4.5
Tempted by the Runes was written by Christina Courtenay and was book 3 in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. I loved it!
A Viking-time travel tale set in Iceland? Yes please. And the romance was heartfelt. It was a slow burn and worth the wait. The story was rich in history and I loved watching the MC fall for each other. This was a “feel good” and “I’m so glad I read this” kind of experience.
I recommend this one.
Thanks Headline via NetGalley.

Christina Courteney is one of the queen's of timeslip romance. If you have read any of the others in this series you will know exactly what you are getting: vikings, romance, time travel with a little fighting & confusion to drive the story.

Strapping vikings & strong, feisty woman with a HEA. A brilliant piece of escapism.

Maddie’s family is more than a little obsessed with the Viking era. They do reenactments and even take courses in the Viking ways. When she travels back in time thanks to an artifact she is more than ready for whatever is thrown her way. At least she thinks she is. When she gets into trouble she is rescued by Geir. Once in his book she discovers they are headed for Iceland to start a settlement there.

I will say we learn a lot about the Vikings in this book and the day to day things they did to start their settlement. We learn the foods they eat, the way they travel, and the dangers they face. Although I will say I found it funny when Maddie attempts to teach them more modern ways. After all, sanitation and human rights are unheard of by the Vikings.

Overall this was an enjoyable read. I loved the characters, all of whom are well written. The locations and scenery are written beautifully as well. I will certainly be checking out other books from this author.

A timeslip story and part of a series which I did not realise when requesting the arc. The story was not for me but readers who like romantic historical fiction will enjoy.

Trigger Warnings
This book contains:
• Attempted kidnapping
Characters
Madison (Maddie) Berger, the little sister of Linnea from The Runes of Destiny, is just 19 and in Ireland with her parents and brother for a Viking festival. While following her parents around to all the Viking festivals, she’s learnt almost everything there is to learn about the ancient Vikings and the skills needed to live in the Viking era. But she dreams of more, of having a purpose.
Geir is the youngest of three brothers (Hrafn, the oldest, is from The Runes of Destiny, and Rurik, the middle brother, is from Whispers of the Runes) and desperate to create his own life. Hrafn is a landowner and Rurik is an established silversmith in Ireland, but Geir has no skills as such to establish himself and he refuses to be reliant on his brothers.
Storyline
Maddie finds a brooch engraved with a line she knows well as her sister has a brooch with the same line on it that took her back in time. She knows the implication and realises that this is her chance to see the Viking era for herself and experience life away from her parents, even just temporarily.
On her trip back in time, she ends up at Geir’s mercy and suddenly finds herself taking a trip much longer than she expected.
Overall Thoughts
I was wondering how Christina was going to keep the story going without it feeling stretched and overused. I mean, how many times can 21st Century woman go back in Viking times to the same brothers and end up in love?
Except it actually wasn’t stretched or overused at all!
The new place, context and adventure gave us a whole new story that was quite different to the previous ones. While there were some elements that weren’t as great purely because it’s later in the series, there were so many that were fresh and amazing!

