The Norse King’s Daughter by Sandra Hill (Viking I #10)
Historical Romance
October 1, 2011
Paperback
Avon

Reviewed by May

Most memorable quote:

It was impossible not to notice the hard rod of his lust as it sought her woman channel.

“My sap runs thick and hot,” he rasped out. “Quench me, m’lady.”

Sidroc Guntersson is in a bind. The Viking is a third-born son and must quickly find a wife who is wealthy so that he can save his newborn daughter’s life and give her a new mother. His father has declared Sidroc’s daughter should be killed (because helping his son would be too much trouble) and thus Sidroc finds himself courting and falling in lust with the difficult Princess Drifta.

Unfortunately, Drifta learns that it’s not just lust Sidroc has him after marriage. When she overhears a conversation where he is speaking openly with his friends she is so furious that she smashes him over the head with a pot and breaks off the betrothal. Sidroc is rendered unconscious for several weeks and when he awakens is led to believe that his daughter has died. The warrior leaves to make his fortune on his own before Drifta returns from saving the child.

Five years later in an exotic and dangerous land (Byzantium), the couple finds themselves face to face once more. This time, Drifta is terrified because she has a big secret: she rescued and has been raising Sidroc’s daughter as his own. The very daughter he believes is dead, and that he holds Drifta responsible for the loss of. Though he has a mistress, Sidroc decides he is going to seduce Drifta and make her pay for all she cost him years ago.

The book had some strong moments and great dialogue. It was funny and I could definitely see the chemistry between these two strong characters:

“You are twenty and nine years old, Drifta. How do I know your female parts are not withered up, like a raisin?”

Her face flamed, but she shot back “you are thirty and one. how do I know your dangly part is not shriveled to a winter-soft carrot?”

Ah yes, these two are classic ‘hate each other turned into a love match’ trope material. Unfortunately, the sexual scenes are both drawn out and not at all erotic. At one point during the 30+ pages about the night the heroine loses her virginity she imagines she’s exploring a mountain (the hero’s body) and describes his crotch:

Her discovery of a gulley in her travels, midway between his waist and his thighs. The two immense boulders covered with moss through which emerged a tree, its trunk straight and true. The thick veins that protruded were its bark and the bulging top was a mushroom, she declared, the kind that sometimes emerged out of tree trunks.

I can’t make this stuff up! She also thinks at one point that her bladder is leaking:

“Drifta, dearling, that is not piss. It is your woman dew readying itself for my penetration.”

“I must be as perverted as you are!” she exclaimed when she understood what he meant. Can this situation get any more embarrassing?

“That is not perverted, silly woman. ‘Tis the way the Gods… or the One-God… made women. It will aid in your pleasure.”

Just a little too much info, thanks. Oh, and yes, Drifta loves the word “perverted” she uses it often. Though with the nipple rings and bag of tricks that Sidroc pulls out on the night she gives him her virginity, it’s appropriate enough. I liked both Drifta, the plant obsessed spinster and Sidroc the hardened Viking warrior. Both managed to have some depth and were easy to like. Unfortunately they were given a rambling plot filled with details that didn’t make sense and that seemed to contain twists just to keep the story going. I found the kidnapping (and rescue by Sidroc) of Drifta by an Arab prince, including her getting harem pleasure lessons and her nipples henna colored (red) to be a total waste of pages.

One of my big problems with this book outside the flowery and disturbing sex scenes was that Drifta keeps Sidroc in the dark about his daughter. While I get her motivation and fear that he’d take the child away, I could not forgive her for the way she insisted on keeping him in the dark and believing his only child dead. Much as I enjoyed these characters, as much fun as I’m having sharing silly quotes with you there are a number of issues with the novel that keep it far from a book I’d recommend reading.

The showdown at the end, the scene with Sidroc facing off against his father, and the declaration of love was especially weak for me. The characters deserved a much richer, more vivid love scene and instead the book ended on a low note. I was overall entertained, but I wasn’t sure about the historical accuracy and the plot itself disappointed. While the hero is a Viking warrior, there is almost no fighting or warrior type content in this book. It’s a lot of talk, not much action.

This is the last book in a series, however I do not believe that reading the previous books is required for enjoyment as the bulk of this book took place away from Drifta’s home and sisters (previous heroines).

Grade: C-

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