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Medieval Series #1
Untamed
Alternate cover found here.
A hero of the crusades, Dominic le Sabre has returned to Scotland in glory and triumph to claim his reward: the beautiful Saxon bride awarded to him as conqueror king. But Lady Margaret of Blackthorne cannot yield to the bold Norman invader.
The beloved daughter of a sacred tribe of Celtic mystics, she fears an ancient curse that could bring further turmoil to her battle-scarred land...and sorrow to her marriage bed. With a word, the lady could turn her wedding into war.
But there awaits in the noble knight's embrace a promise of passion unbound— and a love that neither violence nor treachery can tear asunder, a love both invincible and.
A hero of the crusades, Dominic le Sabre has returned to Scotland in glory and triumph to claim his reward: the beautiful Saxon bride awarded to him as conqueror king. But Lady Margaret of Blackthorne cannot yield to the bold Norman invader.
The beloved daughter of a sacred tribe of Celtic mystics, she fears an ancient curse that could bring further turmoil to her battle-scarred land...and sorrow to her marriage bed. With a word, the lady could turn her wedding into war.
But there awaits in the noble knight's embrace a promise of passion unbound— and a love that neither violence nor treachery can tear asunder, a love both invincible and.
408 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
336 people are currently reading
6170 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Lowell
208 books1,921 followersIndividually and with co-author/husband Evan, Ann Maxwell has written over 60 novels and one work of non-fiction. There are 30 million copies of these books in print, as well as reprints in 30 foreign languages. Her novels range from science fiction to historical fiction, from romance to mystery. After working in contemporary and historical romance, she became an innovator in the genre of romantic suspense.
In 1982, Ann began publishing as Elizabeth Lowell. Under that name she has received numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America (1994).
Since July of 1992, she has had over 30 novels on the New York Times bestseller list. In 1998 she began writing suspense with a passionate twist, capturing a new audience and generation of readers. Her new romance novel Perfect Touch will be available in July of 2015.
To get a full list of titles as well as read excerpts from her novels, visit www.elizabethlowell.com.
In 1982, Ann began publishing as Elizabeth Lowell. Under that name she has received numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America (1994).
Since July of 1992, she has had over 30 novels on the New York Times bestseller list. In 1998 she began writing suspense with a passionate twist, capturing a new audience and generation of readers. Her new romance novel Perfect Touch will be available in July of 2015.
To get a full list of titles as well as read excerpts from her novels, visit www.elizabethlowell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 472 reviews
November 26, 2025
11/26/25 Re-read
10/18/21: Re-read ...This is part of my "buy all my paperback favorites in kindle form" project, which necessitated a re-read. Obviously.
So cheesy.
So delicious.
So magical.
Full disclosure though: I'm not sure I would love this as much if I read it for the first time now...knowing myself, I might find it a little too...overwrought and sappy in many ways. But I read this over 20 years ago and will always love it. So, nostalgia for the win.
11/15/15: Re-read... I can't sleep and I'm in the mood for some sappy and magical medieval romance...gonna start with one of my old school favorite series...from back when I was in middle school...in the effin 90's.
A classic medieval favorite that never gets old...
Meg
Dominic
Ugh, I love it. In all it's awesomely cheesy glory.
10/18/21: Re-read ...This is part of my "buy all my paperback favorites in kindle form" project, which necessitated a re-read. Obviously.
So cheesy.
So delicious.
So magical.
Full disclosure though: I'm not sure I would love this as much if I read it for the first time now...knowing myself, I might find it a little too...overwrought and sappy in many ways. But I read this over 20 years ago and will always love it. So, nostalgia for the win.
11/15/15: Re-read... I can't sleep and I'm in the mood for some sappy and magical medieval romance...gonna start with one of my old school favorite series...from back when I was in middle school...in the effin 90's.
A classic medieval favorite that never gets old...
Meg
Dominic
'I will not let you go,' Dominic said harshly.
'Don’t worry, Glendruid Wolf. The people will accept you. Blackthorne is yours for as long as you live. Nothing can change that now.'
'Without you, the land and the people are a feast for a dead man. Look at me. Look into me.'
'Glendruid witch, you healed my body, my heart, and my soul…and then you stole them from me one kiss at a time. With or without heirs, I will have no other wife but you.'
Ugh, I love it. In all it's awesomely cheesy glory.
March 1, 2016
An old fashioned, non-p.c., historical romance. One of my favorites. Some readers got their knickers in a knot because our hero forces the heroine to wear bells, but it’s a Medieval romance, and I thought it was sublimely perfect.
March 25, 2018
*Discretion advised as has major spoilers!*
My take on the story...
A hero of the crusades, Dominic le Sabre has returned to Scotland in glory and triumph to claim his reward from the King -a beautiful Saxon bride with a dowry of vast lands.
But Lady Margaret of Blackthorne, descendent from a long line of sacred female Celtic mystics, the Glendruids, fears an ancient curse that could bring further turmoil to her battle-scarred land...and sorrow to her marriage bed.
Now our H hungers for two things only- lands of his own and sons to forge a dynasy. So as he enters the Blackthorne land..
Charming!
Meanwhile the h’s father has his own agenda. He hates the Norman Lord who has been forced on him as a son in law. The h is not really his daughter (he was cuckolded, you see), and he wants to get her married to Duncan, his beloved illegitimate son.*eyeroll* His plans to disrupt the marriage fail, and so he instead curses the Norman interloper (or rather reveals the ancient curse) before conveniently konking off.
The rattled H sends for an old glendruid healer to get his facts…
The H laughs off such nonsense and gets back to business.
But now the H has another suspicion. Mayhaps the Lady Meg has lain with her ex-intended and is with child. So the clever guy decides to wait for her period before consummating the wedding!
