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Under the name Megan Crane, Caitlin Crews has plenty of experience writing faux-Vikings in her dystopian Edge series. I was curious to see how she’d do with an actual Viking in a genuine Dark Ages setting. The answer? Pretty well!
In 918, the real-life Lady of the Mercians (daughter of Alfred the Great), Aethelflaed, died after leading Mercia for seven years. Little is known about her daughter Aelfwynn, who inherited Mercia from her mother but was “sent into Wessex” and vanishes from the historical record. As a potential claimant to the throne of Mercia, Aelfwynn would be an asset to a husband and a liability to her uncle, King Edward. Crews takes this moment as the starting point for Kidnapped by the Viking, hypothesizing that Edward arranges for Aelfwynn to go into a convent but arranges for her to be murdered on the road. This plan is interrupted by the Irish-born Viking Thorbrand, himself sent to kidnap Aelfwynn by his king, Ragnall (again, a real historical figure).
In addition to Aethelflaed and the royals, Crews incorporates other historical events, such as the expulsion of the Vikings from Ireland. Clearly, she did her research. I always appreciate a book which sends me to Google (I went down a serious Aethelflaed rabbit hole thanks to this one), and I liked that she took on a story which could connect to the historical record without requiring her to revise it.
This book is hotter than most Harlequin historicals I’ve read, and it definitely has a more old-school vibe. Now, I’m not a fan of historicals where the dialogue reads like a legal document (‘Do you consent to this part of me touching you in this location?’), but, Goldilocks that I am, I think this book may list a bit too far to the other side. Certainly, for a tenth-century Viking, Thorbrand is progressive, and knowing that he will marry Aelfwynn, he wants sex to be something she participates in enthusiastically, and invests time in seducing her. On the other hand, Aelfwynn believes herself to be a thrall/slave. If you’re a reader who wants free and clear consent, it’s hard to argue Aelfwynn could give it under those conditions. It is also suggested, without using modern terms, that Aelfwynn is a submissive, both sexually and in terms of her daily life. (I wish that characterization had been consistent in the entire book – some scenes where she gets scrappy feel like another female character was grafted on).
I enjoyed the road-trip romance and was relieved at how level-headed Aelfwynn is about her kidnapping. Abandoned by ineffective guards and anticipating an assassination attempt by her uncle, she has no better option than Thorbrand, who at least wants her alive. Once she realizes this, she makes the best of it (even when he requires her to bathe like a Viking, which is to say much more frequently than a skeptical Mercian). I liked how Aelfwynn and Thorbrand both came from dramatic settings (war and politics) but wanted a peaceful and quiet life – and, in Thorbrand’s case, felt ashamed of that because of the cultural value placed on warrior masculinity. I believed that both of them had been dealt a lucky hand, being thrown together in a way which enabled them both to live in a life they wanted. While they feel comfortably accessible to a modern reader, they’re not modern, especially in gender roles and religion.
My biggest concerns about the book are inconsistent characterization and the logical flaws in Ragnall’s scheme. As mentioned, Aelfwynn is one of those ‘I have never in all my years behaved in X manner, but now this man will bring it out.’ Thorbrand is both a man who wants to seduce Aelfwynn and give her agency, and a man who allows her to believe, for no apparent reason, that he intends to keep her as a thrall instead of marry her at his king’s command. Frankly, though, why does Ragnall want Aelfwynn married to a minor vassal? Why not marry her himself – or, if his concern about provoking Edward is valid, why not keep her single so he can marry her later if he successfully invades Mercia? The politics on Aelfwynn’s side were meticulously plotted, but the Vikings were just sloppy.
Overall, Kidnapped by the Viking is a Viking story that kept me turning the pages. It has a few rough patches, but they’re outnumbered by the stronger sections. If you enjoy a dominant warrior hero, I expect you’ll find this kidnapping to be a good time.
Buy it at: Amazon or your local independent retailer
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Grade: B+
Book Type: Historical Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 27/04/21
Publication Date: 04/2021
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
I'm a history geek and educator, and I've lived in five different countries in North America, Asia, and Europe. In addition to the usual subgenres, I'm partial to YA, Sci-fi/Fantasy, and graphic novels. I love to cook.
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I bought this one (with the AAR link of course!) because I like her Edge series (in fact, I’m seriously contemplating a reread) and I like her writing voice, both as Caitlin Crews and Megan Crane. Great review Caroline!
My opinions on Crewes’ work has been up and down. I do like a good Viking romance, though.
That’s a lot of makeup for a woman from the Dark Ages…..
Snap!! Liked the lipstick colour. And his beatifully shaped beard!!
Yet another book from my angst queen, Caitlin Crews! How did I miss it?? That woman must do nothing but write—she’s published at least four books so far this year (counting this one) and has another dropping May 1 (actually it might already be available, but Harlequin publishes ebooks on the first of the month). Perhaps, because Harlequin is shutting down the Dare line, Crews is shifting to their Historical imprint (she’s already an HP star). Well, onto the never-ending tbr goes KIDNAPPED BY THE VIKING.
When Blaze, Kimani, Superromance, and Nocture were discontinued, I remember Harlequin made a statement saying they would help their authors in those discontinued lines create future work for existing and upcoming lines. So I think you’re definitely onto something here.
As for Kidnapped by the Viking in general, it looks like Harlequin is once again putting the history in historical romance. Good for them.
LOL! I’ve read way too many HRs that fall into this category lately. While I can see where the other extreme wouldn’t work for some either, it’s nice to see Harlequin getting back to some variety in this regard. There are more ways to show consent than endless repetitions of “Can I touch you here… and here…. and here?”
This is what I was thinking too, that with the shutdown of the Dare line she would branch out to another imprint besides the Presents that she writes in. It’s a shame the St. Martins Swerve line died out, as she did well in that line as well which accommodated her higher heat books.
As far as I can tell, Crews has one more book for Dare: JUST ONE MORE NIGHT (the heroine is the sister of the heroine from THE PLEASURE CONTRACT, Crews’s previous Dare release). That’s scheduled for late May/early June. Iirc, Dare announced the line would be discontinued as of June 2021.