A Kingdom to Claim
By: Sian Ann Bessey
Publication: July 2, 2024 by Shadow Mountain
352 pages
Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction
Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)
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Goodreads description--Aisley lost everything in a Viking attack. Now, working alongside the one man she trusts, she is ready to fight for her people—and for love.Wessex, AD 878
Aisley’s young life was changed forever when her father accompanied King Alfred into battle and lost his life in a deadly skirmish with the Vikings. Now, almost seven years later, the Vikings are once again rallying on Wessex’s borders, and Aisley fears that her older brother may have treacherous plans to betray the king by aligning himself with the invading Norsemen. But when Aisley encounters a handsome nobleman in the market, she feels the first stirrings of hope. Though they met only once when Aisley was little more than a child, she recognizes him immediately as one of King Alfred’s most trusted men.
It has been years since Brecc has seen Aisley, but when he spots her in the marketplace, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to the copper-haired young lady with a gift for healing. Before his fledgling feelings for her can develop into something more, however, a Viking attack tears them apart. King Alfred is forced into hiding, and in a matter of days, the Saxon nation is brought to its knees. Unwilling to forsake their people, the king and his men embark on secret raids of Viking encampments. But when Aisley joins the fight, Brecc must reconcile his steadfast loyalty to King Alfred with his growing love for the king’s newest warrior.
I read Sian Ann Bessey's previous book, The Call of the Sea which features Rhiannon who's family is raided by Vikings. Yet she has a connection with one of the men who were present, and their story builds from there. When I saw A Kingdom to Claim also takes place in roughly the same period, I knew I would want to read it. At the same time, I wondered if Bessey would take a different approach. She does. What makes this even more fun for me, is that this past year, we studied about King Alfred the Great in our homeschool. So it was fun for me to see all of the same information I learned studying with my kids being included in A Kingdom to Claim.
Aisley is the daughter of a thegn who went to fight with King Alfred at one of his early battles against the Vikings. Wessex was defeated in this battle and suffered heavy losses. Her father being one. Her brother takes over as thegn in their area, and he doesn't have the same good qualities that her father had. At the same time, Aisley's mother has been training her in the healing arts of plants. She uses her skills to heal others which reconnects her with another thegn, Brecc. They've had a couple of encounters prior to this, and their connection builds as Aisley helps his friend Rheged. Unfortunately, Aisley's brother does not have her best interest at heart--only his own wealth motivates him.
Brecc is honorable. He takes his position seriously, and he worries more about the threat the Vikings pose than many others. His warnings put him in a situation to be a good counselor to King Alfred.
I don't want to say too much more about the story so that I don't spoil anything for the reader, but I enjoyed this book, and I read it in just a couple of days.
Favorite quotes:
-"When one prefers to sit and watch over participating, it becomes easier to catch things that are not spoken."
-"If it would help to talk, I am a good listener. If you need time for quiet contemplation, we can walk in silence." She waited, barely daring to breathe. And then he smiled. "I should like that very much," he said. "To which 'that' do you refer>" "Walking with you. And talking. And thinking. I believe I should like to try a little of them all."
-It was a rare thing to be led by a monarch so wlling to learn and to teach.
I enjoyed A Kingdom to Claim. I know that I'm not the only one fascinated by the Viking culture, but it's also odd to be fascinated by a culture that goes so against what is right. The raiding by the Vikings was completely opposite of civil or good. So it's an odd place to put authors trying to write love stories that are also historically acurate when it comes to facts and events. Sian Ann Bessey did a great job. A Kingdom to Claim gets 4 Stars. Have you read A Kingdom to Claim? What did you think? Let me know!
