The Bastard of Brittany By Victoria Vane

Book Description....

"It takes more than a kingdom to mend a heart…

Gwened of Poher has a legacy to protect, but duty has left her in a loveless marriage without children. Aside from the artistry of her needle, her life is unfulfilled. Until a Norseman offers to show her the kind of passion that she never knew existed.

Bjorn Vargrson blames himself for the tragic deaths of his wife and son. Prayers and sacrifices have done nothing to ease the weight of the burden he carries—the gods have abandoned him.

But when he’s offered a chance at a new life, he joins his brothers on a quest to conquer Brittany, only to find his heart is at stake. For if a man takes, he must also give, even if it means surrendering to love."

Title:  The Bastard of Brittany
Author:  Victoria Vane
Publisher:  Kindle Worlds
Series:  The Wolves of Brittany # 3
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating:  Five
Review:

"The Bastard of Brittany" by Victoria Vane


My Thoughts...

I loved this series e that featured Gwened who was the 'Countess of Poher'  who had been engaged for a short time to Hugo. Adele [a healer working with vulerary herbs] who was Gwened's foster sister was marriaged to her brother Rudalt.  This is quite a interesting read as we find both of these two men so very different.  However sadness came upon them and Gwened learned that her betrothed Hugo had died during a attack by Viking marauders' and it seemed that Gwened couldn't get the truth of what had happened on their hunt from her brother.  It was quickly after the death of Hugo we finds that Gwened has been betrothed again to the son of Judicael of Poher. Now who in the world was this person? Was this a politic move?  With Hugo being dead it was found out that Judicael had another son... not only Hugo but Mateudoi who had been born sickly.  The story behind all of this is rather sad but we find the Mateudoi was been 'secretly taken away and tended to by a nurse maid and when Judicael learned of this it was ordered that he be taken away and sent to the Abbey at Redon as an oblate.'  But Mateudoi was able to survive  at the monastery and seemed to be doing well there with his studies.  So, Gwened learns of Mateudoi's  studies and deformity to which there is not cure and he was only fourteen years old. And Gwened was to marry him. Now, to find out why this marriage had to take place sure quickly I am going to say you will have to pick up the well written read to find out.

But as the story goes on we find that this story deals with Bjorn and his half  brother Valdrik.
We find that Bjorn has lost his family and his life has been torn apart so he does these sacrifices with boars in the 'hope of gaining and seeking solace for his soul.'  However, this didn't seem to be working for him as he wonders 'what more must he do to free the pain in his heart and guilt that continues to haunt him.'  I loved his his brother tried to reason with him in letting him know that  their fates was in the Gods hands.  Seeing that his brother Bjorn needed a change of scenery Valdrik talks him into going to the southern lands of Frankia.

Gwened is now married to Mateudoi are leaving for Vannes where he lived as a monk, eat little, studied and pray and never came to his wife's bed.  What troubled Gwened was that their were no heirs for Brittany.  Would Mateudoi consent to this?  What had happened that brought about problems between Rudalt and Mateudoi?  Again you will have to pick up this read to find out.

As the story goes on we find Valdrik and Bjorn  in the mist of quite a battle with the Norse, Franks, Neustrians and Aquitainians.  Who will survive this bloody battle? What will happen as it seems like Mateudoi is wanting an annulment and has left with the Abbot of Redon without telling Gwened of his leave?  What will happen when Gwend planed to travel by horseback back to Poher?

The story continues as we find Brittany is without a strong ruler.  What will Valdrik have to do during the bartering that he would be 'well rewarded for his sacrifice?'  What had happened for that to come to light...'Kissing whose feet?' This had to do with a treaty showing 'a proper demonstration of goodwill.'  Now, after "the sealing this bargain when that dubious kiss, Valdrik, his two brother, and three hundred hardened Vikings warriors set out to conquer the kingdom of Brittany."

Now, what will happen next in the Carhix Castle in Poher, Brittany? Gwend had been back in Poher for two months and had still had no word from Mateudoi.  Had he petitioned for a annulment in Rome now he was near the correct age? Why had Mateudoi not let her know what was going on?

When army of Vikings invaded Brittany and now wanted to see Gwened who was in charged?  What had happened to Duke Rudalt?  As this story continues on we get a well told story of the conquering of all Brittany.  Not only had these pagan armies  had come to pillage but they were now staying.  So now we find that Brittany was now vulnerable under the Viking control.

I loved this part when Gwened finally meets Bjorn Vargrsson in Vannes. I will say at this point the story really picks up and this author really gives the readers one intriguing read.  It was quite interesting seeing Gwened and Bjorn's reaction to each other. What happened after Bjorn was injuryed by the wild boars?  What had happened to his wife Astrid that he still had such deep feelings for that he had remained loyal?  Oh, I forgot to mention how I loved how Gwened would apply herself to the embroidered cloth[as her mother had] from the  'distaff and spindle, where she would spin all baskets of wool into fine thread doing beautiful embroidery and tapestry work of her family history.'  I could only imagine how beautiful that was to look upon. Why was this such a interesting point in this story?   What will happen as Bjorn learns more about Gwened marriage to Mateudoi and what had happened to Hugo? 

Why was Gwened so surprise to see that these [Norsemen] Vikings were nothing like she thought they would be?  Did they really want to settle peacefully in Brittany? How was Bjorn so different from her brother Rudalt in the way he ruled?  I will really stop here and just say this was a quite a novella that was indeed featly written.  Be ready for all of these question and more to be answered from this read.  The ending will be even more interesting in how the story ends especially with that big secret that only Gwened and Bjorn would keep.  Would I recommend this series: The Wolves of Brittany # 3 in The Bastard of Brittany?"  YES!