Beyond a Darkened Shore
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Description
The people of Mide have always been safe because of Ciara’s unearthly ability to control her enemies’ minds and actions. But lately a mysterious crow has been appearing to Ciara, whispering warnings of an even darker threat. Although her clansmen dismiss her visions as pagan nonsense, Ciara fears this coming evil will destroy not just Éirinn but the entire world.
Then the crow leads Ciara to Leif, a young Northman leader. Leif should be Ciara’s enemy, but when Ciara discovers that he, too, shares her prophetic visions, she knows he’s something more. Leif is mounting an impressive army, and with Ciara’s strength in battle, the two might have a chance to save their world.
With evil rising around them, they’ll do what it takes to defend the land they love...even if it means making the greatest sacrifice of all.
Book Information
Posts
After I got this book in my first ever fairyloot, I was super excited to get into it. I just saw a warrior princess and Celtic and Norse Mythology and got so hyped. But boy oh boy was I in for a ride I didn't see coming. Okay, when I started the books, I still felt like it was good. I think I got through the first 100 pages thinking it will be nice. I was a bit irritated that the story hadn't started to pick up until then, but well it's a standalone and the setting had to be properly introduced so I forgave that. At first the only mythological part seemed to be Ciara's powers, but then she left with Leif (btw a male lead that plays into all the tropes I hate) and suddenly over 40 pages I was assaulted by three different mythological occurrences. It just felt very all over the place and everything seemed to work out so fast and perfectly in the end, no matter how horrible it looked. That is a theme that goes through the whole book. They get into situations they can't possible go out and SOMETHING saves them. Every time. So let's get to Leif. He's arrogant and cocky and thinks he's a gift to all women. It was annoying. But he wasn't just annoying, he also said lovely things like "I don't ask, I take." which Ciara remembered as they were about to kiss. She actually remembered it in a fond manner, it was very off-putting. For some reason there was also need for a scene, where Leif tells Ciara not to go to the dining hall cause his men just won't know what to do other than rape her. She actually goes, a man does threaten her with rape (he actually says it, I almost screamed) and then Leif swoops in and saves her. Of course. And I know people love to pretend rape needs to be mentioned, because if historical accuracy but no. Just don't do it. Especially not, if you don't care about history otherwise. Like Ciara thinking about how it's so bad that he hasn't taken a bath in a week doesn't seem historically accurate to me. As do Leif's white teeth, that are described SEVERAL TIMES. Also she didn't wanna sleep with Leif without having bathed and I really don't think people would have worried about that back then. Just saying, if you want your historical accuracy, don't stop at rape. So anyway, those are all the reasons this book annoyed me. I also didn't like the ending. At all. I'm not saying what bothered me, don't wanna spoil, but well it was very obvious that everything would go that way and it just felt so easy. I still gave the book two stars, cause it showed promise and the mythology did get my excited in the beginning. It wasn't a complete lost cause. It was just 100% not for me.
Description
The people of Mide have always been safe because of Ciara’s unearthly ability to control her enemies’ minds and actions. But lately a mysterious crow has been appearing to Ciara, whispering warnings of an even darker threat. Although her clansmen dismiss her visions as pagan nonsense, Ciara fears this coming evil will destroy not just Éirinn but the entire world.
Then the crow leads Ciara to Leif, a young Northman leader. Leif should be Ciara’s enemy, but when Ciara discovers that he, too, shares her prophetic visions, she knows he’s something more. Leif is mounting an impressive army, and with Ciara’s strength in battle, the two might have a chance to save their world.
With evil rising around them, they’ll do what it takes to defend the land they love...even if it means making the greatest sacrifice of all.
Book Information
Posts
After I got this book in my first ever fairyloot, I was super excited to get into it. I just saw a warrior princess and Celtic and Norse Mythology and got so hyped. But boy oh boy was I in for a ride I didn't see coming. Okay, when I started the books, I still felt like it was good. I think I got through the first 100 pages thinking it will be nice. I was a bit irritated that the story hadn't started to pick up until then, but well it's a standalone and the setting had to be properly introduced so I forgave that. At first the only mythological part seemed to be Ciara's powers, but then she left with Leif (btw a male lead that plays into all the tropes I hate) and suddenly over 40 pages I was assaulted by three different mythological occurrences. It just felt very all over the place and everything seemed to work out so fast and perfectly in the end, no matter how horrible it looked. That is a theme that goes through the whole book. They get into situations they can't possible go out and SOMETHING saves them. Every time. So let's get to Leif. He's arrogant and cocky and thinks he's a gift to all women. It was annoying. But he wasn't just annoying, he also said lovely things like "I don't ask, I take." which Ciara remembered as they were about to kiss. She actually remembered it in a fond manner, it was very off-putting. For some reason there was also need for a scene, where Leif tells Ciara not to go to the dining hall cause his men just won't know what to do other than rape her. She actually goes, a man does threaten her with rape (he actually says it, I almost screamed) and then Leif swoops in and saves her. Of course. And I know people love to pretend rape needs to be mentioned, because if historical accuracy but no. Just don't do it. Especially not, if you don't care about history otherwise. Like Ciara thinking about how it's so bad that he hasn't taken a bath in a week doesn't seem historically accurate to me. As do Leif's white teeth, that are described SEVERAL TIMES. Also she didn't wanna sleep with Leif without having bathed and I really don't think people would have worried about that back then. Just saying, if you want your historical accuracy, don't stop at rape. So anyway, those are all the reasons this book annoyed me. I also didn't like the ending. At all. I'm not saying what bothered me, don't wanna spoil, but well it was very obvious that everything would go that way and it just felt so easy. I still gave the book two stars, cause it showed promise and the mythology did get my excited in the beginning. It wasn't a complete lost cause. It was just 100% not for me.