Curse of the Healer
Ireland in 1095 AD is made up of small, fractured clans, each with its own “king.” In the wake of beloved High King Brian Boru’s death, a legend arises of a great woman healer. The man who takes her as his own will become the one King above all. The two romantic protagonists, the healer Aednat and clan chief Diarmuid, get off to an unpleasant start. But as time passes, they overcome family rivalries, her physical deformity and later kidnapping, and the tension of armed combat to finally recognize their immense love for each other.
This superbly crafted medieval novel is a glistening historical romance with the added attraction of battling warriors and unexpected twists, all set in a mysterious and seemingly magical Irish venue. The clan divisions and internecine strife accentuate why Brian Boru’s death following his earlier decisive victory over the Viking invaders at Clontarf was so unfortunate for Ireland. Yet Aednat and Diarmuid illustrate that hope remains, and the surprising ending happily caps all the driving emotions and answers the readers’ remaining questions. Although I’m not generally a fan of romance, I can nevertheless recommend this one.
