Magnar

This was my first time reading a novel by Mary Morgan. I appreciated that the author provided the glossary of Old Norse Terms and The Nine Noble Virtues of Wolf Lore At the front of the book because I went in with this knowledge. I liked that the prologue was written as a legend and felt this did an excellent job pulling the reader into the story. The prose was very well written and as I was reading it was running through my head like a movie prophecy in the opening scene.

Magnar was very alpha without being overpowering and Elspeth was a strong female without idiotic tendencies. Both were well written characters with developed personalities. They listened to each other and for the most part communicated well. Even with the differences in religion they were able to compromise and work through things that would be major relationship challenges. I loved the additional characters and cannot wait for future books.

Right at the beginning we are introduced to the antagonist and we clearly see the direction the story is heading, but this does not detract from the reader’s enjoyment. There was plenty of loving and suspense to keep the reader fully engaged. The author does a good job with dialogue. The flirting and sexual innuendo between the hero and heroine is fun and adds both sweetness and a little heat to the story.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy Isabel Cooper, Donna Fletcher, Lynsay Sands, Mary Wine and Hannah Howell.

I had never read a book by this author, now I have to go and get the rest of her books. It was very well written and the characters are so intriguing and I can’t wait to see what happens next I hope everything works out for the seer. This book has strong Women than can stand up for themselves but also realize having a strong man makes them even moor powerful.

Magnar is a completely fantastical epic novel woven in suspense and intrigue.

I just had to know who Magnar's twin was and how he would act when they met. I absolutely admire Elspeth's resourcefulness and self-sacrifice in protecting her nephew. Of course much of the tale could be lost on readers who cannot abide by the Scottish tongue.

A beautiful book.

Magnar by Mary Morgan
The Wolves of Clan Sutherland #1

Elspeth is hiding with her seven-year-old nephew, Erik, during a battle within their clan’s fortress waiting to escape and flee to safety when the book begins. Their chieftain and many others have been killed and they must depart in hopes of reaching and then requesting assistance from the king. They will be found and aided on their way, be faced with decisions impacting the future and be challenged in more ways than one before the story is brought to its conclusion.

What I liked:
* Elspeth: determined sister to the chieftain who wanted to keep her nephew safe, retake their home and remain free to marry for love. Her time in a convent converted her to the “new” religion although
* Magnar: strong leader of the Wolves tasked with protecting the king and others. He is a bit mystical, formed through ancient magic, half man ~ half wolf, and rather intriguing. He has a king to protect, a twin to find, invaders to thwart, men to lead and a wife to woo.
* Erik: an intelligent child with potential to become a great leader.
* Magnar’s Wolves: follow Magnar and have all the attributes and characteristics that Magnar has. They are interesting and add to the story. I believe Rorik may have his story told next.
* Thorfinn: Magnar’s twin brother sent away at birth to live with his mother’s people. He intrigues me and hope we get to see more of him in future books of the series
* That the evil dudes were thwarted…at least for awhile

What I did not like:
* The people I was meant not to like: Ketil and Halvaard
* That Thorfinn was sent away…his parents should have been able to come up with a better way to handle the situation.
* Magnar’s ability to hold a grudge and his short fuse – though he did manage to rein it in most of the time. Hated that the temper kept him from making peace with someone he loved.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? I think so

Thank you to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press LLC for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

Magnar is the first book I’ve read by this author and now I am a fan. It’s such a layered story and Ms. Morgan does an amazing job of weaving history, lore, and romance throughout the book without losing pace and momentum. The world-building immerses us into the lives of the characters.

Both main characters Magnar and Elspeth are multi-faceted. Strong, honorable they both strive to do the right thing no matter the personal cost. I enjoy a fiery heroine as well as a hero who can appreciate her. The secondary characters were also engaging.

I love fantasy and paranormal romance and this book did not disappoint. There were sex and language, but neither was overdone and not inappropriate for the genre. I look forward to reading other books by this talented writer, who obviously goes to great lengths with her research.

Well I truly enjoyed this book, the characters were awesome and well developed. I enjoyed the history of the story along with old mythology tied in. I look forward to reading more on these great characters.

Set in Scotland this is the tale of Magnar, both a man and a wolf. Fate intervenes and he meets Elspeth a woman, unlike any woman he has met before. She possesses power and might that others seek to have. A one sitting read that you will not want to end. It is a standalone within the series.

Yowza. That is the only thought that comes to mind and right after I read the prologue! The blending of man and wolf from ancient times who are loyal to King William, the Lion of Scotland. This is Magnar, an elite guard, leader of the Sutherland Wolves, from the house of Alpin. This is his tale and can I say, it is a fast paced adventure as only Mary Morgan can pen!
From the landing of his longboat on land and the horse he rides, this author brings the scenery alive to the point you can feel the cold water spray out hero. There are several forces at work as Magnar finds out he was born a twin and he and his brother were pulled apart. His brother to be raised by others.
When he returns to the King, he finds the head of Castle Steinn, a friend, has been slain and the King asks him to marry the man's sister and take in his young son, who will be ruler one day.
Full of adventure, intrigue, fantasy, strong passion and a journey that will capture your imagination, I cannot wait for the next in this series!

