Of Sword and Shadow is a historical fiction novel written by A.L. Sowards.

Summary: A slave her entire life, she has never been considered important, not even enough to have been given a name. She is only valued for her abilities to cheat, steal, and deceive.

So when her path crosses with a man that treats her like an equal, she scarcely knows what to believe. Is she worth something just as she is, or will she always be the thief with no name?

When war breaks out, she must choose-will she live the life she has always known, or will she fight for herself and what she believes in?

My Thoughts: I really liked this book. The historical context is fascinating, the plot contains plenty of action and suspense, there is a sweet love story, and the characters are full of depth and interest.

It was thoroughly enjoyable, and I would definitely recommend picking up a copy.

I would like to thank Covenant Communications for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

AL Sowards is such a great author. I love her books each time I read them! She has a way with plying you in to book that are base in another time. I really enjoyed Of Sword and Shadow.

really enjoyed this book. I requested it on Netgalley last year, mostly because of the Medieval setting. Unusual enough, but to be set in Medieval Greece? I don't think I've ever seen that before in the technically Isnpy fiction genre. Most other novels set in that part of the world take place in the Roman period, or the 1st century AD.
I never knew anything about parts of Greece having been settled by Spain in the 14th century, and I think the author handled the political atmosphere well, withut getting bogged down.

Although the novel was a little slow at first, it soon picked up in terms of pace and action when a slave girl without a name given the name Eudocia, and her friends get caught up in major political events. That said, it wasn't one of those novels that featured constant non-stop action and gets rather over the top.
There were some parts allowing for character development and personal relationships. In some parts, there seemed to be vague echoes of Ben Hur, making the story read like an old style advenventure, biut others are more moder. There is, perhaps inevitably a romance subplot, but its not always central to the story.

The only things I didn't link were that Eudocia's religious attitudes seemed a little too modern (i.e thinking Muslims and Christians worship the same God), and there were a few actions which seemed a little incredible. I.E. there was one scene where she was fighting on the outskirts of a city during a major battle.
Honestly, she's a former slave and a thief. How on earth did she learn to use more than a dagger? let alone use a sword competently?

Aside from that though, I was able to get into, and above all get immersed in the story without having to suspend my disbelief too much. I understand there is another book in the series, and I really want to read that one.

Thanks to Covenant Communciations via Netgalley for approving my request for this title. I was not required to write a positive review and all opnions expressed are my own.

I feel like the only reader who did not love everything about A.L. Sowards’s Of Sword and Shadow, but that is okay. There is a demographic of readers who feel middling reviews legitimize books, and I am happy to cater to that crowd if it gives them a reason to consider acquiring this novel.

Overall, I think this book has a lot going for it. Fourteenth-century Greek stories are not standard fare in the world of historical fiction, and I admire Sowards for recognizing the appeal of unique subject matter. I found both Gillen and Eudocia engaging, and I felt their experiences and the perspectives the author created for them exciting to read. Of Sword and Shadow is solid character-driven fiction, but I read this genre for its representation of history, and reluctant as I am to admit it, I found the atmospheric and historical detail of this piece too thin for my liking.

To be fair, I do not think this oversight entirely Sowards’s fault as the details of the Navarrese Company defeat of Thebes are not well-documented. Creatively speaking, the author had little to work with, and while I appreciate her handling of the fractured historical record, I do not feel her world-building robust enough to compensate for the lack of available facts.

This book was fantastic! It held my interest the whole way through. I didn’t want to put it down.
Really unique plot line that kept me guessing what was going to happen next. It had a lot of historical events in it and I enjoyed that. It had some romance, but everything was clean. The main character relied on her brains to get out of situations instead of having some unrealistic fight scene where she beats up a big man.
I gave this book to my dad to read and he loved it too since it wasn’t a sappy romance book.

Amazing. Fantastic. Heart-pounding. These words don't even begin to describe how I felt about this book.

In this story, we travel to Greece in 1379 and meet a slave girl who thieves for a living and has no name. So not only does she not have any freedom, she also has no identity. Unless you count the term "mouse" as an identity.

But one day, out on a job, an unfortunate happenstance causes her to meet a young man named Gillen. And her life is changed forever.

