Review by JBook16 -- Dagger's Destiny by Linnea Tanner
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- Latest Review: Dagger's Destiny by Linnea Tanner
Review by JBook16 -- Dagger's Destiny by Linnea Tanner
[Following is a volunteer review of "Dagger's Destiny" by Linnea Tanner.]
Combining historical fiction with magical realism, Linnea Tanner continues to unfold the epic story of Princess Catrin and her family in Dagger's Destiny, Book Two in The Curse of the Clansmen and Kings series. Embroiled within the Celtic politics complicated by the presence of the Romans in first-century Southeast Britannia, Catrin also has to come to terms with her recently discovered "powers" inherited from the ancient Druids. Powers that she hastily utilized to save the life of Marcellus, her husband (who she recently married in secret) and the son of the Roman authority in the region.
Catrin's act of heroism for Marcellus reveals their involvement and this involvement constitutes treason in the eyes of Amren, king of the Cantiaci clan and her father. It also seemingly alters the dagger-inscribed curse that controls Amren's course of action and the fate of their homeland and people. Catrin finds herself a pawn in the political maelstrom raging among the powers that be while being forced to choose between loyalty and honor for family and country and her love for and commitment to Marcellus.
In contradiction to Catrin's altruistic motives, her wolf-shapeshifting half-brother Marrock is motivated by vengeance, greed, bloodlust and lust for power. Marrock is the son of Amren and Rahn, the King's first wife who he beheaded for treason. Rahn's soul escaped death though by occupying the king's spiritual advisor and continues to exert her influence over Marrock. And Marrock will undertake whatever treachery and violence is necessary to usurp power.
First century Britannia was shaped by treachery and violence and Tanner depicts that time and place accurately and directly. The reader is not spared the brutality of this world and sees and experiences it through the eyes of Catrin, who has to face this reality as she comes to understand her destiny.
However, the heaviness of the physical violence and betrayal of the story does not weigh down the telling of the story. Tanner creates an almost fluid narrative, where change is the only thing that is constant. The boundaries between people and nature (especially animals), between people and other people, even between life and death are fluid, permeable. Characters maintain a presence in the story even after their bodies are dismembered. And one's actions have meaning and live on beyond the body's departure from life.
Noteworthy for the fluidity of the storytelling and thorough historical research, Dagger's Destiny receives 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Dagger's Destiny
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Combining historical fiction with magical realism, Linnea Tanner continues to unfold the epic story of Princess Catrin and her family in Dagger's Destiny, Book Two in The Curse of the Clansmen and Kings series. Embroiled within the Celtic politics complicated by the presence of the Romans in first-century Southeast Britannia, Catrin also has to come to terms with her recently discovered "powers" inherited from the ancient Druids. Powers that she hastily utilized to save the life of Marcellus, her husband (who she recently married in secret) and the son of the Roman authority in the region.
Catrin's act of heroism for Marcellus reveals their involvement and this involvement constitutes treason in the eyes of Amren, king of the Cantiaci clan and her father. It also seemingly alters the dagger-inscribed curse that controls Amren's course of action and the fate of their homeland and people. Catrin finds herself a pawn in the political maelstrom raging among the powers that be while being forced to choose between loyalty and honor for family and country and her love for and commitment to Marcellus.
In contradiction to Catrin's altruistic motives, her wolf-shapeshifting half-brother Marrock is motivated by vengeance, greed, bloodlust and lust for power. Marrock is the son of Amren and Rahn, the King's first wife who he beheaded for treason. Rahn's soul escaped death though by occupying the king's spiritual advisor and continues to exert her influence over Marrock. And Marrock will undertake whatever treachery and violence is necessary to usurp power.
First century Britannia was shaped by treachery and violence and Tanner depicts that time and place accurately and directly. The reader is not spared the brutality of this world and sees and experiences it through the eyes of Catrin, who has to face this reality as she comes to understand her destiny.
However, the heaviness of the physical violence and betrayal of the story does not weigh down the telling of the story. Tanner creates an almost fluid narrative, where change is the only thing that is constant. The boundaries between people and nature (especially animals), between people and other people, even between life and death are fluid, permeable. Characters maintain a presence in the story even after their bodies are dismembered. And one's actions have meaning and live on beyond the body's departure from life.
Noteworthy for the fluidity of the storytelling and thorough historical research, Dagger's Destiny receives 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Dagger's Destiny
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Dagger's Destiny by Linnea Tanner
