Book Blurb:
Patrick de Wolfe’s (Nighthawk) youngest son, Titus, is front and center in this rip-roaring Medieval Romance that will have you on the edge of your seat!
When a de Wolfe mates, he mates for life. And when he falls for a woman, he falls harder than most. But when a scorned woman is involved, anything can happen…
And usually does.
Titus de Wolfe is the youngest of four talented and accomplished sons of the Earl of Berwick. On a visit to London on behalf of his father, Titus meets the woman who will change the course of his future.
Katiana de Edington is that woman.
Daughter of a very rich merchant, she’s not of the nobility. But she’s smart, educated, and vivacious, and undeniably beautiful. Titus is smitten. So smitten, in fact, that he marries Katiana without permission.
That’s when the trouble begins.
A local ally of de Wolfe has been planning on a marriage between his daughter and Titus. When news of Titus’ unexpected marriage is made known, the knives come out. Titus and Katiana should be enjoying their newly married life but all of Berwick is now on the alert against the storm of politics gripping the country and enemies who were once allies. When the House of de Wolfe is sucked into the conflict between Edward II and Thomas of Lancaster, someone close to Katiana decides to use her to his advantage. With his wife in trouble, Titus calls forth the de Wolfe Pack to save her… and seek revenge.
Wolves mate for life and Titus will risk his to seek justice for the woman he loves.
It’s an all-out battle in the north as the de Wolfe Pack prepares for war.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/aaKI0Mz
Author Bio:
30+ time USA TODAY Bestselling Author
Charter Amazon All-Star Author
#1 ranked English Medieval Romance Author on Amazon
Holt Medallion Finalist 2021 & 2023
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"Hailed as The Queen of Medieval Romance" - for good reason." - BookLife
"Le Veque is... electrifying...." -- Publisher's Weekly
"Medieval Romance just doesn't get any better than this...." -- Uncaged Book Reviews
"Kathryn Le Veque is a force of nature. Her stories are epic, with timeless themes and heroes to die for." --Tanya Anne Crosby, New York Times Bestselling Author
"The epic Medieval Romance is back - thanks to Kathryn Le Veque!" -- Claire Delacroix, New York Times Bestselling author
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KATHRYN LE VEQUE is a critically acclaimed, USA TODAY Bestselling author (having hit the list over 30 times), an Indie Reader bestseller, a charter Amazon All-Star author, and a #1 bestselling, award-winning, multi-published author in Medieval Historical Romance with over 150 published novels.
Kathryn's novels are known for their strong and complex heroes and heroines, intricate plots, and rich historical backgrounds. Her stories feature knights, warriors, and noblewomen, bringing to life the chivalry, courtly intrigue, and epic battles of the medieval era. She is adept at creating emotionally charged narratives that keep readers engrossed from beginning to end.
Kathryn has received praise for her writing and has won several awards for her work, including two nominations for the Holt Medallion. Her books have topped bestseller lists, and she has gained a loyal fan base that eagerly anticipates each new release. Readers appreciate her ability to transport them to a bygone era, where they can experience the passion, honor, and challenges faced by her characters.
In addition to her historical romances, Le Veque has also dabbled in contemporary and paranormal romance genres, showcasing her versatility as an author. However, it is her medieval romances that have garnered her the most recognition and made her a prominent figure in the historical romance genre.
Kathryn is a talented author who has made a significant impact on the world of historical romance fiction. Through her captivating storytelling and meticulous research, she has brought the medieval period to life, enchanting readers with her tales of love, adventure, and the enduring power of the human spirit.
In addition to her own published works, Kathryn is the President/CEO of Dragonblade Publishing, Amazon's #1 ebook publisher of Historical Romance (K-Lytics reporting July 2020). Dragonblade Publishing has become known for its commitment to quality historical romance fiction and has gained a reputation as a trusted source for engaging and well-researched novels. Through her ownership of the publishing house, Kathryn has continued to contribute to the romance genre by nurturing and supporting other authors who share her passion for historical storytelling.
Kathryn loves to hear from her readers. Please find Kathryn on Facebook at Kathryn Le Veque, Author, or join her on Twitter @kathrynleveque. Sign up for Kathryn's blog at www.kathrynleveque.com
Editorial Review:
Wolfeborn is a medieval romance novel set in England in 1312 AD. This was a fractious time period where King Edward was on the throne but not without his fair share of enemies trying to usurp him. Family allegiances held a significant amount of weight regarding who they supported, especially for wealthy, land owning, titled families as they could supply men to fight in the battles between the warring sides.
