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Spindle and Dagger
This rich literary novel follows Elen, who must live a precarious lie in order to survive among the medieval Welsh warband that killed her family.
Wales, 1109. Three years ago, a warband raided Elen’s home. Her baby sister could not escape the flames. Her older sister fought back and almost killed the warband’s leader, Owain ap Cadwgan, before being killed herself. Despite Elen’s own sexual assault at the hands of the raiders, she saw a chance to live and took it. She healed Owain’s wound and spun a lie: Owain ap Cadwgan, son of the king of Powys, cannot be killed, not by blade nor blow nor poison. Owain ap Cadwgan has the protection of Saint Elen, as long as he keeps her namesake safe from harm and near him always.
For three years, Elen has had plenty of food, clothes to wear, and a bed to sleep in that she shares with the man who brought that warband to her door. Then Owain abducts Nest, the wife of a Norman lord, and her three children, triggering full-out war. As war rages, and her careful lies threaten to unravel, Elen begins to look to Nest and see a different life — if she can decide, once and for all, where her loyalties lie. J. Anderson Coats’s evocative prose immerses the reader in a dark but ultimately affirming tale of power and survival.
Wales, 1109. Three years ago, a warband raided Elen’s home. Her baby sister could not escape the flames. Her older sister fought back and almost killed the warband’s leader, Owain ap Cadwgan, before being killed herself. Despite Elen’s own sexual assault at the hands of the raiders, she saw a chance to live and took it. She healed Owain’s wound and spun a lie: Owain ap Cadwgan, son of the king of Powys, cannot be killed, not by blade nor blow nor poison. Owain ap Cadwgan has the protection of Saint Elen, as long as he keeps her namesake safe from harm and near him always.
For three years, Elen has had plenty of food, clothes to wear, and a bed to sleep in that she shares with the man who brought that warband to her door. Then Owain abducts Nest, the wife of a Norman lord, and her three children, triggering full-out war. As war rages, and her careful lies threaten to unravel, Elen begins to look to Nest and see a different life — if she can decide, once and for all, where her loyalties lie. J. Anderson Coats’s evocative prose immerses the reader in a dark but ultimately affirming tale of power and survival.
ebook
First published March 10, 2020
About the author
J. Anderson Coats
11 books196 followersJ. Anderson Coats has received three Junior Library Guild selections, two Washington State Book Awards, and earned starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, the Horn Book Review, and Shelf Awareness. Her newest books are A Season Most Unfair, a middle grade historical set in medieval England about a girl with something to prove; and The Night Ride, a middle grade action-adventure about horses in danger and kids who want to save them – if they can. She is also the author of Spindle and Dagger, The Green Children of Woolpit, R is for Rebel, The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming, and The Wicked and the Just. A YA novel, The Loss of the Burying Ground, is forthcoming from Candlewick Press in 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
March 25, 2020
3.5 stars
Glad to see that at least some YA authors try to write historical fiction that is not a dumb romance-filled, factually incorrect fluff.
Spindle and Dagger joins a throng of novels that aim to give voice to the women in a history written by men. This story is based on the legend of so called "Helen of Wales" - Nest, wife of one Welsh lord kidnapped with her children by another one - Owain. Nest's narrative is open to interpretation and is compiled of differing, often contradictory accounts, in which Nest was maligned in various ways (just like Helen of Troy). Nest, however, is not the main character or narrator of this novel. It is Elen, Owain's sort of spiritual guide, who had previously saved her life by convincing Owain that as long as he kept her safe he would have the protection of Saint Elen. Elen's psychological journey is tightly women to Nest's. How these two women navigate the men-ruled world is what Spindle and Dagger is about.
What the author does here is quite successful, IMO. Anderson has given her heroines agency while acknowledging how powerless they often were. She manages to portray rape, abduction, even Stockholm syndrome in the historical context without explicitly and anachronistically naming them.
The book is much plottier than I like though. There are too many political schemes I couldn't quite keep up with. I'd rather have more historical details of everyday life. But then again, when I tried looking up additional info, I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of infighting in Wales at that time. It was a MESS. No wonder I can't fully get it. The men of the time fought and switched alliances constantly!
Fans of The Passion of Dolssa or Catherine, Called Birdy should check this out.
Glad to see that at least some YA authors try to write historical fiction that is not a dumb romance-filled, factually incorrect fluff.
Spindle and Dagger joins a throng of novels that aim to give voice to the women in a history written by men. This story is based on the legend of so called "Helen of Wales" - Nest, wife of one Welsh lord kidnapped with her children by another one - Owain. Nest's narrative is open to interpretation and is compiled of differing, often contradictory accounts, in which Nest was maligned in various ways (just like Helen of Troy). Nest, however, is not the main character or narrator of this novel. It is Elen, Owain's sort of spiritual guide, who had previously saved her life by convincing Owain that as long as he kept her safe he would have the protection of Saint Elen. Elen's psychological journey is tightly women to Nest's. How these two women navigate the men-ruled world is what Spindle and Dagger is about.
What the author does here is quite successful, IMO. Anderson has given her heroines agency while acknowledging how powerless they often were. She manages to portray rape, abduction, even Stockholm syndrome in the historical context without explicitly and anachronistically naming them.
The book is much plottier than I like though. There are too many political schemes I couldn't quite keep up with. I'd rather have more historical details of everyday life. But then again, when I tried looking up additional info, I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of infighting in Wales at that time. It was a MESS. No wonder I can't fully get it. The men of the time fought and switched alliances constantly!
Fans of The Passion of Dolssa or Catherine, Called Birdy should check this out.
Want to read
February 26, 2020Far too many typos in the e-galley. I’ll pick up up again when the final version is published.
April 19, 2020
This book was okay. Not bad but not great. It was short and simple, not much world building or depth to it. I think the author writes Elen’s trauma really well, I liked that. But honestly I feel like the book didn’t really have a point? Not much is resolved? Trying to say this without spoilers— Elen gets to a place the end. But none of what’s going on in the background is resolved? I mean I guess Elen doesn’t really care about that. But eh.
September 3, 2020
“I will make my own chaos. I will bring down this whole miserable castle works around Clare’s wretched Norman ears, and I will leave Owain and his lads to come out of it however they can.”
Spindle and Dagger is a thrilling historical novel that follows a young woman who has learned to survive through whatever means necessary. The story begins with Elen in Wales, 1109, three years after a warband raided her home and killed her family. To survive the raid, she saved the warband leader’s life and crafted an elaborate lie, a playact she is forced to live daily. Thus, she finds herself living with the very people who destroyed her life and stole her happiness. When she saved Owain ap Cadwagn’s life and made him believe that he held the protection of Saint Elen—her namesake—as long as he kept her close, he took her at her word. But no one can survive for long on a lie, and Elen’s lie begins unraveling. She may be Owain’s bedmate and protector, but she is not his wife, nor is she welcomed by his family and friends. She lives a poor existence as an outcast, the object of lewd jokes and ridicule. Yet, she has survived, with plenty of food, clothes to wear, and a bed to sleep in. It’s better than being dead, right? When tensions between Wales and England escalate, and circumstances take a disastrous turn, Elen must decide if she will abandon the lie and live life on her own terms, or remain at the mercy of Owain for the rest of her tortured existence.
I really enjoyed this dark tale, despite a few flaws early on. It deals with some deep themes such as sexual assult and death. Elen suffered greatly when the warband raided her home. She watched them kill her sister and destroy everything. She suffered through rape, as was common during those times. These scenes are not shown, but relayed as flashbacks throughout the story, leaving the reader to pity Elen. They are not graphic, which I appreciated. In the end, Elen did what she could in the heat of the moment: she offered to save Owain’s life, the man responsible for everything, in hopes that she might be allowed to live. Some might argue that it was a cowardly move on her part(she was only fourteen at the time).
From the beginning, it is clear that Elen is somewhat of a coward. Yet, as the story progresses, she begins to show strength. That strength grows. We see a rewarding character arc as she transforms herself, as she learns to take her life into her own hands. She learns to have courage in spite of fear—a valuable lesson.
