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Godwine Kingmaker (The Last Great Saxon Earls Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.4 out of 5 stars 145 ratings

Harold Godwineson, the Last Anglo-Saxon King, owed everything to his father. Who was this Godwine, first Earl of Wessex and known as the Kingmaker? Was he an unscrupulous schemer, using King and Witan to gain power? Or was he the greatest of all Saxon Earls, protector of the English against the hated Normans? The answer depends on who you ask. He was befriended by the Danes, raised up by Canute the Great, given an Earldom and a wife from the highest Danish ranks. He sired nine children, among them four Earls, a Queen and a future King. Along with his power came a struggle to keep his enemies at bay, and Godwine's best efforts were brought down by the misdeeds of his eldest son Swegn. Although he became father-in-law to a reluctant Edward the Confessor, his fortunes dwindled as the Normans gained prominence at court. Driven into exile, Godwine regathered his forces and came back even stronger, only to discover that his second son Harold was destined to surpass him in renown and glory.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in St. Louis MO with a degree from University of Missouri, Mercedes Rochelle learned about living history as a re-enactor and has been enamored with historical fiction ever since. She lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they built themselves.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Godwine Kingmaker

Part One of The Last Great Saxon Earls

By Mercedes Rochelle

John Hunt Publishing Ltd.

Copyright © 2014 Mercedes Rochelle
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-78279-801-9

CHAPTER 1

Disentangling a squirming lamb and nudging it from the woods, a tall sturdy youth stood up, hands on hips, and stretched his back. Suddenly he froze, turning his head at the sound of rustling leaves. For a moment he didn't see anything and he looked at the tree-tops, noting the stillness of the branches. He cocked his head and listened once more before shrugging his shoulders and taking a step. Then he stopped, letting out his breath in a long, wondering aah.

Pushing his way out from the trees, an obviously confused Dane stumbled into the clearing, easily recognized by his forked beard and heavy braids. The man's brawny arms were naked but for heavy gold bands, though his chest was covered with a coat of chain maille. He wore a conical-shaped helm with a long nosepiece. A broadsword was gripped in one hand, poised to strike.

The other's first inclination was to stay hidden. The stranger hadn't noticed him as yet; however, he seemed to be looking with interest at the herd. That was too much. Deciding to take his chances rather than lose a sheep, the youth stepped forward, startling the Dane.

Turning with the agility of a wild animal, the warrior crouched, sword upraised. He eyed the other for only a moment before standing again, and slapping his weapon into its sheath.

"Well, it appears that you and I are alone in this accursed forest," he said familiarly in the Saxon tongue, "and I can see that you are unarmed. My name is Ulf, and I have managed to have gotten myself lost. What be your name, lad?"

The other looked at him curiously. In these days of turmoil, the sight of a Dane was not an uncommon one. But the Saxons tended to keep their distance from these unwelcome visitors, and the herdsman had rarely seen one close up. And yet, though the Danes were cursed as the enemy of England, this man didn't seem to be all that terrible. Indeed, his blue eyes sparkled, and his round cheeks, ruddy above a thick, yellow mustache, bespoke a genial acquaintance with his native ale.

Trusting to his own impulses, the young man held out a hand. "My name is Godwine, son of Wulfnoth."

The Dane grasped his hand with a crushing grip, nearly making the shepherd grimace. But Godwine prided himself on never showing pain.

"Well, Godwine son of Wulfnoth. As I said, I have been trying to find my way out of these woods since yesterday eve. I am quite turned around. I will make it worth your while if you would show me how to get back to my ships, which lie in the Severn River."

Disturbed, Godwine turned his back to the man, sending his dogs after the sheep. "Do you come from the battle at Sherstone?" he asked finally.

His companion raised his eyebrows in surprise, but said nothing.

"I suppose you got lost chasing Saxons from the battle-field," Godwine added bitterly.

This one was no laggard; Ulf decided to be honest with him. "If you want to know the truth," he said, trying to look as sincere as possible, "I am not sure who won that battle. Your countrymen are fierce fighters, when inspired by your Edmund Ironside ..."

"Our King," the shepherd said, his tone demanding respect.

"I am not one to argue that point," Ulf demurred. "Come, while you show me the way, I will tell you about it ..."

Godwine did not move. "You must be mad, asking help from a Saxon."

