Author name: Sayling@@Away

Here in North Carolina, we are amidst a brutal heat wave. From the weather maps, everyone in the US (except maybe Alaska) and Europe is, too. So stay cool and hydrated. I’d like to recognize those people who have chosen to follow my blog in recent months. I have over 1500 brave followers and I am grateful for each and every one of you. I hope you will stop by when I drop a post. Here is the beginning of a list of the new followers, just to give you a shout-out. There will be another list coming soon. David Grislis at https://davidgrislis.wordpress.com/ –   ice hockey, adoption and foster parenting Cale Cook at https://cookingwithcale.org/ – for foodies Foxpass at https://foxpass.home.blog/ – best, latest and highly configurable data security systems najiabenhamza at https://najiafaslabenhamza.wordpress.com/ – more food, but French desireblog at https://desire6day.wordpress.com/ –  a food journal with fitness wrapped in The Paltry Sum at https://thepaltrysum.com/ – writing past and present, music and reviews, San Francisco, eclectic and interesting Toshiyu at https://toshiyu03.blog/ – music, music, music Dr. Richard Selden at https://drrichardselden.wordpress.com/ – an integral figure in the development of Rapid DNA technology and the validation testing of the ANDE (Accelerated Nuclear DNA Equipment) Rapid DNA Analysis System for law enforcement applications. Global Classifieds at https://www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=bigaxis.com – where you can buy a domain and a domain name. Gayle –  no link! Mehmood Amad at https://gethealthyisthebestnow.health.blog  – all about healthy eating kanwarsandhu18 – no link Nicholas Darjk – no link Richard M. Neely – no link Timothy Bullard at https://timothybullard.com –  mental health, social media addiction, etc A-Ile Self-hallucination at https://aile1981.wordpress.com  women’s fashion Catarina Rotondi at https://caterinarotondi.com – poetry and reflections in Italian Marie at https://hopsskipsandjumps.com  – travel in Europe, North Africa, and other places James MacFarlane at https://thefifteenthfactoryart.wordpress.com – music, art and musings Roger S. Johnson – no link. Old House Projects at https://oldhouseprojectsguide.wordpress.com/ – a guide to the love, preservation and repair of old houses Todd Berner, MD, at https://toddberner.wordpress.com – a health care profession who discusses mental health and other health issues Patel Kalaben – link marked as suspicious, but looks like he blogs about gaming equipment Sam Tulgen at https://photo.rip/ – beautiful photography of Texas Grace Ngendo at https://haddasatara.wordpress.com/ – short stories populated by werewolves , vampires and witches . Lt. Gen. Robert R. Allardice (robertr124) robertr124), Vice Commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. At https://valueinterprethonor.wordpress.com/ – military issues and honors Sherrey Meyer at https://sherreymeyer.com/poem-these-times -poetry, writing advice, fiction blackwings666 at https://blackwings666.wordpress.com – movie and actor reviews and news Cherie White – Chateau Cherie at https://cheriewhite.blog – exposing bullies and liberating targets to make the world a safer place for all Flo 76 at https://florian1976.org – an organization with products from amazon, from Romania and Germany, Italy, Canada Wendy W @ thebashfulbookworm.com – a book blogger, reviews and commentary Wazifa at https://wazifaforloveprolemsolution.wordpress.com/ – solutions to problems with love, marriage, husbands etc. Ezzatalizdah – no link LJ Smith at https://lifeisprecious.blog – photography and moments in life that bring her joy 0 0

I am pleased to announce the release of a high adventure-romance-historical novel by R.M. Byrd.  I’ve known the author for more than twelve years and was privileged to read his new book, Watersong as an ARC. The author is a great storyteller, with a wonderful ability to encapsulate a character in an evolving description and to create colorful and authentic backgrounds. The story:  Captain Jason Achilles is the owner and operator of the Emmanuelle, a small trading ketch in the Caribbean islands. He is 32, tall, strong and independent to a fault. The jungle had long accepted Jason as it accepted everyone else, on its own terms, both fair and brutal. The year is 1939, and he has settled into a hard but steady life carrying small cargos to shallow water places where the large coasting schooners cannot or will not go. He had had a few scrapes, but when folks learned of his honesty, a rarity in the trade, he had more business than he could handle. Lucienne Beaumont, the daughter of a plantation owner, turns his world upside down. Strikingly beautiful, with angular features, strong curves, and an even stronger and more beautiful mind, she blindsides his world and captivates his heart. But there are dark forces at work with WW II on the horizon, and he finds he must fight to keep the love of his life. This book keeps the heart pounding, not only from the romance but also from wild chases at sea and dangerous river journeys over rocks and waterfalls – not to mention the evil that seems to find Jason Achilles in the form of pirates, a Nazi spy, and a villainous plantation owner determined to eliminate him as a rival for Lucienne’s affection. The author is a dedicated sailor, so the sailing sequences are authentic. The Caribbean setting and a delightful parrot named Hazel add a colorful backdrop to the story. