Skip to main content

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
Labels:

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 September 6, 2015 at 3:12 PM

    Thank you for the compliment! I greatly appreciate it!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Iceberg by Jennifer A. Nielsen: A Book Review

  Iceberg Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen Genre: Children, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Adventure Publisher: Scholastic Release Date: March 7, 2023 Pages: 317 Source: My State Public Library Synopsis : As disaster looms on the horizon, a young stowaway onboard the Titanic will need all her courage and wits to stay alive. A thrilling tale from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen!     Hazel Rothbury is traveling all alone from her home in England aboard the celebrated ship Titanic . Following the untimely death of her father, Hazel’s mother is sending her to the US to work in a factory, so that she might send money back home to help her family make ends meet.     But Hazel harbors a secret dream: She wants to be a journalist, and she just knows that if she can write and sell a story about the Titanic ’s maiden voyage, she could earn enough money to support her family and not have to go to a sweatshop. When Hazel discovers that m...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shipwreck (The Heirs of Anarchy #3) by G. Lawrence: A Book Review

Shipwreck (The Heirs of Anarchy #3) Author: G. Lawrence  Genre: Historical Fiction  Publisher: G. Lawrence Publication Date: 2021 Pages: 315 Source: Borrowed Synopsis: Autumn, 1139, Normandy        On a beach in Normandy stands Matilda, once Empress, Queen and Countess, named heir to England and Normandy, daughter of Henry I. Her throne stolen from her by the hands of her cousin Stephen of Blois, Matilda has waited to gather her supporters, waited to sail to England that she might wage war to claim the throne she was promised by her father.        With loyal men and women at her side, the Empress will begin her campaign for the throne of England and Normandy, to reclaim her birthright from the man who stole it from her. The period known to history as the Anarchy is about to begin, and chaos to unfold upon England, Normandy and the people of those kingdoms as one cousin struggles against another for the crow...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sons of Violence (The Heirs of Anarchy #4) by G. Lawrence: A Book Review

Sons of Violence (The Heirs of Anarchy #4) Author: G. Lawrence  Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: G. Lawrence  Book Release Date: 2022 Pages: 344 Source: Borrowed  Synopsis: Winter 1143      The civil war between royal cousins Stephen and Matilda has raged for many years, but whilst neither can fully win, neither will surrender. Through years of loss, as trusted friends fall to death, the Empress Matilda fights on, striving to claim the throne no more in her own name, but that of her son.       As the tale of the Anarchy draws to a close, other voices join that of the Empress, telling of how the war came to an end, and which heir, which son of violence, would be crowned as King of England.        Sons of Violenc e is Book Four of The Heirs of Anarchy by G. Lawrence.           My Review: Sons of Violence is the fourth installment in The Heirs o...
Post a Comment
Read more