I am really interested in this period of our history and was an avid reader and viewer of the Last Kingdom. I enjoyed this book from the first page told from Athelfelds perspective. I think the book could have been longer and certainly the latter part of her life seemed a little rushed. It was well researched and a very enjoyable read.

As the daughter of the great King Alfred, Aethelflaed is from a noble line and her marriage to the King of Mercia has brought her power. However after her father's death her brother Edward takes control of Wessex and starts to assert his authority. Aethelflaed's husband is old and increasingly incapable of ruling so she takes the reins of power. Whilst many mistakes are made, Aethelflaed proves herself more that a match for warring nobles and invading Danes.
Based on the true story of Aethelflaed, the daughter of King Alfred who ruled Mercia for many years, this book is a light but very enjoyable romp through 10th century history. Although Aethelflaed has been written out of many histories (well, she is woman!) Stokes has conducted enough research to make this believable. Although the writing is very clunky at times, the comments at the end of every chapter are annoying, this is an entertaining piece of history.

King Alfred's Daughter tells the story of the life of Aethelflaed, daughter of British King Alfred, in her own voice (although the very first and last chapters are told from the perspective of her daughter, Aelfwyn). I was familiar with Aethelflaed from Bernard Cornwell's The Last Kingdom novels but this book really opened my eyes about all she achieved during her short life. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning with David Stokes' easy-to-read writing style.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A well-researched and engaging piece of historical fiction that illuminates the strength and power of an overlook and underappreciated woman. This is the case for most, if not all, of history's great female figures and it is refreshing to be able to add this novel to the list of feminist retellings and historical fantasies that reimagine these women's lives, portraying their deeds with the strength and value they deserve. The author really did justice to the protagonist's voice and experiences, too. Perfect for fans of The Last Kingdom.

This epic novel explores the life of Æthelflæd, The Lady of the Mercians, in a narration based on historical events, analysis, and fact. You meet Æthelflæd on her way to her father, King Alfred the Great’s, funeral, and are plunged immediately into political intrigue, family drama, and secrets with her. As she is forced to take on more power in defense of her country and family you see the phenomenal strength in the woman so many tries to bury and pass over.

As someone who has studied the history surrounding this time period I can say this brought that world to bright life. Such a testimonial to the research and painstaking attention to detail the author took.

I was incredibly excited to read King Alfred's Daughter: The Remarkable story of Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mericans, the heroine was written out of history. I first discovered Aethelflaed through the tv show The Last Kingdom, which inspired be to read more about this real life historical figure who is largely unknown by many.

Unfortunately, this book really let me down and I had to drag myself through start to finish. I just don't think this book could decide what it wanted to be - I felt Stokes struggled to balance and blend an academic/historian voice with that of a fictional writer. Due to this, the prose, and therefore the characterisation, felt disjointed and inconsistent. The multiple time jumps did the characters no favour either - we'd jump ahead in time and the characters would be different (but also not really) and it felt so hard to connect with them when we had missed out on so much of their story.

Overall, I just found the writing really weak. It lacked any type of complexity and just felt really poor, and again, I'm really disappointed by this.

I also found it interesting (and I wonder if this is Stokes making a point with the use of irony) that this book was written to give Aethelflaed the recognition she deserves for her role she played in uniting England, 'King Alfred's Daughter' failing to call her by her own name! I am hoping this was an intentional choice (like I said earlier, using irony/satire) and not just because it wasn't well thought out, therefore being unintentionally ironic.

My two stars were awarded because I did like the start of this novel, and I did find it interesting that this was written like a diary/chronicle. However, this wasn't always executed the best . . .

I also did like how some of the events were interpreted/fictionalised and I appreciated the notes at the end explaining why these choices were made.

Thank you to the Book Guild for sending me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

All in all, just didn't really like this, I expected a lot better.

This is one of those times where you need to have half a star on Goodreads! I would definitely put this at 3.5, 4 feels a little too much but 3 doesn’t quite convey the interest I had in it. Let me explain further.

Before reading this book my knowledge of Anglo-Saxon England was basic. Most of my thoughts/knowledge has come from watching The Last Kingdom (based on Bernard Cornwall’s Saxon Stories). I was interested to know whether this book would give a slightly different view for me or just build upon the existing mental picture that I had. I found it was a bit of a mixture - in the cases of Aethflaed, Edward & Aelfwyn definitely not but Aethlered was completely different & much more likeable. Anyway, enough of the comparison and onto the most likeable points of the author’s book.

Stokes’ characterisation is very good. The main characters are distinct and have their own qualities which make you root for them, or not, as the case arises. They aren’t wishy-wishy or bland (which normally turns me off of a book quite early). The prose is also good - interesting enough to want you to read on without being too wordy or with a lot of jargon. Considering the period of history being written about & how different that time was to now (including language differences) I would say that pitching the tone right would be a challenge. Stokes deals with the challenge well.