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who likes the combination of historical adventure and romance with a Caribbean flare. You will not be disappointed. About the author: R.M. Byrd lives in North Carolina with his wife and two cats, as well as wild deer, hummingbirds and, appropriately, the odd nuthatch. He worked for more years than he’d like to remember in a shipyard building character (so they say) and spent 6 years in Europe unable to believe he actually lived there. He has been writing since before he can reliably recall. Though he has great trouble writing short, his short fiction has appeared in the literary journals The Iconoclast, Litsnack, Full of Crow, the literary collection of Main Street Rag and Offshoots, and the literary collection of the Geneva Writer’s Group of Geneva Switzerland. The author’s first novel, The Fur, Fish, Flea and Beagle Club, is also an adventure, written with affection about two boys, Jamie Gareth and Ned Custis, spending a hot summer on a hardscrabble farm and working in a sawmill in North Carolina in the late 1930s. You can find my review of this book at https://saylingaway.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1784&action=edit Check out R. M. Byrd’s blog at: https://byrdwords.wordpress.com/ Watersong is available now on Amazon: 0 0

This was is written in response to a prompt from LK Caley, who can be found at https://new2writing.wordpress.com/2022/06/09/writephoto-draft/#respond The curly-haired boy peeked in the door of the old St. Edmund’s Priory, whose stone walls glowed a rich yellow in the setting sun. Often when he passed by, he had heard chanting coming from within, but today he dared to see where it came from. The sound was so mellow and soothing, so different from the harsh tones of his father. There was nothing the boy could do to please him. Every chore he was given, even feeding the chickens, he couldn’t seem to do the way his father wished, and each time, he received a cuff to the head and occasionally a beating. Gianni had dreamed of an escape from his father’s farm many times. He often did escape, to the memories of his mother’s hand stroking his curls and to the softness of her words, which calmed him in the face of his father’s anger. She’d been dead from the plague nearly a year now, and his survival only seemed to irritate his father, as if he were to blame. The boy cautiously slipped inside the door of the priory and followed the chanting across the dusty courtyard to a chapel on the far side. The sounds grew louder and seemed to penetrate his very being, drawing him into the chapel, where he sat down on a bench at the back. The light from the dying sun came through the windows on one side, illuminated motes of dust dancing in the air. The chanting continued. He closed his eyes. “Who is that?” asked Friar Benedict. “Is he from the village?” “I know him. He’s the son of Stefan, the farmer,” replied Prior Joseph. “Well, he’s clearly tired. And he’s also starving. There’s no skin on his bones. And look at those bruises! He’s been thrashed.” Friar Andrew, the priory’s victualler, spoke in an angry tone Gianni opened his eyes and startled at the sight of the three priory members looming over him. “I…I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t be here. But the chanting, it was so lovely. I’ll go. Please don’t tell my father.” “Of course, we won’t,” said Joseph, “but first we want to offer you some food.” “But I’ll be late. I was supposed to purchase some bread in the village, and now it’s too late.” The boy hung his head, clearly despairing. “I tell you what,” said Andrew. “If you will eat with us, we will give you a loaf of our bread to take to your father.” “Really?” The boy face lit up at the kindness. “Yes, really,” chuckled Benedict. “What is your name, boy?” asked Joseph. “Gianni.” The boy ate his fill for the first time in months and happily headed home with the loaf of bread. He wanted nothing more than to live in that priory, chant with the occupants, and have something to eat every day. Not surprisingly, he got another beating for being late. The next evening, Prior Joseph appeared at the door of the hut Gianni called home. “Farmer Stefan!” “What do you want?” Stefan emerged from the darkness of the hut, snarling at his visitor. “Haven’t