rainelle_barrett's review
5.0
Well where should I start. I loved this book. it captivated me. it was romantic. it was sweet. it had a lot of adventure, energy. the book was fast pace. it was a good read.I look forward to reading more books good job.
authorash's review
5.0
BEST BOOK EVER! WHOOOO! I loved loved loved this. Did I mention I loved this?
laine7's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book a lot. The dynamic between the two leads with their relationship history and the royalty/servant situation putting them at odds. The end felt abrupt and unsatisfying. I wish there was another couple chapters to solidify their relationship and clarify the political situation that built up through the whole book.
u311082's review against another edition
4.0
I was in the mood for something romantic,gritty and Nordic/Viking and someone recommended this book to me. I am so glad that I read it. It's the first book in the series and I definitely want to read the rest.
Helena is a Frank captured by the Danes who is sold to a Norse Warrior, Hakan. Hakan is weary of war and just wants to get back to his farm in Svea and live a peaceful life. He needs someone who speaks Frankish and this strangely compelling, scarred and scrappy young woman looks like she won't cause him too much trouble. Boy, was is he WRONG.
When Helena is brought back to Svea as Hakan's thrall (or slave) not even the picturesque, idyllic landscape or Hakan's deference pleases her. She wants to go home - she wants her freedom. But she's smart so she assimilates while plotting to wrangle her freedom from Hakan in any way possible. The more she learns to adapt in her new environment the more she comes to enjoy her life with the Norseman.
The more time Hakan spends with Helena, the less he wants to let her go.
Being a Viking story, there's plenty of war and politics, as well as some conflict with Hakan's ex-wife and his arch-enemy, Gorm. The Plot moves at a medium pace until halfway through when the action really picks up. There's much of the storyline that remains unresolved, leaving room for it to continue in the rest of the series. Although, this may be the last readers see of Hakan and Helena - I am not sure.
Their romance is slow burn - I'd give it a medium heat rating. But I loved the way their mutual respect and admiration builds over time and the ending is satisfying despite there being some loose ends.
I'm in the mood to go and rewatch all of the Vikings series now. This is a 4 1/2 star read from me.
Helena is a Frank captured by the Danes who is sold to a Norse Warrior, Hakan. Hakan is weary of war and just wants to get back to his farm in Svea and live a peaceful life. He needs someone who speaks Frankish and this strangely compelling, scarred and scrappy young woman looks like she won't cause him too much trouble. Boy, was is he WRONG.
When Helena is brought back to Svea as Hakan's thrall (or slave) not even the picturesque, idyllic landscape or Hakan's deference pleases her. She wants to go home - she wants her freedom. But she's smart so she assimilates while plotting to wrangle her freedom from Hakan in any way possible. The more she learns to adapt in her new environment the more she comes to enjoy her life with the Norseman.
The more time Hakan spends with Helena, the less he wants to let her go.
Being a Viking story, there's plenty of war and politics, as well as some conflict with Hakan's ex-wife and his arch-enemy, Gorm. The Plot moves at a medium pace until halfway through when the action really picks up. There's much of the storyline that remains unresolved, leaving room for it to continue in the rest of the series. Although, this may be the last readers see of Hakan and Helena - I am not sure.
Their romance is slow burn - I'd give it a medium heat rating. But I loved the way their mutual respect and admiration builds over time and the ending is satisfying despite there being some loose ends.
I'm in the mood to go and rewatch all of the Vikings series now. This is a 4 1/2 star read from me.
gemmadee's review
4.0
I follow Conkle on Twitter, and know how much research she does. I loved reading the book and noticing where she she used that research and where she made changes for the sake of the story. I'm a sucker for all things Viking and this is a good Viking story. Also, the chapter where [not really a spoiler, of course it's inevitable] the heroine returns home and realizes how provincial her early dreams were was as satisfying a fantasy as the romance itself.
How to relate dialogue in modern English that reflects the combination of old Norse and medieval French the characters would have spoken is tricky. Conkle writes a lot of Regency, and I felt like that colored her approach to the dialogue in a way that sometimes pulled me out of the story. I'm too new to the genre to know how her approach compares to others' but I caught myself asking, "Wait, is he an eleventh century Norse jarl or a Regency Irish peasant?"
How to relate dialogue in modern English that reflects the combination of old Norse and medieval French the characters would have spoken is tricky. Conkle writes a lot of Regency, and I felt like that colored her approach to the dialogue in a way that sometimes pulled me out of the story. I'm too new to the genre to know how her approach compares to others' but I caught myself asking, "Wait, is he an eleventh century Norse jarl or a Regency Irish peasant?"
tweetatweet1's review against another edition
4.0
This could have been so good! I hate slow burn and clean! I wouldn’t have even read it if I had known ahead of time. Why did the story stop right when it was getting to the epic battle. This book kept blacking out all the battles. I doubt I will read book 2. I just can’t with the slow burn
mariepiperbooks's review
4.0
I read NORSE JEWEL (with my book club) thinking it would be a sexy Viking romp - and it is, but it's much more. Exceeding the genre I expected, it's a well-constructed love story with a hefty dose of Viking history and life. Not only do I feel like I read a great Viking romance, I also feel like I learned something! (Runs off to try and make fennel bread.)
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