Lady of Conquest (Brides of Legend, Book Two): Teresa Medeiros UPDATED

 “He is called Conn of the Hundred Battles, the warrior-king who forged a nation from a land of isolated clans.  As High King of Ireland, he rides with the legendary Fianna, his elite band of warriors.  But a threat to the throne looms from a mysterious scourge who has vanquished several of Conn’s bravest warriors.  Conn rides out alone to face a seemingly invincible foe, never expecting that he will confront a grief-maddened hellcat with emerald eyes and hair like liquid flame….

 

“Wielding a sword called Vengeance, Gelina O Monaghan has sworn to defeat the man she holds responsible for her family’s ruin.  She never dreamed she’d be bested by him in combat…and lose her heart in the bargain.  Their forbidden passion will become a private war fought with swords and kisses, promises and betrayal—and surrender will be only the beginning….”

 

In addition to this being yet another book I finished on my vacation (believe it or not, it was only a week long), this is another re-read of a book I read quite some time ago; the original review can be found HERE.  Everyone here knows I’m a fan of Teresa Medeiros, but reading this book again only solidified my belief that I absolutely lean toward her newer works than her older ones.  Much like the first book in this duo, Shadows and Lace (the original review for which can be found HERE and the updated review can be found HERE), I didn’t end up a huge fan.  In hindsight, I think this was due in large part to the era in which these books were penned (thank you 1990s).  These books both had volatile, controlling relationships between the male and female leads.  There is a great deal of violence in this book -- yes, that includes violence Conn directs toward Gelina; yes, that includes physical violence.  I don't condone this in anyway, but I can see why it was a part of this story.  It, essentially, stayed true to the role Conn would have played during this time period, as well as the social mores of this era.  He was expected to be physically powerful and probably wouldn't have thought too much about demonstrating that power in a physical way.  That being said, here's a bit of a SPOILER:  There is a rape scene.  As a matter of fact, nearly all of the physical encounters between Conn and Gelina are rape-ish.  It feels so much less romantic.  There's a fine line between a male lead being powerful and breathtakingly masculine and being a brute to caves to his baser, more violent desires.  He ends up using sex as a weapon, and I found this a bit off-putting.  I noted it in my original review ten years ago (wow...I can't believe it's been that long), but this time around it made the story a bit of a struggle at times.  I chose not to re-read my original review prior to picking up this book again and I'm glad I didn't because it probably would have made me hesitant to read it.  END SPOILER

I liked Conn in the beginning; he seemed to be a good man and a good king.  He was powerful when he needed to be and merciful when necessary.  I would, however, have liked to see his perspective a bit more -- especially near the beginning of the story after we meet Gelina.  As soon as we start seeing Gelina's perspective, she seems to sort of overtake the narrative.  (This happened in Shadows and Lace, as well.)  I think it would have helped me to understand his motivations and appreciate his mercy a little bit better.  We discover that Gelina knew Conn when she was a child and how she admired him, but we don't really get to see those memories from Conn.  As the story progresses, I liked Conn less and less.  His desire for Gelina (a young woman who was supposed to be his ward) was powerful and consuming, but it takes him a painfully long time to accept his feelings.  When I say painful, I mean it.  I think this was because I didn't quite understand his hesitation.  She wasn't related to him in anyway and she was certainly putting out vibes that she was attracted to him and loved him.  He mentions the difference in age between them, but I don't think that should have been as big a deal as it was made out to be.  Then again, we're not given any good clues as to Conn's age (we find out pretty early on that Gelina is about sixteen) until nearly the end of the book.  By this time, a few years have passed and she's somewhere around eighteen or nineteen and I guess that he's about thirty-six.  There's such a big fuss over their ages, but in Ninth Century Ireland, I don't think it would have been as big a deterrent as Conn made it out to be.  Perhaps he was just making excuses and being stubborn?  (Again, a similar thing happened in Shadows and Lace.  Are we seeing some trends here?)

Gelina is as feisty as I remember.  She's brave -- if a bit rash -- and strong-willed enough to survive the had she's been dealt and to live in Conn's court beneath his oft-wavering moods and loyalties.  This was probably one of the most frustrating things because (since we see so much of her perspective, we know just how much she cares for Conn.  To see his lack of faith and trust in her is difficult to witness.  There was a cyclical pattern to her relationship with Conn (again, see Shadows and Lace).  Because the story is dragged out across several years instead of a snippet in the characters' lives, there is ample opportunity for them to fight/have a falling out/Gelina runs away or is sent away/Conn goes and retrieves her.  This happens more than a couple of times.  This certainly ups the dramatic tension, but it left me wanting more development of Conn and Gelina’s relationship.  All that time apart (for various reasons) can create bittersweet longing, but you also lose all of the closeness the characters could have been developing in the meantime.  Not to mention it hurt my opinion of Conn that he would have such little faith in Gelina.  I totally get that the circumstances of their meeting were less than ideal and he would have been well within his rights to kill her, but years have passed without her betraying him.  Cut the girl some slack!