Having visited Iceland and loved the wild beauty, I was pleased to discover ‘Tempted by the Runes’ by Christina Courtenay. A time-travelling Viking romance combining Sweden, Iceland and Ireland in the 21st and 9th centuries, this is a light romance which skips along nicely.
Geir Eskilsson is a Viking adventurer who sets sail from Sviariki [Sweden] in AD875 in a ship bound for Iceland, loaded with fellow travellers, livestock and tools. During a stopover in the port of Dyflin [Dublin, Ireland] to buy thralls [slaves] to work the land, he sees a strangely dressed woman being attacked.
In 2021 a nineteen-year-old Swede, Maddie, is visiting Dublin with her parents and brother to attend the Clonarf Viking Festival. Maddie’s father is an archaeologist, her mother a conservator, so she and her siblings have attended Viking re-enactments since they were small and have learned the practical skills of Viking life at workshops. When Maddie explores Dublin on her own, she finds steps down to the shore of the River Liffey where she sees a knife half-buried in the mud.
From the beginning it’s necessary to ignore the large number of conveniences and coincidences that occur; just abandon the questioning voice in your head and enjoy the story. Maddie is incredibly naive for her age and makes many impulsive questionable decisions; for example, she leaves the hotel still wearing her Viking outfit so is appropriately dressed when she finds herself in 9th century Dyflin. There she just happens to bump into Geir, not some anonymous Viking who would have treated her differently; to explain why will spoil the plot.
The Norse legends run throughout and it felt good to understand references to Odin, Loki and Thor’s hammer. I realised at the end that I read the whole book seeing Geir as Thor in the Marvel movies and hearing his spoken voice as Chris Hemsworth. The description of Iceland’s beautiful scenery, coastline and wildlife is also well done. After the early clash of culture – Maddie is horrified when Geir returns from a hunting trip with Great Auks, birds now extinct through over-hunting – it soon settles into a will they/won’t they romance, threatened by violent visitors and a Viking femme fatale.
I admit to being irritated to discover, on starting the book, that it’s actually part of a series which is not clearly stated. After hovering, I decided to go ahead and read it. It turned out not to matter too much but I’m not sure I will now read the earlier books. Some characters from the earlier Runes books are mentioned in ‘Tempted by the Runes’ so I know the outcome of their story arcs. It’s a shame this mystery is lost, as this was an entertaining romance to read on holiday.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

Timeslip romance ,part of a series. Modern day Dublin then back in time to 9th century Iceland with a handsome Viking. Romance and adventure.

This is the fourth novel in the series, and the setting is as exciting as in the other stories. Maddie is yet another family member who goes a-travelling through time when she finds a folding knife in the river Liffey in Dublin at low tide. She knows the inscription well.

Her brother, Storm, was on a pub crawl, so she'd ventured out – in her Viking re-enactment clothes – when she stumbled across the artefact. In the spur of a moment, she decided she wanted her own Viking-era adventure. Listening to Linnea and Sara, and having met their husbands, was no longer enough. So she cuts herself whilst saying the fateful words that catapult her back to Dublin in AD 875.

But her arrival did not go to plan when she was set upon by four thugs – until a tall, fair Viking fought them off. Well, Maddie's martial arts did help a bit too, but it was not enough to prevent her being knocked unconscious. When she wakes, she finds her head tended to – but she's on a ship, bound for Iceland!

Geir recognised the signs, and when Maddie tells him about the knife, his suspicion grows. Both his brothers were married to time-travelling women, so surely meeting Maddie was fate, or not?

Convinced the Norns brought them together, and refusing to return to Ireland, Geir and Maddie strike a deal. She would stay a while and help set up their new settlement, then she was free to go. But he wanted to learn about her world too, and he found himself falling in love with her.

But Maddie had been bullied in school, and she deems his compliments to be flattery. After all, apart from a couple of thrall women, she was the only other unwed female. He had no choice. Surely that was why he lusted after her, not for herself?

As weeks turn into months, they settle into their new-claimed place in a quiet Icelandic bay. But their new life is not without dangers. The small group has to look after their animals and crops well, but fortunately there are fish aplenty. But they are ill-prepared for a raid...

As with all the novels in the series, Ms Courtenay has researched the setting very well. She conveys to us a real sense of Viking age Iceland – an island ripe for the picking, but not without its drawbacks. A harsh land, but also beautiful. I loved the inclusion of a hot spring, which loosely reminded Maddie of a hot bath in the 21st century.

The main and supporting characters are all well-defined, and definitely ’people’ from their times. Geir is a realist, wanting to carve out his own life as back home there is not enough space for him. He has something to prove, and he is desperate for this new settlement to succeed.

