Swords Across the Thames (Warrior Queen Series)

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and Brilliant
Review: Here is the second novel in Haley Elizabeth Garwood's acclaimed Warrior Queen Series-a glorious blend of fact, magic, and myth. The reign of Queen Aethelflaed is a time of rebellion. It takes all the talent Aethelflaed has inherited from her father, Aelfred the Great, to stand against the enemies of her realm. It is writing that is both beautiful and brilliant.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful Women Unite!
Review: Swords Across the Thames demonstrates the power of determined women across the ages. Although the text was often times covered in romantic sentimentality that got seriously old after a few pages, the story was a great read.

This book defines powerful women during an incredibly powerful time, and often un-researched time.

Rating:
Summary: A Warrior Queen to Rival Queen Boadicea!
Review: This is the story of the little known Queen Aethelflaed, nicknamed "Lae." The tale takes place in the late 9th & early 10th centuries when women where supposed to be dominated by men. Lae doesn't know she is not supposed to be an outspoken warrior, military leader and wife and mother. She does it all, except her success as a mother is not what she had hoped for. She was Queen of Mercia and strove to rid her land of the Vikings. It was her greatest dream partially realized by the wars she, her husband "Red," brother "Edward," and her esteemed father "Alfred the Great" waged on the Danes.

Although, she bravely tries to hate the enemy she unwillingly becomes a friend to Eiric son of a Viking leader and his family. The story is beautifully told with much description of the times she lived in and the traditions she tried to follow but ended up breaking. She was a strong willed character who was born before her time.

The only drawback from this book is that it had such an abrupt ending. I believe that it could have been drawn out a lot more than it was. It left many loose ends. However, I really enjoyed this book and anyone who enjoys reading about strong female characters with power, such as Queen Boadicea, will really enjoy it! I have read her two other books in the Warrior Queen Series: "The Forgotten Queen," and "Ashes of Britannia." These were also page turners. Enjoy!