The h is understanbly miffed.
Okay! Calm down, girl.
And here he comes with his favorite Q.
No, she hasn’t! It was a long month, to my mind.
Meanwhile his distrust of the h continues..
He still doesn't get it.
Yes, that’s exactly what he means.
But then the clever guy changes tactics .. to make her fall in love. Honey over vinegar!
And she is lured despite herself.
So the siege begins…
The lowlife! The unspeakable cad!
Still I loved the middle chapters of slow seduction and intimacy. They were sizzling hot even without actual sex. The taming of an actual peregrine, Fatima and the analogous taming/softening up of the h- ‘small falcon’ as he calls her were delightful (if quite non-pc!) and those gold chains he wraps around her body and hair- delicate and belled, but chains nonetheless. She still loved wearing them and hearing the musical chimes that play up even with her slightest movement.
Of course, we hit some roadblocks.
But slowly but surely the tone changes.
The seducer starts getting seduced…
And at long last the sweet ending….after slaying some villains.
ETA- Only other book where the H so incessantly demands a son from the h was The Unwanted Wife! :P
My take on the story...
A hero of the crusades, Dominic le Sabre has returned to Scotland in glory and triumph to claim his reward from the King -a beautiful Saxon bride with a dowry of vast lands.
But Lady Margaret of Blackthorne, descendent from a long line of sacred female Celtic mystics, the Glendruids, fears an ancient curse that could bring further turmoil to her battle-scarred land...and sorrow to her marriage bed.
Now our H hungers for two things only- lands of his own and sons to forge a dynasy. So as he enters the Blackthorne land..
“I wonder if Lady Margaret is as eager to wed as you?”
“Eager or dragging feet like a donkey, it matters not. My heir will be born by Easter next.”
Charming!
Meanwhile the h’s father has his own agenda. He hates the Norman Lord who has been forced on him as a son in law. The h is not really his daughter (he was cuckolded, you see), and he wants to get her married to Duncan, his beloved illegitimate son.*eyeroll* His plans to disrupt the marriage fail, and so he instead curses the Norman interloper (or rather reveals the ancient curse) before conveniently konking off.
“So I give you a toast, enemy mine,” John said with savage satisfaction.
“I give you a life without sons.”
“I give you a life in which you will live every minute knowing that your line dies with you."
“I give you Lady Margaret, witch of Glendruid!”
The rattled H sends for an old glendruid healer to get his facts…
“It’s not that Meg is infertile, Lord Dominic. It’s that no Glendruid son will be conceived if there isn’t love between the parents.” .
The H laughs off such nonsense and gets back to business.
“I will have sons!”
But now the H has another suspicion. Mayhaps the Lady Meg has lain with her ex-intended and is with child. So the clever guy decides to wait for her period before consummating the wedding!
“So you let her sleep alone?”
“Until she bleeds. That way I’ll be certain I’m not like John, raising another man’s get.”
The h is understanbly miffed.
Dominic’s decree angered Meg. It was bad enough that he didn’t trust her not to be breeding Duncan’s bastard. It was unbearable to be wanted simply for the fruit of her womb rather than for her laughter and her companionship, her warmth and her wit, her silences and her hopes. She had so much more to share with Dominic than a future heir.
Okay! Calm down, girl.
And here he comes with his favorite Q.
“Have you bled yet?”
No, she hasn’t! It was a long month, to my mind.
Meanwhile his distrust of the h continues..
“I will make you a bargain,” he said in a frigid voice. “Give me two sons and I will send you to London. There you will certainly find entertainment that pleases your wanton tastes.”
He still doesn't get it.
“I could be a liar, a cheat, a robber, a felon…none of it matters to you. One womb serves as well as another, so long as it comes with Blackthorne Keep.”
Yes, that’s exactly what he means.
But then the clever guy changes tactics .. to make her fall in love. Honey over vinegar!
A man too impatient to train his falcon will lose her the first time he takes off the leash, Dominic reminded himself. I have barely succeeded in putting my leash in place, much less in training her to fly at my command and for my pleasure.
And she is lured despite herself.
The stubborn hope that had kept generations of Glendruid women alive stirred once more within Meg, whispering to her that a man who was capable of such tenderness and laughter might also be capable of love.....but if he could love her…
If that were possible…
Then anything was possible.
Even a Glendruid son.
So the siege begins…
Come to me, Glendruid witch. See in me what you want to see. Betray your living fortress to me. Lie open and undefended for my taking.
Give me the son I must have.
The lowlife! The unspeakable cad!
Still I loved the middle chapters of slow seduction and intimacy. They were sizzling hot even without actual sex. The taming of an actual peregrine, Fatima and the analogous taming/softening up of the h- ‘small falcon’ as he calls her were delightful (if quite non-pc!) and those gold chains he wraps around her body and hair- delicate and belled, but chains nonetheless. She still loved wearing them and hearing the musical chimes that play up even with her slightest movement.
Of course, we hit some roadblocks.
“Have you bled yet, small falcon?"
"No.”
But slowly but surely the tone changes.
“Work with me, wife. Help me to bring peace to the land."
"How?"
"Blend Saxon and Norman blood. Give me sons.”
The seducer starts getting seduced…
“Heal me, Meg.
Love me.
Give me sons.”
And at long last the sweet ending….after slaying some villains.
“Glendruid witch,” Dominic said, kissing Meg’s fingertips, “you healed my body, my heart, and my soul…and then you stole them from me one kiss at a time. With or without heirs, I will have no other wife but you.”
ETA- Only other book where the H so incessantly demands a son from the h was The Unwanted Wife! :P
June 14, 2020
4.5
Nearly a perfect medieval romance from an author I’ve never read.
