This book provided a captivating and immersive experience. The narrative gripped me from the outset, maintaining my engagement until the final pages. The characters exhibited complexity and intrigue, contributing to a well-paced and absorbing storyline. The emotional journey of the central couple, with its highs and lows, resonated with me, and the inclusion of compelling side characters added depth to the tale. In this moment, this was the love story I craved. For those seeking an entertaining and skillfully written book, this is the perfect choice.

Highland Gladiator by Kathryn Le Veque

This well written novel set
In the 14th century between Lor and Isabel who meet when they were young in the countryside away from their clans but unknown to each other are from rival clans. Years later after they have fallen in love the tall , strong and placid blacksmith returns to find his village has been burnt to the ground. Believing he had lost most of what he loves he wants revenge and goes to the Ludus Caledonia where they train men to be warriors an he becomes known as the Lion of Caledonia.

A fast moving medieval romance with political intrigue, conflict and many twists and turns along the way.

Although I do question some of the historical timing in this book particularly as a Scot myself.

Furthermore there is such a lot going on in this book a true page turner but sometimes as there are so many characters involved it can be a bit hard going on occasion . Overall an exceptionally good read

Highland Gladiator (Scots and Swords #1). By Kathryn Le Veque. 2020. Sourcebooks Casablanca (ARC eBook).

Highland Gladiator is an immersive read. Set in Medieval Scotland, Lor and Isabail are from different clans but find themselves in love. Separated after Lor’s village is raided, Isabail finds her gentle blacksmith in the fighting pits of the Ludus Caledonia. If she can convince her father that Lor is the warrior their clan needs for protection, then they can be together again. Lor though, still loves feisty Isabail, but is not for sure which clan can be trusted and which clan deserves his retaliation. Full of action and sweet romance, I look forward to reading more in the Scots and Swords series.

Highland Gladiator is the first book of the first series to be taken on by Sourcebooks Casablanca for this author. I am so impressed with this book and I am not sure why it took me so long to read this one because dang Kathryn Le Veque really took this one to the bank on this book. Now I have read previous works from her but I am so happy to see so many readers becoming introduced to her due to this series. She is one of the best talents in historical romance today and she really delves into the settings and eras most authors don’t brave. And I love seeing what she did with this book and it definitely was everything that I needed in a book especially in a historical. While I have had some hit or misses with historical romance this year, this one definitely took the cake for me and I couldn’t get enough of it.

HIGHLAND GLADIATOR IS A STORY WHICH FEATURES:
Lor Careston-Blacksmith, birdkeeper, honest working man that becomes a fighter and gladiator and warrior for his people
Isabail Keith-daughter of the woodland clans, sweet but a defender and fighter, and devoted to the boy and man she knows in Lor.
Highland Gladiator starts off with our two love interests meeting as children and then later meeting as adults as they are more mature but still sweet on each other. Lor is the grandson of a renowned blacksmith for his people and is maturing and ready to take over fully. And then he sees the girl he once teased and played with that fateful day in a full-grown woman and his interest is clear. Even though their families don’t approve of the match, they meet in secret and form a bond with each other that is strong and fierce but sweet and loving. But they are willing to find what they are made of but neither Lor nor Isabail ever realized how their love would be tested, and tested in ways that will put their love to the test. When they are separated when Lor’s village is attacked and he believes his grandfather is killed, he leaves it all and unable to find Isabail he heads up north to find Ludus Caledonia, a fighting guild that will teach him how to fight, become a warrior, and claim his revenge. But roads to revenge are never what they seem to be and he will have to make a choice, the woman he loves and claiming his sought-after revenge.

Highland Gladiator was such a fierce and passionate love tale and I just wanted more of it. Immersing myself into this book helped me realize how much I MISS reading this author and I am not even sure why I even stopped reading her. I think there are so many books that it can be easy to let some books easily slip through the cracks. And to be honest I just didn’t know what this book contained, and hadn’t read many reviews of this one, so wasn’t sure if I would ever be in the right mood for this but let me tell you…..I should have just read it a year ago and I feel like *banging my head against a wall* in how I should have done this way sooner. I honestly couldn’t get enough of this pair. Now I will say that I highly recommend listening to this one, the narration is on point. Brad Wills is one of the best talents I have ever seen in my time of audiobook listening. He just has the perfect deep tone for a medieval, and really handles the dialogue and accents of all the cast members so flawlessly, every time I listen to him, I am amazed by it.

Now Highland Gladiator is a tale of revenge and love and how these two concepts can intermingle especially when the plot builds in such a way. I was intrigued to see how this would develop here and Kathryn LeVeque didn’t disappoint. I found the pairing’s love story to be so captivatingly sweet yet fierce. I love what they were willing to sacrifice for each other. And your heart just aches to see what they have to face with each other, and I did like that when secrets are kept, it’s not done overlong and take up so much of the story. The author really balances out these concepts just perfectly. There are such honest vibes in this relationship, I love that they can sense when something is wrong with the other and the transparency they have for each other is really beautiful. You just don’t see that too often in romance. I liked to see where the focus of the conflict in the story was centered on. And then we get our introduction to the fight guild and man I was HOOKED on this fighting guild. Because highlanders plus gladiator training, tactics and fight matches—YES, please. I just wanted to cheer Lor on in his training and fighting matches. This author definitely raised the level where these are concerned. And I hope to see this publisher take on more of this author’s books.

