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Sarah ODonoghue

Sarah ODonoghue

About

I'm a UK-based writer with a background in language and science teaching and I'm co-author of Oxford Content and Language Support: Science (2010 Oxford University Press).

I've been living and breathing science fiction for over twenty years.  I've been involved in many fandoms from Doctor Who to steampunk but I've always wanted to create my own sandbox to play in.  The world of Primortia has been in development for four years and is growing all the time.

Godwine Kingmaker: Part One of The Last Great Saxon Earls

Godwine Kingmaker: Part One of The Last Great Saxon Earls

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Description

<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>

Story Behind The Book

The first ideas for Primortia were sparked about five years ago when I had the idea of a woman learning about her grandmother from diaries she'd left behind. Primortia started as a project for Nanowrimo 2006 and evolved into a full-length novel and entire universe over the next three years. I'm planning to tell many other stories within the growing and ever-evolving Primortia universe.

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Reviews

FIVE STAR REVIEWS!<br /><br />&quot;I really enjoyed my read of Sarah O'Donoghue's first novel. The book is fun, well paced and plotted, with characters that felt simultaneously new and familiar. What I loved most about the book, though, was the world-building; after reading, I wanted to know more about the worlds that Shonoka and the mysterious Varin inhabit, and I wanted to experience more of their adventures. The storytelling method works, although it does take a bit of getting used to. Still, in a novel featuring time travel, one can hardly expect the story to proceed in a linear fashion!  Overall, a delightful romp I'm looking forward to experiencing again on a reread. &quot; (Review on Amazon.com)<br /><br />&quot;Primortia is an excellent first novel, and we can only hope that O'Donoghue will continue to explore the world she has created here--and provide answers to a few remaining questions--or to apply her world-building skills to an exciting new project. &quot;(Review on Amazon.com)<br /><br />&quot;For someone who has not read a sci-fi in over a decade this was a surprising and intriguing read. The descriptions of the Sanctuary are captivating. Lucid prose,vivid descriptions and the pacy adventure keep you reading more. An intelligent and original plot which one could realy imagine appearing as a TV serial...I am hooked and look forward to the sequel!&quot; (Review on Amazon.co.uk)<br /><br />&quot;A fantastic read! The author has cleverly written this gripping book that really does get you thinking. Once you start reading I guarantee you'll keep on reading! It's probably the most exciting book I've read so far this year and would definitely recommend it.&quot;  (Review on Lulu)