Release: February 5th, 2015
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Viking
Source: Amazon
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Kobo
__
__
Menaced by Vikings and enemies at court, Queen Emma defends her children and her crown in a riveting medieval adventure.
Readers first met Emma of Normandy in Patricia Bracewell’s gripping debut novel, Shadow on the Crown. Unwillingly thrust into marriage to England’s King Æthelred, Emma has given the king a son and heir. But theirs has never been a happy marriage. In The Price of Blood, Bracewell returns to 1006 when a beleaguered Æthelred, still haunted by his brother’s ghost, governs with an iron fist and a royal policy that embraces murder.
Hence, as tensions escalate and enmities solidify, Emma forges alliances to protect her young son from ambitious men, even from the man she loves. In the north, there is treachery brewing. And when Viking armies ravage England, there are no more loyalties, and no one is safe from the sword.
The Price of Blood is rich with intrigue, compelling personalities, and fascinating detail about a little-known period in history. It will captivate fans of historical fiction and fantasy novels such as George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series.
About the Author:
Patricia Bracewell grew up in Los Angeles, where her love of stories led to college degrees in Literature, a career as a high school English teacher, and a yearning to write.
Her first novel, Shadow on the Crown, about the 11th-century queen of England, Emma of Normandy, was published in 2013. Its sequel, The Price of Blood, appeared in 2015. Also, her Emma of Normandy Trilogy, The Steel Beneath the Silk, will be published on March 2, 2021.
Also, Patricia lives with her husband in Oakland, California.
The Price of Blood Review:
“The Price of Blood” is a gripping continuation to “Shadow on the Crown,” and I could not put it down!
There is so much happening in the story! The author does a terrific job in writing the tale. Many events take place, from the attack of Canterbury to the shocking events at All Hallows. I loved the author’s writing style, as she slowly builds the turbulent uprising between the characters and the situations.
Similar to the previous book, Emma goes through a lot in the story! From having more children to deciding who is trustworthy, she goes through many emotions. I enjoyed her scenes with Ælfheah and Æthelred. However, more than Emma, I thoroughly enjoyed Elgiva’s storyline. From leaving her father to marrying Cnut, Elgiva never has a dull moment. I loved the way she takes advantage of being Cnut’s wife on characters like Aldyth and Hemming! Also, I enjoyed her scenes with Alric.
Similarly, even the new antagonists like Edyth and Eadric were conniving and manipulative. Some of my memorable moments were when they both manipulate Emma’s life, where Eadric plots to take her son and Edytic schemes by undermining her authority.
However, there were some characters who I felt were not given enough importance. For instance, I felt that Athelstan was the same as in the previous novel, and there was not much growth. Also, it would have been nice if there was some progress in his relationship with Emma.
Apart from that, “The Price of Blood” was fantastic! The climax in the end completely shocked me as I did not expect the character! It perfectly sets the pace for the trilogy’s final book, “The Steel Beneath the Silk,” which I look forward to reading!