Overall I found Highland Gladiator to be a vibrant realistic view on this era, the truths behind clan wars, it contains a unique setup of intrigue, a well-developed revenge subplot, and a romance that showcases the value of fighting for your love in a time where it could come at a great cost….MAGNIFICENT

Anything Katheryn Le Veque writes is amazing! Her books always make you wanting more. Her stories are so engaging and her characters are so in depth. Just love her books!

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

I was the publicist on this title--it's wonderful! Intriguing, sexy, and loved that it's in Scotland.

I went out on a limb with this one to try something that I don't normally read, and I fell in love!
The characters are beautiful and encapsulating, I felt a true connection because of how beautifully they were written and thought out.
The romance aspect of the book is well thought out and a powerful portrayal of both sweet romance and a couple that make each other stronger.

Looking forward to reading more by this author.

Highland Gladiator is the first title in the Scots and Swords series, set in the Scottish Highlands in the late 1400’s. Kathryn Le Veque is one of my go to authors when it comes to medieval romance, and Isabail and Lor’s story did not disappoint.
Lor Careston and Isabail Keith met as children, and several years later they once again cross paths. Despite the fact that they come from feuding clans, this pair are inexplicably drawn to each other.
Lor is a hardworking, placid and gentle giant, until tragedy strikes, then he becomes set on revenge and retribution. He seeks out the Ludus Caledonia in order to learn the ways of a warrior.
Isabail is my kind of heroine. She’s strong and fierce, independent and honest. She has no qualms about speaking her mind, and is determined and driven to protect those she loves.
Highland Gladiator has character that are well developed, and is not only engaging but entertaining and I look forward to reading future titles in this series.

This was a well-written story with strong characters, but it did not feel like a romance book to me. There was a lot of action and fighting, but there was very little romance and absolutely no humor. It was not a bad story. It was just not what I was expecting for a romance novel.

First - this cover? HOT! Love it!
I had not read anything by this author before but have seen her books on Goodreads and was curious.
I really liked the premise and was intrigued.
I found it to be ok. I enjoyed a few of the characters a lot -
I liked Lor a lot. He wasn't the rough, grumpy highlander that you usually get. The interactions between Isabail and her brothers added some humour as well. I liked Isabail as well. What I didn't really care for is the relationship between Lor and Isabail. I just didn't feel the connection and that is something desperately needed in a romance.
My favourite part of the story was the secondary relationship. I adored those two characters. Adored.
I may give another book a try later.
3.5

Highland Gladiator by Kathryn Le Veque is the First book in the Scots and Swords Series. This is the story of Isabail Keith and Lor Careston. Lor was a blacksmith with no interest of fighting but when his village was attacked killing family and friends...things change. Lor leaves to go to Ludus Caledonia where they train you to be fighters. Lor goal is to become a warrior and get revenge for all he lost. This was a page turning read kept me going until the end.

Loved this first book in a new series! A story of true love, destiny and revenge, Isabail and Lor were meant to be together, overcoming numerous before getting their HEA. The story is fast-paced, action-packed, with a few unexpected twists. Great read - hard to put down! Looking forward to the next in this series.

Really enjoyed this action packed, heart racing adventure filled with interesting and engaging charters, memorable dialog, heart racing twists and emotionally thrilling turns. Was a great read from beginning to end and so hard to put down.

I have a bit of an issue with the basic premise of this series, which is that an English knight spent time in Rome fighting as a gladiator, came back and founded a gladiator school in Scotland, and now trains and fights the best fighters in the land, hiring them out to lords who can afford to pay off their contracts. So far, so Fight Club… except that this is the late fifteenth century, about a millennium too late for Roman gladiatorial contests. And I don’t quite buy the Scottish king allowing an Englishman to raise and train what’s effectively a mercenary private army within striking distance of Edinburgh, either.

Honestly, the whole Gladiator/Fight Club thing distracted from what is otherwise a very good Highlander romance. Lor is a blacksmith who takes up the sword looking for revenge for his burned village, Isabail the feisty lass from a rival clan he can’t help but fall for. And can I just say how much I loved Isabail and the fact that she was allowed to not only fight on her own terms, but to strike decisive blows when it counted, including seeing off the final villain? So rare that the heroine gets to do that in historical romance, this was a really refreshing change.

I really enjoyed Lor and Isabail’s romance, though I think part of the conflict between them was manufactured for the sake of the plot, when Isabail didn’t tell Lor who had attacked his village - it made no sense for her to withhold that information as it could only lead to misunderstandings. Not telling him until he was committed to the fight was actually a seriously bad idea as it was his own clan he would have to fight against and they had no idea if he would go through with it or not.

