Of clans, betrayals and revenge!
Highland Gladiator (Scots and Swords #1) by Kathryn Le Veque
Sometimes I find medieval highland novels bleak. Given what's happening in Lor Careston's life, times are definitely bleak. The ray of sunshine is the feisty young girl child he'd met years before in 1476 when taking a short cut through the Vale of Morning dubbed by the locals as the Vale of Demons. Unknown to Lor, that child was Isabail Keith, the daughter of the chieftain of Auchnacree. As the years move forward to 1484 they renew their acquaintance, and the attraction between them blooms in secret.
When Lor returns from a neighboring town he discovers his village destroyed and his beloved grandfather dead, supposedly at the hands of Clan Keith. Lor's mind cannot get beyond his anguish and need for vengeance. He looks for help from Drostan Lindsay who suggests he seek warrior training at a gladiator school Lor had heard about years before.
The idea of a gladiator school in the highlands is an interesting hook for the series background. The school was established in 1453 by Sir Clegg de Lave. The "Ludus Caledonia quickly becomes the center of battles for entertainment, but also for opportunity—if a warrior wins, a lord may offer him a lucrative, military position."
Meanwhile Niall Keith, accompanied by Isabail and her brothers, journey to the Ludus seeking a warrior who can train their men and lead them to stave off the harassment of their people and the erosion of their lands at the hands of Clan Lindsay.
Lor sees a chance for his personal vendetta against Clan Keith to come to fruition, but what of his feelings for the fiery, independent Isabail?
Now I really appreciated the character of Isabail but I found Lor somewhat wooden.
I couldn't help but compare this first in the series of Scots and Swordsmen to Monica McCarty's series Highland Guard series about the training of highland warriors, although here in Scots and Swords we have the Roman gladiator school twist. Despite that interesting premise, for me this just wasn't a sleek enough story rendition to gain my undivided attention.
A Sourcebooks Casablanca ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
** 1/2
When Lor returns from a neighboring town he discovers his village destroyed and his beloved grandfather dead, supposedly at the hands of Clan Keith. Lor's mind cannot get beyond his anguish and need for vengeance. He looks for help from Drostan Lindsay who suggests he seek warrior training at a gladiator school Lor had heard about years before.
The idea of a gladiator school in the highlands is an interesting hook for the series background. The school was established in 1453 by Sir Clegg de Lave. The "Ludus Caledonia quickly becomes the center of battles for entertainment, but also for opportunity—if a warrior wins, a lord may offer him a lucrative, military position."
Meanwhile Niall Keith, accompanied by Isabail and her brothers, journey to the Ludus seeking a warrior who can train their men and lead them to stave off the harassment of their people and the erosion of their lands at the hands of Clan Lindsay.
Lor sees a chance for his personal vendetta against Clan Keith to come to fruition, but what of his feelings for the fiery, independent Isabail?
Now I really appreciated the character of Isabail but I found Lor somewhat wooden.
I couldn't help but compare this first in the series of Scots and Swordsmen to Monica McCarty's series Highland Guard series about the training of highland warriors, although here in Scots and Swords we have the Roman gladiator school twist. Despite that interesting premise, for me this just wasn't a sleek enough story rendition to gain my undivided attention.
A Sourcebooks Casablanca ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
** 1/2
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