you interfered with my family enough?” “I, we, the members of the priory, have a proposition for you. We have a need for a dogsbody to work at the priory. We would like to hire your son, and we will pay you for his work.” Stefan’s eyes glittered with greed at the prospect of money. “But who will help me here with my farm?” “We can see that he’s not a good worker and that you are displeased with what he does.” Stefan’s brain barely registered the implied criticism or how they knew the boy was useless. “We will pay him enough to allow you to hire someone more competent and still have some of his wages left over.” Gianni, who was pressed against the wall inside the hut, listened to every word with increasing excitement. Could this really be happening to him? Stefan asked how much his son would be paid, then made the pretense of thinking about it, during which time he snorted and spat a blob of phlegm at the Father’s feet.  “I’ll let you have him for a week. That way you can find out if he’s as much a lazy do-nothing as he is here, while I look for a more suitable farm hand. But I want payment in advance.” “We thought so.” Joseph reached into the pocket of his habit and brought out some coins. Stefan grabbed them and yelled for his son. The boy slipped around his father and stood in front of the priest. Well, then,” said Joseph. “Come along.” After a final whack on the head from his father, along with a stern warning to work hard, Gianni floated along behind Prior Joseph, suspended by his relief and excitement. He didn’t look back. Two decades passed. Then, at the death of Joseph, the most beloved member of the community, a tall, curly-haired friar named Edmond, became Prior. 0 0

I’ve been posting a lot of reviews lately, in an attempt to catch up with my reading. I think this is the last for a while. Whew! Sunflowers Beneath the Snow recounts the lives of three generations of women in Ukraine: grandmother, mother, daughter. This is the author’s first book, and she has created a deeply emotional portrayal of each of these women. ‘Sunflowers beneath the Snow’ is a phrase spoken by the grandmother, but to me, these three women are the sunflowers. Ivanna, the grandmother, has spent the majority of her life under Communist rule, where everything from food to housing is strictly regulated. She doesn’t know her husband, Luyaksandro, is spying for an anti-Communist group, and when the group informs him he’s been identified, they give him the choice to be sent out of the country or be outed, which would lead to the arrest and possible death of his family by the state police. He chooses to leave without a word to his family. When her husband disappears, Ivanna is told he is dead at the hand of his lover’s husband, and she feels bitterly betrayed. She now must to try to support herself and her daughter with nothing but a menial job, scarce food, and cold, mean living quarters. She uses ingenuity and determination to ensure their survival, but somehow she never stops believing in the necessity and fairness of the Communist government.  As her daughter, Yevtsye, grows up, she develops political, religious, and societal opinions different from those of her mother, from whom she becomes estranged. She meets and marries Danya, a teacher of physics at the university, and after years of trying, they have a daughter, Ionna. Ionna is born into a world different from those of her grandmother and her mother, since by that time, Ukraine has been independent from Russian for some years – although the country is still dependent of Russia for virtually everything and is run by corrupt politicians. She proves a contradiction to both her mother and grandmother and dreams of seeing and experiencing the world outside of Ukraine. Her eventual travels lead to a surprising outcome. The author writes with great realism of living in Ukraine during that period of time. She reaches deep to portray the tenacity, determination, and deeply felt emotions of these women, in the face of the different and continual challenges in their lives. This book should be of particular interest to readers, given the current Russian invasion of Ukraine. The history described by the author explains a great deal of what is happening now.  This reader lived in Czechoslovakia when it was part of the Soviet Union, and the author has hit the nail on the head of what it is like to live in a country under Russia’s control. The only problem I had with this book was some prolonged descriptions of the women’s emotional states or considerations of Ukrainian politics. This slowed the forward progress of the story and tempted me to read ahead. This is the author’s first book and, overall, I think she’s written a winner. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction in a historical setting, especially in the recent history of Eastern Europe. About the author (from Amazon) Born in Athens, Greece as an Air Force brat, Teri M Brown developed an imagination full of stories to tell. She now calls the North Carolina coast home, and the peaceful nature of the sea has been a great source of inspiration for her creativity. She and her husband, Bruce, rode a tandem bicycle across the United States from Astoria, Oregon to Washington DC, successfully raising money for Toys for Tots. She learned she is stronger than she realized and capable of anything she sets her mind to. Teri is a wife, mother, grandmother, and author who loves word games, reading, bumming on the beach, taking photos, hunting for bargains, ballroom dancing, playing bridge, and mentoring others. You can find Teri On her blog: https://www.terimbrown.com/blog On twitter: @TeriMBrown1 And on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeriMBrownAuthor You can find Sunflowers Beneath the Snow on Amazon: 0 0

Wasteland is the second book in the Operation Galton series. The author has written in a variety of genres, but she has a special talent for creating dystopian worlds that are so close to everyday reality that the readers is left thinking What if?  While this book is part of a series, it is possible to read the books out of order. The title Wasteland refers to the area in the UK outside of the megacities where the population of the country now lives, having been cleared from towns and sorted. Those unable to find work to support themselves have been sent to so-called Hope Villages, sort of modern-day poor houses from which they will never leave, despite promises to the contrary. The last bit of the people not scoured from the landscape lives in the wasteland, supporting themselves off the grid, raising their own food, and generating their own electricity. Some things which they cannot make, they barter for with groups within the megacities or get from donations. In 2061 in the megacities, speech is no longer free—one wrong word and you are given a social demerit and a hefty fine. One too many demerits? Job loss and eviction, with free transport to your nearest community for the homeless: the Hope Villages. Everything is owned by Nutricorp, which is ruled by Ezra Bettencourt, and he has great plans to change the world. Rae Farrer is the perfect megacity girl – tech-loving, hard-working, law-abiding, and content with her job at Balance, a therapeutic wellness center. She grew up in the Non-parental Upbringing system, her parents supposedly dead, where she was indoctrinated into the megacity way of thinking. She lives with Nash, a weak, demerit-prone analyst for NuSens, the biometric sensor that everyone has had implanted. It not only locates those with the implant, but alerts the employer to the use of alcohol, drugs, and what nutrients they are lacking each day – even too many sweets Rae has a secret – she wants to locate her parents and siblings, whose names she was given by her Counsellor Support Giver at Balance at great risk. To locate them she must leave the city and travel to the Wasteland. Genevra has connections, but one can’t normally leave the city for any reason. This is a fast-paced book, once the story setting is created, with thrilling action as Rae escapes and realizes that life in the Wasteland is not what she’d imagined. As she scours the countryside for her family, she becomes disillusioned but finds what she seeks, sort of. Pursued by the megacity military, she zigs and zags to escape detection, discovering many Wastelanders along the way. There is also a slowly developing love story, with powerful relationships. The ending is particularly tense, with an unexpected twist. The Wasteland is wonderfully real, and the world created is a strong reminder that it is not outside the realm of possibility. As usual, the author has created three-dimensional characters that draw the reader into their world, and for me, it was a page-turner. The only drawback was that there was a lot of telling, rather than showing at the beginning, which is unusual for this author. But the pace soon ramps up and by, the end, is shocking and breathless. Five stars, highly recommended. The next book in the series is Megacity, which in my usual befuddled way, I read first. You can see my review of that here: https://saylingaway.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=5576&action=edit About the author (Amazon): Terry Tyler is the productive author of twenty-two books available from Amazon, the latest being Megacity. Also published recently is ‘The Visitor’, a post-apocalyptic murder mystery set in the same world as her popular Project Renova series. She is currently at work on a psychological thriller that centers around an internet dating con but has not yet finished with devastated societies, catastrophe, and destruction, generally. Proud to be independently published, Terry is an avid reader and book reviewer, and a member of Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team. She is also a Walking Dead addict, and has a great interest in history (particularly the 12th-17th century), along with books and documentaries on sociological/cultural/anthropological subject matter. She loves South Park, the sea, and going for long walks in quiet places where there are lots of trees. She lives in the northeast of England with her husband. You can find the author On Twitter: @ Terry Tyler4 And at: http://terrytyler59.blogspot.com 0 0

