Destiny

Helen Kirkman is in my opinion, fabulous. Her writing style is what some call 'stream of consciousness' which is a flow from inside the character like a very deep point of view. I found it to be very unique and a really new way to enjoy a great Romance. She has an excellent handle on the era and I have even gone back and ordered her books that are no longer in print. This is my absolute favourite of here books. The sensitive way she brings us into the minds and hearts of the characters and the bond that heals them is poetically beautiful.

I have loved every Kirkman book I have read, and this one is no exception. I really like her stream-of-consciousness writing style, because it makes me understand the characters more. In reality, we don't think in complete sentences and organized paragraphs. So I respect an author with the guts to write the way people think. I liked Elene a lot, and I admired her strength to do what she had to do to stay alive. I also liked that she was willing to risk the life she fought for to help Berg, even though she didn't understand why she felt so connected to him, and despite thinking he could not love a fallen woman. I loved how protective Berg was of her, even though he thought she would never love him because of his scarred face. A great tale of hurt, comfort, war and love. Kirkman never disappoints.

I read the reviews before I read the book, and I didn't really know what to expect from it. Some people seem to hate it, but I don't see why. I liked it. I thought it was a sophisticated book that was not always easy to understand, but worth the effort. The plot is pretty simple. A young woman escapes from her viking captors, meets the hero, and they share a deep love. The hero and the villain do battle, and the hero wins. They are all tortured by inner demons, and by coincidence it turns out their love was pre-destined. It is a standard romance novel plot. What makes the book special is the feelings invoked by the writing. Several people have commented on the writing style, and not everybody likes it. But I thought it was interesting. It has a rhythm, kind of like poetry. Typically, a complicated sentence or paragraph will be followed by a brief conclusion, which is almost a sentence fragment. This continues throughout the book. At first it is grating, but when you get used to it, your inner ear comes to expect it. Here are some examples: "What he carried on the journey was more than the worth of his life and the lives of all the men with him. No turning back." "She pulled the loosened cloak tighter. It was darker, now, the night deepening. The fire burned lower into the heated embers. She took the flask out of his hand. She was careful not to touch skin. She allowed one small swallow. The smooth liquid burned." "He had shown such unexpected kindness to a young and insignificant girl. Nothing else had mattered. She had followed him and she had been swept up in the blinding quality that defined him, an uncomplicated joy in whatever gifts life would offer. What fools they had been." Do you see what I mean? That little trailing sentence after every paragraph has a rhythm kind of like a Haiku. I'm not sure if the author does it on purpose, or if that is the only way she knows how to write. It's not poorly done, it's just kind of different. Once you get used to the rhythm, the book reads more smoothly.

Destiny has a great story - as do Helen Kirkman's other similar novels. The battles are excellent, romance heated, and the story kept me turning the pages until the end, even tho I had an early meeting the next morning. Kirkman's writing style is different from other authors in that she mixes what is actually happening with what each character is thinking, as well as with what multiple characters are saying -- and if you aren't expecting that, it can make the reading difficult. Now that I expect it, I really enjoy the ride. I usually read it quickly for the good parts, then immediately re-read it to get all the details of the battles and mental dances. Kirkman truly understands obsession!!

In 875 Kent, Lord Berg captures Lady Elene who just escaped from the Danes camp two miles way in Andred Forest. Berg expects Viking Lord Guthrum's advanced party in the Kent area to attack his fortress. Elene is concerned because she knows first hand how vicious Kraka the Storm Crow and his siblings can be. Berg finds himself surprisingly attracted to the "Valkyrie" but first he must deal with the local invaders who threaten to overwhelm East Anglia like they did Northumberland. As the Prince of East Anglia, he fears what has happened out there to his people, but first leads his men in a fight right here against Kraka and his minion. To his shock, Elene is in the middle of the battle. Not long afterward, he ponders if that was when he fell in love with the courageous spear carrying guest he and his troops protect. His Valkyrie lifts his spirits with hope for the future against a clever and vicious enemy. The second Dark Ages romance (see A FRAGILE TRUST) is typical of the sub-genre with ethical intrepid champions on King Alfred's side battling ferocious cruel Vikings. The exhilarating story line focuses on Berg and his men struggling to stop the Viking incursion that has taken over much of the country. As always, Helen Kirkman, who is the leading pre Conqueror-post Roman historical romance novelist, provides a deep look at the late ninth century through interwoven historical tidbits starring two principled heroes who use love to buttress their motivation to stand tall against an invincible adversary. Harriet Klausner