As usual, there were some colorful secondary characters who really served to develop the plot and show us a side of Conn and Gelina that would have otherwise remained hidden.  The best example of this is Nimbus.  He was funny, witty, and irreverent.  While he got s little bit goofy at times, I enjoyed him nonetheless.  He provided a good outlet for Gelina’s childlike wonder and allowed Conn to have a sense of humor.  He also happens to become the source of one of the greatest conflicts between Gelina and Conn, though I won’t give this plot twist away.

Having a tangible villain in Eagon was a wise choice because it gave the story an outside source of conflict other than just what existed between Conn and Gelina.  It helped to place their story within a much larger framework of history, which is something I really appreciate.  Medeiros does this in some of her other books and, being the British history nerd that I am, I appreciate this touch.

In all, this was a well-written book (I always appreciate her writing style) and her descriptions of the scenery and characters are vivid and really help me escape into her books.  There were, of course, aspects of this particular story that I didn’t care for and this book will not be for everyone.  It’s a long read (though it only took me a few days) due to the timespan over which it takes place, though it’s interesting to see Gelina grow and change over the years.  Parts of it are frustrating (why can’t Conn just give into his feelings already?!) but other parts are tender.  There are moments of violence which literally made me cringe, but I persevered.  As part of a body of work, I recommend reading this book – even if you’re only curious to see how Medeiros has changed and developed her style over the years.  The comparison is a very interesting one.  This book was not really my favorite, but I am glad that I re-read it.

A Dark History: The Kings & Queens of Europe: Brenda Ralph Lewis

“Beneath the splendor and sophistication of the monarchies of continental Europe are tales of scandal, mystery, and skullduggery. A Dark History: The Kings & Queens of Europe peels away the glitz to take a wry look at what really happened in the corridors, bedrooms, and dungeons of European power, from the Middle Ages to Present day.

“Spanning the whole of mainland continental Europe, this history includes the burning of the Knights Templar, Vlad the Impaler’s stakes, Elizabeth Bathory’s bloodbaths, Louis XV’s womanizing, the mystery of Man in the Iron Mask, King Ludwig I’s doomed love affair, the suicide pact of Austro-Hungary’s Crown Prince Rudolph, and the troubled life and tragic death of Princess Grace of Monaco.

“Tales of murder, insanity, obsessive love, and horrific torture illuminate the troubles of royal dynasties, inter-breeding and empire, with examples drawn from Spain, Belgium, Romania, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austro-Hungary, Germany, and France. Illustrated throughout with contemporary paintings and engravings alongside modern photography, A Dark History: The Kings & Queens of Europe offers a fascinating portrait of the dark side of European monarchy.”

This book was an impulse buy from a “last chance” table at a bookstore I won’t name. I flipped through it and instantly knew I had to have it. The history nerd inside of me was really excited to open it. Now, because of this, I don’t know how many of you will enjoy reading this, but I suggest you give it a try. Anyone remotely interested in monarchies, the lives of royals, Europe, or even the slightest bit in Europe should give this book a try. I really enjoyed it and finished it with super speed.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to do my RAIR method because I mostly used this book for reading before bed. It was a great book to relax and unwind with. The author obviously did a TON of research and this is what made the book. Had it been half-done, then I don’t think it would have been nearly as good. The pictures were fantastic and really made the stories come to life. As a visual person, this made the book all the more enjoyable to read. I did make the mistake of only skimming the synopsis, so I was hoping for a section on British monarchs. Closer inspection corrected my misconception.

Though I really did enjoy this book, there are a few things I took exception to. This book claimed to cover all the scandals of the Continental European monarchies, but it glossed over quite a few. An example of this would be the Romanians. The book certainly covered the main ones with Bathory and Vlad the Impaler, but I almost wanted a little bit more. In addition, the French section only covered the two kings that came before Louis XVI. I know there are so many books and movies and writings on the last monarchs before the French Revolution, but I believe they contributed a great deal to the last step of the downfall. I have to grant that one can’t expect a book to be the penultimate source, but it felt like these countries were a little bit glossed over. Still, I must say that my favorite monarchies have to be the Belgium and Austro-Hungary ones. I think--at least here in the United States--we have this sense that these countries are portrayed as stuffy and unshakable. This book made them seem much more realistic. Their tragedies and histories were by far some of the most fascinating to read. Also, the Spanish monarchy was one filled with scandal and insanity which made for other interesting reading. However, a family tree could have been beneficial to illustrate the interbreeding and the insanity that resulted.

