Butterfly Swords

by Jeannie Lin

Book Overview

During China's infamous Tang Dynasty, a time awash with luxury yet littered with deadly intrigues and fallen royalty, betrayed Princess Ai Li flees before her wedding. Miles from home, with only her delicate butterfly swords for defense, she enlists the reluctant protection of a blue-eyed warrior.... Battle-scarred, embittered Ryam has always held his own life at cheap value. Ai Li's innocent trust in him and honorable, stubborn nature make him desperate...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373296142
• ISBN13: 9780373296149
• Release Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Harlequin Special Releases
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Bold and Beautiful, Seriously Breathtaking

Ai Li is the number six child of the family Chang during the Tang Dynasty. Trained in the ancient art of butterfly swords by her grandmother, she is no meek woman, she is a warrior. As with most women of the time she is sent off to be married to Li Tao, to help cement relations between their lands. Ai Li learns of her intendeds duplicity as well as his involvement in the death of her brother and realizes that he is a traitor. She takes the advice of an old lieutenant, Wu, dresses as a young lad and escapes her promised husband in order to warn her father of his treachery. Ai Li is a strong and independent woman, but is also very respectful of her parents and their traditions. While she does not want to marry a man she does not know, she follows her family's wishes. When she escapes, she knowingly breaks tradition, but feels that her family would understand when they learn of Li Taos part in the death of her number four brother. It is during this juncture that she meets Ryam a barbarian from another country. She is kind to a stranger when she could just ignore him; she does not treat him as most foreigners are treated. She is a mix of strength and femininity with a very good heart. Ryam is trying to forget his part in the death of his comrades. He is in a strange land with nothing but his sword and his wits to protect him. When he first spots Ai Li, she is dressed as a young man. He sees through her disguise immediately and is amused that she seems to be pulling it off. He gets involved when Ai Li is being attacked, where he then becomes her one man rescue. Not that she is not capable and very deadly with her butterfly swords as he sees for himself. He is fascinated by the contrast between the purity of her womanliness and the strength of her skills with the swords. As Ryam agrees to stay with her till she gets home to Changan, they run into many serious satiations where each is required to draw on their deepest internal spirit to get them through. They are being pursued by Ai Li's bridegroom, Li Taos, who will not allow himself to lose face by her desertion. As a consequence of them traveling together, they begin to learn about each other as well as develop a trust based of mutual respect. What neither of them anticipates is the attraction, which is there right from the beginning. On Ryam's part this attraction is visceral and raw; he is hard put to keep himself away from her. The glances cause heat and you can feel his tension and his urgency. Since he has made himself her protector, he continues to try to protect her against himself. Ai Li also feels the attraction but is very aware of the situation she is in. She is still betrothed to another man, and while she at least hopes her family will understand why she has left and possibly caused them embarrassment, she is also even more aware of his foreignness and how it will be accepted by her family. Every touch, every look, between the two of them has you yearning for more. There must be a wa

Great Read!

This book has it all. Love. Politics. An Exotic Setting and Culture. And sword fights. Lots of sword fights. While I loved the main characters, who were both very sympathetic, it was the nuances of the secondary characters that really won me over. I might even kind of have the hots for the villain...

MORWA reviews

Jeannie Lin has written a historical romance set in 758 CE China during the Tang Dynasty. Shen Ai Li, daughter of the Emperor, has been betrothed to Li Tao to seal an alliance between the Emperor and his rival. Before she can be married, however, she learns that Li Tao was responsible for the death of one of her brothers and that he is amassing a large army to usurp the throne from Ai Li's father. Ai Li is determined to warn her father of Li Tao's perfidy. First, though, she must travel across country, even as she is being chased by Li Tao's soldiers, to the Emperor's palace. When she gives a beggar a rice bowl, he turns out to be a barbarian. Her body guards are drugged and she runs into the forest. The beggar, a swordsman of some skill, is Ryam. He rescues her as Li Tao's men try to capture her. Ryam promises to see her safely to the Imperial city, no easy task considering Li Tao wants her back. On the way to the Imperial city, Ryam recognizes that he is deeply attracted to Ai Li. He also knows that there is no hope for a relationship between Ai Li and himself. Nevertheless, the attraction is mutual and continues to grow as they run for their lives. Lin has written a fast-paced adventure story, a historical, and, above all, a love story. Her characters, Ryam and Ai Li, are strong, intelligent, well drawn, and come alive for the reader. She has included many historical details without overwhelming the reader and her story with minutiae. If you love your romantic stories set in distant times and far away places, Butterfly Swords should be on the top of your list.

What an adventure!

It's release day for this book and I'd pre-ordered it so it would be here ASAP. I'd read the author's The Taming of Mei Lin and utterly loved it, so I had high expectations. No disappointment here! What a delicious whirlwind of action, adventure and love. The setting in Tang Dynasty China dazzles. It's such a wonderful change from the usual, and I loved getting a feel for the country and its landscapes. The culture differences add a wonderful dimension, and honor, family loyalty, and scheming imperial intrigue play key roles in the story. I cared about the sword-wielding heroine and hero, and as they fled pursuers, I worried for their lives and their love. I couldn't figure out how the author would pull off a happy ending between the daughter of a Chinese emperor and a blond "barbarian" without rank or family--but she did, with flair and terrific plot twists at the end. I can't wait to get my hands on the author's next book! (I also hope the hero of it will be the character I guessed. YUM.)

EXCITING HISTORICAL ROMANCE DURING THE TANG DYNASTY! BUTTERFLY SWORDS BY JEANNIE LIN

BUTTERFLY SWORDS by Jeannie Lin is a historical romance set in 758 AD China- Tang Dynasty. It is well written with depth, details, fast paced and a page turner. It has sensuality, honor, betrayal, tradition, sword play, family, a princess, barbarians, adventure and a true love story. The hero, Ryam, is a barbarian, powerful swordsman, noble, trustworthy, stubborn and honorable. The heroine, Ai Lin, is a princess, daughter of an emperor, betrothed to Li Tao, the sixth child, stubborn, honorable, determined and believes in family tradition. She learns her betrothed has betrayed her father, possible killed her brother, so she escapes the wedding, determined to get back to her home and father. She believes her father will not want her to marry the man she believes betrayed her and her family. She is befriended by Ryam, who is determined to protect her at all cost. He is not aware she is a princess. They embark on an adventure, is tracked by her betrothed, Li Tao. Along the way Ryam and Ai Lin fall in love. She and Ryam are captured by Li Tao. Ai Lin agrees to marry Li Tao, if he will release Ryam and his men unharmed. Her father, the emperor arrives at Li Tao's. Ryam has other plans and will die before he gives Ai Lin to Li Tao. The two men battle for her release from the marriage.This is a true love story. I hope there will be more to this story for I would truly be interested to see what happens to Li Tao and his kingdom and if Ryam and Ai Lin live happily ever after.If you enjoy the Tang Dynasty, sword play, romance, sensuality, and sacrifice you will enjoy this one. This book was received for review from Net Galley and details can be found at Harlequin and My Book and More.