Edoardo AlbertRecensioni

Classic making a wish to a genie story but modern style... budget cuts so you only get one wish now. haha

IARSPER4

“Edwin: High King of Britain” is a comfortable read in that I found it engaging but not enthralling. Much of the time, the characters are talking about paganism and/or Christianity, which at times is interesting, but never exciting.

Action is infrequent, yet despite this, the narrative is not slow paced. Still, more vivid confrontational scenes, be it verbal or physical, would’ve been more appealing.

The language is inconsistent in that there’s a mixture of archaic phrases, like ‘whence came she?’, alongside modern sayings like ‘toilet seat’ and ‘keep it in your trousers’.

Regarding the period, I felt confused more than once by sudden leaps in time that weren’t made clear by the third-person narrator. For example, Edwin’s thinking about his children – children we didn’t know he had until this moment – so it interrupts the flow because the reader needs to adjust, processing that time has moved on in years.

While the author has done a good job on the research side, he – like several other historical fiction writers I’ve encountered – has neglected principal creative writing skills and quality elements of English style. As a result, much of the prose is passive, plus too many adverbs lead to ‘telling’, not ‘showing’.

For example, to state that Edwin’s sons ‘stood nervously’ is blatant telling. *Show* their nervousness with body language.

The use of weak verbs also leads to passive sentences. ‘Edwin looked at him’ doesn’t show anything. There’s always a stronger verb than ‘look’ that shows *how* a character looks at someone/something, and without the need of an adverb. The phrase ‘looked questioningly’ crops up several times, and on each occasion this could be replaced with one strong verb or a description of body language.

‘Walked’ is another weak verb that should always be replaced. ‘Penda walked rapidly’, for instance, could be ‘shown’ with a stronger verb: ‘Penda marched’, ‘Penda strode’, etc.

Regarding passive prose, numerous sentences or clauses open with ‘there were’ or ‘there was’, such as: ‘Certainly there was fear there’, plus ‘There in the centre of the river he remained’, when each could be made active if changed to: ‘Fear was there’, and ‘He remained in the centre of the river’.

In short, avoid passive prose, weak verbs, and ‘telling’ adverbs, and make every word count. A good read therefore becomes a great read.

Another overused word I must criticise is ‘gasped’. At one point, for instance, everyone ‘gasped’ when seeing a sword. This sounds melodramatic. In real life, you ‘gasp’ if you’ve been doused in cold water or have been holding your breath too long for comfort. You don’t gasp in surprise; you ‘catch your breath’.

This novel also includes some untranslated Latin, which locked me out of the story, as I don’t understand it. Using foreign language in an English text is my ultimate pet hate in literature. I’m pro-language learning, but a novel advertised as being written in English should be just that. Always put the reader first or you’ll lose them.

Despite my criticisms, I liked the story well enough to give it three stars. Anyone who’s interested in the period or specifically in Edwin should give it a read.

This is a First Reads for me - I won this as a Giveaway.

The story revolves around King Edwin and the struggles he faces both in consolidating small, petty kingdoms into one and also whether or not he wants to follow the new Christian God or remain true to the gods of his fathers. Whatever choices he makes affects the other kings and also all of his people.

The battle scenes were interesting, especially the major one toward the end of the book. There were also scenes in the book revolving around Edwin's wife and his children. I wish there would have been more depth and character development of his family. I would have liked to have gotten to know his wife better and also to have known more of the background of the priests, James and Paulinus.

There is some conflict between the sons, Osfrith and Eadfrith, and also with his wife, Aethelburh. This was not fully developed in the story although there was definitely some foreshadowing about this leaving me to think that it would become part of the novel.

This is the first of three novels. Although questions remain, the novel can be read stand alone with the option of continuing the story of the High Kings when the future books are written.

I'm DNF-ing pretty close to the beginning because I'm not enjoying the book and the mild content is too much for my taste. I'll probably pick it up again someday, or I may not. It depends, but I know I'm not going to read it right now. I'm not going to waste my precious, limited reading time on a book that makes me uncomfortable and that I'm not enjoying or looking forward to reading. I've only been reading a few pages at a time because I'm not invested enough in the story. I wanted to like this book, but I had to realize that I'm not liking it or enjoying it and that I shouldn't continue at the moment. I do want to know what happens, but not enough to keep me reading quickly. I very much wanted to like this book, but even if I might someday, it's not the best for me at the moment.