Overall, I liked this book. Some aspects could have been improved upon, but I believe it was a great find and well worth the buy and the read.

The Last Enchantment (Arthurian Saga, Book Three): Mary Stewart

“Arthur Pendragon is King! Unchallenged on the battlefield, he melds the country together in a time of promise. But sinister powers plot to destroy Camelot, and when the witch-queen Mogause--Arthurʼs own half sister--ensnares him in an incestuous liaison, a fatal web of love, betrayal, and bloody vengeance is woven.”

SO! I originally posted this review two days ago...but blogger decided to go down and DELETE MY MASSIVE REVIEW. Ugh. So, I proceeded to freak out and try everything I could think of/tips and tricks that I could find online to help with a lost blog post for NINE HOURS. Then, my genius friend reminded me that I use Time Machine... FML. So here I am, thrilled that I have most of my review intact. Please forgive my choppy review...I promise the original one was much better (and boy was it an awesome one...)

If youʼve read a couple of the reviews before this one, then youʼll know all about my new method of RAIR (Reviewing As I Read). Itʼs my way of taking notes and gathering a more complete review of a book so I can do it justice. Iʼm only mentioning this again because--as of this paragraph--Iʼm only about a quarter of the way through this book... Iʼm actually really upset with how long itʼs taking me to read! If you look back to my other reviews of the books in this series, then youʼll know how much I love Mary Stewartʼs work. Now, I do have to lay some blame on the chaotic events that have taken over my life for the past few weeks; though this isnʼt the whole problem. Unfortunately, I keep finding myself distracted because this book isnʼt catching me the same way the other two did. The characters are the same: Arthur is a boy-king, Merlin is the same wise and etherial man, and we see many other familiar faces, but this book doesnʼt seem to carry the same charm. I think this is partly because (up to the point where Iʼm at right now) much of the plot is dealing with fairly uneventful travel, Merlinʼs fretting about his lack of powers, and (more often than not) secondhand accounts of Arthurʼs actions. I do realize that this book is meant to set up Arthurʼs empire and establish his rule, but there is a hollowness here that wasnʼt there before. The descriptions remain stunning, but theyʼre extensive almost to the point of unnecessarily so--not that I would dare think I could remove anything to improve...Iʼm merely stating an observation. Most of my agitation--I believe--is coming from the fact that I know what is coming for Arthur and I keep waiting for it to happen, but itʼs obviously one book away. The first two books moved and flowed so nicely. This one is more set up than meat. I completely understand why this was necessary, but it doesnʼt mean that it will make me love the book as much as the others. I guess weʼll just have to wait and see...

...

Now I am a little less than halfway through the book. Still, itʼs taking me an incredibly long time to finish this book. However, now I really can blame school and the other books I have to read for my delay in completing it. The plot has picked up a bit and my anticipation has increased, but thereʼs still something lacking. I truly do hope this missing bit returns soon because itʼs what made me love Mary Stewart in the first place.

...

And...here's the part of my review that was deleted during the site outage. To sum this portion up, it detailed my discovery of why the middle of the book was so difficult for me to read. As a double major in English and History, I read a lot of historical accounts and the middle portion was mainly about Merlin giving accounts of Arthur's exploits, which made me feel more like I was doing school work rather than reading for fun. I felt a disconnect with the characters because of this. This didn't wreck the book for me, but it made it more difficult to read. Once I got through it, however, I was definitely happy because the writing got back to what I've always loved about Mary Stewart.

There was another pause before I described how happy I was that I forced myself through the middle of the book. I was so happy that I'd made it and that everything was back to the way I wanted it--utterly captivating.

(Now this part I am thrilled to say I had written down as a draft. So, this last portion will be nearly exactly what I lost!)

I believe the first thing I should say is hat the latter part of this book was by far my favorite. I'm really sorry that I lost my faith at the halfway mark because--in the time I took procrastinating--I could have very easily finished this one and probably completed the final book in the series.