J. Anderson Coats portrayed the Welsh warband life in a way that gave me a glimpse into old times. Her writing and prose was a pleasure to read, and perfect for young adult audiences. Some reviews I came across argued that the book moved slow in places. I did not find that to be the case. I felt that every piece was relevant to Elen’s growth as a character. The plot was masterfully woven with true events, taking advantage of various missing pieces from history. I felt as if this story really did happen during the 1100s, based on the information available to us today. Overall, I believe Coats did a great job staying true to events.
My only critique was that I felt the beginning of the book (the first couple of chapters) fell short. Because the story begins three years after the catastrophic event that shaped Elen’s future, we are left to piece together what happened. This made things confusing at first and could potentially turn some readers away. I believe that having utilized a short prologue, one that wasn’t too graphic, could have better set the stage. Moreover, I felt that the beginning doesn’t do enough to hook a reader. There was a lot of “telling” in the first few chapters. One event in particular, when we witness the death of Llywelyn penteulu, left me quite dissatisfied. The little “battle” skirmish on the road is relayed in what felt like a emotionless manner. Given that it was so early on in the book, and I was still trying to find my bearings, I think the author could have added some bits to make the event feel more “real.” An arrow whizzing past Elen’s ear, or someone falling dead at her feet, or someone coming at her only to be struck down. Something that involved her more in the scene. I would have liked to have seen some emotions from Elen while this was happening. Because of this, the scene felt lazily done. Fortunately, this wasn’t enough to put down the book, and after getting past this part, I found myself entirely engrossed. I have subtracted 1 star for these flaws.
The latter half of the book entirely engrossed me. Once I saw Elen begin to plot, to take matters into her own hands, I found myself eagerly hoping she would make the correct decision. There were a few fumbles on her part, as is normal when it comes to personal growth. Her ultimate decision at the end was very fulfilling. I loved the way the story ended; it put a smile on my face and left me feeling good.
My favorite relationship between the characters was Elen and Nest. I felt that the growth between them was realistic. I felt bad for Nest from the beginning, and I admired the way Elen stepped up to help Nest, despite the things she’d gone through in her past. The way their friendship developed left me fulfilled. Rhys was my other favorite character. I enjoyed the small bit of storyline he enveloped, and watching his personal growth from the beginning to end.
If you enjoy historical fiction set in an English setting, with bits of true history woven into the plot, I highly recommend this book. I initially picked it up because of the stunning cover, which caught my eye immediately. I’ve always been a fan of historical fiction. This story did not disappoint! It will be available March 10th, so hurry and preorder your copy!
Thank you Netgally, and Candlewick Press for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I was thrilled to read the story and happy that I did.
Spindle and Dagger is a thrilling historical novel that follows a young woman who has learned to survive through whatever means necessary. The story begins with Elen in Wales, 1109, three years after a warband raided her home and killed her family. To survive the raid, she saved the warband leader’s life and crafted an elaborate lie, a playact she is forced to live daily. Thus, she finds herself living with the very people who destroyed her life and stole her happiness. When she saved Owain ap Cadwagn’s life and made him believe that he held the protection of Saint Elen—her namesake—as long as he kept her close, he took her at her word. But no one can survive for long on a lie, and Elen’s lie begins unraveling. She may be Owain’s bedmate and protector, but she is not his wife, nor is she welcomed by his family and friends. She lives a poor existence as an outcast, the object of lewd jokes and ridicule. Yet, she has survived, with plenty of food, clothes to wear, and a bed to sleep in. It’s better than being dead, right? When tensions between Wales and England escalate, and circumstances take a disastrous turn, Elen must decide if she will abandon the lie and live life on her own terms, or remain at the mercy of Owain for the rest of her tortured existence.
I really enjoyed this dark tale, despite a few flaws early on. It deals with some deep themes such as sexual assult and death. Elen suffered greatly when the warband raided her home. She watched them kill her sister and destroy everything. She suffered through rape, as was common during those times. These scenes are not shown, but relayed as flashbacks throughout the story, leaving the reader to pity Elen. They are not graphic, which I appreciated. In the end, Elen did what she could in the heat of the moment: she offered to save Owain’s life, the man responsible for everything, in hopes that she might be allowed to live. Some might argue that it was a cowardly move on her part(she was only fourteen at the time).
From the beginning, it is clear that Elen is somewhat of a coward. Yet, as the story progresses, she begins to show strength. That strength grows. We see a rewarding character arc as she transforms herself, as she learns to take her life into her own hands. She learns to have courage in spite of fear—a valuable lesson.
J. Anderson Coats portrayed the Welsh warband life in a way that gave me a glimpse into old times. Her writing and prose was a pleasure to read, and perfect for young adult audiences. Some reviews I came across argued that the book moved slow in places. I did not find that to be the case. I felt that every piece was relevant to Elen’s growth as a character. The plot was masterfully woven with true events, taking advantage of various missing pieces from history. I felt as if this story really did happen during the 1100s, based on the information available to us today. Overall, I believe Coats did a great job staying true to events.
My only critique was that I felt the beginning of the book (the first couple of chapters) fell short. Because the story begins three years after the catastrophic event that shaped Elen’s future, we are left to piece together what happened. This made things confusing at first and could potentially turn some readers away. I believe that having utilized a short prologue, one that wasn’t too graphic, could have better set the stage. Moreover, I felt that the beginning doesn’t do enough to hook a reader. There was a lot of “telling” in the first few chapters. One event in particular, when we witness the death of Llywelyn penteulu, left me quite dissatisfied. The little “battle” skirmish on the road is relayed in what felt like a emotionless manner. Given that it was so early on in the book, and I was still trying to find my bearings, I think the author could have added some bits to make the event feel more “real.” An arrow whizzing past Elen’s ear, or someone falling dead at her feet, or someone coming at her only to be struck down. Something that involved her more in the scene. I would have liked to have seen some emotions from Elen while this was happening. Because of this, the scene felt lazily done. Fortunately, this wasn’t enough to put down the book, and after getting past this part, I found myself entirely engrossed. I have subtracted 1 star for these flaws.
The latter half of the book entirely engrossed me. Once I saw Elen begin to plot, to take matters into her own hands, I found myself eagerly hoping she would make the correct decision. There were a few fumbles on her part, as is normal when it comes to personal growth. Her ultimate decision at the end was very fulfilling. I loved the way the story ended; it put a smile on my face and left me feeling good.
My favorite relationship between the characters was Elen and Nest. I felt that the growth between them was realistic. I felt bad for Nest from the beginning, and I admired the way Elen stepped up to help Nest, despite the things she’d gone through in her past. The way their friendship developed left me fulfilled. Rhys was my other favorite character. I enjoyed the small bit of storyline he enveloped, and watching his personal growth from the beginning to end.
If you enjoy historical fiction set in an English setting, with bits of true history woven into the plot, I highly recommend this book. I initially picked it up because of the stunning cover, which caught my eye immediately. I’ve always been a fan of historical fiction. This story did not disappoint! It will be available March 10th, so hurry and preorder your copy!
Thank you Netgally, and Candlewick Press for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I was thrilled to read the story and happy that I did.
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 22, 2020My arc has a problem. I've never seen so many typos and/or missing words. Only a couple pages in and I was already frustrated. Here are a few examples from the first few paragraphs only:
"O and share a big meal and get rosy with ale and dance caroles and hear the news."
"there were three drunken stghts"
"I also nd the toy mouse..."
"during his rst raid"
"e toy mouse's paws are coming unstitched"
"and both of us inch" instead of flinch...
"I stu the toy into my rucksack along with my sewing kit so I can x it later."
"ere are Normans out there."
I don't mind a few typos in books. I'm really not a snob when it comes to that but here, I just can't do it. The synopsis sound amazing though so I might check out the published copy but now I'm way less excited to read it.
Edit: it seems the file only has a problem with Kindle. When I opened it with Adobe, it was fine. I'll try to read it that way.
"O and share a big meal and get rosy with ale and dance caroles and hear the news."
"there were three drunken stghts"
"I also nd the toy mouse..."
"during his rst raid"
"e toy mouse's paws are coming unstitched"
"and both of us inch" instead of flinch...
"I stu the toy into my rucksack along with my sewing kit so I can x it later."
"ere are Normans out there."
I don't mind a few typos in books. I'm really not a snob when it comes to that but here, I just can't do it. The synopsis sound amazing though so I might check out the published copy but now I'm way less excited to read it.
