Born of the Sun

Rating:
Summary: Excellent and moving!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Simply wonderful!
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: Simply wonderful!
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: beautiful book, sheds light on a little-known era of history
Review: 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!