Magnar MacAlpin is the leader of the Wolves of Clan Sutherland, and his first loyalties are to Scotland. He rules with an iron fist while his allegiance is to protect King William. When a group of Norsemen attack and murder a friend of the King, Magnar is thrust into marrying Elspeth, the sister of the murdered chieftain. From the moment he meets her, he is captivated. Her tongue is sharp which warms his blood and her beauty casts a spell over his senses. She doesn't believe in the old ways and her beliefs are with the new Christian god. How can they trust each other when they don't believe in the same gods? Can they learn to love one another and see their differences as blessings, or will their marriage leave them bereft and without love?

Magnar is book one in a brand-new Nordic shifter series by Mary Morgan. My anticipation of this book had me plunging into reading the very first chance I got. Magnar is a complex hero with a definite dark side to him. He battles with his wolf and many times has to constrain his inner beast. Elspeth, on the other hand, is a breath of fresh air and brings light to Magnar's soul. I liked the contrast they brought to each other. Mary Morgan illustrates the conflict between the old Norse beliefs and the new Christian beliefs. The plot moves at a good pace. The conflict is quite intense and while I won't go into detail here, the antagonist is pure evil hidden behind a benign face. The romance is emotional and carries the plot along. While I didn't care for some parts of the ending, it is definitely a HEA ending. I applaud Mary Morgan for adding her own spin to Norse mythology. Her intricate historical details make this a must-read. I can't wait for book two. Highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.

My Rating: 5 stars

If I could give Magnar more than five stars I would because it definitely deserves more stars! Ms. Morgan has created this brand new series and it is definitely a winner. The plot and storyline of the Sutherland Wolves is a great concept. In this first story, Magnar is the leader of the Sutherland Wolves who are King William's Elite Personal Guards. He has just returned from a summons to his homeland and there, he receives some stunning news. At his return to the king, he learns that a friend has been murdered and his small son and aunt are there for assistance.

Elspeth has fled with her 7-year-old nephew from their home castle after her brother was murdered as well as several members of her clan. Her extreme goal is to save her nephew who is now the new chieftain of their clan. The king and his elite guard are determined to help her.

This book is a page-turner. There is a lot of intrigue, danger, passion and intense emotions all throughout. This is such a great start to this series that I can't wait until the second one is available for purchase. Mary Morgan is going to be very successful with this series. I never thought she could top the Dragon Knights but with this series... it will be right up there. It is going to be extremely successful.

I highly recommend Magnar! I am so happy a friend gifted me with this story!

5 Star Read!

I feel like I have actually been transported in to this book, the scenery is so well described.

Magnar is the story about the elite guard, leader of the Sutherland Wolves, loyal to King William, the Lion of Scotland. There are so many different aspects to this book, you would think that it would be a very confusing book to read. But Author Mary Morgan has in my opinion done an incredible job penning a tale full of adventure, intrigue, fantasy, and strong passion that will capture your imagination and you won't be able to put the book down.

ARC from NetGalley

3.5 stars

This was a decent paranormal romance. It was well-written, but it wasn't terribly gripping. The romance was okay, but I wasn't squeeing for them to get together. The sex was decent. A decent read all told, but I'm not chomping at the bit for the next one.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
An interesting read. I liked the mythology encaptures within. It took me a while to get into the story as I had not read the previous ones but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially liked the interpersonal relationships between characters and of course the romance which was a tad cheesy and predictable at times but bearable.
A good read.

Magnar MacAlpin is the leader of the Wolves of Clan Sutherland, and his first loyalties are to Scotland. He rules with an iron fist while his allegiance is to protect King William. When a group of Norsemen attack and murder a friend of the King, Magnar is thrust into marrying Elspeth, the sister of the murdered chieftain. From the moment he meets her, he is captivated. Her tongue is sharp which warms his blood and her beauty casts a spell over his senses. She doesn't believe in the old ways and her beliefs are with the new Christian god. How can they trust each other when they don't believe in the same gods? Can they learn to love one another and see their differences as blessings, or will their marriage leave them bereft and without love?

Magnar is book one in a brand-new Nordic shifter series by Mary Morgan. My anticipation of this book had me plunging into reading the very first chance I got. Magnar is a complex hero with a definite dark side to him. He battles with his wolf and many times has to constrain his inner beast. Elspeth, on the other hand, is a breath of fresh air and brings light to Magnar's soul. I liked the contrast they brought to each other. Mary Morgan illustrates the conflict between the old Norse beliefs and the new Christian beliefs. The plot moves at a good pace. The conflict is quite intense and while I won't go into detail here, the antagonist is pure evil hidden behind a benign face. The romance is emotional and carries the plot along. While I didn't care for some parts of the ending, it is definitely a HEA ending. I applaud Mary Morgan for adding her own spin to Norse mythology. Her intricate historical details make this a must-read. I can't wait for book two. Highly recommend!