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Life of Galen #3
Kindness of Strangers
Trapped in a land plagued by vikings, can a small miracle be what they need to survive? Anglo-Saxon England, 997 AD. 16-Year-old scribe, Galen, and his friend Alcuin the illuminator, are running late. Galen’s frailty has delayed their mission – to produce the most glorious book in honour of the king. They are crossing the treacherous marshes of eastern England when vikings attack. After the battle, a child claims that Galen performed a miracle. Ill, surrounded by strangers and expecting a second viking raid at any moment, Galen struggles to understand what actually happened. Did Galen perform a miracle? What does it mean for him and the people around him if he did? Will it even matter if they are overrun by vikings? Kindness of Strangers is the third book in the absorbing Life of Galen historical fiction series. If you like historical detail, human dilemmas, and a heartwarming story, then you'll love Marina Pacheco’s absorbing tale. Buy Kindness of Strangers and witness the power of miracles today!
- GenresHistorical Fiction
188 pages, Paperback
First published December 27, 2020
37 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Marina Pacheco
36 books23 followersI'm a jack of all trades author who writes historical fiction, sweet romance, sci-fi and fantasy novels as well as short stories. I currently live on the coast just outside Lisbon, after stints in London, Johannesburg, and Bangkok, which all sounds more glamorous than it actually was. My ambition is to publish 100 books. This is taking considerably longer than I’d anticipated!
You can find out more about me and my work, and download several freebies, on my website: https://marinapacheco.me
You can find out more about me and my work, and download several freebies, on my website: https://marinapacheco.me
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 9, 2025
This series just calms me without being slow or dull. I love being immersed in a 3 digit year by an author who does her research.
August 4, 2021
Kindness of Strangers, Life of Galen Book 3
By Marina Pacheco
Reviewed August 3, 2021
Kindness of Strangers is the third book in the Life of Galen series, and picks up where book two left off. After spending time with his family, Brother Galen, his companion Brother Alcuin, and Niclas, the carter, are back on the road as they make their way to Lundunburg and King Aethelred’s court. Along the way they encounter Swidhelm, a gleeman,who joins them as during these dangerous times, there is strength in numbers.
Galen is nervous not only because he’s not physically up to such lengthy trips, but because he’s sure that many of the nobles at court will know his story. But before he ever has to face them, something else happens to disrupt their trip – a Viking raid.
Caught up in a savage attack on a small burh, the four must flee...and fast. But Galen, with his disabilities, knows he will only slow down his companions and insists they leave him behind. With Vikings closing in, and knowing he is physically unable to go any further, Galen drags himself to a pile of logs where he attempts to take shelter but is certain he won’t make it out alive.
As he waits for the inevitable, he hears a little girl scream. She runs past his hiding place, trying to elude the marauders. Galen reaches out and grabs her, pulling her into the safety of his hiding place before losing consciousness.
After the battle, Alcuin searches for Galen and is joined by the local shire reeve Hasculf, who is looking for his daughter. They find Galen, more dead than alive, along with Hasculf's daughter Albreda. She claims that while they were hiding, Galen performed a miracle by healing the deformed knee she was born with.
Deathly ill and believed injured by the Vikings, Galen is nursed back to health by people he doesn't know. Surrounded by strangers (a situation that never sits well with the intensely shy Galen), and with the possibility of a second Viking raid imminent, Galen struggles to understand what happened. He know the little girl says he healed her knee, but how could he? She says it’s a miracle, but he insists he is no holy man, no saint. The people of the burh, however, beg to differ.
In Kindness of Strangers, we see Galen’s personal growth continue, and in a story set during violent times, we see the power of love and kindness.
By Marina Pacheco
Reviewed August 3, 2021
Kindness of Strangers is the third book in the Life of Galen series, and picks up where book two left off. After spending time with his family, Brother Galen, his companion Brother Alcuin, and Niclas, the carter, are back on the road as they make their way to Lundunburg and King Aethelred’s court. Along the way they encounter Swidhelm, a gleeman,who joins them as during these dangerous times, there is strength in numbers.
Galen is nervous not only because he’s not physically up to such lengthy trips, but because he’s sure that many of the nobles at court will know his story. But before he ever has to face them, something else happens to disrupt their trip – a Viking raid.
Caught up in a savage attack on a small burh, the four must flee...and fast. But Galen, with his disabilities, knows he will only slow down his companions and insists they leave him behind. With Vikings closing in, and knowing he is physically unable to go any further, Galen drags himself to a pile of logs where he attempts to take shelter but is certain he won’t make it out alive.
As he waits for the inevitable, he hears a little girl scream. She runs past his hiding place, trying to elude the marauders. Galen reaches out and grabs her, pulling her into the safety of his hiding place before losing consciousness.
After the battle, Alcuin searches for Galen and is joined by the local shire reeve Hasculf, who is looking for his daughter. They find Galen, more dead than alive, along with Hasculf's daughter Albreda. She claims that while they were hiding, Galen performed a miracle by healing the deformed knee she was born with.
Deathly ill and believed injured by the Vikings, Galen is nursed back to health by people he doesn't know. Surrounded by strangers (a situation that never sits well with the intensely shy Galen), and with the possibility of a second Viking raid imminent, Galen struggles to understand what happened. He know the little girl says he healed her knee, but how could he? She says it’s a miracle, but he insists he is no holy man, no saint. The people of the burh, however, beg to differ.
In Kindness of Strangers, we see Galen’s personal growth continue, and in a story set during violent times, we see the power of love and kindness.
