If you're reading romance novels, one has to adknowledge you're not reading epic literature.

I loved the whole Viking trilogy.
Catherine Coulter writes engaging characters with fleshed out supporting cast, and I always feel like they're a step above the rest.

The romance between Cleve and Chessa is sweet, and it feels like it develops genuinely. It's not the throwing chairs at each other they cant stand each other, and somehow they end up in bed together and married sort of romance. Cleve struggles with his betrayal by Sarla and with his duty of transporting Chessa to her betrothed. His inner struggle feels genuine, because it's not overdone. He doesnt accuse Chessa of being a liar because she is a woman, he just holds himself adistance, struggling to seperate what he sees from what he wants to turn it into. Chessa only sees him as the honest, upright sort, and most importantly, beautiful. She's intelligent and the most important part of understanding Cleve and Chessa's romance is delving into everything that isnt said. The characters from the previous two viking novels are still fleshed out and Laren still tells her stories.

This is my favorite of the Viking trilogy. Catherine Coulter shouldnt be the first author that you turn to if you're just looking for bawdry sex scenes or romance that borders on escapism. Her characters have depth and substance, and there's always a bit of a mystery to keep you guessing.

Next to The Nightingale Legacy, this is up there on my list of favorites.

This is definitely the worst of the Viking Trilogy! Coulter is one of the more prolific writers and also one of the most inconsistent. The best of the series was the first (Hawkfell), followed by the second (Raven's Peak). Ms Coulter should have stopped there.

While Chessa was a spunky, likeable heroine, I have no clue what made her so mad so quickly about Cleve. I found him dull, dull, dull! His daughter was quite cute, but for the life of me, I couldn't see what Chessa saw in him.

And the whole Loch Ness monster thing and the magic stick Cleve's father had - well it was just plain silly.

I'm the sort who will read and re-read over and over books that I like. This will not be one of them.

Bravo Ms.Coulter. I must admit that at first I didn't want to read this book because of low ratings other readers had given and besides low ratings-----I didn't seem to accept a scarred hero) I gave it a try though and I found that I was a fool to dislike disfigured heros) This book is much better than I thought. The hero is Cleve of Malverne from 'Lord of Raven Peak' (2nd book in trilogy) he is now friend of Lord Merrik and a Viking warrior. The heroine is Princess Chessa (she is Eze, daughter of the wizard Hormuze from 'Lord of Hawkfell Island') Cleve has a scar on a side of his face but it does not reduce the beauty of his face in Chessa's eyes. Their adventure is exciting. The secondary characters do their job well. I highly recommend all the books in Viking Trilogy. They are all entertaining read.