The Dane hesitated, losing some of his assurance. The young man looked hard at him with sharp brown eyes, and his perfectly straight teeth were clenched. His arms were crossed, exposing sinewy muscles. Then, suddenly inspired, Ulf pulled a gold ring from his finger, holding it out. "Here, lad. It is yours for the asking."

Relaxing, Godwine took the ring. It was beautifully worked, intricately wound with curling serpents. Seeing that the ring was of great value, Godwine stopped to think of the powerful position this man might hold with the Danes. Perhaps he was an important chieftain, commander of many men. One could go far in his favor.

And what was Godwine's alternative? Although his father was Thegn of Sussex, his reputation had been tainted several years ago by an accusation that destroyed his command of the King's fleet. Wulfnoth was disgraced — wrongfully he said, mouthing the name Eadric Streona as the author of all his woes. But it made no difference. Perhaps this was his one opportunity to turn things around.

All these thoughts went through Godwine's head in seconds, while he looked from the ring to the waiting Dane. Then, nodding, he gave the band back to Ulf.

"No. I will not take your ring. But I will try to bring you back to your ships, and you can reward me however you see fit."

Turning, he started to move his herd, motioning for his companion to follow. "But the way is long and difficult," he said, whistling to the dogs.

"And the woods are full of Saxons, who would do great harm to you, and to me as your guide. We must return to my house and await the darkness so we can travel in secrecy."

Ulf followed willingly, trusting the good sense and decision of his guide. Not that he had a lot of choices.

Godwine did not live far away; he led the Dane to a modest thatched-roof house, perched on a hill above a considerable barnyard. The youth herded the sheep back into their pen, and motioned for Ulf accompany him to the house.

An older man was standing at the door, whose smoldering face resembled Godwine's too much to doubt his identity. One glance at his son's companion was enough, however, to change his expression from irritability to curiosity. He turned inside without a word, pulling a chair from under the table as he passed, and nodding at his wife to go into the other room.

Ulf didn't seem to notice any discomfort on the part of his host. He pulled out the chair from the head of the table, graciously thanked Wulfnoth for a large mug of ale, and contented himself with the company of the sheep-dogs, while Godwine followed his father outside.

Wulfnoth was a reasonable man. "I did not expect to see you until nightfall," was all he said.

Godwine turned a look toward the house. "I met this man in the forest. He needs a guide back to his ships."

The older man stroked his chin, his sharp eyes narrowing. "An enemy, all alone and at your mercy. And you decided to help him."

Stumped for a moment, Godwine's smile came to his rescue. "What an opportunity, father. He has the look of a leader. With luck, maybe he will take me into his service."

Wulfnoth sighed. Godwine was his son in more ways than one. Unbeknownst to Godwine, he, too, briefly served the Danes when it served his purpose. But that was many years ago ... actually, not that many years. Nonetheless, in this time of change, the lad had learned on his own how to take advantage of his opportunities.

Even so, it was unusual to welcome a Dane into his house.

"I had great plans for you ... but I did not quite expect it to turn out this way." He put an arm around his son's shoulders. "You know what this means. You must go with him now. There is no turning back. If anyone were to discover that you aided a Dane ..."

"I know. But father, they conquered this country once. It will not take much for them to conquer it again. And then, I will be on the right side."

Wulfnoth smiled sadly at his son. "Is it the right side because it's the winning side?"

But Godwine was already pulling away from him, anxious to join his new friend. "Father, I have seen what it means to lose. When you are defeated, it does not matter what is right or wrong."

Confounded, Wulfnoth let him go, turning aside to check on the animals. He needed a moment to recover himself. Was Godwine right? He didn't like being on the wrong side of the law, no matter how justified his actions were. And with that cursed Eadric Streona turning up at every opportunity, he had no way to improve his situation.

Filling the water trough, Wulfnoth decided to follow his son's lead. What else could he do? If he were to destroy Godwine's chances now, he might only make matters worse.

And Godwine was right: the Danes were very likely to take over the country again. It was a mere three years ago — in 1013 — that Swegn Forkbeard conquered all of England. Only Swegn's untimely death a few months later gave the Saxons the opportunity to overturn the Danish advantage. They recalled Aethelred to the throne, even though he was the one who had abandoned England in the first place

Yes, it was easy to blame their troubles on old Aethelred, who some called un-read — no counsel — because of his habit of making all the wrong decisions. His policy of paying tribute money to the Danes was utterly self-defeating. They would leave, loaded with English silver, then come back the next year for more.

