Maserfeld

The Last Great Pagan Queen #2

by Jayne Stone

Queen Cynewise returns in the second book of the popular series that examines her life, married to one of the greatest warrior-kings in Anglo-Saxon history: King Penda, founder of Mercia, one of the seven warring kingdoms that eventually united to become England. Known for killing more kings than any other of his age, Penda ruled in a Britain that seethed with violent struggles between rival kings who ruled by bloody sword and sealed alliances with forced marriages.

Christianity was just beginning to sweep the land--where most still practiced Anglo-Saxon paganism--in the time before the Viking invasion, generations before Alfred the Great. Told from her perspective, this is a richly imagined and gritty tale of a woman just trying to make it in a savage world, where--much like today--choices were limited, men held all the power, and it took courage to survive.


Note: this book contains explicit violence and adult themes.

640 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2017

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

UGH; I wish I could say "read this book!" but I just can't. I tried, I really tried. I mean, with a title like this, you would think, especially if you know me and my love of ancient history, and even more so; of HERstory, that I would love this book. PASS, just...pass. In fact, I truly need to just go back and re-do my thoughts on the first book, though it was better than part two, it too was a struggle. Books are supposed to be able to kind of take the reader in, lead them on a journey to another time..not *this* "time". I did not understand the need to constantly write about the need to urinate..and soo descriptive! and the use of a very...unusual profanity that of course, I cannot write about here, but geeessh, really? was this just to add an extra couple of pages, because as many times as this pagan queen was apparently using such an odd expression of her distaste of things; *that* particular statement, if gathered together *would* have added an extra page or three.

I was truly hoping to enjoy learning more of the times before the advent/encrouchment of christianity. Instead it was about husbands who couldnt be faithful to wives, wives who couldn't be faithful to their husbands...lots of writing about food..and not much of anything on this part of HERstory at all. Very disappointing and very difficult to wade through. I have NO issues with names *some* readers seem to find difficult. I just couldn't manage to even keep my interest, I hate putting down a book without finishing it, but this? was a struggle. If there is a book three; I am going to pass.

[Linda Claudine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable Read - same complaints as first though

I am enjoying the series, especially the rights of women, which was also covered, though in earlier time, by the Clan of the Cave Bears series. I have taken those quizzes on where in the spectrum of religion I fall: part Christian as well as part Wiccan. Imho, it’s true that Christianity was used, via Paul, to take away the rights that Mother Earth gave to women. Obviously, woman were rarely treated as equals - but they sure come closer, in many ways - than dies early (and in many cases, current) treatment of women. That is my favorite part of this series. Paul has a lot to answer for. But the books, so far, have been very enjoyable - just keeping all the names straight & trying to find out what certain words mean - the author surely could have made that much easier.

[Chet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Revalent

Again book two paints a clear picture of the culture of the pagan world of the seventh century. The substitution of foreign words caused a lack of clarity and disrupted the flow.

[karen bridges · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read about an era we hear little about

I enjoyed many parts of this book . I think more editing would have helped. The two should have been combined as one book in my opinion. Too much description about nothing important could have been omitted. I do like the main characters as portrayed. I like the point of view from the women in the story. Lots to like in this book. Tighter writing would be better

[Geri F · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this book. First of all, the language being used as dialogue in many cases, weren't even in usage at that time. For instance 'Schadenfreude' according to Wikipedia had it's first known usage in 1852 - about 1200 years after the dates of the story.

In addition, there wasn't a glossary of definitions of words that were tossed in without enough information to understand what it meant - for instance, sopplick, knattleleak - games that the boys played - but I couldn't figure out what they were. At least cawl - a Welsh name for soup, esp. lamb - could be inferred by the context.

Also, there was re=use of phrases (like 'piss a duck' that got very old after a time. Weren't there other idions to express irritation during those times - probably!

I won't be reading any other books in this series.