Edit: it seems the file only has a problem with Kindle. When I opened it with Adobe, it was fine. I'll try to read it that way.
March 4, 2020
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review, provided willingly.
My rating would have been higher, except the first thing I noticed about this story was the excessive amount of typos. There were at least 5 typos per Kindle page, although most had more. The beginning of scene/chapters had entire words, or possibly full sentences missing. It forced me to puzzle out what I was reading, slowed me down, frustrated me to no end, and consistently took me out of the story.
Ordinarily I would have stopped reading this book very quickly, but the premise sounded interesting and I actually wanted to know what happened, so I slogged on through trying to make sense of the half words on each and every page.
First and foremost, this book was set in a violent and brutal time, and it was fraught with danger for women. While the book does include rape and trauma, I felt that this was handled sensitively, especially in light of this being a YA book. While the book never actually used the word "rape," it was gently alluded to, which I felt was a positive in a sea of books packed full of shock value.
The focus on relationships between the women associated with the warband was interesting. Books like these are what holds my attention when reading historical fiction. I could read about historical events all day, but never learn about what life in a warband was actually like for the men involved and the women on the outskirts. I did learn that women like Elen, who are held by a high-ranking leader but not wed, relied on wits and awareness to get through, especially when the ladies in society wanted nothing to do with her. My heart went out to her in her loneliness at being shunned by women who could have been friends. I guess it made it easy to understand why she'd extend kindness and friendship to Nest.
The pace was fairly slow for much of the story, until it picked up closer to the end. The writing seemed quite simple, which I wouldn't attribute to the YA genre, since there are many YA books that are complex and intriguing. For a woman who survived the trauma Elen went through, she's still quite naive in important ways, especially someone who earned grudging respect from the men of the warband in the 3 years she was with them. There was also a lot of telling, not showing. I loved the idea of the book, although it could have been fleshed out more. The characters could have been fascinating instead of merely interesting, had they too, been more well-developed. I even struggled to find any identification with Elen.
I had high hopes for this book, and the fact that the very first word was a typo was like hearing a wrong note played at the very start of a concert. While the story held my attention in the day it took me to read it, this book had the potential to be one of those books I couldn't put down. As it was, I just wanted to finish reading so that I could move on to a book that transported me within its pages and didn't have so many errors. Hopefully this will be edited thoroughly before it is released.
My rating would have been higher, except the first thing I noticed about this story was the excessive amount of typos. There were at least 5 typos per Kindle page, although most had more. The beginning of scene/chapters had entire words, or possibly full sentences missing. It forced me to puzzle out what I was reading, slowed me down, frustrated me to no end, and consistently took me out of the story.
Ordinarily I would have stopped reading this book very quickly, but the premise sounded interesting and I actually wanted to know what happened, so I slogged on through trying to make sense of the half words on each and every page.
First and foremost, this book was set in a violent and brutal time, and it was fraught with danger for women. While the book does include rape and trauma, I felt that this was handled sensitively, especially in light of this being a YA book. While the book never actually used the word "rape," it was gently alluded to, which I felt was a positive in a sea of books packed full of shock value.
The focus on relationships between the women associated with the warband was interesting. Books like these are what holds my attention when reading historical fiction. I could read about historical events all day, but never learn about what life in a warband was actually like for the men involved and the women on the outskirts. I did learn that women like Elen, who are held by a high-ranking leader but not wed, relied on wits and awareness to get through, especially when the ladies in society wanted nothing to do with her. My heart went out to her in her loneliness at being shunned by women who could have been friends. I guess it made it easy to understand why she'd extend kindness and friendship to Nest.
The pace was fairly slow for much of the story, until it picked up closer to the end. The writing seemed quite simple, which I wouldn't attribute to the YA genre, since there are many YA books that are complex and intriguing. For a woman who survived the trauma Elen went through, she's still quite naive in important ways, especially someone who earned grudging respect from the men of the warband in the 3 years she was with them. There was also a lot of telling, not showing. I loved the idea of the book, although it could have been fleshed out more. The characters could have been fascinating instead of merely interesting, had they too, been more well-developed. I even struggled to find any identification with Elen.
I had high hopes for this book, and the fact that the very first word was a typo was like hearing a wrong note played at the very start of a concert. While the story held my attention in the day it took me to read it, this book had the potential to be one of those books I couldn't put down. As it was, I just wanted to finish reading so that I could move on to a book that transported me within its pages and didn't have so many errors. Hopefully this will be edited thoroughly before it is released.
August 19, 2020
Rating: 2.5 stars
Trigger Warnings for this book: rape/sexual assault, kidnapping
I don't know why, but I could've sworn this was more of a fantasy book. It's not at all. It's 100% historical fiction, which is probably the genre I read the least because it simply doesn't interest me. Please keep that in mind as you read my thoughts on this book.
So, brief summary. The year is 1109. Elen's family was murdered 3 years ago by Owain's warband. In order to avoid the same fate, she convinces him that if he keeps her with him he will be protected by a saint of the same name, Saint Elen. She must keep the act up or be killed, and when Owain kidnaps an enemy's wife and children for revenge the life Elen so deftly built is ready to come crashing down.
I didn't particularly enjoy this book for a few reasons (besides it being historical fiction). First, the writing sometimes confused me. It jumped around and I had to try hard sometimes to follow what was going on. I couldn't always tell what was happening and often was unsure of what the author was trying to convey in Elen's mind. There was quite a bit of repetition, which I liked at some parts but at others I was like "UGH this again?" The story is also very slow. I tend to enjoy slow books because the characters tend to shine through. Elen was very... wishy-washy. I do understand though because of all the trauma she went through. But overall, the story was pretty boring. It picked up closer to the end where literally anything that could go wrong did, but it wasn't enough to make up for the 200+ pages preceding it. Also, I wish there was more background given as to Wales during that time. I didn't understand the politics. At one point, there's supposedly a bunch of warbands patrolling and I never understood why? Whose warbands were they? All I could think, and as Patrick Star wisely said, "Who are you people??"
The ending was good, and I'm glad I finished it. I do feel like there's a few things left unanswered, but I'm okay with it. All I can say is I'm glad it's over, and I will be donating this book to Little Free Library near me.
Trigger Warnings for this book: rape/sexual assault, kidnapping
I don't know why, but I could've sworn this was more of a fantasy book. It's not at all. It's 100% historical fiction, which is probably the genre I read the least because it simply doesn't interest me. Please keep that in mind as you read my thoughts on this book.
So, brief summary. The year is 1109. Elen's family was murdered 3 years ago by Owain's warband. In order to avoid the same fate, she convinces him that if he keeps her with him he will be protected by a saint of the same name, Saint Elen. She must keep the act up or be killed, and when Owain kidnaps an enemy's wife and children for revenge the life Elen so deftly built is ready to come crashing down.
I didn't particularly enjoy this book for a few reasons (besides it being historical fiction). First, the writing sometimes confused me. It jumped around and I had to try hard sometimes to follow what was going on. I couldn't always tell what was happening and often was unsure of what the author was trying to convey in Elen's mind. There was quite a bit of repetition, which I liked at some parts but at others I was like "UGH this again?" The story is also very slow. I tend to enjoy slow books because the characters tend to shine through. Elen was very... wishy-washy. I do understand though because of all the trauma she went through. But overall, the story was pretty boring. It picked up closer to the end where literally anything that could go wrong did, but it wasn't enough to make up for the 200+ pages preceding it. Also, I wish there was more background given as to Wales during that time. I didn't understand the politics. At one point, there's supposedly a bunch of warbands patrolling and I never understood why? Whose warbands were they? All I could think, and as Patrick Star wisely said, "Who are you people??"
The ending was good, and I'm glad I finished it. I do feel like there's a few things left unanswered, but I'm okay with it. All I can say is I'm glad it's over, and I will be donating this book to Little Free Library near me.
February 23, 2024
Deeply rooted historical fiction about a young woman attempting to sell the lie of a saint's blessings to a Welsh prince in order to buy her safety within the warband that killed her family. The protagonist's lie, her complicated relationships with other women, her tenuous position, her trauma, often intentionally lead her to communicate poorly; I adore that, but when combined with the number of bait and switch near-escapes, the structure starts to feel strained, almost contrived - which is frustrating because there's no emotional contrivance. So I can nitpick: I wish the structure were an inch different; I wish it weren't as yoked to its historical inspiration, because the larger plot is less interesting than the protagonist's story. But her story got me to read first-person present-tense YA and like it, which is near enough a miracle: the adherence to her point of view and willingness to allow her flaws makes for an astute, nuanced portrait of trauma.
