Author: Amanda Ashley
Mass Market Paperback
400 pages
Published by Love Spell, (Dorchester Publishing Co.), July 28th, 1997
Genre: Vampire Romance
This author's books were my first introduction to the vampire romance genre. She has remained one of my favorites ever since, although Stephenie Meyer will always be my top favorite. In fact, I consider Meyer to be the undisputed queen of the vampire romance, although I will also say that Amanda Ashley is a very close second. This is in spite of the fact that Meyer writes primarily for young adults, while Ashley's books target the adult market exclusively.
This novel begins with a scene that immediately elicits outrage in the modern reader. A desperately poor farmer, Vincent McLeod, is actually selling his fifteen-year-old daughter to the highest bidder. Such things were still taking place in 1843England United States
The dark hero, Rayven, begins to feel quite disturbed as he watches this auction. All around him in the dimly lit tavern where the poor girl, Rhianna, is being exhibited like a fine piece of horseflesh, are men who are leering and wondering what she looks like underneath her shapeless gown. Suddenly, several voices in the crowd begin demanding that she disrobe. Rayven can stand it no longer. He says one word that carries throughout the room with a ring of authority: "Enough!" Then he adds, "The girl is mine." Thus he saves poor Rhianna from having to take off her clothes in front of the lecherous crowd.
So it is that Rhianna McLeod, having been sold to Lord Rayven, is taken to Castle Rayven, where she meets Thomas Bevins, the butler and only servant. He shows her to a bedchamber which is to be her very own. On the bed is a nightgown, and a bath has been prepared for her. Rhianna is surprised, since she is unaccustomed to being waited on.
As the days pass, she is also mystified as to what her precise role in the castle is. Rayven seems to expect nothing from her, and he is always extremely kind and courteous. He even asks Bevins to teach her to read, as well as play the pianoforte. Unbeknownst to her, however, Rayven takes her blood at night, after she has fallen asleep... Consumed by guilt, he exercises strict control on his hunger, taking only the bare minimum, but she still wakes up feeling tired. Rayven realizes that he is falling in love with her -- indeed, really fell in love with her from the moment he first saw her. He knows that she returns his feelings. This turn of events, along with his firm conviction that he could very well ultimately kill her, should his hunger get out of control, prompts him to make the decision to send Rhianna toParis
Four years pass, and Rhianna returns, a polished young lady of nineteen. She is still in love with Rayven, spurning the attentions of one of his friends, a dashing young aristocrat named Dallon Montroy, who has also fallen in love with her. Although jealous, Rayven feels honor-bound to warn her about the dangers of continuing to have a relationship with him, since she has by now discovered his true nature. She insists that she loves him anyway, and trusts that he will not hurt her because of his own love for her.
Rayven finally strikes a strange bargain with her -- they will marry, but then he will release her from her vows at the end of a year. This is one thing about the novel I found puzzling. The ceremony is performed by a priest, and this is 19th centuryEngland
Of course, the marriage is by no means over at the end of a year. The love story of Rayven and Rhianna blossoms into an eternal union of soul, mind, and body, leaving the reader satisfied and content. At least, that's how I felt as I read.
Ashley portrays Rayven in a very realistic manner, and it’s fascinating to see how his inner torment plays out in his relationship with Rhianna.. Although he is a vampire, he does not delight in killing. He is tortured by his terrible compulsion to survive on blood. Frequently, he kills sheep from his own herd, instead of slaking his thirst on humans. He ruthlessly isolates himself in his castle, unwilling to put the villagers nearby in danger. Nevertheless, he sees himself as a monster, someone totally unworthy of love.
As for Rhianna herself, she is the epitome of feminine compassion, innocence, and kindness. She, too, is tortured, for she does fear for her life at Rayven’s side. It is the true self she perceives in him, however, that gives her the strength to override that fear. She knows he longs for the light, and she attempts to bring as much of that into his life as she can. Instead of despairing, she touches his soul with her unconditional love. Her selfless devotion enchants him, and is the beginning of his long journey toward the human life he had lost four centuries before.
This novel is an enchantingly beautiful, wonderfully romantic tale of how a man who has carried a burden of loneliness, darkness, and self-loathing for centuries, at last finds love and light with a woman who accepts and loves him with her whole being. This love becomes his ultimate redemption.
