Review: Ms. Layne is a Gifted Storyteller
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 30, 2014
I'd like to begin by saying that Ms. Layne's storytelling abilities made such an impression, creating such a vivid, rich, and detailed story with Éire's Captive Moon, that although it's been a year since I read it, I was immediately immersed in the story and this world.In Éire's Captive Moon, the first book of the trilogy, we are introduced to three different cultures that would eventually combine in Ireland as the Vikings (and others) began settling there. Éire's Viking gives us the story of Agnarr as he leaves his home to begin a new life in Éire.Éire's Viking sees Agnarr give up his warring ways in favor of fulfilling his dream of finding a wife and having sons. We see him struggle as he learns a new language, works at winning a wife from this land he now calls home, and desires to hold onto the religion of his homeland even as he questions the power of his gods in this new land. His beliefs are shaken as he witnesses Aislinn, who he'd like to call wife, live her life as her One True God would wish - even forgiving the Northmen of their trespasses.Although Éire's Viking is not as action-packed as Éire's Captive Moon - no sea voyages or the battle scenes of the Vikings' plunders - it is every bit as exciting and enjoyable. There is still the ever-present threat of invasion, not only from the Northman, but also the Danes. There is illness. And there is the concern over damage from the sharp tongues of Charis and Aislinn. :) The feel is different in this story. It's almost as though the first book was Agnarr as a brash youth, and this second part of his story shows his softer side.I'll admit I was 'Team Agnarr' in Éire's Captive Moon. It's not that I don't love Cowan - I do - but I really admire the Viking. I believed Agnarr's fate was Charis. However, after meeting Aislinn, I championed her. I do believe in things working out as they're meant to (even in fiction ;) and although Agnarr's fate did lie in Éire, it wasn't as he had imagined. Ms. Layne did a phenomenal job describing the inner turmoil Agnarr felt at feeling vulnerable, and giving up some of his culture - some of himself - in order to cultivate his new life.Aislinn was a young daughter of Ragor, the village Agnarr and his men destroyed when they captured Charis. Upon Charis and Cowan's return, they adopted Aislinn as their daughter. Aislinn has been trained as a healer, which is how she and Agnarr come to meet. It seems as though Aislinn's One True God has a few lessons for both she and Agnarr.Aislinn is spirited and strong, as any daughter of Charis' would be. She's talented, beautiful and spiritual. It was a joy to witness her fight against the feelings she'd always harbored against Agnarr for what he'd done to Charis and Ragor, and the feelings that grew as she spent time healing him. It was also a pleasure seeing Aislinn fall in love but also stay true to her beliefs in the face of such intense emotion where Agnarr was concerned.Charis and Cowan are huge presences, of course. I delighted in seeing them again and was greatly satisfied with the life they've built together over the last ten years. The love they share together and with Aislinn is beautiful. And although I was holding out for a union between Charis and Agnarr, I found myself thrilled that Agnarr found his true wyrd. The mystery of Charis' otherworldliness - her agelessness, her ability to touch fire without being burned, among other things - still exists. I'm anxious to see how Ms. Layne resolves this.Again, I feel Ms. Layne did an incredible job of conveying life in the early 800's. She is a gifted storyteller and I appreciate her research and the historical accuracy of her story. Éire's Viking was every bit as captivating as the first installment and I'm eager to see how this story will end.**Complimentary copy provided by author for an honest review.**