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The First Queen of England #3
The First Queen Part 3: Lady Elfrida: England's First Queen: The Tenth Century
Lady Elfrida, the first crowned Queen of England, has cemented her position both as queen and wife to the king, Edgar. He is the ‘peaceable’ king, ruler over England, and ally of the land of the Scots and the Welsh an emperor in all but name. England is peaceful, and her young son growing day by day. Yet fate has not yet finished with the first crowned Queen of England. This is the third part in the First Queen of England trilogy, the story of Lady Elfrida, the first crowned Queen of England. Suggested Reading Order The Mercian Brexit (short story) The First Queen of England The First Queen of England Part 2 The First Queen of England Part 3 The King's Mother The Queen Dowager Once A Queen Praise for The First Queen of England "I am still reading this book - but it is a great read so far and the fact that it takes you back before the Norman Conquest makes it more interesting. I love my history (favourite authors Jean Plaidy & Philippa Gregory) I think anyone who wants to start reading some history stories could not go wrong starting with this book." Amazon Reviewer "The First Queen Of England’ is the first instalment of Elfrida’s story. This is a really well-written book, based on sound research and good knowledge of the historical context of the story." Amazon Reviewer "M. J. Porter definitely did her research homework, which is challenging when it comes to writing about an age before printing presses and widespread book distribution. Her genaeology and succession charts in the back are especially informative. Elfrida is a sympathetic character and the reader looks to see her have a good outcome as the story unfolds. Interesting journey into pre-Norman Conquest England." Amazon Reviewer MEET THE AUTHOR M J Porter is an author of historical fiction (Early English/Viking) and fantasy. I write A LOT, you've been warned. Find me @coloursofunison or at www.mjporterauthor.com or at www.mjporterauthor.blog where I blog about books and films and sometimes, writing!
- GenresHistorical Fiction
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 12, 2018
82 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Porter
114 books262 followersI'm an author of historical fiction (Early English/Saxon, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest, as well as five 20th-century historical mysteries) and historical fantasy.
I was born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building, told from a very young age that it housed the bones of long-dead kings of Mercia and that our garden was littered with old pieces of pottery from a long-ago battle, it's little wonder that my curiosity in Early England ran riot. I can only blame my parents!
I like to write. You've been warned!
Not sure where to start your journey through Saxon/Early England? The Dark Ages trilogy will take readers back to the very beginnings of Saxon England before the creation of Mercia and the other kingdoms. The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles featuring our reluctant hero, Icel, will introduce you to the best Saxon kingdom of all, Mercia! Storm of Mercia is the latest release.
Looking for my 20th-century mysteries? The Erdington Mysteries, and Cragside, a standalone 1930s murder mystery, are the titles for you.
My first non-fiction book, The Royal Women Who Made England, is now published by Pen and Sword in hardback and ebook.
Happy reading:)
Find me at
www.mjporterauthor.com or at www.mjporterauthor.blog where I blog about books and films and sometimes, writing! I also have an online store for signed paperbacks and a few others goodies at mjporterauthor.co.uk.
https://linktr.ee/MJPorterauthor
https://mjporterauthor.sumupstore.com
You can join my monthly subscriber newsletters and gain access to the restricted page on my blog at the same time.
https://BookHip.com/MGWHLDC (Saxon stories)
https://BookHip.com/THPKCKP (mysteries only)
(I have odd reading tastes - there's no need to notice though!!) I'm also exceedingly anti-social - that you may notice but must accept!
I was born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building, told from a very young age that it housed the bones of long-dead kings of Mercia and that our garden was littered with old pieces of pottery from a long-ago battle, it's little wonder that my curiosity in Early England ran riot. I can only blame my parents!
I like to write. You've been warned!
Not sure where to start your journey through Saxon/Early England? The Dark Ages trilogy will take readers back to the very beginnings of Saxon England before the creation of Mercia and the other kingdoms. The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles featuring our reluctant hero, Icel, will introduce you to the best Saxon kingdom of all, Mercia! Storm of Mercia is the latest release.
Looking for my 20th-century mysteries? The Erdington Mysteries, and Cragside, a standalone 1930s murder mystery, are the titles for you.
My first non-fiction book, The Royal Women Who Made England, is now published by Pen and Sword in hardback and ebook.
Happy reading:)
Find me at
www.mjporterauthor.com or at www.mjporterauthor.blog where I blog about books and films and sometimes, writing! I also have an online store for signed paperbacks and a few others goodies at mjporterauthor.co.uk.
https://linktr.ee/MJPorterauthor
https://mjporterauthor.sumupstore.com
You can join my monthly subscriber newsletters and gain access to the restricted page on my blog at the same time.
https://BookHip.com/MGWHLDC (Saxon stories)
https://BookHip.com/THPKCKP (mysteries only)
(I have odd reading tastes - there's no need to notice though!!) I'm also exceedingly anti-social - that you may notice but must accept!
