Aisley lost everything in a Viking attack. Now, working
alongside the one man she trusts, she is ready to fight for her people—and for
love.
Wessex, AD 878
Aisley’s young life was changed forever when her father accompanied King Alfred
into battle and lost his life in a deadly skirmish with the Vikings. Now,
almost seven years later, the Vikings are once again rallying on Wessex’s
borders, and Aisley fears that her older brother may have treacherous plans to
betray the king by aligning himself with the invading Norsemen. But when Aisley
encounters a handsome nobleman in the market, she feels the first stirrings of
hope. Though they met only once when Aisley was little more than a child, she
recognizes him immediately as one of King Alfred’s most trusted men.
It has been years since Brecc has seen Aisley, but when he spots her in the
marketplace, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to the copper-haired young
lady with a gift for healing. Before his fledgling feelings for her can develop
into something more, however, a Viking attack tears them apart. King Alfred is
forced into hiding, and in a matter of days, the Saxon nation is brought to its
knees. Unwilling to forsake their people, the king and his men embark on secret
raids of Viking encampments. But when Aisley joins the fight, Brecc must
reconcile his steadfast loyalty to King Alfred with his growing love for the
king’s newest warrior.
My Thoughts:
I have not read a lot of books about Vikings, and this one takes place during their raiding while King Alfred ruled. So, in this story, we get to step back in time as the Saxon's are fighting for their freedom and their very lives against the Viking raiders. In the midst of the battles and betrayal, we have a couple who fall in love.
Aisley met Brecc for the first time when she was just twelve and right before he and her father and brother went to stop the Viking takeover. What happens during that battle changes them all, especially for Aisley's family. Years later she and Brecc meet up again, Aisley as a talented healer and Brecc a much more seasoned warrior. They begin to have a budding romance when the Vikings descend upon the Saxons yet again.
If you are looking for a historical read to really delve into, this was a good one. I really appreciated the author's attention to detail of the times, the battles, and the titles, using some of the old vocabulary. I liked getting a history lesson, especially from the Saxons viewpoint and this story gives a glimpse of what it may have been like to live when the Vikings raided. War, betrayal, romance, and the willingness to fight for those you love are all threads found in this story.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.
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