A mistaken identity. A gruesome murder. The uniting of two powerful clans.Trained as a warrior… Darragh as her husband. The union intended to promote peace between the clans is interrupted by the shocking murder of a neighboring king and she quickly discovers there are far worse things than being wed.
Trained to be king…
Darragh of Drogheda has no wish to follow in the path of his father, Tadhg, but he is an obedient son and supports his father’s plans. His marriage to Brighit, however, will be no hardship at all since he finds her most intriguing especially when she fights him at every turn. A she-warrior indeed. Her persistent dismissal of him merely blows the fire aflame and sets him down the path to discovery of all her most tightly held secrets.
When she stands accused of the murder, can they finally come to an agreement that will give them each what they truly desire?
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Ashley York’s Daughter of the King brings another well written adventure to her Derbfine series. Consistently full of interesting plot twist, seamless historical immersion and a wonderful love story book three in this series was impossible to put down until it’s conclusion.
Darragh was a subtle hero. He excelled as a warrior but his strength lay in his being contemplative rather then reactive. His passion was in being a scholar and his quiet observations and understated devotion to Brighit made him stand out as an interesting and appealing hero. This author was able to expose this couples uniqueness without compromising her historical content. At first Darragh and Brighit seemed ill matched but Ms. York skillfully revealed their compatibility with her excellent writing. Brighit’s struggle with surrendering to being an adult was nicely done and avoided having her as coming off as spoiled but rather misunderstood and lonely. As this heroine matured she was able to see that Darragh was her friend and not her keeper enabling her to embrace the underlying attraction between them that was present throughout this work.
One of this author’s signature traits is fabulous villains and this work does not disappoint in that respect. With a great crime story layer and a brilliantly devised psychopath Ms. York will keep readers on the edge of their seat.
A standout in the world of historical romance Ashley York’s Daughter of the King will take readers on a journey to the past that will feel as authentic as it is entertaining!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
*While part of a series this book can be read as a stand alone although it will enhance readers overall experience to read the previous books.*
Daughter of the King is the third book in The Derbfine Series, but could be read as a standalone as most of the characters are not major ones in the first two books. Brighit and Darragh have been promised to each other, almost from birth. And whilst there is comfort in the familiarity, there is also worry for Brighit as she fears Darragh will want her to change, to become the ‘perfect little wifey’. Darragh is aware of Brighit’s behaviour and loves her spirit. The only way for these two to work together is to trust each other, and that doesn’t appear to be happening any time soon.
Once again, this book will draw you in. Not so much for the mystery, as that is quite straightforward, but for the complications and restrictions upon others in that time. Brighit and Darragh have to talk to each other about what happened, truthfully, for any headway to be made. I loved how Darragh worked things to allow Brighit more freedom, and how she realised Darragh wasn’t how she had pictured him.
I’m putting this one as my favourite out of the three, simply because of how well written Brighit and Darragh were. With no editing or grammatical errors, this book was a delight to read, and Ashley York is a fantastic historical romance writer that I have no hesitation in recommending.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
Daughter of the King is book #3 in “The Derbfine” series by Ashley York. This is Brighit and Darragh’s story. While this is book #3, it can easily be read as a stand alone.
Great characters, well defined storyline, with danger, intrigue, romance and love. The suspense and mystery added to this couple’s struggles and challenges. As usual, Ms. York managed to capture my attention and keep me captivated to the end. Ms. York’s knowledge of history and her writing style brings this story to life.
If you enjoy Medieval Romance, capitvating storylines, engaging characters, mystery, danger, and intrigue, your absolutely adore, DAUGHTER OF THE KING. I enjoyed watching as Brighit and Darragh’s story came to life. Their trust and love in each other and their love of clan brought this story to fruition for me. Wonderfully written! Another great read by Ashley York!
A fast paced adventure that captures the essence and traditions of ancient Ireland. I was grabbed by the Prologue and could not put it down until I turned the last page. York’s well drawn characters easily come to life and the descriptions make you feel part of the story. This is the tale of two people who were betrothed as children in the hope to unite their clans. Brighit of Clan Cruadhlaoch grew up with a father and brothers who indulged her free spirit and taught how to fight, hunt and ride like a man. Her soon to be husband, Darragh of Clan MacNaughton has been trained to one day be king like his father although he has no ambition to take that place. As the time draws near and Brighit and Darragh are to be wed, Brighit worries that she will lose all of her freedom and be made to only act as a lady and no longer have her adventures. But as fate often steps in, an adventure goes wrong right before the wedding and she is forced to keep secrets from her husband. Mystery, murder and strong emotions abound that will have you holding your breath until the last page to find out what happens. This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone, although I do want to read the first two books. Ashley York is a new author to me and I am so glad to have found her and intend to read everything she has written!!