In the year 1399, Welsh nobleman Owain Glyndwr is living out a peaceful gentleman's life in the Dee Valley of Wales with his wife Margaret and their eleven children. But when Henry of Bolingbroke usurps the throne of England from his cousin Richard II, that tranquility is forever shattered. What starts as a feud with a neighboring English lord over a strip of land evolves into something greater--a fight for the very independence of Wales.
After a harrowing encounter on the misty slopes of Cadair Idris, the English knight Harry Hotspur offers Owain a pact he cannot resist.
Peace, however, comes with a heavy price. As tragedies mount and temptations loom, Owain questions whether he can fulfill the prophecies and lead his people to freedom without destroying those around him.
For centuries, the bards have sung of King Arthur's return, but is this reluctant warrior prince the answer to those prophecies?
My Review:
I have yet to be disappointed by one of N. Gemini Sasson’s
novels. Her novels have the perfect balance of romance, adventure, and
historical accuracy. This is the first novel I’ve read about the Welsh struggle
for freedom, and I was able to learn so much about it from this book.
The characters/historical figures in this novel are written
so incredibly well. As a reader you are completely pulled into their lives and
struggles. Their stories are so incredible and well written. More than once, tears came to my eyes while
reading. I found the story of Owain
Glyndwr and his family to be absolutely fascinating. His long struggle for the
freedom of his country is so inspiring. His family went through so much during
his struggle for freedom. From the early years of love and happiness, and then through
the years of sadness and pain while Owain struggled for the freedom of his
country. It reminds me of the struggle that Robert the Bruce went through while
attempting to save his country, Scotland.
I love Sasson’s writing style. The way she describes the setting
of the story, takes the reader right into the action. I was able to clearly picture
the terrain of the Welsh lands while reading. I was able to ‘see’ the battles
taking place, and the different journeys that they were taking through the
land. I love that she is able to describe things so clearly, without bogging
the reader down with unnecessary details. The thoughts and feelings of the
characters are described so clearly, that as a reader you almost feel what
they’re going through.
N. Gemini Sasson is an amazing author of historical fiction.
She keeps the events historically accurate, and gives the characters
personalities that are so real, that you can believe they might have
actually been like that when they were alive.
I would recommend this book to all lovers of historical fiction,
regardless of the time period of your interest. I knew absolutely nothing about
the Welsh struggle for freedom, but by the end of this novel, I feel like I had
a pretty good understanding. Overall, I thought this was an amazing book, and
I’m looking forward to all future books by N. Gemini Sasson.
I give this book five out of five stars.
This sounds fantastic! Great review.You've given me a new book for my TBR. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Welsh struggle for freedom against overwhelming odds (and its tragic end) is one that is often overlooked in fiction. This should be a good read.
ReplyDeleteFantastic review! I was not familiar with the Welsh battles and enjoyed reading about Owain Glyndwr. As you mentioned I love Sasson's style of writing and immediately was drawn into the story and the characters.
ReplyDeleteI have a few auto buy authors and Sasson is one of them :)