Maddie is a Millenial, with the social conscience of wanting to make the world a better place. Her whole attitude is very 21st century, and of course starkly at odds with Viking society. Whilst her views are admirable these days, but her insistence that only her way was right felt too modern to me. When she sulks after Geir appears with baby seal pelts (which he had not killed), she is off in a huff. Her reaction is that of a sullen teenager which I suppose she is, aged 19. As abhorrent as this is to our eyes, it did not matter to her that the pelts would keep the young children warm in the harsh winters, so I found her reluctance to even try to understand Geir's world frustrating.

Overall, I found her too insistent on 21st century customs and views, some of which Geir accepted, much to the surprise of his fellow settlers. He'd known about the modern-day abhorrence of keeping thralls, so when he frees his, for them to become valued members of their small community instead, it makes much sense. However, at times I could feel his annoyance at her insistent views, and to me, she was taking the 21st century into the 9th, whilst not being prepared to give any thing in return. He agrees to indulge her, as he wants her as his wife, but I find her views – however benevolent we regard them these days – patronising. As if the Vikings were clueless about their environment. (Unlike modern mass production, these settlers killed to survive, for meat and furs.) And her method to get him to do what she deemed right reminded me of emotional blackmail. Sadly, I did not find Maddie likeable.

I did like Geir, though. He is not a forceful Viking, but a strategic settler. He faces all his troubles head-on, and does not shy away from defending his small community in man-to-man combat. Loyal and honest, he is fair in punishment and towards all members of their small group. Remarkable, but sometimes too easily convinced by Maddie's views.

Tempted by the Runes has a gripping plot, that sees Maddie and Geir struggle with their growing feelings towards each other, but also with their new life in the remote bleakness of Iceland. Ms Courtenay brings the setting across wonderfully, and we get a real sense of their daily challenges. Their life is described in great detail, and the author uses that opportunity to share her extensive research. I thoroughly enjoyed that glimpse into a past life in such a difficult environment.

At times, I found the prose slightly too modern, but it did not jolt me out of the plot, which I found engaging throughout, with a few clever twists thrown in. A challenging adventure which the characters dealt with perfectly.

As the other titles in the series, Tempted by the Runes does not disappoint. It is a romantic time-travel novel that I can highly recommend.

Note: I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. All views my own.

This was a type of book that I had not read or experienced before. Even though it was fiction, I could tell that it was based on traditions and beliefs that were had around the time that the book was set. I hated that women were treated worse than children. It was like they had no place in society and were expected to be quiet and stay out of the public eye. I guess this is how it was in that time period, but it made me feel uneasy. I loved the story and how it was different from anything I had ever read. Miuko is adventurous and brave, not thinking about societal norms and doing what is best for the people that she cares about. This book was longer than a book I would normally read, but I really enjoyed it.

4.5 Stars

Multi award-winning author Christina Courtenay blends passion, history, mystery and intrigue in her mesmerizing new timeslip romance, Tempted by the Runes.

Madison Berger is in Dublin for a Viking re-enactment festival when on the banks of the Liffey she finds something that will enable her to have an unforgettable adventure that will change the course of her entire life forever: a small knife with runes on its handle that ends up transporting her all the way back to the 9th Century. Maddie isn’t planning on sticking around in the past for longer than is necessary, but little does she realise that an unfortunate skirmish will compel her to cross paths with an honourable man who will save her from a dangerous attack: Geir Eskilsson, whom she is trapped on board a ship bound for Iceland with!

Geir had left his family in Sweden behind for a better future. Determined to carve out a new life for himself far from home, Geir is not looking for romance or for any further complications, but he finds himself drawn to Maddie like a moth to the flame. Learning of her connections to his sisters-in-law, Geir is convinced that fate has brought him and Maddie together. But the journey to their new life on a strange land will be fraught with terror and jeopardy that might just end up putting paid to any hope Geir had of building a future with Maddie.

With the odds stacked against them, can Geir win Maddie’s heart and prove to her that that her destiny lies with him in the 9th Century? Or will the promise of the runes that binds them together be broken forever leaving them both consumed by sorrow and regret?

