Twisted Assumptions

Deserves well over 5 Stars. Cassian de Velt and Brielle de Lohr story will have you glued to the pages. Not wanting to give absolutely nothing away all I can say is just Wow!!! This is definitely a keeper for me! This author has done a wonderful job creating the stories of the De Velt dynasty. I was very emotional reading The Dark Conqueror.

I will purchase a hard copy for my library.

I enjoyed Cass and Brielle's story - childhood sweethearts, they are faced with some obstacles - Cass is young and immature and it takes some time before they find their way back to each other. I'm looking forward to more stories from these families.

Emotional, Medieval Romance

Cassian is a young man who makes a decision that separates him from those he loves for years. Can he make amends? Will any explanation he gives redeem him in the eyes of those he loves? Trust, once broken, is difficult to mend. Brielle’s heart is broken. Can love make it whole again? This is an emotional story about love, regrets, and second chances. It is a medieval romance that will touch your heart. Be sure to keep that box of tissue handy. When the author recommended to do so, I was hoping she was exaggerating; she was not. The story will break your heart, but it will also put it back together again.

A young love that could not be denied. Unfortunately, their fathers wanted him to mature a little more before they married. He left and did not return. Where did he go?

Cassian had felt betrayed by his father and Brielle's when they asked for them to wait to marry in five years. They were young and Cass needed more time to mature. Then a tragedy struck and Cassian set out on his own.

Seven years later, they meet again... But Cassian is not the young man who left Brielle. He is now known as "The Dark Conqueror" on the tournament circuit. Can they still find the love they had and forgiveness? What about the secrets?

Wowza, a story to make you cry, feel the angst of these two and long for the happiness to be found.
Kathryn Le Veque amazes us again with her powerful stories that will leave you only wanting more!

I’ve been on a sci-fi .paranormal fantasy novel bender and I don’t want to be saved. I came across this book and had to read it as soon as I could get my hands on it. Haunting, sexy and captivating are just a few words that come to mind. I definitely recommend this one.

Cassian de Velt has fallen in love with Christopher de Lohr’s daughter Brielle or Bri. In their youth their love and friendship is strong. but life happens, his pride, poor judgement and circumstances pull them apart when Cassian is banished from the her life by her father. Fate has a way of bringing them back together. Can they recover the love they’ve lost and give their love a second chance to have the love of a lifetime they both deserve? Get the tissues ready for this emotional story! I have voluntarily read and reviewed the great book that has a story so intricately woven with history and romance as Kathryn le Veque takes you on an emotional rollercoaster.

Cassian is the youngest son of Jax de Velt. Serving Christopher de Lohr at Lioncross Abbey, Cassian is prized as a strong knight, but still growing in maturity. Brielle de Lohr and Cassian have loved each other for several years. Now in their early twenties, Cassian wants to marry Brielle. At first she says yes, but their fathers want them to wait until Cassian is more experienced and mature. Brielle agrees. Cassian feels betrayed by his father and hers. An angry Cassian retaliates with harsh words to his father. Tragedy strikes and Cassian leaves Lioncross Abbey and disappears for seven years. After looking for several years and then thinking him dead, Brielle's family finds him at a jousting tournament competing as The Dark Conqueror. Old hurts and distrust continue to keep he and Brielle apart. So many secrets. It seems as if they will never have a happy ending. This is a standalone, but I recommend reading The Dark Spawn first.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Oh My! Kathryn you warned us to have a box of Kleenex ready for Cassian and Brielle's story, and you were so right! Two people who were so right for each other and loved so deeply. Yet you were able to share their love, their torment, and their raw emotions so clearly it was like we were there with them in person.
I would give this book 10 stars if I could. I highly recommend it!
I think this is one of my favorite Kathryn Le Veque novels, but then you are always able to draw me into each and every story you write. Thank you Kathryn for another great one!

3.5 stars

The Dark Conqueror is another good novel by the prolific Kathryn Le Veque. (How she keeps such diligent track of so many family dynasties and their interwoven stories is a mystery to me.) It starts with a prologue, when Brielle de Lohr and Cassian de Velt are in their early 20s. They've been sweethearts since Cassian arrived at age 12 to foster with Christopher de Lohr, Brielle's father. More recently, they've become lovers. When Cassian finally asks Christopher for Brielle's hand, he's both disappointed and humiliated to be told that he needs more time to mature before the two can wed. Even worse, he discovers that his own beloved father, Ajax, feels the same way. Angry words are exchanged, mostly on Cassian's part, and he storms off. When he finds out later that his father perished on the battlefield--not a spoiler because it happens in a previous book and the author mentions it in her preface--he feels destroyed. He heads off to his family's stronghold, presumably, but changes his mind at the last minute and begins to roam, leaving no word to anyone. When Christopher finally contacts the de Velt family, he discovers that Cassian never arrived, and they all fear the worst.

