A review by booksuperpower
The Red Wolf's Prize by Regan Walker

5.0

The Red Wolf's Prize by Regan Walker is a 2014 publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Has anyone else been wondering what happened to Medieval romance? Are we destined to read of Earls and Dukes forever? Will there never again be a historical romance with depth, true authenticity, emotion, and the guts to portray life in the times that were fraught with war and danger? I for one was past ready to read a historical romance with some meat on its bones. If you have been missing these types of romances too, then your wait is over. This book was just what I have been waiting for.

Sir Renaud, aka The Red Wolf, is a Norman Knight rumored to be in King William's favor. Renaud was given the lands of the English Talisand by the king as a reward. The lands were once owned by an Engish Thegn who was slain in battle. He left behind a castle and beautiful daughter named Serena. Serena was promised to Renaud along with the lands and castle.
Before he arrives to claim his stake and his bride, Serena vows she will never wed a Norman. To avoid this fate she will take desperate measures.
When Renaud arrives in Talisand and discovers his intended has fled, he finds a servant girl that captures his interest. He pursues her relentlessly only to be spurned over and over. But, soon Renaud begins to suspect something is going on with the servant girl who is deadly accurate with a bow and knife and can sing like an angel. Then the truth hits him right between the eyes. Now the warrior is more determined than ever to claim his bride- not just her body but her heart as well.

This book has everything you could hope for in a historical romance. It was like a soothing balm to once more read a Medieval tale that took me away to a time long ago where everything around me just fell to the wayside and I was completely absorbed with ladies of honor, pride, boldness and tenacity. Warriors with valor and loyalty who inspired others in their wake. The brutality of war and the emotional tug of war Serena fought within herself as she suffered the loss of her lands and watched helplessly as William tore through English lands burning and pillaging everything in sight. Her heart ached with the loss and fear for her brother , leaving her to feel disloyal to to her people, her brother, and her father's memory as she slowly falls in love with her Norman husband.
This book is so well researched and I am so happy to see an author learn her subject and the era in which she chooses to write. The language was authentic, the actions true to the times, no modern slang or terms, which I absolutely loath, and was as accurately depicted as our modern world will allow.
My eyes stung with tears as I struggled along with Serena and her fight to find a common ground with her warrior husband. How difficult this must have been for her. Renaud was realistically depicted as he made no excuses or apologies for the war to his bride, but was sensitive to her feelings nonetheless. While this was not a likely love match, the two find that despite all the differences between them, each respected the other and the love they shared was the the most powerful weapon of all.
Beautifully written, perfectly paced, action packed, with a passionate and epic love affair...what more could you ask for? 5 stars