Skip to main content

King Alfred's Daughter: The Remarkable Story of Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, the Heroine who Written out of History by David Stokes: A Book Review

King Alfred’s Daughter: The Remarkable Story of Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, the Heroine who was Written out of History

Author: David Stokes

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: The Book Guild

Publication Date: 2023

Pages: 348

Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: King Alfred is dead and the achievements that made him great are in jeopardy. Rebels challenge the succession of his son Edward to the Wessex throne, and his old ally in Mercia is sick. The Vikings in the Danelaw sense the time has come to complete their conquest of England.


      It falls on Alfred’s firstborn, his daughter, Æthelflæd, to unite the Anglo-Saxons. Reluctantly, she takes up the challenge. But can a woman rebuild ruined towns and lead men into battle against hardened Viking warriors? And can Æthelflæd fulfil her father’s dream of uniting England?


      Based on contemporary sources and archaeological evidence, King Alfred’s Daughter is rich in drama, family conflict and historical achievement.


     My Review: Aethelflaed was once a forgotten warrior queen. However, she emerged into popular culture due to the hit tv show, The Last Kingdom. Aethelflaed was the Lady of Mercia who fought the Vikings to unite Anglo-Saxon England. King Alfred’s Daughter retells Aethelflaed’s story from her perspective. After the death of her father, King Alfred the Great, Aethelflaed takes up arms to wage a war against the Vikings.


     I found Aethelflaed to be a very fascinating character. She was a very strong woman. She has to carry her father’s torch and fulfill his dream of a united England. I also like how the novel shows Aethelflaed as a ruler. She has to make tough choices for the good of her kingdom. Aethelflaed proved to be a formidable figure. I admired her courage, strength, and wisdom. I also like how this novel portrays her various roles other than a ruler. I like how it shows Aethelflaed as a daughter, wife, and mother. This showed her as a woman who loves and cares for those around her. Thus, Aethelflaed was a very fleshed out character. I was very invested in her story to see how it would end.


Overall, this book is about war, choices, and ambitions. I thought that all of the characters were well-developed. I also loved how the story is told in first person because it was more engaging and accessible! I also loved the writing, especially when depicting gritty battle scenes! Therefore, Mr. Stokes made Anglo-Saxon England come alive! The only thing I did not like about this book was that it seemed a bit rushed in certain areas. Nevertheless, King Alfred’s Daughter was a very engrossing read! I recommend this for Swords Across the Thames, To Be a Queen, and The King’s Daughter!


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interview with Victoria Alvear

     Today, I have the honor of doing an interview with Victoria Alvear! She has written two short stories in the anthologies called A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii and A Song of War . Under the name, Vicky Alvear Shecter, she has penned Cleopatra's Moon , Curses of Smoke and Fire , Secrets of the Ancient Gods  series, Alexander the Great , Cleopatra Rules , and Warrior Queens . In this interview, Mrs. Alvear talks about her latest adult novel,  The Cleansing , which is a story about a Vestal Virgin who is unjustly accused of being sexually unchaste. During the interview, Mrs. Alvear discusses her writing process and her research. Thank you, Mrs. Alvear! What inspired you to write your book,  The Cleansing ? I was struck one day, years ago, when I heard an evangelical preacher claim that a hurricane hit Florida (and then years later, New Jersey) because of “lesbians” and loose women. At first, I laughed. Did they really believe this? Or was it just ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Founding Mother: A Novel of Abigail Adams by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie: A Book Review

A Founding Mother: A Novel of Abigail Adams Author: Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks  Book Release Date: May 5, 2026 Pages: 463 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: In time for the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States comes a sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams—wife of one president and mother to another—whose wit, willpower, and wisdom helped shape the fledgling republic. A stunning historical novel with modern-day implications from the New York Times bestselling authors of America’s First Daughter and My Dear Hamilton .      In the heart of revolutionary Boston, Abigail Adams raises her children amid riots, blockades, and the outbreak of war. While her husband, John Adams, rises from country lawyer to nation-builder, often away for years at a time, Abigail builds her own independence—managing their farm, making lucrative investments...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Darkness Born (The Breaking Wheel: The Story of Katherine Parr #1) by G. Lawrence: A Book Review

In Darkness Born (The Breaking Wheel: The Story of Katherine Parr #1) Author: G. Lawrence Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: G. Lawrence Book Release Date: April 19, 2026 Pages: 345 Source: Borrowed Synopsis: The world would make her a survivor... Destiny would make her a Queen.        England, 1525.       Born into a time of religious upheaval and political turmoil, Katherine Parr grows up in a loving family. Sheltered yet never kept ignorant of the dangers which surround her, Katherine secretly dreams of a life at court and a love such as the King possesses for the magnetic Anne Boleyn.       Sent north to become a bride at the age of sixteen, Katherine enters a household alien to the one she grew up in, where the overbearing personality of her new father-in-law holds sway, terrifying others into submission. Yet Katherine refuses to be intimidated and a curious friendship is born, exposin...
Post a Comment
Read more