Days of Sun and Glory (The King’s Greatest Enemy #2)
by Anna Belfrage
Publication Date: July 4, 2016
Matador
eBook & Paperback; 418 Pages
Series: The King's Greatest Enemy
Genre: Historical Fiction
Adam de Guirande has barely survived the aftermath of Roger Mortimer’s rebellion in 1321. When Mortimer manages to escape the Tower and flee to France, anyone who has ever served Mortimer becomes a potential traitor – at least in the eyes of King Edward II and his royal chancellor, Hugh Despenser. Adam must conduct a careful balancing act to keep himself and his family alive. Fortunately, he has two formidable allies: Queen Isabella and his wife, Kit. England late in 1323 is a place afflicted by fear. Now that the king’s greatest traitor, Roger Mortimer, has managed to evade royal justice, the king and his beloved Despenser see dissidents and rebels everywhere – among Mortimer’s former men, but also in the queen, Isabella of France.
Their suspicions are not unfounded. Tired of being relegated to the background by the king’s grasping favourite, Isabella has decided it is time to act – to safeguard her own position, but also that of her son, Edward of Windsor. As Adam de Guirande has pledged himself to Prince Edward he is automatically drawn into the queen’s plans – whether he likes it or not.
Yet again, Kit and Adam are forced to take part in a complicated game of intrigue and politics. Yet again, they risk their lives – and that of those they hold dear – as the king and Mortimer face off. Once again, England is plunged into war – and this time it will not end until either Despenser or Mortimer is dead.
Days of Sun and Glory is the second in Anna Belfrage’s series, The King’s Greatest Enemy, the story of a man torn apart by his loyalties to his lord, his king, and his wife.
My Review:
Four Stars
from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
I was first introduced to Anna Belfrage with the Graham Saga
Series. It was a fascinating series and I
really enjoyed it even though I had not read the entire collection. Belfrage jumps right into another great
series with “The King’s Greatest Enemy.”
When the story begins the atmosphere is filled with tension. Adam de Guiranda and his wife are awaiting a
baby. Adam’s loyalty to the King- Edward
II, is continuously questioned because of his involvement in the Mortimer
rebellion. But if Adam and Kit want to
remain alive and in the Kings good graces they have to make everyone believe
that they are loyal only to Edward II.
The story if filled with monarchs who each want a piece of the pie. Isabella of France is ready to take advantage
of Edwards II week ruling and the rebellion that threatened his command.
Isabella of Spain is committed to help Adam and his cause.
Just like Belfrage’s previous books, her knowledge is so
vast. She makes me believe that I’m in
the story and her attention to detail is unparalleled. Anytime I read about the
reigning monarchs I’m dumbfounded as to why anyone would want to be king. There
is a constant threat to overturn the King, there is constant tension, the words
of the people at court are not to be trusted.
Finally, the threat of death is always probable. I really enjoyed continuing on Adam and Kit’s
journey. Belfrage always makes her characters real and fallible. I highly
recommend this wonderful story and any book by Belfrage.
About the Author
Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a professional time-traveller. As such a profession does as yet not exists, she settled for second best and became a financial professional with two absorbing interests, namely history and writing. These days, Anna combines an exciting day-job with a large family and her writing endeavours.
When Anna fell in love with her future husband, she got Scotland as an extra, not because her husband is Scottish or has a predilection for kilts, but because his family fled Scotland due to religious persecution in the 17th century – and were related to the Stuarts. For a history buff like Anna, these little details made Future Husband all the more desirable, and sparked a permanent interest in the Scottish Covenanters, which is how Matthew Graham, protagonist of the acclaimed The Graham Saga, began to take shape.
Set in 17th century Scotland and Virginia/Maryland, the series tells the story of Matthew and Alex, two people who should never have met – not when she was born three hundred years after him. With this heady blend of romance, adventure, high drama and historical accuracy, Anna hopes to entertain and captivate, and is more than thrilled when readers tell her just how much they love her books and her characters.
Presently, Anna is hard at work with her next project, a series set in the 1320s featuring Adam de Guirande, his wife Kit, and their adventures and misfortunes in connection with Roger Mortimer’s rise to power. The King’s Greatest Enemy is a series where passion and drama play out against a complex political situation, where today’s traitor may be tomorrow’s hero, and the Wheel of Life never stops rolling.
The first installment in the Adam and Kit story, In the Shadow of the Storm, was published in 2015. The second book, Days of Sun and Glory, will be published in July 2016.
Other than on her website,
www.annabelfrage.com, Anna can mostly be found on her blog,
http://annabelfrage.wordpress.com – unless, of course, she is submerged in writing her next novel. You can also connect with Anna on
Facebook,
Twitter and
Goodreads.
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, August 29
Kick Off at
Passages to the Past
Spotlight at
What Is That Book About
Tuesday, August 30
Review at
Beth's Book Nook Blog
Review at
Historical Fiction Obsession
Wednesday, August 31
Review at
A Chick Who Reads
Spotlight at
Queen of All She Reads
Thursday, September 1
Review at
Lampshade Reader
Review at
Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Friday, September 2
Review at
Book Nerd
Monday, September 5
Review at
Just One More Chapter
Tuesday, September 6
Guest Post at
Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Wednesday, September 7
Review at
Flashlight Commentary
Guest Post at
A Literary Vacation
Thursday, September 8
Interview at
Books and Benches
Character Interview at
Flashlight Commentary
Friday, September 9
Review at
A Holland Reads
Monday, September 12
Review at
Broken Teepee
Tuesday, September 13
Review at
Let Them Read Books
Interview at
Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Wednesday, September 14
Review at
So Many Books, So Little Time
Thursday, September 15
Review at
Seize the Words: Books in Review
Monday, September 19
Review at
A Book Drunkard
Tuesday, September 20
Review at
CelticLady's Reviews
Wednesday, September 21
Review at
It's a Mad Mad World
Friday, September 23
Review at
The True Book Addict
Spotlight at
The Reading Queen
Monday, September 26
Review at
Diana's Book Reviews
Tuesday, September 27
Guest Post at
Passages to the Past
Thursday, September 29
Review at
Bookramblings
Giveaway
To win a copy of Days of Sun & Glory by Anna Belfrage, please enter via the Gleam form below.
Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on September 29th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
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– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
Days of Sun and Glory