March 14, 2020
Oh holy moly, this was good. It’s historical fiction set in early 12th century Wales. Elen, the central character, had the bad luck to live in the path of a warband which slaughtered her family and took her with them after she healed their leader. She convinces him she did it through the intercession of her namesake saint, and that she can keep him safe if no harm comes to her. This book takes place three years down the line and chronicles how she searches for the means to escape when the man who holds her believes she’s vital to his survival. Very well written. Lots of tension. A trigger warning for rape.
December 5, 2020
As a Celtic history freak, this was spectacular. Its not often we get Welsh tales and stories, so having a story not based in just Ireland or Scotland was amazing!
The warbands were done really well, and the author did a good job playing on the beliefs and superstitions of the time.
I also really enjoyed the trip to Ireland, it all felt pretty on par. Obviously it was not perfect, but how could it be with what happened to the Guals. Much of what we know of them is twisted and by word of mouth.
But it felt more realistic then a lot of other tales based on the time.
I loved it.
The warbands were done really well, and the author did a good job playing on the beliefs and superstitions of the time.
I also really enjoyed the trip to Ireland, it all felt pretty on par. Obviously it was not perfect, but how could it be with what happened to the Guals. Much of what we know of them is twisted and by word of mouth.
But it felt more realistic then a lot of other tales based on the time.
I loved it.
June 3, 2020
I really enjoyed the way the author used history to frame the story. The main characters were well written and showed both how women were undervalued and how they could use the influence they had to change their lives. Overall it was an engaging read.
April 24, 2024
I love how this author writes historical fiction. She brings forward elements that important chronicles and historical books leave out, like exploring what could have been the part played or the influence and importance of unsung women's acts, plans, and ideas in famous History.
Spindle and Dagger is one of those. Wales in 1109 is a cruel man's world of war and takers keepers, and Elen uses a Saint's blessing story to survive, pretending to be protected by the same she makes her way through a world of blood, violence, and intrigue but finds a new family and loyal friends.
A great way to look back at the past and instead of reading about the kings and generals' perspectives of their times with their war tables and long drunken discussions, or even having a female character that acts like them to tell the story, the author focuses on the strength of what being a woman at that time might have meant. What they could or not do or use to survive, sacrifice and still protect their family. Women who loved their children, who tried not to be fooled by men's possible love, but still wished for it to be true, storytellers for the sake of survival, and patience and endurance of pain and suffering for a better future.
Although history may not care for their part, we can still have fiction like this that reimagines what could have been with credible characters.
Spindle and Dagger is one of those. Wales in 1109 is a cruel man's world of war and takers keepers, and Elen uses a Saint's blessing story to survive, pretending to be protected by the same she makes her way through a world of blood, violence, and intrigue but finds a new family and loyal friends.
A great way to look back at the past and instead of reading about the kings and generals' perspectives of their times with their war tables and long drunken discussions, or even having a female character that acts like them to tell the story, the author focuses on the strength of what being a woman at that time might have meant. What they could or not do or use to survive, sacrifice and still protect their family. Women who loved their children, who tried not to be fooled by men's possible love, but still wished for it to be true, storytellers for the sake of survival, and patience and endurance of pain and suffering for a better future.
Although history may not care for their part, we can still have fiction like this that reimagines what could have been with credible characters.
Read
December 28, 2022A rare YA historical novel with a female protagonist that doesn't try to anachronistically empower her beyond the bounds of plausibility. That makes for a rather grim read here, because Elen lives in a very violent time and place (medieval Wales) and she's been through serious trauma. She is conflicted about what she had to do to survive, and yet she still can dare to care deeply for others and to value and fight for her own freedom. Elen stands for all women throughout history who have had to struggle against dehumanizing, disempowering forces; Coats does an admirable job of making her both realistically medieval and relevant to our current concerns. The story behind Elen's deceptively simple narration is thus quite morally complex and requires a mature reader to really comprehend it. Reminded me of Franny Billingsley.
May 16, 2021
Well I almost made it halfway. This book was so hard to read, with the main character having frequent flashbacks that blend with the present in a jarring, confusing way.
The main character herself was very bland. What was her motivation? Vengeance? Self-preservation? Apathy? Who knows. Who cares.
The main character herself was very bland. What was her motivation? Vengeance? Self-preservation? Apathy? Who knows. Who cares.
January 29, 2024
This was a really good book that felt like what YA used to be like.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
March 18, 2020The review copy I was given has so many typos-- mostly the first few letters of a word missing, so I'll wait to read the finished copy. It seems interesting?? The 5 or so pages I read, but I'm spending a lot of time decoding words.
November 4, 2020
Well...I will start the review by saying that I am not sure why this book is marked as YA. Is it because, apart from one instance, there isn't any death shown? Perhaps the accessible language? I hope so, because the tag really only applies if you squint so hard you can only see "isn't death" and "-ssible language".
So what makes this book so dark? Enjoying the story through the eyes of a person suffering from severe PTSD and a sprinkle of Stockholm syndrome on top is a start. This is the first book I read that shows episodes of such severity from first person perspective in an age when mental illnesses were not really a thing so the heroine is left to fend for herself and her problems. It is quite brutal. Nothing is said explicitly, you see everything through quick flashes of Elen's traumatic experiences from when she was 14 years old.
So the main character of Elen - someone could see her as whiny, but if so, I strongly disagree. The girl is legitimately broken by her experiences. She is fearful, indrawn, insecure and has zero confidence in her own actions. It is very heartbreaking seeing her linger on a decision only to be scared off by her inner demons. It's like a blind person grasping their way in the dark. It was really engagingly written and I couldn't put the book down, and read all 300ish pages in one day, a rarity for me.
So why is this book 4 stars instead of 5? (well...in Cawpile it is 7.29/10 which sounds a bit worse)
Basically everyone else but Elen were one of the points why I had to lower my score. Apart from the main "antagonist" and Nest, everyone was a blank. Some characterization on Rhys, but rest is seen through the lens of Elen and she basically only fears people and we don't really know much beyond that. Nest has a supporting role and we also don't learn much about her besides her role in the story and the main antagonist is basically an idiot. Not like he is not intimidating, but his actions through the stories actually grate on anyone with half a brain.
Which brings me to the second issue - the historicity. Now, historical fiction is a broad genre. Usually it being set in an era from the past already makes it historical fiction. Some readers may put it into a bit higher standard and search for actual historical fact. I do not believe there was much of it here and you will not leave this story with much knowledge. Let me show some points:
The author makes a good point in saying that so far in history you only really work with legends and they tend to favor the side writing them. I do not believe the way to "even the odds" is to simply turn it upside down and now favor the other side. It makes it equally nonsensical.
The Normans were not good people like this book tries to show (for sake of plot). They were a product of their age, sure, but they were brutal conquerors and they definitely were not magnanimous to those perceived as enemy - in this case Welsh into which lands they wanted to expand. I understand this story needed some good guys but they were TOO good. Also they were so scarce that even any semblance of threat by them was nonexistent.
The main antagonist was an absolute donkey. I have no idea why the author didn't make him more sinister and smart. Considering the history of the character, I highly doubt he was as big of an imbecile as shown and the reason given doesn't really work. He is legitimately laughably stupid. It was jarring and honestly infuriating and always made me wonder why is he even the bad guy when all he is doing is the equivalent of walking into poles or, more appropriately, blindfolding self and walking into traffic.
Leather armor...historically it probably existed, but mostly limited to protecting limbs and even then on poorer fighting men. Most people running around in the story would have chain-mail. Normans had it, Donkey boy would have it too being a prince. His band would prolly steal it off corpses. I felt everyone just ran around in leather.
Lastly - the language. It felt modern. Not a negative though as it just made reading the story accessible to modern reader.
Personal gripe -
Solid book, worth a read and with it being so beautiful in physical print, it would be a shame not to have it decorate a shelf. Seriously that cover is gorgeous.