When Aethelred finally died, only a few months ago, his son Edmund Ironside was left with a kingdom little larger than London. His resources were severely limited; there was no money in the treasury after the shambles of his father's reign.

And now he had to deal with a new invasion of Danes, led by Swegn's son, the fierce Canute. It was a wonder that Edmund withstood the Danes at all. But he kept coming back, somehow finding a new army, somehow finding the energy to attack this Canute, whose very name made a Saxon tremble.

There was no doubt that Canute had a claim to the throne, as far as it went. His father had been King of England; the Danish half of England had already elected him king before the Saxon half recalled Aethelred. The Saxons had hoped that on Aethelred's return Canute would then go away and leave them alone. After all, he had Denmark to keep him occupied.

Foolish hope indeed, as the Saxons learned.

For in taking this step, they didn't reckon on Canute's determination. He went away all right, so furious that he mutilated his father's 200 hostages, cutting off their hands, ears, and noses. But he left only to gain reinforcements from his native Denmark, and re-invade England with a vengeance.

Wulfnoth shivered, hanging his bucket on a nail. This was not the kind of man one looked forward to calling King. And his son Godwine had chosen to serve him.

"I tell you, Godwine," Ulf was saying, as Wulfnoth entered the house. "Sherstone was one of the damnedest battles I ever fought." He turned around, nodding a greeting. "Fine ale you have, I will say. Could you spare another mug full?"

Wulfnoth went to his cask, filling a pitcher. Then he told his wife Godgifu to make enough food for four.

Waiting until his mug was refilled, Ulf continued, as Wulfnoth joined them. "For two days we fought, shedding the blood of many good men. The ravens had no lack of food, I tell you. My Lord Canute had the men of Wiltshire and Somerset on his side ..." Wulfnoth nodded; he wasn't the only Wiltshire man to have served the Danes.

"The first day, there was no telling who had the upper hand," the other continued, after taking a deep draught, "but in the forenoon of the second day, your Edmund gathered a great deal of strength, and forced his way right up to Canute. Amazing man," he added, wiping his mouth, "the kind of warrior about whom legends are made."

Wulfnoth nodded, pouring more ale. Despite himself, he was beginning to like this Ulf. It was always a good man who appreciated his enemy's qualities.

"And Canute?" asked Godwine.

"Ah, lad, sometimes I think he leads a charmed life. He was mounted, and Edmund's blow was so fierce, that it cleaved his shield in two, and went right through his horse's neck. I know. I was there. If my boys had not been so quick to rush forward, Canute might be feasting in Valhalla right now."

Godwine shot his father a knowing look.

"As it was," Ulf went on, "your Edmund killed many of my men, though they succeeded in pushing him back. But I could see that more reinforcements were coming to his aid. Things might have gone badly for us, but ..."

He turned a clear eye on the boy, unaffected by alcohol. "It was Eadric Streona who turned the battle."

Wulfnoth dropped the jug and it fell over on the table; luckily it was almost empty. Godwine jumped up and pulled off his shirt, sopping up the remaining ale while pretending not to notice his father's reaction. "Whose side was he fighting on this time?" he asked bitterly.

"Ah, I see that you know what I am talking about. I tell you, Godwine, there never lived a fouler creature in the guise of a man. He has done your country more harm than all the Northmen put together."

The Dane leaned forward. "He fought for Canute. At just that moment in the battle, Eadric cut off the head of some man, whose face resembled Edmund's and held it up to the English, shouting, 'Fly, ye men of Dorset and Devon! Fly, and save yourselves. Here is your Edmund's head.'"

Godwine and his father stared at each other. This was news, indeed.

"Yes, it was mad for your countrymen to heed him, knowing that he fought on the other side. But men do not reason well when their blood is flowing from their veins, and at any moment death may come to claim them. The Saxons took one look at that gory head, and all the fight went out of them. They simply panicked, lad, and wanted to run away as fast as possible."

Even Ulf seemed saddened. "Well, your Edmund had his head about him yet, and he tore his helmet off and shouted at his men to look, he was alive, it was all a trick. Seeing the dastard Eadric, he took aim with a spear and nearly pierced the traitor through. But Eadric was quick, and the spear missed, running through two men who were next to him.

