I've been saving this review for Asian Heritage Month as I'm so thrilled to discover a Chinese-Canadian Christian author who has written such a neat series that incorporates the author's medical expertise in an alternate history setting.
Book Synopsis
A healer on the run. A rogue knight bound by secrets. Love was never part of the plan.
At just eighteen, Aliwyn has already failed as a healer’s apprentice. Haunted by her mistakes, she withdraws from the world as a rebellion ignites against William the Conqueror.
But when she agrees to hide an endangered orphan, Aliwyn is plunged into the deadly revolt. A daring escape entangles her with the young rebel leader, Tobias, and she is swept into a world of rival factions and secret alliances. Caught in the heart of the insurgents' army, she must decide who to save. Worst of all, Tobias' compassionate nature turns her perceptions of the enemy upside down.
As she unravels the rebels' fiery secret that could destroy England, Aliwyn is challenged to take fate into her own hands. Will she rise to save her kingdom? And can she resist the magnetic charms of the man she’s vowed to defeat?
Source: Amazon
Book Thoughts
I did not know what to expect going into this book but I sure have been blown away (quite figuratively) by the alternate world that Kyrie Wang has created for Aliwyn in eleventh century England. What a joy to learn about medicine in this era from a medical doctor! I love that despite the past mistakes that Aliwyn has made in being an apprentice, she still heeds the notion to do no harm when it comes to the allies and enemies she encounters in trying to protect her home and the lives of those around her. This stunning journey where loyalties are tested and people's trust can be traded like currency kept me glued to the pages to determine what would happen next, most notably with Toby whose allegiance and background make him naturally suspicious to Aliwyn.
Offering grace where it has seemingly been undeserved, I appreciate that the characters wrestle with how to treat each other during a time of warring conflict and death. Morality isn't as straight-cut as envisioned, and decision-making becomes a complex endeavor. Despite the ambiguity of what Aliwyn is facing, it's easy to see the principle of loving your neighbour as yourself come into play. Faith themes emerge more and more as circumstances become dire, with the author setting the stage for what's to come as the existence of gunpowder can put everyone at risk. Readers who enjoy pertinent discoveries made during the medieval era will find this battle of wills and ethics to be a grand adventure, with a young woman leading the charge to do what is right for all.
Book Summary
- Format of book: 📱
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Recommendation: 👍
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