Special TL;DR notes:
So what makes this book so dark? Enjoying the story through the eyes of a person suffering from severe PTSD and a sprinkle of Stockholm syndrome on top is a start. This is the first book I read that shows episodes of such severity from first person perspective in an age when mental illnesses were not really a thing so the heroine is left to fend for herself and her problems. It is quite brutal. Nothing is said explicitly, you see everything through quick flashes of Elen's traumatic experiences from when she was 14 years old.
So the main character of Elen - someone could see her as whiny, but if so, I strongly disagree. The girl is legitimately broken by her experiences. She is fearful, indrawn, insecure and has zero confidence in her own actions. It is very heartbreaking seeing her linger on a decision only to be scared off by her inner demons. It's like a blind person grasping their way in the dark. It was really engagingly written and I couldn't put the book down, and read all 300ish pages in one day, a rarity for me.
So why is this book 4 stars instead of 5? (well...in Cawpile it is 7.29/10 which sounds a bit worse)
Basically everyone else but Elen were one of the points why I had to lower my score. Apart from the main "antagonist" and Nest, everyone was a blank. Some characterization on Rhys, but rest is seen through the lens of Elen and she basically only fears people and we don't really know much beyond that. Nest has a supporting role and we also don't learn much about her besides her role in the story and the main antagonist is basically an idiot. Not like he is not intimidating, but his actions through the stories actually grate on anyone with half a brain.
Which brings me to the second issue - the historicity. Now, historical fiction is a broad genre. Usually it being set in an era from the past already makes it historical fiction. Some readers may put it into a bit higher standard and search for actual historical fact. I do not believe there was much of it here and you will not leave this story with much knowledge. Let me show some points:
The author makes a good point in saying that so far in history you only really work with legends and they tend to favor the side writing them. I do not believe the way to "even the odds" is to simply turn it upside down and now favor the other side. It makes it equally nonsensical.
The Normans were not good people like this book tries to show (for sake of plot). They were a product of their age, sure, but they were brutal conquerors and they definitely were not magnanimous to those perceived as enemy - in this case Welsh into which lands they wanted to expand. I understand this story needed some good guys but they were TOO good. Also they were so scarce that even any semblance of threat by them was nonexistent.
The main antagonist was an absolute donkey. I have no idea why the author didn't make him more sinister and smart. Considering the history of the character, I highly doubt he was as big of an imbecile as shown and the reason given doesn't really work. He is legitimately laughably stupid. It was jarring and honestly infuriating and always made me wonder why is he even the bad guy when all he is doing is the equivalent of walking into poles or, more appropriately, blindfolding self and walking into traffic.
Leather armor...historically it probably existed, but mostly limited to protecting limbs and even then on poorer fighting men. Most people running around in the story would have chain-mail. Normans had it, Donkey boy would have it too being a prince. His band would prolly steal it off corpses. I felt everyone just ran around in leather.
Lastly - the language. It felt modern. Not a negative though as it just made reading the story accessible to modern reader.
Personal gripe -
Solid book, worth a read and with it being so beautiful in physical print, it would be a shame not to have it decorate a shelf. Seriously that cover is gorgeous.
Special TL;DR notes:
March 5, 2020
I was super excited to receive this free advanced digital copy of Spindle and Dagger. It has words or phrases written in Welch. There is a glossary at the front to help explain it also. I'm not giving up, but there are soooo many typos. Between the missing letters and the dialect, it's hard to stay in the story. I want to continue it, but this may be a scenario where I will wait for the finished copy.
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Want to read
March 5, 2020I was super excited to receive this free advanced digital copy of Spindle and Dagger. It has words or phrases written in Welch. There is a glossary at the front to help explain it also. I'm not giving up, but there are soooo many typos. Between the missing letters and the dialect, it's hard to stay in the story. I want to continue it, but this may be a scenario where I will wait for the finished copy.
March 3, 2020
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
2.5
The copy I received was littered with typos which often brought me out of the story and made it hard to follow at points, however, I still found the protagonist very plain. This book had a lot of potentials I found the idea around the main character possibly being a saint and being mistaken for her miracles was interesting, but she MC was quite boring. She didn't really do much other than follow the warlord around and I wanted to learn more about the mythology.
2.5
The copy I received was littered with typos which often brought me out of the story and made it hard to follow at points, however, I still found the protagonist very plain. This book had a lot of potentials I found the idea around the main character possibly being a saint and being mistaken for her miracles was interesting, but she MC was quite boring. She didn't really do much other than follow the warlord around and I wanted to learn more about the mythology.
March 26, 2020
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
I was pretty darn stoked to read a book set in 1109. I mean it even looks cool typed out, does it not? Plus, it's just not a time period I know a ton about and I love to learn cool stuff about old times! And it really is a neat book. Elen is in Wales in the early twelfth century, and obviously things are less on the comfy side and more on the brutal. Her whole family has been slain, and she's worked her way into the inner circle of their murderers.
Now, she travels around with Owain ap Cadwgan, leader of the warband and son of the king. Only, the king doesn't like her, most of the warband despises her, and she's not really sure what she wants. To survive, really, is the bottom line. Until Owain captures the innocent wife and children of an enemy, and she begins to see that there might be another way to live.
The world is, predictably, brutal. Like no one thinks twice of this warband's existence, right? It's totally legit that they raid towns and kill randos. But at the same time, there seems to be some sort of lines one should not cross (like the killing of Owain's Second, which is what lead him to kidnap the family in the first place), which is incredibly interesting. And, this is based on a true story which is even more fun!
Watching Elen have to make so many horrible choices while she remembers all too vividly the demise of her family is rough. But there is hope that she will find a way to live a better life, which is ultimately so worth reading about. Nest and her family are also phenomenal characters, and I was just as concerned (fine, maybe more concerned) for their lives and welfare as I was for Elen's. That, and roaming around twelfth century Wales is just fabulous!
My biggest complaint here is one that is not the author's fault whatsoever, but something that did effect my enjoyment of the book, and I feel like it needs to be addressed, so here we go. I could barely read the thing. I set it aside hoping I'd just get myself a finished copy, but after the world shut down, that wasn't an option anymore so I did my best. At some point, I managed to figure out a lot of what the missing letters were, and tried to turn it into a game of sorts, deciphering a code. Look, I get that eARCs are going to be a little rough, but I need to be able to read the thing in order to give a legitimate review.
Bottom Line: Once I finally started to be able to decode all the missing letters, this was a really solid book with characters that I truly cared about. Plus, the time period and setting were so unique and intriguing!
I was pretty darn stoked to read a book set in 1109. I mean it even looks cool typed out, does it not? Plus, it's just not a time period I know a ton about and I love to learn cool stuff about old times! And it really is a neat book. Elen is in Wales in the early twelfth century, and obviously things are less on the comfy side and more on the brutal. Her whole family has been slain, and she's worked her way into the inner circle of their murderers.
Now, she travels around with Owain ap Cadwgan, leader of the warband and son of the king. Only, the king doesn't like her, most of the warband despises her, and she's not really sure what she wants. To survive, really, is the bottom line. Until Owain captures the innocent wife and children of an enemy, and she begins to see that there might be another way to live.
The world is, predictably, brutal. Like no one thinks twice of this warband's existence, right? It's totally legit that they raid towns and kill randos. But at the same time, there seems to be some sort of lines one should not cross (like the killing of Owain's Second, which is what lead him to kidnap the family in the first place), which is incredibly interesting. And, this is based on a true story which is even more fun!
Watching Elen have to make so many horrible choices while she remembers all too vividly the demise of her family is rough. But there is hope that she will find a way to live a better life, which is ultimately so worth reading about. Nest and her family are also phenomenal characters, and I was just as concerned (fine, maybe more concerned) for their lives and welfare as I was for Elen's. That, and roaming around twelfth century Wales is just fabulous!
My biggest complaint here is one that is not the author's fault whatsoever, but something that did effect my enjoyment of the book, and I feel like it needs to be addressed, so here we go. I could barely read the thing. I set it aside hoping I'd just get myself a finished copy, but after the world shut down, that wasn't an option anymore so I did my best. At some point, I managed to figure out a lot of what the missing letters were, and tried to turn it into a game of sorts, deciphering a code. Look, I get that eARCs are going to be a little rough, but I need to be able to read the thing in order to give a legitimate review.
