A Chinese swordswoman and a Roman soldier fall in love - can anything be more awesome?

[dangermousie]

I am talking about Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin (someone on flist recced this. I don't remember who, but come and claim your gratitude).

Basically, it's a romance novel whose heroine, a mysterious highborn swordswoman Ai Li, who is running away from her arranged marriage to warn her family that the man they married her to is planning to usurp her clan's power and kill them all, crosses paths with Ryam, a Roman soldier way way out of his way (part of an expedition sent by the dying Roman Empire) and sparks fly, intrigue happens, and so does sexing.

I am about 1/3 through, and it's really fun. Of course, I am rather biased because the only thing hotter than a swordswoman is a Roman soldier (yes, I have issues. I am not ashamed :P)

Comments

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

the only thing hotter than a swordswoman is a Roman soldier (yes, I have issues. I am not ashamed :P)

I share your issues :D

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Love the icon!

I blame my reading choices as a kid for this obsession.

And now I am going to try remember what the novel I read years ago about the Lost Legion sent into Asia somewhere was called. Hmmm.

[algelic.livejournal.com]

I just read the beginning of your post... won't read any more for fear of spoilers.

I bought that book a week ago! But it's hard to find time (and focus) to actually read it, so I'm still at the beginning!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Hope you enjoy

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I may've mentioned it before it came out, but I didn't rec it. (Because I haven't posted since reading it, not because I wouldn't rec it.) I thought it was pretty fun and fairly straightforward wuxia. Lin is better at the bonding through action and adventure than the directly romantic scenes, but that's my preference anyway. My only problem is that, later on, it becomes more and more clear that there's a previous story (available only online, I think) about Ryam's leader, and Lin expects you to have read it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, didn't know about a previous story. It really does feel very wuxia.