Christina Courtenay
Author of Trade Winds
Series
Works by Christina Courtenay
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Fenton, Pia Christina Tapper
- Gender
- female
- Occupations
- writer
- Organizations
- Romantic Novelists' Association
- Relationships
- Word Wenches (writers collective)
- Short biography
- Pia Christina Tapper was born in England, UK, daugther of Kenneth Tapper, an English, and a Swedish mother. She brought up in Sweden, until at sixteen her family moved to Japan, because her father had obtained a job in Tokyo. Married with Richard Fenton, had two children, she lives between London and Herefordshire.
She signs her novels as Christina Courtenay. She won the Elizabeth Goudge Trophy for a historical short story in 2001 and the Katie Fforde Bursary for a promising new writer in 2006. Her short story was published in ‘Solander’, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. In 2011, her first published novel Trade Winds was short listed for the RNA's Award for Best Historical Fiction. Her second novel, The Scarlet Kimono, won the Big Red Reads Best Historical Fiction Award. In 2012 Highland Storms won the Best Historical Romantic Novel of the year award and her fourth novel, The Silent Touch of Shadows, won the Best Historical Read Award from the Festival of Romance.
Pia Fenton is a committee member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, and she was elected its twenty-sixth chairman (2013–2015). She is also a member of the Society of Genealogists and the Guild of One Name Studies. When she's not writing, she spends her time tracking down elusive ancestors for her family tree, and her other hobbies include archaeology (the armchair variety), listening to loud rock music and collecting things. - Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- England, UK
- Places of residence
- England, UK
Sweden
Japan
London, England, UK
Herefordshire, England, UK - Associated Place (for map)
- England, UK
Members
Reviews
This is a timeslip romance and historical fiction by Swedish English author Christina Courtenay. It is the second in the Runes series but could easily be read as a standalone story. It is set in the 9th century during the Viking era.
Linnea Berger, specialist in Old Norse at the University of York, is working on an archaeological dig with her uncle in Sweden, when she discovers an ancient brooch and finds herself suddenly transported to the 9th century. Here she finds herself captured by show more viking warrior Hrafn as a thrall, and accompanying him on an international sea voyage to Turkey to be sold in the slave markets. Despite all this she finds herself drawn to Hrafn, and he to her.
I wanted to love this book. In actual fact it is a great story: a rip-snorter adventure yarn with a great setting and well-researched historical details. Oh, but the writing! Don’t get me started on the main character Linnea. How can you be an intelligent university-educated woman, trained in ancient Viking language, and expert in this era and part of the world, and then so determinedly, inanely convinced, despite all logical evidence to the contrary, that this is all a game or a re-enactment? She blunders around wondering why every single person in the settlement speaks fluent Old Norse and not English, why all the women are engaged in medieval crafts, why everyone is wearing authentic viking garb and none of them have any grasp of modern concepts and still doesn’t even begin to consider she is in the 9th century. I don’t think you can play the smart, capable woman card as well as the ditzy dumbo with the same character, it has one or the other. She is also a smart-arse, rude to her captors, and completely oblivious to the danger she is in. It’s actually surprising she survived 24 hours there with her behaviour. And then of course she needs to be not only unfathomably beautiful but a virgin too, because, sigh…who even knows? Because good girls don’t have sex?? Or possibly only when they are being deflowered by uber-manly heroes.
The book has been likened to Outlander but Linnea Berger is definitely no Claire Fraser. In fact it would have been a far better yarn if Claire had gone to Sweden instead of Linnea. There would have actually been a little wit and humour. Sigh! Disappointing. 2.5 stars. show less
Linnea Berger, specialist in Old Norse at the University of York, is working on an archaeological dig with her uncle in Sweden, when she discovers an ancient brooch and finds herself suddenly transported to the 9th century. Here she finds herself captured by show more viking warrior Hrafn as a thrall, and accompanying him on an international sea voyage to Turkey to be sold in the slave markets. Despite all this she finds herself drawn to Hrafn, and he to her.
I wanted to love this book. In actual fact it is a great story: a rip-snorter adventure yarn with a great setting and well-researched historical details. Oh, but the writing! Don’t get me started on the main character Linnea. How can you be an intelligent university-educated woman, trained in ancient Viking language, and expert in this era and part of the world, and then so determinedly, inanely convinced, despite all logical evidence to the contrary, that this is all a game or a re-enactment? She blunders around wondering why every single person in the settlement speaks fluent Old Norse and not English, why all the women are engaged in medieval crafts, why everyone is wearing authentic viking garb and none of them have any grasp of modern concepts and still doesn’t even begin to consider she is in the 9th century. I don’t think you can play the smart, capable woman card as well as the ditzy dumbo with the same character, it has one or the other. She is also a smart-arse, rude to her captors, and completely oblivious to the danger she is in. It’s actually surprising she survived 24 hours there with her behaviour. And then of course she needs to be not only unfathomably beautiful but a virgin too, because, sigh…who even knows? Because good girls don’t have sex?? Or possibly only when they are being deflowered by uber-manly heroes.