I liked the main character from the start, and his sidekick as well. Edwin, the protagonist, was noble, honorable, and a good man, and he seemed pretty pure so far. That was not the case with the other kings, and I didn't like them or want to read from their point of view, because there was some content that made me uncomfortable. I liked the writing style for the most part, and it was very good...except when it was occasionally clumsy. What I loved without reservation was the rich and organically detailed historical setting and immense accuracy. The author did such a great job of bringing Anglo-Saxon culture, society, and characters to life, complete with realistic and accurate worldview, values, culture, and setting. The massive I'm out of research and care that went into this book is extremely evident, and it shows in the realism, believability, and vividness of the story. The story itself also appealed to me greatly. An exiled king striving to evade enemies who want to kill him and to reclaim his rightful throne...I love that sort of thing.

Even though I'm stopping the book now, I have a feeling it's about to get better, but I'm not sure. The characters whom I didn't like are gone now, because they died in a recent battle, which so far leaves only characters I like. So now that I think about it, I probably will read it again, because I have heard it's good from people I trust. If there's more content in the rest of the book, however, now is not the time for me to endure it. And it did already serve its purpose for reading it right now, with only a few chapters - it succeeded in inspiring me with its Anglo-Saxon setting.
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Content summary:

Sexual Content: One of the kings in this book, who had point of view for part of it, was not pleasant or very pure in this department. It made me uncomfortable to read about the way he was admiring his wife, even though she was his wife. He was feasting his eyes on her beautiful hair and her bare shoulder as she prepared for bed in her nightgown. Of course there was nothing explicit, but it was more than enough to make me very uncomfortable, and it was slightly icky. It wouldn't have been as bad except that it was also mentioned that the same man had concubines. It was also mentioned in passing that other men had multiple wives as well. All this was surely realistic and accurate to the Anglo-Saxon culture.

Violence: There was lots and lots of extreme violence. It was way too much for my taste. In the one battle scene so far there were bloody, gory, and gruesome in-depth descriptions of men killing each other and their mentality during it. I don't like lots of violence, so it was not pleasant for me, and I wasn't looking forward to reading more of it.

Language: None so far.

Note: This is an adult book by a secular author, so of course there's mild content. It's very clean considering. I'm just in the mood for purer and less violent books at the moment. Also, my tastes in content are for very, very clean books. What bothers me would not in the least bother most readers.
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Those were the biggest things that took away from my enjoyment of the book. I'm not sure if it was mostly the content that kept me from enjoying it, or if I didn't enjoy the story in general as well, though I did really like the setting and the main character, and it was a good story. But some parts of it are not what I want to read at the moment. Probably someday I'll try again...

... medieval hustler vs the Great Heathen Army

The travails of an opportunistic monk with a chequered past who rises in the church through lies, misdeeds and an eye for personal advantage. Conrad is a despicable rogue. A knave, whose rapid rise to importance is owed to his incredible self seeking antenna geared towards his own survival, his silver tongue and ability to turn dross into gold, metaphorically speaking.
When the marauding Danes come to call, Conrad looks firstly towards his own survival (most often at the expense of others), and then to lining his own pockets with a share of the loot.
His Machiavellian machinations made my head swim, let alone those he was shafting. He's accompanied by Brother Odo, a gentle foil to Conrad, without artifice who seems to survive all by the grace of God. I am never sure if Conrad's success is ultimately owed to some cosmic joke being played on him, or the otherness of the devout Odo.
A tongue in cheek, hilarious march through Anglo Saxon England, with a not so loveable rogue and his innocent sidekick.
History should always be this enjoyable.