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 5, 2023
insightful and intriguing story from a female point of view
Elfrida outlives many men in her life. In order for her to protect her position, it makes sense that she needs to be as politically astute and savvy as the men in this world. But this is true today as well. She makes some mistakes because she feels threatened for her surviving son’s future. Even after more tragedy she must think ahead and move forward to secure allies and ensure her son’s ascendancy.
It was fascinating to follow all the events that led to Aethelred’s final coronation. I don’t envy all the maneuvering that must go on in order to get what you want. But I do wonder if Elfrida’s desires did influence someone to get rid of Edward so that her son could be king. As a woman would she have this power in those days? There have been influential women in history who could make terrible things happen. So it’s possible. And this adds another interesting layer to the person of Elfrida.
Elfrida outlives many men in her life. In order for her to protect her position, it makes sense that she needs to be as politically astute and savvy as the men in this world. But this is true today as well. She makes some mistakes because she feels threatened for her surviving son’s future. Even after more tragedy she must think ahead and move forward to secure allies and ensure her son’s ascendancy.
It was fascinating to follow all the events that led to Aethelred’s final coronation. I don’t envy all the maneuvering that must go on in order to get what you want. But I do wonder if Elfrida’s desires did influence someone to get rid of Edward so that her son could be king. As a woman would she have this power in those days? There have been influential women in history who could make terrible things happen. So it’s possible. And this adds another interesting layer to the person of Elfrida.
May 25, 2019
The First Queen of England Part 3 continues the story of Lady Elfrida, up to the year 978!
Enjoy, and thank you for reading Part 1 and Part 2. :)
Enjoy, and thank you for reading Part 1 and Part 2. :)
January 14, 2020
Best of the three
Really enjoyed this final book on the life of Queen Elfrida. I really came to admire and like the woman she grew into. She was fiercely loyal to those she loved as well as herself and I found that the author did a great job of showing us all the sides of this remarkable woman.
Really enjoyed this final book on the life of Queen Elfrida. I really came to admire and like the woman she grew into. She was fiercely loyal to those she loved as well as herself and I found that the author did a great job of showing us all the sides of this remarkable woman.
July 28, 2019
A fantastic trilogy about Elfrida! Not to be missed by Historical Fiction Fans! Read them in order. Very good pleasure reading! This author knows her stuff!
April 13, 2018
The third in the series is faster paced with lots going on and a great deal of scheming and negotiating on the part of Lady Elfrida and her allies and enemies.
Very good characters. A massive amount of historical research has gone into the novel. The author has clearly researched the correct locations for events to have taken place in and woven the facts of the period around them. Good planning, and excellent pacing.
I would be keen to read another book that focuses on her after the end of the book and before the beginning of the author's other series, The Earls of Mercia, which focuses on her son's reign, and starts with Viking Sword, and focuses on the Second Viking Age in England.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Very good characters. A massive amount of historical research has gone into the novel. The author has clearly researched the correct locations for events to have taken place in and woven the facts of the period around them. Good planning, and excellent pacing.
I would be keen to read another book that focuses on her after the end of the book and before the beginning of the author's other series, The Earls of Mercia, which focuses on her son's reign, and starts with Viking Sword, and focuses on the Second Viking Age in England.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
August 18, 2020
This was my first time reading an actual book from the series from front to back, since I listened to the audiobooks of the first two, and only read along with a few chapters in the beginning & the end sections.
Though a good story, I was surprised to find how much it needed to be copy-read/edited. There were quite a few punctuation errors, typos, and a few spelling mistakes. I even found a random zero in there in place of an “O”?
It was mostly the punctuation that took a bit away from the book, requiring the rereading of many sentences to understand what the author was trying to say.
But it’s REALLY hard to find books on queens from before the Norman conquest, and M J Porter did an excellent job telling a story about a woman, on which very little information exists today. I found the historical tidbits very well researched and I enjoyed reading about Elfrida.
I hope the copy-editor did a better job on the next 3 books of the series, because I’m fascinated by the Anglo-Saxon queens & plan to continue reading!
Though a good story, I was surprised to find how much it needed to be copy-read/edited. There were quite a few punctuation errors, typos, and a few spelling mistakes. I even found a random zero in there in place of an “O”?
It was mostly the punctuation that took a bit away from the book, requiring the rereading of many sentences to understand what the author was trying to say.
But it’s REALLY hard to find books on queens from before the Norman conquest, and M J Porter did an excellent job telling a story about a woman, on which very little information exists today. I found the historical tidbits very well researched and I enjoyed reading about Elfrida.
I hope the copy-editor did a better job on the next 3 books of the series, because I’m fascinated by the Anglo-Saxon queens & plan to continue reading!
April 16, 2021
Haunting
A beautiful end to a fragrant and well crafted story of a woman outside her time living through difficulties that are not strange to us today
A beautiful end to a fragrant and well crafted story of a woman outside her time living through difficulties that are not strange to us today
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews