legend, I was also looking forward to finally reading a Heather Graham book. I liked the story, but I was hoping for more, more magic, more intrigue and more passion, and while the world-building and premise are compelling, I wasn’t pulled into the story and found it to be a bit repetitive and slow moving. While reading the book wasn’t the experience I was hoping for, I also listened to the audio edition and found that experience much more enjoyable, the narrator Alana Kerr Collins read the story in a lovely Irish lilt and without being distracted by seeing choppy text and excessive punctuation, the story did seem to flow better. Overall, the book isn’t really what I was hoping for, but it was interesting and if given the choice, I would pick the audio edition over the printed edition.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

The Warrior’s Forbidden Viking Bride by Sarah Rodi

On By TracyIn Ancient Britain, Check Content Warning/Triggers, Medieval - Early (410 - 1066), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Standalone Title, Tracy's Reviews, VikingLeave a comment

The Warrior's Forbidden Viking Bride (Harlequin Historical)The Warrior’s Forbidden Viking Bride by Sarah Rodi

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: July 17, 2025

After Christians raided her village in Denmark and killed her husband and infant son, Alivia has seethed with hatred for them and when she has the opportunity to raid an English monastery, she jumps at the chance for revenge. But things don’t go as planned and she accidently starts a fire in the church – endangering her life as well as her twin brother and a young boy. When they are trapped in the burning building, it is a Christian priest that saves them. The priest agrees to go with them as long as they promise not to hurt the boy or sell them into slavery. Alivia is not happy about this turn of events and can’t understand why her brother Jurgen would bring them along. She takes every opportunity to vent her rage at the priest and is even more upset that she finds him attractive – something that hasn’t happened since the death of her husband. Can she let go of her hatred and allow love to fill her heart again or will her grief win?

Ryce wasn’t always a priest, he was once married to King Eardwulf’s sister and served the king as a warrior. But when his wife and child die during childbirth, he is consumed by grief and takes it out by slaying the king’s enemies. But when he is injured and sent to the monastery to recover, he turns to his faith to find peace. Later he agrees to care for Aldfrith, the king’s illegitimate son and vows to never touch another woman. An easy vow to keep in a monastery – but when pagans attack and he and Aldfrith are taken captive by a Viking Shield Maiden and her brother – he finds himself tempted for the first time in years. Alivia is not like any woman he has ever known and despite his vows and her hatred, he finds himself drawn to her. Like Alivia, Ryce is holding tight to his grief and his faith, making him believe that there is no chance for a future with her.

This was a very emotional, enemies to lovers romance that had wonderful characters who have been crippled by grief and given a second chance at love – if they have the courage to take it. I loved Ryce and Alivia, they have both known indescribable loss but have each coped with that loss in a different way; Ryce through his faith and Alivia through vengeance. Neither is eager to open themselves up to pain again and will have to be willing to let go of the past in order to have a future. This book is filled with heartache, loss, second chances, steamyish love scenes, battles, and a hard-won HEA. This book does have things that might be triggers for some readers, so I would suggest checking the content warning before reading, but I do think the author handled these sensitive subjects with empathy and respect.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *