Category: Medieval (1066-1540)

Red Kingdom by Rachel L. Demeter

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Fairytale Retelling, Gothic Historical, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Non-Traditional Romance, Part of a Series, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Red Kingdom (Fairy Tale Retellings, #2)Red Kingdom by Rachel L. Demeter

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Fairy Tale Retellings, #2

Released: April 10, 2024

Princess Blanchette Winslowe of Norland is awakened to an attack on her father’s castle and barely escapes the carnage thanks to a loyal villager and his son. But her escape is short lived when the infamous Black Wolf hunts her down and takes her prisoner. Blanchette is horrified to discover her entire family (save her married sister) have all been killed during the takeover of the castle. She believes that Sir Rowan – the Black Wolf – is a monster as well as a traitor to Norland. But not all is as it seems and as she begins to learn the truth of her father’s reign, the more the scales fall from her eyes and the walls around her heart begin to crumble.

Sir Rowan Dietrich, known as the Black Wolf of Norland was once a loyal retainer and served the King, but when his wife is murdered to teach Rowan a lesson, his rage simmers and he begins to plot his revenge. It takes years, but finally Rowan has gathered an army to oust King Bartholomew and liberate Norland from his corrupt reign. When he learns the princess escaped, he personally tracks her down and returns her to the castle. He believes that she was aware of her father’s deeds and turned a blind eye. He soon learns that Blanchette is not the shallow, pampered princess he thought her to be and soon begins to fall in love with her. But there is still evil afoot and their road to HEA will not be easy or without pain.

Just like the last book, this book is phenomenal, and the writing transports you to the medieval kingdom of Norland and keeps you there until you read the last page and then makes you wish it hadn’t ended! This is a dark fairytale retelling that is very loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood, dark being the operative word. The book has battles, murder, heartache, heartbreak, unspeakable acts of cruelty (most off page), loss, war, a very slow-burn romance, mild love scenes, betrayal, healing and finally a HEA. This is the second book in the series, but the books can be read as standalone titles. I would caution sensitive readers to check out the content warnings before reading this book as there are triggers and acts that may be extremely upsetting to some readers.

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

The Viking and the Runaway Emperess by Sarah Rodi

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Standalone Title, Tracy's Reviews, VikingLeave a comment

The Viking and the Runaway EmpressThe Viking and the Runaway Empress by Sarah Rodi

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: February 20, 2024

Four winters ago, after Princess Livia was betrothed to the Byzantine Emperor Alexios, she fled her father’s kingdom in Rome and took refuge in her late mother’s castle in Saxony, hoping the emperor would forget about her. But unfortunately, her reckoning has come in the form of Northman, Destin, the commander of the emperor’s Varangian Guard. He has come to bring her to her future husband in Constantinople, but he also bears sad news, her father the king has been gravely injured and is dying. He tells her that her uncle Lothair is on his way to find her and most likely kill her as she is the only other claimant to her father’s throne. He insists they leave immediately and with good reason, as Lothair will stop at nothing to claim the crown. Destin is unlike any man she has ever known and despite his gruff exterior, he is a good man, whom she can’t stop thinking about, but they have no future, she is promised to his employer and royalty. So she should forget about him, right?

Destin was born with a paralyzed arm and subsequently left in the woods to die. Thankfully, he was found by a childless couple and raised as their own. Destin has overcome his infirmity and proven himself a fierce mercenary, climbing up the ranks and reaching the position of commander. Alexios has promised him titles and riches when he delivers the princess to him, which would mean the achievement of his dreams, but there is something about Livia. He finds himself wanting more, even if it is impossible, given their stations, but the heart wants what it wants. Hopefully he can fulfill his mission, claim his prize and forget about her. Ah, if it were only that easy…

This was such a great story, it is part road trip, part adventure story, and part forbidden love, which makes for a quick and delightful read! The book has something for everyone, class different, sort of enemies to lovers, forbidden love, life/death moments, loss, sacrifice, duty, dreams, fears, steamyish love scenes, heartache, and finally a happy ending that didn’t seem possible until it was as well as a very sweet epilogue. So why not five stars? Well, as great as this book was, it was set in the 12th century and it didn’t read like a medieval, there was way too much modern verbiage which ended up ripping this reader out of the era and gave the book a contemporary in period dress feel. I would still recommend the book because even with the modern lingo, it was still an amazing read.

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