Reviews

Medievalists.net
Sandra Sadowski

Official link here: Medievalists.net

Rich characters, misery, betrayal, sex and a dose of brutal Viking violence, mixed together for an easy, enjoyable read!

Author Jayden Woods releases her next offering in the “Sons of Mercia” trilogy, “Volume 2: Godric the Kingslayer” This story picks up on the life of Eadric Streona’s son, Godric.

It’s hard being the son of the most reviled man in England. That’s Godric’s first strike against him – having Eadric Streona, “The Grasper”, as a father. Second strike? Godric is Eadric’s bastard, his mother being Hildred, not Aydith the Aetheling. The final strike? Godric’s path in life is set into motion when he aides his father Eadric in committing a horrific murder at the tender age of nine. He pays dearly for his involvement and this first act negatively shades the rest of his adult life. The book is about Godric’s hardship after Eadric’s death, how the assassination impacted his world view and his struggle to overcome the adversity he faced because of it.

First, let me say that I enjoyed this book ten times more than the “Sons of Mercia, Volume 1: Eadric the Grasper”. This is not to say “Eadric…” wasn’t a good book, but Godric’s story captured my interest on a deeper level. Godric is fictional but based on a historical character. Eadric did have a son and it was assumed that he helped Eadric assassinate Edmund Ironside but there is little more than that to his story. From a writing perspective, this was great because Woods had an almost empty slate from which to build Godric’s character. She could take the reader anywhere she wanted while safely staying in the bounds of her historical period.

So we have “Godric”, a young, impressionable boy of nine who starts off in the book desperately trying to please his father, Eadric, and agrees to help him carry out an assassination. The murder goes off without a hitch but Godric pays dearly after Eadric is killed by Canute and Godric is forced to flee to safety. Unfortunately, Godric is caught and has his eye cruelly cut out for being the son of a traitor. After being maimed, Godric is taken in by Thorkell the Tall – a good friend of his father’s. He becomes a Jomsviking and learns how to fight and become a warrior. All the time, plotting a way to get his revenge on Canute for Eadric’s death and his eye.

The entire book has Godric encountering one misfortune after the next. You feel rather sorry for the Godric; he loses those people closest to him, he’s generally reviled, and when he finally gets in a position of redressing his wrongs, it’s hollow and doesn’t quite work out as planned. Even in love, Godric’s life is a mess. He falls in love with Osgifu, the daughter of Lindsey, one of Eadric’s loyal men but tragedy strikes and a horrible event tears Godric and Osgifu apart. It is not until the very end of the novel that we see some hope and light come into Godric’s life. Murphy’a Law has not been kind to Godric, that’s for sure!

I like the fact that Godric has moments of kindness and clarity about his life. I enjoyed watching him struggle through his anger and need for revenge to get to a better place. He has moments where he shows his kinder side. In one scene, where he is supposed to rape a girl, he gets her to make a lot of noise behind closed doors so that it sounds like he’s raping her but he doesn’t and lets her go. He’s a very violent and bitter character, but he’s not heartless and I liked seeing those snippets where the good in him peeks out. He saved face in front of the Jomsvikings and the girl was unharmed.

Canute and Aydith are featured prominently in this book – Godric hates them both and they are where he aims the bulk of his ire. Aydith, and her three children (all Eadric’s) despise Godric equally in the beginning of the novel but later on in the book, Aydith pities him and tries to get him to see another way of living life. Canute also repents for what he’s done but still, in these moments where Godric has the opportunity to take advice or make amends, he’s not ready to do so and his misery continues throughout the story. The characters in the book are complex and interesting. As much as I despised Canute, I enjoyed reading about him. Thorkell and Aydith are also favourites, with rich stories and intense personalities.

The style: It has a fast-paced, fantasy-esque feel to the novel. It’s not The Simarillion, or A Game of Thrones territory, but it’s a pleasant, fun read. Woods does a great job weaving together fiction and historical fact and maintains a balance so that the reading is never dry or dull. It’s a bit depressing at times that Godric doesn’t get a break until near the end of the book, but the events that get him there are exciting and keep the reader’s interest. The book is violent and graphic at times but the brutality lends itself perfectly to the period and the tone of the story – Godric’s life is constantly tinged by violence, regret and sorrow.