I participated in the book tour for Shelley Wilson’s The Last Princess, and I thought I’d follow up with a review. If there could be any such thing as a swashbuckling novel with a young woman as the heroine, then this is it. It is based on historical elements from the seventh century, during which the Danish Vikings began to invade what would become England and captured quite a few territories, eventually settling in the eastern half of the country. Edith, an Anglo-Saxon Princess, the oldest daughter of King and Queen of Northumbria who rule from Bamburgh, is sent on a husband-seeking expedition around Northumbria with her two younger sisters. Her life changes suddenly as she, her sisters, and her entourage are attacked and everyone but she is killed. She survives in no small part because she had been taught to fight and use the sword by an Elderman who is a close friend of her father. She finds her way back to Bamburgh only to find her parents murdered and the town laid waste. Edith vows revenge, but her immediate problem is staying alive since clearly she was meant to be killed as well. Her father’s brother has seized the King’s crown, even though Edith was designated as the heir-apparent. He immediately marries her off to an old and ugly Elderman, but on the night of their wedding day, the Elderman’s estate is attacked by men thought to be pirates. Edith assumes the identity of a slave and is taken by the pirates, later to be sold at market to a Viking jarl or lord. Through all of her travails, Edith is determined to survive and clings to her dream of returning home to claim her throne and kill the person or persons responsible for the death of her family. Gradually she is integrated into a new, Viking family and her independence, fierceness and bravery help her develop into a Viking shield maiden or woman warrior. What will happen when she returns to Northumbria to take back what is hers from her uncle?  Is he the one behind her family’s murder and her abduction? This book introduces the Vikings as they really were – a cultured, family-oriented civilization of farmers, craftsmen, sailors, and warriors – and contrasts their Norse religion and gods to the Christianity of the Saxons. It also starkly contrasts Vikings and Saxons in their treatment of women. I have to give the nod to the Vikings, since the author puts the new King of Northumbria and the Saxon culture in a bad light, while portraying the Viking culture as war-like but also understandably human. This is in line with what recent research has revealed about the Vikings. Edith is a strong female character, but one with doubts and fears despite her warrior status. The secondary characters – Baldred, a Saxon soldier; Solveig, a Viking shield maiden; Jarl Aaric, Edith’s Viking rescuer; and Leif, one of Jarl Arric’s sons – are all fleshed out realistically. There is a little romance between Edith and Leif, but the story really focuses on Edith’s growth as a princess, a warrior, and a natural leader. The reader is privy to her doubts, her fears, and her changing view of her world. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and I love the richness of the world this book creates and its non-stop action.  Highly recommended. About the author: Shelley Wilson is an English author of motivational self-help titles and young adult fantasy fiction. Her sensible side writes non-fiction books to inspire you to be the best you can be, and her playful side writes young adult fiction to remind you that magic exists. Shelley is a single mum of three, has a crazy black cat called Luna, and is obsessed with vampires, Tudor and Viking history, and exploring castles. You can find her At her author website: https://shelleywilsonauthor.com/ At her publisher: https://www.bhcpress.com/Author_SL_Wilson.html On Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShelleyWilson72 On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FantasyAuthorSLWilson And on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorslwilson/ 0 0