Wonderful writing!! A plot filled with knights, Druid legends and a damsel in distress, who is an exceptionally charming and strong woman. I totally loved that.
Gorgeous language and lots of olde world ambiance. A few minor storylines added some suspense and villainy which elevated the usual “dark and cold knight has frozen heart thawed by lovely damsel who comes with a castle, lands and people” scenario.
The only reason I deducted the half-star is because I spent the first 50 pages wondering if I’d already read it. Checked and saw I had not read anything by Ms Lowell so... minus the half-star for a bit of a repeat storyline. (Don’t laugh— I know they’re all repetitive but this one was super deja vu!!)
Looking forward to the next one — if I can find a novel originally printed in the mid-1990s. It’s like finding treasure. Wish me luck!!
Nearly a perfect medieval romance from an author I’ve never read.
Wonderful writing!! A plot filled with knights, Druid legends and a damsel in distress, who is an exceptionally charming and strong woman. I totally loved that.
Gorgeous language and lots of olde world ambiance. A few minor storylines added some suspense and villainy which elevated the usual “dark and cold knight has frozen heart thawed by lovely damsel who comes with a castle, lands and people” scenario.
The only reason I deducted the half-star is because I spent the first 50 pages wondering if I’d already read it. Checked and saw I had not read anything by Ms Lowell so... minus the half-star for a bit of a repeat storyline. (Don’t laugh— I know they’re all repetitive but this one was super deja vu!!)
Looking forward to the next one — if I can find a novel originally printed in the mid-1990s. It’s like finding treasure. Wish me luck!!
November 15, 2019
A wee bit too realistic...
I admit...I'm hard to please when it comes to reading/listening to a medieval romance. I like them to be realistic...sort of. Unfortunately, I'm one of those pesky romance readers who need some of the realities to be left out. I like the castles, 'Knights in Shining Armour', sweet and virtuous maidens, and descriptions of their dress and surroundings. I don't like the chauvinistic attitudes, infidelities as "due" to their station, and complete disregard to people of a lower class. There were a LOT of dislikes that had me cringing while listening to Untamed. Luckily, there were a few likes that helped balance it all out.
The narrator does a fair job but she really misses the mark when it comes to expressing the heroes passionate side. This is not just in the bedroom (but is 100 times worse in those times), it's also when the hero is angry, frustrated or despondent. I always forget when I start listening but when they do happen, I'm cringing and rolling my eyes. This narrator does an awesome female character, though.
Not sure this one could have been improved because the biggest problem was that the hero was an absolute DOUCHEWAFFLE. I have to love the hero, and this one was very hard to love.
Elizabeth Lowell is a very popular author so I'm not going to write off trying another of her stories in the future. I think I'll just be a wee bit more selective. Untamed does finish on a good note, so not all was lost.
I admit...I'm hard to please when it comes to reading/listening to a medieval romance. I like them to be realistic...sort of. Unfortunately, I'm one of those pesky romance readers who need some of the realities to be left out. I like the castles, 'Knights in Shining Armour', sweet and virtuous maidens, and descriptions of their dress and surroundings. I don't like the chauvinistic attitudes, infidelities as "due" to their station, and complete disregard to people of a lower class. There were a LOT of dislikes that had me cringing while listening to Untamed. Luckily, there were a few likes that helped balance it all out.
The narrator does a fair job but she really misses the mark when it comes to expressing the heroes passionate side. This is not just in the bedroom (but is 100 times worse in those times), it's also when the hero is angry, frustrated or despondent. I always forget when I start listening but when they do happen, I'm cringing and rolling my eyes. This narrator does an awesome female character, though.
Not sure this one could have been improved because the biggest problem was that the hero was an absolute DOUCHEWAFFLE. I have to love the hero, and this one was very hard to love.
Elizabeth Lowell is a very popular author so I'm not going to write off trying another of her stories in the future. I think I'll just be a wee bit more selective. Untamed does finish on a good note, so not all was lost.
Read
November 9, 2022Tbh, I didn’t see any romance throughout the 17 chapters I read. The pace which was extremely slow bored me and I didn’t like the main characters.
Dominic’s adamant belief of Meg cheating on him and possibly carrying another man’s child was exhausting and annoying.
In general the story lacked of intensity and dynamism.
And those ‘falcon’ references... 🤦🏻♀️
Dnf @ 55%
Dominic’s adamant belief of Meg cheating on him and possibly carrying another man’s child was exhausting and annoying.
In general the story lacked of intensity and dynamism.