If you’re looking for a fun historical fiction novel, and you like fantasy, and the Anglo-Saxon/early Norman period, this book is definitely for you. In 2012, Woods will follow up with her third offering, “The Sons of Mercia, Volume 3: Edric the Wild”, that will follow another one of Eadric’s descendants during the Norman Conquest.

 

Review by:
John H. Manhold
Historical Novel Society Review Online

http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/hnr-online.htm

 

GODRIC THE KINGSLAYER (Sons of Mercia, vol. 2)
November 2011

Eadric Streona is an unusual swineherd who, by intelligent maneuvering and some good fortune, managed to elevate his position in medieval Mercia, becoming a significant property owner and associate of kings. His bastard son Godric, shunned by his parents, is favored by Thorkall the Tall, a Jomsviking ruler in Denmark and a friend of the English king. When Eadric is killed, Godric seeks vengeance and goes to Denmark, where he becomes a mighty warrior. He returns to England, where he's involved in the endless intrigue, betrayal, deceit, suspicion, distrust, and jealousy inherent in the chaotic struggle for power that marked the period.
    The author has given us a protagonist who must make endless decisions for which he does not seem qualified. The combination of Godric's courage and his naivete often lead him into trouble, but even so, the author has provided an interesting story set in a period rife with conflict and strange characters.

-- John H. Manhold

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Review by:
KAY J. BLALOCK, PhD
Department of History and Political Science
STLCC Meramec

“He understood why people must die.  The death of certain people put the world into balance.”  This understanding comes to Godric, bastard son of the first “son of Mercia,” Eadric the Grasper, at an early age.  Godric the Kingslayer, as he eventually will be known, takes it upon himself to live his life accordingly—as the one destined to “put the world into balance.”

Despite his age, or perhaps because of it, Godric finds himself again and again caught up in the rivalries for the throne of Engla-lond.  Woods reintroduces us to such historic figures as Edmund Ironside, Canute, Queen Emma, and Edward, as well as the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian warriors whose bids for survival and power enrich not only the eleventh century but this work of historical fiction.  The introduction of Godric to this mix provides a quick-paced and fascinating journey of the outsider on the inside through a critical period in history.  Sweeping the reader along with him, Godric serves, more often than not, as an unwilling participant at the center of the intrigue and danger that comprise the story of the past and the narrative of the novel.

Throughout his and our journey, the author guides us by developing sympathetic characters, such as Osgifu, the eldest red-headed daughter of Lindsey, boon companion of Godric’s father.  It is to her that Godric will turn, either in thought or in deed, during various traumatic times in his own emergence from a boy to manhood.  The effeminate minstrel, Sigurd, offers a friendship that informs and shapes the man that Godric is and will become.  One can only wonder if Godric would have survived his coming of age without such a friend.  More likely than not, however, the reader, like the title character, must come to grips with several individuals who seem hell-bent on injuring or destroying the young man, although a few, in-the-end, offer more good than harm for Godric’s growth to manhood.  His evil, or at least so he believes, stepmother is one such example.  With her death, we see this young battle-scarred man seriously grieving and crying over her grave.

 Once again, Jayden Woods creates a contextually factual and colorful narrative that will enlighten as well as entertain the reader.  Her fictional characters, as in the first Sons of Mercia volume, become real people in the reader’s mind, adding to rather than taking away from the historic possibilities she creates.  I once heard an academic historian refer to scholarship as educated guessing.  The historian works with the resources available.  The historical novelist enhances those resources with an imagination that suggests the aforementioned historical possibilities.  As an historian, I highly recommend Godric the Kingslayer.
 

Review by:
RON FRIEDMAN
Creator of GI JOE, THE BIONIC SIX, THE MARVEL ACTION HOUR
Writer of THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE

If you had given up finding derring to match do in an exciting historical romance because Sir Walter Scott was dead, weep no more. Eadric the Grasper by Jayden Woods brings homicidal Vikings, ferocious lovers, and frequent murder most foul to brilliant life in literary 3D. Turn away from thy Twitter and grab it.

