Can hate change into something else?

Synopsis

A high-stakes marriage of convenience in the Viking era.

Back to claim his crown

…and his wife!

Prince Teon married the Viking chief’s daughter Revna to prevent a war, only to leave immediately to fight another one. Now, he’s returned to claim his crown! He’s stunned to discover the love his people have for Revna, and by the intensity of their unexpected connection. Teon tells himself he only needs Revna as an ally, until the passion of their belated wedding night promises they could be so much more…

From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.

My review

Eight years ago Prince Teon married the Viking’s chief daughter Revna as an alliance between the two people. The marriage would prevent a war. But as this wasn’t Prince Teon wish, the day after his marriage, he left his home to fight other wars.
Now Teon has returned after the passing of his father, ready to claim the crown. But at his return, he is shocked to see how his own people has accepted heathen Revna as one of them. And not only that, he is also flabbergasted to see how Revna has turned into a woman. A woman he finds himself attracted to.
But the hurt and sense of betrayal of the past are too painful to be just forgotten, and Teon is adamant to keep his distance. That is until there is someone threating what is rightfully Teon’s.
And Teon may need Revna as his ally, and perhaps even more… 

There have been several books written where the main characters had to marry out of duty, or that they were being forced, or to make an alliance.
And yes, in those books the main characters didn’t really like each other. 

But in this book, Teon truly despises Revna, so much he even leaves his home to ‘escape’ her and their marriage!
Talking about forceful feelings, even if negative ones! 

I have to say, while I immediately liked Revna, I had not so nice thoughts about Teon at the start. 

But let me start with Revna… 

Revna made the move to England with her Viking Chief father, ready for a fresh start after losing her mother and brother.
As her first encounter with Teon was well, nice is not the correct word, but Teon for sure made an impression, I could understand why Revna wasn’t putting on a bigger fight when her father asked her to marry the King’s son.
And it saddened me to see how Revna’s heart broke a little bit by Teon’s behaviour during the wedding and especially afterwards.
He couldn’t be any clearer about his despise for her and her people… 

But I have to say, I admired Revna. Not only did she show in those eight years how she adapted to her new life, but she also managed to make the people like her and even love her. She showed her new family her values, and she became a real confidante, an ally, a member of the family. 

She is also a fierce woman, as she knows how to handle a sword, and fight literally and figuratively speaking for her home. Even when Teon returns, she won’t just step back and let someone put her back in a corner. 

Like I said, Teon initially didn’t score very well on my scoreboard. I could understand that he wasn’t all too pleased being forced to marry Revna. But he for sure could understand that Revna wasn’t at fault here?
However, slowly he lowers his armour and we, together with Revna learn how his feelings were born and how he kept onto them.  

His sudden attraction towards Revna was a physical one, and while I found it superficial of him, I couldn’t blame him, as he is a man after all 😊. 

I found the way he acted at his return rather cocky. He comes back after eight years, and expects that his word is law. In a way he is right, being the Prince, but I thought he could at least first asses everything and then put his mark…
But luckily for us, Revna is there to put in back in his place! 😊 

While things between Revna and Teon are rocky, we slowly see how Teon starts to see himself the good influence Revna had on his home and family.
And while things perhaps start with a physical attraction, they are also building an emotional bond, even Teon doesn’t understand how deep that goes until he is faced with danger. 

An unexpected danger and menace, that may jeopardize not only the fragile bond between Revna and Teon, but everything Teon and his ancestors has built over the years.
A danger that perhaps comes unexpected, but has been building for a long time…
A danger that also brings Revna and Teon closer, as they both see each other’s value and strengths. 

I truly loved reading this story showing us that our perception over events can be wrong, that our prejudices of someone can be wrong, that our fears can be wrong and that our hatred can be wrong. And there are always two sides to a story, which we should both hear.
But we also see a lot of strength in this book, as Revna is a force to be reckoned with. And we see that love is a strong emotion, changing feelings into the complete opposite. And that even the most stubborn, adamant person can be changed by that powerful emotion, and make them desire something they never wanted before, but with the right person by their side, is all they would want. 

Sarah Rodi wrote a great story, about strong characters but most important about love in perhaps the weirdest conditions. But sometimes it’s in the weirdest conditions that we find the most valuable things!