© Kyle R Fisher, 2021
Book Review of Judith
February 2022 Mensa Bulletin,
Caroline McCullagh, editor
Judith, by Kyle R. Fisher is such a good book that I’m going to lead with the one negative I have about it — the cover. Picture a background of swirling greenish clouds; foreground: a woman, her back to the observer, in a windblown, blood-red dress. In her hand, a large dagger. Superimposed on her dark hair, the word Judith, also in blood-red type. So, what kind of book is it? I was expecting it to be about a female serial killer. I would never have picked this up to have a second look and find out how wrong I was if I didn’t have to read it for the review. I lead with the negative because other people may react as I did to the cover and never discover what a fine historical novel this is. I’ve reviewed favorably two of Fisher’s previous novels, Transplant Unlimited (2016) and Memorabilia (2019). I complained about the cover of Memorabilia, too.
This fascinating and well-written story is about Judith, a
granddaughter of Charlemagne, who lived in a time (800s C.E.)
when a woman’s choice was to marry a man of her father’s
choosing or spend her life in a religious institution. Judith was
married off twice, both times to kings, but ultimately wanted to live
life on her own terms by marrying the man she loved.
Wow, is this good writing. It starts with a battle scene. I find in
many books that those are so muddled that I can’t follow them very
well. Not so in this one. Fisher puts us right in the middle of the
action. He really gives us a feel for what the times were like all the
way through the story. And there are many characters in this book.
He makes each one come alive as an individual.
So, action good, characters good, dialogue good, scene-setting
good, plot good. And ultimately, research good. What more can we
want? This one gets five stars. Visit KRFisher.com.
JUDITH
Twice married, twice a queen, twice widowed. All before she
was sixteen.
As the daughter of King Charles of Frankia and the great-granddaughter of Charlemagne, Judith could have anything she wanted — except a chance to fall in love. She would be forced to either enter the church or to marry a king from some distant land in pursuit of a strategic alliance. She wanted to fall in love with a man of her choosing, but princesses did not get to choose. Not wanting to live her life in a monastery, she felt a combination of relief and apprehension when her father announced she would marry King Æthelwulf of Wessex. She knew little of this small kingdom on the island of Britain. The recently widowed Æthelwulf was returning from pilgrimage to Rome and felt the Frankish princess would bring status and sophistication to Wessex. However, before the newlyweds had even left Frankia, word reached them that Æthelwulf’s son intended to steal the crown. As Judith sailed to Wessex with her new husband to face an unknown land and an unfamiliar culture, she pushed all hope of love from her mind. Based on the true story of this amazing woman’s life.
© Kyle R Fisher, 2021
Book Review of Judith
February 2022 Mensa Bulletin,
Caroline McCullagh, editor
Judith, by Kyle R. Fisher is such a good book that I’m going to lead with the one negative I have about it — the cover. Picture a background of swirling greenish clouds; foreground: a woman, her back to the observer, in a windblown, blood-red dress. In her hand, a large dagger. Superimposed on her dark hair, the word Judith, also in blood- red type. So, what kind of book is it? I was expecting it to be about a female serial killer. I would never have picked this up to have a second look and find out how wrong I was if I didn’t have to read it for the review. I lead with the negative because other people may react as I did to the cover and never discover what a fine historical novel this is. I’ve reviewed favorably two of Fisher’s previous novels, Transplant Unlimited (2016) and Memorabilia (2019). I complained about the cover of Memorabilia, too.
This fascinating and well-written story is
about Judith, a granddaughter of
Charlemagne, who lived in a time (800s C.E.)
when a woman’s choice was to marry a man
of her father’s choosing or spend her life in
a religious institution. Judith was married off
twice, both times to kings, but ultimately
wanted to live life on her own terms by
marrying the man she loved.
Wow, is this good writing. It starts with a
battle scene. I find in many books that those
are so muddled that I can’t follow them very
well. Not so in this one. Fisher puts us right
in the middle of the action. He really gives us
a feel for what the times were like all the
way through the story. And there are many
characters in this book. He makes each one
come alive as an individual.
So, action good, characters good,
dialogue good, scene-setting good, plot
good. And ultimately, research good. What
more can we want. This one gets five stars.
Visit KRFisher.com.
JUDITH
Twice married, twice a queen, twice widowed. All
before she was sixteen.
As the daughter of King Charles of Frankia and the great- granddaughter of Charlemagne, Judith could have anything she wanted — except a chance to fall in love. She would be forced to either enter the church or to marry a king from some distant land in pursuit of a strategic alliance. She wanted to fall in love with a man of her choosing, but princesses did not get to choose. Not wanting to live her life in a monastery, she felt a combination of relief and apprehension when her father announced she would marry King Æthelwulf of Wessex. She knew little of this small kingdom on the island of Britain. The recently widowed Æthelwulf was returning from pilgrimage to Rome and felt the Frankish princess would bring status and sophistication to Wessex. However, before the newlyweds had even left Frankia, word reached them that Æthelwulf’s son intended to steal the crown. As Judith sailed to Wessex with her new husband to face an unknown land and an unfamiliar culture, she pushed all hope of love from her mind. Based on the true story of this amazing woman’s life.
JUDITH
Twice married, twice a queen, twice
widowed. All before she was sixteen.
As the daughter of King Charles of
Frankia and the great-granddaughter of
Charlemagne, Judith could
have anything she wanted — except a
chance to fall in love. She would be
forced to either enter the church
or to marry a king from some distant
land in pursuit of a strategic alliance.
She wanted to fall in love with a
man of her choosing, but princesses did
not get to choose. Not wanting to live
her life in a monastery, she
felt a combination of relief and
apprehension when her father
announced she would marry King
Æthelwulf of Wessex. She knew little of
this small kingdom on the island of
Britain. The recently widowed
Æthelwulf was returning from
pilgrimage to Rome and felt the
Frankish princess would bring status
and sophistication to Wessex. However,
before the newlyweds had even left
Frankia, word reached them that
Æthelwulf’s son intended to steal the
crown. As Judith sailed to Wessex with
her new husband to face an unknown
land and an unfamiliar culture, she
pushed all hope of love from her mind.
Based on the true story of this amazing
woman’s life.