Bottom Line: Once I finally started to be able to decode all the missing letters, this was a really solid book with characters that I truly cared about. Plus, the time period and setting were so unique and intriguing!
March 5, 2020
Wales, 1109: When Elen's home was raided by a warband three years ago her younger sister died in the ensuing fires. Her older sister was cut down just short of killing the warband's leader, Owain ap Cadwgan. Despite the violence and her own sexual assault, Elen survived, healing Owain ap Cadwgan's wounds and weaving a tale of protection.
She tells all who will listen that Owain ap Cadwgan cannot be killed--not by blade, blow, or poison--so long as Saint Elen protects him, so long as he keeps her namesake by his side.
None of what she tells them is true.
Balanced on a knife's edge and haunted by echoes of the raid that killed her family, Elen knows one false step, one accident could leave Owain dead and render her own life forfeit.
When Owain abducts Nest, the wife of a Norman lord, and her children, war soon follows. As her lies begin to unravel, Elen dares to imagine a different life but first she will have to determine where her loyalties lie in Spindle and Dagger (2020) by J. Anderson Coats.
Elen's first person narration is frank and immediately engrossing, drawing readers into the precarious world she has created for herself. With violence and danger everywhere, Elen is forced to be as calculating and as ruthless as the warband that is both her greatest protection and her greatest danger.
High action and battles contrast sharply with the choices Elen is forced to make to ensure her own survival. Coats' evocative prose and themes of agency and feminism add nuance and depth to this otherwise fast-paced story.
Spindle and Dagger is brutal, bloody, and carefully researched historical fiction. Recommended for readers looking for fierce heroines and history with all the gory details.
Possible Pairings: Damsel by Elana K. Arnold, The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green, Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Perez, Kingdom of Ash and Briars by Hannah West, The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
She tells all who will listen that Owain ap Cadwgan cannot be killed--not by blade, blow, or poison--so long as Saint Elen protects him, so long as he keeps her namesake by his side.
None of what she tells them is true.
Balanced on a knife's edge and haunted by echoes of the raid that killed her family, Elen knows one false step, one accident could leave Owain dead and render her own life forfeit.
When Owain abducts Nest, the wife of a Norman lord, and her children, war soon follows. As her lies begin to unravel, Elen dares to imagine a different life but first she will have to determine where her loyalties lie in Spindle and Dagger (2020) by J. Anderson Coats.
Elen's first person narration is frank and immediately engrossing, drawing readers into the precarious world she has created for herself. With violence and danger everywhere, Elen is forced to be as calculating and as ruthless as the warband that is both her greatest protection and her greatest danger.
High action and battles contrast sharply with the choices Elen is forced to make to ensure her own survival. Coats' evocative prose and themes of agency and feminism add nuance and depth to this otherwise fast-paced story.
Spindle and Dagger is brutal, bloody, and carefully researched historical fiction. Recommended for readers looking for fierce heroines and history with all the gory details.
Possible Pairings: Damsel by Elana K. Arnold, The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green, Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Perez, Kingdom of Ash and Briars by Hannah West, The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
November 3, 2019
I won an ARC of Spindle and Dagger in a giveaway from the author - thank you! All opinions are my own.
Spindle and Dagger is a YA historical fiction novel where the setting and the writing both remind me of Juliet Marillier's books. The book begins after Elen's home was raided and her family killed (we're given more details about this event throughout the book). Elen survived the raid by healing Owain, the leader of the warband. As part of this healing, she pretended that Saint Elen helped him and that he now has her protection, as long as he keeps Elen safe. Owain kidnaps Nest (the wife of a Norman lord) and her children, causing political ramifications. Elen befriends Nest and her children and begins to think about a better life for herself.
The good: I liked Elen quite a bit! I thought she was very intelligent and definitely thought she did what she had to do in order to survive. She doesn't really have any friends or protectors, aside from Owain, at the beginning of the book and I thought the author did an excellent job depicting her isolation. Elen's journey of recovering from these horrible events and finding out how to move forward with her life is touching.
The not as good: The book was a little slow in places and the plot was perhaps a little simplistic. These aren't really major complaints though.
Overall, I enjoyed Spindle and Dagger. I would recommend this to fans of historical fiction and readers who enjoy stories about surviving and overcoming traumatic events. I do think this book is a bit lighter in tone than many of Juliet Marillier's books (perhaps because this is YA), so that could be better for some readers. I had no idea that this was based on actual historical events, so that was cool to learn!
Spindle and Dagger is a YA historical fiction novel where the setting and the writing both remind me of Juliet Marillier's books. The book begins after Elen's home was raided and her family killed (we're given more details about this event throughout the book). Elen survived the raid by healing Owain, the leader of the warband. As part of this healing, she pretended that Saint Elen helped him and that he now has her protection, as long as he keeps Elen safe. Owain kidnaps Nest (the wife of a Norman lord) and her children, causing political ramifications. Elen befriends Nest and her children and begins to think about a better life for herself.
The good: I liked Elen quite a bit! I thought she was very intelligent and definitely thought she did what she had to do in order to survive. She doesn't really have any friends or protectors, aside from Owain, at the beginning of the book and I thought the author did an excellent job depicting her isolation. Elen's journey of recovering from these horrible events and finding out how to move forward with her life is touching.
The not as good: The book was a little slow in places and the plot was perhaps a little simplistic. These aren't really major complaints though.
Overall, I enjoyed Spindle and Dagger. I would recommend this to fans of historical fiction and readers who enjoy stories about surviving and overcoming traumatic events. I do think this book is a bit lighter in tone than many of Juliet Marillier's books (perhaps because this is YA), so that could be better for some readers. I had no idea that this was based on actual historical events, so that was cool to learn!
April 15, 2020
Seventeen year old Elen belongs to the warbander Owain, who murdered her family three years ago. In order to survive the assault, she ministered to his injury, and told him that she could keep him from harm as long as she was safe, due to her prayerful relationship with her saintly namesake, Saint Elen. In this setting of warring violent micro-kingdoms in twelfth century Wales, Elen is as safe as anyone can be. But she cannot stop reliving the horrific slaughter of her family at the hands of Owain and his band: her parents and sisters murdered, their farm burned and her own rape by the band. She “playacts” in order to live, in the role of devoted concubine to Owain. When Owain kidnaps Nest, the wife of a prominent Norman lord, along with her three children, Elen is drawn to them, as she is still grieving her own family. She tries to protect them from the violence of the band, which she constantly relives from her own experience. Elen’s compliance with Owain takes the reader a while to understand: why would she cling to him when he is the source of her pain? It eventually becomes clear that Owain, although he is a violent warlord, is her only family now and seems to be her only means of survival. This is an intense drama in a violent historical setting, with abuse and survival psychology in play. Nevertheless, one can’t help but root for Elen as she navigates her survivor guilt and hatches a plan to free herself from her captors. I also liked the rich details of food, dress, politics and daily life.
The style of the lovely cover art seems aimed at younger readers, but it is definitely not for readers under age 14.
The style of the lovely cover art seems aimed at younger readers, but it is definitely not for readers under age 14.
December 19, 2019
A testament to good writing is that you feel a genuine empathy and attachment to the characters. You get upset when bad things happen to them and you feel joy when things go well. That is how I felt regarding the main characters in J. Anderson Coats new novel “Spindle and Dagger”. Set in 11th century Wales, the story follows Elen a Welsh peasant whose family a few years before had been slaughtered in front of her by the soldiers of a Welsh Prince. She herself is then raped by the same soldiers and she ends up saving herself by healing the Prince’s wounds and convincing him that a Saint Elen will protect him and keep him alive as long as she is kept safe. The main plot then revolves around her keeping this lie alive and how it starts to crumble when the same Prince kidnaps another Nobel’s wife and children.
Coats has created a world that is alive and genuine. She has crafted characters that you truly want to succeed and save themselves. Emotionally I was drawn to the two main female characters of Elen and Nest, the kidnapped Princess. Coats gives us a look not just into these two fictional characters lives, but also shows the devastating existence most females went through in that same time period. She also does a very good job making the villains in the story be more than just one-dimensional tropes. She makes them human, which makes their behavior all the more tragic. The only thing that bothered me was the cover graphic. It was done in a way that implies this is a YA book. But the subject matter and the plot is most certainly Adult.