A NetGalley ARC

The story of Oswiu reads like the best of fiction but is rooted in history. It is a beautifully told story, most enjoyable to read, exciting at times, and has expanded my knowledge and understanding of the ‘Dark Ages’. Oswiu brings to a conclusion The Northumbrian Thrones Trilogy in which Edoardo Albert has brought the past alive for me in a way that nothing has before. Reading the trilogy has been like eavesdropping on the lives of those who lived in the north of Britain in seventh century AD. Each book is complete in itself and enhanced by being part of a trilogy.
Edoardo Albert is a great story teller, has a delightful turn of phrase and uses metaphor brilliantly to capture the atmosphere of the times and events. The people, conversations, habitations, travel, countryside, weather, clothes, battles… he might have been there himself. The dialogue is convincing and I love the subtext in some conversations.
I found it interesting to read about the introduction of Christianity and the conflict with believers in the old gods. Similarly the lives of women of high birth and those people kept as slaves were a natural part of the story and described as they were without judgements based on modern values of feminism and freedom.
This trilogy has opened up my mind to the value of historical fiction. It is set at a place and time about which I knew nothing but have now gained a small understanding of what it was like and I have been left wanting to know more.
I don’t have Edoardo’s facility with words and story but I have done my best to do Oswiu justice as it such a good read and I enjoyed the whole trilogy enormously. I hope there will be more of similar ilk.

The Northumbrian Thrones 0n Edoardo Albert's Blog is most interesting if you want to know more about the history.

I was lucky enough to read an advance copy as the author sent a copy to my author husband.

Oswald is a tremendously good read.

Having read and enjoyed Edoardo Albert’s book Edwin: High King of Britain I am delighted to say that, Oswald: Return of the King (Book 2 in The Northumbrian Thrones series) is just as good. These beautifully written stories bring to life a period of history of which I knew nothing in a most convincing manner. I feel enriched by reading these books and am left wanting to know more of the time and the area.
As Oswald is the second in the series it is probably best to read Edwin first but it is not essential as there is an excellent explanation of ‘events so far’. I also really appreciate the dramatis personae, glossary and author’s notes all of which go to make this a most satisfying book.
This is not dry or worthy history but the story of people’s lives, loves and families, feuds, battles and power struggles, based in fact and full of atmosphere. I love this style of writing - the minimum description necessary to convey a convincing world. Life then is simple in many ways compared to ours and yet so complicated when it comes to land, gods and gold – much as now I suppose… As with Edwin I got the feeling that if a time machine took me back there I would recognise my surroundings and have a good idea of how to behave, eat dress, talk. I can see it all clearly in my head but without having had long detailed descriptions to plough through.
I have read many books over the years and become an increasingly fussy reader. I rarely find books now that completely draw me in as Edwin and Oswald have. I don’t like emotional manipulation or contrived tension in books and Oswald had neither, but there was one section in particular that left me almost breathless with excitement and unable to stop reading until I knew the outcome. How extraordinary that it is possible to care about the people and outcome of distant historical events!
As a Christian I was interested to read about the early days of Christianity in these Isles which is so subtly written as an integral part of the history and lives that I can happily recommend Oswald to our devoutly atheist son. He won’t feel preached at in any way and it might help him to understand the appeal of Christianity and the impact that it had and has on some people’s lives without trying to convert him.
Spoiler Alert! It is tempting to go online for pictures and more info about people and places but I recommend waiting until the end of the book. I looked up someone only to find how and when they died before I got to that part of the story and wished I hadn’t!
I am pleased to see that there will be a third book Oswiu, in The Northumbrian Thrones series, and although I’d really like to read it now, I hope the publisher isn’t tempted to rush it out before the author has time to write it to his satisfaction. As a writer’s wife I know that a good book needs time to write and redraft in order to get to the best it can be. I am happy to wait until Oswiu is as excellent as Edwin and Oswald.

