Why I picked up this book:

I stumbled across this book when chatting with a critique partner about cover designs. This particular one stood out like a beacon. It’s stellar, and I love the colorization.

When I read the blurb I got sucked in, and by the time I read the first page I was doomed. Hooked, whatever you want to call it. I was all in.

This review may contain spoilers.

Kept by the Viking (Forgotten Sons #1)
	Loyalty to the Brotherhood comes before all. Including women. Formidable Viking leader Rurik knows the law. His loyalty to the Forgotten Sons is his bond, and no woman will threaten what he’s built from the ground up. But the Sons are a roving band of Vikings, and Rurik is growing restless—so when Normandy’s chieftain offers land, the proposal intrigues him. And the sultry Parisian thrall he finds in his tent intrigues him even more… Safira is cunning and clever and full of secrets. Rurik’s men have no interest in securing her safe passage home, but, piqued with lust, Rurik views Safira’s wiles as a captivating challenge—one he’s determined to conquer, even if lying with her is as defiant as it is inevitable.
Traveling with Safira has been a fantasy come true—what started as lust is quickly turning to the kind of partnership Rurik could never have dreamed. But their arrival in foreign lands marks a new chapter, one that demands a Viking wife. With impossible decisions to be made, Rurik’s alliances are fraying, and past promises may not be enough to save him from having to betray those he’s sworn loyalty to—including Safira.

    

What I loved:

Gina Conkle’s voice is stellar. The way she weaves her words together and how she tells this story is absolutely gorgeous. It’s rare that the voice of the author shines through so well it almost dims the story in comparison, but both were so powerful that this tale packed a powerful punch. Right around the 65% mark I was in book hangover mode. I kept setting it aside to drag out all the wonderful because I did not want this story to end. That perfection and balance writers are always looking? Conkle delivers.

I fell in love with the hero and heroine. Both were such a strong blend of complexity, yet each one held a strong balance. Following either one as a solo POV would have been easy, but the blend offered a sweet harshness to both their personalities as they battled the terrain of the land, Viking politics, and their blossoming trust.

This book is dark, and I love it for that. I tend to find romances often gloss over some of the darker themes, but this one dives right in and keeps that grimdark feel from start to finish.

Areas needing a touch of refinement:

This is a super nit-picky thing and purely subjective. The only thing I had trouble suspending belief for is Rurik’s mission. Fighting for himself, his men, and the woman he loves, all to give another the power and decisions over his life. He was so strong, and the guy in charge was a bit of a gray character for me, that (again… this is my own tastes shining through… nothing wrong with the way it’s told) Rurik upturning everything and taking full command felt like a more authentic route.

Overall:

In the end, this author has me as a reader for life. This book has everything I love in my stories: dark worlds, dark themes, and a hero/heroine combo that keeps you fighting for them right to the end. I can’t wait to dive into the next book in this saga.

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