The stunning and dramatic final book in the Kincaid brothers’ trilogy set in the wilds of Scotland.LOVE TAKES NO PRISONERSDerryth MacClaren is on the run—having been sent from her castle home to avoid capture by the vicious nobleman known as the Wolf, who has vowed revenge against the Clan Kincaid. When a surprise attack leaves her vulnerable, Derryth ends up in the hands of an enemy warrior who … the hands of an enemy warrior who claims her, with the Wolf’s blessing, as his prize. But her captor’s gentle words and touch seduce her heart—and body—completely. . . and when she discovers the tattoo on his arm that proves him to be the legendary, long-believed dead son of the murdered Laird of Kincaid, Derryth knows she must find a way to alter his fate—and her own. . .
Cull has no memory of his family or past—all he knows is the life of a warrior, trained to fight on behalf of the Scottish king. But now that Derryth has informed him of who he really is—Cullen Braewick, the youngest son of the slain laird—he is torn. If Cull exacts revenge against the Wolf, who executed his father, he stands to lose the precious lass who he has come to love. What is he willing to sacrifice for Derryth to keep her safe. . .and in his arms?
The Warrior of Clan Kincaid by Lily Blackwood is not one to miss!
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A wonderful story that pulls together all the magic of a historical romance. A lost brother who does not remember who he is and has been living another life. A sweet heroine who figures out his identity and only wants to help him. Secrets, betrayal, deep emotions and truths that have been hidden that come to the surface. Yes, perfect!!
Derryth MacClaren is sent away from Inverhaven of Clan Kincaid, where she has been living with her sister, to seek safety in case the castle is attacked. Traveling disguised she and her companions are captured by the enemy they were trying to avoid. Cull the Nameless, a member of the King’s guard saves her from being abused by his men. He had been raised without remembering who he was since a young age. Taken in by Buchan, known as the Hawk, he has been raised as a warrior and part of the enemy of Clan Kincaid.
Therein the story begins with the emotions that begin to spill over between Cull and Derryth. Lily Blackwood has brought history alive with strong characters that move this plot quickly along. I was not able to put it down until the last page was turned. This has been an amazing series that will be remembered and read again.
THE WARRIOR OF CLAN KINCAID by Lily Blackwood is book Three in the Highland Warrior series. This is the story of Derryth MacClaren and Cullen Braewick. I have read the previous books (and Loved them!) but feel you can make this a standalone book if you want to do so.
Derryth is having to live her home as ‘The Wolf’ has threaten their family. But along the way she is captured by Cullen who works for ‘The Wolf”. Cullen doesn’t know his family and only knows to be a fighter/ warrior. But he is promised Derryth along with other things but when Derryth tells him who she thinks he is…decisions have to be made.
This was another exciting read from Ms. Blackwood! Love her books and this one did not disappoint!
The third of the Clan Kincaid series gives the reader Derryth and Cullen’s tale of love , adventure, finding out mysteries and looking toward the future. Definitely a page turner.
Ebook from Netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.
The Warrior of Clan Kincaid by Lily Blackwood
Highland Warrior #3
A family destroyed
Three sons separated for years
A trilogy of stories
Strength, endurance & perseverance
Retribution & Vengeance
HEA for all three sons
Finally we find out what happened to the youngest Kincaid brother. Cullen Braewick ended up sold into slavery when most of his family was butchered. Years later he was purchased by Buchan – The Wolf – to be trained as a warrior. Little does he know that Buchan’s agenda is one of revenge, murder and mayhem that will hurt Cull if he follows orders explicitly.
Into Cull’s hands falls Derryth MacClaren. She is saved by him from a “fate worse than death” and thus begins their sparring, getting to know one another and eventual HEA. With kidnapping, misdirection, murder and more this is an action-packed story of wrong doing eventually righted and family once again together.
I would like to know more about the brothers and their families further down the road but have a feeling that this may be the last book in the series…maybe?
Did I enjoy the book? Yes
Did I like Cull & Derryth? Yes
Would I read other books by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
In a word: satisfying
The Warrior of Clan Kincaid is the final book in the Kincaid Brothers Trilogy, and it was a very satisfying and fitting finale. I would consider the first book in this trilogy to be one of my favorite historical romances in recent years; this one comes pretty close to matching it, in my opinion.