And those ‘falcon’ references... 🤦🏻♀️
Dnf @ 55%
December 9, 2020
3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a cute story. I didn’t love it, but I did find it enjoyable. I liked that it didn’t take forever for the story to begin with side stories or history, which I feel often happens with books set in this era. I liked the characters and I liked their connection. I did, however, get frustrated with the H’s pushing away. Overall, it was an enjoyable read but not enough to be going down as one of my favorites.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Meg and Dominic’s story. They have an arranged marriage that gives Dominic a lot of land and what Meg hopes is peace for her people. Meg is from a long line of women from a clan is thought to be magical and cursed in how they have children. If the woman is raped/not pleasured during consummation there will be no child, if the woman is pleasured there will be a daughter, and if the woman is in love there will be a son. Because of this curse, there haven’t been any males born for many years. There are some family/clan issues, some sweet moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Meg and Dominic in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove:No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Dominic. I liked him but his distrust for the h got old.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Meg. I liked her strength, her smarts, and her compassion for others.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Mild. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but in dated vocabulary and not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Not really descriptive with the vocabulary used
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had pretty good closure with what I would call a HEA ending.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: This was a cute story. I didn’t love it, but I did find it enjoyable. I liked that it didn’t take forever for the story to begin with side stories or history, which I feel often happens with books set in this era. I liked the characters and I liked their connection. I did, however, get frustrated with the H’s pushing away. Overall, it was an enjoyable read but not enough to be going down as one of my favorites.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Meg and Dominic’s story. They have an arranged marriage that gives Dominic a lot of land and what Meg hopes is peace for her people. Meg is from a long line of women from a clan is thought to be magical and cursed in how they have children. If the woman is raped/not pleasured during consummation there will be no child, if the woman is pleasured there will be a daughter, and if the woman is in love there will be a son. Because of this curse, there haven’t been any males born for many years. There are some family/clan issues, some sweet moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Meg and Dominic in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove:No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Dominic. I liked him but his distrust for the h got old.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Meg. I liked her strength, her smarts, and her compassion for others.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Mild. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but in dated vocabulary and not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Not really descriptive with the vocabulary used
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had pretty good closure with what I would call a HEA ending.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
June 29, 2021
3.5
This was the June pick for Historical Hellions and the beginning was soooooooo slow. It took 100 pages for Dominic and Meg to even get married (like, that's all that happened in that 100 pages) and it felt like nothing was happening. For a historical that came out in 1993, though, it was a pretty easy read and the writing wasn't bogged down by descriptive language and our hero wasn't too domineering or invasive. Instead, he was clearly infatuated with Meg but was waiting until her period to come so ensure any baby she had of his was his and not another man's. He did lock her up in her room, but he never forced himself on her or pressured her in a bad way. It was annoying how jealous Dominic got and how he wouldn't trust Meg and it got pretty repetitive by the end. But I liked how headstrong Meg was and how hard Meg and Dominic ended up falling for each other. Things at the end turned suspenseful and I'm glad the plot finally started moving. I'm definitely intrigued enough about Simon and Duncan to read their books too!
This was the June pick for Historical Hellions and the beginning was soooooooo slow. It took 100 pages for Dominic and Meg to even get married (like, that's all that happened in that 100 pages) and it felt like nothing was happening. For a historical that came out in 1993, though, it was a pretty easy read and the writing wasn't bogged down by descriptive language and our hero wasn't too domineering or invasive. Instead, he was clearly infatuated with Meg but was waiting until her period to come so ensure any baby she had of his was his and not another man's. He did lock her up in her room, but he never forced himself on her or pressured her in a bad way. It was annoying how jealous Dominic got and how he wouldn't trust Meg and it got pretty repetitive by the end. But I liked how headstrong Meg was and how hard Meg and Dominic ended up falling for each other. Things at the end turned suspenseful and I'm glad the plot finally started moving. I'm definitely intrigued enough about Simon and Duncan to read their books too!
June 7, 2011
Thanks to the wonderful members of the newly formed Romance Forum Refugee group at Goodreads, I have a huge new list of romance novels with bearded heroes! Dark beards! Blond beards! Dark staches, too! Yee haw!!!!!!!
And thanks to their recommendations, I discovered a new-to-me romance writer who appears to love beards as much as I do. All of her heroes are hairy! Beards, staches, nice furry chests.....yowzah! I am now the official #1, A++ Fan Of Elizabeth Lowell. Where have you been all my life, lady? Her Medieval Series was originally published in the 1990's, so these are "oldies but goodies" which have eluded me until now.
As soon as I read this sentence, I knew this was the book for me....
"Dominic stroked his closely clipped mustache and black beard as he studied her."
Schwing!
Jackpot!
So far I have sucked down the first two books of this series...Untamed (#1), and Forbidden (#2). Coming up next is Enchanted (#3), Simon's story.
All beardy goodness aside, these books are fabulous. Even if they didn't have beardy heroes (whimper, whimper), I would still be in love with them. They are incredibly emotional, intense, sexy historicals. The characters sing...both hero and heroine. The lush settings are beautiful. I am totally digging all the cool stuff about falconry. And the endings are so romantic and satisfying....these are off-the-charts romantic. These books have some of the most swoon-worthy dialogue I have ever seen in a romance novel.
There were only a few things that bothered me. One was jarring POV changes, which I got used to pretty fast. The second thing is the drawn-out misunderstanding (in both books) about the heroine's state of innocence. Nevertheless, I found these books spell-binding, could not put them down.
The second book, Duncan's story, made me fall in love with "The Stache"!! Check out this sentence....
"When his breath and mustache brushed over her sensitive fingers, it gave her a pleasure so great that she trembled." (me, too...hee hee hee!)
My only truly horrified moment was when Dominic shaved his beard off right before his wedding (NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!). I just pretended that scene didn't happen.
So, guess what I'll be doing this weekend? Reading about the blond-bearded Simon. He better not shave his beard off before his wedding, or I'm gonna get peeved.
Untamed: Grade A
Forbidden: Grade A
And thanks to their recommendations, I discovered a new-to-me romance writer who appears to love beards as much as I do. All of her heroes are hairy! Beards, staches, nice furry chests.....yowzah! I am now the official #1, A++ Fan Of Elizabeth Lowell. Where have you been all my life, lady? Her Medieval Series was originally published in the 1990's, so these are "oldies but goodies" which have eluded me until now.
As soon as I read this sentence, I knew this was the book for me....
"Dominic stroked his closely clipped mustache and black beard as he studied her."
Schwing!
Jackpot!
So far I have sucked down the first two books of this series...Untamed (#1), and Forbidden (#2). Coming up next is Enchanted (#3), Simon's story.
