Katy B. reviewed on 4/8/2007 + 23 more book reviews

Set in medieval England, Rebecca Tingle's historical novel (Putnam, 2001) tells the story of Aethelflaed, the teenaged daughter of King Alfred, who becomes the Lady of the Mercians. As the oldest daughter of the northern king, Aethelflaed is betrothed to her father's friend and ally, Ethelred, thus uniting northern and southern England. Although she hardly knows her future husband, she obeys her father's wish, albeit reluctantly. With a band of soldiers and her faithful bodyguard, Red, Lady Aethelflaed sets out for Mercia, but invading Danish warriors attack the small group of travelers. Through her quick wit and clever military skill, Aethelflaed saves several of her men and makes it to Mercia. The story is historically accurate in its telling of the early life of the renowned Mercian military strategist, but the slow-paced beginning may dissuade all but the most avid history buffs. The action picks up towards the end, but many listeners may not stick with it long enough to find out about Aethelflaed's more adventurous exploits. The story is well-narrated by British-born actress Emily Gray. Listeners will relate to the young teenager who is obliged to marry a man she has met just once. For audiobook collections where historical fiction is in demand.

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