THE PRINCESS OF SELGOVAE AND THE HIGH KING

Release Date : 2020-09-11

Duration : 8 Hours 31 Mins

Publisher : Perlycross Publishers

SYNOPSIS

This is the first book in The Chronicles of the Heroic, a fantasy series of seven books by published freelance writer Bryce Gibby. As a pilot, Bryce has flown the skies of Europe, Iceland, Greenland, North America, and Mexico. He’s also hiked the Alps, the Appalachians, and the Rockies and considers himself a traveller in search of adventure, extraordinary and little-known stories of history, and ancient legends that light the imagination.

Princess Vivien’s peaceful life is shattered when the Saxons invade her sire’s kingdom. The Selgovaeans have enjoyed peace for so long that they are not prepared for any kind of invasion and are quickly conquered. With her father also and now alone, Vivien flees to the hidden sanctuary of The Mountain. The Saxons are hot on her trail, as they desperately want to capture her and obtain a secret she possesses. To evade her enemies, she must rely on wit, cunning, and the help of the enigmatic sage, the Immortal Hawk.

Unbeknownst to her, Vivienne is fated for a far greater purpose than she can fathom. Vivien is determined to establish a majestic realm where warriors are secretly trained as skilled and chivalrous knights. The Immortal Hawk foretells of the rise of a young man named Arthur, a champion fighter who will lead his army of knights to defeat the invaders and be crowned High King of Britannia. All of these prophecies are reliant on Vivien, her knights, and the secret she guards with her life!

REVIEW

Thank you to Bryce Gibby and NetGallery for offering me this audiobook.

The Princess of Selgovae and the High King is a suspenseful adventure story with elements of magic and romance. The cover art of this book is extremely eye-catching and will definitely give curious readers an early incentive to learn more about this book.

The story is set against the backdrop of ancient Britain. It’s very clear from the story that Gibby did a substantial amount of research on early British history and Arthurian mythology in advance of writing this novel, as the story is abundant in his discoveries. There are also several religious and biblical references in the story, and this book could easily be sub-classified as Christian fantasy.

It should also be noted that there is a lot of lofty and archaic dialogue in the story, all of which is perfectly reflective of ancient Britain. For those readers or listeners who aren’t used to reading such prose, it’s recommended that you take your time to fully appreciate all that’s written here.

Although not at all obvious in the early part of the story, this book is a retelling of King Arthur and will likely be enjoyed by readers who enjoy fantasy and historical fiction. Once you recognize this, the characters will likely become more familiar, and you may appreciate the story in an entirely different way.

This is the first book in a series of seven books, so there’s definitely enormous potential for character development, world-building, and high adventure in the remaining books. This book is also much shorter than comparable epic fantasy adventure novels, making it a great option for those wanting to try a new series!