Coats has created a world that is alive and genuine. She has crafted characters that you truly want to succeed and save themselves. Emotionally I was drawn to the two main female characters of Elen and Nest, the kidnapped Princess. Coats gives us a look not just into these two fictional characters lives, but also shows the devastating existence most females went through in that same time period. She also does a very good job making the villains in the story be more than just one-dimensional tropes. She makes them human, which makes their behavior all the more tragic. The only thing that bothered me was the cover graphic. It was done in a way that implies this is a YA book. But the subject matter and the plot is most certainly Adult.
April 8, 2020
I REALLY wanted to get into this one!
Unfortunately the writing style completely left me in the dust. At the front of the book, there is a pronunciation guide that is supposed to help with the reading process. But it just wasn’t enough for me.
I didn’t realize that the entire book was going to be set with a heavy, yet true, Welsh presence, so as I was trying to get into the story, I saw myself distracted by the writing itself.
While the plot and characters were intriguing and created a world I wanted to be in, I just couldn’t fully grasp the situation due to the writing style.
I do think that if you want a book that will challenge you and give you diversity, you should give this one a try! A 2 out of 5 stars from me.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions only and are not influenced I any way.*
Unfortunately the writing style completely left me in the dust. At the front of the book, there is a pronunciation guide that is supposed to help with the reading process. But it just wasn’t enough for me.
I didn’t realize that the entire book was going to be set with a heavy, yet true, Welsh presence, so as I was trying to get into the story, I saw myself distracted by the writing itself.
While the plot and characters were intriguing and created a world I wanted to be in, I just couldn’t fully grasp the situation due to the writing style.
I do think that if you want a book that will challenge you and give you diversity, you should give this one a try! A 2 out of 5 stars from me.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions only and are not influenced I any way.*
January 6, 2021
This rich literary novel follows Elen, who must live a precarious lie in order to survive among the medieval Welsh warband that killed her family.
Wales, 1109. Three years ago, a warband raided Elen’s home. Her baby sister could not escape the flames. Her older sister fought back and almost killed the warband’s leader, Owain ap Cadwgan, before being killed herself. Despite Elen’s own sexual assault at the hands of the raiders, she saw a chance to live and took it. She healed Owain’s wound and spun a lie: Owain ap Cadwgan, son of the king of Powys, cannot be killed, not by blade nor blow nor poison. Owain ap Cadwgan has the protection of Saint Elen, as long as he keeps her namesake safe from harm and near him always.
For three years, Elen has had plenty of food, clothes to wear, and a bed to sleep in that she shares with the man who brought that warband to her door. Then Owain abducts Nest, the wife of a Norman lord, and her three children, triggering full-out war. As war rages, and her careful lies threaten to unravel, Elen begins to look to Nest and see a different life — if she can decide, once and for all, where her loyalties lie. J. Anderson Coats’s evocative prose immerses the reader in a dark but ultimately affirming tale of power and survival.
Out March 2020
304 Pages
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
When writing a book, the first chapter is the most important. It must hook the reader and show the conflict of the Protagonist. The following chapters should help the reader see the whys, hows, wheres, etc. by telling you who the Protagonist is and his/her main goal.
This book does not. Or at least it doesn’t enough, especially in providing a hook for the reader compelling enough to want to know more.
There are hints of an event in the Protagonist’s past that should explains why Elen is the way she is, but they are only hints and never realized at the end. The author lets the reader try to piece bits and pieces together in an effort of understanding the main character. This proved frustrating and turned the reader off. All loose ends should be wrapped up by the end of the story, including all plot issues and sub-plot issues.
So for me, the writing is lacking.
The character is interesting enough giving a strong argument to how women of an era must do whatever it takes to survive, even sacrificing her own worth and dignity. Readers may find her weak and cowardly, drastically flawed. This could have worked well if the character grew from her weaknesses and developed into a stronger version of herself by the end. This didn’t seem to happen enough for me.
I suppose if the story had been more fleshed out, the character development continuous and efficient enough to see change and growth, thus providing answers and understandings… then perhaps, the author would have achieved success with this reader.
I’m a strong historical fiction reader, so loved the idea and premise of this book. I received an ARC so I didn’t think much about editing or typos since normally, all of that is dealt with by the final copy. Because of the dialect used, it might have been better if the ARC provided had been the one prior to the final copy so focus would not have been distracted by the editing issues.
Overall, it was a good effort of a book, but the unfinished business left unresolved was just too much for me.
Wales, 1109. Three years ago, a warband raided Elen’s home. Her baby sister could not escape the flames. Her older sister fought back and almost killed the warband’s leader, Owain ap Cadwgan, before being killed herself. Despite Elen’s own sexual assault at the hands of the raiders, she saw a chance to live and took it. She healed Owain’s wound and spun a lie: Owain ap Cadwgan, son of the king of Powys, cannot be killed, not by blade nor blow nor poison. Owain ap Cadwgan has the protection of Saint Elen, as long as he keeps her namesake safe from harm and near him always.
For three years, Elen has had plenty of food, clothes to wear, and a bed to sleep in that she shares with the man who brought that warband to her door. Then Owain abducts Nest, the wife of a Norman lord, and her three children, triggering full-out war. As war rages, and her careful lies threaten to unravel, Elen begins to look to Nest and see a different life — if she can decide, once and for all, where her loyalties lie. J. Anderson Coats’s evocative prose immerses the reader in a dark but ultimately affirming tale of power and survival.
Out March 2020
304 Pages
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
When writing a book, the first chapter is the most important. It must hook the reader and show the conflict of the Protagonist. The following chapters should help the reader see the whys, hows, wheres, etc. by telling you who the Protagonist is and his/her main goal.
This book does not. Or at least it doesn’t enough, especially in providing a hook for the reader compelling enough to want to know more.
There are hints of an event in the Protagonist’s past that should explains why Elen is the way she is, but they are only hints and never realized at the end. The author lets the reader try to piece bits and pieces together in an effort of understanding the main character. This proved frustrating and turned the reader off. All loose ends should be wrapped up by the end of the story, including all plot issues and sub-plot issues.
So for me, the writing is lacking.
The character is interesting enough giving a strong argument to how women of an era must do whatever it takes to survive, even sacrificing her own worth and dignity. Readers may find her weak and cowardly, drastically flawed. This could have worked well if the character grew from her weaknesses and developed into a stronger version of herself by the end. This didn’t seem to happen enough for me.
I suppose if the story had been more fleshed out, the character development continuous and efficient enough to see change and growth, thus providing answers and understandings… then perhaps, the author would have achieved success with this reader.
I’m a strong historical fiction reader, so loved the idea and premise of this book. I received an ARC so I didn’t think much about editing or typos since normally, all of that is dealt with by the final copy. Because of the dialect used, it might have been better if the ARC provided had been the one prior to the final copy so focus would not have been distracted by the editing issues.
Overall, it was a good effort of a book, but the unfinished business left unresolved was just too much for me.
March 9, 2020
Wales in 1109 was a dangerous place for a woman, especially a woman with a secret.
This is the story of Elen, a girl whose family was slaughtered at the hands of one Owain ap Cadwgan and his band of warriors. Elen intends to survive. She finds herself assaulted, but in a position to use her power to spin a lie and convince Owain that he has been blessed and cannot die while under her protection. Clothed, fed, and living a lie, Elen finds herself well cared for, until Owain kidnaps the wife and children of a Norman warlord. Elen's lies seem to be on the brink of spinning out of control as war rages with the Normans.
This is a meticulously researched and written novel that evokes the brutality of the world in the twelfth century. Interesting action scenes pared with beautiful prose make this an enjoyable read for anyone who loves history and appreciates the gritty-ness of the time period. Coats describes in brutal detail the challenges, battles, and sexual assaults that likely took place at the time. This is not a book that is a watered-down accounting of Norman warlords in the twelfth century, this is the all-out, all-encompassing, and incredibly brutal novel that is, most likely, very close to the reality.
The book has solid character development through the second half of the book, though I do agree with other reviewers that the overall pacing in the first half of the book is slow. I do think that the writing makes up for this slow exposition through the exploration of the relationship between Elen and Nest, the kidnapped wife of Gerald of Windsor.
