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The Crimson Outlaw (2013)

by Alex Beecroft(Favorite Author)

3.5 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1626490538 (ISBN13: 9781626490536)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Riptide Publishing

review 1: The Crimson Outlaw is a gorgeously written historical romance set in medieval Transylvania (Romania), which centers on the coming of age of innocent young Vali, a nobleman’s son. The first scene, which describes an arranged marriage taking place on a rain-soaked day, is absolutely stunning and the novella continues at that level of breathtaking descriptive beauty.Vali is an appealing young hero, who has a complicated love-hate relationship with his father. His adventures in the wilderness are exciting, and his initiation into sex and love at the hands of the mysterious Crimson Outlaw is very sensuous. It is a pleasure to see the author, already acclaimed for her Age-of-Sail novels, try a different setting and culture.The story opens on a brilliantly described and unforge... morettable scene of an arranged marriage – which turns into horrific chaos, thanks to Vali.Subsequently forced to flee his violent father’s home, Vali ends up captured by Mikai, also known as the Crimson Outlaw, a former knight now lurking in the forest, waiting for the chance to save the villagers from the despotic rule of Vali’s father. Mihai takes Vali hostage, but does not foresee that Vali will turn out to be very different from his father.~Val for AReCafe
review 2: This book wasn't long enough. I enjoyed the story, but I wanted more of Vali and Mihai. The writing was excellent - as is par for the course with Alex Beecroft - and the descriptions of the land and the people were fantastic. But it wasn't enough. I read the book in two short hours in the early hours of the morning when I couldn't sleep and kind of regretted that when it woke me up even further and required me to finish it. Vali is a naïve, innocent young man who - despite his father's abuses - believes him to be a good man and a good lord. What he doesn't realize is, if Wadim can treat his son this way, then why would he treat the peasants any better? As the story unfolds, Vali learns from Mihai and others just how cruel his father is, and witnesses some of it first hand. But he still believes that he can take over his father's roll through peace with no more bloodshed. Despite his experiences, Vali doesn't seem to grow much. Perhaps it's because of how short the book is, even though the timespan is longer. Even after facing down his father he still is hesitant to face his father's true nature. This part of him bothered me, and maybe that's why I wanted to see more from him. Even his sister, Stela, who is only on the page in the very beginning and the very end, shows more growth than he seems to. Still, I enjoyed the story. I would like to see a sequel where Vali, in his new role with Mihai at his side, learns to navigate his life as the Boyar, and how the people under his command take to him. less

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