All beardy goodness aside, these books are fabulous. Even if they didn't have beardy heroes (whimper, whimper), I would still be in love with them. They are incredibly emotional, intense, sexy historicals. The characters sing...both hero and heroine. The lush settings are beautiful. I am totally digging all the cool stuff about falconry. And the endings are so romantic and satisfying....these are off-the-charts romantic. These books have some of the most swoon-worthy dialogue I have ever seen in a romance novel.
There were only a few things that bothered me. One was jarring POV changes, which I got used to pretty fast. The second thing is the drawn-out misunderstanding (in both books) about the heroine's state of innocence. Nevertheless, I found these books spell-binding, could not put them down.
The second book, Duncan's story, made me fall in love with "The Stache"!! Check out this sentence....
"When his breath and mustache brushed over her sensitive fingers, it gave her a pleasure so great that she trembled." (me, too...hee hee hee!)
My only truly horrified moment was when Dominic shaved his beard off right before his wedding (NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!). I just pretended that scene didn't happen.
So, guess what I'll be doing this weekend? Reading about the blond-bearded Simon. He better not shave his beard off before his wedding, or I'm gonna get peeved.
Untamed: Grade A
Forbidden: Grade A
December 12, 2025
You know when you're reading a great book that tanks in the last 20%?
Well, this is the exact opposite.
This book was a first for me. Never before had it happened that a meh book gave me such strong unexpected feelings right at the very end.
──────────── ˚ ₊‧ 𓆩⚔𓆪 ‧₊˚────────────
. ◠ . ◠ . 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 . ◠ . ◠ .
──────────── ˚ ₊‧ 𓆩⚔𓆪 ‧₊˚────────────
・
・
・
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Well, this is the exact opposite.
This book was a first for me. Never before had it happened that a meh book gave me such strong unexpected feelings right at the very end.
──────────── ˚ ₊‧ 𓆩⚔𓆪 ‧₊˚────────────
. ◠ . ◠ . 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 . ◠ . ◠ .
──────────── ˚ ₊‧ 𓆩⚔𓆪 ‧₊˚────────────
・
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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December 21, 2025
Loved it 🎀 read this bc of Rain’s lovely review and it didn’t disappoint!
-90’s style medieval romance
-magical realism touches
-falconry and herbalism
-very likable FMC
-really good bit angsty ending
-90’s style medieval romance
-magical realism touches
-falconry and herbalism
-very likable FMC
-really good bit angsty ending
July 21, 2016
A Great Medieval with Falconry-- Simply Superb!
UNTAMED was my first romance by Elizabeth Lowell and since then, I’ve read many more of hers. It won the RITA Award and deservedly. Her writing is wonderful; her period setting excellent; and her storytelling is full of action and adventure, natural sexual tension and conflict that is not scary, contrived or over the top but rather, very believable.
Set in the early 12th century, it is the story of Lady Margaret of Blackthorne, a Glendruid "witch" (though she is really a God fearing young woman who loves her people), and Dominic le Sabre ("the Sword"), a knight who has returned to Scotland to be rewarded by King Henry I for great service in the Middle East. His reward is Blackthorne Keep, its lands and the Lady Margaret ("Meg"), its mistress.
Dominic wants lands, peace and heirs--male heirs--but the Glendruid women cannot bear male heirs unless there is real love present and Dominic has none to give as he’s been wounded in heart and soul at the hands of the Saracens. Dominic knows Meg was promised to another and he suspects the man was also her lover. However, Meg is an innocent young woman, though wise in the ways of people and animals. She's a gifted healer, as are all the Glendruids, and she has an amazing way with the falcons they raise at Blackthorne.
I loved the way Lowell wove falconry and the life of a medieval keep into her incredibly detailed story. She created wonderful characters (two of whom are featured in the next two in the trilogy) with period dialog that drew me in from the first page.
This is a keeper, worth enjoying more than once! I highly recommend it. I’ve included the Spanish edition cover as it displays the heroine’s falconry.
The trilogy:
UNTAMED
FORBIDDEN
ENCHANTED
UNTAMED was my first romance by Elizabeth Lowell and since then, I’ve read many more of hers. It won the RITA Award and deservedly. Her writing is wonderful; her period setting excellent; and her storytelling is full of action and adventure, natural sexual tension and conflict that is not scary, contrived or over the top but rather, very believable.
Set in the early 12th century, it is the story of Lady Margaret of Blackthorne, a Glendruid "witch" (though she is really a God fearing young woman who loves her people), and Dominic le Sabre ("the Sword"), a knight who has returned to Scotland to be rewarded by King Henry I for great service in the Middle East. His reward is Blackthorne Keep, its lands and the Lady Margaret ("Meg"), its mistress.
Dominic wants lands, peace and heirs--male heirs--but the Glendruid women cannot bear male heirs unless there is real love present and Dominic has none to give as he’s been wounded in heart and soul at the hands of the Saracens. Dominic knows Meg was promised to another and he suspects the man was also her lover. However, Meg is an innocent young woman, though wise in the ways of people and animals. She's a gifted healer, as are all the Glendruids, and she has an amazing way with the falcons they raise at Blackthorne.
I loved the way Lowell wove falconry and the life of a medieval keep into her incredibly detailed story. She created wonderful characters (two of whom are featured in the next two in the trilogy) with period dialog that drew me in from the first page.
This is a keeper, worth enjoying more than once! I highly recommend it. I’ve included the Spanish edition cover as it displays the heroine’s falconry.
