The Witch and the Warrior by Karyn Monk is the story of Gwendolyn MacSween, a courageous young woman living in 1209.

Sentenced to death by burning after being suspected of witchcraft Gwendolyn, who had been feared by her own clan all her life had given up hope of avoiding the fate of her mother.
 

Her only comfort was that she had managed to win the battle of wills that had led her down this path.

Framed for the murder of her beloved father Gwendolyn was the last person to know the secret hiding place of a magical stone that grants power to the holder once every hundred years.  And it was for this knowledge that she was about to die.

But help had come in an unexpected form.   Mad Alex MacDunn of a neighbouring clan had come to seek the help of the witch of the MacSweens to heal his dying son, and when he found that she was sentenced to burn he and three others set out to rescue her from the stake.

Successful in their mission they take Gwendolyn and the annoying daughter of Laird MacSween to ensure their escape.

But Gwendolyn is not in the clear yet, for the MacDunn clan want proof that she is a witch and Gwendolyn is forced to pretend to cast a spell to help heal them.  Using the power of suggestion and helped by the approach of a coming storm she manages to convince the men that she is a true witch.

But her greatest challenge is at the home of the MacDunns when she must heal the dying son of Alex.

Hated by the members of this clan as much as her own Gwendolyn must use her knowledge of healing to heal David or die at the hands of the MacDunns.  And this time there will be no one to rescue her.

A wonderful story with several plot twists towards the end as we follow Gwendolyn and Alex's struggle to save the life of Alex's only son and Gwendolyn's struggle to save Alex from his own haunted past.

There are also some delightful sub-plots and plenty of humour at the expense of the kidnapped Isabella, the most difficult kidnap victim who is determined to stay with her captors.

RATING : 
(if you need an explanation of the hearts ratings see my homepage)

Links to  online stores