This novel begins with a scene that immediately elicits outrage in the modern reader. A desperately poor farmer, Vincent McLeod, is actually selling his fifteen-year-old daughter to the highest bidder. Such things were still taking place in 1843
The dark hero, Rayven, begins to feel quite disturbed as he watches this auction. All around him in the dimly lit tavern where the poor girl, Rhianna, is being exhibited like a fine piece of horseflesh, are men who are leering and wondering what she looks like underneath her shapeless gown. Suddenly, several voices in the crowd begin demanding that she disrobe. Rayven can stand it no longer. He says one word that carries throughout the room with a ring of authority: "Enough!" Then he adds, "The girl is mine." Thus he saves poor Rhianna from having to take off her clothes in front of the lecherous crowd.
So it is that Rhianna McLeod, having been sold to Lord Rayven, is taken to Castle Rayven, where she meets Thomas Bevins, the butler and only servant. He shows her to a bedchamber which is to be her very own. On the bed is a nightgown, and a bath has been prepared for her. Rhianna is surprised, since she is unaccustomed to being waited on.
As the days pass, she is also mystified as to what her precise role in the castle is. Rayven seems to expect nothing from her, and he is always extremely kind and courteous. He even asks Bevins to teach her to read, as well as play the pianoforte. Unbeknownst to her, however, Rayven takes her blood at night, after she has fallen asleep... Consumed by guilt, he exercises strict control on his hunger, taking only the bare minimum, but she still wakes up feeling tired. Rayven realizes that he is falling in love with her -- indeed, really fell in love with her from the moment he first saw her. He knows that she returns his feelings. This turn of events, along with his firm conviction that he could very well ultimately kill her, should his hunger get out of control, prompts him to make the decision to send Rhianna to
Four years pass, and Rhianna returns, a polished young lady of nineteen. She is still in love with Rayven, spurning the attentions of one of his friends, a dashing young aristocrat named Dallon Montroy, who has also fallen in love with her. Although jealous, Rayven feels honor-bound to warn her about the dangers of continuing to have a relationship with him, since she has by now discovered his true nature. She insists that she loves him anyway, and trusts that he will not hurt her because of his own love for her.
Rayven finally strikes a strange bargain with her -- they will marry, but then he will release her from her vows at the end of a year. This is one thing about the novel I found puzzling. The ceremony is performed by a priest, and this is 19th century
Of course, the marriage is by no means over at the end of a year. The love story of Rayven and Rhianna blossoms into an eternal union of soul, mind, and body, leaving the reader satisfied and content. At least, that's how I felt as I read.
Ashley portrays Rayven in a very realistic manner, and it’s fascinating to see how his inner torment plays out in his relationship with Rhianna.. Although he is a vampire, he does not delight in killing. He is tortured by his terrible compulsion to survive on blood. Frequently, he kills sheep from his own herd, instead of slaking his thirst on humans. He ruthlessly isolates himself in his castle, unwilling to put the villagers nearby in danger. Nevertheless, he sees himself as a monster, someone totally unworthy of love.
As for Rhianna herself, she is the epitome of feminine compassion, innocence, and kindness. She, too, is tortured, for she does fear for her life at Rayven’s side. It is the true self she perceives in him, however, that gives her the strength to override that fear. She knows he longs for the light, and she attempts to bring as much of that into his life as she can. Instead of despairing, she touches his soul with her unconditional love. Her selfless devotion enchants him, and is the beginning of his long journey toward the human life he had lost four centuries before.
This novel is an enchantingly beautiful, wonderfully romantic tale of how a man who has carried a burden of loneliness, darkness, and self-loathing for centuries, at last finds love and light with a woman who accepts and loves him with her whole being. This love becomes his ultimate redemption.
There is a brief sex scene in the book, but it's tastefully done. There are no extremely graphic details. The emphasis is on tenderness and sweet passion. Ashley apparently stands alone among vampire romance authors in this regard. She is also unique because of the absence of profanity in her novels.
There are many lyrical passages in the book, especially when Rayven and Rhianna meet in his garden maze at night. I could picture these scenes in my mind as if they had been put on film. Indeed, I wonder why this story has not been made into a movie. It certainly is a grand romantic tale! Moreover, the ending is nothing short of miraculous. Fortunately, I had already prepared myself by having a hankie nearby, since I already knew what was coming – a wondrously beautiful testimony to the power of true love. As a hopeless romantic, I couldn’t help basking in it all!
This is the second time I have read the book. The first time was several years ago, and I know I will read it again, for its unabashedly romantic style will always satisfy my ceaseless craving for more dark, brooding love stories that nevertheless end happily, all dark obstacles having been overcome!
Ashley's novels usually delight and enchant. This one is no exception, although Ashley has really outdone herself here! The story sweeps one away into a blissfully romantic haze, and cannot be put down until the very last word is read. If that should happen at three o'clock in the morning, then so be it!
MY RATING:
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