Today on my blog, Edoardo Albert talks about the importance of sticking to the facts when it comes to writing historical fiction. His Northumbrian Thrones series brings to life the 7th century kings Edwin, Oswald, and Oswiu.

Joining the ranks of the TBR Thursdays, I'm listing the books that I hope to get read over the next week! I just started Mr Katz Is A Zombie today, so I'm not really sure if that counts as a TBR or not.  I am, however, looking to whittle down my Netgalley list, plus of course I want to read the anthology, Ode to Autumn, that my short story is published in!

I love reading historical fiction in order to learn about history I would have never otherwise be exposed to.  This first installment of The Northumbrian Thrones did just that.  

Telling the story of Edwin, the King who united Britain  in the 600's among a land divided by many rulers and religions. Exiled from his own kingdom, Edwin seeks refuge with King Readwald.  When King Readwald is coerced to give Edwin to his usurper, King Aethelfrith, a battle ensues.  Edwin comes out on top in the battle after a visit from a mysterious man who offers Edwin the Kingdom in return for the worship of a new God.  

 I wasn't sure how well I would do relating to a story about people so long ago, but with a dramatic story line that at some points seemed magical and intriguing characters with powerful motivations, this time period came to life.  Edwin's quest to become the High King of Britain is worth being told, he uses both strength and intelligence to unite the kingdom.  When he marries Aethelburh from Kent, he is not only open to allowing her to practice her religion of Christianity, but Edwin is open to learning more about it as well as learning how to read and write. I would be really interesting to know more about Aethelburh's story! One of my favorite characters was Edwin's protector Forthred, he felt very real in addition to being brave and selfless.  At the end I found out that Forthred was real, but named Lilla.  All of the old English names and pronunciations were a bit tricky for me in the beginning (and there is a guide), but I got a hang of it eventually.  Bound to fulfill his promise to a mysterious man long ago, Edwin does his best to unite the rest of his people under this new religion.  With a tumultuous ending, Britain is left in an uncertain state and I'll be looking forward to reading the next installment.

Set in the 600s AD in what would some day be called England, the various small kingdoms jokey for supremacy. We enter the story with Edwin, who is a grown man with a deceased wife and two sons. He has also lost his father and his kingdom to the never ceasing political intrigues and warring kingdoms. This time and place is undergoing change. The Anglo-Saxons hold to the old ways, in language, politics, and religion, while the Britons are introducing ideas, language, and religion from the European continent. As you might guess, the culture clashes this causes adds to the grief and consternation of many of our characters, and makes for a riveting story.

The story is well-paced, keeping the reader engaged and moving the story forward without shorting the reader on plot or character development. As Edwin struggles to gain rulership and then hold it, he has to pay price after price. Some of those prices haunt him in the ghosts of the deceased. I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this book: travel by sea was often safer and quicker; having a private room was a luxury reserved for the ruler of the hall and his lady; a war between two kingdoms could have been as little as 100 men (the total of the trained, fighting forces of both factions). Life was gritty, hard, and for many, way too short.

The religious aspect was presented in context, the author showing the mistrust and misunderstanding inherent on both sides. Since each side claims to speak for some supreme being(s), and each side has their rituals (often viewed as magic or casting curses by the other), there were often misunderstandings and sometimes outright competition for supremacy. Edwin, in his rulership, has to learn to walk a fine line trying to keep all happy and from killing each other.

Now here comes my one criticism. The women are few and far between. They occasionally play some pivotal point, but those scenes were sometimes cut short. For instance, Edwin must take a second wife and she suggests he allow her to sit in on his council meetings. He grants her this, even allows her to speak, but before we get to hear her persuasive words, the scene cuts to the hall singer. Once we return to the council, the decision has been made and the meeting is breaking up. The women have limited roles in this book, so I would have liked to see those roles flushed out and made whole in living color.

Even with that one fault, I often found myself staying up way too late reading this book. It’s engaging, educational, gripping at times. Many of the characters are neither good nor bad, all of them being heroes in their own minds, and all of them doing some harm to another. I like my characters like that as I find myself able to connect with nearly all of them at some point throughout the book. This book is a worthy read and I look forward to the second in the series.

 

So, four more books showed up this week adding to my ever expanding TBR pile.

 

The Nourished Kitchen by Jennifer McGruther: A farm to table traditional foods cookbook. Perfect for cooking with my garden.  Already read, reviewed (and cooked from) here. 

 

Spirited Legacy (Lost Library 2) by Kate Baray: I have the first book of this on my e-reader and the author was nice enough to send me the second book!  An urban fantasy romance that takes place in magic library.

 

Edwin, High King of Britain by Edoardo Albert: Historical fiction about the rise of the Northumbrian Edwin in 604 A.D. 

 

City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett: High Fantasy with spies, gods and history.

 

Happy Reading!  Have you read any of these books or are you interested in reading any of these books?