The Sworn Virgin, Kristopher Dukes
The Sworn Virgin, Kristopher Dukes
1 Rating(s)
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The Sworn Virgin
A Novel

Author: Kristopher Dukes

Narrator: Barrie Kreinik

Unabridged: 9 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/08/2017


Synopsis

Dukes's gripping historical novel tells the tale of a desperate Albanian woman who will do whatever it takes to keep her independence and seize control of her future...even if it means swearing to remain a virgin for her entire life.When eighteen-year-old Eleanora’s father is shot dead on the cobblestone streets of 1910 Albania, Eleanora must abandon her dream of studying art in Italy as she struggles to survive in a remote mountain village with her stepmother Meria.

Nearing starvation, Meria secretly sells Eleanora into marriage with the cruel heir of a powerful clan. Intent on keeping her freedom, Eleanora takes an oath to remain a virgin for the rest of her life—a tradition that gives her the right to live as a man: she is now head of her household and can work for a living as well as carry a gun. Eleanora can also participate in the vengeful blood feuds that consume the mountain tribes, but she may not be killed—unless she forsakes her vow, which she has no intention of ever doing.

But when an injured stranger stumbles into her life, Eleanora nurses him back to health, saving his life—yet risking her own as she falls in love with him...

About Kristopher Dukes

Kristopher Dukes was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Her work has been profiled in Amazon's Book Review, Kirkus, and Elle magazine. She lives in Manhattan Beach with her husband, Matt, and Doberman, Xena. The Sworn Virgin is her debut novel and was nominated for two awards. 


Reviews

Goodreads review by Michael on August 29, 2017

Impressively researched and deftly plotted. One of the pleasures of historical fiction is learning about a new time and place, and here we’re transported to 1910 Albania, where gender roles are rigid and society is ruled by convention. Eleanora, our main character, rebels against gender conventions......more

Goodreads review by Ann Marie (Lit·Wit·Wine·Dine) on September 01, 2017

You can read all of my reviews at Lit·Wit·Wine·Dine. As a avid reader of historical fiction, I was first attracted to The Sworn Virgin because it introduced me to a subject I knew nothing about – the sworn virgins of Albania. While I’ve read many novels with strong female characters that dared to rej......more

Goodreads review by Rosemarie on April 03, 2017

A powerful story asking what it means to be a woman and about what it means to be a woman. Eleanora is like Scarlett O'Hara - you may not alway like her or what she does, but you will respect her strength! I found the setting fascinating - I have never read anything about Albania before, let alone the......more

Goodreads review by Sara on April 10, 2016

The main character Diana is one of the most relatable characters I have had the chance to read in a stoking. Her perseverance for equality and opportunity for women independence is relentless. In the beginning I was a little confused by the story development of Diana because it was a little unclear......more

Goodreads review by Lollita on February 11, 2018

This book sounded promising and interesting, but I hated every character and it was super boring. Diana was one of the most whiny annoying characters ever,and her step mother was just stupid. The big twist was incredibly predictable, and kind of gross haha.......more