The Laird’s Magical Lass
Julie Johnstone
Medieval Romance
Freya
Aye, I stole a goblet. A magical one. From a witch.
In my defense, I returned it.
I just… took too long.
I was trying to save myself from a loveless marriage, not doom my future.
But witches don’t take kindly to thievery that cost them dearly.
She granted my wish—then twisted it into a curse.
Now I’m thrice wed, never for love.
Men want me for my sight, not my heart.
And when they don’t heed my visions, they die.
I’ve been taken again, this time by Colin bloody MacDonald.
A brute. A Highland warlord. My father’s greatest enemy.
He says he’s not like the others. I say he’s worse.
He married me to ruin my clan.
He thinks he can use me.
But I’ve had my fill of being used.
And yet… he’s careful with me. Fiercely so.
Worse still, he’s handsome when he’s not scowling,
and kind when he thinks I’m not looking.
I won’t give him my heart.
But I fear it may no longer be mine to keep.
Colin
I didn’t want a wife.
I needed leverage. A weapon. A way to end this war.
Freya MacLeod is all of that—and more trouble than I bargained for.
I forced her hand, aye. But I swore not to touch her until she’s willing.
And now, every day she refuses me feels like its own kind of curse.
She’s fire and prophecy, steel wrapped in silk.
And I’m starting to forget I married her for vengeance.
Starting to wonder what it would mean to earn her trust.
There’s no room for softness in war.
No space for hearts in bargains.
But when it comes to Freya, I’ve already lost more than I meant to give.
Uncaged Review: At first I wasn’t sure where the author was going with this one, but Freya has been used by her father for power and greed, and when he is going to marry her off for an alliance, her and her friends steal a magical goblet from Morgana, the witch in the dark woods. Freya wishes for the “sight” to be able to change her future, but instead she’s caught by Morgana and is cursed instead. When her visions start coming true – men want to marry her for her “gift,” but they keep dying like her visions tell. Colin, the Laird of the enemies, is to be her fourth husband, and Freya has been abused in many ways from the previous marriages, but Colin is an honorable man, and it will take time to break through Freya’s defenses.
This is a bit different from what I’ve read before from this author, and it was hard to put the book down, especially at the back half of the book. Freya will finally find her own way, and Colin will learn to love again after losing his wife. The tension is high, and the war between the clans and Colin will get more than he bargained for just for peace. This book doesn’t slow down much and even though sometimes I thought Freya a bit overdone, I was still rooting for her. Nice start to this series. Reviewed by Cyrene
4.5 Stars