December 30, 2020
Kindness of Strangers, Book 3 of Life of Galen by Marina Pacheco is the nest installment for Galen. He and Alcuin have been called by the king to come to him and create his codex. They have visited Galen's parents and are now on their way, Galen in a cart provided by his father and driven by Niclas, also provided by his father, Alcuin riding his mule. All of a sudden there are Vikings in the river. The cart is stuck and Alcuin insists Galen ride with him on the mule. Galen could not do it. He fell. He begged Alcuin to go on without him. He crawled as best he could to a stack of drying logs and ensconced himself in a space where he hoped he would not been seen. As the Vikings were ripping through their belongings in the cart, a little girl ran past. Not wanting her to be captured, Galen reached out and grabbed her and pulled her close to him under his habit. He saved her. Eventually help came and took Galen back to her village.
This was an amazing look at medieval life in a village: their food, their dwellings, their superstitions, and more. Somehow the girl's disabled knee righted itself in the time she spent with Galen in the log pile, and now all are convinced he is a saint. He doesn't like it. We also get to watch the preparation for the coming battle, as the Vikings will surely strike. Pacheco is a wonderful storyteller. Galen is a modest man and she shows it in every interaction he has. As always, Alcuin is there to care for him. The stories are historic fiction but an accurate representation and very enticing for people who live this era. The story is appropriate for young readers and has a great deal to teach. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Kindness of Strangers by the author. All opinions contained herein are my own.
This was an amazing look at medieval life in a village: their food, their dwellings, their superstitions, and more. Somehow the girl's disabled knee righted itself in the time she spent with Galen in the log pile, and now all are convinced he is a saint. He doesn't like it. We also get to watch the preparation for the coming battle, as the Vikings will surely strike. Pacheco is a wonderful storyteller. Galen is a modest man and she shows it in every interaction he has. As always, Alcuin is there to care for him. The stories are historic fiction but an accurate representation and very enticing for people who live this era. The story is appropriate for young readers and has a great deal to teach. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Kindness of Strangers by the author. All opinions contained herein are my own.
December 27, 2020
Kindness of Strangers is the first book that I have read in this series but despite the fact that I had no prior knowledge of what to expect the characters and setting are so skilfully and vividly portrayed that after the first few pages I was completely immersed in the countryside sights, sounds and even smells of late 10th Century England and captivated by the varied cast of characters.
A highly recommended read if one is interested in this time period of Anglo-Saxon history.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
A highly recommended read if one is interested in this time period of Anglo-Saxon history.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 27, 2020
This story was very touching. The devotion Elcuin has for Galen is astonishing. The way the people of the burh of Wodenshurst took care of Galen and Elcuin was heartening. I enjoyed this story very much. I like stories that took place a long time ago. Its interesting to see what the people who lived then were like, what they believed, and how they got by. I am glad I took this ARC because I never would have gotten to know this author. I'm going to go back to book 1 in this series. I also look forward to reading other books from this author.
October 2, 2023
Audiobook: I enjoyed book 3 of the "Life of Galen" series. Galen, and his friend Alcuin, were on their way to the court of the king, when their trip was interrupted by a band of warring Vikings. The author's vivid chronicles of the times and the lives of the people were so descriptive that it made it seem like I was there. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Jacob Daniels' narration was pleasant, and his performance was appropriate for the ambiance. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.
March 22, 2021
Can’t wait for the next book!
February 14, 2024
Anorher great book in the series. They build on each other so nicely that the depth and interest keep growing.
May 20, 2021
„Kindness of Strangers“ by Marina Pacheco is the third book in her “Life of Galen” historical mystery series set at the end of 10th Century Anglo-Saxon England and featuring Brother Galen, an intelligent, somehow shy young monk. Stuck into a monastic life rather by order of birth then choice, due to his lack of physical strength and military skills.
Brother Galen has come a long way since his start as a non-descript copyist, proving his wit and endurance, both by facing his own personal demons and resolving mysteries. “Kindness of Strangers” is set in 997 AD, Galen and Alcuin are tasked to produce an illuminated book in honor of the king, but due to Galen fragile state they delayed and fall in the hands of raiding Vikings, they survive the attack by which casual observer come to see as a miracle. Galen himself is in doubt about what really happened and struggles with the meaning of his own existence.
Mariana Pacheco portraits 10th Century England in a fully realistic way, far away from romantic conceptions and make believe scenery, this is an thrilling tale about a very much real young man, dealing with the consequences of his own role in a life path he has no real choice in, while still fighting to regain as much agency as possible.
A well-written, carefully research and successfully crafted historical roman, that follows closely the path carved by Ellis Peters’ Cadfael and Peter Tremayne’s Fidelma of Cashel, while differing from the lighter “whodunnit” formula to center in Galen’s biography as an anchor point to highlight the historical framework of the tale.
Brother Galen has come a long way since his start as a non-descript copyist, proving his wit and endurance, both by facing his own personal demons and resolving mysteries. “Kindness of Strangers” is set in 997 AD, Galen and Alcuin are tasked to produce an illuminated book in honor of the king, but due to Galen fragile state they delayed and fall in the hands of raiding Vikings, they survive the attack by which casual observer come to see as a miracle. Galen himself is in doubt about what really happened and struggles with the meaning of his own existence.
Mariana Pacheco portraits 10th Century England in a fully realistic way, far away from romantic conceptions and make believe scenery, this is an thrilling tale about a very much real young man, dealing with the consequences of his own role in a life path he has no real choice in, while still fighting to regain as much agency as possible.
A well-written, carefully research and successfully crafted historical roman, that follows closely the path carved by Ellis Peters’ Cadfael and Peter Tremayne’s Fidelma of Cashel, while differing from the lighter “whodunnit” formula to center in Galen’s biography as an anchor point to highlight the historical framework of the tale.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews