Jen Black The Banners of Alba

The Banners of Alba

Jen Black

Cambridge, May 2006

ISBN: 1594313261

In 1034, the nephew of King Malcolm of Alba and the heir apparent to his throne Daveth mac Finlay is loyal to his monarch; he is also one of the best, if not the best, field commanders. However, Finlay is stunned to learn his fealty is abused as Malcolm has chosen his grandson Prince Duncan to one day replace him as ruler of Alba. On top of that affront, Malcolm has married Finlay's beloved Kilda to his cousin Gille.

Angry, Finlay flees for nearby Orkney ruled by his friend the Overlord Thorfinn and his intelligent independent sister Ratagan. Thorfinn has plans to seize the Alba throne and wants Finlay's support. Though still outraged by his uncle's duplicity, he is wary of the harm that civil war would cause on the innocent peasant population. As Finlay falls in love with the feisty Ratagan, he questions his judgment while two major sets of conspiracies engulf him. Finlay is the key for if he chooses war Thorfinn might succeed; if he selects peace Duncan inherits. Digging deep inside his troubled soul, he realizes he has not stripped honor from his heart honor; Finlay decides he will travel the honorable path for what he deems the good of Alba.

Though there is a major romantic subplot, THE BANNERS OF ALBA is more a magnificent medieval fiction that brings to life the twelfth century through the power struggles. Readers will appreciate the internal dilemma confronting the hero as he must choose between two paths filled with deceit. Symbolically the two women in Finlay's life represent the choices he has. As the champion learns that picking what he deems is good for Alba is not necessarily good for him, readers obtain an exhilarating historical thriller starring a hero worth rooting for.

Harriet Klausner