Eleanor and The Iron King by Julie Daines: A Book Review

Eleanor and The Iron King
Author:  Julie  Daines
Genre: Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: August 1, 2015
Pages: 224
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Eleanor de Lacy has been bartered: her hand in marriage in exchange for a truce with her father's sworn enemy. Now the headstrong beauty must leave her ancestral home and the man she secretly loves to become the wife of the infamous Welsh King Brach Goch. Tales of this cruel leader paint a chilling picture of a ruthless warrior—all Eleanor knows for certain is that he is the villain responsible for the vicious attacks on her people and the death of her beloved brother. Though she must marry against her will, she vows Brach Goch will never possess her heart.
     Her arrival at the inhospitable castle Bryn Du confirms her worst fears—a ghost walks the halls of the castle, and Eleanor receives an ominous warning from the uneasy spirit: Brach is not to be trusted. Though resigned to a life of misery, Eleanor soon realizes all is not as it seems, for Brach is not the monster she dreaded but is a handsome and charming man whose gentle ways soon undermine his bride's resolve to lock her heart. Clinging desperately to her pride, Eleanor finds herself trapped in a web of murder and deceit. And as the lines between good and evil become blurred, Eleanor must decide for herself who is to be trusted—and loved.

      My Review: Eleanor arrives to enter into an arranged marriage to the Welsh king Brach Goch. She has heard terrible stories about him, one that includes him killing her brother.  Fearing the worst, she prepares her future to be full of misery. When she arrives, she sees a ghost walking along the gloomy castle and her fears are confirmed. However, she is surprised and astonished by Brach’s kindness to her. Yet, with the ghost’s warnings, she realizes she is in danger. In order to save her own life, Eleanor must truly understand who Brach Goch is and to unravel her future husband’s darkest secrets.

      Eleanor is a conflicted character. Eleanor is intelligent and stubborn, and yet she realizes that her life is often decided for her among men because she is a pawn for her father and the Welsh king. However since they day she arrives at Brach Goch’s castle, she grows stronger every day. She tries to figure out what she wants in life and to make her own decisions. She also tries to adjust  to her new life, and to understand her new country and its ruler. Another thing I like about Eleanor is that she is not a damsel in distress, and she can save herself.

      Overall, this story is about friendship, love, duty, and choices. The message of this book is to follow your heart and that you have the ability to create your own happiness. With a fast-paced plot, a great cast of characters, and a gloomy setting, with a ghost mixed in, it makes a fascinating story. It was a very enjoyable read, and I would advise you reading this story at night, if you want an extra eerily thrill. This story is perfect for fans of Beauty and The Beast, Jane Eyre, and Rebecca.

 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Comments

  1. Julie DainesSeptember 6, 2015 at 11:38 AM

    Thanks for reading and for the great review! It's people like you who make me love writing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lauralee JacksSeptember 6, 2015 at 3:12 PM

    Thank you for the compliment! I greatly appreciate it!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict: A Book Review

Image
The Only Woman in the Room
Author: Marie Benedict
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Release Date: January 8, 2019
Pages: 272
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: She possessed a stunning beauty. She also possessed a stunning mind. Could the world handle both?

    Her beauty almost certainly saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to marriage with an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich's plans while at her husband's side, understanding more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee in disguise from their castle, and the whirlwind escape landed her in Hollywood. She became Hedy Lamarr, screen star.

     But she kept a secret more shocking than her heritage or her marriage: she was a scientist. And she knew a few secrets about the enemy. She had an idea that might help the country fight the Nazis...if anyone would listen to her.

     A powerful novel based on the inc…
Read more

Interview with Kate Quinn

Image
Today, I have the pleasure to interview bestselling author, Kate Quinn. She is best known for The Empress of Rome Saga and The Borgia Chronicles. Her latest novel, The Alice Network, focuses on a WWI spy network made up of women. In this interview we discuss these unsung heroines, who risked their lives in WWI. Mrs. Quinn also gives us a hint about what she is working on next. I hope this interview will give you some insight into the history of The Alice Network. I have given a very good review of this book, and I hope you will take the opportunity to read it. Thank you, Mrs. Quinn!



What drew you to take a break from Ancient Rome and write about women in WWI?

     I love ancient Rome, and I'd love to write more books about it someday, but I've never been a one-era writer. I've always had ideas for books in a wide array of historical periods, from ancient Rome clear through to World War I. When I saw the huge recent boom in popularity for 20th century war fiction, it mad…
Read more

Anna the Prophetess by H.B. Moore: A Book Review

Image
Anna the Prophetess
Author: H.B. Moore
Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian, Biblical Fiction
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: 2018
Pages: 232
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Anna the Prophetess is the dramatic chronicle of the only woman to be called a prophetess in the Gospels. When Anna's great-niece Julia is exiled to Jerusalem as punishment for her refusal to marry a man old enough to be her father, Anna shares the story of her early days of courtship with her husband. Although Julia's parents admonished her to observe firsthand how lonely Anna's life is, Julia instead discovers that her great-aunt's life is far from lonely--it is full of love, peace, and incredible faith. As Anna shares her unwavering testimony of the coming Messiah with her great-niece, these two faithful women are changed forever as they seek the Lord's will in their lives and joyfully witness the long-awaited miracles of Christ's birth.

…
Read more