The book Edwin by Edoardo Albert was a gift in more ways than one. I do not usually read historical fiction, but having been given this book I had to give it a go and I loved it. It has opened my eyes to what good historical fiction can be like. From the first page the world of the 600s AD comes alive with the lightest descriptions of the sights, sounds and smells. Scenes, characters and conversations are all completely believable. I felt that if I shut my eyes I might open them to find myself back in time – perhaps Edoardo Albert had a previous incarnation in early Northumbria!
Having found myself in the past, I was captivated by the wonderfully adept storytelling of the events of Edwin’s life. Such a ripping yarn! I was completely caught up in the lives and families, friends and foes, conspiracies and battles. The very idea that 30 men was a large army I found extraordinary. There was no avoiding the pretty savage nature of the times and the unpleasant things that happened on occasion but neither was there any glorifying or excessive description. The well balanced writing combining plot, language, description and emotion brought the events to life so well for me that I have to admit to a tear near the end for this High King who lived in such a different time and place from me. I also found it most interesting to read about the spread of Christianity in these islands at that early time.
I was glad to find a dramatis personae, map and glossary at the front, and having looked up the occasional character and event to look at illustrations on line, I was completely reassured at the historical accuracy and I am in awe at the reading and research that Edoardo Albert must have done to be able to produce such a fine story of Edwin’s life and times.
I am not a writer (although a writer’s wife) and feel slightly embarrassed that I should even try to put into words my feelings about this book except to say that I enjoyed it hugely, am about to start Oswald, Book Two of The Northumbrian Thrones, and look forward to more in this wonderful series in the future.

Second book of the Northumbrian Thrones trilogy. Exiled prince Oswald must decide his future: become a monk in the young English Christian church, or claim the throne and attempt to unite Britain, as other kings battle it out all over the British Isles. As a deeply devout man, Oswald is torn between his religious and earthly duties.

Intentionally echoing Tolkien's subtitle (Return of the King) as they used the same source material (though Albert tries to stay with the historical facts insofar as possible, where Tolkien of course veered into fantasy), this is a historical epic and a fine standalone story (I haven't read the first book yet). A bit slow to start, it becomes a very exciting page-turner, with well drawn, nuanced characters and covering a fascinating period. I found the endnote on sources also extremely interesting. Recommended for anyone with an interest in the Dark Ages, or just wanting a great historical fiction read.

Oswiu is the final chapter in the Northumbrian kings trilogy. Oswiu is full of adventure and intrigue; a real game of thrones. There are 4 sections. The first cover Oswiu's unlikely recovering of his brother's body, and the second covers his marriage to Eanflaed. The real action and intrigue unfolds in the last two sections as Mercia and Bernicia come into conflict. The historical note at the end is excellent, explaining what we know, and from where. There isn't much to go on, but many of the events in the novel are taken from the historical record.½

A year after the death of his brother, Oswiu carries out a daring raid into enemy territory to reclaim his body. Coming into conflict with Penda of Mercia, Oswiu succeeds in his quest and returns Oswin's remains to his family. However not all Oswiu's advisors are true and, on advice, his sets aside his wife to make a dynastically advantageous marriage. Meanwhile Penda grows ever more strong and a final reckoning between the two is due.

This is the third in Albert's trilogy about the three brothers who became High Kings of Bernicia and many of the areas of Anglo-Saxon Britain. Weaving together history and a certain degree of spirituality, the books have been a guide to actions in the 'Dark Ages'. having enjoyed both previous books I looked forward to the final instalment but I did feel that it fell a little flat. The narrative dragged at times and seemed to be about a series of set pieces, rather than a coherent longitudinal study.

After the Romans left Britain, waves of incomers travelled from Europe and conquered the native Britons in many parts of the country. The history of the times is little known, the main source being Bede. During these ‘dark ages’ Christianity was also becoming and established religion. One of the Kings whose story is told is King Edwin, one of the first High kings who brought different tribes together. Edwin was of the noble family who ruled Bernicia (North Yorkshire and Northumbria) but had been in exile for many years after the death of his father. Living with hosts and always in fear of his life Edwin makes an important alliance and regains his throne but in the political machinations of Britain few Kings live to see old age.



Albert is a new writer to the historical fiction genre and the setting of this series of novels is unusual in that little historical fact is known which gives the opportunity for a large amount of licence. Anglo-Saxon terms are used throughout and are explained within context. The approach is fairly lightweight, this book is enjoyable and pleasant rather than gripping, but that is probably no bad thing considering the level of linguistic content. Albert is definitely knowledgable about the period and wears that learning lightly but the literary content leaves room for improvement.