"Too bad for you that the spear missed its mark. We would all be better off without that man. Although Canute cannot do without his treachery, he despises the sight of him."

He paused for a satisfied belch and tried to refill his mug, shrugging his shoulders when he found the jug empty.

"As I was saying, Edmund did his best to rally his men, but it was too late. They were fleeing as fast as they could, throwing their weapons on the ground and scattering in every direction. I and my men pursued a portion of them into the forest, but I became separated from the rest, and spent the night searching for a way back. But I fear I must have gotten more and more lost. That is when I met you, Godwine ... a most fortunate accident."

That said, Ulf paused while Godwine's mother placed some food in front of him. He grabbed a chicken leg and took a big bite. Ulf hadn't eaten for some time.

His listeners were silent, but only for a few moments. Shaking off his distress at the plight of his fellow Saxons, Godwine joined him. He had made his decision; there was no turning back.

After the sun had gone down, Ulf and his new young friend made ready to leave. While Godwine was busy saddling two of Wulfnoth's best horses, his father took the Dane aside with a heavy face.

"We place into your trust our only son. I am sure you understand that he can no longer stay here. If any of our neighbors discover that he has aided you ..." Wulfnoth seemed to falter, but he recovered himself. "Let us say, his safety would be in doubt. If you have any influence with Canute, perhaps you can place him into the royal household."

Ulf looked at his host with sympathy. "Wulfnoth, you have no need to worry. I give you my word. Your boy shows great promise ... I see many noble qualities in his bearing. Besides ..." His face broke into a wide grin. "I did not tell you before, but I am a Jarl, and wield much influence among my people."

Wulfnoth stepped back a pace, and looked at his wife. A Jarl, same as an Earl in England. He had dared not hope for so much.

"And," added Ulf, "I married Canute's sister." He was about to say more when Godwine came up, leading the horses. The Dane immediately mounted, moving out of earshot.

Left alone with his parents, Godwine suddenly felt uncomfortable. Beneath all his bravado, he was still an inexperienced eighteen year-old who had never left home before.

His mother, ordered to stay in the back of the house, did not know what was happening, aside from the indications that her son was leaving. Shaking off her husband's restraining hand, she threw herself into Godwine's arms, crying and begging him to stay.


(Continues...)Excerpted from Godwine Kingmaker by Mercedes Rochelle. Copyright © 2014 Mercedes Rochelle. Excerpted by permission of John Hunt Publishing Ltd..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BRQJPDNV
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sergeant Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 4, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 376 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781734797459
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1734797466
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Last Great Saxon Earls
  • Best Sellers Rank: #763,352 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 145 ratings

About the author

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Mercedes Rochelle
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Born in St. Louis MO with a degree from University of Missouri, Mercedes Rochelle learned about living history as a re-enactor and has been enamored with historical fiction ever since. A move to New York to do research and two careers ensued, but writing fiction remains her primary vocation. She lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Customers say

Customers praise this thoroughly researched historical fiction for its engaging narrative and extraordinary character development. The writing is well-executed, and one customer notes how the political upheavals of the time are described well.

9 customers mention "Historical accuracy"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical accuracy of the book, describing it as thoroughly researched historical fiction, with one customer highlighting the author's meticulous research of the period.

"...The historical detail in the story is evidence of the author's meticulous research of the period...." Read more

"...warfare and strategizing all contributed a great deal to an exciting piece of literature. Mercedes’ research complements her fiction, so well...." Read more

"...The story of Godwine, one of the most important men of the Anglo Saxon period, isn’t a widely told one...." Read more

"If you enjoy well-written, thoroughly researched historical fiction, I can highly recommend this series on the Godwines, The Last Great Saxon Earls...." Read more

6 customers mention "Narrative quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the narrative of the book engaging, with one customer noting how well the political upheavals of the time are described, while another mentions that the story progresses at a quick pace.

"...Her use of Saxon and Norse terminology was well seeded with explanations and easy to follow...." Read more

"...However, the narrative is most engaging from Godwine's point of view...." Read more

"...US of A. I approached this book with high hopes of a relevant and exciting story. I am not in the least bit disappointed!..." Read more

"...The writing is excellent and the story progresses at a quick pace with plenty of action. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series!" Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding it extraordinary and easy to follow, with one customer noting how it captures the personalities of each son.

