A deceptively simple yet utterly timeless tale of immense passion, subtle grace, and dark intentions.
Not quite of marriageable age herself, Issylte is exposed to a new feminine influence in the royal household when her father, the widower King Donnchadh of Ireland, weds imperious Princess Morag of Scotland. With ambition coursing through her icy veins, Morag hatches a nefarious plot meant to deny Issylte the throne and seize power for herself. Issylte’s destiny takes her on a magical journey abounding in many iterations of friendship, anguish, tuition, intrigue, and love. Not far away in Britain lives an orphaned young man named Tristan. Consumed with anger and grief over the cruel loss of his family, Tristan channels his rage into training as a warrior. Taken in by his heirless uncle King Marke of Cornwall, Tristan is treated as a beloved son and groomed for greatness by the beneficent ruler. His journey brings him into contact with amazing people, exciting experiences, and lustful moments. As Issylte and Tristan mature independently, their paths eventually converge into an enduring love story that sparkles like a polished diamond. “In the breadth of an instant, Issylte was bound to this warrior… as if fate had entwined them.” But fate has more than romance in store for this spirited pair.
The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven is a deceptively simple yet utterly timeless tale of immense passion, subtle grace, and dark intentions. Elements of grand fairy tales and the abiding legend from which this story is recast have made their way into so much of our culture that it is impossible not to feel an immediate familiarity and fondness with the major plot points in Tristan and Issylte’s story. Really, no stone has been left unturned in this glorious affair. Wicked stepmother? Sure. Kinship with Lancelot of legend? Absolutely. A forest inhabited by its own fairy witch? Yes, please. The unrelenting ache of forbidden love? Without a shadow of a doubt. However, Jennifer Ivy Walker makes The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven a completely original and entirely craveable creation unto itself, one that readers will be loath to set aside. The character development is unmatched in the genre, creating a heady blend of dramatic triumphs, clever machinations, and crushing heartbreaks. Sensual, intelligent, and brimming with supernatural delights, The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven is a striking fairy tale wrapped tenderly in a gauzy French embrace.
