I’m so pleased to be able to post my review for the blog tour of Promises Of The Runes by Chritina Courtenay. Massive apologies to Rachels Random Resources and Christina Courtenay for my late posting. Thanks to both Rachel’s Random Resources and Christina Courtenay for my gifted ebook to write my unbiased review.
He travelled through time to capture her heart.
The amulet was still in the palm of his hand. Was it some sort of conduit to the past? The image of the anguished woman in his vision was seared into his mind. Perhaps it could help him find her?
Ivar Thoresson is desperate for adventure. As an archaeologist specialising in Viking times, he wants nothing more than to travel back to the ninth century as his loved ones have done, to learn everything he can about the era which fascinates him. And whilst his adopted family have always made him feel loved, the chance to meet a true ancestor, the warrior Thorald, is a temptation he cannot resist.
But while Ivar is preparing to go, he uncovers an amulet which shows him a vision of an arresting woman with red-gold hair. Clearly in distress, she is pleading for help. Convinced of the power of the charm and its message, Ivar’s journey takes on a new purpose. He steps back in time determined to follow his destiny – and find the woman who has called to his heart.
Another author, who, for me, is definitely a gifted storyteller. The Promises Of The Runes is the fifth book in the fantastic Runes series. Every time I pick up one of the books from this series, I already know I’m going to be time travelling pretty quickly.
It was a surprising twist that this book had a male main character. I found it made such a change. What made it even better was that the male main character is Ivar. The foster brother of Linnea and Maddy. Ivar has a longing to time travel like they had. To the point of even prepping himself for the journey. He doesn’t and can’t prepare for the vision he sees when he finds a silver amulet. His journey to the 9th century brings him to a crossroads in his life. He has a choice to make. What will he choose? The Viking woman he has fallen for or the world he has left behind?
The promises of the Runes don’t just bring a timeslip story filled with adventure and romance. This time, we have characters from the previous book, Tempted by the Runes, too. I was almost thrilled to see them in this book!
Christina Courtenay writes about the 9th century like she has lived during that time. Her research is truly exceptional to make every book so atmospheric, vivid, and authentic in the telling. Her passion is evident in every word she writes for this series.
I was swept back to the 9th century so easily as the story unfolded. Christina Courtenay has that power for me. I always feel like I’m there, by the side of whichever character is experiencing the 9th century for the first time. This time, it was Ivar, and I found his journey as absorbing and captivating as the previous four books.
Another exceptional historical fiction story that will capture anyone’s heart. I absolutely adored it! I do hope there is another instalment soon. I miss my Viking time!
Purchase Links
Author Bio
Christina Courtenay writes historical romance, time slip and time travel stories, and lives in Herefordshire (near the Welsh border) in the UK. Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden – hence her abiding interest in the Vikings. Christina is a former chairman of the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association and has won several awards, including the RoNA for Best Historical Romantic Novel twice with Highland Storms (2012) and The Gilded Fan (2014) and the RNA Fantasy Romantic Novel of the year 2021 with Echoes of the Runes. Promises of the Runes (time travel romance published by Headline Review 13th April 2023) is her latest novel. Christina is a keen amateur genealogist and loves history and archaeology (the armchair variety).
Social Media Links
http://www.christinacourtenay.com
https://www.facebook.com/christinacourtenayauthor?fref=ts
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