The Sea King
The Sea King is Mathis’s debut novel, set in the era of the Viking invasions of Saxon England. When Princess Isabel of Norsex was rescued from drowning by Kol Thorleksson, she believed him to be her angel, and risked everything to free him from the clutches of her vengeful brother, King Ranulf. However, in the ensuing years, she has come to think of him as her demon. When he returns to wreak revenge, she finds herself torn between hatred and desire for the man who has haunted her dreams. In turn, Kol is determined to hunt down and kill her brother, even if it means using the woman who saved him – and who inexplicably draws him despite her declared enmity. Can both surmount the physical and mental scars that have overshadowed their lives and find healing and trust in each other?
Although Mathis occasionally overuses Norse and Saxon terms, and the narrative seems a little repetitive, the novel generally has good period detail and a well-crafted plot, held together by action and passion aplenty. This is an award-winning book, true to the formula of historical romance, and fans of the genre should find The Sea King an entertaining read.