"...are not accessible. In these volumes the author made the characters fairly easy to follow despite their Saxon names." Read more

"...Each character was colorful in his/her own way, although there were two stand-outs... Gytha (Godwine's wife) and Swegn (his troublesome son)...." Read more

"...The story is told from the perspective of various characters, which could shift from one to another in a scene...." Read more

"...There is dialogue and action aplenty! The complex characters stayed quite true to their roots in so many of the instances...." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book well-executed, with one customer noting how it makes the read feel genuine.

"...Rochelle writes in a delightfully realistic way, making the read seem genuine--as though I was a fly on the castle wall...." Read more

"...I am not in the least bit disappointed! The writing is quite good...." Read more

"...and the descriptions of the various places visited are very well done...." Read more

"If you enjoy well-written, thoroughly researched historical fiction, I can highly recommend this series on the Godwines, The Last Great Saxon Earls...." Read more

Just took my breath away!
5 out of 5 stars
Just took my breath away!
O I love this work. Truly love it. It is very rare that historical fiction is thoughtfully and authentic to the known events and time so Well! I really think you should read this if you have a lot, or a little interest in this time....Another fine work from Mercedes Rochelle!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2019
    The Dark Ages are alien to me, so to read such a book, I needed a guide.

    Rochelle did a super job of leading me along. Her use of Saxon and Norse terminology was well seeded with explanations and easy to follow. Godwine was someone brand new to me, so it was a delight getting to know him, his family, and see how his story lent itself to the British Crown and what will eventually turn into the year 1066.

    Rochelle writes in a delightfully realistic way, making the read seem genuine--as though I was a fly on the castle wall. She can definitely take a reader and immerse them within a world that it much different than our own, yet effortless to experience fully, due to her well-defined story-line. Each character was colorful in his/her own way, although there were two stand-outs... Gytha (Godwine's wife) and Swegn (his troublesome son). These two were such intriguing characters that stories about them could easily be written.

    Bravo, Mercedes Rochelle for instilling in me a new fondness for 11th century lore!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2023
    "Godwin Kingmaker" by Mercedes Rochelle is a historical saga about Godwin, Earl of Wessex, during the tumultuous 11th Century when King Canute ruled over the vast empires of England, Denmark, and Norway. The story begins in 1016 AD when Godwin finds Ulf, a Danish commander and the son-in-law of Canute, wandering the woods after a battle at Sherstone. A son of a disgraced Saxon aristocrat, Godwine decides to seek his fortune with the influential Dane. As a result, Godwine meets and becomes a trusted advisor to Canute. After Canute seizes the English throne, Godwine rapidly rises and becomes Earl of Sussex. Between 1019 and 1023 AD, Godwine accompanies Canute on an expedition to Denmark, where he distinguishes himself and marries Ulf's sister.

    However, everything changed for Godwine in 1035 AD when King Canute died. Godwine is swept into the disputes of Canute's sons, each vying for the English throne. Godwine must choose loyalty between the ruling king and his family's survival. He secures the marriage of his daughter to the last surviving son of Canute, King Edward. Ultimately, Godwine's son, Harold, succeeds him as Earl of Wessex and is destined to become the king of England, setting the stage for the Norman invasion and Battle of Hastings.

    Author Mercedes Rochelle deftly navigates Godwine's life-long saga against the backdrop of political upheavals of Saxon and Danish kings. The historical detail in the story is evidence of the author's meticulous research of the period. The culture and daily life of people in the Middle Ages are brought to life. Universal themes of love, the quest for power, betrayal, and redemption are explored.

    The story is told from the perspective of various characters, which could shift from one to another in a scene. However, the narrative is most engaging from Godwine's point of view. It provides insight into his meteoric rise in power and his delicate balance of demonstrating loyalty to various factions while safeguarding his family's legacy. One of the tragedies in the story is how Godwine's family is splintered from his sons' rivalries with each other.

