Kith

by Julie Rowbory

‘You think you understand my life. But what do you know of it, with your reading and your Latinlore and your warcraft? You understand nothing. You will charge into battle and one day be the thegn, followed by all your men. I will work on the land till I die.’

Wessex, 870. The kingdom is in crisis as the threat of Danish invasion looms ever nearer. But for two fifteen-year-olds with an unlikely friendship the daily battles are much more pressing. How long before Brinin is crushed by the burdens of slavery? Will Oswald, the lord’s son, find the boldness he so desperately craves? And when their loyalties are tested, where will that friendship take them?

358 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2021

About the author

Julie Rowbory grew up in Northern Ireland and was educated at the University of Cambridge, where she obtained an MA and then an MPhil in history. She has worked as a Latin and history teacher, taught English in Asia and lived in East Africa. She is married to David, with whom she has four daughters. They divide their time between Scotland and West Africa.

Reviews

[Kait · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly wonderful coming-of-age story about two boys in “ye olde England.” I loved it and would recommend it to everyone.

[Barbara Lennox · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astonishing book that takes you straight back to 9th century England. Immersive and poetic, Julie Rowbory has created a masterpiece, full of relatable human characters struggling to find their place in a world that is very different from our own, a simpler world, perhaps, but one in which the bonds of community, land, status, reputation and faith are powerful drivers of society.

The language used is an evocation of Anglo-saxon texts of the period and Julie Rowbory has deliberately chosen, or invented, words that date from the earliest versions of English rather than those which derive from later Norman languages. This attention to detail gives the story an authenticity that is lacking in a lot of historical fiction.

If you like reading historical fiction at its best, this book is for you. It’s certainly one I’ll be rereading in the not too distant future.

[Louise Miscampbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a bit uncertain when I received an advanced copy of Kith to review, as I wouldn’t normally read something set in the Middle Ages, but I’m so glad I did! Kith is an exciting historical adventure novel set during the Viking invasion of Wessex. The characters and very relatable and really draw you in, making the story come alive. You’ll find yourself rooting for Brinin and Oswald, and outraged at the injustices they both face.

I really love that this isn’t a romance novel; all too often historical fiction focuses on romantic relationships instead of history. Kith is also very accurate and well researched. As well as enjoying the story, I’ve learned a lot about the Anglo-Saxons!

[Liantasse · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Kith" has got the all-important quality I look for in any work of fiction - its ability to instantly immerse me into its own time and place, and make me feel like I belong in that world. I was fascinated by how the author has achieved that: not only through a close attention to historical detail, but through the very words she has chosen for telling this fresh and moving tale.

"Kith" *is* a fresh and innovative book, not the least because it's that rarest of novels: a portrayal of authentic friendship between men. Great story, which I'll relish going back to.

[Meredith DeVoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kith is a gorgeous, endearing, and beautifully-written story. It reveals truths about relationships within the strictures of feudal society Wessex. There are no one-dimensional characters, even minor actors in the tale have some degree of depth, and the major ones feel like people you know. Although character-driven (which is my wheelhouse), the story was exciting, fresh, not predictable or cliche. And I may have cried... because Rowbory made me care about the characters. I look forward to reading more from the author!

[Melissa Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a well written book and a great story. I loved the style of the writing, the characters and the settings. By the end of the book I felt like I almost knew the village of Oakdene and its villagers myself. I got more and more lost in the story as I went along and ended up reading the second half in one day. It’s become one of my favourite books of the year.

[Morag Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An immersive and enjoyable read which quickly became hard to put down. I particularly liked the clever use of wording to convey the feeling of the period. The characters were well-rounded and believable, and the character arcs worked really well with the plot.

[Alanna Creighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

"... as they read, Oswald understood the worth of a book. It was like a tale well told by a skillful tongue. It took him to another time and place, to people he had not known before."
This book takes the reader to 9th century England - to people you may not have known before, but who you instantly recognise as real living and breathing characters, dealing with the complexities of work and family life, prejudice and war. It's beautifully written, managing to be poetic and page-turning at the same time. Courage, loyalty and friendship are portrayed in situations of tenderness and tyranny, sorrow and tension. The characters learn and grow as they face challenges that are specific to their time, but bring out universal human tendencies.

[Tongjal Wungakha]

Set in Wessex, England of 870, Kith by Julie Rowbory tells the story of Brinin and Oswald—two fifteen-year-olds — and their communities. Brinin was a slave and Oswald the son of a thegn (“minor aristocracy with duties to the king”). Both of them forged a very unlikely friendship, bound to face challenges for it, in a village called Oakdene in Wessex since their eight winter (eight years old), when the slave saved the thegn’s son from drowning. This book takes us way back in time to the ninth century, particularly in Wessex, when communal living was the norm; agriculture was mainstay; swords, spears, shields, bows and arrows were used to fight during war; Latin was the language of the church and literature; and there were too few people who could read and write.

[Kaitlin Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story full of heart, struggles, complex relationships, and courage. Although set during a time far from my own, the challenges facing the characters felt as relevant and relatable as a modern story. This is a rare tale that provides fantastic role models for what it looks like to “come of age” (especially for boys), while delivering an engaging story for teens and adults alike. Faith in God was also woven in in a natural, genuine way that I really appreciated. I hope the rumors are true that a sequel is in the works!