The high status de Wolfe family find themselves caught in the crossfires between supporting King Edward or the Earl of Lancaster, the leader of the rebellion armies. Despite trying to stay neutral in this fight splitting England apart, circumstances occur where they are forced to choose. Titus de Wolfe, the youngest de Wolfe son, is a bright, strong, impulsive man and is part of a clandestine group known as the Executioner Knights. Titus describes the purpose of the Executioner Knights perfectly in the following statement, “The group was started by William Marshal about a hundred years ago. He took the best knights in England and used them as spies and assassins, among other things. It was a covert group that worked together in order to keep England safe. It is difficult to explain, but Executioner Knights can be guards for the king. Or they can spy on adversaries. Or they can assassinate someone who is putting someone very important in danger. They do things that are secretive and sometimes distasteful, but they do it for the good of all.” It is reminiscent of a form of secret, vigilante justice whereby the Knights take the game into their own hands with the purpose of serving England as a whole. Moreover, the ends seem to justify the means when it comes to how they operate. However, this was a violent time period in England’s history and perhaps violence had to be met with a certain amount of violence. The taciturn nature of politics and allegiances during this time is also evident in a description of Denys, one of Titus’s friends, “Denys was the king’s captain, but he could also be the king’s assassin. Sometimes an Executioner Knight had to do what needed to be done, regardless of the politics of it.”
Despite the themes of war and bloodthirsty violence, there is another element to Wolfeborn. Titus meets a young woman who used to foster in the castle where he was brought up. Katiana de Edington, the daughter of a rich merchant, is living in London with an aunt. Her horse runs wild and, as if destined by fate, Titus is the one to soothe the horse and save the rider. Their attraction is immediate; however, their love is doomed as they are from completely different stations and backgrounds in life. Titus is expected to marry a rich woman, from a good family with a large dowry which Katiana lacks. However, the thread of destiny seems to have interwoven their lives together as Katiana expresses when she says, “The moment you took me out of that stable those years ago, after Ansel had pummeled me, was the moment I became yours. You were my champion then, and you are now. Mayhap I’ve not married yet because God knew I could belong to no one else but you. Mayhap He made my horse run wild so that you could save me yet again. It seems to me that it was something that was preordained a long time ago, Titus. But the dream of you… it always seemed out of my reach.” While their love for one another is true, they have much to overcome regarding societal and familial expectations.
Overall, Wolfeborn was a thoroughly enjoyable read. While it delved deep into the political machinations of the time, it was also counterbalanced by the light and happy romance budding between Titus and Katiana. It was a very character driven novel, whereby readers were able to truly connect with each of the characters. Their motivations and desires were easy to relate to and imagine despite the different time period and circumstances.
While we enjoyed being a part of the characters development and witnessing their personal growth journeys unfold within the story, we found Katiana’s character development to be somewhat slower than the rest. For instance, Titus is a strong willed, impulsive man quick to violence. After meeting Katiana, however, we quickly see how she softens him and how he acts with more compassion. Additionally, Titus is perceived as somewhat egoistic whereby he chooses what to do simply for his own pleasure. However, after falling in love with Katiana and when she asks about what he wants from life, he makes a very moving speech, “I want to inspire men. My grandfather was a great leader of men, and I should want to do what he did. I want to train them and teach them. I want then to understand their responsibilities to king and country, but also to themselves and their people. In battle, I am one sword, and a formidable one at that. But as a commander and a trainer of men, I am a thousand swords on the field of battle. I can do more and accomplish more in that way that I ever could alone. The nature of men is not a good one, but with help, they can understand their purpose. They can do good in the world.”
There is a selflessness about his motivations which endears his character more to readers.
Katiana, on the other hand, is displayed as quite timid and longing for a husband. Moreover, a great deal of the description around her is based on her looks. This caused a slight disconnect between truly understanding Katiana, her desires and motivations in life and separating this from her appearance or desirability simply as a wife. However, this does turn around towards the end of the story where we see more strength and resolve from her. Any invested reader would be interested to read future books in the series to further witness Katiana’s growth and personal evolution not only as a wife, but also as a woman with independent wants and desires.
Wolfeborn was a delightful historical fiction novel with a balanced combination of action, political intrigue, familial dilemmas, disputes and dramas with a tantalizing forbidden love trope woven within.
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“Wolfeborn” by Katheryn Le Veque receives four stars from The Historical Fiction Company
To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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