She befriends Gillen, who has taken to calling her Eudocia. Little does she know that this friendship will throw her into a political movement where both their lives end up on the line.

I absolutely loved Eudocia. Her backstory is tragic, but it forces her to be a strong and independent character. But when she's with Gillen, he draws out another side of her. A side of her that is vulnerable. We truly see how lonely Eudocia is and how desperate she is to be loved. Thomas only wants her because she is a master at thieving. And Andreas is more than an annoying little brother. He wants to do away with Eudocia and treats her worse than dirt.

But then Gillen strides into the picture. Gillen, this gentleman with a sweet nature. He genuinely cares for Eudocia and despises the fact that she is a slave and that she has no name. It is through him that Eudocia finds her identity.

Not only do I love the characters, though, but I also loved the history. I know very little about the time period, and learned a lot by reading this book. It was fascinating and educational.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book. The plotline is intriguing, the characters are raw and real, and the history is interesting. I loved the way the author brought this story to life and I can honestly say that, without a doubt, I will be reading more of her work.

I would give Of Sword and Shadow five out of five stars.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.

This book was incredibly well researched. I must admit if you’re not used to reading historical fiction set this early, it takes a minute to feel comfortable with the terms. But the author builds the world so well, it’s not long before you’re completely immersed in the story.
She had excellent character development for even her side characters. She had a good balance of both physical and emotional chemistry between the main character (we’ll call her Eudocia as that is the name she finally picks for herself) and Gil. There were times where Eudocia’s emotions felt a little juvenile. That however could have been as much a part of the characterization considering her background as anything else.
Her pacing and the rise and fall of tension was done really well, making it a hard book to put down.
Four and a half stars :)

This book was amazing, I really enjoyed it. This author has a talent for pulling you in to a story. The characters were intriguing and the plot was exciting and well written. I always enjoy books from this author.

Of Sword and Shadow
by A.L. Sowards
Back of the Book: “Greece, 1379
She is known by many names, none of them her own. In truth, she is an unnamed slave, nothing more than a weapon in the hands of her owner in his attempts to provoke political mayhem. When she encounters a handsome young man while on an assignment, she thinks little of him—until he attempts to take what she has stolen. But in her line of work, failure is not an option.
Gillen is intrigued by the mysterious woman who thwarts his mission. But when his path crosses hers again, his intrigue turns to gratitude as the thief he comes to call Eudocia saves his life. The two form a bond of friendship and join forces to wrest control from a group of ruthless rulers. But as their camaraderie blossoms into something more, Gillen and Eudocia must fight for love even as they wage war for a better future.”
Impressions: I have to admit that the glossary at the front of this book had me all worked up. I am not familiar with this time in history and it was all gibberish. That being said it all started to make sense as I read. I’m so glad I stuck this out and continued reading past the beginning. It was a great story of love and redemption.
Rated: Lots of fighting in and outside of war, bloodshed, suggested sexual discussions, slavery, and abuse
Liked: This was an adventure packed story with twists and turns to keep you reading for more. That is what I did too! I enjoyed the characters, especially little mouse. She was quite the heroine. It is hard to think of a time when men and women were as fierce as they were in this story but it was full of detail to bring this period to life. I imagine with so many different cultures and loyalties this time in history was a confusing hot mess. The power grabs seemed childish but were so important at the time. I enjoyed learning from this book (and the world wide web as I looked up maps and such) as much as I enjoyed the story.
Disliked: I am unfamiliar with this time in history so it was challenging to understand all the politics of the story. That being said I can’t fault this book for my ignorance. From reading this book I know a little more than when I started about this time in history.
Quotes:
“Revenge wasn’t tangible. It couldn’t enrich anyone or restore lost opportunities.”
“’ Prayer is not an opportunity for us to tell God what to do. But that does not mean He did not hear. And it does not mean He has left Gillen completely without aid…Faith is not always easy.’”
“’ Sometimes being a good friend can help a person become a good friend.’”
“…’ I’d never confided in a priest before, but now I understood why others did. I didn’t know what to do with my burdens and my pain. Laying them before a man of God might not fix everything, but I didn’t think it would hurt anything either.’” – I’m not Catholic but Protestant so I’ve never gone to a priest. I do however appreciate this feeling of needing to talk and get things off my chest. What an honor it is that I can go to Jesus and share with Him my heart.
“… ‘I’ve come to realize that there is only one opinion I need to concern myself with.’ He held up a finger to make a point. ‘Whose?’ ‘The Lords. It is His good opinion that I wish to keep. Kings and popes and former vicar generals can say what they like, but their words don’t matter, not when I think of Him and whether or not He is pleased with what is in here.’ He put a hand over his heart. ‘His is the only opinion that really matters.’”
“’ Know this, my child: you are not worthless.; He pointed to the crucifix that hung on his wall. ‘The Son of God thought you were worth redeeming, and He felt it so strongly that He died for you.’”
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

