Hædfeld

The Last Great Pagan Queen #1

by Jayne Stone

Before the Tudors, before William the Conqueror, before Alfred the Great... there was Penda, one of the greatest warrior-kings in Anglo-Saxon history and creator of Mercia, one of the seven warring kingdoms that eventually united to become England. But Penda's Britain--over thirteen hundred years ago--seethed with violent struggles between rival warrior-kings who ruled by bloody sword and sealed alliances with forced marriages; this was also when Christianity was just beginning to sweep the land as most still practiced Anglo-Saxon paganism. Told from the perspective of his wife Cynewise, "The Last Great Pagan Queen" is a richly imagined and gritty tale of her marriage to a man who would become known for killing more kings than any other of his age; it is also the story of a woman just trying to make it in a savage world, where--much like today--choices were limited, men held all the power, and it took courage to survive. Note: this book contains explicit violence and adult themes.

448 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 12, 2016

Reviews

[Linda Claudine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but hardly historical

I enjoyed the book. I just wish that the language could have been consistently used throughout - words that were not in existence were used as well as Old English: BUT without any reference, as the words used were either difficult to find in any readily available sources (how hard to include a glossary - or at least a good reference! Same with all the names. Why not include a list of those known to have existed and their relationship - would make reading much more enjoyable. The violence and sex did not bother me - as anyone with knowledge of that time period would know that that was the way things worked in the Dark Ages.

Just a glossary of ACTUAL terms used then as well as the people and their relationships KNOWN (even if via Bede) to exist would not have been difficult - the author had to have sources - share them, easily, please.

[Ava Abbott · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe I shouldn't rate a book I only got 12% through, but just wasn't what I thought it was. King Penda is someone I'm interested in and there is little out there to read so I jumped on this, but it seemed like just a raunchy romance, not the kind of historical fiction I was looking for.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a 2.5 for me. I mostly enjoyed it but I was sure hung up on the grammar and punctuation mistakes (so many missing question marks!), as well as the inconsistency in language. Often using the modern interpretation of medieval diction, but often including period words and phrases, the author also injected some quite modern expressions that left me thinking, 'Pick one! Old or new!' In other words, the combination of language was not completely graceful, IMHO. I may or may not read the sequels.

[Chet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening

This book presented a picture of the culture of this time as being far more physical pre christian. A fresh insight well presented.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been waiting for this book and it finally came!!
This book did not disappoint me, in fact , i read it twice ..
This book has it all.. I love how the author has a no holds bar approach when writing her books . She tells it like it is and I love that. The sex, violence, and strong characters .
To put all of that into history makes it worth reading.
Do yourself a favor and get this book.. it's a must read!!

K. W.
Hollywood, Florida

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because it gave me something to go off of historically speaking, but story wise I mostly just really didn’t like the main character, she was petty, and not likeable. I did flip flop liking her as her tenderness and reverence for her grandmother was believable and touching but mostly I found her bitter and self righteous. I was keen to read the other books in the series, but it’s not a main priority.

[Glenda Clemens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book. Surprisingly haunting and filled with grace.

[Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting perspective in this novel. Good, but the pace was slower than I prefer and the ending somewhat of a letdown. Love the time period and the author's insights from a woman's point-of-view.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Truly? I should have just closed this book, and moved on to something that I could have enjoyed. I am such an avid bookreader, that I dislike not trying hard to give an author a chance to show me I was wrong in not hanging in there; maybe the meat of the story will improve, maybe one more chapter and I will be drawn in. Not so. I am instead, baffled at the content. "last great pagan queen"??? This author spends more time writing of content of NO interest to me..and the need for constant vulgarity just amazes me. I am no tender flower and can cuss like the best of sailors but I didnt see the need for the constant, and very strange use of this "queens" supposed use of a ducks sexual parts. (??) really? Such a disappointment. I was hoping to be able to learn more about the times before the advent/encrochment of the christians but thats just not what happens here; not even close. If interested; look through all my other books by good authors on this very area of history for far, far better choices. Pass on this. just...pass.

[Linda]

An interesting look at the celtic world before Christianity invaded. The bonus was seeing it through the eyes of a woman.