The plot is interesting and is enough of a story to keep you wanting to read. However (and you knew there had to be one of those to explain the half a star!) for me the last part of the book seemed rushed. There was plenty of set up with a younger Aethlflaed negotiating her position and her relationship with others and it really helped to get me into the story. However the latter years of her life seemed glossed over a bit more quickly & I’d have preferred this to be treated more in the same way the start was. I also found the epilogue left me wanting more. It was nice to know what happened but it almost felt a bit rushed, like it was the only way to tie up the loose ends. To me though it felt like the cliff hanger in the last few episodes of a tv series where they quickly have to tie up loose ends because the series hasn’t been renewed. If it wasn’t for this feeling I’d have definitely put it at 4 stars.

All of the above being said, I would pick this book up if you like historical fiction & you get the chance. It’s different to see something in this time period & I did enjoy it.

Thank you to the publishers & NetGalley for this ARC.

The story of Aethelflaed, daughter of King Alfred (Alfred the Great), whose statue is in Winchester and famously burnt the cakes. It is a time of constant warring with Vikings and others and Aethelflaed’s story reflects this, as she defends Chester and fortifies other towns against attack. An important and powerful woman of her time, acknowledged as such in her lifetime.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for a genuine review.
As a lover of The Last Kingdom, I was desperate to read this book as soon as I saw it. Aethelflaed was a powerful and incredible woman, her story was a joy to read. The novel depicts her life as she progressively gains power as the leader of Mercia as her husband begins to fall ill. We follow her as she combats the new world of military and political decisions. The firsthand account was wonderful and I especially loved the points where Aethelfaed would internally react to others (mostly her brother) underestimating her simply because she is a woman.
It’s clear a lot of research went into the novel and it was fascinating to hear about the groups of the time.
I’ve seen other reviewers say they were uncertain about the battle descriptions. I loved them. I don’t often read historical fiction but if I do, I want to feel as though I’m watching the events take place in my mind - the authors description does this perfectly. I found the battles so interesting and I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed them! I loved this book and I think it may have unlocked a new love for historical fiction that I can’t wait to explore.

A really amazing story about an amazing woman. Very compelling writing that felt extremely vivid and completely captured my attention.

'It tells of a woman who brought the Angles and the Saxons together to create England. Yes, it was a woman. Not a king nor a warlord, nor a magician. A woman.'

'King Alfred's Daughter', brings to life Aethelflaed's key contribution to England's history during the 10th Century when not only were there still regular Viking invasions, but England had not yet unified as a country or as Christians. When her husband, Lord of Mercia becomes incapacitated due to ill health, Aethelflaed increasingly takes on his leadership responsibilities. When you have the wild Welsh sharing one border and the Vikings of Danelaw sharing another, defense and military prowess are key. It isn't long before Aethelflaed must make life-and-death decisions for her and her people. When her husband finally dies, the Witan and King of Wessex decide that Aethelflaed should continue to lead her people as Lady of the Mercians.

I'm so glad I read this book. I was aware of Aethelflaed and some of her military contributions but there is so little written about her - both fiction and non-fiction. I enjoyed the way David Stokes brought Aethelflaed's story to life using a memoir, reflection style. By writing in the first person, Stokes is able to highlight the nuanced ways in which Aethelflaed may have approached and thought about leadership, military tactics, and war, 'They should fear the force of my tongue, not my sword.' Further, Stokes includes a map, family tree, list of names, historical timeline, and notes to not only wrap the story with accurate context but to highlight what is ultimately fact and fiction within his story. For me, the story had a couple of lulls in pacing but I still am more than happy to recommend it to all history lovers and Anglophiles - especially those taken with stories from The Last Kingdom and Vikings. Well worth a read.

Fast paced and action packed, my ideal historical novel! I was grateful to the author for the lack of sex and swearing (usually abound in historical fiction!) which means my history loving daughter can also enjoy this novel! I thought this was a well written, well researched account of the Lady of the Mercians, showing her to be an intelligent and important historical figure.

Thank you to Netgalley, David Stokes and The Book Guild for this ARC.

This was a brilliant book I am a huge fan of The Last Kingdom books and TV series and it was nice to get Aethlfleds story.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Bernard Cornwell or in fact any fan of historical fiction set in the 10th century I have purchased another book by this author as I loved this one.

While this book was fast paced, it didn't grab my attention and was a bit of a struggle to get through as I wasn't invested in many of the characters. I found it quite tough even remembering who all the characters were! There is a character list at the beginning of the book but I found it annoying flicking back to that in an ebook.

A lot of the book is made up of fight scenes (which is kind of understandable I guess) but I personally find those a bit boring to read about. The writing itself wasn't bad, I think it just wasn't the book for me.