The book has been likened to Outlander but Linnea Berger is definitely no Claire Fraser. In fact it would have been a far better yarn if Claire had gone to Sweden instead of Linnea. There would have actually been a little wit and humour. Sigh! Disappointing. 2.5 stars. show less
I bought this book originally as I love the idea of a love crossing cultures. Nothing makes my heart flutter more than seeing a romance work over cultural barriers, all barriers really. Probably why I love forbidden or doomed romances so much... Anyways, I've only seen the romance between a white female and asian male in a historical setting done once so far and enjoyed that book immensely. So finding another made me ready to just dive in. Some ways I was pleased as punch; others left me not show more so pleased.
The greatest grin-inducer was the actual romance part of the book. My heart fluttered. My soul soared. And tears of happiness graced my eyes more than once. I really felt the love coming off the pages between these two individuals. Taro was respectful and caring without losing the harshness that came with being a Japanese medieval daimyo. Hannah was a strong woman with a will all her own and a heart as big as Japan. These two together was sweet, romantic, and just heart-lifing.
Another huge piece of enjoyment was how the author was able to bring the Japanese culture and the world of medieval Japan to life. I could really tell that she spent a lot of time invested in learning the details of the culture and loving it as well. She didn't shy away from the harshness that was present, where one wrong step could literally mean a beheading. Yet, she was able to also show the beauty of the simplicity in Japanese culture and the art the prevailed in everything from haikus to the kimonos that women wore every day.
I was not so happy with some of the secondary characters like Hannah's European "husband" and the Lady Reiko, antagonistic bitch-y sister-in-law to Taro. They were extremely two-dimensional and stereotypical. They just fell flat. I think many of these characters were just chucked in to create some padding to the exquisite romance and create some tension/drama. Very few of the secondary people got any development at all. The only, really, that I can think of right now is Hoji and even then it's really only in the 1st part of the book. Even that could be labeled as just setting up for Hannah's character development... Some more fleshing of the background folks would have been nice.
A few of the details in the background of the story could have stood to be expounded upon and explored as well without detracting from the main romance thread too much. I for one would have loved to maybe get more details on the ninjas and maybe more appearances by the great Ainjin-san (sp?). Both are used or mentioned more than once and so play very integral parts to the story. But they stay as plot devices for the love story and little else but window dressing beyond that.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable novel, and I highly recommend it as a fantastic love story. The romance was sweet, the hero/heroine very captivating and engaging, and the setting lush with detail. And while there could have been more fleshing out of background and secondary characters, the book really does stand as a very well done romance. Give it a whirl if you're in the mood for a little interracial sweetness in a unusual historical setting. show less
The greatest grin-inducer was the actual romance part of the book. My heart fluttered. My soul soared. And tears of happiness graced my eyes more than once. I really felt the love coming off the pages between these two individuals. Taro was respectful and caring without losing the harshness that came with being a Japanese medieval daimyo. Hannah was a strong woman with a will all her own and a heart as big as Japan. These two together was sweet, romantic, and just heart-lifing.
Another huge piece of enjoyment was how the author was able to bring the Japanese culture and the world of medieval Japan to life. I could really tell that she spent a lot of time invested in learning the details of the culture and loving it as well. She didn't shy away from the harshness that was present, where one wrong step could literally mean a beheading. Yet, she was able to also show the beauty of the simplicity in Japanese culture and the art the prevailed in everything from haikus to the kimonos that women wore every day.
I was not so happy with some of the secondary characters like Hannah's European "husband" and the Lady Reiko, antagonistic bitch-y sister-in-law to Taro. They were extremely two-dimensional and stereotypical. They just fell flat. I think many of these characters were just chucked in to create some padding to the exquisite romance and create some tension/drama. Very few of the secondary people got any development at all. The only, really, that I can think of right now is Hoji and even then it's really only in the 1st part of the book. Even that could be labeled as just setting up for Hannah's character development... Some more fleshing of the background folks would have been nice.
