Title: The Price of Blood Series: Emma of Normandy #2
Author: Patricia Bracewell
Published: February 5, 2015
Genre(s): Historical Fiction
Page Count: 448
Rating:
Summary from Goodreads:Readers first met Emma of Normandy in Patricia Bracewell’s gripping debut novel, Shadow on the Crown. Unwillingly thrust into marriage to England’s King Æthelred, Emma has given the king a son and heir, but theirs has never been a happy marriage. In The Price of Blood, Bracewell returns to 1006 when a beleaguered Æthelred, still haunted by his brother’s ghost, governs with an iron fist and a royal policy that embraces murder.
As tensions escalate and enmities solidify, Emma forges alliances to protect her young son from ambitious men—even from the man she loves. In the north there is treachery brewing, and when Viking armies ravage England, loyalties are shattered and no one is safe from the sword.
Rich with intrigue, compelling personalities, and fascinating detail about a little-known period in history, The Price of Blood will captivate fans of both historical fiction and fantasy novels such as George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series.
After the smashing success of Bracewell’s debut novel, Shadow on the Crown, I could hardly expect that she could provide a follow-up that was just as good. But to my absolute satisfaction, The Price of Blood was even better. This is, simply, the best historical fiction I’ve ever read. This author’s portrayal of Emma of Normandy and her Viking-ravaged 11th century England is head and shoulders above anything else I’ve encountered in the genre, and I cannot sing this book’s praises enough.
This book is technically the second in a trilogy, and though it could certainly be read as a standalone, I don’t know why you would forgo a single page of Bracewell’s meticulously researched, female empowering fiction. In any case, The Price of Blood details the events in England between 1006 and 1012 AD, from a variety of perspectives, but most primarily that of Emma, Queen of England, and Elgiva, an ambitious noblewoman. Throughout the book, England is besieged by Danish ships and soldiers, and there seems to be very little to be done to in fighting them off. With this period of extreme upheaval as a backdrop, Bracewell hones in on these two women who desire power in a time and place where women are nothing more than breeding machines.
Regardless of anything else that goes on, this book is absolutely phenomenal for the way it portrays Emma and Elgiva and their fight for power and agency. Both have untapped political cunning and desires for the throne, but are thwarted from exercising their abilities by their husbands and the men in their lives. Though Emma is certainly the protagonist and Elgiva could be seen as the antagonist, the fact remains that these two ladies are some of the best examples of badass historical women I’ve ever encountered in fiction—Elgiva especially. (I kind of hate to say it, but though Emma is strong and determined and admirable, Elgiva’s methods of connivery and using sex to get her way are infinitely more interesting). The Price of Blood definitely highlights the powerlessness of women in medieval England, and shows both the futility of these characters’ efforts to gain influence as well as their small triumphs in this area.
Beyond that, The Price of Blood is just solid. The research is there, the writing is there, the language and the atmosphere and the characters—all flawless. Not only is Patricia Bracewell portraying Emma of Normandy’s life, she’s captured a snapshot of the entirety of England and is giving it to her readers. Her attention to detail is superb and the amount of background knowledge this book provides is almost overwhelming. The author didn’t just do her homework—she aced it.
There is not a single thing to dislike about this book. It’s strongly written, has nuanced protagonists, and is supported by a truly impressive amount of historical research. The Price of Blood is, far and away, one of the best historical novels I’ve read in months (possibly years). Everything I like to see from the genre is evident here, and then some. This is absolutely re-read worthy, top shelf material. I am wholly impressed.
