by
Reimund Swiđhun has it made. With the king's blessing, he will capture Lady Mildthryth, marry her, and finally have land to call his own.
Lady Mildthryth Rúna has been fighting off would-be 'suitors' for months. She will marry on her terms or not at all. On their world, a noblewoman is expected to marry and accept her subordinate place.
Unfortunately for Reimund, Milthryth's people have other traditions. She refuses give up and be a broodmare for any of the knights and lordlings the king sends after her. And before long, she has Reimund right where she wants him.
For Reimund, the only thing more shameful than being captured by a woman is bending knee to one, but he will do what he must to keep his friends and followers safe. Even if it means spending the rest of his life Bound by His Oath.
Genres:
Tropes: Enemy to Ally, Pseudo European Society
Word Count: 26000
Languages Available: English
Tropes: Enemy to Ally, Pseudo European Society
Word Count: 26000
Languages Available: English
“Lady Mildthryth,” he said, “here is Reimund Swiđhun, son of William the Black.”
The stranger stood as the door opened and met her gaze boldly, bowing slightly as he was named. From the slight waver as he stood, he must be at least as tired as she was.
He was pale, in the Nornish way, even his long hair and beard were pale, the color of straw left to dry in the sun. A cut across his temple had scabbed over, giving him a rakish look. The room was as she had left it. Nothing missing, nothing moved even. Well. Wigmar was right, this one was different.
READ MORE“So, Reimund Swiđhun.” She did not return his bow – she thought she might fall over if she tried. Instead, she swept across the room and took a seat in front of the western windows. She could see him clearly, but her face was in shadow. “I would ask what brings you here, but I suspect I already know.”
He nodded. “For a landless younger son, the Conqueror’s edict against you is the chance of a lifetime, Lady Mildthryth. I regret losing, but I can’t regret trying. And...” his eyes swept over her, then returned to her face. “...the man who wins you should count himself very lucky.” He shook his head. “I haven’t been that neatly trapped since I took my dubbing.”
Mildthryth chose to ignore the flattery.
“And who will pay your ransom?”
“No one, Lady Mildthryth. My Lord Father will disown me when he learns I was captured by a woman and no one else of my family has money for a ransom.
“Whatever you choose to do with me, lady, you will get no more than what I carry on me.”
COLLAPSEGreenling on Smashwords wrote:You're in for a treat with this one if you like low- or no-magic European medieval-style fantasy that gives full respect and agency to women and non-combatant characters, while confronting and subverting the tropes of period romance (starting with the "romance" part)! The story deals with some heavy issues like misogyny, conquest, power relations, and consent, but its underlying humanity and humor keeps it an easy read and I adored the developing relationship between the two main characters.
First off: this is not a book about kink, per se, or even a romance necessarily. This is a story about navigating a relationship under deeply suboptimal circumstances and going from making the best of things to being stronger together. It's an emotional story, and both main characters are lovable people despite starting at odds; the world-building is interesting and gives hints as to the SF/F nature of the world, but the writing is mostly character-focused. It's a fun (assuming no issues with the CWs) and relatively quick read. The only thing that really loses a star for me is that the book feels like it cuts off in the middle of the plot- it doesn't exactly, because it ends after the resolution of the character-centric premise, but there's definitely space for a lot more book here and I don't even know if the author plans a sequel. I'd love a much longer book in this world!
