Nigel Tranter (1909–2000)

This was a very good Nigel Tranter novel featuring the MacGregor clan. This is set earlier in time than MacGregor’s Gathering, which is similar to this novel with its dynamic of a nephew being mentored by an uncle in the clan leadership. And like The Captive Crown, the third book in the Stewart trilogy, this book features an assertive woman who know a fair deal about politics: Mary Gray, the illegitimate daughter of the Master of Gray, proves to be a diplomatic wonder through her position at court, despite her illegitimacy. Children of the Mist is also similar to The Captive Crown in its ending, which is well judged but melancholy.… (altro)

This is a stand-alone historical fiction novel featuring Kenneth MacAlpin, the first High King of Scotland. It has rather a lot of men in it, not so many women. That said, Eithne (Kenneth’s eventual wife) does gets a fair bit of page time, and there’s a prioress who goes on an adventure with the battling Dalriadans. Eithne’s story is mostly well handled, although I did find the “From Here to Eternity”—style sex scene on the beach a bit cheesy. The writing style is a bit on the heavy side but if you’re in the right mood for it, it works. The author includes a historical note at the end to explain a bit about what happens to the key players.

Oddly enough, even though the Norsemen are the bad guys here, I’m kind of hankering to read the Orkneyinga Saga now, because it covers the 9th century as well.… (altro)