Book Review – The Chronicles of Aveline: Awakening (The Lady Crusader #1) by Ken Fry
First published, 2018
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The story follows Lady Aveline Fitzwilliam, daughter of Sir Philip, the Lord of Froulingham Manor, from the year 1181. Growing up motherless, in a great manor house during the time of the Crusades, has not dented little Lady Aveline’s desire for adventure nor her need to prove herself. When a former Crusader and battlemate of her father’s comes along, Lady Aveline is tutored in the ways of weaponry and soon becomes a better shot than many a man her mentor, Sir Cedric, has seen.
But, naturally, Lady Aveline has to grow up, and with the family’s estate at risk, from one son going into the clergy, and another going off to fight in the Holy Land, how long will it be before Sir Philip Fitzwilliam loses everything? And can the love that blossoms between Lady Aveline and the handsome Sir Quentin de Ballon bring anything but heartache and devastation?
A really enjoyable story about a period of history I didn’t know anything about. The character-development was top notch and the descriptions were stunning. I tend to read late at night and it’s not unheard of for me to reread a chapter the next day to remind myself of where I was in the story before continuing. I didn’t have to do that with this book. It’s so vividly told that I knew exactly where I was without having to flip back a few pages which, to me, is a mark of exceptional storytelling.
Although there were a handful of tense changes, which caused me to misstep a little during the reading, I couldn’t give this story less than five stars.
I’ll look forward to reading the second instalment.
Petrina Binney - Author 