    For those who enjoy learning more about medieval England or have watched the Vikings: Valhalla series, I suggest reading "Godwin Kingmaker," which sheds light on historical figures who changed the course of history in northern Europe.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2018
    A good portion of my heritage originated in the United Kingdom. The Magna Carta came out of England. The history of England and the UK is pretty important to me, as a citizen of the US of A. I approached this book with high hopes of a relevant and exciting story.
    I am not in the least bit disappointed! The writing is quite good. Mercedes’ scene-setting is wonderful, I felt like I was right beside Godwine all the way. There were so many critical events in his life, as pictured in this exciting historical fiction. There is dialogue and action aplenty! The complex characters stayed quite true to their roots in so many of the instances. The court intrigues in and out of the castles, the battles on land and sea. The brutal warfare and strategizing all contributed a great deal to an exciting piece of literature.
    Mercedes’ research complements her fiction, so well. I have no doubt the moves by major characters are very accurate.
    I give Godwine Kingmaker a score of 4.9 stars.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2016
    Having studied the history of the era Godwine Kingmaker covers, I was interested to see how the author would portray the people and events. I was not disappointed. The story of Godwine, one of the most important men of the Anglo Saxon period, isn’t a widely told one. While most stories are told from the point of view of royalty, Godwine Kingmaker delves into the life of Godwine, Earl of Wessex: from his humble beginnings to his rise to power under the Viking king, Canute the Great, to his survival, both physically and politically, under a succession of rulers. I particularly enjoyed the details regarding Godwine’s wife, Gytha, and their relationship and the descriptions of the various places visited are very well done.

    The writing is excellent and the story progresses at a quick pace with plenty of action. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2017
    Entertaining historical fiction about Godwin, Earl of Wessex, and the father of Harold who was slain at Hastings. Godwin certainly led an interesting and tumultuous life. The story line follows the known history and Godwine's relations with Canute, Emma, Edward, as well as the ill-fated Ulf of Denmark. The political upheavals of the time are described well. These people were tough, violent and avaricious. Unfortunately, none of the characters as depicted are likable and it is hard to feel all that much sympathy for Godwin, except for his poor choice of a wife. And his wife Gytha? Horrors! It is not made clear exactly why Canute took to the young Godwine and put such trust in him, although it is implied. Neither is it clear just how Godwine accrued his wealth even before being named Earl of Wessex. He must have gone a-Viking with Ulf and shared in the spoils. However, the novel is a page turner and the ending is a dandy.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Peter W.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Historical Tale with a Human Soul.
    Reviewed in Canada on July 14, 2015
    Having enjoyed Mercedes Rochelle's excellent Heir to a Prophecy, I was mildly afraid that Godwine Kingmaker might disappoint, but to my joy, it has not. The novel spins the tale of Godwine, Son of Wulnoth, who would in time become England's most powerful Earl and father to Harold Godwinson, the last Saxon king of England. It weaves a tale through three cultures, Saxon, Dane and Norman and through the lives of as many English Kings, including the fascinating Dane Cnut and the unlikable Edward the Confessor. Godwine, who is recognizable as what we would call a "back-room boy" in our modern political realm, is as quick with his wits and diplomacy as he is with his sword. Taken in hand and adopted as a son by a Danish Jarl Ulf, we follow Godwine's rise to becoming a powerful Earl and a force behind the throne and his fall into banishment. But more than just a tale of politics and war, this is a story of a family, and it is through Godwine's eyes as a father of a dynasty that we view the events of a fascinating period of history. The author, much like she did in Heir to a Prophesy, balances well-researched historical events (she includes an impressive bibliography for future reference) with a very human story that allows us to identify with the characters and their motivations. We not only get the what of the history, but the why. The book cleverly, if frustratingly, foreshadows the rise to power of Harold, son of Godwine, as he takes his own place in Edward's court. I can't wait for the second book!
  • A. C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 6, 2016
    Having strong ties to Denmark, one of the reasons I wanted to read this book was to learn more about King Canute. His is a name I recognise from many a different context growing up (he's even mentioned in my own book!), but I had never heard of Godwine at all. So, it became rather a surprise to me how strongly I begun to think of this less known Saxon.

    Yes, I did learn a lot about King Canute and some of his life events, but it was through the eyes of a young man, who had joined his ranks, and who became very dear to the King. Godwine quickly earned the King's trust and affection, and became a source of wisdom and advice to him, so was equally privy to some of the King's own thoughts and decisions. Gradually, I came to think of Godwine as the more important character (not only because it was his story, but because we see him through the reflected actions and words of those around him). That he was gaining respect of those who knew him was obvious. He was gaining my respect too.

