Review: The Beast of Clan Kincaid by Lily Blackwood

Series: Highland Warrior, #1
Historical Romance
Released: May 31, 2016
St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Reviewed by Sheena

They call him the Beast—a hardened mercenary whose heart seems as cold as his icy blue gaze. They do not know his true name: Niall Braewick, son of the Laird of Kincaid. It has been years since he escaped into the forest the night his father was murdered. Now he has returned, ablaze with a vengeful hunger. He will gain the MacClaren chief’s trust, gather his clan, and take back his lands. And take the MacClaren’s daughter as well…

Though he pulled her from the river, saving her life, Elspeth has been warned to keep her distance from her father’s hired warrior. He is a barbarian—a shame, as he is far more compelling than the lechers and fools competing for her dowry. Little does she know that, like the castle itself, she is a prize Niall intends to claim…but will he extract blood for blood and possess what is his, or will his enemy’s beautiful, innocent daughter tempt him to forsake his dream of conquest?

“I know who you are Elspeth.  And I know who I am not.”

Awesome Blurb. Nice cover. I dive in and immediately recognize that new author, Lily Blackwood came to play, with her spirited and sexy debut, The Beast of Clan Kinkaid.   I love this world, I simply can not get enough. As a matter of fact, I don’t want to have enough.  I am a gluttonous fiend for highland warrior romance but my insatiable consumption has made me quite discerning and I can be a tough audience.  Lucky for me, The Beast of Clan Kinkaid is a fun gem that I thoroughly enjoyed. Even the slower parts held my attention and let me tell you…historical fiction can get the lead in it from time to time. As opposed to my usual GET THE FAWK ON WITH IT, ALREADY! flails, one thing I learned about Niall is…you don’t rush Niall. You sit there and you take it and dammit you like it for all your troubles.

Pardon as I get these drool smudges off the screen.

There.

Niall (The Beast) is a man with revenge on his mind and anguish in his heart.  We first flash back to Niall as a young man too young for war but right in the thick of it whilst his father perished in the battle.  Too young to make heads or tails of his forced orphaning, he is told to be brave, always remember and to avenge the treachery that befell his parents and clansmen.  Niall does not witness his beloved ma and da fall, however, the impact is no less savage for in this moment we see a young man die and a ruthless warriors heart begin to beat.

Elspeth is the quintessential Highland lass. She gets it.  She is a woman and women are duty bound to do as they are bid for the sake of the clan.  She has her own special brand of strength that was respectable but not ornery.  I saw enough of her spitfire spirit to know she was no flimsy heroine propped up to give Niall something warm to hump up against. I get it.  These beefcake, alpha warriors sell stories, but I can’t tell you how badly underdeveloped, cardboard, cookie cutter heroines have ruined the mojo.  None of that with Elspeth!  She was interesting, had bite and even her moments of submission made sense in the grand scheme of things.  Niall is all anger, hurt and quiet, lethal vengeance and that is a lot of personality to hold up against.  Let’s just say, she does a bang up job.

It was but a kiss,” he answered in a passionless voice. “Nothing more.”

Indeed, he spoke the words as if the meant nothing.  As if the pain he had inflicted on her meant nothing.  How had she once believed he had  heart, true feelings for her?

“Only a kiss.”  She shrugged indifferently, hardening her heart against him, vowing he would not hurt her again.  “Just as yours and mine were only kisses.  Is that right, Niall?

He stared at her, his expression a stone wall that concealed any emotion.

She would not play the wounded lover.  The one left behind.  She had too much pride for that.  Nor would she embark upon her new life with only half a heart.

“Go on then,” she said, her voice intentionally cool, sinking back against the cushions.  His brows came together, dark and questioning.  As if he had never been dismissed.  She pushed the opposite curtain open, and looked out at nothing in particular.

“You are dripping on my skirts.

Aye.  Contentious business it is, bringing a Highlander man, hell bent on destroying your family, to heel.  Be of ease, while Niall pulls a bonehead bull headed move or two, there is no real cheating so never fear any nefarious, wayward kisses.  His heart and mind are so full of Elspeth its all The Beast can do but reinforce his emotional armor and keep her at arms length.  Funny thing about arm’s length though…it doesn’t work so hot when you keep wrapping your lass up in them. To my pleasure, he soon learns that he will not be taking Elspeth on a ride, only to leave her broken.

Nearly the whole of the novel is Niall’s journey to his own absolution and breaking through his own barriers before he sees himself fit to truly love.  His deception runs the nearly the length of the book, however, I didn’t fault him entirely.  Niall is gruff and tough and speaks plainly reluctant in his show of faux apathy.  There are few things more heartbreaking than a jaded, traumatized highlander who speaks plainly.   All of his pain seeps out over every cold word.  Niall thinks he is hiding from me Elspeth, with his aloof disconnected attitude, but all he really did was reveal himself, layer by layer until he was stripped bare with the choice in the end lying with Elspeth.  He may have duped her and hid his true identify to further his own campaign, but quiet, proud Elspeth held all the cards, for he found himself in love and desperately hoping she forgave and loved him in kind.

What’s a highland romance without action and adventure? Not a highland warrior romance I say!  The Beast of Clan Kincaid has significant clear and present danger.  Elspeth is at risk by virtue of her family name and well, you have the requisite rescuing of the damsel in distress.  There is also a big plot twist that I kinda believed but barely.  I can only take so many secrets uncovered, before it starts to feel gimmicky, and I sort of wish that the character that drives this plot twist was introduced and revealed in a different manner.  This hiccup did not detract from my overall enjoyment, and it sets up the next novel, because, a next novel is so very necessary!  This novel is more sensual than sexual and even with its heft (~320 pages) I did not long for gratuitous coupling.  Wrapping myself in the warmth and mystery that is Niall and his Beastly nature was more than enough.  Stolen glances, outright obsessive stare and hole boring abounds.  This was not read in one sitting. I put it down rather reluctantly a few times, but returned each time giddy to continue.  First time author Lily Blackwood is one to watch in this genre.  I expect a novel of this caliber from a far more seasoned in the game writer.  I am happy to recommend it as this novel is great for a lazy weekend or rainy day or any other time you want to escape into the arms of a (sexy) Beast!

PS. Niall wields his sword like nobodies business!

Grade: B+
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