I was first introduced to Tony Riches when I read his Tudor Trilogy, about the founding and growth of the Tudor family. With his latest series – the Elizabethans – he populates the Elizabethan court with some of the outstanding characters of the day. The first book had the reader sailing with Sir Francis Drake, the second in the middle of rebellion with Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. In this book, the reader accompanies Sir Walter Raleigh (or Rawley as he was earlier called) from his days as an impoverished law student to the lively and glittering court of Elizabeth I. He doesn’t dance or joust, doesn’t come from a noble family, nor marry into one. He just has an overweening ambition to be a courtier, to wear the rich clothes, and to have the ear of the Queen. Raleigh is an adventurer from the start, taking part in the religious civil wars in France in his late teens, then in the suppression of a rebellion in Ireland. Raleigh proceeds to finish his education in the Inns of the Court and then is admitted to Middle Temple, which is one of the four Inns of the Court exclusively entitling him as a member of the English Bar as a barrister. He has absolutely no interest in the law and decides he can most easily attain his goals by adventure and piracy. With financial backing from his family – his cousin Sir Richard Grenville and a younger half-brother Sir Humphrey Gilbert – he opts for sea-going adventures to fill his coffers with Spain’s gold, along with those of the Queen, in an attempt to get her attention. He is successful enough to become one of the principal landowners and colonists in Munster, Ireland, for seventeen years. His Irish estates ran into difficulties that contributed to a decline in his fortunes, but he finally becomes a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I because of his efforts at increasing the Protestant Church in Ireland. In 1585, Raleigh is knighted by Queen Elizabeth, whose ear he did have from time to time. She grants Raleigh a royal charter authorizing him to explore, colonize and rule any heathen lands in the New World, in return for one-fifth of all the gold and silver that might be mined there Most of us know the story of Raleigh in the New World and the lost colonists of Roanoke. No gold and silver are found by the expeditions he funded, but he himself leads expeditions to the Orinoco river basin in South America in search of the golden city of El Dorado, which he never finds. The author has done an amazing amount of research to bring the people in Raleigh’s circle to life and to let the reader experience the highs and lows of his time at court, and his longer time away from it. Raleigh loved Queen Elizabeth and his choice of his life’s paths are always made with her in mind, to the detriment of himself and his family. Riches introduces such notable nobles as Sir Francis Walsingham and the poet Edmund Spenser, and sets the years of Raleigh’s life against an authentic backdrop of the Court, its unending intrigues, and the history of the time. The clothing, food, and customs do not elude the author’s attention, so the reader becomes embedded in the times. The book ends with the death of Elizabeth, and perhaps that is for the best because the remaining years of Raleigh’s life under the rule of James I were unfortunate. The reader is left with the image of a man who seeks adventure – who, despite or perhaps because of his lowly origins, is determined and focused in his pursuit of wealth and a courtier’s life – and who is also in love with his Queen. I highly recommend yet another well-written and richly ornamented book by Tony Riches. About the author: Tony Riches was born in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, and spent part of his childhood in Kenya. He gained a BA degree in Psychology and an MBA from Cardiff University and worked as a Management Consultant, followed by senior roles in the Welsh NHS and Local Government. After writing several successful non-fiction books, Tony decided to turn to novel writing. His real interest is in the history of the fifteenth century, and now his focus is on writing historical fiction about the lives of key figures of the period. Today Tony lives in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, an area full of inspiration for his writing. He is a specialist in the lives of the Tudors. He also runs the popular ‘Stories of the Tudors’ podcast, and posts book reviews, author interviews, and guest posts at his blog, ‘The Writing Desk’.  In his spare time, he enjoys sailing and sea kayaking. Visit Tony At his website: www.tonyriches.co.uk, On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tony.riches.9 And on Twitter: @tonyriches. You can find Raleigh – Tudor Adventurer on Amazon 0 0

Memorial Day 2021 – By John Darkow I know this link contains an ad for the publication (Imprimus) from Hillsdale College but the included video captures my thoughts on Memorial Day. Being an 82nd Airborn Army Mom makes this personal, and I thank God every day that my son came home. https://lp.hillsdale.edu/memorial-day/?utm_source=housefile&utm_medium=print&utm_campaign=memorial_day_22&sc=00073&utm_content=memorial_day_22 0 0