    As Godwine's story unfolds, not only in England, but in Denmark and France, we are also introduced to the ways and laws of other past cultures. I was especially immersed in the Danish customs, which author Rochelle brought to life superbly. In fact, that's what I enjoyed most, the humanising of an era so long ago it might have been lost to pre-history if it wasn't for the records left behind.

    I found the battles and strategies surprisingly alive with the kind of real human choices that had to be made and the importance of the many relationships and ties that would have influenced those decisions. And I enjoyed Godwine's thoughts and interactions with his own family and how they, too, influenced him as well as the course of English history.

    I thoroughly enjoyed this novel of a hitherto unknown-to-me man. I was drawn through the pages, soaking up all the wonderful details intrinsically woven into the story. Godwine's life, as one of the last great Saxon earls, was entertaining and involving, and I learned some history along the way. This was a fabulous read, and I am placing the sequel onto my tbr list!
  • 11thc girl
    4.0 out of 5 stars Characters That Come Alive
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2017
    Historical Fiction- set in the early 11thc, follows the story of Godwine whose rise to power in the first half of the century is noted for its extraordinary success.
    The story unfolds as Godwine, a shepherd meets a Danish Jarl, Ulf, who has somehow lost his way after a great battle against the English. Godwine, takes him to his father's home and is convinced to join Ulf's warband as he helps him find his way back to his lord Cnut.

    Rochelle's tale of a man's rise to power in the 11thc took a while to pique my interest. At first its a little slow and I struggled to comprehend that the author had chosen to follow the legend that Godwine was a sheep herder rather than the son of an important seafaring thegn of Sussex. But I persevered, because this is my favourite period of history and of course I wanted to see how things developed in Rochelle's version.

    It wasn't until about half way through when my interest was caught and Godwine, who had until now failed to gain my empathy, starts to come into his own. In the beginning of the story, he is a shy boy, with no experience amongst warriors. They train him to be like them, and because he is a Saxon, he is deemed to have knowledge and uses for the Danes. Suddenly he catches the interest of the man who would be England's king, Cnut and elevated in status amongst Cnut's Danes. It takes time, though, for Godwine to find his backbone, and when he is given Jarl Ulf's difficult sister, Gytha, for his wife, a woman he has admired for some time, his back bone has to grow quickly. Gytha is none to keen to marry Godwine, for she sees herself above him in status and although she is not impervious to his obvious handsome attributes, she is not particularly enamoured with becoming his wife. Even when Godwin manages to get her with child, she is melodramatic and behaves as if her life is in ruins. The child is born, a son called Swegn, and Gytha is unable to bond with the baby, leaving Godwin to see to the care of the child.

    What I liked most about this book is the way that the author treats the well known storyline of Swegn and his anti-social behaviour. Swegn, the troubled, misunderstood, unloved by his mother, eldest of the Godwinsons, is presented far more sensitively than any other authors have done that I know of. All the aspects of Swegn's behaviour and his deeds as told to us by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, are explained in Rochelle's plausible interpretation of them. Swegn just doesn't behave badly, Rochelle makes sure that we know why and she certainly has a talent for making historical characters come alive.

    All in all, the first in the series about the Last of the Great Saxon Earls, is an interesting read and gives a good insight into the politics and events of the time. Rochelle penchant for this era shines through in her research and it is only the living history side of things that is lacking in detail.
    Disclaimer: I was offered a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
  • Kevin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great series
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2022
    Just finished the series with book 3 and enjoyed every page of them all. I like my historical fictional and this series didn't disappoint. It was both gripping and informative with a writing style and flow that carried me away and into one of the most important times of our history.
  • Rachel D
    5.0 out of 5 stars History brought to life
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2015
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author has done an excellent job of bringing to life the historical figure of Harold Godwine, son of Wulnoth, a disgraced (wrongfully?) Thegn of Sussex. The rise of the house of Godwine (First Eorl of Wessex) under Canute and the struggle to hold onto his power in later years is beautifully described in the political and military confrontations.

    A little gem in this wonderful book is the relationship between Gytha (wife of Godwine), Godwine himself and eldest son, Sweyn. Also, the sibling rivalry between their sons, Harold and Tostig. I highly recommend this book - (Huscarl 1066)

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