To sum up; I loved the characters, I enjoyed the romance, I thought part of the historical setting was shaky at best, and a bit too much of the plot depended on manufactured conflict. It’s an enjoyable read if you can look past those things, though. Four stars.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.

After Lor's Village is attacked, he leaves everything behind, including a relationship that has just started. He wants to avenge the the deaths of his friends and family and decides to find the Ludus Caledonia, an elite fighting school. He will put in the time learning to fight and when ready destroy the people that took everything away from him.

Isabail is devastated when she thinks she has lost Lor when his village is attacked. Knowing that they must do something to protect themselves, she talks her father in hiring a fighter from the Ludus Caledonia. Isabail can't believe it when she sees Lor there. She comes up with a plan to ensure their future....her father will hire Lor to be the one fighter to protect her people.

Lor still wants his revenge on the clan that he destroyed his village. But will his revenge destroy his relationship with Isabail?

This is the first book I've read by LeVeque and I really enjoyed it. I love the concept of this series and that it reminded me of the Roman gladiator shows/movies that I like to watch.

I really enjoyed watching these to together! Even though they should be enemies because of what clan they were a part of, they didn't let that get int he way of their budding romance. Then they were separated and more conflict could have kept them apart but they persevered. This was a great start to a new series and I can't wait to see what LeVeque has in store for us!

This is the first Kathryn LeVeque book I remember reading. This, like all her stories is set in Medieval times, this one Scotland in the late 1400s. It's her take on a gladiator gambling fighting guild set south of Edinburgh. We will be seeing stories of fighters in this guild. This one is about Lor Careston, a smithy from the village of Careston raised by his grandfather Nikolaus a village elder. It's his story of vengeance over the destruction of his village and his perceived death of Nik.

When Isabail Keith and Lor first meet they are attracted to each other knowing they're probably from rival clans. She tells him he needs to learn to fight and lets him know about the Ludus Caledonia she's heard about. Later when his village is destroyed by what appears to be the Clan Keith he sets off to find The Cal with the blessing of his clan Lindsay. He's determined to learn to fight to avenge his grandfather. They meet again later when Isabail and her family travel to The Cal to find a warrior to help their clan defend against the neighboring Clan Lindsay. Drostan Lindsay is determined to drive Clan Keith from land once long ago held by the Lindsay. This sets the conflict in the rest of the book. I enjoyed the journey to love between the smart warrior maid Isabail and Lor now known as the Lion of Caledonia. The conflict Lor experiences between his loyalties, the clans, and his coming to love Isabail was handled with care. I fell into the story and couldn't wait to experience the happily ever after at the end.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was just released on 8/25. It's the first book in the series and the first time I've the read the author.

Pros: Hello...Scots! LOL Plus it's a mostly fast paced romance with lots of action. It has strong well developed (main) characters and some great witty moments and plenty of chemistry between Lor and Isabail.

Cons: Too many characters at times and few things that might be considered light spoilers. I did enjoy the book the enough that I would probably read the next one in the series.

Rating: I give this book 3.5 hearts (out of 5).

I have seen the name Kathryn LeVeque for a while now. It is usually associated with historical fiction. I have been reading more of that lately especially the 1200-1400’s so I decided to try one of her books since Highland Gladiator is the first of a new series Scots and Swords. I knew that the groundwork for the series would be laid in this book even if each turns out to be stand-alone. I would suggest that anyone else new to this author do the same. You will not be disappointed. This is an author to put on your TBR list f you enjoy historical fiction.

The character driven story gives the impression that it will be a Romero and Juliet trope but it goes much deeper than that. Political intrigue, deceit, betrayal. honor, truth, and love all play a part in this historical fiction that shows that humanity has not changed very much in hundreds of years. It was difficult to know truth then and it is still that way today.

Lor Careston's search for revenge puts him on a journey that he never planned. Gong along with him you wish for him to learn what really happened to his village and for justice to be served. Along the way that changes hoping that he can find peace and love. This is historical fiction that comes to life so that I found myself taking sides with Lors and Isabail, hoping that lies would not prevail against them.

What's not to love? A gorgeous cover, author Kathryn LeVeque, a hero name Lor, and first book in a new series, Scots & Swords... Yes you have it right! Pure adventure and bliss!

They met when younger and then again years later. Lor knew that he wanted to marry her, but did not know much about her. Isabail was part of a clan warring with many others and she could only watch as Lor's village was burned down and all were dead. Her dream was gone.

Lor was a blacksmith in his village following in his grandfather's footsteps. He had never been trained to fight because her had no need for it in his profession. But with the burning of his village and the death of his grandfather, her was determined.
The Ludus Caledonia, a powerful and profitable gambling guild, modeled on the gladiatorial schools of ancient Rome. Training men to be some of the fiercest warriors and Lor was going to be one of them..

A story of deceit, secrets, heartache told by famed storyteller Kathryn Le Veque that will pull you in and not let go. It stole my heart!