On the edge of sunrise by Cynthia Ripley Miller

 

Name of Book: On the Edge of Sunrise

Author: Cynthia Ripley Miller

ISBN: 978-1-910282-1

Publisher: Knox Robinson publishing

Part of a Series: The Long-hair saga

Type of book: 448 ME, 450-451 ME, Rome, Emperor Valentian, slavery, widowhood, barbarians, Frankish tribe, nobility, romance, diplomat, slow burn, Attila the Hun, politics, treachery 

Year it was published: 2015

Summary:

When love commands, destiny must obey. Against an epic background and torn between duty and passion, Arria Felix, a Roman senator’s daughter, must choose between Rome’s decadent world and her forbidden love—Garic, a Frank barbarian noble.

The year is AD 450. The Roman Empire wanes as the Medieval Age awakens. Attila the Hun and his horde conquer their way across Europe into Gaul. Caught between Rome’s tottering empire and Attila’s threat are the Frankish tribes and their ‘Long-Hair’ chiefs, northern pagans in a Roman Christian world, and a people history will call the Merovingians.

A young widow, Arria longs for a purpose and a challenge. She is as well versed in politics and diplomacy as any man … but with special skills of her own. The Emperor Valentinian, determined to gain allies to help stop the Huns, sends a remarkable envoy, a woman, to the Assembly of Warriors in Gaul. Arria will persuade the Franks to stand with Rome against Attila.

When barbarian raiders abduct Arria, the Frank blue-eyed warrior, Garic, rescues her. Alarmed by the instant and passionate attraction she feels, Arria is torn between duty and desire. Her arranged betrothal to the ambitious tribune, Drusus, her secret enlistment by Valentinian as a courier to Attila the Hun, and a mysterious riddle—threaten their love and propel them into adventure, intrigue, and Attila’s camp. Rebels in a falling empire, Arria and Garic must find the strength to defy tradition and possess the love prophesied as their destiny.

Characters:

Main characters include Arria Felix, a daughter of a prominent senator who has recently became a widow and who desires purpose and therefore becomes an envoy. She is a diplomat and is talented at singing as well as an understated beauty who is also a christian. Garic is a noble as well as a farmer and a warrior. He can sense treason and has deep respect for Arria as well as optimism and faith. Vodamir is Garics cousin and is often opposite of Garic. He is a playboy and tends to charm women and loves competition. Drusus is Arrias fiance who doesn't see Arria as a person but sees her as necessary to further on his ambitions. Marcella is a half Egyptian half Roman slave who is well versed in pleasure and isn't above using men and women to reach her ambitions. Her main weapon is her body and beauty. 

Theme:

True love is a gem that is forged by fire and meaning 

Plot:

The story is in third person narrative from Arrias, Garics, Marcellas and Drusus points of view, although some minor characters like Samuel or Severin or even Attilla the Hun also make their appearance. Two years earlier to the start, Arria has lost her beloved husband to German barbarians. But instead of becoming bitter, she decides to go on a mission as an envoy in 450 ME in hopes of convincing Frankish tribes to help Emperor Valentian fight off the Huns. It is there she will meet Garic, a noble of Long-Hair tribe, and it is there that throughout the year their love and emotions will be tested in ways they couldn't anticipate, all in hopes of being together forever. 

 
Author Information:
(From goodreads)

Cynthia Ripley Miller is the author of On the Edge of Sunrise, the first novel in the Long-Hair Sagas, a series set in Late Ancient Rome and France. She has lived and travelled in Europe, Africa, North America and the Caribbean, taught history and currently teaches English. Her short stories have appeared in the anthology Summer Tapestry, The Scriptor, and at Orchard Press Mysteries.com. Cynthia writes a blog, Historical Happenings and Oddities: A Distant Focus. She lives with her husband, twin cats, and German Shepherd in a suburb of Chicago.

Opinion:

This is my second time reading it, and I have to say that my second time through this novel is a lot more richer than first time. The story is best described as slow burn with few to little sexual scenes and focus is a lot more on history and politics as well as the romance between Arria and Garic, which I loved savoring. There are well drawn villains and heroes as well as details of treachery afoot and survival and hope in romance. It's truly a gem that I loved revisiting and making their acquaintance again. 

This was given for review 

4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)