I will maintain that the middle of this book dragged on a bit. However, I should have stuck it out and I would have rediscovered the reasons I love Mary Stewart's writing. The settings were rich and alive. (When I study abroad in England, I would really like to make an attempt to see some of these places for myself.) The characters were vibrant and captivating. Stewart did an absolutely brilliant job of portraying Arthur as a realistic king. He was faced with tough decisions, but remained a man rather than a flawless myth in the eyes of the readers. This, I believe, is what makes Stewart's works so captivating. Though she writes of one of the best-known tales in Western history, her characters never seem unreal. In fact, they are--in many ways--more believable than those of the original renditions. This must be, in part at least, thanks to the research injected into her works. I have to reiterate that all readers MUST take the time to read the information Stewart includes at the end of each of her books. Not only does she supply an abridged version of the portion of the Arthurian tale covered in the installment, but she explains character choices and contexts. This is a glimpse into the mind of a brilliant master of literature. I can't stress enough my love of the Arthurian legend, and the fact that I'm so enthralled by Stewart's retelling speaks of the mythological and historical qualities of her writing.

I can only continue to recommend Mary Stewart to anyone who has always loved King Arthur (as I have), or if you're just getting started. This series is obviously more readable than Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur, but it is in NO way childish. Don't be put off by the titles or appearances of these books, because their reading level is vastly enjoyable to adults with its eloquent language and descriptions. This series takes a certain level of maturity to fully appreciate. I'm not warning younger readers away from it, merely suggesting that they may want to read it again at a later age. My aunt--the one who turned me onto this series--is living proof of this. She read this series as a young teen, then when she spent time studying law at Oxford, and now as a mother of two. This series meant something more to her each time she picked it up and I know it will do the same for other readers. That's the beauty of the Arthurian legend--it can transcend centuries, time, and generations to touch lives.

Overall, I can't say that this book was my favorite in the series (and as I read others' reviews, I'm not the only one who feels this way), but it definitely got better as I read. Merlin remained the brilliant narrator (though I somehow felt less "in touch" with him in this novel than the others because of the way the middle of this book was structured. That may have played in a role in my ever-so-slightly diminished love for this installment). The progression at the end of this book was perfectly paced and the new characters definitely added to the plot (sorry, that's all you're going to get from me!)

I'm going to take a bit of a break before I read the final book. Though I know what will happen (as anyone who knows of Le Morte d'Arthur does), I'm very curious to see how Stewart goes about it. She threw a few curve balls in this book (sorry again, I'm a tease) and I can't wait to see what she does in the last book.

Part of me wonders if I fell in love with this series again because I'm--in a way--in need of a hero such as Arthur (not literally, but I wouldn't complain...) in the intangible sense of triumph over adversity. Arthurian legends tend to make a resurgence in times of need (as I once wrote a research paper detailing) and I'm wondering if my subconscious is no different.

If you get a chance to read this series, please let me know what you think. I'm very curious to know if it touches you in a similar way.

Royal Affairs--A Lusty Romp Throughout the Extramarital Adventures That Rocked the British Monarchy: Leslie Carroll

"INSATIABLE KINGS. LECHEROUS QUEENS. KISSING COUSINS. WANTON CONSRTS.

"WELCOME TO NEARLY A THOUSAND YEARS OF NAUGHTY BEHAVIOR.

"Royal unions have always been the stuff of scintillating gossip, from the passionate Plantagenets to Henry VIII's alarming head count of wives and mistresses, to the sapphic crushes of Mary and Anne Stuart, right up to the scandal-blighted coupling of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Shoved into loveless arranged marriages for political and economic gain, many royals were driven to seek their pleasures outside the marital bed, engaging in delicious flirtations, lurid love letters, and rampant sex with voluptuous and willing paramours.

"This nearly pathological lust made for some of the most titillating scandals in Great Britain's history. Hardly harmless, these affairs disrupted dynastic alliances, endangered lives, and most of all, fed the salacious curiosity of the public for centutries.

"PEEK BETWEEN THE COVERS...."

I read this book when it was really quiet as work. At first, it was just something to do, but it very quickly turned into something I really enjoyed. The writing was fantastic; written almost like a modern romance novel. It was so much fun to read (as I imagine most all juicy gossip is). Though, this was not just a compillation of facts and rumors, but it was made much more interesting by snippets of first-hand accounts of the people themselves. There are even some lines from actual surviving love notes between the lovers. Not only that, but the author incorporated fascinating information about the royals' reigns which serves to make the people on the pages really come to life. In fact, I read this book with a pictoral history of the British Monarchy, which made the people--at least the monarchs--look more like real people. The descriptions provided by Carroll were enriched by the actual paintings and drawings of them.

Overall, this was a very fun book to read. I had a difficult time putting the book down when I was forced to get back to work. Everyday, I would constantly glance at the clock until I would allow myself a few moments of peace to read this book. I really, truly enjoyed the writing. It is not often that a non-fiction book will capture me as well as this one did. I highly recommend it to those looking for a fun read.