I received a free copy of Avelynn from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for my honest review.
About the Book:
Publication Date: September 8, 2015
St. Martin’s Press
Formats: eBook, Paperback, Hardcover
Pages: 320
ISBN13: 978-1250063939
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance
One extraordinary Saxon noblewoman and one fearless Viking warrior find passion and danger in this dazzling and sensuous debut.
Marissa Campbell’s debut novel is a winning combination of romance, history, and adventure sure to appeal to fans of Diana Gabaldon.
It is 869. For eighteen years, Avelynn, the beautiful and secretly pagan daughter of the Eadlorman of Somerset has lived in an environment of love and acceptance. She hasn’t yet found a man to make her heart race, but her father has not pressured her to get married. Until now. With whispers of war threatening their land, her father forces Avelynn into a betrothal with Demas, a man who only covets her wealth and status. The dreaded marriage looming, she turns to her faith, searching for answers in an ancient ritual along the coast, only to find Alrik the Blood-Axe and sixty Viking berserkers have landed.
Alrik is unlike any man she has ever known, strong and intriguing. Likewise, he instantly falls for her beauty and courage. The two stumble into a passionate love affair, but it’s more than just a greedy suitor who will try to keep them apart.
As the Saxons and Vikings go to war, Avelynn and Alrik find themselves caught in the throes of fate. Can they be true to their people as well as to each other?
About the Author:
Marissa Campbell is a published freelance author, and co-author of the award-winning, spiritual self-help book Life: Living in Fulfillment Every Day.
Look for her debut historical fiction Avelynn coming September 8th, 2015, from St. Martin’s Press. Currently, hard at work on the second book in the Avelynn series, she is a proud member of the Historical Novel Society, Romance Writers of America, Writer’s Community of Durham Region, and local critique group B7.
When she is not writing, she is busy looking after her wonderful children, spending time with her fantastic husband, hanging out with her awesome friends, teaching yoga, dancing, laughing, and having fun!
For more information visit http://marissacampbell.com. You can also follow Marissa Campbell on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
My Opinion:
I tend to enjoy fiction that takes place in more ancient times. That is why I was drawn to this book. Avelynn is a young Saxon woman who was reared by her father to be almost equal to him in the ruling of his earldom – for lack of a better word. He has had her educated and given her a pretty free reign. She is outwardly Christian but truly a Pagan. The only thing he will not afford her freedom in is marriage – she has reached an age and he is determined she will wed the man she has chosen even though Avelynn despises him.
Times are not easy in England at this time as the Vikings are invading and the King is not being effective in repelling them. Despite what she knows Avelynn finds herself falling in love with just what she is supposed to despise the most – a Viking. This tears her apart and she doesn’t know what to do.
I will admit that I am a bit torn about this book. In many ways it read more like a young adult book. But it is not – the sex scenes alone take it out of that realm. The battle scenes too. There is a definite dichotomy in the writing and character. Avelynn does not seem to learn. This is all well and good for driving plot but not very good for character development. I found the overall story interesting and it seems that from how it ended that there will be a sequel.
Rating:
3.5
You can read my review of Avelynn: The Edge of Faith
You can purchase Avelynn: The Edge of Faith
