What do You think about Lord Of The Wolves (1993)?
Oh, boy. Lord of the Wolves. I don’t even know where to start. See, Lord of the Wolves is a 400 or so page romance novel with a flashback that is more than 300 pages long. I’m not saying framing a story can’t be good – Wuthering Heights, for example, uses this technique splendidly. Unfortunately for the readers, Heather Graham is not Emily Bronte. The part before the absurdly long flashback:Countess Melisande’s holding is being attacked. She is rescued (along with her people) by a man who is revealed to be her husband. It’s been five years since they were married (which is good because child bride = yuck). She’s escaped from him and is angry at him and hates him. They have sort of consensual sex. What isn’t revealed until the flashback:Based on the pre-flashback, I had thought Melisande and Conar (husband) hadn’t seen each other in years. It was a surprise to find out that for most of those five years, Melisande lived with Conar’s family, where she was educated and treated like a family member. And that she is pregnant with his child. The flashback:During the flashback you get all the plot and relationship building. This is the last of a series (although it stands alone) so you get updates on his brothers and his parents who had their own books. You also get to see Melisande’s character not grow up for five years. The book is set sometime around the late 10th century – early 11th century and I think that a man who marries a beautiful 13 year old, doesn’t consummate the marriage, sends her to his family to be educated and raised, comes back home, claim his wife but lets her keep her people and her land as hers is not a bad guy. I don’t know why but Melisande spends most of the book hating Conar. (She also does that annoying thing where she sends him away and is pissed when he goes.)The text after the flashback:This section covers one day where we have the resolution of the battle that you forgot happened before the flashback followed shortly by hugs and kisses and the happy ever after. The end.Aside from the weird structure of the novel I have one major problem with Lord of the Wolves. It’s what I’ve described as sort of consensual sex. In romance novels I’m used to no, no, yes, yes, yeeesss more. Seduction. I would prefer yes, yes, Yes, YES, YEESS GOD YES, but I’m good with the other. Lord of the Wolves is more no, no, no, yes, yeesss, wait, wait I meant no. The eroticization of rape makes me…uncomfortable. Look, this book was written in the early 1990s. It wasn’t that long ago. Aren’t we past this? Lastly, just as a note, Melisande is described as having “violet orbs.” Seriously.
—Best_beloved
A Viking romance set in the 800s, the book features Conar, the Lord of the Wolves, and Melisande, a French countess who would do anything to save her people, thus she married him when she was very young. He sent her off to the nuns - so he wouldn't be tempted by her. Now he has returned to protect her and their people.The characters were intriguing; Melisande is very strong, but doesn't lose her strength in loving him. He, in turn, loves her from the beginning and remains strong. There is plenty
—Readitnweep
***commento durante la lettura*** sono ancora in piena lettura, ma arrivata a pagina 76, personalmente, mi vien in mente un solo aggettivo: TERRIBILE! I salti temporali della narrazione creano confusione, lo stile è prolisso e incredibilmente noioso; alcune cose vengono ripetute 3000 volte senza un motivo e le situazioni (soprattutto le battaglie) sono così caotiche da non capirci assolutamente nulla...ma chi me l'ha fatto fare?! ***commento post lettura*** salvo giusto 23-30 pagine su 320 circa perchè almeno in quella manciata di righe c'è un barlume di "movimento" e azione...ma tutto il resto è noia... 2 stelline perchè una e mezza non si può
—Methos
