Whitefire

By: Fern Michaels

Narrated by: Sandra Burr

Length: 13 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

She possesses the courage and beauty of her wild Cossack ancestors. Now Katerina is on a vengeance quest against the marauders who destroyed her village and stole her priceless snow-white horses in the name of the mad czar. Nor will she rest until she has killed the man who dared to take her innocence.

Never does she dream that it is her irresistible seducer - a proud Mongol prince - who will help her avenge her people and reclaim her horses. Together, they harness the fires of fury and passion that consume them. And together, they forge a destiny as magnificent as the land and the love that is their glorious heritage.

©2009 Fern Michaels (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Well-told story but not for the faint of heart

I realize the rape in the plot may be off-putting for some (best stay away from syfy and fantasy then), but this is one of the best romances I've read. The plot is engrossing, the characters are interesting, and the setting during the reign of crazy Ivan puts the whole thing in perspective. Ivan must have been channeling the Roman Emperor Caligula, but as a history major I know that this story couldn't begin to evoke the horror of having such as ghoul as your absolute ruler. I had never read or listened to a book by Fern Michaels before, and I'll definitely give her other books a look based on this one.

Did not get past Chapter 2

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I really dont know who would enjoy it.

What could Fern Michaels have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Write in her usual lovely style

What didn’t you like about Sandra Burr’s performance?

No problem with Sandra Burr

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No

Any additional comments?

I hve deleted it from my phone.

Suspend belief, all ye who listen!

Woman is raped. Woman deals remarkably well with the emotional trauma of being raped. So well, in fact, that she lusts after her rapist. Then periodically sleeps with him. Then falls in love with him. What makes this possible? He says he's "sorry." Gee, what a guy.

Seriously? If you're going to attempt a sensitive topic like rape, and then go on to propose that a woman could fall in love with her rapist, you're going to have to do a much better job than this book does.

Not worth the credit or the money.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The story started too slowly and focused too much on the rape scene. It could have been done without a violating crime and really, who falls in love with their rapist?

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disgust, disappointment, boredom

Heads up, this is a trigger topic

I'm so saddened that the theme of this book is that a young woman is savagely raped and then later finds delight only in her rapist. This is an old, untrue, damaging and dangerous theory. I know whereof I speak from personal experience, and from years working at a battered-women's and rape crisis center. I know many people will think this is ridiculous -- they are so fortunate to be able to live in that ignorance. I will understand if this is too straightforward for you to print.