Review: Ravens Hill by Garth Pettersen

Ravens Hill by Garth Pettersen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blurb: 

In 1030 C.E. — When Harald, the second son of King Cnute, returns from fighting the king's enemies in Northern Wales, he expects his life to return to normal. He's surprised when he's granted a large landholding—an idyllic life, far from the power-mongering of King Cnute's court, farming in the Midlands, evening walks with his beloved Selia. It’s a gift they cannot refuse, but the king has other plans for Harald and his wife.

On arriving at their new holding, Ravens Hill, Harald and Selia receive a tepid welcome from tenants—belligerent housecarls; a conniving steward; an uncompromising abbess, bitter at not adding their estate to her abbey lands; a priest with roaming hands; and a grieving daughter of the previous landholder who has entered the nunnery.

Harald and Selia wish to improve the lot of their tenant farmers, but they face obstacles at every turn, and Harald’s generosity is seen as weakness.

Trouble brews when they learn the lands come with an unexpected millstone—an unsolved murder.

My Review: 

I have loved reading Garth Pettersen's The Atheling Chronicles series and was honored to have the chance to read the fifth installment, Ravens Hill. Harald and Selia's story was one of action, adventure, and danger. The author's historical details made me feel as though I was transported back in time seeing this tale unfold in real time. I thought this was a fabulous read.


I am going to give Ravens Hill a very well deserved five plus stars. I would give it one hundred if I could. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read historical fiction, particularly set during the Anglo Saxon era. I am hoping that there are more to come from The Atheling Chronicles series in the future.


I received a digital copy of Garth Pettersen's Ravens Hill from the author, but was not required to write a review, nor a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

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