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Book Review of A Kingdom to Claim by Sian Ann Bessey

When was the last time you read a historical fiction book about the Vikings…with a romance in it? Me? Not ever that I can remember. I love the Victorian and Edwardian era romances, but I LOVE that authors are branching out! There is so much history behind us, why not write about it, learn about it, and bring it to life?? That is just what Sian Ann Bessey did in her book A Kingdom to Claim. It’s such a great story and I enjoyed spending my time in the Viking era.

Blurb:

Aisley lost everything in a Viking attack. Now, working alongside the one man she trusts, she is ready to fight for her people—and for love.

Aisley’s young life was changed forever when her father accompanied King Alfred into battle and lost his life in a deadly skirmish with the Vikings. Now, almost seven years later, the Vikings are once again rallying on Wessex’s borders, and Aisley fears that her older brother may have treacherous plans to betray the king by aligning himself with the invading Norsemen. But when Aisley encounters a handsome nobleman in the market, she feels the first stirrings of hope. Though they met only once when Aisley was little more than a child, she recognizes the man immediately as one of King Alfred’s most trusted men.

It has been years since Brecc has seen Aisley, but when he spots her in the marketplace, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to the copper-haired young lady with a gift for healing. Before his fledgling feelings for her can develop into something more, however, a Viking attack tears them apart. King Alfred is forced into hiding, and in a matter of days, the Saxon nation is brought to its knees. Unwilling to forsake their people, the king and his men embark on secret raids of Viking encampments. But when Aisley joins the fight, Brecc must reconcile his steadfast loyalty to King Alfred with his growing love for the king’s newest warrior.

My Book Review:

What a fun and interesting story! I really enjoyed A Kingdom to Claim. As I stated above, I have been ready to branch out from the Victorian and Edwardian era stories, so why not spend a few days in the Viking era? The book is well written and has wonderful descriptions of the scenery, the setting, the people, and the customs. The plot is exciting and interesting and kept me turning those pages!

The characters make this book come to life. Ms. Bessey does a wonderful job of describing the characters, their personalities, qualities, strengths, weaknesses, and foibles. Each character is well developed, has a unique voice, and seems authentic. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and felt as if many of the characters were my good friends.

I liked Aisley a lot. She’s relatable most of the time. She’s a strong, female character who is brave, determined, and talented. I love a good, strong female character, but I don’t like it when she’s infallible. It’s not possible! Aisley is not like that. She’s not perfect, she makes mistakes, but she picks herself up and tries again. She has a big heart and wants to do the right thing.

How cool is the name Brecc? If I were going to have more children, I would consider the name Brecc. Brecc is intelligent, strong, down-to-earth, and dedicated. He also has a tender heart, but you don’t get to see it very often. I love his dedication to the king and his love of country. Another thing I like about Brecc is that he doesn’t put women down or think of them as inferior.

A Kingdom to Claim is based on a real-life monarch named King Alfred the Great. He was Christian and ruled following his Christian values. He is a well-known king in Britain and must have been liked because he’s the only one known as “The Great.” The story is also based on historical events.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It has a little something for everyone: action, adventure, betrayal, romance, courage, fighting, strategy, healing, and more. If you’re looking for something different than your normal read, A Kingdom to Claim is the book for you!