On the eve of her betrothal to a nobleman she’s never met, Rhiannon seeks comfort on the shores of the sea she loves so well. But instead of offering peace to her uneasy heart, the ocean heralds doom with the arrival of dreaded Viking ships. A vicious raid leads to the death of her beloved father and leaves Rhiannon’s life in tatters. Heartbroken, she travels to Ynys Môn, where she takes up residence at the royal court of Owain Gwynedd.
Leif loves voyaging on the open water. As the son of a Viking chief, he’s accustomed to his people’s practice of plundering and looting. But when one of his companions ruthlessly kills an old man in front of the man’s beautiful daughter, Leif is haunted by the memory. Desperate to find forgiveness for the atrocity he allowed to occur, he’s offered a chance at redemption through the kindly teachings of an Irish priest and the unexpected arrival of a royal fugitive. Suddenly thrust into the midst of the Cymry’s political turmoil, Leif is reunited with the dead man’s daughter—Rhiannon. Forced to work side by side to uncover the truth behind the turmoil, they come to discover that love can grow from even the most tragic of beginnings. But with such incompatible backgrounds, surely a future together can never be theirs.
REVIEW
Historical fiction is an amazing genre, you never know what wonderful time periods and discoveries will be made. Sian Ann Bessey doesn't miss with this Viking story set in Wales and Ireland.
They are from two different worlds, but Rhiannon and Leif are thrown in each other's paths time and time again. Their families are enemies. Leif's fellow Vikings killed her father, but Leif finds himself having compassion for Rhiannon. He uses this compassion and finds himself studying her God and Christianity.
Rhiannon loves the sea, she feels its pull. She finds herself under the protection of the king's household when her father is killed and her betrothal postponed. What she and Leif discover is a mystery that could change their lives forever,
Their chemistry is undeniable, his faith journey is beautiful, and the development of the relationship was something that was natural and everything it could and should be. I couldn't put this one down and I am sure it robbed me of some sleep that night.
I received an early copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest review