Angles or Angels?

Angles or Angels brings early 7th century Britain to life. It takes an incident which those of us who have read the works of the monk Bede might have vaguely heard of, and gives us a more full and realistic picture. This is Edwin of Northumbria and Ethelfrith as you've never seen them before! Even if you genuinely haven't heard of them, or read anything set in the 7th century, I'd recommend this for lovers of historical fiction who want to get into something new. The author is a historian, and the novel just "wears" its historical details really well. without the reader becoming bogged down. I think even this seasoned historian might have learned a few things about early 7th century fashions, but that's the great thing. Even the historical notes at the end are enjoyable to read. Overall, its just a very enjoyable story about love and loss that helps the reader appreciate the real lives and relationships of people who have otherwise been lost to history.

First in a new series on Anglo Saxon Britain this is a well written and researched book you will enjoy reading. One identifies with most of the main characters, and the plot is engaging I recommend for lovers of history or historical fiction.

A wonderful, sprawling historical epic that pits family loyalties against the good of a kingdom. I'll admit I love this historical period and thought it was very well researched. (I'm ignoring few language issues – Scotland and Wales for example would both have been speaking what we now call High Welsh, Ireland's Gaels were speaking Sengoidelc etc) and there were a couple of minor geographic queries which might have been included for ease of story telling (as might the language simplification tbh). Full of engaging characters and tense political intrigue, this was a treat to read.

In what now is Northumbria in the north of England in 6th century Britain there were two kingdoms: Deira ruled by old king Aele and Bernicia ruled by the young king Æthelfrith. The Romans have left the island two centuries ago and in Deira people do not even remember them and think that the big stone buildings in York are build by giants. Building houses in stone and writing, it is all forgotten. Those areas are populated by immigrants from north Germany called the Angles. In the West and the North the old British kingdoms and the Picts still prevail with some help from their Gaul cousins in Ireland. Bernicia an Deira are rivals but with the old British kingdoms in Scotland and Wales as enemies who want to overthrow them the two kingdoms must unite. Acha, daughter of one king is chosen to act as ‘peace-weaver' by marrying the rival leader. But before she can do so Æthelfrith marries a princess from the North who is part Pictish. I really liked the book. The story is well written and seen from either Acha's, Æthelfrith's or brother Edwin's point of view and we learn a lot of daily life in those days. It is obviously a very well researched novel and at the end the writer takes time to explain what is historically correct to the letter and what parts were invented. There is one mistake though. Frisia were not island off the coast of Holland. Frisia was and in some extend still is the northern parts of The Netherlands and Germany. Holland was the enemy!

It is probably the most compelling of its genre that I have read and I really like this genre. I absolutely loved this book. Thank goodness for authors like Dr. Stokes for bringing history alive - history that I knew very little about before. I cared about the characters and couldn't put it down! Looking forward with some trepidation to the follow up - won't say why as it could spoil the ending!