The trilogy:
UNTAMED
FORBIDDEN
ENCHANTED
November 8, 2010
The book starts out with the pending marriage of Lady Margaret (Meg) & returning Crusader Dominic le Sabra. Neither have laid eyes on the other before but are both willing to go along with the prearranged marriage. Meg accepts this as her fate (although she is by no means a wimp) & Dominic wants to claim the castle & lands that come along with Meg and begin working on making himself some heirs. Only problem is that Meg happens to be one of the cursed Glendruid (white) witches that for centuries have been unable to conceive male offspring because of a witch's past mistake and the missing Glendruid Wolf. It has been rumored that all Glendruid women are unable to fall in love with a man and vice versa because their powers of perception make them cold and impossible to love. This isn't the only obstacle the couple must face in order to find happiness....
Meg is a charming heroine with a touching love for her people & land who will sacrifice everything to save the people who mean so much to her. She's truly an admirable character. Dominic is a wonderful scarred hero who wants nothing more than to settle down and end all of the fighting and bloodshed.
Overall this was a very sensuous and tender love story with a wonderful ending. I highly recommend it & hope the others in this trilogy are good.
Meg is a charming heroine with a touching love for her people & land who will sacrifice everything to save the people who mean so much to her. She's truly an admirable character. Dominic is a wonderful scarred hero who wants nothing more than to settle down and end all of the fighting and bloodshed.
Overall this was a very sensuous and tender love story with a wonderful ending. I highly recommend it & hope the others in this trilogy are good.
June 13, 2021
This may be one of the first historical romances that I've read set in more of a medieval era and I really loved it. Surprisingly, even though it was written and published in 1993, I think this novel aged quite well and could easily see this being written today in 2021.
Everything about this story was different and unique compared to other historical romances that I've read. It was somewhat fantastical and I loved the element of the "curse" not allowing for a male heir unless created from true love. In that way, it really reminded me of a fairy tale.
The jealousy and possessiveness of the main male character did get old but I understand now why that was developed for the storyline.
That ending! I was racing through those final fifty pages because it caught me totally off guard. I loved the action and thrill of that surprise and how it tied up into a perfect ending.
I'm excited to continue this trilogy and I'm curious to see who the main characters will be in the next novel.
Everything about this story was different and unique compared to other historical romances that I've read. It was somewhat fantastical and I loved the element of the "curse" not allowing for a male heir unless created from true love. In that way, it really reminded me of a fairy tale.
The jealousy and possessiveness of the main male character did get old but I understand now why that was developed for the storyline.
That ending! I was racing through those final fifty pages because it caught me totally off guard. I loved the action and thrill of that surprise and how it tied up into a perfect ending.
I'm excited to continue this trilogy and I'm curious to see who the main characters will be in the next novel.
April 3, 2018
#RetoRita2 #RitaLowell
Elegí este libro aunque no soy amiga de la romántica medieval. No he tenido buenas experiencias, he leído libros cuyo nombre no recuerdo, con violencia y violaciones que no es lo mio. Pero menos me gustan las del oeste.
Así que empecé este libro sin ninguna expectativa y realmente, me gustó mucho.
Dominic no es ningún imbécil, aunque sí desconfiado. Ha sufrido mucho en el pasado, durante las cruzadas, por eso quiere establecerse y vivir en paz.
Meg tiene claro que su futuro, si no logra que Dominic se enamore, es bastante negro. Pero solo quiere paz para su pueblo así que hará lo que sea necesario.
Quizá por momentos sea una historia un poco chata, pero tiene sus luchas, traiciones y demás. Ah, y bastante sexo aunque con lenguaje poético.
Otra cosa que le bajó puntos fue la aparición de otro personaje antagonista demasiado hacia el final.
Pero bueno, le pongo cuatro estrellas porque el desenlace me hizo caer las lágrimas... de felicidad.
Es más, quiero seguir con la serie.
Elegí este libro aunque no soy amiga de la romántica medieval. No he tenido buenas experiencias, he leído libros cuyo nombre no recuerdo, con violencia y violaciones que no es lo mio. Pero menos me gustan las del oeste.
Así que empecé este libro sin ninguna expectativa y realmente, me gustó mucho.
Dominic no es ningún imbécil, aunque sí desconfiado. Ha sufrido mucho en el pasado, durante las cruzadas, por eso quiere establecerse y vivir en paz.
Meg tiene claro que su futuro, si no logra que Dominic se enamore, es bastante negro. Pero solo quiere paz para su pueblo así que hará lo que sea necesario.
Quizá por momentos sea una historia un poco chata, pero tiene sus luchas, traiciones y demás. Ah, y bastante sexo aunque con lenguaje poético.
Otra cosa que le bajó puntos fue la aparición de otro personaje antagonista demasiado hacia el final.
Pero bueno, le pongo cuatro estrellas porque el desenlace me hizo caer las lágrimas... de felicidad.
Es más, quiero seguir con la serie.
November 5, 2025
This is a medieval romance with some legends and witchery mixed in -- although the "witchery" comes from a healer, and she is really more like a medieval pharmacist.
I liked the characters well enough. The conflict between the two lovebirds (or love falcons, rather) dragged on a bit too long. The hero wants sons for his dynasty and because of a curse, his wife can't have sons unless her husband truly loves her and the hero thinks he is incapable of love, so they argue about this for most of the book.
The heroine is likeable -- she really has no flaws but I find her to be a bit of a pushover. She gets frustrated and hurt by her husband repeatedly but as soon as he touches her, she melts. Her body is continually traitorous and that got annoying.
Overall, this was a very entertaining read but the author uses some annoying pet names. The hero refers to the heroine as "little falcon" about 1,294 times, and that's 1,293 times too many.
I liked the characters well enough. The conflict between the two lovebirds (or love falcons, rather) dragged on a bit too long. The hero wants sons for his dynasty and because of a curse, his wife can't have sons unless her husband truly loves her and the hero thinks he is incapable of love, so they argue about this for most of the book.
