Review: Master of Surrender by Karin Tabke

The Blood Sword Legacy

Bound by a brotherhood forged in the hell of a Saracen prison, eight Blood Swords — mercenary knights for William the Conqueror — set out to claim their legacies the only way they can: by right of arms, by right of victory, by right of conquest.

For Sir Rohan du Luc, known as the Black Sword, enemies fall easily beneath his assault…until he comes face-to-face with a foe more worthy than any battle-hardened knight. Bold and courageous though she is, Saxon maiden Isabel of Alethorpe cannot stop Rohan de Luc from seizing Alethorpe and its people in the name of William the Conqueror.

Then Rohan demands not just the manor, but Isabel herself. She vows that her heart will remain her own, even if she is forced to allow him to lay claim to her body. But while the lady’s lips say no, Isabel’s traitorous body is awakened to desire by the seductive attentions of this potent invader. Can she remain true to her Saxon heritage and her hopes that her brother may have survived the battlefield, or will Sir Rohan’s skilled touch capture her unwilling heart as surely as his prowess with his sword captured her father’s lands?

I was surprised at how much I liked this book. I generally have a hard time finding a medieval that I like. There’s a fine line between informing the reader of basic history for the sake of the story and trying to educate the reader. The balance here was good and I thought that Tabke did a credible job of writing this time period.

Isabel of Alethorpe will do anything to save her people from dying at the hands of Rohan de Luc and his Blood Swords knights, even if it means sacraficing herself. Though she’s long awaited the return of both her father and her brother, Isabel’s hope that they’ll return lessens with each day that passes. Isabel knows that she can’t depend on the return of her father to save herself or the people of Alethrope. To that end, Isabel offers herself up to Rohan, not yet realizing that he already intended to take her.

Rohan de Luc and the Blood Sword knights forged a bond years before that nothing and no one could break. When he seizes Alethrope on the behalf of William the Conqueror, Rohan has every intention of seizing Isabel herself. Though Rohan has been with his fair share of women, it’s Isabel that stirs something other than his body. When she faces him alone while her people hide, Rohan feels respect for the Saxon girl, even as she looks at him in disgust.

As the days pass, Isabel is forced to admit to herself that Rohan and his knights are far from the devils she originally thought they were. Though Rohan started to slowly win the respect of Alethrope’s villagers, that changes when nearby villages are destroyed, the villagers brutally murdered. Isabel tries to tell him that the rebels are Normans, but Rohan has his doubts.

Isabel was a headstrong and independent heroine. She is a woman who is determined to do her duty to her father, even if it means giving up the man she has come to love. Knowing that Rohan will never offer her anything other than a place as his mistress, Isabel tries to harden her heart to Rohan. What she doesn’t realize is that Rohan is just as determined to keep Isabel. Rohan’s bafflement over his feelings for Isabel was extremely amusing.

I really thought there was a good balance of intrigue and romance. I definitely look forward to reading the next Blood Sword Legacy book.

4.5 out of 5.

This book is available from Pocket Books. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

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