by Edoardo Albert

The book begins with lists of difficult names I'll never remember, but clarifies pronunciation and historic context. It also explains the importance of names to Anglo-Saxons and why no two will have exactly the same name, although descendants might get an adaptation of an ancestor's name.

After the cast of characters, we get an overview of what happened in the previous book, Edwin. This is very useful for people like myself who haven't read the first one, and also starts to give us the feel for the historic period.

Then we get to the story for this book. I want to describe it as good, but it doesn't have the flow of really great writing. Too many sentences starting with ing verbs can put me off easily. It works in moderation but the beginning overdid it somewhat.

Once I got past that, I was able to get into the story more and appreciate the historic period and events as well as getting to know the characters. Oswald is a reasonably likeable character who would actually like to be a monk, but duty requires that he take up kingship. The pace was a little slow, but ultimately it did take me to the Historical period and the characters were well defined. I felt sympathy for Oswald's changing fortunes and the expectations put upon him just for being born in a line of kings.

One of the strong themes in the story is the changing face of religion, as Christianity begins to take hold in a country with Pagan roots. Different factions even within the same families might worship the old gods or embrace the new faith. The latter tend to be very forceful with their opinions, rather like some modern factions.

I would recommend this story for anyone who wants to get a strong feel for Anglo-Saxon history. It is atmospheric and realistic about some of the nasty things that happen in battles without becoming overwhelmingly gory.

by Eduardo Albert

Historical fiction with humour, what's not to love? This drew me in right away with all the tension of a Viking raid on a monastery and a protagonist who never wanted to be a monk. Conrad is funny in his totally mercenary reaction to the situation and consistently along his further adventures. I do love an intelligent character with a good sense of survival.

It's set against a fairly accurate backdrop of history of the Viking invasions of England. Exactly what's based on fact is explained well in a note after the story and holds some real surprises as some details that seemed unlikely turned out to be based on archaeological finds! I may have a couple of locations to visit on my travels.

The story keeps a good pace and despite his perpetual self-interest, Conrad is actually a likeable character. How he came to be a monk gets explained in the curse of the story and it's easy to sympathise with him on that particular downturn of his constantly changing fortunes.

Best of all, the story puts believable faces to groups of people from history. Personalities among the Danes as well as historical figures bring the setting alive and I did laugh out loud at a few all too human foibles along the way.

I highly recommend this story for anyone who likes a Pratchett-like laugh, even if they don't normally read Historical Fiction. My only complaint is the overt way in which the author lets us know there will be a series. I will be interested in the next book despite my usual disinterest series that use this tactic.

I didn't get nearly as much reading done this month as I would have liked. My latest novel release date is quickly approaching, so I have been feverishly editing, formatting, and editing again! I'm hoping to do better in August including some great indie historical fiction reads.

Currently in progress:

A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel

A Perilous Alliance by Fiona Buckley

Watch the Lady by Elizabeth Fremantle

Oswald: Return of the King is the second book in Edoardo Albert's planned Northumbrian Thrones trilogy. The first book, Edwin: High King of Britain, demonstrated how early Christianity and kingship came together for Edwin to win greater territories and followers than those who had come before him. Oswald is the nephew of Edwin encouraged to take up the kingship after Edwin's fall.

Though it is subtitled Return of the King, Oswald takes his time claiming his uncle's throne and never seems much to want it. The people seem to accept his claim quite easily for one who has been in exile throughout the former king's reign, and the politics were not as clearly examined as in the first book of this series. The only one not prepared to clear the way for Oswald is Penda of Mercia, who had killed Edwin. Unfortunately, Oswald doesn't seem any better equipped to handle the Mercian warmaster made king than his predecessor.

Oswald longs to be a monk rather than a king and is probably better suited to that life. His devotion to God and desire to see the best in people leaves him open for betrayal and disappointment. Though this is an era of history that I am not as familiar with, I had no trouble seeing how Oswald's end was going to come about long before it occurred. Still, I enjoyed his character and only wish that he could have seen other people's motivations more clearly.

The author has taken a scantly documented reign and fleshed it out quite nicely with personalities and events that fit known facts very well. The clashing of pagan and Christian beliefs continues to be a significant story element, as it was in Edwin's story and as I'm sure it truly was in the 7th century battle for supremacy. I look forward to the final book which will pick up with Oswiu, who becomes king after Oswald's death.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions stated are my own.