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I’ve been following Shelley Wilson via her blog for a number of years now, and I am delighted to be able to introduce her latest book, The Last Princess, which will be out on the 24th of May, published by BHC Press Books, so you have time to order an early copy! Shelley is a multi-genre author who has written nine young adult/middle-grade supernatural, fantasy, and sword and sorcery novels, a children’s meditation book, and six motivational self-help titles for adults. She lives in the West Midlands, UK and is the proud mum of three. Shelley loves travelling in her VW camper (called Snoopy) searching for stories, and also enjoys paddle boarding, reading about Tudor and Viking history, supporting Leeds United, and obsessing over to-do lists! So what is The Last Princess about? It is a non-stop epic adventure filled with exciting battles, Vikings, pirates, and characters you can’t help but fall in love with.  Here is The Last Princess blurb: Edith still has much to learn about the art of ruling a kingdom, but when her family is murdered, she’s faced with the challenge of staying alive. As a young woman in Anglo-Saxon England, Edith finds it hard to be heard above the Eldermen who are ripping the kingdom to pieces, but nothing can prepare her for the arrival of the pirates and the Vikings. Torn from her homeland and sold into slavery, she’s determined to survive at any cost. Finding allies in the unexpected and enemies closer to home, Edith clings to her dream of returning home one day to reclaim her throne and to exact revenge on those who harmed her family. Here’s a sneak peek at the prologue of The Last Princess: Hundreds of bodies littered the grassland as their lifeblood soaked into the earth. Warriors in mid–battle cry lay facedown in muddy puddles, still clinging to their axe and shield, and the sound of conflict floated across the grey English sky like one of the king’s banners. In the eyes of the great warriors who had travelled across the sea, the king’s army was outnumbered and weak. These foreigners didn’t shy away from war; they embraced it with determination and passion. Like a plague, they swept across all England taking what they wanted, killing, and plundering. Nobody was safe from their wrath. Kings and peasants were treated as equals as these warriors from the North defiled the land. High up on the hilltop, a man sat on his horse watching the battle unfold. His eyes scanned the valley as he witnessed soldier after soldier cut down by the vicious army that advanced on his home. He’d sent all his best men to their deaths. No amount of manipulation, silver, or corruption could stop this curse upon his land. The crown on his head weighed heavy as he glanced first left then right at the remainder of his army. Young men who stood on the brink of annihilation. The king knew all was lost, he knew the great warriors would never stop, and he knew why. Deep within the battlefield, at the heart of the fighting, he had seen her. A sword in her hand, blood smeared across her tunic, and warpaint decorating her face. It had been many moons, but he would have recognised her anywhere. The end of their story was playing out in front of them, but the king wasn’t quite ready to give up just yet. Failure had never been an option. He sat a little straighter in his saddle and addressed the young army at his side. ‘To the death!’ he cried. Are you hooked? You have to get this book to find out what happens!  Early Praise for The Last Princess: “This fast-paced historical novel builds on an obscure Anglo-Saxon king’s life to tell an empowering tale of a girl’s journey to fully embrace a new world, a new culture…as she grows into her own as a warrior. Edith’s fierce and often violent quest for revenge is juxtaposed with lovely, life-affirming moments of friendship and love in an engaging first-person narrative.” – Kirkus Reviews “I LOVED this quick fantasy read. I can’t wait to share with my students once I get a copy.” – Dawn, Teacher & Goodreads Reviewer “WOW! I don’t know exactly what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it! This story is absolutely amazing.” – Rebecca, Goodreads Reviewer  “a great fast-paced historical fiction read with a pinch of romance and plenty of cut-throats. And Vikings. There were loads of them.” – Eugenia, Goodreads Reviewer   You can buy your copy of The Last Princess from: BHC Press – https://www.bhcpress.com/Books_Wilson_The_Last_Princess.html Amazon UK Amazon US Barnes & Noble Waterstones Google Play Kobo Apple Books Find Shelley: At her author website: https://shelleywilsonauthor.com/ At her publisher: https://www.bhcpress.com/Author_SL_Wilson.html On Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShelleyWilson72 On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FantasyAuthorSLWilson And on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorslwilson/ 0 0