TEST
It’s a familiar plot – the fair damsel being rescued from a fate worse than death by the man who should be her enemy. In Outlaw, Lisa Jackson blends elements of a Robin Hood-like tale to create a fast-paced plot laced with danger and intrigue. With its strong, independent characters and its vivid descriptions, Outlaw is a satisfying read. However, it requires a strong stomach!
A sorcerer tells Megan of Dwyrain her arranged marriage will be ruined and that the man responsible will become her lover. Despite this prediction, lovely, fiery Megan still fights the warrior who steals her from the vile man chosen by her father to be her husband. Even though he saves her from the sexual humiliation promised to her by her husband, she will allow no man to rule her.
Wolf sees his passionate prisoner as the perfect revenge against the man who helped rape and destroy the woman he loved. Still, he cannot bring himself to treat her dishonorably, just as he cannot deny the attraction he feels for her or his guilt at using her as a pawn. The mighty knight soon loses his heart to her courage and spirit. Soon, their love becomes too powerful for either one of them to deny.
Be warned: Though this tale is a romance, it is not for the faint of heart. Crose has woven many disturbing elements of sexual and physical violence throughout Megan and Wolf’s story. None of the incidents are related in much detail, but there is much bloodshed, and at least one minor female character is raped by the compelling, yet unfortunately stereotypical, evil villain.
Both Megan and Wolf are strong characters and their clash of wills continues long after their feelings for each other have started to develop. Megan wants her freedom, Wolf his revenge. Neither will make it easy for the other to get what he or she wants. One of the elements I liked best about Outlaw is that neither character loses their identity to the growing relationship. They continue to fight and to challenge each other, without losing sight of what they mean to each other.
Jackson writes in an earthy manner that manages to evoke emotion and convey sometimes startlingly graphic images. While this works well with the dark moments in the novel, she falls a little short in regards to love scenes. We are given the villain’s sexual urges and responses in vivid detail, but the love scenes that could have been used to soften this sometimes jarring story are brief and somewhat uninspired. I would have enjoyed the book more had I been allowed a few pages to lose myself in the budding love and passion of Megan and Wolf.
By the end of the book I felt as if I had been through the Inquisition. Even though it shouldn’t have been a surprise, it was a welcome relief to discover that Megan and Wolf end up living happily ever after. I don’t think I’ve ever met two characters who suffered more, or deserved their happiness more.
Grade: B
Book Type: Medieval Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 28/09/98
Publication Date: 1995
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.
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Has anyone read this? It’s on sale for 0.99. I’ve never read anything by Jackson and know she know writes mostly suspense.