The final volume of The Northumbrian Thrones trilogy is the story of King Oswiu of Bernicia as recounted in books three and four of Bede’s A History of the English Church and People. Albert divides his novel into four sections roughly corresponding to four major events in Oswiu’s reign.

Part One: King Oswiu of Bernicia is having a difficult time uniting the kingdoms that had wholly supported his brother Oswald. When Oswine of Deria refuses to acknowledge his authority, Oswiu has little recourse. His mother suggests that he mount an expedition to bring the body of his brother Oswald, murdered by Penda, back to Bernicia. Since there have been many miracles reported at the site of Oswald’s murder and more where his bones have been nailed to a tree sacred to Woden it would be a real achievement for Oswiu if he succeeds. The recovery of the bones of his brother, a king and a likely saint, would hopefully unite the kingdoms and prove Oswiu’s worthiness to sit on the Northumbrian throne.

Part Two: To strengthen his position in the seemingly endless war against Penda of Mercia, Oswiu puts aside his first wife and the mother of his two children to marry the Christian daughter of the king of Kent. The section covers mainly the journey of Eanflaed and her entourage from Kent to Northumbria, with miracles enroute.

Part Three: Penda escalates the war against Oswiu with the help of allies including King Oswine of Daria. The siege of Bamburgh Castle and the lifting of the siege with the help of a prayer by Bishop Aiden is the highlight of the section.

Part Four: Finally meeting in battle, Oswiu and Penda fight to the death. Only one can prevail.

In the first book of the trilogy Edwin High King of Britain, Albert adhered primarily to Bede with very little deviation from Bede’s storyline. Only a few scenes were fiction, but very plausible interpretations of the actions of the characters. The dialogue was very like a literal translation of the Latin. In the second book Oswald Return of the King, again Albert depends heavily on Bede’s account but humanizes the characters and makes the language more contemporary.

By book three Albert uses Oswiu’s entire story from Bede, but greatly changes parts of it and adds a lot of imagined scenes. The language is very contemporary. (The children call Oswiu “Daddy”, for example). These are not bad choices, necessarily. But Oswiu reads much more like a modern historical novel and less like the source material. When I was reading Edwin I was so impressed with it that I could see it being used in a history class as an example of how to use a primary source to make the period come alive. With Oswiu I felt that it was a great piece of writing but there was so much license taken with the source material that the story was not as true to the spirit of Bede. They are very different books by the same author in the same series.

I did enjoy Oswiu for different reasons. The imagery is wonderful, especially in scenes like the description of Woden’s tree where Oswald’s body parts are displayed and the final confrontation with Penda. (Oh, I do hope it happened that way, but there is not a word in Bede. It is all Albert).

Albert was right on target about the tidal wave of change caused by the acceptance of the Christian religion. No longer is dying in battle the only acceptable way for a king to die. Oswiu remarks at the end of the book that it would be quite appropriate if he were to die peacefully in bed. Good works by the king to atone for his sins are replacing the giving of gold to insure a loyal following.

I hope Albert continues to write in the period. Whether he is sticking closely to his source or filling in blanks with his wonderful narrative he is an asset to his chosen field.

Good for sense of place

In this third and (currently) last instalment in The Northumbrian Thrones, the ramifications of Oswald's untimely death spread across the feuding kingdoms of Britain. It is now 642 AD and the unification that seemed within reach during the reign of Edwin has crumbled away. Even Northumbria is no longer united. Oswald's younger brother Oswiu faces a long, hard battle to secure his kingship against the mightiest ruler in the land: Penda, ambitious and ruthless king of Merica. But Oswiu has one advantage that Penda lacks: the posthumous, miracle-working reputation of the murdered Oswald.

