Review by zeldasideas -- Dagger's Destiny by Linnea Tanner
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Review by zeldasideas -- Dagger's Destiny by Linnea Tanner
[Following is a volunteer review of "Dagger's Destiny" by Linnea Tanner.]
Linnea Tanner's Dagger's Destiny portrays the historical loves and struggles of the Cantiaci tribe in ancient Roman Britannia. Princess Catrin, heir to the tribal fortune, must choose between her duty to her tribe and her love for the Roman warrior Marcellus.
Their love is hurt, however, when their families become enmeshed in a three-way power bid, which includes the Catuvellauni, the Roman army, and the Cantiaci king's banished opponent, all of whom are trying to rout the Cantiaci forces. Espoused to Adminius, the future leader of the Catuvellauni, the princess instead opts to join forces with the Roman leader Marcellus, embarking on a deadly spree of blood feud and seduction that leads to her father's betrayal. The duly ensconced king of the Cantiaci, Amren, believing himself to have been attacked by Marcellus, decides to hold his daughter Catrin accountable for her involvement in the assassination attempt against his throne. Now Catrin must convince her father of her innocence and of the import of her matrimonial affair with Marcellus.
Dagger's Destiny (2018) is book two in Tanner's The Curse of Clansmen and Kings Series, which already includes book one, Apollo's Raven (2017), and book three, Amulet's Rapture (2019). Tanner is planning to publish further volumes in the series, which she views as an ongoing creative process, one that will evolve as time goes on.
As I was reading book two, I found myself caught up in the spellbinding plot, a story that is filled with suspenseful twists and turns. The two dominant threads of the plot enfold and mutually support the idea that duty to love outshines service to throne. One side of the story concerns the lovers' faith in one another, while the other side involves the idea that the spiritual forces of necromancy support the lovers on their path to forgiveness. Catrin puts her faith in an ancient line of druidesses who help her change shape, disguise herself, and take power. Her symbolic control over the "dagger ordeal," an episode found in Malory's sword-in-the-stone episodes, demonstrates how legitimate female authority can be put into the service of opposition to blood feud. Tanner maintains control over the symbolic dagger throughout the story, as she uses its powerful curse to unravel her web of suspense.
As the story unfolds, the characters develop into vivid, memorable players with clear inner motives for their actions. At the same time, Tanner reveals how the intricacy of conspiratorial internal warfare banishes the main actors to the wings. Idealistic motives advance history; however, the true noble-mindedness of heroic deeds is seldom appreciated, and many unknown heroines step forward to leave their imprint on destiny as lovers rather than as rulers. In addition to all the clearly defined characters in this book, one or two of these actors seem to exist solely for the purpose of raising the hue and cry of warfare. Amren's banished son, Marrock, for example, is an eerie, tattoo-clad warrior, one who may appear to some readers as a stereotypical Conan the Barbarian; however, he is an example of Tanner's immense gift for fashioning a realistic world of superhuman figures.
Most readers will enjoy this romance thriller. This rhapsodic book is well written, filled with many detailed historical vignettes that will appeal to audiences of all backgrounds. I award this book 4 out of 4 stars for its standout plot and well-drawn characters.
******
Dagger's Destiny
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Linnea Tanner's Dagger's Destiny portrays the historical loves and struggles of the Cantiaci tribe in ancient Roman Britannia. Princess Catrin, heir to the tribal fortune, must choose between her duty to her tribe and her love for the Roman warrior Marcellus.
Their love is hurt, however, when their families become enmeshed in a three-way power bid, which includes the Catuvellauni, the Roman army, and the Cantiaci king's banished opponent, all of whom are trying to rout the Cantiaci forces. Espoused to Adminius, the future leader of the Catuvellauni, the princess instead opts to join forces with the Roman leader Marcellus, embarking on a deadly spree of blood feud and seduction that leads to her father's betrayal. The duly ensconced king of the Cantiaci, Amren, believing himself to have been attacked by Marcellus, decides to hold his daughter Catrin accountable for her involvement in the assassination attempt against his throne. Now Catrin must convince her father of her innocence and of the import of her matrimonial affair with Marcellus.
Dagger's Destiny (2018) is book two in Tanner's The Curse of Clansmen and Kings Series, which already includes book one, Apollo's Raven (2017), and book three, Amulet's Rapture (2019). Tanner is planning to publish further volumes in the series, which she views as an ongoing creative process, one that will evolve as time goes on.
As I was reading book two, I found myself caught up in the spellbinding plot, a story that is filled with suspenseful twists and turns. The two dominant threads of the plot enfold and mutually support the idea that duty to love outshines service to throne. One side of the story concerns the lovers' faith in one another, while the other side involves the idea that the spiritual forces of necromancy support the lovers on their path to forgiveness. Catrin puts her faith in an ancient line of druidesses who help her change shape, disguise herself, and take power. Her symbolic control over the "dagger ordeal," an episode found in Malory's sword-in-the-stone episodes, demonstrates how legitimate female authority can be put into the service of opposition to blood feud. Tanner maintains control over the symbolic dagger throughout the story, as she uses its powerful curse to unravel her web of suspense.
As the story unfolds, the characters develop into vivid, memorable players with clear inner motives for their actions. At the same time, Tanner reveals how the intricacy of conspiratorial internal warfare banishes the main actors to the wings. Idealistic motives advance history; however, the true noble-mindedness of heroic deeds is seldom appreciated, and many unknown heroines step forward to leave their imprint on destiny as lovers rather than as rulers. In addition to all the clearly defined characters in this book, one or two of these actors seem to exist solely for the purpose of raising the hue and cry of warfare. Amren's banished son, Marrock, for example, is an eerie, tattoo-clad warrior, one who may appear to some readers as a stereotypical Conan the Barbarian; however, he is an example of Tanner's immense gift for fashioning a realistic world of superhuman figures.
Most readers will enjoy this romance thriller. This rhapsodic book is well written, filled with many detailed historical vignettes that will appeal to audiences of all backgrounds. I award this book 4 out of 4 stars for its standout plot and well-drawn characters.
******
Dagger's Destiny
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
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The rating 4 out of 4 stars is a personal opinion, I understand this fact. However, you did not mention the grammar errors. Plus you didn't mention the rape, incest, sororicide and patricide. Which in my opinion, not only bring the stars rating down; it limits the reading audience age group. Just wondering your thoughts about it.
Latest Review: Dagger's Destiny by Linnea Tanner
