Born of the Sun

This book is absolutely outstanding. I could not put it down and wanted to read the whole thing over again as soon as I finished. This book is filled with history, love, treachery, intrigue, a truly evil villaness, battles and more. Ceawlin and Niniane are a wonderful couple -- I enjoyed the pairing of the pagen Saxon who would be high king and the Christian British Princess Niniane. Learning to make a marriage with such two opposing lifestyles and customs, the hatred and mistrust between the Britains and Saxons make for compelling reading. This is a must read for any lover of historical fiction, and sheds light on a little known period of England in the dark ages.

This is the compelling, never boring story of Ceawlin, illegitimate Prince of the King Cynric, of the West Saxons & Ceawlin's soon to be unlikely bride, Niniane, Princess of the Celts, a captive of his father's. It begins in the middle of the 6th century, in Wessex, England. Ceawlin is challenged to a duel by his younger legitimate brother, Edwin, who is in league with his mother to kill the popular prince. Prince Ceawlin wins the duel but at a great cost and he and Niniane must flee to escape the wrath of Guthfrid, the bitter and jealous Queen. The adventures of these two are the sweeping tales of well-loved and often told sagas (or should be). The plots and subplots abound and the desire to know what happens next to Ceawlin, Niniane and their friends and enemies is gripping. The differences between pagan and Christian are intricately described as are the differences in the Celts and the Saxons lifestyles. I've read the first in this "loose" trilogy, "The Road To Avalon." This novel picks up 80 years after the death of King Arthur and continues with the story of Alfred the Great in "The Edge Of Light." In fact I've just started on "The Edge of Light" and it looks to be a genuine page turner as the first two. Read these books if you like historical fiction of The Dark Ages in England! You won't be disappointed!

I loved this book! The characters were real and raw, the plot moved smoothly, and the elegance of the writing made the love story even more touching. I felt like I was transported into the story, and I never wanted to put the book down! I highly recommend this novel -- this is some of Wolf's best work. I cried more than once!

I had previously read another Joan Wolf book - The Road to Avalon - and quite enjoyed it. Actually, quite enjoyed it is not saying enough. It was absolutely wonderful and I laughed and cried and cheered and cursed and lived along with it. That was an Arthurian book. This book takes place almost 100 years after Arthur's death when the Saxons and Britons really start mixing, peacefully and at war. Definitely an engaging book, one that I could barely put down.

This book by Joan Wolf is part of a trilogy on the making of Britain, starting with King Arthur and Morgan in The Road to Avalon, this one, Born of the Sun, and ending with Alfred the Great in The Edge of Light. Born of the Sun is about the clash between the Celts and the Saxons in the 6th century. Although it is less based on outside sources than the other two (just the the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle instead of legends or historical records), it is a powerful, moving novel about what might-have-been, and indeed probably was. The main characters, the Saxon Ceawlin of Wessex and his Celtic wife Niniane, have a beautiful love story, set against the turmoil of the times. Ceawlin did exist, and, as Wolf says in her afterword, was one of the few kings in the AS Chronicle upon which the Saxon title of Bretwalda, or "ruler of Britain" was bestowed. BUT, don't read this book for the history. Read it for the writing, as always superb - Joan Wolf is in top form. Do yourself a favor and buy this book today!