A Warrior's Fate (Wolves of Morai)

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Permalink: But do not think I offer nothing in return; I tell stories. Stories about my own travels.... The overall storyline of the show is a cleverly condensed dramatisation of events that actually took place in the period between circa 800 and 880 and led to the birth of the first English kingdom. The fictional Ragnar Lodbrog (Lothbrook) character as well as Ladgerda (Lagertha), Aslaug (aka. Kraka) are described by the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus who lived in the 1200s. Most likely, Saxo deliberately used the actual viking king Godfred as his inspiration. Beliefs which are alien to us tend to be seen with a clarity which is not applied to our own. At the end of the episode, there’s a bold spectacle in which Lagertha and the other farming Vikings perform a blood sacrifice using a bull. The sheer amount of that blood is highlighted against the white gown the Viking Jarl wears, as well as in juxtaposition to her pale skin. As television viewers, we are not as disturbed by the images as the Saxon nobles who look on. They insist to the king that “unless they renounce their false gods and heathen ways, we should no allow them to stay any longer.” But our reaction is more muted: after all, we are separated by over a millennium from the reality this is supposed to represent and thus can safely see such a gory sacrifice as quaint and uncivilized, knowing that we have come far since those days. But do not think I offer nothing in return; I tell stories. Stories about my own travels. Stories about the Gods or both. As they say, I sing for my supper. Harbard Athelstan was putting the moves on Judith, wasn't he? I can't imagine him kneeling in front of her in nothing but a towel helped matters much. Is it wrong I want to see those two give in to their desires? I know, I know... but she's married and he's an ex-Monk. Whatever, you only live once and when you find that kind of connection, I say go for it.

I don’t want to write about the plot, because I feel like I couldn’t do the storyline justice and I’d make it sound lame. This is not about you Floki. It's about our children and their children. It is about our people's future. And I do not want there to be endless conflict between us and the Christians. Ragnar I loved the way mental health struggles around trauma were presented. It was so visceral and deep. Chaotic and yet, so easy to follow. It felt like my own brain quite frankly. The goddess, Fate, must enjoy playing with the mortals. For why else would she choose the most important night of Isla’s life to place her soulmate on her path? On the night she’s to enter the Hunt, a perilous trial to earn her title of warrior, Isla meets her fated mate. Handsome, arrogant, and frustratingly captivating, Kai is everything she could want, but nowhere near what she needs right now. Because he is the king of the enigmatic Deimos…which makes Isla their rightful queen. Book Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Shapeshifters, Werewolves, Witches

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Personally, I enjoyed the mystery/plot more than the romantic push and pull in this case, but I feel a little cheated with the way everything ended. I know there’s a second book in the making, but c’mon. We got the big bombs and then they just got brushed aside in the last few chapters. Through the book I hoped to at least see Isla become the actual Luna and not just.. “oh it’s all mine now, I guess”.. The whole end arc was a little anticlimactic for me.

The only reason it wasn’t 5 stars for me is how the mate bond shaped Isla and Kai through the story. I think it was a lot of build up for nothing in the first part and I remember thinking, that could have been cut completely and it wouldn’t hurt. But that’s just me. The world Melissa built in my mind was etherial, the writing was cohesive and didn’t distract from the story. The elements of mystery, the suspense and romance made for a well balanced plot. I really enjoyed how she left us Easter eggs throughout, piecing them together added to the mystery. She wrote unique, three-dimensional characters with depth, personality, and clear motivations. The side characters were the perfect dash of humour and lightness - Seb & Jonah I am looking at you. Overall the plot was all consuming, the characters and their dynamics well rounded and the romance was scorchingly swoon worthy. bookshop after hours 🍷and shenanigans (yes this is niche but it gets its own dot point because I WANT THIS 😂. Applications for real life bookshop meet up friendship group open!)

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Speaking of, while George Blagden’s sly watchfulness as Athelstan remains a fascinating portrait, his ongoing storyline being pursued by Jennie Jacques’ Princess Judith isn’t promising. Although his position as spiritual representative of both worlds marks him out for bigger things this season. The FMC was so badass. Fully grumpy but deep down stressed and anxious and trying to be strong and unbothered. When she said “down boy” I SCREAMED. She’s one of my all time favorites. This is more than a fantasy romance because the relationships between all the characters are so nuanced. There is more than romantic love here. There is the love between siblings, the relationships between best friends, parents, coworkers. Relationships and bonds being strained because of circumstances, but still holding true. I loved the love story between Kai and Isla and the world building was easy to understand. When it comes to the mystery aspect of this book and the events that contribute to the underlying mystery, I was often confused about what was going on and felt like the plot was murky and not developed well. Once I got to the end of the book, things became clearer but I still feel like that aspect of the book wasn’t as well developed as the rest of the story. I don’t normally read mysteries so that could be why it didn’t hit for me.

I also adore the family and found family dynamics in A Warrior's Fate. Isla and Sebastian actually feel like siblings. I love their dynamic so much! The third member of the trio is their best friend Adrian, who happens to be heir to the Io throne. This trio is just great! There's also some more found family that appears throughout the book, and I just love how supportive they are. I felt that really detracted from the book and wasn’t consistent with the obstinate, witty and mischievous characters we had been reading about. Definitely could’ve used more relationship development and maybe even a misunderstanding/ separation or two -– which perfect opportunity here because warring nations 😔 but alas it wasn’t to be Having monsters and the dog as POV characters works sometimes to enhance the complexity of a character. On the other hand I find it increasingly frustrating when the same event is told several times over from different POVs. Is that strictly necessary? We already got the whole event once, there is no need to waste time with another retelling. It doesn't add to the experience. The characters are not exactly deep thinkers and the events being described are just simplistic action sequences.It is an through and carefully-written book - everything comes together and there are no unexplained or irrelevant plotholes- which makes reading it efffortless. I can’t stop recommending this book to anyone who loves adult fantasy romance—it’s everything I want in this genre! I really love how A Warrior's Fate twisted some tropes and added some new surprises. I also like how Isla and Kai decide to ignore their bond, which is something I haven't seen before. These two just mutually decide that they have too much going on to worry with accepting or rejecting a fated mate bond, which is honestly a whole mood. And the slow-burn between these two is fantastic!

This book was an amazing work of fantasy and I enjoyed it immensely. I always find myself at a loss for words when I finish a truly impressive book, I just don’t have the words to do it justice.What was wrong with Aslaug offering the stranger dinner, shelter and letting him know all the men were gone? Woman are you insane? Siggy's face was priceless. This author is absolutely talented and I can't believe that this is her first book ! The plot has unexpected turns and has you constantly on your toes ... the story itself flows so easily and the amazing thing is that it seems to have its own category ! I've read a lot of werewolf books - it's nothing like the classic "bad boy alpha and poor damsel in distress". Ragnar’s response to Bjorn upon learning that Porunn came raiding while pregnant is worth examining further, but his fury at his son strikes deep at the contradictory heart of the king. There’s a level of paternalism there, sure, but it also speaks both to Ragnar’s lesson on power and sacrifice to Bjorn in the season’s first scene, and his speech to Floki tonight: