Avelynn longs for the day when she can take her father's place and oversee their lands, but she knows such a life will also come with a husband. Inspired by the passionate love between her father and late mother, Avelynn longs for something more than a contract of wealth and status; she wants a deep love. When her father orders her engagement to the conniving and cruel Demas, everything changes. Even more so when she unexpectedly falls in love with the Viking Alrik, an enemy of her people. In order to not only find happiness but also to survive, Avelynn must be careful with the path she walks and decisions she makes.
Historical fans will soak up every word of Marissa Campbell's richly detailed AVELYNN. The tension between the Saxons and Vikings brims with danger and destruction, and the nuances of Avelynn's struggle to maintain her independence as a woman is heartbreaking and powerful. The story is clearly well researched, from small mentions of the everyday lifestyles to wedding ceremonies to pagan versus Christian ideologies.
The romance between Avelynn and Alrik is an intense love affair. They fall quickly, even a bit harshly, yet they never lose sight of their own goals and honors. They take their passion into their own hands, and the reader gets several steamy scenes. As the odds rise against them, Avelynn proves to be a young woman quite capable of her own rescuing, and Alrik respectfully admires her even as he wishes for her safety.
Though I love the romance and the historical detail, the pacing can be inconsistent. Sometimes a steady build up is lacking, though there are great moments of action. Demas, one of the primary antagonists, is a bit flat as a character, but he is still quite disturbing and wrathful.
Overall, AVELYNN is a powerful read with a journey readers won't soon forget. Marissa Campbell demonstrates a strong voice and writes an intense romance, making her future works a must to look for.
This dazzling debut brings the Dark Ages to light and
illuminates one Saxon noblewoman's romance with a Viking
warrior and her struggle to find her path in a changing and
dangerous world
869. For eighteen years, Avelynn, the beautiful and secretly
pagan daughter of the Ealdorman of Somerset, has lived in an
environment of love, acceptance, and equality. Somerset has
flourished under twenty years of peace. But with whispers of
war threatening their security, Avelynn's father makes an
uncompromising decision that changes her life forever.
Forced into a betrothal with Demas, a man who only covets
her wealth and status, Avelynn's perception of independence
is shattered. With marriage looming, she turns to her faith,
searching for answers in an ancient ritual along the coast,
only to find Alrik The Blood-Axe and sixty Viking berserkers
have landed.
In a year of uncertainty that sees Avelynn discover hidden
powers, stumble into a passionate love affair with Alrik,
and lead men into battle, Avelynn must walk a fine line as
her deceptions mount and Demas' tactics to possess her
become more desperate and increasingly brutal.
Avelynn and Alrik are caught in the throes of fate as they
struggle to find the way back to themselves and onwards to
each other.
No excerpt available.
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