It is my pleasure to introduce Linnea Tanner’s newest historical fantasy fiction in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series Book 4 Skull’s Vengeance. I’ve read Ms. Tanner’s previous books in the series and enjoyed delving into the mystical world of the Celts during the time of the Roman occupation. For one, I am invested in Catrin’s fight to rule as queen of the Cantiaci. My book review will follow in the coming week’s. Below are extra details on the characters in Skull’s Vengeance and where to buy the book.
How have characters developed from the first book to the fourth book, Skull’s Vengeance, in the series?
The development of the main characters, Catrin and Marcellus Antonius, span over four years from the first book (Apollo’s Raven) to the fourth book, Skulls Vengeance, in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. Catrin changes the most in her transition from a teen to a nineteen-year-old woman. Fiercely loyal to Marcellus, she overcomes challenges that threaten her freedom, dignity, and life. Her trials have prepared her to take on the mantle of a warrior queen who is destined to overthrow her evil half-brother. Although Marcellus is almost five years older that Catrin, he often acts impulsively, often to their detriment. He is slowly learning, though, how to play the political games in the imperial court so he can aid her in the quest to overthrow her evil half-brother, Marrock.
Below is an overview of the development of the star-crossed lovers, Catrin and Marcellus, in the span of four books.
The first book, Apollo’s Raven, is set in 24 AD Britannia. Catrin, the youngest daughter of King Amren, is an adolescent struggling to understand her role in the Cantiaci kingdom and to learn how to control her magical abilities with the guidance of a raven spirt. Marcellus is the impetuous nineteen-year-old son of an embittered Roman emissary, Lucius Antonius, who is striving to rise out of the ashes of his ill-reputed father (Iullus Antonius) and grandfather (Marcus Antonius). When Marcellus is retained as a hostage under Catrin’s charge, they are pawns in the political machinations of their fathers who are negotiating new terms in a treaty. The couple struggle to balance their strong feelings for each other versus their duties to family and country.
The star-crossed lovers feel trapped in fates controlled by their fathers as the epic tale continues in Dagger’s Destiny (Book 2). So that they can be together and determine their destinies, Marcellus and Catrin make bold but reckless decisions. As a result of their actions, they ultimately suffer life-altering consequences. The Romans enslave Catrin while most of her family is slain. Marcellus returns severely wounded to Rome with his memory of Catrin erased by a dark druid.
In Book 3 of the series, Amulet’s Rapture, Catrin must learn how to survive under the brutal treatment of her master, a commander in the Roman legion. Believing Marcellus can free her, Catrin reaches out to him in dreams to seek his aid. After more than a year, he reunites with Catrin when he is banished as an inexperienced officer in Gaul. There, he learns of their prior relationship. He tries to help her to escape, but they are caught, separated, and punished by the commander. Marcellus leads dangerous military campaigns, for which he receives accolades. Catrin is condemned to fight as a gladiator. Although Marcellus ultimately purchases and frees Catrin, she chooses to leave him rather than be his mistress in Rome.
Skull’s Vengeance (Book 4) begins on the eve of Samhain (October 31) in 27 AD Gaul. Catrin is a young woman who has been forged into a warrior with her training in the Roman legion and gladiatorial games. Now embracing her destiny to become queen of the Cantiaci, she is determined to return home and overthrow Marrock, a sorcerer and shapeshifter. Catrin struggles to learn how to be an effective leader as she gathers her father’s former commanders and enemies to aid in her quest to overthrow Marrock. Now in his mid-twenties, Marcellus is wiser and positioned to rise politically with his betrothal to the young daughter of a powerful consul. His decision to ally and reignite his relationship with Catrin could ultimately impact his family’s legacy and the political direction of both Rome and Britannia.
Blurb
A Celtic warrior queen must do the impossible—defeat her sorcerer half-brother and claim the throne. But to do so, she must learn how to strike vengeance from her father’s skull.
AS FORETOLD BY HER FATHER in a vision, Catrin has become a battle-hardened warrior after her trials in the Roman legion and gladiatorial games. She must return to Britannia and pull the cursed dagger out of the serpent’s stone to fulfill her destiny. Only then can she unleash the vengeance from the ancient druids to destroy her evil half-brother, the powerful sorcerer, King Marrock. Always two steps ahead and seemingly unstoppable, Marrock can summon destructive natural forces to crush any rival trying to stop him and has charged his deadliest assassin to bring back Catrin’s head.
To have the slightest chance of beating Marrock, Catrin must forge alliances with former enemies, but she needs someone she can trust. Her only option is to seek military aid from Marcellus—her secret Roman husband. They rekindle their burning passion, but he is playing a deadly game in the political firestorm of the Julio-Claudian dynasty to support Catrin’s cause.
Ultimately, in order to defeat Marrock, Catrin must align herself with a dark druidess and learn how to summon forces from skulls to exact vengeance. But can she and Marcellus outmaneuver political enemies from Rome and Britannia in their quest to vanquish Marrock?
Acclaim for other books in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series:
“[An] epic tale of love, betrayal and political intrigue.” —InD’tale Magazine
“The requisite fantasy elements of magic and mystery abound…Tanner also does an admirable job weaving in the politics and mythology of a bygone people.” —Kirkus
“Part fantasy, part historical fiction, Linnea Tanner has woven together a wonderful tale of romance, intrigue, mystery, and legend to create an entertaining and complex story.” —The International Review of Books
“[A] captivating tale of triangles; love, lust and espionage; friend, foe, and spies; barbarians, civilized Rome and spiritual-supernatural beings.” —2019 Pencraft Book of the Year Award
Are there any trigger warnings for your book? If there are, please list them.
Sex, Slave trafficking and abuse, Violence, Childbirth
Buy links:
| Universal | Amazon UK | Amazon US |
| Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble |
| iTunes | Kobo | GooglePlay |
| Booktopia | Apollo’s Raven | Dagger’s Destiny |
| Amulet’s Rapture |
Where can you connect with Linnea Tanner:
If you haven’t as yet read any of Ms. Tanner’s books, I do highly recommend you do.
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