Michelle Styles

3.5 stars, rounding up because this book has (hopefully!) kicked my reading slump.

Just what it says on the tin. Dagmar is a Viking shield maiden, who makes her living by her sword. Her mother and father had an acrimonious split whens he was just ten, and her mother (also a shield maiden) defeated her father's champion, winning the right to take Dagmar away and raise her, which she did. Dagmar follows in her mother's footsteps, even leading her mother's felag after her death. She is fighting show more with Constantine's army when Aedan mac Connal, King of Kindra, finally finds her. Aedan is intent on paying his dead brother's debt to Kolbeinn the Blood-Axe, Dagmar's father. He will return Dagmar to her father in exchange for freedom for his country and his people.

Dagmar does not wish to return, but when one of her warriors betrays her in battle, Aeden sees his chance to swoop in and take her, which he does. Once she learns what's happened to her felag, Dagmar realizes she has little choice but to go to her father. She hopes he will allow her to lead one of his brigades, but Aeden realizes that Kolbeinn will just marry her off to strengthen his own legacy.

This is part road-romance, part forced proximity marriage. The stakes are high, on both sides: Dagmar believes her best bet to get out from under her father's thumb is to proclaim that only Aeden will suit her as a husband; she's counting on him choosing his kingdom over her and refusing. He surprises her, instead, because he believes that refusing the daughter of Kolbeinn the Blood-Axe will bring down the wrath of the father, who will slaughter his people. Dagmar and Aeden find themselves locking horns because they are both stubborn goats, too stubborn to admit to each other just how much they've fallen in love with each other during their journey back to Kintra.

I chose this book because (1) it is a medieval, the type of historical romance that I cut my teeth on, and (2) it's been on Mount TBR since 2019. I wanted something different from what I had been reading to try to shake this nasty slump, and this book did that for me. It is not just a romance, but also an adventure story/quest, with compelling MCs. Dagmar is more fully fleshed out here (I'm guessing most of Aeden's backstory is told in the first book of this miniseries), but they are both interesting characters who really look within themselves to figure out how to move forward in the best way. Their attraction to each other is organic and authentic. Dagmar is a bit immature at times, but given the way she was brought up, it's understandable. She has deep scars from her childhood, but from her hardships was born a woman who could more than take care of herself. She fights fiercely for what she wants, and is the one who actually defeats the Big Bad in the end (I was cheering her on all the way!).

I enjoyed the emotional journey these characters undertook and loved, loved, loved the ending. I'd love to add Aeden to my pantheon of book boyfriends for that epilogue alone!

It was absolutely refreshing to read a medieval again, and get swept away into a high stakes world where every word and deed counts. I'm going to seek out the other books in this series (though I think I may have another one on Mount TBR already) because I really enjoyed this one. Kudos for the author's notes and references at the end, too!! show less

Vikings have always fascinated me. “Taken by the Viking” will fascinate you and make you a fan of the often historically misunderstood people. Styles writes a moving entry about their sometimes harsh world that shows that Vikings are not merely stereotypical cartoons but like all races are filled with humanity. The main thing I enjoyed about this story is that both main characters are not only practical and genuine, but likeable and smart. I didn’t spend the entire book becoming show more increasingly exasperated by their silly behavior towards one another.

Haakon Haroldson comes to Lindifarne, Northumbria on a collection mission, not a raiding mission as those who first spotted his ships feared. The Vikings had been cheated on a fur trading deal and only wished to get back money legally due them. The monastery there is used as a bank of sorts by those in the country. Annis of Birdowald, a widow is at the monastery seeking council from her uncle, the abbot about plans for her future. Her mission is to persuade her uncle to release her from a most undesirable betrothal.

An acknowledgement of peace from the Vikings falls on death ears. During the discussions, a lone monk attacks and kills a good friend of Haakon. In an instant all hell breaks loose and a violent battle ensues with the abbot being the first casualty of an over eager berserker named Bjorn. Annis and her maidservant hide as best they can but eventually find themselves threatened by the berserker who killed her uncle. Haakon comes upon the women just as Bjorn, who appears to be in a warriors trance is about to close in. Annis surprises herself by unleashing her hidden strength and winds up saving Haakon’s life by killing Bjorn herself. After the confrontation, Haakon lets the brave Annis go though he was loath to do so. That would have been the end of it. However Annis returns to the now burning monastery to find her maidservant. In all the rubble and confusion Haakon saves her life. Now they are even. But at this point, Haakon has no other choice but to take her as a slave along with the monks they had captured for ransom.

The highborn Annis finds no welcome from the Viking women. The jealous females do their best to humiliate her, especially Gunthar, Haakon’s step mother. The always the in control Jaarl, Haakon is seemingly indifferent to Annis’ plight while Annis obsesses over her growing affection for her captor and her fears that the ransom money may never materialize. Haakon of course is not as indifferent to Annis’ charms as he seems. But as Jaarl his people are his priority. Haakon has his own problems to contend with such as staying ahead of soothsayers, blood feuds, conspiracies and all manner of political intrigue. Plus the circumstances of Bjorn’s death must never be discovered.

Annis’ lot as a kitchen slave improves a bit when her healing talents are revealed. Though they are captive and captor, Annis and Haakon begin to enjoy each others company until a test of trust threatens to tear them apart. With Haakon no longer as her protector, Annis escapes not only her physical captivity but her emotional captivity as well. Haakon soon realizes his mistake and goes after the woman who has captured his heart. When they meet again Annis is faced with a delicate question of deciding if she will return as a lowly slave or a pampered concubine.