The heroine is likeable -- she really has no flaws but I find her to be a bit of a pushover. She gets frustrated and hurt by her husband repeatedly but as soon as he touches her, she melts. Her body is continually traitorous and that got annoying.
Overall, this was a very entertaining read but the author uses some annoying pet names. The hero refers to the heroine as "little falcon" about 1,294 times, and that's 1,293 times too many.
July 1, 2021
What gorgeous language! This is the sort of writing that I want to read especially when the book is set in medieval times. Very appropriate to the time. The story was good as well. I did find the hero, Dominique to be quite paranoid because he kept accusing Meg, the wife/heroine of sneaking out to meet up with her supposed lover who happened to be her cousin, Duncan. Meg is the kind of heroine that I like - smart, kind, sensible and courageous. You can probably guess who the villain is midway through the book. I am quite keen to read the rests of the series.
December 26, 2019
4.5 'Old School & Untamed' Stars
Medieval Romance with a touch of Magic
Arranged Marriage
Slow-Burn
"There is no more powerful magic than the generous heart and untamed soul of love."
My buddy, Chanel, recommended this one because she knows I'm a huge fan of Judith McNaught and thought this would be a perfect fit for me. She was right! This story was everything I look for in an old-school, historical romance<3
Returning home triumphant from the Crusades, Dominic le Sabre is determined to claim the bride promised to him by the king, but the high-born Celtic beauty is equally determined to resist him.
Dominic le Sabre was a bastard and I loved him from the start! Why am I like this?
“Beauty is such a pale word to describe what you are to me,” he whispered. “’Tis like saying winter is cool and sunlight pleasant.”
Dominic isn't everybody's ideal hero, but it's fiction and I have a sweet spot for an alphahole in books. If that's your jam too, then you might want to give this one a whirl. It was incredibly sensual and swoony...I had to take breaks to catch my breath. It's also a slow-burn that had me in a permanent state of delicious anticipation. Well done, Ms. Lowell!
"Dominic said, kissing Meg’s fingertips, “you healed my body, my heart, and my soul…and then you stole them from me one kiss at a time."
Medieval Romance with a touch of Magic
Arranged Marriage
Slow-Burn
"There is no more powerful magic than the generous heart and untamed soul of love."
My buddy, Chanel, recommended this one because she knows I'm a huge fan of Judith McNaught and thought this would be a perfect fit for me. She was right! This story was everything I look for in an old-school, historical romance<3
Returning home triumphant from the Crusades, Dominic le Sabre is determined to claim the bride promised to him by the king, but the high-born Celtic beauty is equally determined to resist him.
Dominic le Sabre was a bastard and I loved him from the start! Why am I like this?
“Beauty is such a pale word to describe what you are to me,” he whispered. “’Tis like saying winter is cool and sunlight pleasant.”
Dominic isn't everybody's ideal hero, but it's fiction and I have a sweet spot for an alphahole in books. If that's your jam too, then you might want to give this one a whirl. It was incredibly sensual and swoony...I had to take breaks to catch my breath. It's also a slow-burn that had me in a permanent state of delicious anticipation. Well done, Ms. Lowell!
"Dominic said, kissing Meg’s fingertips, “you healed my body, my heart, and my soul…and then you stole them from me one kiss at a time."
October 3, 2023
5 stars
With all my many years of reading HRs, I’m surprised I’ve never come across this book. It’s a classic HR with all the elements I like. The story started first chapter (no having to read three chapters of nothing), heroine not a shrinking violet, broken alpha, arranged marriage, jealous rival, brief! mistaken identity, lots of swords and shields… how can it go wrong. There’s something there for every HR fan
Of course, written in the 1990s
With all my many years of reading HRs, I’m surprised I’ve never come across this book. It’s a classic HR with all the elements I like. The story started first chapter (no having to read three chapters of nothing), heroine not a shrinking violet, broken alpha, arranged marriage, jealous rival, brief! mistaken identity, lots of swords and shields… how can it go wrong. There’s something there for every HR fan
Of course, written in the 1990s
February 21, 2024
3rd reread 5stars 2024
2nd reread 5stars 2022
1st read 4stars 2021
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One of my all time Medieval favourites. Beautiful lyrical poetic writing style about love and I can't help myself falling everytime I read this book.
2nd reread 5stars 2022
1st read 4stars 2021
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One of my all time Medieval favourites. Beautiful lyrical poetic writing style about love and I can't help myself falling everytime I read this book.
January 23, 2025
Seeing as this is an older historical romance I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. I really liked this one a lot! It was giving Highlander vibes, although Dominic could have been more of a Highlander. I would have liked him more.
Meg is betrothed to Dominic who gets her and the land but everyone believes that Meg comes from a long line of cursed women. Dominic is desperate for sons (typical) but is told that Meg will only have sons if there is love in their marriage. Well of course Dominic can’t love, what kind of ancient warrior man child would he be if he could love! Not a good one.
The story really just really just focuses on Meg and Dominic getting to know and trust each other but there is plenty of drama (that’s where it feels like a highlander book).
Meg is betrothed to Dominic who gets her and the land but everyone believes that Meg comes from a long line of cursed women. Dominic is desperate for sons (typical) but is told that Meg will only have sons if there is love in their marriage. Well of course Dominic can’t love, what kind of ancient warrior man child would he be if he could love! Not a good one.
The story really just really just focuses on Meg and Dominic getting to know and trust each other but there is plenty of drama (that’s where it feels like a highlander book).
April 22, 2025
3.5 Dang! I thought the fmc’s period would never start!🤣This is an arranged marriage. The H wants land and heirs. He is taken with the h but thinks she’s been getting it on with her brother who ended up not being her brother. Anyways the H wants to wait until she bleeds to make sure any offspring is his. I did get bored towards the end and found myself skimming pages.
