Review ~ The Ashes of Heaven's Pillar ~ Blog Tour 2014

I am delighted to be part of  The Ashes of Heaven's Pillar 2014 Blog Tour

Kim Rendfeld

Fireship Press

August 2014

When Leova’s husband is lost in combat during a particularly vicious conflict with Charlemagne’s army, she has no choice but to try to protect her children Deorlaf and Sunwynn by whatever means she has, in order to survive. Sold into slavery, Leova watches as her children grow into adulthood, but, life is always complicated for them and there are many obstacles to be overcome.

The story opens in 772AD and steps right into the dark ages of our time when there was little respite from treachery, and where hope for justice and compassion was a lonely road to travel. Leova shows great determination and strength of will, and as she seeks retribution against those who destroyed her faith and  family, her hope for the future is constantly tested. However, throughout the story , her strength of will shines through despite the sorrow and sadness which shadows her life.

There is no doubt that the author has a love of early history and uses her considerable knowledge and extensive research to shed light on stories which could all too easily be lost in the mist of time. The historical events sit comfortably alongside a story of loyalty and religious strife and by interweaving historical fact and fiction; a story emerges of a strong family changed by extraordinary historical events.

I found the story easy to read and follow and even though this is a period of history of which I have very little knowledge, very soon the people and events started to become familiar. The trials of their interwoven lives are handled with understanding and sensitivity and soon become the driving force of the novel.

 This companion novel to the author’s earlier story, The Cross and the Dragon, highlights the author’s love of storytelling. Her desire to keep these forgotten stories of the past alive is commendable.

My thanks to Fireship Press for my copy of this book 

The Ashes of Heaven's Pillar

Blog Tour 2014.

Kim Rendfeld is the author of The Cross and the Dragon (2012, Fireship Press) and The Ashes of Heaven’s Pillar (August 28, 2014, Fireship Press). 

To read the first chapters of either novel or learn more about Kim, visit kimrendfeld.com. 

You’re also welcome to visit her blog Outtakes of a Historical Novelist at kimrendfeld.wordpress.com, like her on Facebook at facebook.com/authorkimrendfeld, or follow her on Twitter at @kimrendfeld, or contact her at kim [at] kimrendfeld [dot] com.

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Kim Rendfeld is my guest on the blog on Friday 29th August.

Come and read Five Surprising Facts about the Middle Ages.

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