The story is a good one. Annis is an ingenious little fighter who shakes things up by being full of surprises. As a survivor she goes through a lot but doesn’t let any of it get her down. Haakon is a good, solid man. He wants to be with Annis in whatever she does and that is really sweet. More importantly and the best part of this romance story is Haakon he is not afraid to apologize. Annis is strong enough though to realize that apologies are nice but finding a place in her man’s heart is what she really desires. Neither character is desperate enough to beg which makes the story all the more heartwarming. The description of daily life in the Viking village brings good depth to the story as well as the differences between Annis’ life before and after she became a captive. From their harsh existence, the reader can see why the Vikings had to leave their homes to trade and to raid. Also the monk story line was excellent. But I still wonder about the motive of the kings’ wife, Asa.

I was glad there was an epilogue but wished it had been longer and more thorough. Note: the book I read was poorly edited which was a bit irritating. show less

Another fantastic entry in the Sons of Sigurd series. This one features the youngest son, Sandulf. As in the previous books, the story opens on Alarr's wedding day and the attack that decimated their family. The oldest brother, Brandt, tasked Sandulf with watching over his pregnant wife, Ingrid. Sandulf does his best but is no match for the assassins who attack. He is devastated by his failure, a feeling that is compounded by Brandt's harsh words on his return. Sandulf is sent away to show more Constantinople to protect him from Brandt's anger.

As the youngest, Sandulf idolized his older brothers and followed them around when he was younger. As he got older, he trained hard so that he could join them. But he is also still young and headstrong and tends to rush in without thinking things through. This creates quite a bit of strain between him and his brothers, who do not let him forget the problems he causes. He looked on his protection of Ingrid as a way to prove himself. As he leaves his home and family, he swears to find the man who killed Ingrid and make him pay.

Several years later, a matured and changed Sandulf has tracked the assassin Lugh to Scotland. In a village in Scotland, where Northmen are not exactly welcomed, he waits for the guide he hired to take him on the next leg of his journey. A chance encounter with Lady Ceanna provides him with another key to his pursuit of the assassin Lugh.

Ceanna is desperately trying to escape a forced marriage. Her new stepmother is determined to marry her off to the captain of the guard, who is also her lover. Ceanna's father is fading fast, and Ceanna is his only heir. Marrying Ceanna to her henchman would cement the stepmother's power. Ceanna is sure that if she can get to her aunt, an abbess in a nearby city, she would be safe. She plans to become a nun, putting her home under the Church's protection. Unfortunately, the guide she hired left without her, leaving Ceanna stranded.

Sparks flew between Sandulf and Ceanna from the moment they met. Ceanna is wary of Sandulf, unwilling to trust a stranger in her escape. Sandulf immediately senses that Ceanna is his ticket to the monastery where his quarry is rumored to be. I loved their back-and-forth in the tavern as she refuses his attempt to join her on her journey. Sandulf's instincts are good that she's in trouble, and he prevents one attempt to stop her before she even gets started. Ceanna is a determined and intelligent woman and sets out on her own, unaware that Sandulf follows her. She is none too pleased when he reveals himself but eventually sees the sense in joining forces with him. This was none too soon, as they soon caught up with the guide's party, which has been attacked. The guide is injured, and the rest of the party is dead, including a woman dressed in Cearra's clothing.

This began a journey full of ups and downs. Ceanna knows the way to the monastery, but the trip is not an easy one. Added to the strains of the trip is the attraction that grows between Ceanna and Sandulf. Both try to resist because of Ceanna's stated goal of becoming a nun, but it is not easy. There are some amusing moments as each one holds mental arguments with themselves over those feelings. Sandulf is very protective of Ceanna, determined that he won't fail to keep her safe. Their arrival at the monastery doesn't go quite as planned, and with becoming a nun out of the picture, the only way to keep Cearra safe is for Sandulf to marry her himself!

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Sandulf and Cearra. It was fun to see Sandulf's reactions to Cearra's practicality and lack of squeamishness. She is nothing like the women he is used to, and it only adds to her appeal. He also finds her beautiful, and can't understand why she doesn't realize it. Cearra quickly comes to trust Sandulf, but that doesn't stop her from standing up to him when she thinks he is wrong. Once they are married, their feelings for each other grow more potent, but neither feels worthy of the other. I ached for them both until they realized that they belonged together. I loved the scene at the end where Sandulf was finally able to lay his quest to rest and confess his love to Ceanna.

The pursuit of the assassin was full of twists and turns, and complicated by the trouble that stalked Ceanna. Their arrival and conversation with Cearra's aunt did not go as Cearra hoped. I did not like the aunt and her attitude toward both Cearra and Sandulf, especially at first. I loved Cearra's persistence in pursuing the truth. I didn't feel terribly sorry for the abbess as she was forced to face the truth. I was glued to the pages as Cearra and Sandulf returned to her home, found she was believed to be dead, and that an unexpected suspect was believed to be the murderer. I was on the edge of my seat as they carried out their plan to rescue the suspect and confront the stepmother and assassin. The confrontation was exciting and intense.

There are still some questions that remain in the search for the truth behind the attack and murder of Sigurd. The quest continues with the next brother, Danr, who is on the way to confront their mother. show less

Nope, nope, nope.

I can't keep reading this, it's winding me up something rotten. Her borrowed dress is torn, she's riding on horseback and the "hero" is trying to convince her that dresses are better than her warrior clothes for their journey. He's also leaning towards gaslighting her into believing that everything she believes is wrong. He has no value for her opinions or thoughts. The latest was him trying to convince her of the advantage of dresses for easy sex access and I just can't show more keep reading this. Any agency she has and any backbone she might have developed is being eroded ready for the "hero" to rescue her from her father rather than her being the strong person she is and choosing her own path rather than the men dictating to her. This woman was a battle leader. show less