Eventually, Cassian ends up swearing fealty to the Earl of St. Albans, and he lives with him for several years. The earl was an apparent sympathizer of King John, however, and after John's death, life became precarious. Cassian helps the earl and his wife escape to London, and then he and another night, Beau (a de Russe), begin to make their living in tournaments.

It's at a tournament that the de Lohrs discover the Cassian is alive and well, and they begin damage control. There are things Cass doesn't know about Brielle, and there's a lot of explaining he has to do. The rest of the book pretty much follows those two plot points. Will Brielle ever forgive Cass and be able to trust him again? Will Cass ever grow up and take responsibility for his actions? The author only writes HEAs, so there's pretty good chance that the answer to both questions is yes. The question for the reader, then, is if the author does it well.

For me, for the most part, the answer is yes. Cass and Brielle are both likeable, and you do want them to get back together. Unlike other reviewers though, I don't really think Cass grew up in the intervening years as much as we were led to believe. Yes, he shows great loyalty to the man who took him in when he was alone and depressed. But the young man who lived with and loved Brielle at the beginning of the book was also kind. Yes, he sometimes displayed childish bursts of temper, but I don't feel like the early version of Cass was really that immature. Grown-up Cass was a bit of a disappointment to me though. He only reunites with Brielle at this particular moment because he runs into her at a tournament. He says he would have eventually sought her out, but I'm not sure that I believe it. The book's blurb leads us to believe that he has a shocking and surprising tale to explain his disappearance, but there really isn't all that much to it. Brielle is the one with the real surprises.

I liked Brielle a lot more than I liked Cass. I do wish that some of the descriptions of her played out in actions though. Supposedly, she's as good as any man at tournament skills like jousting, but that teaser never comes to fruition in this novel. We are also supposed to believe that some of her choices and behaviors contribute to the ongoing miscommunication between her and Cass, but I really didn't see much fault in any of her actions.

Overall, it's a good story that is never a dull. If you're a fan of this author, you'll undoubtedly like it. If you've never read any of her novels, the book can still be read as a standalone. The book's drama comes in the form of relationships and not really in danger, so if that's not your thing, you might want to give it a pass. Otherwise, it's a worthwhile read even if it wasn't my favorite by this author.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

This was a well-written, entertaining medieval romance. It was very descriptive, held my interest and I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend this and any books by this author.

Cassian has always loved Brielle and she has always loved him. Having grown up together, as he fostered with her father, the two have never wanted anyone else. But their fathers, Jax de Velt and Christopher de Lohr, have a different perspective on this love between their children.
As Jax and Cass exchange very heated words, their relationship shatters. The fallout of this argument eventually leads to a separation between Brielle and Cassain. (So hard not to give out spoilers!)
As their friends and Brielle’s family conspire to reunite the two lovers, misunderstandings and mistrust may lead to a final end to the hope for a future together.

The Dark Conqueror by Kathryn Le Veque is a love story with a twist. Cassian de Velt is the son of the famous Ajax de Velt who, through the love of a good woman, disavowed his murderous ways and became the best of husbands and fathers. Cass had been with Christopher de Lohr at Lioncross Abbey since he was twelve years old and had lover, Chris' daughter, Brielle, since that first day. They had been lovers for several years and Cass finally decided to beard the lion in his den, and ask for her hand in marriage. His father was present, so it was the perfect time. The two fathers had already discussed the situation as it was common knowledge and it was only a matter of time before Cass came to Chris for his blessing. Chris was happy to give his permission to wed with the proviso that they wait five years. Neither parent felt Cass was mature enough or had lived enough to marry at this point. Cass was beyond upset and fought with his father as he father left for home. When the news came several months later, Cass was devastated and realized that his last words to his father were not as he would have wished and that Jax had been right when he called him immature. He didn't know what else to do so he ran . . . from himself.

Cass had a very active imagination and he assumed he knew how others felt and how they would react. It was, in fact, a result of his immaturity that he reacted as he did and carried mistaken beliefs with him for so many years. He did, eventually, grow into the man he was meant to be but not without some miscommunication and wrong turns. He loved Bri, together or apart, and nothing would ever change that. In the foreword, le Veque recommended that the reader have a box of tissues handy and in that she was not wrong. This was a beautifully written book, full of love and angst and self-reprisal. How le Veque continues to write such plots is amazing in itself. She always manages to find new ways to disrupt a relationship. She is an amazing author and this is a wonderful book.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Dark Conqueror by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #dragonblade #kathrynleveque #thedarkconqueror

This novel was an enjoyable read about 2 young lovers torn apart, but meet again years later. A de Lohr and de Velt have fallen in love with each other and haven known it since they were young children. Brielle is a stubborn girl, who has the interests of men's activities. Cassian does not mind Brielle's interests, for they are able to bond over them. Cassian is the youngest of his siblings, has been spoiled, and is immature. Brielle and Cassian want to marry, but Brielle will not go against her family. Cassian is told he needs to grow in wisdom and maturity, to which he feels betrayed. A terrible event causes their separation, only to meet again years later, both having changed and keeping secrets from each other. Both want to reconcile, but Brielle is deeply hurt by Cassian's disappearance and Cassian does not feel worthy of Brielle. Will they be able to reconcile their feelings before it tares them apart?
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Magnificent second-chance romance!