Having been fascinated by and started doing my own research into Aethelflaed, I was delighted to come across this little gem by David Stokes. He clearly is also very fascinated by her and does a brilliant job with bringing her story to life. Very little is actually known about her since she was a mere woman and therefore almost erased from history but enough fragments exist to be able to construct a very plausible story and Stokes does so beautifully. Telling her story herself, as though sitting around a fire in a great hall with food and wine and family and friends, gives it a sense of intimacy that would be lacking in third person narration. Having said that, it does at times feel rushed, especially the last third or so, moving from battle to battle, I feel like the story would have been greatly served by slowing it down some, maybe detailing a bit more the lives and environments of the people of these times as well as some deeper introspection. But overall Stokes does a fantastic job of fleshing out the story of one of the greatest women in English history who almost went by unnoticed but deserves as much recognition as all the great male leaders of the kingdom. Highly recommend.

Having an avid interest in history I was particularly interested in reading about Aethelflaed who led the Mercians. Well researched this was both interesting and informative. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in the Anglo Saxon period.

When I first saw that a fictionalised story of Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians had been created, I was very excited to read it, as I had learnt of her story through podcasts and some histories of the Anglo-Saxon period and her pivotal role in the creation of England, as we know it today.

The vast majority of the book focuses on Aethelflaed's life prior to her taking sole rule of Mercia. It details the securing of her region against Anglo-Saxon rebellions and the Danes, whilst her husband was battling a debilitating illness. It shed more of a light on what was going on than I had previously realised and the leadership qualities that led her to be selected as the Mercian's leader after her husband had died.

The detail in the various battle scenes was vivid and allowed you to envision yourself fighting alongside her army during these events. The novel demonstrated well the challenges and setbacks that a woman in a leadership role faced in the time period and the need to be exceptional, just to get the recognition at the time. The author's note at the end was fascinating, showing the discrepancies between the source material and the propaganda involved that made her almost a footnote in history.

I did find that the ending of the book was all a bit rushed, as the final seven years of her life were very quickly dealt with, with the exception of a final battle. The events that took place during those years are some that enabled Athelstan to build and create his own legacy on and I just feel a bit more could have been done with this to highlight her pivotal role.

Thank you NetGalley and David Stokes for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A historical novel based on the life of Æthelflæd, the Lady of the Mercians. It’s well researched with a timeline of events and historical note at the end. Written in the first person, almost like a diary or a chronicle of events, it gives a good overview of her life and a view of King Edward and the future King Athelstan, and of course all the battles with the Danes, and Norse and the Welsh!

This marvellous novel is a must-read for anyone interested in Anglo-Saxon times or who has perhaps watched the Netflix series ‘The Last Kingdom’.

Aethelflaed is the most famous queen of the Saxons you’ve never heard of. I’m embarrassed to say that even in studying Old English for three years at university, I never encountered her.

We are told in the afterword that while the Mercian Anglo-Saxon chronicle records Aethelflaed’s building of the burhs, towns that are still significant centres to this day: Gloucester, Worcester, Shrewsbury… Wessex commentators merely note the year of her death. Natural partiality on the part of the Mercians or a wiping out of his sister’s legacy by Edward, King of Wessex? I think we know! Sibling rivalry on a royal scale.

Aethelflaed was an intelligent strategist, wisely opting to invest in and build the Mercian defences, rather than always being on the back foot against the invaders or making forays into the enemy territory of the Danelaw.

David Stokes takes the still sketchy records to recreate a fully rounded character. He is to be applauded for bringing not only Aethelflaed vividly to life, but the courts of Wessex and Mercia, the jostling for power, and the family dynamics (Aethelflaed was foster-mother to Edward’s first son, whom he rejected on remarriage: Aethelstan who was the first king of all the English). Even the Nordic invaders are fully fleshed out, rather than being one-dimensional stereotypes. And, interestingly, even the bit-part female characters are given ‘agency’.

In Aethelflaed’s reflections on her own upbringing, we also learn a lot about Alfred’s struggles, his flight into the Somerset levels and his love of learning.

A note for fans of ‘The Last Kingdom’: in this version of the story, Aethelwold, nephew of King Alfred, is not the weasley villain he is depicted in the series. Rather he has justifiable cause for feeling disinherited.

In short, I loved this novel, I have already recommended it to my WEA Old English study group. Indeed, I’m sure anyone with even a passing interest in the origins of our nation would enjoy it, too.

The book gives an account of Aethelflaed, the Lady of the Mercians who led Mercia while her husband Aethelred was unable.

As sister to the king of Wessex she was a key ally in the Anglo-Saxon expulsion of the Danes and the unification of England as a nation.

The book conveys how she may have felt during the events of this period and suggests how instrumental she was in what happened.