Sir Renaud de Pierrepont, the Norman knight known as the Red Wolf for the beast he slayed with his bare hands, hoped to gain lands with his sword. A year after the Conquest, King William rewards his favored knight with Talisand, the lands of an English thegn slain at Hastings, and orders him to wed the heiress that goes with them, Lady Serena. Serena wants nothing to do with the fierce warrior to whom she has been unwillingly given, the knight who may have killed her father. When she learns the Red Wolf is coming to claim her, she dyes her flaxen hair brown and flees, disguised as a servant, determined to one day regain her lands. But her escape goes awry and she is brought back to live among her people, though not unnoticed by the new Norman lord. Deprived of his promised bride, the Red Wolf turns his attention to the comely servant girl hoping to woo her to his bed. But the wench resists, claiming she hates all Normans. As the passion between them rises, Serena wonders, can she deny the Norman her body? Or her heart?
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Delving into eleventh century fiction always feels like coming home. It's pretty much where I started my love affair with period based literature and I don't think I've ever really gotten over it. Heavy romance isn't my usual stomping ground, but the premise of Regan Walker's The Red Wolf's Prize, with its reference to the Norman Conquest, piqued my interest so I figured it worth a shot.
Generally speaking think this a fine piece. It's a great example of the genre and I liked how Walker used the tension between the English and the Normans as a foundation for the tension between Renaud and Serena. I also enjoyed the subplots surrounding supporting characters Cassie and Rhodhi.
Ideally, I'd have liked to see more emphasis on the politics of the day and a more complex story overall, but that's just me. All told, The Red Wolf's Prize is a lighter historical, perfect for those who appreciate heavy romantic story lines and heated passion.
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With sudden clarity, he realized he’d been played the fool. Rage filled him as he slowly rose. The lady had deceived him, living beneath his nose disguised as a servant, determined to thwart his claim to her. Well, her deception was at an end.
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