The Wolf in Winter by Barbara Lennox

 

The Details

 

Publisher: Independently published

Published: Nov. 2021

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 516

Series: yes, this is book one of two

Available: ebook, paperback, hardback

Sex: ❤ mild

Violence: 😨 lots of fight scenes but not terrible graphic

The Author’s Blurb:

How do you protect a hero?

Corwynal, son of the King of Lothian, dreams of reputation as a warrior. But when his half-brother, Trystan, is born on The Night of Thresholds, he’s forced to rein in his ambitions to become the child’s guardian and mentor.

For seventeen years, he’s kept Trystan safe in Lothian. But now the British Kingdoms have declared war on the powerful Caledonian Confederacy, and there will be no safety for anyone. Especially a young man determined to win fame as a hero.

As war spreads throughout the Lands between the Walls, Corwynal must emerge from the shadows and reclaim his lost dreams if he’s to guard the boy he’s given up his future to defend. But how much more will he be willing to sacrifice for the boy with the secret he can never reveal?

A spell-binding story of second chances, of love and letting go. An epic journey into the heart of a man riven by conflict, set amidst the warring cultures of dark-age Scotland.

My Review

Reviewer’s Note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Plot in Brief: This is a retelling of the Arthurian legend of Tristan and Isolde, a Celtic legend set during the dark-ages in Scotland, instead of the traditional Cornwall.

The Characters: The two main characters are Trystan and his half-brother and possible father Corwynal.  Trystan’s mother died in childbirth and he was given to his brother Corwynal to raise. Corwynal dedicates his life to keeping Trystan safe, from himself and others. Dark dreams of Trystan’s death keep him on edge, and Trystan, unaware of Corwynal’s fears, champs at the bit. Other characters include Arthur, a war leader, his wife, and champion, and other names familiar from the Arthur legends. Trystan and Corwynal's father is a rather nasty piece of business, ruthless and seemingly uncaring, is there more to him than meets the eye? 

The History: The setting is 5^th century Scotland after the fall of the Roman Empire. Petty kingdoms fight for survival against each other and the rising tide of Angles as they sweep northward. The legend of Arthur, stripped bare of razzle-dazzle, is inserted into this gritty world. Well-researched, the narrative drops you into their daily life with amazing descriptions without bombarding you with info dumps.

The Writing: What can I say? Well-written, well-plotted, this was a great read.

Overall: Loved it! Ready for book 2

 

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Buy the Book

 

.