I realized the other day that there’s a common theme among all of my medieval historical romances: emotionally tormented heroes. Each of my leading men, especially those of my award-winning Knight’s Series published in paperback by Medallion Press, is handsome, a highly trained warrior, and dedicated to honoring the code of chivalry. But he also harbors guilt over something in his past. While he likes to appear to be in control of every situation””especially when confronting the willful heroine–inwardly, he’s seething with torment. And I love that!
Not, let me quickly add, because I’m heartless by nature. I consider myself to be a gentle soul, a great believer in the healing powers of love and forgiveness. These, though, are the hallmarks of a grab-the-tissues-to-dry-the-tears, happily-ever-after ending. The final scenes can only be heart-wrenchingly wonderful for the reader if the hero and heroine have really had to struggle to overcome the obstacles between them””including family rivalries, past wrongs, and ruthless villains””so they can finally be together forever.
Readers tell me one of the things they love about my books is that I keep them turning pages and reading until the wee hours of the morning. Thank you, readers, for those wonderful notes and emails! But truth be told, that’s where the torment comes in, especially in terms of the hero. Angst causes conflict within the character, and that conflict leads to a compelling story and a hero who captures your heart and won’t let go, even when you’ve read the last word and put the book down.
Take, for example, the bold hero of my latest book, A Knight’s Persuasion, Book 4 of my Knight’s Series. Edouard de Lanceau isn’t just a knight
with an attitude, he’s the son of the most powerful lord in the English county of Moydenshire: Geoffrey de Lanceau (who is the hero of A Knight’s Vengeance, the first book of my series). Edouard is well aware of the high expectations placed upon him as the future heir of Moydenshire. When his meeting with Juliana de Greyne, a young lady recommended as his future bride, goes wrong, in part because of his bet with a friend to win her kiss, he can’t forgive himself. That day still haunts him when, a year later, now engaged to Juliana’s younger sister, he finds Juliana lying in a river. She’s near dead.
As he kneels beside Juliana in the cold water, horror rising inside him, all of the feelings from that day he first met her rush back to him: guilt; frustration; longing. He realizes how much he cares for her; how he wishes he hadn’t been such an arrogant fool. Having found her, he vows to save her life, even if they can never be together. He’s a man of honor, and will never forsake his betrothal to her sister, even if he doesn’t love her.
Edouard takes Juliana in his arms and rides to the nearest castle so she can be tended by a healer, only to be taken prisoner by his father’s vilest enemies. Chained in a tower, Edouard must fight for his life as well as Juliana’s; it’s his fault, after all, that she’s a prisoner. She has no memory, though, of who she is or what happened to her. Fighting his desire for her, Edouard must do all within his power to win her trust, so she will help him escape. If they don’t get free””if the villains succeed in using them to destroy Geoffrey’s father and seize power in Moydenshire””then all they hold dear will be lost.
It’s a dangerous situation that doesn’t look at all promising for Edouard and Juliana. But this is a romance novel, and I adore crafting stories that have happy endings sweetened with love and forgiveness. I won’t say more””I don’t want to give away any surprises!””but I do hope you’ll take a chance on A Knight’s Persuasion.
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P.S. If you haven’t read the first three books in my Knight’s Series, that’s okay! Each of the books can be read as a stand-alone title. For those interested, here’s the recommended reading order:
A Knight’s Vengeance, Book One
A Knight’s Reward, Book Two
A Knight’s Temptation, Book Three
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Do you enjoy reading romance novels with emotionally tortured heroes? What appeals to you about the tormented hero? Leave a comment, and you can win a signed copy of A Knight’s Persuasion!
Without torment and angst, can there truly be a great character?
On the other hand, I’ve read some stories where the angst gets a little out of control.
Nice blog!
Hi Lakisha! I completely agree that it’s important not to let the torment and angst get too overwhelming in a story. But I also agree it makes for wonderful, three-dimensional characters. Thanks so much for stopping by and best wishes to you!
Yes! Emotionally tortured heroes are the best! For some reason, heroines not so much. But heroes, yes!
I love reading about a tormented hero the journey he goes through to get past his issues and finally be able to trust and fall in love
wanda flanagan
flanagan@mebtel.net
Hi Lori! I wholeheartedly agree! 🙂 Thanks for commenting.
Hi Wanda. Sounds like you and I like the same kind of books. 🙂
I like seeing how they deal with it.
My favorite heroes are often tormented, so yes I like them. I just find them more appealing than a character whose life is perfect.
Hi Catherine,
You write the best Medieval romances! I have all of your novels on my keeper shelf, and can’t wait to add AKP to my collection.
Tormented heroes are the most memorable characters, IMO. Books about these kinds of heroes are usually chock full of emotion, which makes them great reads.
Emotionally tortured heroes seem so human. Perfect heroes just don’t have the appeal in a story. There is a tug to the heart when you can feel the guilt that a hero holds and we find ourselves eager to ending. discover just how things do come to a happy ending. Your stories have us eager for more.
The tormented hero is interesting and vulnerable. I love that.
I like reading novels with tormented heroes and heroines. I like to feel the suffering and the thinking they do until they come in terms with their past experiences and pain. It makes me search within my own soul and then it becomes much more rewarding when they come in term with their pain and finally fall in love.
I love your writing – you do all of your character types very well. But there’s just something about a dark hero…
Hi Chey! I like seeing how the characters deal with it, too! It makes for some interesting writing days, especially when the hero decides he doesn’t like what I have planned for the scene I’m working on and tells me how he’s going to deal with his torment. I am, after all, just the story scribe (!) Those heroes can get darned arrogant sometimes! 🙂
Hi Rachael! I agree! There’s nothing intriguing story-wise about someone whose life is perfect. Thanks for posting. 😀
Hi Jennifer L! You’re a sweetheart! Thank you SOOOOO much for loving my books and putting them on your keeper shelf! Yay!!! Hearing that totally made my day! I hope you enjoy A Knight’s Persuasion and am so glad you stopped by! 😀
Hello Gladys MP! You are so right about emotional torment giving us that “tug to the heart.” Sometimes when I’m writing a really intense scene, I get a lump in my throat because I feel so strongly the guilt and pain my hero is going through. That’s when I reach for the chocolate! 🙂 Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment and for stopping by. 😀
Hi Mary! Yes, you are absolutely right about tormented heroes being interesting and vulnerable. I adore writing those tough, wounded heroes who secretly have a tender heart and are healed by the love of the right lady. Thanks for commenting!
Hi Dina! What a wonderful comment! I felt that “tug to the heart” while reading it. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
Hiya Traci! Awww, thank you for the kind words, my friend. You are a sweetheart! I have to say, I love your writing, too. I have several of your books in my TBR pile. One day, I will have time to put my feet up and read!
We have a winner! GladysMP, you’ve won the signed copy of A KNIGHT’S PERSUASION! Congratulations! Please email me at author at catherine kean dot com (without the spaces) and I’ll mail the book out to you right away. 😀