The Brothers of Gwynedd: Part 1, Sunset in the West

It's been awhile since I have really immersed myself in an historical novel of this depth.  It's intriguing to see how they lived, what they wore, how they spoke, and how they interacted. Book one is the Sunset in the West of this four part mammoth historical.  


Sunset in the West is what I like to call the world-building, setting the scene, and introducing us to the characters.  It's told through the voice of young Samson.  Samson was sent to an abbey to be educated, and although he had no qualms about leaving his brutal step-father, he didn't want to leave his mother.  But, Samson did and he had a quiet life learning cleric skills.  But then one day he was ordered to return.


The Lady Senena has required his presence.  Samson's mother would not leave without him, and Senena, who Samson's mother works for, has use of Samson for his clerical skills.  They leave to ask an audience with King Henry III.  Senena's husband and her son Owen, are imprisoned and she would like them out and their lands returned.  


Senena's sons accompany them, David and Rhodri, for protection of the King, but her oldest son, Llewelyn, refuses to go.  He has his own thoughts of politics and thinks it would be grande to have Wales united under one prince instead of the dratted English.  But even has King Henry III bestows back some land to the brothers, some had more than others, as brothers, they will squabble.  And throughout the politics and the brothers, we have the story of Samson.  


Part Two - The Dragonday at Noonday will be discussed next month and I'm really looking forward to it!


Sourcebooks reading summer group is a collection of book bloggers discussing and reading this historical novel over the summer.  At almost 800 pages, it's divided into four parts.  We'll be discussing Sunset in the West on Monday, May 24th from 7-9PM EST at Passages to the Past   Please join us!


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