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Customer Reviews

A few reviews are already available on the Goodreads website from readers who have received promotional copies. Thank you to all my readers who have taken the time to rate and review both "Eadric the Grasper" and the "Lost Tales of Mercia"!

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Review by:
KAY J. BLALOCK, PhD
Department of History
STLCC Meramec

Historical fiction uses real people and events to tell a story of the past not as it occurred, at least according to the records available to us, but as it could have been.  Good historical fiction enriches the historical sources to tell a story that is not only believable but provides insight into people and events of the past.  Jayden Woods’s, Eadric the Grasper, the first volume in a proposed two volume Sons of Mercia series, falls into the latter category—good historical fiction.

Using eleventh and twelfth century chronicles, as well as other sources, Woods presents the reader with a very different Eadric Streona of Staffordshire, Engla-lond [England].  According to the historical record, The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester, A.D. 1007, writes Woods, ‘[Eadric] was a man of humble birth, but his tongue procured him both riches and station; he was of a ready wit, of persuasive eloquence, and surpassed all his contemporaries in malice, perfidy, pride, and cruelty.’  Although Woods makes this historical Eadric the title character of her novel, she introduces and creates a protagonist whose reasoning and purpose calls into question the perspective and therefore the utter villainy of record.  Woods uses the license of the fiction genre to give the reader a believable historical character with whom we can relate on a more personal level.  Eadric the Grasper becomes a man who we can better understand, and through him, come to comprehend an often confusing period in medieval English history, a period in which the Anglo-Saxons, Danes, and Vikings in general contended for political and cultural control of the island that would become today’s England and Scotland.

Eadric the Grasper carries the reader through fifteen years of history with its focus on this one man, his family, and his endeavors and adventures.  Through his life, as created by Woods, the reader readily learns about the medieval context in which Eadric’s life, and all his trials and errors, take place.  One individual Eadric encounters is Queen Emma, a woman of Normandy who must use her own mental prowess and wiles to maneuver the invasions, wars, and political climate to do what she feels is best for not only herself but for her sons.  As a professor of history, I have used a historical monograph on Queen Emma and the Vikings for my class.  I would consider using the well-researched novel written by Woods to give my students an alternative to what they often perceive as ‘dry’ and boring reading.  Having used novels and historically-based (not documentary) films before in several college courses, I would have no hesitation in using this novel for educational purposes.  It is an interesting read and offers enough factual information to serve as an educational tool as well as good entertainment for the modern reader. 

As a historian familiar with the contextual historical period, I recognized other characters found in the novel.  At the same time, Woods develops each of the characters she introduces well enough to not confuse a novice in medieval English history.  Not only does the author develop well-rounded characters to compliment the title character, Eadric, she also introduces medieval England by painting a vivid mind-picture and world in which her personas operate.  Woods introduces the possibilities, the alternatives if you will, for known historical events.  There is a fine line between what we refer to as history and what classifies as historical fiction.  A good historical novel takes us back in time and creates a believable historical narrative.  I would highly recommend Jayden Woods’s Eadric the Grasper to anyone who likes history, fictional or otherwise.  I sincerely hope volume two will be soon forthcoming.

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Medievalists.net
Sandra Sadowski

Official link here: Medievalists.net

Eadric the Grasper is a historical novel set in the beginning of the 11th century. It follows the life of Eadric, a former swineherd from Mercia who due to a chance meeting, becomes an important figure, and villain in 11th century medieval history. The books begins with Eadric working as a churl for Wulfric and the Dane, Lord Bram. While running an errand for his Lord, he comes across a crying boy. Eadric’s advice to the young man lands him an audience with King Ethelred and changes his life forever.

The book follows Eadric through his life beside the King as an advisor, and watches Eadric grow in prosperity and power. The book details his battles, journey’s, and controversial political decisions as he tries to ensure peace for his home of Engla-lond by any means necessary (the author uses the name “Engla-lond” for England throughout the book).