This book was so good! There was a great balance between suspense, adventure, and romance. The time period and setting were different from anything else I've read. I couldn't put it down. Definitely a new favorite for me!

I was intrigued first by the setting, as 1300's Greece is not something that I believe I have ever read about before, and this book was an excellent introduction of the time period.
An action-packed read that follows an enslaved thief, without a name, called Mouse or Girl by her ambitious master, she is skilled in deception, thievery, and escape. Her small crew is hired to help over throw an empire, planting seeds of mistrust and destroying alliances. She is intrigued by a God who could forgive even her gravest sins, and tempted by a love just out of reach, I admired her quick thinking and loyalty, as well as how she is willing to learn and longs for a more simple honest life.
Well researched, this book vividly brings the physical and political landscape to life in a not oft written about time period. Gillen is a likable hero, dashing, and gentlemanly, willing to make sacrifices. A action-filled historical, that brings to life the conflicts of the time, with well written characters that spark curiosity, along with faith and romance!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Set in Greece during the late 1300s, this unique story dives into the history of the city of Thebes from the eyes of a slave and thief, Little Mouse, or as she later goes by, Eudocia. There is so much to love about this story, from the plot twists, the romance, and the history woven into the story to the writing itself. I loved that Eudocia took on various names and used these names' meanings to become someone different.

A.L. Sowards always does a masterful job writing her stories, but this may be my favorite of hers yet! This is a story that will stick in your head for weeks to come.

This book put me in the middle of 14th century Thebes, in a struggle for political power. The main character is a slave and has no name that she knows of. Her master calls her "girl" and his despicable nephew calls her "mouse". For part of the book she's known as Eudocia so that's how I'll refer to her for the rest of my review.

Eudocia was sold as a child, doesn't remember either of her parents, and only guesses at how old she is by how long she's been owned by Thomas. She's been trained as a thief and can slip in and out of places so quietly the term "mouse" does fit her. She's loyal to Thomas even though he's been cruel to her in the past, because without him she wouldn't have a place to sleep or food to eat. She's a strong person even though she's lived her life being subservient to others.

While on a job for Thomas she meets Gillen, a Basque, who is unlike anyone Eudocia's met before. Thomas doesn't look down on her for being a slave--he sees her as a person and wants to help free her from slavery. She and Gillen end up working together on a plan to free the city of Thebes from outside rulers.

This book is quite the adventure for the reader--I found it hard to put down, and when I wasn't reading it I was wondering what would happen next. We see what Eudocia's life is like as a slave, afraid of displeasing or disappointing her master and possibly being traded or sold to someone worse than her present master. We see her long for freedom and what she would do if she was ever free. We see her learn about having faith and hope and learning to pray. We see her meet a man (Gillen) who treats her with respect, something completely new to her, and has a friendship with him. This is a wonderful read and you can tell the author did a lot of research.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Covenant Communications via NetGalley. All thoughts expressed in my review are my own.

I’ve never read a novel set in 14th century Greece so this book was a new setting. The author started by giving you a lot of cultural and historical detail. I generally prefer to discover the details within the story, however, even with the historical context laid out I found some of the allegiances, both political and religious, to be rather complicated.

