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“Key Words - epilepsy, harem, eunuchs”
Brandy T wrote this review Monday, May 26 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Silk Dreams is a historical romance set in the time of the Byzantine Empire with glimpses of the Norse, Greek and Arab cultures of the time through the characters. The hero and heroine are drawn together by chance. They must fight their backgrounds and forces separating them while political intrigue threatens to disrupt the entire empire. The Scandinavian woman Valdis has been banished from her homeland right before her wedding because, being epileptic, she is considered evil and cursed when her seizures are seen by the groom and his family. Valdis is sold to a Greek eunuch Damian on an auction block in the Byzantine empire who teaches her in all the arts of an Odelisque (harem) woman in order to use her to political means within the Arab world of Constantinople. When he hires the Nordic warrior Erik, banished also for having committed murder, to teach Valdis Greek, will her heart and life be in danger? Will Erik remain true to his oath to serve the emperor? Will he protect Valdis within a world where sexual purity may be the only thing that can protect her from a brutal culture? Will the political intrigue of her captors interfere with Valdis and Erik's carefully laid plans?
Merrimon wrote this review Saturday, September 22 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Silk Dreams creates a romance where suspenseful moments inspire a fast-paced read as historical politics and cultures clash around the characters' personal lives. The richness of the Odalisque culture combined with the secretive romance and sexuality heighten the passion. The unfolding politics and loyalties magnify the suspense as Valdis and Erik try quench their passion together yet hidden from the watchful eyes of others.
Diana Groe's skill shines in the details surrounding the main hero and heroine romance. Chloe, who were basically prisoner even in an opulent Odalisque world demonstrated such courage and strength despite her punishment. Punished for impurity, Chloe tells Valdis not to look at the world through what she has lost. The romance between Erick and Valdis emerges more passionately because it is built on the grounds of their losses and the detours. The character of Damian the eunuch was superbly multi-faceted with all the many ways he dealt with love, women and his manhood. I loved him despite his devious plots! The author writes memorable secondary characters that intrigue as much as the hero and heroine --- memorable long after the cover is closed.
In addition to the characters, Silk Dreams provides a rich culture and historical background for this romance. The scenes focused on with language learning and the use of runes in the book ground the historicity and the suspense. The stark contrast between the images of luxury in the harem and the brutal way the culture treated women added both atmosphere and depth to this romance. The glimpses at Christianity through the eyes of Valdis who worshipped the Norse gods add a layer that intrigued me. The understanding of one religion through the eyes of another revealed both the strengths and weaknesses of each in new ways. In Silk Dreams the reader sees three religions seen differently through the eye of various characters.
© Merrimon 2007”
“Jennj of Night Owl Romance - http://www.nightowlromance.com
NightOwlRomance wrote this review Thursday, July 19 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
If you like to feel like you can open the pages of a book and be literally pulled into the story to the extent you can see, smell, and almost taste everything that is going on this is a book for you. Diana Groe is truly a master at putting you in the eyes and heart of her characters. Feel all the emotions along with them throughout this wonderful and page turning book. I thoroughly enjoyed Silk Dreams. From the very beginning the plight and strength of Valdis pulled at my heartstrings.
Sold into slavery by her own family, the beautiful young Norsewoman is thrown into an entirely new world literally when she is sold to the highest bidder (a crafty and high standing eunuch) in exotic Constantinople. Everything is different than the free and peaceful existence she knew in her native home of Scandinavia. She can’t even speak the language of her new captures and because of this fact a fellow Northman is brought in by her new owner to teach her how to speak in the native Greek tongue. But from the moment Valdis and Erik’s eyes meet they both knew that they would learn far more than meer language from their time together.
Erik is a Centurian and has sworn and oath of allegence to the Emporer. Now he has been summoned from his troops to play tutor to a woman slave of a Eunich no less on command from his superior. Erik is less than happy about the sitution until he meets the woman and finds it is the same beautiful witch of a woman that entranced him on the auction block. Fate has brought them together again but will it also rend them both apart. Or can these two lost souls find true happiness and the home that they both long for in shelter of each others arms?
Rich in both historical fact and lore this one will keep you thoroughly entertained and guessing till the very end. I strongly advise you to pick this one up, you will be very glad you did.
© Night Owl Romance 2007”1 of 1 members found this review helpful“Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
shewolf0316 wrote this review Wednesday, July 18 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Valdis was cast out by her people after a strange fit made them fear her. Sold into slavery by her own family, she ends up in the foreign city of Miklagard, where she is bought and placed in a harem. There, the man who purchased her intended to use her to infiltrate the enemy and pretend her fits were moments of psychic vision.
Erik was banished from his home when he murdered his brother in a berserkr rage. Now he is a member of the Varangian Guard in Miklagard where his duty is to protect the emperor. When he sees Valdis on the auction block, he knows his destiny is linked to her and he will do whatever he must to gain the interest of the pale beauty with mismatched eyes.
As Valdis grows closer to Erik, her dreams begin to portend of a dire future for him, she must find a way to use her position in the harem to save Erik and gain her own freedom as well. But if her master finds out about the bond between Valdis and Erik, it would be their death.
Once again Diana Groe enchants readers with the brilliantly written Silk Dreams. The setting for the adventure is beautifully done, so that you can’t help but see Miklagard in all its glory and the lushness of the palace in your mind’s eye. It is a rare talent that can bring words to life so vividly that it’s like watching a movie or living the life of the players. The story moves along at a steady pace, being more of a character driven novel than a plot driven one. Don’t let that fool you though. So much happens from beginning to end that I was carried along on the emotional roller coaster ride.
Valdis is a young woman who happens to have epilepsy, an ailment which of course no one understands in her time, so she is believed to be cursed. She is plagued with unfortunate circumstances from being cast aside by her own family to being forced to perform “parlor tricks” at the whim of a cruel owner. Yet in spite of it all, she manages to overcome her situation and stay strong until the time she can gain that which she wants most… her freedom… and the undying love of her Viking Warrior.
Erik has much to atone for in his past so doesn’t believe he will ever be happy again. When the fates bring Valdis into his life he finds the hope he’s long been missing. Watching his personal struggle as he learns to forgive himself for his past is a very moving experience. Seeing this big strong man fall under the spell of the bewitching Valdis makes us sigh in happiness and long for our own dream hero.
Each and every secondary character adds their own magic to the story from Valdis’ cruel owner to Damian the eunuch, to the young Frank girl Valdis befriends. My personal favorite was Damian as you never knew quite what he had in mind for Valdis, even when you thought he did. He had quite a bit of depth to his story and I was so happy that we got to follow along on his adventure as well.
I am always guaranteed an immensely enjoyable read when I pick up one of Groe’s books and Silk Dreams is no exception. I can’t wait for future works by this talented author!
© Kelley A. Hartsell, May 2007. All rights reserved.”
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