Review: Golden story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 17, 2014
WOW! Incredible story. This one is worth the time and effort. It is not light and fluffy. It is not rainbows and butterflies. It has some very dark elements; rape, murder, execution, betrayal. It felt as if I were seeing the inside of life in an ancient warrior race. Think Viking, Mongol, Spartan or Mayan. You would see brutality. I wouldn't want the author to rewrite this to eliminate that. This is their world, their culture. So if those things are too much for you don't read this one. But, if you are willing to set aside our cultural bias as to what is right and wrong, just look and see if you aren't blown away by an amazing book.Lahn is King to a very brutal nation. He has been trained for it from birth. He is not Prince Charming! He is a warrior King. He is never told "no", he is never denied what he wants, he is brutal and course, until he finds his spit fire queen.Cercie is a modern day woman from Seattle, with NO idea where she woke up or how she got there. She is chosen and claimed by the King in a most hideous manner. There is no escape, there is no going home. She must come to terms with her life as it is now. She grasps onto the knowledge that the past is what was and the future is what you make of it.I loved seeing the changes in both the H/h. She softens him. He sees her as worth fighting for. They are both stubborn, passionate and determined to be good rulers of their people. Once they open themselves up to love the other, it is deep and strong. Their love is tested and they fail. Cercie is wounded deeply but Lahn will not give up on wooing back his Tigress. And again it is tested and again they fail. Cercie is so hurt, so damaged and so stubborn in her refusal to allow him back into her heart that it makes his soul bleed. Neither are "right" both are flawed, both make huge mistakes; but, both love one another with an uncommon depth. The ending is wonderfully done and satisfying.Bravo Ms. Ashley! I'm looking forward to more of your writing talents.Adult read