The Conqueror
Brenda Joyce
ISBN# 0-440-20609-X
Bantam Dell Publishing, Sept 1990, 423 pages
Historical Romance-Medieval circa 1069
$5.99 (US) $7.99 (CDN)

Reviewed by Laurel
February 2005

There is just something about Brenda Joyce’s writing when you pick up one of her older historical romances. I just finished re-reading The Conqueror and I must tell you this is Brenda Joyce at her best and at her finest. The story, the era, the characters were all portrayed realistically given the times of 1069, and the after effects of the Norman Invasion. It is brutal, it is gory, and it contains rape and pillaging all things that happened during that time. It may offend some readers and then again there are the readers that love these types of romance novels. I happen to be one of them. I would rather read a book that is portrayed with a sense of realism than read a book based on an era that is so PC laced in writing you forget just what era it is your reading.

Rolfe the Relentless was a Norman Warrior one of King Williams trusted and respected Vassal’s. He is sent to northern England to handle the uprising and rebellion of the Saxons and restore some order to the lands. His prize for doing so Castle Aelfgar and the lady within. On route he is raiding a village and comes across a stunning beauty, incensed that she is fighting his men he attempts to rape her. But he is stopped when he is informed she is his intended bride. Travelling back now to Castle Aelfgar he is smitten with her thinks he could not have a better woman to be his wife. To bad she is wrong woman; she is Ceidre, his bride’s bastard sister. Outraged that the woman deceived him, he tried to ignore her but she infects him like no other woman, he lusts after her, he wants her. He is angry that he is marrying the wrong woman a mean and spiteful woman filled with jealousies and insecurities but he lives up to his honour all the while being tempted by a bronze haired witch.

Ceidre was the keep’s favourite daughter, she had the run of the land, she was beautiful she was feisty she loves her home, she is also the bastard daughter, no claim no rights. She has a wandering eye making people leery and afraid of her but rely on her for her witch’s abilities in healing. She would do anything for her country, including seduce her sisters husband a Norman Invader a man she despises to learn secrets to the Norman cause and pass them on to her two brothers who are now outlaws. She is deathly afraid of being imprisoned in dungeons but a risk she takes. Rolfe terrifies her, she knows he lusts after her; she avoids him at all costs. He hunts her down, he wants her, and she acknowledges that. Too bad she thinks to herself that finally there is a man that wants her bad eye and all and because he is her enemy she is required to hate him. Slowly Ceidre and Rolfe develop a relationship based on trust. Torn now between the man she’s come to love and the love for her country and brothers she commits one treasonous act to many, one that costs her everything she has come to hold dear.

This book is engrossing, it has a cast of many characters, it’s thrilling, it will make you gasp out loud, it will make you smile and angry it will also make you cry. All the perfect ingredients that romance readers have come to hold dear. I did at one point get very frustrated with Ceidre and her rationality of explaining things to her sister Alice. Her brothers I found were no better than Rolfe when it came to demands on Ceidre, to the point I was wondering did they really care for her or was she just a means to an end in this brutal and gory time? Ceidre is one of Brenda Joyce’s better heroines; she is everything a reader could hope for regarding a heroine. She has her shortcomings but a compelling woman she was. Rolfe is a true Brenda Joyce male hero, arrogant, a jerk an Alpha male. Brenda is the master at writing these types of hero’s she can get under their skin and make then tougher than nails but also with a touch humanity that you fall in love with them. The only problem I had with this book was the Epilogue; I found it abrupt and very short. After going through all emotions possible while reading this novel the epilogue could have been expanded on just a little bit more. Brenda Joyce did a splendid job portraying this era and she continued this saga with a sequel called The Promise of The Rose. Another novel by Ms. Joyce that is a gripping and compelling portrayal of this Era with the story of Stephan de Warrene, Ceidre and Rolfes oldest son.