I do like the story with the falsely-accused of treason Vivena and the stalwart and honorable Stewart. The characters are interesting, but this is definitely a plot-driven novel rather than an emotion driven one. I really like this since in so many romances it seems like it takes forever for something to happen. I've just discoverer the author and really like her stories, although I find the dialogue and inner monologues of the characters to be awkward, the story-line is not. Viveina is a different sort of heroine. She's ridiculously good with all weapons and military tactics. I'm not exagerating when comparing her to Xena Warrior Princess. She kills dozens of soldiers and saves her lover without a scratch on her. The author is also definitely not afraid to let lots of secondary characters die while leaving the main characters alive. At first it was a little mary-sue-ish since Viveina was good at everything, but as the story went on, I kinds liked having an absurd super-heroine as the main character. If you put it together, this 18/19 year old is an expert at everything from healing to weapons to sewing and cooking and convincing others to go along with her plans. It sort of makes me want to go back and read a romance with a clutzy heroine who's bad at everything to balance out the uber-everything Vivena. One thing I like about this author is that the misunderstandings that are such an annoying part of romance loves for me are in the story, but didn't seem to truly keep the main characters apart.
One thing I thought was weird was that Stewart goes into battle and Viveina waits for him with no idea where he is and eventually finds him with another woman and his only explanation is that she did the same thing to him earlier in the book (disappearing for 3 months for a greater cause) but that seems an odd explanation. Maybe the author couldn't think of a good reason for him not to get word to his wife who just gave birth to 2 children when he was called away to the battle. That was irritating for me. Why have this be a part of the story if she wasn't going to explain it. Also, while I do like Viveina, she is definitely an unusual heroine for a romance novel, for one thing, she doesn't really seem to care about her kids. Don't get me wrong, they are taken care of, but she goes into battle to save her husband while pregnant and her thoughts are that they can always have more children. She also keeps the children with her instead of sending them to safety in England even knowing how dangerous it is. The author even has a scene where all the women and children camp followers are killed thus showing how dangerous it is. This bothered me. Yes, she had a greater mission, but she should have sent the children to safety as soon as they were big enough to travel while she stayed in Portugal and looked for her husband. I have read the second book in the series too and her characterization is consistent except that in this case she sacrifices her unborn child for a family friend and the child dies rather than her simply putting it in danger like before.
I'm not complaining about this. It is great of the author to let her romance heroine not be particularly maternal. Not all women love their children to the point of self-sacrifice like most romance heroines do and its refreshing to read about a heroine who doesn't seem to pay any attention to the children at all. You know, the more I think about it, the more it does bother me that she killed her child to save another, yeah this is so NOT getting re-read.
The books makes for an exhausting read. So much happens in it. Viveina and the setting are the most unique things about this story. Not many romance take place on the continent during the Napoleonic War or feature a excessively competent warrior heroine.
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