Reading this at 14 is probably the reason for my hatred of love triangles, and absolutely the source of my sensitivity to and intolerance for rape-her-til-she-likes-it scenes. Nope. Nopity nope nope nope. ( )

As a hormonal teenager, reading about the love triangle of Drustan & Esseilte and Marc’h, King of Kernow (Cornwall) meant something I could identify with as a young teen in love. I loved the novel—the characters, the plot, everything. Drustan was awesome and all, but I found King Marc’h to be the better character. He held a strength and a passion not driven by a love potion. Instead of lust, he was love.
As an adult, I can better appreciate Paxson's word choice and the cadence of her language. Her setting & description are accurate for a good Celtic legend.
Read the full review here: www.ravenoak.net ( )

This is a re-telling of the Tristan and Iseult legend, here with the names of Drustan and Esseilt. I was not very familiar with it, but this book didn't make me want to know more. It was told from Esseilt's cousin, Branwen, point of view (in the 1st person), but it was about Esseilt herself.

I felt distanced from the romantic pair, but to tell the truth, I was not very intrigued by them either. Esseilt was only a spoilt child, who never seemed to realize that Branwen was an actual person with feelings. One other aspect that I didn't like (but that is not really the author's fault, it's part of the lore) is that Drustan and Esseilt's love is due to a love potion. This robbed me of my favourite part in any romance novel: the falling in love part. One moment she was trying to kill him, the other she was deeply in love with him, and falling into bed with him. Also, much of the misery and angst could have been avoided had the characters talked (I mean, really talked) among themselves.

I wish there was more to Branwen's story, it had potential. There were hints of a story there, between her and the king, with mystical elements (in short, what I really like).

It was an ok book, that could have been so much better if it wasn't so focused on Drustan and Esseilt's story.

Also at Spoilers and Nuts ( )

I was really enjoying this book until about page 280 or so when the author suddenly felt it necessary to include a "rape her till she likes it" scene. ( )

This book has been on my "to read" list for years. I finally got around to reading it and even though it was difficult to get into, I ended up liking it. It is the story of Tristan and Iseult and their star-crossed love. ( )