Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: The Sea King
Author: Jolie Mathis
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 0-425-21065-0
Release Date: June 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Romance
Year/Setting: The Age of Vikings/Saxon
Overall Rating: 4.8
Sexual Content Rating: Sexual
Language (profanity) Rating: Mild (words for that time period – not graphic)
Voilent Content Rating: Mild (mainly the fights and skirmishes)
Jolie's Website:
www.joliemathis.com
Princess Isabel is betrothed so her days of youthful wandering are coming to an end. Soon she would be given to Aiken but her lot could be much worse. She has feelings for Aiken and he is rather comely. Since she has to marry, this is a good match. However, the only male who truly seems to understand her is the handsome Merwyn – the proud beast she now rides (horse just in case you didn’t get that reference). As she attempts one more jump before heading back for the day, lightning flashes and causes Merwyn’s steps to falter and for Isabel to fall.
Darkness surrounds her and she feels death overtake her especially as the face of an angel comes over her own. Later that same day, however, she awakes to find herself in her own bed. Awakening a second time being in her own bed is now a reality. But it doesn’t seem real that her angel rescuer is being held in the dungeon and punished for assaulting her. Isabel is confused by why they won’t listen to her as she tries to tell them he didn’t hurt her.
She knows the kind of punishment her brother, Ranulf, can dish out – especially the lashes. Late at night, she ventures from her room (still shaky) to rescue her angel from the chambers below and let him go. Kol Thorleksson, the Viking, is amazed by her help and touched by her compassion and gentleness with his wounds. She has a face he will never forget.
Isabel will never forget Kol either as she was left with a child to remember him by. This is a scandalous event for this community but since her brother the king continues to be her protector they must accept her. This means, however, they rarely leave the castle. Until, Kol returns to take his vengeance upon a man who wrongly accused him and tortured him. Kol also insists the child is not his. This is where a bit of intrigue slips into this historical romance.
Jolie Mathis is quite clever with the prose and the language used in the time period of this book. Several times I had to slow down and really think about the passage and immerse myself in the story – not a bad thing by any stretch. With this use of language she expertly lays the scenes out before the reader for the reader to jump in and drink deeply of the story. Now you could choose to skip over some of the lengthier conversations but I wouldn’t recommend because you would miss some real pearls.
The Sea King brings to life a warrior who allows his dream to become reality and that reality to warm the cold heart that life has frozen over for him. There is a lot of testosterone in Kol and his compatriots – that much is very true. However, as he spends more time with Isabel, you begin to see the little boy side of the man who became Kol.
Isabel has spent a life time not really using the strength she has been given – mainly because she never had to. However, during the midst of these skirmishes she shows remarkable strength and courage – with more than a bit of wisdom and caring thrown in.
Lori
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