In this concluding installment, the focus is on Sir Cull the Nameless. Cull’s earliest memories are of being a slave aboard a ship where he suffers many abuses and witnesses the worst of mankind; he wears what he believes to be a slaver’s mark under his arm as a constant reminder of his lowest of statuses. At around age 13, his life changes for the better when he is bought by the Earl of Buchan (known as “The Wolf”) who claims to want to free him to fight for the Scottish King. From that point forward, Cull lives only to train as the fiercest warrior and earns a position with the elite King’s Guard. He has been recruited by The Wolf to lead the siege on a castle that is occupied by “imposters”… the castle held by Niall Kincaid, the first born son of the Kincaid whose land was stolen by neighboring clan lairds and who executed his father and mother. It was believed at the time that the three Kincaid sons were also slain; however, it is revealed in the first book of this series that they were taken by various trusted clansmen to secure their safety; in the process, they were lost to one another. While the first 2 sons have been reunited, the third and youngest of the trio (Cullen) is thought to have perished. The Wolf insists that all three boys were murdered, and that the ones claiming to be Kincaids are imposters who have deceived the crown and must be usurped from their positions. What The Wolf does not know, however, is that each of the true sons of the Kincaid bear a mark that proves them to be the true heirs.
Derryth is the younger sister of Niall Kincaid’s beloved wife Elspeth. She has lived with her sister and brother-in-law, but Niall has determined it is best for her to be sent to out of harm’s way to her stepmother’s home as they anticipate a siege and further treachery to occur. Derryth is loathe to leave as she adores her sister’s family, but she reluctantly agrees. Not long after they embark on the journey (using the less traveled routes and disguised as peasants), they are surrounded by militia who attack their meager caravan. As Derryth flees the nefarious intentions of the men who have her pinned down, Cull comes to her rescue and saves her from certain ruin. When he catches Derryth, she is covered in mud from head to toe, dressed in peasant wear, and stinks to high heaven; thus, Cull believes her to be a nuisance child. But once the filth is removed from her person, Cull realizes she is a stunning woman. Both captive and captor do their utmost to deny their attraction and growing feelings for one another as they are “enemies.”
What I liked:
— Cull was always honorable and forthright regardless of the corruption that surrounded him; he was a perfect hero in that sense
— Derryth was very likeable as a leading lady; she was just feisty enough to be believable, and her struggle with remaining true to her family while falling in love with the man she believes to be her enemy was well developed by the author
— The plot was exciting and fast-moving
— Oh the steamy goodness — never graphic, but always very passionate with a physical and emotional connection between the main characters that is felt by the reader
What I didn’t like as much:
— There was what I felt was a little too much unnecessary angst with the main characters being separated; I would have preferred to have spent that time enjoying the mcs as a couple
— There was a secondary character (Nathan) who was one of the men captured with Derryth’s traveling party that kept popping up throughout the book, and I was never quite sure why — his intentions were not clear (Did he have feelings for Derryth? Was he just an a-hole who didn’t care, which wouldn’t make too much sense that Niall would have included him in the party with his beloved sister-in-law?) His constant involvement seemed to warrant a little more explanation that the reader was provided
Overall, a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to an engaging trilogy about brothers who lost each other but were finally reunited and enjoying an HEA in their true homes with the women they love.
Plot — 4.5/5
Main Characters — 5/5
Supporting Cast — 4/5
Steam Level — 3.5/5
Violence — none graphic
Language — not egregious
POV — 3rd throughout slanted from the perspective of the MCs at times
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Derryth and Cull had come from such vastly different worlds. There childhood couldn’t have been more different. Derryth was treasured, protected, spoiled even. Cull remembers little from the time before he became a young slave on a ship. He had so little to his name..literally. He didn’t even have a last name so he was known as Cull the Nameless warrior knight. The fact that he even survived was a miracle in itself because so many others like him did not. Derryth earlier in the opening pages of the book realized how useless her life had been, how little help she was to others. It saddens her and she vows to change and do better. And that is even before she runs into the surprise attack on the group she is traveling with.
I have to admit when I began to see all the problems that are lining up against the two main characters I thought how in the world is this going to be worked out? They had such divided loyalties even though Cull didn’t know the half of it yet. Even though Cull was such a scary warrior, Derryth every so often found ways to needle him. She had to appear meek, and subservient at first but she does manage to show some spirit. Later she did do a few things to aggregate him; maybe to make him so mad he would release her. It didn’t work but it did make for some interesting reading.
There are some deadly conspiracies at work in this story and some have gone on for years. But the truth is about to come out and there are a lot of people who will fight to keep it covered. They don’t care how they have to do it or who they have to use to get it done.
Overall, I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. It had intensity, action, romance, challenges to overcome and quite the ending. Very satisfying, indeed.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion of it.
That was really good! Fast paced, interesting, sexy and sweet, action packed, and intrigue, so something for everyone. I hadn’t read the other two stories, but had no trouble following along with the connections to existing characters
Cull remembers being taken from a slave ship and trained to be a warrior. He is knighted, but has no name, and is a King’s Guard, and takes that very seriously. He is travelling with his army against an enemy, so he has been told, of the King. He has been told this by his saviour, known as the Wolf, wh is feared for all the ruthless actions he takes
Derryth had been on her way to safety when intercepted. Cull saves her from ruffians, and treats her well. Feelings develop between them, but fate intervenes. Theirs is not a simple journey, or a straight line to get to their HEA, but the twists and turns and bumps along the way only push our story further along
Overall, a most enjoyable read!