Wow, what a legendary love! Brie and Cass have known each other since childhood and became completely committed to each other as young adults, only to be separated by a tragic combination of the arrogance of youth and the impermanence of life. It takes quite a few years before they cross paths again and try to overcome the anger, hurt, mistrust, grief, and betrayal.

I loved how there was never any doubt - not to them, not to their families - of how right Cass and Brie are for each other, and how much they love each other. Their journey is all about how love sometimes isn't enough, and how wise counsel is a most valuable gift.

I absolutely live for the times when I can get lost in this author's medieval world. The attention to detail is glorious. The large-scale scope is impressive, encompassing the wild political landscape at the time without losing focus on the very personal story at the heart of it all. She effortlessly blends intrigue, treason, and espionage with a beautiful story of love, loss, and legacy. The scenes are exquisitely realistic, right down to the adorably unruly children, and make the reader feel as though they're right in the thick of the action.

As with all this author's books, the HEA is beautifully inspirational. The way she builds upon multiple generations serves as a built-in epilogue for all the characters we recognize from earlier books, and the list of this couple's progeny reminds us that there are always more stories to be told.

If you enjoy medieval romances, I highly recommend this book as well as anything written by this author. It simply doesn't get any better than this. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Such a great read. Surprises about Cassian and loved to get back to the family connections. Plenty of action and secrets. But when his intentions are rebuffed by Brielle's father, he leaves and along the way aquires his fortune and status and power. After 10 years he comes back to claim Brielle, but their story is far from over. Excellent read. HEA.

An incredibly emotional tale, there is so much pain and anguish that one could weep for the main characters. Having seen the devastating effects of last words spoken in anger to a loved one, I can only imagine how Cassian felt. However, Brielle's deep hurt is even more devastating. Cassian took the long road, but he eventually did make it home, but unfortunately, those old hurts and anger surfaced once again and almost destroy the best thing in his life. Fortunately, Cassian had matured to an extent that he is finally able to acknowledge the error of his ways and the story does come to a happy and hopeful conclusion. I received a copy of this novel as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Cassius De Velt and Brielle De Lohr have been in love since they met as children. Everyone knows they will eventually marry, but their fathers insist they must wait.

That decision doesn't go down well with our emotional hero. Devastating news a few months later turns his world upside down and he hates himself.

Our heroine will have life changing matters to face herself. Luckily she has a large and loving family to lean on.

This medieval romance will have you reaching for a big box of tissues in more than one place. Our author knows how to make us feel all the emotions of her characters. We giggle over the silliness and cry at the sadness. I have read so many of her books that the characters feel like a huge family I go back to visit time and time again. Although we often meet characters from other books, no two books are even remotely similar. We get fresh adventures everytime. I don't even bother to read the blurb for her books. I just automatically buy them, because I know I will love it.

Great book as always.

I loved it.

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥
💋💋

This book is uplifting and heart wrenching all at the same time.

A Knight, through immaturity and hurt, throws his life into turmoil and deserts his friends and family, and his love, hoping and find peace and forgiveness by leaving.

Cass and Brie have loved one another for years, but love is not always enough to build a life on.
Now the two must try to rebuild their lives and hope to find each other along the way.

Excellent book, Kathryn warns at the beginning to get tissues handy, she’s not wrong.
This is a tear jerker and a great love story.
Don’t miss it.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

Oh my goodness, where to start. Like EVERY Kathryn Le Veque book, this one has amazing charcuterie, a beautifully written story, an epic setting, and a love that in meant to be story told for all time.

Cassian and Brielle are young and in love, but according to their fathers, they are too young. Heated words are exchanged and a tragedy occurs. This tragedy leads Cassian to disappear and Brielle alone, unmarried, and pregnant. We fast forward seven years and find the two lovers reunited but not together romantically. They endure so much to find their way back to one another and the path they take is epic.

I LOVED this book and it will be one I read again and again. If I could give it 10 stars I would. Absolutely epic and amazing!

I just reviewed The Dark Conqueror by Kathryn Le Veque. #TheDarkConqueror #NetGalley