A few of the details in the background of the story could have stood to be expounded upon and explored as well without detracting from the main romance thread too much. I for one would have loved to maybe get more details on the ninjas and maybe more appearances by the great Ainjin-san (sp?). Both are used or mentioned more than once and so play very integral parts to the story. But they stay as plot devices for the love story and little else but window dressing beyond that.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable novel, and I highly recommend it as a fantastic love story. The romance was sweet, the hero/heroine very captivating and engaging, and the setting lush with detail. And while there could have been more fleshing out of background and secondary characters, the book really does stand as a very well done romance. Give it a whirl if you're in the mood for a little interracial sweetness in a unusual historical setting. show less
Echoes of the Runes by Christina Courtenay is a charming tale of timeless love remanifested. This is a dual time novel, shifted between the past where Ceri has been kidnapped by Haukr's raiding party and brought back to be ransomed, and the present where Mia and Haakon are excavating property left to Mia by her grandmother. Haakon and Mia are initially drawn together by a pair of ancient snake rings. As they work together on the dig, each begins to get glimmers of the past, whose validity is show more proven as the excavations continue. Past blurs with future, playing out an eternal love as souls find one another anew.
I found it a bit confusing at the beginning, as the times, and people speaking, shifted back and forth. I found my bearings soon enough, though, and quite enjoyed it. I think I preferred the present, as it had the more interesting timeline. The conflict with Thoresson, and the excavation both appeal to the archaeologist in me. I'm strongly averse to grave robbing and site looting.
Haakon was my favourite character. He's an archaeologist after all! Both he and the archaeology felt real. Made me feel a little nostalgic, truthfully. Ragnhild was my least favourite character. She was just one nasty tempered b'. And what she did to Ceri. Geez. I love how the characters and story of the present mirror that of the past, and how personality traits filter into present generations. I adore the found family forged by the end. My only qualm is how often the main four characters talk about how they weren't sure how someone felt about them, or that such a relationship would be impossible. That could have been toned down a bit. Also, where were the runes! I was looking forward to runes!
Recommended!
***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Headline for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for Love Books Tours. show less
I found it a bit confusing at the beginning, as the times, and people speaking, shifted back and forth. I found my bearings soon enough, though, and quite enjoyed it. I think I preferred the present, as it had the more interesting timeline. The conflict with Thoresson, and the excavation both appeal to the archaeologist in me. I'm strongly averse to grave robbing and site looting.
Haakon was my favourite character. He's an archaeologist after all! Both he and the archaeology felt real. Made me feel a little nostalgic, truthfully. Ragnhild was my least favourite character. She was just one nasty tempered b'. And what she did to Ceri. Geez. I love how the characters and story of the present mirror that of the past, and how personality traits filter into present generations. I adore the found family forged by the end. My only qualm is how often the main four characters talk about how they weren't sure how someone felt about them, or that such a relationship would be impossible. That could have been toned down a bit. Also, where were the runes! I was looking forward to runes!
Recommended!
***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Headline for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for Love Books Tours. show less
This novel is a light read that will appeal to those readers of historical fiction who seek to escape from the Tudors in England, as it is set initially in Sweden, and this makes for a refreshing change.
It is strong on character but weaker on a sense of period, but then I'm sure that is what the author intended.
The main characters are likeable - Killian the irrepressible Scot, and Jessamijn Von Sandt the feisty swedish beauty. There is of course no doubt that they will end up romantically show more attached, but the plot of "evil stepfather withholds inheritance" has enough twists and turns to keep you reading, even though you are aware you have to suspend your disbelief whilst you are being thoroughly entertained.
This is published under the Choc Lit imprint and it is exactly right for escapist chick-lit fans, to sit on a cosy sofa on Sunday afternoon with a box of Black Magic to hand. Cristina Courtenay takes us on a breathless journey from snow in Sweden to the bustling streets of Canton in China.
It is very well done, and I suppose my only criticism would be that it lacked any kind of sub-text or underlying theme or substance that would make me want to read it again. show less
It is strong on character but weaker on a sense of period, but then I'm sure that is what the author intended.
The main characters are likeable - Killian the irrepressible Scot, and Jessamijn Von Sandt the feisty swedish beauty. There is of course no doubt that they will end up romantically show more attached, but the plot of "evil stepfather withholds inheritance" has enough twists and turns to keep you reading, even though you are aware you have to suspend your disbelief whilst you are being thoroughly entertained.
This is published under the Choc Lit imprint and it is exactly right for escapist chick-lit fans, to sit on a cosy sofa on Sunday afternoon with a box of Black Magic to hand. Cristina Courtenay takes us on a breathless journey from snow in Sweden to the bustling streets of Canton in China.
It is very well done, and I suppose my only criticism would be that it lacked any kind of sub-text or underlying theme or substance that would make me want to read it again. show less
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