In the years around 960 the Piast House ruled Poland. The Duke Mieszko was ambitious to increase his power and rule the entire area. One of his plans for this included his children, his son and three daughters. He planned to use marriage to his daughters to cement alliances and increase his scope.
His youngest daughter, Swietoslawa or the bold one, understood her father’s plans, but she had plans of her own. She didn’t want to be a pawn in a man’s world. She wanted to rule in her own right and was willing to do whatever it took to reach that position. This book is primarily her story, but it also involves the other family members and the areas they rule.
The story is complex and requires you to keep the genealogy straight. This can be challenging at the beginning of the novel. Another interesting aspect of the story is the relationship between Christianity and the pagan religion. In order to gain more power, the Duke allied himself with the Holy Roman Empire and forcibly converted his country to Christianity. I found this one of the most interest parts of the book.
This book is the first in a series that will trace the Plast House through the era. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is a good book in an interesting era. The next book will be available in 2022.
I received this book from NetGalley for this review.
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