In the Shadow of the Storm

In the Shadow of the Storm, we visit a time in the history of England during Edward II's reign. It is 1321 and Edward has exiled his barons led by Hugh Despenser the Younger. The King is not a favorite as Hugh Despenser is a cruel man who seemed to enjoy having control over the king and would do whatever it took to keep his place as the kings favorite.

The story starts out with Katherine (Kit) de Monmouth being kidnapped. It turns out she is the illegitimate child of Thomas de Monmouth. She has been taken because she has a striking resemblance to the legitimate Katherine. Katherine is to marry Adam de Guirande, but she has disappeared. The wedding proceeds as planned and it eventually comes out that Kit is not the intended bride. Adam and Kit have a tumultuous relationship first but eventually fall in love.

Lord Roger Mortimer was an English nobleman and Marcher lord, imprisoned by Hugh Despenser, on King Edward II's orders as he led a revolt against the King, this became known as the Despenser Wars. England was in turmoil at this time, lands were confiscated and men were executed, and their families imprisoned.

King Edward II is not a popular king within England, France and Spain, including his own wife, Queen Isabella. By this time Adam is imprisoned and subject to Hugh Dispenser's and his half brother's cruelty. War has erupted by this time in the Welsh Marches with Lord Mortimer and other men imprisoned. The Tower of London is a stronghold that is nearly impossible to get into, but a plan is underway to rescue those men imprisoned.

Aymer de Valence, was the 2nd Earl of Pembroke, is another vital character in this story who was a close confidant to Edward II. He is also the man who tries to keep Adam from getting executed.

With all of the characters, real and imagined by the author, In the Shadow of the Storm is a wonderful start to a new series by one of my favorite authors, Anna Belfrage. Believable characters, taut storyline and impeccable research make this novel enjoyable. I read it in a few sittings and loved it!

This story gives you two books for the price of one. The book starts as a romance novel and by the time you think the story is about to end you are only halfway and the now happily married couple now plunges in a historical adventure novel with evil rulers, treason, prisonbreaks and a happy marriage.

It is the 14th century in England and the assumed gay king is a weak person letting his favourite man rule the country. Law and order are a distant memory.. Kit is the illegitimate daughter of a lower nobleman who is forced to marry a lowly knight because her half-sister, who was the intended bride, did a runner. The half-sister slept with the overlord of the knight and the idea was to compensate her like this. Kit does not want to pretend she is Katherine but is left no choice. That is the plot of the romance part of the book.

Regarding to the adventure story that follows this: Sir Adam is bound to his liege lord Lord Roger Mortimer an important lord of the realm. Nowadays we picture a lord of the manor as a wealthy family living in a big mansion in the middle of a village but in 14th century England that manor was just a big farm. The knights are like army officers and their farmhands the soldiers the overlord can call upon. It does not matter if the knight agrees with his overlord he is honour bound. In Adam's case that is even more so because Lord Mortimer saved him as a child. This pledge of loyalty however is also a way to protect the less powerful of society. When Adam becomes young Edward's man he cannot be openly opposed by Despenser anymore.

I liked the historic setting. I would loved to have seen that proceed a bit faster (I know what will happen and wanted to have it over with - and see if the hot poker in the arse of someone would feature) but discovered the writer wants to write more about the family in other books to follow. However that made the story sometimes a bit slow.

The book features a lot of bedding but apart from mentioning hard objects trusted it is not pornographic. However combined with also some violent deaths I would recommend readers to be at least 16.

Reviewed for NetGalley. Very friendly priced Kindle. It is really worth the 99 cents.

Why is this the first time I have read a book by Anna Belfrage? I am now hooked! I LOVED In the Shadow of the Storm. I would give it full 100 stars if I could.