Book Review: The King’s Wife by Crispina Kemp

The King’s Wife, released in January 2024, is the third book in the Alsaldic Lands Trilogy by Crispina Kemp. My thanks to Crispina for sending me a copy of the book to review.

Summary (from Goodreads)

Trouble Lies In The Hatching Of Deceitful Plans

Bregan knows her destiny is to be more than the King’s Wife, chief brewster of the Alsaldic Lands. But even that prestige position could be lost if the truth of her illegitimate birth were known. A cuckoo-child, she believes herself the daughter of a woodland daen. Yet her father is more formidable than that. He is an Immortal, an Asar.

The appearance of a mysterious black cloud causes widespread chaos and destruction, and weakens the Uissid, the Alsaldic Lands’ real power. When in the aftermath her father arrives, it’s time to ask if Bregan’s destiny is truly hers. Or is it all part of her father’s plan?

A Review in Five Parts

There’s no denying I love Crispina Kemp’s books – I love them, I love them, I love them – and once I start reading them, I find it very hard to stop.

Like the others I’ve read, the story is complex, entertaining, engaging, highly imaginative and beautifully written, and what’s more, I love how new characters mingle with ones we’ve met previously in other books from The Spinner’s Cycle (Note: you don’t have to have read the other books from The Spinner’s Cycle to read this trilogy, The Alsaldic Lands, but I can and always will recommend them!).

Crispina crafts her locations with beautiful descriptions that jump off the page into fully-fledged, vivid scenery which is easy to imagine, planting the reader in amongst the unfolding storylines (see the two quotes I’ve included below, and I think you will agree).

The list of characters is extensive, and each one comes across as authentic and believable. Bregan was my favourite character, with an interesting story and complicated history, but most importantly, she was strong and determined.

The story itself is an intriguing, engaging yarn, unique (I think), in its setting and style, and unpredictable in its unfolding. It is woven of a number of storylines, which deftly come together to create a rich story, set in an ancient landscape, where myths and legends are very real to those who live there. Fast-paced, and filled with drama and action, this is a tale on an epic scale, and not to be missed.

A Feast of Favourites

• Favourite name from the book? Bregan

• Favourite word from the book? Daen

• Favourite character from the book? I have a fondness for owls, so Vissi

• Favourite chapter: Chapter 11, where Elgelden is preparing himself and gathering the things he might need for the Games to become Reksan.

• Favourite quote from the book: I couldn’t choose between these two:

Those rivers flowed full, breaking their banks, and demons lurked everywhere along them. (pg 55)

~ I think I will remember the one above next time the river in our village floods…

Now an utter darkness yawned between each ghost-like flickering stone, broken only when that restless firelight happened upon one of the fire stone-doors of Sauen’s cave. (pg 58)

Would I Recommend this Book?

Yes, definitely, with my whole heart. If you love fantasy inspired by prehistory, which I do, I think you will enjoy this book. But be warned: these stories will pull you in and make you want to read more and more and more, until you’ve read them all.

Rating

5 / 5

ARC Book Review: Hare and Adder by Crispina Kemp

Earlier this month, historical fantasy author, Crispina Kemp, author of the epic five book series, The Spinner’s Game, as well as Learning to Fly, and Roots of Rookeri, released her latest book, Hare and Adder, which is the first book in The Alsaldic Lands trilogy. Thank you to Crispina Kemp for sending me an ARC of the book, in return for an honest review.

You can read my latest interview with Crispina here.

Quick Review (read on for a full review)

A compelling, engaging and entertaining read. Gloriously complex and highly imaginative, Hare and Adder is a truly wonderful read! 5 / 5

Summary (from Goodreads)

Hegrissa should have been a granary keeper. She should have been able to find her way back to Lienershi when Kerrid, Head of the Granaries, sent her south to meet with her father. She should have been safe with the copper-smith since smiths are sworn off women. But now seduced, pregnant and with her trade lost, her only hope lies with her native family. Yet rejected there too, she finds acceptance with an eblan, a Speaker for the Dead, who believes her inspired. Can she find a new identity amongst these people, or will she reclaim what should have been hers?

Part of the Spinner’s Cycle
Two thousand years after the events of The Spinner’s Game , Kerrid is the Head of the Kerdolan and granary traders. Though established in this role, there are still Asars who oppose her, led by Urinod who believes the moment of Kerrid’s death will return the Asars to their rightful otherworld realm. Stuck between these are the next generation, Brictans born of Asar-human parentage, and those who seek to make a life within the increasingly important Alsaldic Lands. This trilogy maps the development, flowering and collapse of the Alsaldic Empire as it moves from its birth within an early agricultural society, through the copper and bronze-using warrior cults, to topple at the first whisper of iron.

A Neolithic Odyssey
This is a work of imagination, inspired by mythology, anthropology and archaeology; it does not purport to be an accurate or speculative account of the Neolithic and Bronze Age cultures of Western Europe.

Favourite Quote

“That was less than a corner’s chance in a circle.”

(from Hare and Adder by Crispina Kemp, page 37)

Review

The Neolithic is one of the periods of history which I find fascinating. So, for a bit of context, it begins in the British Isles around 6000 years ago, with the arrival of farming, and Stonehenge is one of the most famous Neolithic sites in the world. This is the time period in which the historical fantasy story, Hare and Adder, is set. As such, it was no surprise how much I loved this book!

As with the style we’ve come to expect from the author, this tale is gloriously complex and highly imaginative. Hare and Adder is an engaging, entertaining and compelling read, and once I started reading, I struggled to stop. The opening was highly emotive as we learn what has befallen Hegrissa, and the ending is full of action and energy, though I will say nothing else for fear of spoilers.

The world building is intricate and detailed. Be prepared to become immersed in wonderful descriptions covering everything you could possibly imagine, from landscape to religion, from social order to language, and so much more. I could clearly envisage the setting and the world, as well as the characters. It all came to life with such ease!

As for the characters, Hegrissa is a wonderful main character, and you can’t help but get behind her. Her story is an interesting one and it didn’t take long for me to feel invested in what happened to her. All the characters came across as multi-faceted and believable in their actions and motivations.

My favourite aspects of the story, always, are the landscape setting and the mythology, the latter being cleverly woven throughout. Tied into the mythology, the rituals and spiritual details also appealed to me. Another point I enjoyed was how elements from The Spinner’s Game found their way into the story, but it is done in such a way that you do not have to have read that series to follow what is going on. (But I highly recommend you do, because they are so good!)

I loved reading about the different societies, their structures and norms, and how they differed from each other. This really added an air of authenticity to the storytelling, and made the peoples in the story come to life.

The story was perfectly paced, and well-written, and as I’ve already mentioned, I had a hard time to stop reading once I had started. Naturally, I’m eager to learn what happens in book 2 of the trilogy.

The book cover is gorgeous! It is designed by Lauren Willmore, and so the theme and style matches perfectly the other books set in the same world.

I can honestly say I really, really, really enjoyed this story. If you enjoy fantasy fiction inspired by the distant past, I can’t recommend this story highly enough!

You can find Crispina’s website here, and the Goodreads listing for Hare and Adder here. To purchase a copy of Hare and Adder, head over to Amazon now.

Rating

From My Bookshelf – February 2023 Book Reveal

And February’s book is…

The Prince and The Pilgrim by Mary Stewart.

And the treat to accompany the book for February, hot chocolate and biscuits.

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You can find out everything you need to know about the From My Bookshelf challenge, including links to the books as they are revealed, and the reviews once they are written, here.

Book Review: Learning to Fly by Crispina Kemp

Thank you to Crispina Kemp for sending me an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Quick Review (read on for full review)

Learning to Fly is a captivating read. Entertaining and engaging, this perfectly-paced tale is historical fantasy on an epic scale. Well-written, and filled with colourful characters and rich, vivid descriptions, it’s impossible not to get pulled into the gripping story-telling.  Highly recommended! 5 / 5

Summary (from Amazon)

Medievalist Neve is delighted to find herself surrounded by swirling colours and foot-stomping music in Regin-jarl’s mead hall… even if her presence is dependent on the memories of a banished angel.

