'Where Loyalties Burn' by Arianwen Nunn - Medieval Historical Romance
- Books and Benches
- Jul 14
- 3 min read
A Reader's Opinion:
A fierce and emotionally charged medieval romance that asks what happens when duty and desire collide. Where Loyalties Burn by Arianwen Nunn delivers intense stakes, complex characters, and a world where every choice comes at a cost. Gritty, gripping, and full of love—this is a story that burns bright and cuts deep. I found myself struggling a little to get into the story at the beginning, but I suspect that had more to do with the Welsh names. I gave them shortened versions in my mind, and from there was able to really get into and appreciate the author's writing and storytelling.
A stirring tale of love, loyalty, and sacrifice recommended for readers who enjoy passion and family sagas. This is the fourth book in the series, and though I believe I would have benefited from reading books one to three first, I was able to follow the characters and story.
About the Book
Where Loyalties Burn
by Arianwen Nunn
(Retailer Description)
In a land torn by conquest and kin-strife, it is not only warriors who shape the fate of Wales, but the women who dare to love them.
When Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd defies her royal destiny to marry Griffith ap Rhys, a landless prince and rebel heir, she steps into a life of danger, exile, and war. At the heart of Gwynedd’s royal court, her mother Angharad watches war creep ever closer. Haunted by visions of her sons marching to their deaths and torn between loyalty to her husband, Gruffydd and fear for her children, she must navigate a world where love is never safe and power is always a risk.
But Gwenllian and Angharad are not alone in their trials. The wives and lovers of warriors bear the silent burdens of ambition, betrayal, and longing—navigating fragile truces, fractured loyalties, and the unrelenting demands of men fighting to reclaim or defend a kingdom.
As Norman power encroaches and Welsh unity splinters, these women must decide where their hearts and loyalties truly lie. For Gwenllian, the path of love means wielding a sword as fiercely as any man—and learning that desire can be both a weapon and a wound.
Sweeping and intimate, Where Loyalties Burn is a tale of passion and resilience, where the bonds of marriage, family, and fate are tested by the fires of rebellion, and the quiet strength of women shapes the future of a nation.
A sweeping saga of love, legacy, and the women who shaped medieval Wales.
Buy the Book
Title: Where Loyalties Burn
Author: Arianwen Nunn
Publication date: June 7, 2025 Series: Welsh Warrior, book four
Language: English
Print length: 377 pages
Genres: Medieval Historical Romance, British Historical
Language: English
Read by: Lizzie
Review Copy Source: NetGalley
Disclaimers: The copy reviewed was provided by the author or publisher via NetGalley. This review is the opinion of the reviewer and does not necessarily represent the opinions of all other reviewers (past, present, future) who review for Books and Benches. Because we do not have a professional editor volunteer, this post was edited by the Books and Benches team with help from ProWritingAid, Grammarly, or Wix. The review, and all opinions/thoughts within, are the reader's. Affiliate links are in use on this post. If you click on an Amazon or Bookshop link, and make a purchase, this site will earn a small commission. It costs you nothing and helps us to maintain this website and pay for books to share.
Comments