I found The Warrior of Clan Kincaid by Lily Blackwood, book three of her Highland Warrior series, to be an amazing and moving story. We have Cull the Nameless who had no memory of his family or past before his time as a slave on a sailing ship. Once removed from slavery, he was trained to be a warrior and fight on behalf of the Scottish king. Derryth MacClaren was sent away from her castle home to avoid capture by a vicious nobleman who vowed revenge against the Clan Kincaid. But a surprise attack has her captured and she ends up under the protection of Cull. His gentle words and touch seduces her and allows her to feel safe among the enemy. Derryth notices a tattoo on Cull’s arm that was not from his slave days but that proves him to be the legendary, long-believed dead son of the murdered Laird of Kincaid. Before she can inform Cull of this fact she is kidnapped and held hostage by the Wolf’s jealous son. Will Cull be able to find and save Derryth? Will he learn the truth of who he really is and once he knows how will he deal with the Wolf and his lies? How much is he willing to sacrifice to keep Derryth safe and along his side?
Ms. Blackwood wrote a wonderful and emotional story that is not to be missed. She drew me into the lives of her characters, making me forget the world around me. I kept hoping the Cull would be able to save Derryth despite the obstacles and jealousies they encountered along the way, so they could find their happy ever after. I struggled putting this book down, turning page after page, not letting go until I turned the last page. I highly recommend this book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book on the behalf of the publisher through Netgalley.
This book just sucked me in from the very first heartbreaking scene, and held me all the way through to the jaw-dropping ending. This is a true historical romance, full of sparks, political intrigue, swashbuckling action, and a sexy warrior that rises above everything to be the hero he was born to be.
Derryth is a brave young woman, standing up to her captors and sacrificing whatever she must to protect her companions. The only thing she hates more than Cull, the commander in charge, is the way that she doesn’t hate him at all. I loved the way that she saw past his public presence to see the genuine man underneath, and I admired her for being loyal to what’s right regardless of where her heart wanted to go.
Cull is everything we want in a Highland Warrior. Strong and true, intelligent and compassionate, he quickly assesses his prisoner and knows immediately that he has to protect her, even while knowing she’s the enemy. He’s a man of honor above all else, and when all the secrets come out, his response was nothing short of breathtaking.
This book was an emotional adventure, set in the late 14th century Scotland, and it was brilliant from start to finish. This book is one I’ll read again and again. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
At last, we discover what happened to the third Kincaid brother who disappeared as a child while his family’s castle was attacked, and their parents killed. It was worth the wait!
Derryth MacClaren has been visiting her sister, Elspeth, and her husband Niall Braewick, Laird Kincaid at their castle. Woken in the night, dressed as a serf and told she was being sent home she fears for her pregnant sister and understands they may face a siege from Niall’s enemy Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan. She heads home with her brother-in-law’s men as her escort. They are caught by Buchan’s men and held as Cull the Nameless, one of the leaders, decides who they are. He plans to have them work for now and takes Derryth to his tent. She will also work, and he will try to keep her safe.
Cull is loyal to Buchan because he rescued him some years ago from a Venetian ship where he was a slave. He was then trained to be a soldier and eventually named a King’s Guard. He doesn’t understand the hatred for the Kincaids but follows the orders he was given. Eventually, he learns more of his history. I won’t ruin the rest of this wonderful, complex story. I highly recommend this book.
The Warrior of Clan Kincaid is the first Lily Blackwood book I’ve read but it definitely won’t be the last. I have a soft spot for historical novels featuring Scots so maybe I”m a bit biased but overall this was an excellent read. The main characters (Cull the Nameless and Derryth) were interesting and their chemistry was off the charts. From the very first page I was sucked into the story. I definitely did not see the twist coming at the end. Lily Blackwood definitely goes on my “favorite authors” list.
Derryth MacClaren is on the run having been sent from her castle home to avoid capture by the vicious nobleman known as the Wolf, who has vowed revenge against the Clan Kincaid. When her party stumble across Wolf’s army they are held captive until plans for the attack on Inverhaven are launched, Derryth is thought to be a peasant & ends up in the hands of Cull. He has no memory of his family or past all he knows is the life of a warrior, trained to fight on behalf of the Scottish king.
I was drawn into the story from the first page & found myself immersed in this lovely story. I found it to be an engrossing enthralling read even though Highlanders are not my favourite trope, the story was so well written & so very good. Derryth is strong & feisty, my kind of heroine, Cullen is honourable, fair & strong. The book flowed effortlessly & towards the end the pace as so fast I couldn’t read fast enough to the conclusion. This is the third in the series & is quite easily read on its own but if like me you love series then I’d highly recommend reading the first two books
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read