Her vicarious entry to the past begins when, curious about the local offshore windfarm, she ventures down to Yalesham seafront.

“We buried Skimaskall there,” an unlikely-looking youth says.
“And Skimaskall is?”
“A dragon.”
“And you are…?”
“I’m Raesan, an angel… an elf… an Asar. And you are illegal, Lady Nineve, child of Constance Oath-breaker.”

Raesan offers to take her back to 1086 to identify her grandpa before he can spawn more illegal semi-divines… and there she is, hooked on the quest.

Favourite Quote

“Toli fitzMa, clearly you’re unacquainted with the role of squire. Humbly to serve his knight.”

“Oh, I know that, Sir Guy. But what’s to humble me? Those four years between us? Na, let’s make a deal. Say, the higher you rise, the lower I’ll bow. Does that satisfy, Sir Guy?”

(from Learning to Fly by Crispina Kemp, page 49)

Review

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to beta read this story, and I must say that I loved it from the very beginning.  So, as you can imagine, I was very keen to write a review of it in the run-up to its release day.

Learning to Fly is a story set in the same world as the epic fantasy series The Spinner’s Game, by the same author. And, without a doubt, I loved this story as much as those. We have a quest, a journey of discovery, angels, dragons, mystery and suspense, action, romance, magic, monsters, knights, and plenty more besides…what else could you ask for?

Like The Spinner’s Game, Learning to Fly is full of things that I love, in general, but also things I enjoy reading about. So for me, this book is a perfect read.

The story is well-written, and the many threads, characters and locations are marvellously handled by the author. Like the stories that make up The Spinner’s Game, Learning to Fly is historical fantasy on an epic scale.  It is complex without being complicated, and full of rich world-building. We have, in effect, a story within a story in Learning to Fly, where Anglo-Saxon and Norman history of the eleventh century is brought into sharp focus in one timeline and we have a modern tale of personal discovery and empowerment in the other. 

I really liked Neve. She’s intelligent and sensible, and her story and journey is an interesting and engaging one. Neve’s a main character I can really get behind and root for.  She won’t believe the things she’s told unless she can verify them from a reputable source, yet she can’t help but feel the pull of magic and possibility in the tales she hears, which is perfectly understandable and makes her relatable.

Apart from Neve, my favourite character was Rat, but I also liked the interplay between Guy and Toli – just who is the master and who is the squire? See my Favourite Quote above for a glimpse at the humour also to be found in the story. I liked that we got the opportunity to be briefly reacquainted with some old friends from The Spinner’s Game as well as get to better understand the person Raesen has become.

I really enjoyed the historical aspects of the story.  The descriptions of people and places really brought the story to life and I could imagine each location with ease. And, the fantastical elements of the story blended in very well with the rest of the story to create a seamless narrative that kept me hooked until the very end.

If you like your historical fantasy on an epic scale, I can’t recommend this (as well as the five books of The Spinner’s Game) highly enough.

Find it on Amazon, where it will be released 1st April 2021.

Rating

ARC Book Review: The Spinner’s Child by Crispina Kemp

The Spinner’s Child is the first book in the soon-to-be-released series The Spinner’s Game by Crispina Kemp.

My thanks to Crispina Kemp for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review. The Spinner’s Child, and the rest of The Spinner’s Game, will be available from 21st March 2020 from Amazon, and is currently available for pre-order.

Quick Review (read on for full review)

The Spinner’s Child is a fantastic, enchanting read. Wonderfully written, it’s a highly imaginative historical fantasy, filled with engaging characters, captivating locations and a gripping storyline. Recommended! 5 / 5

Summary (from Goodreads)

Spliced with dark material, sprinkled with the mystical. Join Kerrid’s journey through the timeless first days… and into the Spinner’s Web

Cursed, friendless and shunned, fraudulent seer Kerrid, born of a fisher-hunter clan, holds two beliefs. That in her psychic abilities and exuded light she is unique, and as Voice of the Lady she’s exempt from an arranged marriage. Both convictions are shattered when nine boats arrive from the east carrying the ancient Chief Uissinir who wants her for his wife, and five of his sons who emit lights and share tricks like her own. Forced to make an unwise judgement, a trail of death follows.

