The Edge on the Sword by Rebecca Tingle

The Edge on the Sword by Rebecca Tingle

Synopsis (from the back of the book):

When fifteen-year-old Æthelflæd is suddenly and reluctantly betrothed to an ally of her father, the king, she realizes her world will never be the same. For as a noblewoman in the late 800s, she will be expected to be meek and unlearned---and Flæd is anything but meek and unlearned. Her marriage will bring peace to her land; but while her royal blood makes her a valuable asset, she is also a vulnerable target. When enemies attack, Flæd must draw upon her skills and fight to lead her people to safety and prove her worth as a princess---and as a warrior.

Excerpt:

Flæd followed the stream to the edge of the marsh. She had stayed at the knoll for hours, and had noticed no sign of her warder in the surrounding riverland or woods. Freedom, she thought as she stopped to wash the grit from her arms, had felt sweet even for this little time.
"Lady," a voice behind her said. She whirled to see the Mercian envoy standing half concealed in a stand of young elm trees.
Misery washed over Flæd in waves as the wind dried her clothes. Her time alone had been an illusion, with no true escape from the presence she loathed.

My Thoughts:

Have you ever read Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword (one of my all-time favorite books) or The Hero and the Crown? Do you love those books about strong women who fight alongside men and earn the respect they are given?

Then this book is totally for you.

Be forewarned, it starts a little slow, and sometimes the author interjects information--whether to define an Old English term or to explain something of historical significance, but by the end, I found myself not wanting to be done. I wanted to know the end of the story and just keep going.

The descriptions are wonderful. I fell in love with the scenery.

The story is actually a re-imagining of who Æthelflæd might have been as a teenager. There are records of her and her contributions to the kingdom of Mercia. But the fact that she was real doesn't make this story any less exciting. In fact, it only adds to setting of the story.

Recommendation: Go out and buy it! It's so good!

Rating: 5/5 stars