Black Lion's Bride (Warrior #2) [Sebastian & Zahirah] by Lara Adrian (originally as Tina St. John)

While I enjoyed this novel - especially how cleverly it was concluded, it took me a LONG time to connect with Zahirah. While Sebastian is the most honest, hard working, gentlemen (yeah, okay he can be ruthless too..) generally a good person, Zahirah's character paled in comparison to his. She almost felt "inhuman" in her blood lust. I guess when you are raised on hatred that's what you become so truth being told, the journey she went through gave her back a possibility of LIFE one she could call her own - enjoy, grow and fulfillment, love and the possibility of being loved. For Sebastian it's finally meeting his match, the person who was missing from his rather sheltered life in England. He expected to find adventure in the Holy Land - that he did - but he also found something he didn't even know he wanted or needed.

While the previous book's setting was England. This book takes place in the Holy Land. As the previous book ended with Sebastian of Montborne offering his lost brother Griffin not only the wife he was ordered to marry but his place as the head of Montborne's estate as he would much prefer the adventures to a boring married life to a woman he doesn't know or want (especially since she is already madly in love with his brother and in a way have been for years).

It's been a few years since Sebastian got to the Holy Land, he had his share of battles, and while he enjoyed his time and the favor of his King - Richard Lionheart - in a way he is still a bit restless. As he hasn't found what he was looking for, the Assassins are always around them and his King seems to delay and delay their departure to Jerusalem. Being stationed now as a commander in the city of Ascalon he is getting bored, especially after being stabbed and almost killed by an Assassin trained on killing Richard, which is how he found himself left behind in charge yet in a way incapacitated.

Zahirah knows her duties, she has trained all of her life as an Assassin, the daughter of the "King of Thieves" himself - Rashid al-Din Sinan. While she has always been special - a woman AND assassin - that's a first, she never got any favors from her ruthless father. She had to bury her fear and any other weakness to please him and be who he trained her to be. Her task now was getting into the palace Richard has claimed as his own in Ascalon and getting rid of him. When she finds herself in the confines of said palace she is pleased with how well her scheme has worked only to discover the King has left and will be back at least in two weeks time. Too long for her to be playing the wounded civilian who needed the English's help.. Besides, the commanding officer - Sebastian - doesn't look like someone she could fool, at least not for long..

Yet she gets her orders to STAY and with a easily manipulating ploy she finds herself the property of said commander Sebastian. Sebastian doesn't want her as his property or his bride but he realizes he can't turn her out of the palace as she has no where else to go. Reluctant he allows her to stay but she infuriates (and attract!) him to distraction (or destruction?). And though Zahirah is VERY devote to her cause she finds herself drawn to the easy going, honest and honorable Sebastian.

Sebastian is HIGHLY annoyed with Zahirah's secrets, but only after someone dies he starts to realize they CANNOT keep going this way. How can he trust her when all she does is lie? Zahirah's resolve is crumbling little by little but how can she betray her father? her clan? Just for one man? Being with Sebastian she feels guarded and protected, cared for, something she has never felt before and yet she is here for a reason, an important one.

In the end she is left with no real choice and so she acts but she never expected any of the things that happened after said strike. Yet this IS a romance novel and so a HEA is promised, it only takes these two a bit more before they can actually claim it. 

My advice - Be patient with Zahirah. She started an arrogant hateful assassin, but once she realizes she has been lied to, she have missed on life and living, love and appreciation, honesty and honor it doesn't take her long to understand what are the true important things in life yet she is still trapped in an impossible situation she needs to find a way to resolve and even with Sebastian on her side at the end, she is still all alone in making what she believes is the right choice - for her, for Sebastian.

Rating: ★★★★

E-Book Edition

322 pages

Read on: 13-14 October 2019

ABOUT THIS SERIES

 

Warrior is an Historical Romance (in a way a Romantic Suspense) series by Lara Adrian set in the Medieval times. The series focuses on true Warrior, finding the right strong headed woman to capture their heart. Though these guys are gruff and not always tender (in words or actions) their heart is in the right place and they chose wisely a woman who might need their help (currently) but they are still strong enough to manage on their own. It's a different feel than I'm used to considering this IS Medieval times and the statue of women was so low, yet I think all three women were still as independent as they CAN be considering and I really appreciated that.

This series as well as "Lord of Vengeance" (a stand alone novel) and the PNR series "Dragon Chalice" (all set in the Medieval times) were originally published under the name Tina St. John. These books were the first Lara has written and while they couldn't be more different than her current Paranormal Romance series "Midnight Breed" I ADORE both. My only complaint would be she doesn't write HR anymore which is a true SHAME considering how AMAZING there books are - wonderfully written, engaging and heart warming. Truthfully couldn't have asked for more.

Books:
1. White Lion's Lady [Isabel de Lamere & Griffin of Droghallow] (Published 31 July 2001) ★★★★★
2. Black Lion's Bride [Zahirah & Sebastian of Montborne] (Published 1 April 2002) ★★★★
3. Lady of Valor [Emmalyn of Fallonmour & Cabal "Blackheart"] (Published 4 April 2000) ★★★★★