Christina Courtenay writes sweeping, atmospheric and enthralling timeslip romances that take readers away into a world of danger, adventure and desire that is so beautifully and brilliantly evoked that they will be held spellbound from page one until the very last sentence. In Tempted by the Runes, Christina Courtenay spins a beguiling and seductive tale with a terrific heroine and a noble and charismatic Viking hero who gives the likes of Jamie Fraser a run for his money in the swoon-worthy stakes!

Christina Courtenay has knocked it out of the park yet again with Tempted by the Runes, a passionate, compulsively readable and captivating timeslip novel where the pages simply turn themselves.

Wonderful cover. The writing and story-telling is superb – the whole story has perfect pace, moments of considerable drama, well-developed supporting characters along with the relationships between them, and plenty of well-judged humour. Whether you’re drawn to this book by the history, the whole idea of time travel, or the romance, you really can’t fail to love it.

I read this book for a blog tour.
.http://ramblingmads.com/2021/12/12/blog-tour-tempted-by-the-runes-christina-courtenay/

I looked on Goodreads before I started reading, because multiple times I have been surprised by a book being part of a series, and my friends said I need to check that out better. 😂 It DID NOT say it was part of a series but… when I started reading it seemed like it was. I think this is book 4 in the Rune series.
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Maddie has found a knife that allows her to time travel from 2021 to the 9th century Ireland. It’s finally time for her to go on her own adventure! She’s in for more than she bargained for though, because as soon as she gets there she’s immediately set upon by 4 rough men meaning to take her for their own. With a little help from a mysterious passerby and get own fighting skills she beats the attackers.
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Her rescuer, Geir, believes that Maddie has been sent by the gods to be his perfect match, his love. Both his other brothers, Hrafn and Rurik, had fallen in love with time-traveling women (I’m assuming from books earlier in the series 🤷🏻‍♀️). Geir only has to convince Maddie to stay in his time long enough for her to fall in love with him…
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First off… I feel really bad for the parents! To have two daughters and family friends to just disappear with no notice and come back a year later?!? Ugh!
The writing style for this book was decent, I felt like the little action there was, was rather played down and tame. And the beginning had a slow start for me. I also thought it was slightly less creative to have all three brothers fall for time traveling women. Are there no other available Vikings that deserve true love? 😂
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The characters were well developed and the time traveling was fun. I loved the slow-burn romance between Maddie and Geir. I don’t read many time travel books but if you’re looking for time travel or Vikings (or both 😉) this book is for you!

**Received review copy.**

The writing was very pedestrian. The story was okay but it did not make me want to read more.

5 Word Review: History, friendship, danger, travel, love.

Trust me, you need this Viking time travel romance in your life.

I loved Maddie. I loved how she could hold her own, even out of her own time. Her curiosity was such a huge part of her personality and really helped drive the plot. I loved her distrust Geir, and it was justified to start with!

Geir is very headstrong and has such a tough interior, but deep down he's a teddy bear. He's so gentle and caring and thoughtful, it warmed my heart right up. I think that the only thing I didn't like about Geir was his manipulation at the beginning. I completely understand where he was coming from with his actions, but I do wish he'd perhaps been more honest with Maddie about how he knew of time travellers. Maddie of all people would have understood!

I thought they were great together, this couple work so well.

The small details bring this story truly alive. I could picture perfectly Maddie securing her hair with an intricately carved bone pin. I could feel the weather, the elements, on my skin. The descriptions are amazing and bring everything to life brilliantly. It was almost like I was wandering there myself.

I thought the extra layer of mysticism added by Maddie's fortune telling with runes was very clever, especially with how it added to her inner turmoil.

Tempted By The Runes by Christina Courtenay is perfect for fans of Outlander, Vikings, and The Last Kingdom, and the details make for the perfect historical(ish) romance.

