A.M. Tuomala

A.M. Tuomala

About

A.M. Tuomala grew up in the wilds of West Virginia, and now cares for four affectionate and energetic plants.

Godwine Kingmaker: Part One of The Last Great Saxon Earls

Godwine Kingmaker: Part One of The Last Great Saxon Earls

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<p><span><span>Harold Godwineson, the Last Anglo-Saxon King, owed everything to his father. Who was this Godwine, first Earl of Wessex and known as the Kingmaker? Was he an unscrupulous schemer, using King and Witan to gain power? Or was he the greatest of all Saxon Earls, protector of the English against the hated Normans? The answer depends on who you ask. He was befriended by the Danes, raised up by Canute the Great, given an Earldom and a wife from the highest Danish ranks. He sired nine children, among them four Earls, a Queen and a future King. Along with his power came a struggle to keep his enemies at bay, and Godwine's best efforts were brought down by the misdeeds of his eldest son Swegn. Although he became father-in-law to a reluctant Edward the Confessor, his fortunes dwindled as the Normans gained prominence at court. Driven into exile, Godwine regathered his forces and came back even stronger, only to discover that his second son Harold was destined to surpass him in renown and glory.</span></span></p>

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Reviews

<a title="Goodreads Review" href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/109638652">Raev Gray says:</a><br />I was given the delight and honor of being an editor for Erekos--during a very busy period. I spent two weeks kicking myself because I had to read a bit each night when I wasn't working too much instead of just sitting down and blazing through it. I think the fact that I had to read it a little bit of a time made me appreciate it more, though. <br /><br />This is high fantasy with zombies. If I hadn't had people raving at me about it, I probably would have passed on it, because I don't like high fantasy and I don't like zombies. <br /><br />I loved Erekos. Absolutely loved it. The author has no right to be so damn good at what she does. The prose is absolutely stunning, and the story is told in such a way that the large ensemble cast with their myriad subplots weave seamlessly in and around one another. I thought the beginning was really damn good--and then it just kept getting better, right until the end. <br /><br />If you want a book to savor and to think about, Erekos is definitely that book. It's got action without going overboard, an impeccably built, complex world, characters you really want to get to know, and a prose style that's absolutely beautiful. The book walks the fine line between poetic and cerebral, and it does it extremely well. I almost never give five-star reviews, but I have to give one to Erekos.