Eadric was vilified in historical treatises and Woods attempts to portray his story in a different light by casting him as a unwilling villain who is just trying to make peace with the Vikings invading his homeland while battling his nemesis, The Golden Cross. Eadric was a true historical figure of the 11th century and regarded as the greatest traitor of Anglo-Saxon history. William of Malmesbury once described Eadric as, “the refuse of mankind and a reproach unto the English”. He was of non-noble birth and advanced to the high status of an ealdorman of the Saxon Mercians by obtaining the favour of King Ethelred the Unready. In 1007, he also married Ethelred’s daughter, Eadgyth, further ensuring his rise in status. In the fight for England between the Anglo-Saxons  and the Danes, Eadric was a traitor. He supported the payment of the Danegeld, persisted in preventing Ethelred from launching an attack on the Danes in 1009, and deserted Edmund II of England to defect to the side of Canute and the Danes. Canute had Eadric slain on Christmas in 1017.  Eadric’s head was said to have been placed on London Bridge and his body thrown into the Thames.

The book is an easy read and flows rather well. Eadric’s character is likable even though his actions may be deplorable at certain points. Eadric is a villain who is hard to hate because you can understand the necessity of his decisions, despite their consequences. His constant political maneuvering and personal relationship turmoil make the book an interesting read. I was never bored and looked forward to reading it.

My only other comment about the book is that it reads more like a fantasy novel than historical fiction. The cover art enhances this feeling. It has a fantasy novel feel and pace to it and while that may not be a detriment to me, as I read fantasy novels and enjoy the genre, it may be bothersome to some readers expecting a higher level of writing. It is simplistic, but good in that Woods explains roles and terms while telling her story without detracting from it.

Woods book is a great first novel. It’s fiction that doesn’t read as heavy historical fiction and it certainly isn’t dry and bogged down by too many details. I enjoyed this novel and look forward to the second book in the series. Eadric the Grasper will be released on October 5th, 2010.

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Historical Novel Review
by Lisa Yarde
Posted Sept 14 at historicalnovelreview.blogspot.com

“His name was Eadric, which meant ‘power,’ and he had been acquiring it consistently his entire life. Once a bastard and a swineherd, now a thegn. Who could say what he might become tomorrow?”

Author Jayden Woods explores the life of the “worst Briton of the 11th century” in her new novel, Eadric the Grasper: Sons of Mercia Vol. 1. From Eadric’s humble beginnings as a fatherless swineherd, to his meteoric rise as ealdorman of Mercia in northern England, Woods has provided readers a multifaceted view of one of history’s supposed villains.

A casual conversation about the Danish invaders plaguing England occurs between Eadric and a young boy, revealed as the king’s son. It swiftly leads to a summons to the court of King Ethelred the Unready, where, after some shock the king demands to know what he should do about the Danes. Eadric’s answer seems simple enough: deal with the invaders, as they have done with the English in the past, a history mired with their broken promises. Eadric is unprepared when his answers precipitates a massacre of the Danes, including his master Wulfric’s host. In the aftermath, Eadric soon has an unforgettable encounter with the king’s daughter Aydith, which will influence the course of his life in years to come.

Throughout the intervening years, Eadric attempts to survive the politics, famines and Danish raids that threaten to destroy England. However, he cannot remain ignorant of the upheaval for long because Ethelred soon demands that he kill a great Saxon landowner. Seeing little choice, Eadric submits to the command and gains land for his troubles. By then his reputation is growing unfavorably in the kingdom, as people question his influence. In an attempt to impress Aydith, he leads a ragtag band against the Danes and gets himself captured. Although he survives the ordeal, it is a turning point for Eadric, the moment where it becomes clear that prevailing winds of change can easily sway his loyalties.