Though this is a young adult novel, I would caution anyone under the age of 16 to read it due to its graphic violence. It wouldn't be a good historical fiction novel without violence, but this can get extreme at times. My only other criticism is that the passage of time seems to be choppy and the scene structure can get in the way of the narrative, but this is a small complaint.
I really enjoyed this book and I would encourage historical fiction lovers to pick up a copy! The book releases March 10th, 2020!
Thank you to Candlewick Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book, it was a privilege to read it and I thoroughly enjoyed it! This is a freely given review.
This is the story of Elen, a girl whose family was slaughtered at the hands of one Owain ap Cadwgan and his band of warriors. Elen intends to survive. She finds herself assaulted, but in a position to use her power to spin a lie and convince Owain that he has been blessed and cannot die while under her protection. Clothed, fed, and living a lie, Elen finds herself well cared for, until Owain kidnaps the wife and children of a Norman warlord. Elen's lies seem to be on the brink of spinning out of control as war rages with the Normans.
This is a meticulously researched and written novel that evokes the brutality of the world in the twelfth century. Interesting action scenes pared with beautiful prose make this an enjoyable read for anyone who loves history and appreciates the gritty-ness of the time period. Coats describes in brutal detail the challenges, battles, and sexual assaults that likely took place at the time. This is not a book that is a watered-down accounting of Norman warlords in the twelfth century, this is the all-out, all-encompassing, and incredibly brutal novel that is, most likely, very close to the reality.
The book has solid character development through the second half of the book, though I do agree with other reviewers that the overall pacing in the first half of the book is slow. I do think that the writing makes up for this slow exposition through the exploration of the relationship between Elen and Nest, the kidnapped wife of Gerald of Windsor.
Though this is a young adult novel, I would caution anyone under the age of 16 to read it due to its graphic violence. It wouldn't be a good historical fiction novel without violence, but this can get extreme at times. My only other criticism is that the passage of time seems to be choppy and the scene structure can get in the way of the narrative, but this is a small complaint.
I really enjoyed this book and I would encourage historical fiction lovers to pick up a copy! The book releases March 10th, 2020!
Thank you to Candlewick Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book, it was a privilege to read it and I thoroughly enjoyed it! This is a freely given review.
June 23, 2024
This sinks its teeth into a historical period of constantly warring tribes, and their vye for power at the cost of anyone, who showed the slightest sign of weakness.
The world is in unrest with ever shifting sides and those in between who take what they want without scrutiny. Elen has already watched her innocent family being slaughtered before her eyes, and now survives thanks to a lie she used to save herself. Tethered to a leading warrior's side, she's believed to be sent from a Saint, her name's sake, and has kept the warrior from death for years. But the shifting power struggles are sliding in a new direction. Not only are the stakes during the battles higher, but her secret threatens to be exposed.
This is set in 12th century Wales, a time where the entire country seeped under attacks and wars as various powers tried to gain the overhand. The tale is not presented with any cushioning to ease the brutality. Instead, it follows an historical incident, and playing the game of 'what if', fills in holes. There is no fantasy, and the author tries to stick to realistic possibility in a grabbing and tense way. It is a grabbing read and does a nice job at delivering an engaging tale while shedding some light on the time period.
While YA historical reads tend to sink into romance, this book does not. Instead, it takes a peek at political shoves for power and intrigue. It concentrates on the factors which drove the merciless behavior which left the country in blood. Also, the relationship between men and women grows clear...and not with a lightness readers might expect. It is complex and interesting.
While all of this plays out, the author does side-step other aspects outside of the warring powers, which would have added more depth. It would have been nice to see more details and gain a little insight into the life of anyone not directly working in the power plays, especially since Elen comes from this 'usual' folk perspective herself. But anyone who enjoys historic ventures with truth, grit, and a glimpse at what true heroines might have looked like, is in for quite the read with this one. I received a DRC through Edelweiss and enjoyed it quite a bit.
The world is in unrest with ever shifting sides and those in between who take what they want without scrutiny. Elen has already watched her innocent family being slaughtered before her eyes, and now survives thanks to a lie she used to save herself. Tethered to a leading warrior's side, she's believed to be sent from a Saint, her name's sake, and has kept the warrior from death for years. But the shifting power struggles are sliding in a new direction. Not only are the stakes during the battles higher, but her secret threatens to be exposed.
This is set in 12th century Wales, a time where the entire country seeped under attacks and wars as various powers tried to gain the overhand. The tale is not presented with any cushioning to ease the brutality. Instead, it follows an historical incident, and playing the game of 'what if', fills in holes. There is no fantasy, and the author tries to stick to realistic possibility in a grabbing and tense way. It is a grabbing read and does a nice job at delivering an engaging tale while shedding some light on the time period.
While YA historical reads tend to sink into romance, this book does not. Instead, it takes a peek at political shoves for power and intrigue. It concentrates on the factors which drove the merciless behavior which left the country in blood. Also, the relationship between men and women grows clear...and not with a lightness readers might expect. It is complex and interesting.
While all of this plays out, the author does side-step other aspects outside of the warring powers, which would have added more depth. It would have been nice to see more details and gain a little insight into the life of anyone not directly working in the power plays, especially since Elen comes from this 'usual' folk perspective herself. But anyone who enjoys historic ventures with truth, grit, and a glimpse at what true heroines might have looked like, is in for quite the read with this one. I received a DRC through Edelweiss and enjoyed it quite a bit.
November 4, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy for review.
I went into this thinking it would lean slightly on the fairytale end but it's pretty solidly historical fiction. I liked this enough to read it all in one day. The characters were fine. Seeing as how they are ripped from history, most felt true to the source. I, however, know pretty much nothing of medieval Welsh history. There is a decent amount of action, given that we mainly follow Owain and his teulu (war band). They pillage and raid their way through Wales, mainly trying to keep the Normans out. Elen gets picked up along the way because after they burn her house and murder her family, she convinces them she speaks to Saint Elen. She does this to save her own skin, so props for the quick thinking. However there is not much more to her character outside of this. I think we are meant to sympathize with her for being trapped with a power hungry Welsh heir, but everything she does shows she wants to be there on some level. She repeatedly tries to insert herself in his family, even though they truly hate her for whispering in Owain's ear. Then when Owain makes a huge political blunder and kidnaps a royal wife and her children, Elen immediately tries to worm her way into their family. Unfortunately all of this really takes place as inner dialogue, so it is a whole lot of tell and not show. Elen just rubbed me the wrong way after awhile, especially when she starts feeling like people owe her since she hasn't actually done much of anything. She is also incredibly naive given how she lives. Outside of that most of the other characters don't really matter much. Owain is your typical war band leader, and the rest just stay in the background. There isn't much actual plot to me outside of Elen trying to save herself. I think I would have enjoyed this more if the focus had been on Owain and his father and the political insanity of trying to maintain borders and keep the English and French out.
I went into this thinking it would lean slightly on the fairytale end but it's pretty solidly historical fiction. I liked this enough to read it all in one day. The characters were fine. Seeing as how they are ripped from history, most felt true to the source. I, however, know pretty much nothing of medieval Welsh history. There is a decent amount of action, given that we mainly follow Owain and his teulu (war band). They pillage and raid their way through Wales, mainly trying to keep the Normans out. Elen gets picked up along the way because after they burn her house and murder her family, she convinces them she speaks to Saint Elen. She does this to save her own skin, so props for the quick thinking. However there is not much more to her character outside of this. I think we are meant to sympathize with her for being trapped with a power hungry Welsh heir, but everything she does shows she wants to be there on some level. She repeatedly tries to insert herself in his family, even though they truly hate her for whispering in Owain's ear. Then when Owain makes a huge political blunder and kidnaps a royal wife and her children, Elen immediately tries to worm her way into their family. Unfortunately all of this really takes place as inner dialogue, so it is a whole lot of tell and not show. Elen just rubbed me the wrong way after awhile, especially when she starts feeling like people owe her since she hasn't actually done much of anything. She is also incredibly naive given how she lives. Outside of that most of the other characters don't really matter much. Owain is your typical war band leader, and the rest just stay in the background. There isn't much actual plot to me outside of Elen trying to save herself. I think I would have enjoyed this more if the focus had been on Owain and his father and the political insanity of trying to maintain borders and keep the English and French out.
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