In a sacred grove deep within Mercia, Oswald's head and arms hang upon Woden's tree, testament to a double-pronged defeat. As a man and king, he has been bested by Penda. As the champion of the new religion, he has been crushed by the greater power of the old gods. Or so Penda claims. But unsettling rumours are spreading in Mercia: it's said that earth gathered at the site of Oswald's death has worked miracles. The common people come to dig there in the hope of healing or protection. Penda's actions may have removed his main rival for the title of High King of Britain, but they've given him something far harder to conquer: a new saint. And, if Oswald's shadow lies heavily on Mercia, the same is even truer in Northumbria, where Oswiu discovers that he can't avoid comparisons with his charismatic older brother. As both kings seek to prove themselves, their struggle will bring them onto a fatal collision course, which only one man can survive...

The full review will be published on my blog on Friday 17 March at the following link:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/03/17/oswiu-king-of-kings-edoardo-albert

(7/10) I'm a big historical fiction fan and this was very well written and researched. It tells the story of Edwin's rise to power in the 7th century and his conversion to Christianity, something I knew nothing about before. The author did a great job bringing the history to life and it was a very enjoyable read.

My only minor complaint is that is it heavily focused on Edwin's conversion to Christianity and it does skip over large time periods in his life. Don't get me wrong the religious aspect was very well written I just felt it may have been emphasised at the expense of a more rounded recounting of his life.

I have the second and third books in this series and I'm looking forward to reading them too.

I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.½

Having warmed to Albert’s Edwin in its second half, I was keen to follow the struggle for Northumbria into its next generation. Oswald opens in 633, with High King Edwin’s death in battle against Penda of Mercia, and Cadwallon of Gwynned. His fall throws his kingdom’s future into the balance as predators circle the vacant throne. Cadwallon would have Northumbria as a client kingdom, but there are still men living who have the right to rule as independent kings. These come from two rival families: the Yffings (descendants of Edwin) and the Idings (descendants of Edwin’s predecessor, Aethelfrith). And whoever becomes king must now face up to this new power that has grown, unchecked, in the west. Northumbria desperately needs a worthy leader, but the one who can best answer that call is, ironically, the one claimant who wants nothing less than to be a king...

For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/03/06/oswald-return-of-the-king-edoardo-albert/

3.5 stars. There's a bit of a thrill in reading a story whose exact dates are lost in the mists of time. In this first novel of Albert's series, we are in the early years of the 7th century, perhaps in 616 or thereabouts. The Romans are long gone, leaving their ruins and their roads behind them; the raiders from the east have yet to come over the grey whale-road. Britain is split into kingdoms, roughly following the lines of the old tribal lands from the days of Boudica. But times are changing. A man who has moved from host to host, keeping one step ahead of the king who wants to kill him, has a dream of a united country, its petty kings subject to one overarching High King. It's a grand dream, for a man who doesn't even have a single kingdom to his name yet, but Edwin is shrewd and brave and has loyal men. As he inches his way back to power, his own rise is mirrored by that of a new religion, brought over from the Franks: a religion which will change the face of Britain forever...

The full review will be published on Thursday 2 March at the following link:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/03/02/edwin-high-king-of-britain-edoardo-albert½

Really interesting story, I loved the references and utilization of Norse mythology. It was a clever way to present the vast transition in Britain from the Old religion to the Christian religion. The jumps in time were sometimes a little off putting, going from newly born child to a 7 year old was disconcerting. However, I understand the need to display that the transition between religions and mind sets did not simply occur over a few weeks. Overall, an interesting and fact based read. I feel educated!

Quality fictional biography of Oswiu, Dark Ages king of Bernicia. Amazing what the author has done with a mention in Bede--a fully-fleshed novel, with the same excitement of battles and court intrigue, and sometimes wry humor that marked the author's earlier books in the trilogy. The novel brought that whole period to life. I'm glad Bran, Oswald's pet raven, made appearances here; each marked a turning point in the story.

Most highly recommended.

Book received from Net Galley

I really enjoyed this historical fiction book about one of the early High Kings of Britain. I haven't been in the mood to read this genre for ages and the synopsis for this book really piqued my interest. I would definitely consider this Christian fiction since Edwin's conversion to the faith is heavily focused on in the story. It has a great mix of the facts about this King of Britain, along with the fiction used to give more interest to the story. It's the first in a trilogy and I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.

