Avelynn
England, 868-70, at the start of the Viking invasion of Wessex. This is not a good time for the daughter of the Saxon Ealdorman of Somerset to fall in love with the Viking leader’s half-brother. To make Avelynn’s situation worse, her father has betrothed her to Demas, an ambitious and vicious Saxon noble. She is, furthermore, secretly a priestess of the goddess and believes that women have rights; he sees them as possessions, and he has the support of a patriarchal and intolerant Church. She struggles heroically to escape the marriage, but in an age when women were ruled by men and highly vulnerable to abuse and rape, her opponents have all the advantages and are ready to stoop to treachery as well.
This is an unusual blend of history, romance, and fantasy. The historical context is darker and more violent than is common in romance: people are tortured and brutally slain, and though Avelynn escapes the worst, her beatings are harsh enough. Conversely, the lovers’ passionate relationship reflects current trends in popular romance: Alrik the Blood-Axe is not only a magnificent warrior, but unexpectedly respectful and sensitive to her needs. Avelynn herself recalls the female heroes of fantasy, with her independent spirit, weapon skills, and ‘sight.’ Does Campbell pull it off? Depends on what you are looking for, but it is worth checking out.
