I loved the characters, Diedre and Kylin, and their chemistry. The action and adventure was fast paced and exciting. I loved the concept of the Tuatha passing along weapons that would help them in battle. I wanted to like this book, but the writing style was a little dry and staccato. I felt like they found the weapons a little too quickly and easily.

All in all it was an interesting read and I'm thankful to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I'm struggling a bit with how to rate this standalone.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, the world, and the characters. I thought Deidre and Kylin were well matched, their journey to receive ancient gifts and save their land was interesting, and It was very sweet how they respected each other and worked well together. I think what really held me back was the writing style: it felt very matter of fact and staccato to me, and there was an excessive amount of exclamation marks. I had to break this book up into multiple reading sessions to get through, as the style really wasn't for me.

Thanks to the author, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive and read this ARC.

Deidre and Kylin don't think much of each other until they unexpectedly start having dreams and then gifts bestowed on them from the Tuatha Dé Danann. Determined to protect their people and understanding from their dreams that they need to work together, their perception of each other changes. They fall in love as they work together to uncover a traitor in their midst and protect their people from an upcoming invasion from the Northmen.

This book had a lot of promise, but I feel like it fell a bit short. Story idea and plotline, as well as good masking of the traitor until the very end, was good. I had difficulty with the amount of exclamation points in the story. it reminded me more of child dialogue than adults. Additionally, Deidre and Kylin felt very young and romantically immature in their thoughts, more like what I would have envisioned if the time period put her as a 16 year old and him as 18 years old. I found myself skimming parts of the story.

I was looking forward to reading this because I love the idea which covers half of my ancestry. It read a lot like a historical tome. I kept waiting for the story to start. The characters were bland and they took us step by step through what they were doing. It just didn't hold my interest. In a nutshell, it provided the basis for a good novel about the druids of ancient times, it just didn’t deliver on story.

This book just didn’t grab me from the beginning. I don’t know if it was the writing or what. I really think it was just not my cup of tea.

Deidre, the daughter of a Ri, receives a mysterious sword amid a skirmish with Northmen invaders. She learns it is one of the Tuatha De Danann’s four sacred gifts that exist to protect their emerald isle. Kylin, the son of a Northman and Irish mother, comes to assist Deidre in the skirmish. The two warriors share a dream about a devastating battle yet to come. They set off to find the other sacred gifts while preparing their people for the upcoming invasion. Can Deidre and Kylin find the traitor among their people? And will they successfully thwart a greedy jarl from invading their beloved homeland?

THE SWORD OF LIGHT is a standalone novel by Heather Graham, also known under the alias of Shannon Drake. I am no stranger to this author’s works, both historical romances and romantic suspense. They do tend to be either a hit or a miss with me. Unfortunately, this one is a miss.
I could only read this book in short bursts to keep my mind from wandering and from growing bored. Which is sad because 1) I love stories about ancient Ireland and 2) I felt the story’s concept held such promise. I believe if the author broke it up into a four-book series with each book centering on a sacred gift, it would have been better. Perhaps include the reason and history behind each gift’s creation.

It felt that Kylin and Deidre found the sacred gifts too swiftly to be believable. I would have loved it if the author had touched more of the Tuatha De Danann, more specifically the ones who visited Deidre and Kylin. The other problem I had with the story is with the dialogue. Some parts came off as stiff and disjointed, while other areas became repetitious.

Honestly, I could not stand Deidre. I understand she is supposed to be a fierce female warrior (someone like Xena or even Boudicca) – one who can stand her own against men. However, that is not the impression I got from her. From her demeanor to the way she interacted with people (and yes, the way she was written) it all felt forced, like telling rather than showing.

When two warriors come together to save their home can there be something more between them? Great read
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own . Thank you for allowing me to review

Had the name Heather Graham not been on this book, I doubt I would have read it. It is a departure from the norm for me but it is also a departure from the Krewe and other books we know Heather for. As I started to read a book with no Krewe, I kept telling myself how very different this book is for Heather. Then it hit me, this book may take place in another time, it still has all the elements I have come to appreciate in a Heather Graham book.
The FMC is strong and fierce and loving and the MMC is equally strong and fierce and unafraid to learn from her the value of mercy. The side characters were so much more than simply extras, they had their own loves and battles and wisdom. We have Cillian, the trusted advisor, and Aidan, the double brother, who falls for Kyrin's sister and we have a man in need of a swift kick for thinking of woman as chattel. Deidre and Kylin compliment each other and remind me a little of the Krewe leaders with a lot more magic. Speaking of magic, our characters have great gifts and a guide to help them see more than the battle but the greater magic of love. We have action aplenty as Deidre and Kylin are constantly being set upon by enemies. We have a mystery that will keep you guessing until the last, especially, if you are like me and believe he who is hateful is also bad. That same concept is part of the character's thought as well. The story had a truly beautiful ending that befit the stunning descriptions of Ireland that Heather painted with her words.
I hope Heather has more in store for the Krewe because they are my favorite but until she does, this book is well worth the read. It has all the elements of a Krewe story - strong characters with flaws, mystery, action and a little bit of something else. If you are new to Heather Graham and choice the book because the sub genre is a favorite, you may find a new author to enjoy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book was a ride and I loved it! Definitely a shelf worthy trophy!
It hits all the boxes and the blurb hit the mark.