The sequel to the first book in this trilogy 'Edwin: High King of Britain' was for me, long awaited. I remembered a little of Oswald’s story- for which the sources are sparse- but the wait was well worth it. The title is a conscious nod to Tolkien, of which it is, I believe legitimate to draw at least some comparison.

King Oswald of Northumbria, a seventh century Saxon King, was the inspiration for Aragorn- and Middle Earth was what Oswald’s people the Anglo-Saxons, called the earth. For once again Edoardo Albert has taken the material that gives the barest details and created a grand, moving and realistic historical drama recreating the lives of half-forgotten figures who lived in a period that is as much shrouded in myth as it is known from history.

It tells the story of an exiled Prince, who returned to his homeland to reclaim his Kingdom, and, once it was won, to spread the New Faith of Christianity which he had embraced. This led him to establish the great monastry of Lindisfarne, and other foundations that would become famous as centres of Early Medieval English Christianity
As a ruler, Oswald ‘flashed for a few short years’when much was against him- when fellow Kings said that no throne could survive when there were two brothers to compete for it.
His was a tale of a a King who sought to bring hope to his people of brotherly love, loyalty, intrigue and sacrifice - tainted by betrayal, pride and mistrust.
The characters are 'real people'- flawed and relatable- this heroes genuinely heroic- yet not always having a heroic motivation for their actions.

As with the last book the often beautifully written descriptive passages helped re-create a far distant age and really transport the reader back to the time, to feel as if they are there with the characters as the story unfolds. in the King's hall high on the fortress of Bamburgh , on the battlefield, sailing through the misty fens of East-Anglia. Vouching for and caring for them.

One problem with some historical fiction novels is the tendency to inject modern values, thoughts and ideas into the heads of historical characters- harder still is the avoid modern idioms and turns of phrase.
In this series- even the way that the characters speak evokes the world of Tolkien, and, for literary buffs- Old English and British poetry.
Some of my favourite passages included:

"But even the sea, first and masterless, had quietened at the command of her heart-Lord. If he had chosen Oswald, she would not hold him back for her mother fear.

“We are all afraid…Death takes…glory fades, deeds are forgotten. In a generation, who will remember out names? But there is a hope in the new ways: a hope of life, a hope in death, a hope even in defeat”.

“When I was a boy, all I wanted was to be a warrior, to wield sword and win fame…but now I am glad the story is greater than sword glory”.

My only complaints were that the Oswald’s actual reign seemed to take something of a back foot. He didn’t even develop King until halfway into the novel- and the section devoted to his rule is nearly three quarters of the way through.
Much time is devoted to the preliminaries- mostly the warfare which ravaging the Kingdom of Northumbria, waged by rival Kings who Oswald had to defeat and bring to heel. This much of the first part of the book is the backstory about how he became King, in which relatively minor character from the last book get a lot of attention.

One such characters was Coifi, the former pagan priest who ostensibly converted to Christianity it the last book. The characterization of him here was- dubious to say the least. In the last book, it seemed to be implied that his supposed supernatural ‘powers’ of prophecy were a delusion, and he was something of a powerless charlatan, who lost realized the gods he served held no power. Here, it is implied many times that he really can see into the future- when he goes into trances, his ‘visions’ often prove uncannily accurate.

One minute he claimed the gods abandoned him- but then claims they have given him is abilities back when he gets his visions again. I almost felt the author was trying to cast his as a Gandalf like- character- when such was really not needed and I feel is not appropriate- especially in a work of historical fiction by an ostensibly Christian Publisher.
It is almost counter-productive to have a figure to whom who believes the gods have given him power- and whose power seems very real- when other characters are shown abandoning the worship of those capricious gods because they believe it can give them no hope.

Also, in a couple of places some details seemed confusing. Perhaps the last section seemed too ‘rushed’. Oswald went from gaining his throne, to everyone calling him High King very quickly, one I sometimes found it hard to recall when the other kings had given him their allegiance. In some places, also, there seemed to be little sense of the passing of time- so until we were told that someone’s child was so old, it was hard to keep track of how much time had passed.

