Bride of the Spear

By Kathleen Herbert

Book Overview

Fifty years after the death of King Arthur, Britain is broken apart and the kings of the North are fighting for survival. Princess Taniu is offered as bride to the son of King Urien of Cumbria, but... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312021739
• ISBN13: 9780312021733
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: St Martins Pr
• Length: 297 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Dark Age Britain Brought To life

Kathleen Herbert is a respected historian of the early medieval English period, and her knowledge and understanding of its diverse cultures and religions shine through her historical novels, sadly now out of print. Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in this little-known era. "Bride of the Spear" is the first book in her "Northumbria" trilogy, written in the 1980s, set in sixth and seventh century Britain, and based on actual historical figures. Bernard Cornwell's beloved Bebbanburg from "The Saxon Stories" features in the third book as well. There's plenty of warfare, violence, vengeance and blood feud to keep the action flowing, but the stories do have a basic historical romance element. Definitely adult fiction, rather than teenage reading as suggested by a previous reviewer. 1) Bride of the Spear" (aka "Lady of the Fountain") Follows the difficult relationship between Prince Owain, son of King Urien of Cumbria and Taniu, daughter of King Loth of the Gododdin 2) "Queen of the Lightning" Riemmelth, the "Queen of the Lightning" of the title, is the last of Cumbria'a royal line. To ensure the safety of Cumbria, Riemmelth is forced into marriage with her hated enemy, Oswy, a Prince of Bernicia. 3) "Ghost in the Sunlight" Riemmelth's daughter, Alchflaed of Bernicia, stirs up dark secrets from the past when she acts as peaceweaver and marries Peada, the son of Penda, king of Mercia.