‘If I can best you, do I get a reward?’ ‘I don’t know about that . . .’ She could guess from the twinkle in his eyes what kind of reward he was envisaging, and it made butterflies dance in her stomach. ‘You’d have to do exceptionally well.’ He gave her a confident grin. ‘Oh, I will.’

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Maddie is visiting Ireland with her parents for a Viking reenactment festival, but bored out of her wits, goes for a walk along the river. She sees an object buried half in the dirt and after wiping it clean realises it’s a time-travelling device. Landing back in the Viking ages, she immediately meets trouble, and her rescuer Geir takes her, unconscious, onboard his ship headed for Iceland. This time-slip adventure and romance is sure to keep you on your toes!

I really liked this book. At first I thought the genre was a little out of my comfort-zone, but I’m always eager to find something new that I’ll enjoy. Maddie and Geir made this book incredible. I’m not sure how I would fare if I ended up thousands of years in the past myself, but Maddie was incredible! I’m glad everyone in this book managed to find a way to get along, especially the thralls, oh and Lif, she was definitely in need of a good bum-kicking at several points throughout!

This book is very well written, and I assume researched, however I’m not a Vikings geek so I can’t confirm! If you’re looking for something a bit different, I definitely recommend this!

Thank you to @headlinebooks, @christinacourtenayauthor and @netgalley for providing me with a copy!

Pub date: Available now!

Although this is a decent romance, there is not much time travel. It wasn't realistic as far as culture and language differences between the main characters. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

Tempted by the Runes by Christina Courtenay is a Viking time-slip (dual time) romance, which interweaves past and present. This is an enjoyable romance with excellent historical content that I found to be well researched and blended into the story without overwhelming the romance. I have not read previous books in this series but I will likely be going back to them..

I would recommend reading the series in order starting with the first book, Echoes of the Runes to gain some ideas about some of the characters and events even though each book in the series can be read as a Stand-Alone...
Tempted by the Runes is a detailed story that is well thought out with a good flow. The interesting descriptions hooks the reader into the story from the first page...
I like how Courtenay has created a gripping plot with the use of research into the 9th century. Courtney has shown the culture, daily and social life of the Viking era in a realistic and fun way, that is very informative and great to read about!
The character development of Tempted by the Runes is good. The characters are realistic and interesting. The reader is able reunite with old and well liked characters and meet some newer ones. The chemistry between Madison and Geir is slow built!
I would recommend reading Tempted by the Runes to lovers of Historical Romance, as it is a dramatic character driven story humour love romance that transports the reader on a journey of intrigue and excitement...

A Five Star novel! Christina Courtenay has skillfully done her research into Viking history of the 9th century, and it shows in the details of the settlements, foods, ceremonies, buildings and materials, etc. You disappear into this period time, and while I might not want to live there myself, it is fascinating to learn so much about their way of life. Each time a question of how things were managed entered my mind, it was discussed. I think Ms. Courtenay is not only a Time Traveler, but a mind reader as well.

I really enjoyed this novel. I did like Geir, the male main character better, as he was more fleshed out and with Christina’s historical research, seemed more believable. Maddie, the female lead character, was annoying and immature, and at age 19 was neither going to university nor working, which seems unlikely in our modern age. But together the characters seem to work, especially while in the Viking timeline. The modern-day timeline, early in the book, and further on, also seems incomplete and rushed. The clash of beliefs and norms from the present to the past seemed forced, with freeing of the thralls (slaves) and hunting of animals known to be extinct in the future. Wouldn’t this interfere with the past, and have unknown repercussions in the future?

“Tempted By the Runes” is a historical fiction romance, with a unique way to time travel. And mud larking is involved – so if you are into finding discarded items from the past, maybe you’ll find a way to time travel as well.

I have not read the other two novels about the Viking brothers, but this works as a stand-alone book. When explanations are necessary to the new reader, they are worked so finely into the story that it is invisible, and not every writer can make this work. Having read this book, I am going to read her other ones as well. AND I want more stories please!