The King's Shadow

This book by Elizabeth Alder has been one of my favorites for many years.  I don't remember when I first read it but I would guess about 10 years ago.  Every now and then I get an itch to re-read it.  Since I didn't own it, I would go to my local library to check it out and scratch that itch.  Unfortunately, I had my itch for about the last six months before I finally decided to just buy the book since my local library is seriously deficient.  I'm not much of a book buyer, but if I am going to go back and read it over and over, then I feel like it's a good investment to buy it.  So I did.

The King's Shadow is a retelling of the people involved in the Battle of Hastings of 1066 in England.  You get to know some of the key players, like Harold, Earl of Wessex and his brothers as well as William the Conquerer.  The story is told through the fictitious Evyn, a boy who becomes Harold's squire.  Follow the events of English history from 1063 to 1066 while enjoying a smoothly written historical novel.  You can even look up the "real" Battle of Hastings and see where the author has fudged or where the author has written the truth as it is known.  As you read you can notice themes of loyalty, courage, and responsibility.  

There is plenty of battle but the violence is well-written and is not overly bloody or descriptive compared to books these days.  There is no foul language to speak of. 

 

**NOTE: This book should not be confused with The King of Shadows by Susan Cooper which is also a fabulous book but on an almost entirely different subject.