November 7, 2025
Angst? Delivered. Misogyny? Relentless. Ending? Rushed.
Someone please remind the author that romance works better with epilogues than patriarchy.
Someone please remind the author that romance works better with epilogues than patriarchy.
January 23, 2015
In love with this series...
December 3, 2024
I shed a few tears towards the end. 😭 I wish the angst could have lasted longer. Thanks, Izzah, for putting this book on my radar!
Will probably add more later if I have time.
Will probably add more later if I have time.
February 19, 2020
The male lead in this novel has to be one of the thickest, slowest and stupidest male characters I have ever encountered....He was so slow to understand basic emotions and wants, to the point where it was infuriating to read.
October 7, 2020
4.5
A strong Heroine is one of my favourite tropes in Historicals. Just adds a lot of Character to the story of that time period.
This one had it.
I dint feel the angst as much though.
A strong Heroine is one of my favourite tropes in Historicals. Just adds a lot of Character to the story of that time period.
This one had it.
I dint feel the angst as much though.
June 24, 2021
Every time I read a medieval historical romance I am reminded how much I love them! This was my first time reading an Elizabeth Lowell and I am so glad I did. 😍 I’ve had this hot pink shiny-metallic cover on my shelves for a while and this 1993 published book was so good! This had all the medieval goodness I wanted: an arranged marriage, squires, knights, a chain mail-wearing hero, falcons, and a Druid curse where a male heir cannot be born if the marriage is not founded in love.
After becoming a hero of the crusades, Dominic has returned to Scotland in glory and triumph to claim his reward, the beautiful Saxon bride Lady Margaret of Blackthorne. But Meg cannot easily yield to the Norman invader, especially when she fears an ancient curse that could bring turmoil to her battle-scarred land and cause ruin within her marriage…
Dominic is a jealous, possessive hero (which became a bit repetitive after a while) who wants Meg all for himself to start producing sons with. He even confines Meg to her chambers in the beginning of their marriage…calling her his “little falcon”, treating her as he raises his falcons & even feeding her out of his hand at one point, but honestly their chemistry & tension was kinda hot. 👀🔥😆 I loved seeing the little slice of life moments at the keep throughout the story and seeing Dominic & Meg fall for one another. Their chemistry is soo steamy and this was an entertaining read.
After becoming a hero of the crusades, Dominic has returned to Scotland in glory and triumph to claim his reward, the beautiful Saxon bride Lady Margaret of Blackthorne. But Meg cannot easily yield to the Norman invader, especially when she fears an ancient curse that could bring turmoil to her battle-scarred land and cause ruin within her marriage…
Dominic is a jealous, possessive hero (which became a bit repetitive after a while) who wants Meg all for himself to start producing sons with. He even confines Meg to her chambers in the beginning of their marriage…calling her his “little falcon”, treating her as he raises his falcons & even feeding her out of his hand at one point, but honestly their chemistry & tension was kinda hot. 👀🔥😆 I loved seeing the little slice of life moments at the keep throughout the story and seeing Dominic & Meg fall for one another. Their chemistry is soo steamy and this was an entertaining read.
January 1, 2011
4.5/5.0
Reading any novel set in the medieval era, when a woman was considered less than a man's animals and whose only value was all too often only for breeding purposes, is always somewhat hard even as it is interesting. In "Untamed", Lowell has done an admirable job of allowing those realities to come through, showing the hardships inflicted on a female while keeping the "romance" aspect from getting mired in the bogs of offense.
Lady Margaret comes from a long line of Celtic mystics and has been blessed with more land and riches than anyone save the king himself yet cursed with an ancient curse that requires great love be shared before a male heir will be born. That's a pretty serious curse considering the afore mentioned attitude of the era. It's also one that is completely disregarded by the man Olivia is commanded to marry, Dominic le Sabre.
If one is looking for great, tender escape for an afternoon and isn't horribly interested in the deep meanings of life and history, this one can't be beat.
Reading any novel set in the medieval era, when a woman was considered less than a man's animals and whose only value was all too often only for breeding purposes, is always somewhat hard even as it is interesting. In "Untamed", Lowell has done an admirable job of allowing those realities to come through, showing the hardships inflicted on a female while keeping the "romance" aspect from getting mired in the bogs of offense.
Lady Margaret comes from a long line of Celtic mystics and has been blessed with more land and riches than anyone save the king himself yet cursed with an ancient curse that requires great love be shared before a male heir will be born. That's a pretty serious curse considering the afore mentioned attitude of the era. It's also one that is completely disregarded by the man Olivia is commanded to marry, Dominic le Sabre.
If one is looking for great, tender escape for an afternoon and isn't horribly interested in the deep meanings of life and history, this one can't be beat.
February 20, 2012
Just finished reading this book. I started reading it because it was recommended as an historical novel of the romance brand. I enjoy those kinds of novels and I enjoy learning about the period history. However, this novel lacked in that area. The first few chapters were of knights and ladies and I found it intrigueing. But as the novel wore on it was more about the knight / hero of the novel trying to get into the pants of his wife / heroine from an arranged marriage. At points, it errupted into an erotic novel filled with elusive references to sex and body parts. I grew weary of the "little falcon" reference and the "sheathed sword" (or any other reference to sword as a sex tool) throughout. The plot was interesting enough what with knights and lords and ladies and one point of treachery towards the very end and a talented author could have maade it so much more than 300 pages or boring sexetaphs it spanned. I understand this novel is the first of a "medievel" series by this author. I doubt I'd be interested any more dribble of this nature.
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