For her part, the princess Aydith is a staunch, defiant enemy of the Danes. She harbors a dangerous secret, one that often imperils her life. Not even the mutual attraction between her and Eadric and their later marriage can distract her from the goal of riding England of the invaders. She refuses to stand by helplessly while her father vacillates and capitulates to every Danish demand for even more bribes. The worse betrayal for her is when she thinks Eadric’s sole focus on his selfish interests, and cares nothing for the fate of England. Although she tries to remain a dutiful wife, they clash and mutual suspicions ruin their former happiness. When Eadric finally discovers the secret that his wife has held from him, he must decide whether his own interests or her safety is his paramount concern. His choice surprised me.

Like Aydith, I struggled to reconcile Eadric’s character. I understand that for Woods it is no easy feat to turn the “worst Briton of the 11th century” into a man with distinct motivations. It was not often clear whether Eadric was on a quest for peace throughout the kingdom, or just in his domain, in an idyllic world of his own creation. Because of this ambiguity, he could easily swing from supporting Ethelred and his children to betraying them in the next instant. Although his relationship with Aydith grew difficult over time because of those actions, I never got the sense that they had ever stopped loving each other. Many of the characters refer to him as a coward, but I never thought of him in that way. If anything, he acted boldly and through astute observation of the swift changes coming to England, he did his best to forge a good life for him and his family. Still, his boldness accompanied a strange and dangerous naiveté that did not allow him to appreciate the full consequences of his actions at times. As in life, Jayden Woods’ Eadric remains a complicated character.

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Historical Novel Society Review Online
by Steve Shaw
Posted Nov 2010 at http://historicalnovelsociety.org/hnr-online.htm

    Eadric the Grasper (Eadric “Streona”) is a rich, swiftly moving story, set at the beginning of the 11th century in England—or as the book has it, Engla-lond. The research is intense (nice selected bibliography at the end), with both the descriptions and settings deep and provocative.
    Named by BBC History Magazine as the “worst Briton” of the century, Eadric artfully negotiated, fought, and murdered in his quest for power. His ultimate goal was peace—eventually managing to negotiate an uneasy alliance with the pillaging Vikings.  Adding to his troubles, however, is a masked rogue, lone warrior, who has a keen eye for sizing up battlegrounds and plotting attacks on the enemy. This lone figure, the “Golden Cross,” needs to be captured, and when Eadric finds out his (or her?) identity, he is faced with a dilemma between love and power. Perhaps the best feature of the text is, in fact, the multifaceted personality of Eadric. Although he is brutal and single-minded in his drive for control, he is portrayed quite sympathetically.
     A simple map of Britain is included, but one with more detail (cities, towns, etc.) would have been useful.
    This book fits well with all public libraries; most high school libraries would also do well to acquire this. A confident middle school student would be able to follow along as well. The complex character of Eadric is a natural fit for all levels of book clubs. -- Steve Shaw

Thomas Shippey
Author, Scholar of Medieval Literature

The reign of Ethelred “the Unready” was a disaster for Anglo-Saxons: one embarrassing failure after another, enormous amounts of money paid over to Viking marauders without any lasting benefit from it, ending up with a state of complete paralysis and the country handed over to Danish King Canute. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle gives much of the blame to the ealdorman of Mercia, Eadric Streona, but till now he has remained a shadowy figure. Jayden Woods’s new novel centers on him, noting that his name means “the Grasper” or “the Grabber.” And grab is what he did, turning a profit from all turns of events – and there were lots of them, with famous men like the Jomsviking Thorkell the Tall changing sides, Ethelred’s son Edmund “Ironside” dying under mysterious circumstances after fighting Canute to a draw, and accusations and counter-accusation of treachery and selling the nation out. (Quite like the Blair years in modern Britain, in short.) Jayden Woods makes a good tale of it, taking Eadric’s career back to the St Brice’s Day massacre of 13^th November 1002 – his idea, and a characteristically bad one – showing how he built personal wealth at the expense of national power (Blair again), and giving him a mighty if unsuccessful opposite in the heroine figure of “the Golden Cross.” If only the English had taken her advice, and followed her lead! An intriguing take on a fascinating period of history that everyone till now has stayed away from. The sequel in this “Sons of Mercia” series is already in the works.