That said, the author did usher me into a new world, full of intrigue, danger and brutality. The life of an unnamed slave girl woven together with the passions of a political zealot created a fascinating and page turning story. I appreciated the characters and the writing kept my attention, however, the harshness of the world of the novel wasn’t really my cup of tea at the moment. I’m just not reading a lot of the thriller genre these days. If you like a bit of intrigue and don’t mind finding yourself in the middle of a war or the underbelly of the slave trade then this page turner might be for you. It was certainly well written and exciting.

I received a free digital copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Of Sword and Shadow is such an intense book from start to finish. A slave girl as long as she can remember., she follows the orders of her master in political manipulations. The entire time I was reading, I couldn't stop in the middle of a scene and the scenes blended from one to another. The story gave an interesting perspective on the city of Thebes and the occupations that took place. The characters added depth and a richness to the story that made me want to go research the effects of the siege on the Greeks.

A.L. Sowards did a great job of telling this piece of the past while making it a real story. The intricacies of the people behind the scenes, creating political upheaval to disrupt the strength of the politicians in Thebes, was so skillfully done. The story was not just about a slave girl and her path to a better life, a path to freedom- it was also a story of Thebes.

Of Sword And Shadow
⭐⭐⭐ / 5

Romance set in Greece 1379

I am not big on reading historical romances but this one sounded so interesting, partially because it falls in the Christian genre. I think the historical elements is what sold me to pick this book up and I fully enjoyed those moments in the book. However, I did not love the romance and about half way through the book just fell kind of flat for me. I didn't feel like the romance was believable toward the end and just left me missing something.

There is a lot of high rated reviews on this one! Please go check them out on good reads. Of Sword and Shadow is out tomorrow on Feb 8th. If you enjoy historical romance that is clean please check this one out.

Thank you @netgalley and covenant communications for my free ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley #arc #ofswordandshadow #bookgram #bookcommunity #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks

The Middle Ages are intriguing--knights, fair maidens, royalty. But what I haven't thought a lot about is the slavery situation during these times. Can you imagine remembering nothing before your time as a slave, not even knowing your own name? That's the situation this young girl, who later becomes Eudocia, finds herself in. With no hope of escape, a bond is formed with Gillen, and gradually, ambitions and ideas for a better life start to grow.

This whole story is well-written and delivered in a very appealing way. Sowards writes in a way that draws the reader right in to the dangers of the time and brings thoughts and feelings to the surface--things I've never pondered before. There are so many interesting facets to this story and the time period that captivated me--slavery, freedom, loyalties, to name a few--and Eudocia's story was inspiring. Both Gillen and Eudocia are strong, ingenious characters.

The slices of intrigue blended with the inklings of hope and glimpses of romance, melded into an adventurous and moving tale that touched me.

Content: PG-13 for mild romance (kissing, with some references to slavery, virginity, groping, seduction); moderate violence (war, torture, abuse) mild+ religion references

A slave girl and love! What a fantastic book!! If you don't read any other book this year, read this!! Set in Greece which is romantic. Loved loved loved this book!!

To survive a harsh reality, a slave give must use her skill and whit to survive. She takes the names of the roles she is forced to play, even though she does not have the privilege of her own name. A.L. Sowards is another first-time author for me and reading Of Sword and Shadow is an adventure I will not soon forget. The author weaved an exciting tale of danger, romance, and faith from the first page to the last. Though the book is not short, the gripping plot and strong characters took me on a face-paced historical journey. I enjoyed the Biblical parallels that reminds readers of God’s character, love, and the sacrifice He made to purchase our freedom. They story was not only enjoyable, but also made me really think of the of freedom, what is costs and what is taken for granted. If you enjoy historical, action-packed, inspirational fiction I highly recommend this book. 4.7/5

This book was set in medieval Greece, which is not the setting for the books I usually read. I was a little overwhelmed when I first started this book and read the long list of medieval words and definitions. I wasn't sure if it was something I really wanted to read. I probably would have quit if I hadn't read and loved other books written by this author. So I decided to keep reading, and I'm so glad that I did!
I really loved this book. The story drew me in. It was full of action and adventure. I liked the main characters and really cared about what was happening in their lives. The attraction portrayed between them was perfect. I highly recommend this book and will definitely be suggesting it to my customers. .