Finally, it may be pertinent to mention that readers seeking a story with a happy ending may be disappointed. This novel is true to the history of the period, which was frequently violent and sometimes tragic.
Yet is it not a story entirely devoid of hope. Those seeking a realistic work of historical and literary fiction, which explores some deeper issues without being preachy or clichéd, and is free of gratuitous sex, excessive, unnecessary violence, or plain silliness which plagues some historical dramas may well find what they are looking for here.

I received an ARC of this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive one, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Britain 604 AD.
Two centuries after departure of the legions Roman Britannia was gone- its cities abandoned, the land divided into petty kingdoms under barbarian warlords vying for wealth, glory and power. Christianity was a distant memory as the Britons were pushed out by the Anglo-Saxons from across the sea, men who served gods that only loved those that died in battle.

In this land a lonely royal exile, Edwin, heir to the Northern Kingdom of Deira hears of a plot to betray him to the King who killed his father and had sought his life for years. Wandering on the moonlit coast, despairing of his life, Edwin is witness to a remarkable sign which would change his life and the course, and the future of a Kingdom....

Since reading [b:The Ecclesiastical History of the English People/The Greater Chronicle/Letter to Egbert|379961|The Ecclesiastical History of the English People/The Greater Chronicle/Letter to Egbert|Bede|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1174322677s/379961.jpg|26217814] a famous work of history by an eighth century monk Bede as a teenager I have been captivated by Edwin of Northumbria’s story. When I discovered a novel about him from a well-known Christian publisher I snapped it up, and the effort of reading was well worth it.
Historian and archeologist Edoardo Albert is clearly familiar with the era,
and has bought this story to life with beautiful description of a long-departed landscape, and a richly detailed representation of the culture, customs and beliefs of the early Saxon people.
Warriors, feasting in the hall, listening to a bard singing tales of the gods and heroes of old, bound by promise of gold- and sometimes bonds of loyalty to their lord. Kings, the chief of warriors, givers of gold to the men who stood beside them on the shield-wall- on whose loyalty their very lives and kingdoms may depend.

In was in this world that Edwin rose to High King of Britain, conquering or gaining most of the Kings and Kingdoms around him with the strength of the sword, marriage or diplomacy. Yet Edwin does not act entirely out of a desire for glory and fame, but a desire to unite his people. He and his fellows are well-drawn and believable characters, coming to terms with a changing world in which they were in many ways behind.

The Christian content and its impact on the lives of the people was well-woven in with the characters of the King’s young wife her Roman priest Paulinus, and his companion James. With a will of Iron, and a pair of woolen drawers to ward off the freezing temperatures Paulinus preached the gospel amongst the pagan men. Though it takes many years, Edwin eventually converts alongside his family, many of his people, and his pagan priest. The presentation of the gospel message tailored to the pagan Saxons was intriguing and sensitive, yet not clichéd or contrived.

My only complaints were some descriptions of the great fortress of Bamburgh which spoke of a garderobe and spiral staircase more at home in a twelfth century castle then a seventh century fortress, and some language that was a little too modern. There is violence, as it was a violent age- but no sex, which is a real plus considering many secular novels of this genre. Christian readers may wish to note that there is some description of the pagan priest having convulsions, cursing people, and other manifestations. I believe though that such things were known in ancient pagan religions, and are clearly regarded by the Christians as false and demonic.

It is the mark of a good writer indeed that I enjoyed this book so much despite knowing what happened to Edwin already from Bede. Recommended for all those interested in the medieval period, the Vikings, the Anglo-Saxons, and Conversion period, accurate, evocative historical fiction or those seeking something different.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review, and was not required to write a positive one.

This is the second book -Edwin being the first. I've had the good fortune to read both. Early English history is a favorite of mine. As you can imagine, there is not much written record left from the 7th century so the author has done a remarkable job of bringing the characters - most them are based on people who lived in the time period - to life. It's a harsh time and the writing is such that you truly feel you are living with Oswald as he goes through his day.
A thrilling look at a time period lost to many.½