Questions plague her. Why does she dream of babies dying? Why does a voice in her head taunt her: Suffer the loss, suffer the pain? And what is she that no matter how lethal the wound, she does not die?

What is she to kill with a thought?

Favourite Quote

She prayed to the Lady of the Hills, to her sons and First Woman too, She prayed for deliverance from the end envisaged by Breathman Bargli. Any decision, please; any doom other than eaten by cats.

(From The Spinner’s Child by Crispina Kemp, Chapter 3)

Review

I was lucky enough to beta-read this book (the whole series, in fact) and instantly fell in love with the characters, the story and the setting.  So, naturally, I was keen to read and review the ARC when given the opportunity to do so.

The Spinner’s Child is the first instalment in a five book historical fantasy series. Highly imaginative and epic in every sense, it tells the story of Kerrid.  This first book covers her childhood through to the first years of her becoming a woman.

Kerrid is a wonderful main character.  I connected to her very quickly, and at times, was brought to tears by things that go on around her.  My! Things are not easy for her. Her relationships, even to her mother and father, are never straightforward.  As her journey of self-discovery progresses, she is faced with ever more complex issues and her fate isn’t often in her own hands.

Then there are the questions to which she must find the answers.  Who is she? What is she? Why is she different?  It is this search for answers that motivates her, even when things seem bleak, showing a strength of character I greatly admire.

Other characters I liked were Sarat – of course!  I can see how his crafting abilities must have seemed like magic to those uninitiated in their process and his interactions with Kerrid were sweet. There was also Breathman Bargli…a wise and sensible man with such a kind heart.

The world-building is fantastic.  You can clearly see where the author has researched meticulously.  The knowledge and descriptions of cultures and societies, settlements, handicrafts and textiles are rich and detailed, but there is no overloading of information.  The language and terminology adds an extra layer of authenticity and helps to bring this vibrant setting to life.

However, it is the mythologies and spirituality, but especially the “feast fables” that captivated me the most. These stories within the story are really interesting, and harken back to a time when lore and explanations of what was, what is and what will be, were to be found in easily recognisable tales, ones that were simple to recall and to repeat. These are the first stories and those that told them, the first storytellers.

The author has a striking writing style, which I enjoyed.  The story is superbly crafted and perfectly paced, and I must mention the book cover: it captures the essence of the tale perfectly. And, a note on the formatting: the book is nicely laid out, includes a beautiful map of the area in which the story is set, and there are lovely graphics to be found on the title pages. Ebooks can often look plain and functional compared to print books, their only nod to aesthetics being drop caps at the beginning of chapters, so in comparison, this comes across as beautifully presented.

All-in-all, a splendid, enchanting read.  The second book in the series is Lake of Dreams, and I’m very much looking forward to reading it.  Highly recommended, especially to those who enjoy historical fantasy.

Rating

Oathbreaker

If you have a moment, please have a read of my latest novel.  It’s currently available to read for free via Wattpad…Click the book cover below for the link…Thank you so much for your support ♥

~ Oathbreaker is now available to read in full on Wattpad ~

Longlisted for The Wattys 2018

Summary

Eleri, priestess of the Green Lady, has waited for so long to marry her tribe’s champion, Celyn. Finally, the date is set for Midsummer’s Eve, when the tribes have gathered in the valley to celebrate the longest day at the stone circle perched up on the hill. But nothing is as it seems…

A glimpse of a bird circling over the stones foretells of doom…and maybe even death.

An oath is made. An oath is broken. And Eleri’s life changes forever…

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Oathbreaker is a story inspired by ancient history, mythology, and the landscape. Set in the Iron Age, where there is no distinction between history and mythology, and where magic is as real as the ground beneath your feet, Oathbreaker charts the journey of Eleri, Priestess of the Green Lady, and the unusual quest she finds herself forced to make…

If you enjoy historical fiction, myths and legends, fantasy, adventure and romance, you might enjoy this too…