The Du Lac Chronicles: A Review

I love historical fiction. I especially love historical fiction that is set in the deeper parts of history. I was thrilled when I came across The Du Lac Chronicles. It's a fantastic book that I highly recommend.

“An evocative, timeless saga of love and betrayal” Tony Riches, author of The Tudor Trilogy.

“It is dangerous to become attached to a du Lac. He will break your heart, and you will not recover.” So prophesies a wizened healer to Annis, daughter of King Cerdic of Wessex. If there is truth in the old crone’s words, they come far too late for Annis, who defies father, king, and country to save the man she loves.

Alden du Lac, once king of Cerniw, has nothing. Betrayed by Cerdic, Alden’s kingdom lies in rubble, his fort razed to the ground and his brother Merton missing, presumably dead. He has only one possession left worth saving: his heart. And to the horror of his few remaining allies, he gives that to the daughter of his enemy. They see Annis, at best, as a bargaining chip to avoid war with her powerful father. At worst, they see a Saxon whore with her claws in a broken, wounded king.

Alden has one hope: When you war with one du Lac, you war with them all. His brother Budic, King of Brittany, could offer the deposed young king sanctuary—but whether he will offer the same courtesy to Annis is far less certain.

The Du Lac Chronicles from Mary Anne Yarde is a new story based on Arthurian Legend and the great historical/fantasy fiction tradition of Marion Zimmer Bradley, Bernard Cornwall, C.M.Grey and Kim Headlee.

The Du Lac Chronicles has a recommend reading age of 14+

You can purchase your kindle copy here.

MY REVIEW: 5 STARS.  King Arthur is gone, the Saxons are making war, and Alden du Lac's execution is tomorrow. Before that can happen, the daughter of his enemy, Annis, rescues him. In a great twist, the only way Alden and Annis can communicate is by speaking Latin, the language of the departed Romans. Thus begins a fantastical journey through Dark Age Briton. We get to follow along on an adventure-filled journey to Alden's brother's kingdom in Brittany.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. I loved the accuracy of historical detail (language, dress, customs, etc). The author did her research! I like how the sons of King Arthur's Lancelot are brought to life. The characters are well-rounded, the story moves along at the perfect pace, and secrets are revealed at just the right time, keeping the reader on the edge of his seat.

There are many layers to this book and I enjoyed them all. I love historical fiction, especially when it's set in this time period. Adding in elements of the Arthurian legends only made it better. To find one so well done, with so much attention to detail, is a special treat. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. 

About the Author: Born in Bath, England, Mary Anne Yarde grew up in the southwest of England, surrounded and influenced by centuries of history and mythology. Glastonbury--the fabled Isle of Avalon--was a mere fifteen-minute drive from her home, and tales of King Arthur and his knights were part of her childhood.

At nineteen, Yarde married her childhood sweetheart and began a bachelor of arts in history at Cardiff University, only to have her studies interrupted by the arrival of her first child. She would later return to higher education, studying equine science at Warwickshire College. Horses and history remain two of her major passions.

Yarde keeps busy raising four children and helping run a successful family business. She has many skills but has never mastered cooking--so if you ever drop by, she (and her family) would appreciate some tasty treats or a meal out!

To explore the legends of King Arthur visit Mary's blog. You can also connect with her via her website, twitter, and facebook.