The very first scene in this novel grabbed my attention. And once done, it did not let me go.
In the Shadow of the Storm is a beautiful tale where the author has taken her fictional main characters and set them in a very real, tumultuous and brutal time in history. It is obvious that Anna Belfrage has done a great deal of research on this time period—the detailed descriptions smoothly transporting the reader to the 1300’s and the reign of King Edward II.
I personally love learning about historical events but lack the desire to read non-fiction historical tomes cover to cover. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the rebellion of Mortimer through the medium of Belfrage’s historical romance.
This first novel in the King’s Greatest Enemy series was superbly written, richly descriptive, and it certainly tugged at the heartstrings…often and with vigour.
There was a perfect balance between the brutality of war, political intrigue and the romance of the young couple who were thrown together against their will.
The unfolding drama had me so eager to turn the pages that sometimes I’d do it prematurely. Having to keep backtracking was frustrating. But it was my fault entirely, only proving how skilled the author is at captivating you and drawing you into the story.
This is the first novel I have read from Anna Belfrage, but it certainly will not be the last.
I highly recommend this book for fans of historical fiction.
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
