The widow queen

"Either you play the game or they will play you, there's no other way." Medieval Scandinavia is the game board in Polish author Cherezinska's epic historical saga. In the vein of Bernard Cornwell and Philippa Gregory, she tells the story of Scandinavia through the life of Swietoslawa of Poland, also known as "the bold one." Swietoslawa adores her father, Mieszko, Duke of Poland. However, her adoration doesn't make her naive to the fact that she is merely a pawn in his quest for glory. To strengthen his alliances, Mieszko sends his bold daughter to the court of Sweden to be the bride of King Eric. Yet her heart belongs to Olav Tryggveson, the last legitimate heir to the throne of Norway. But Olav is currently in exile and must win back his throne before he can have Swietoslawa. Fate, as always, has other plans. The Widow Queen is an epic historical saga full of political intrigue, familial drama, and lust. Readers will be absolutely transported, and eager for the sequel.

Cherezinka has written a fictionalized feminist history of the real-life 10th-century Polish princess Swietoslawa, whose father, the duke of Poland, plans to commit her to a politically advantageous marriage. He gives her a choice between the prince of Denmark, the prince of Norway, or the king of Sweden, but Swietoslawa is an independent young woman who doesn't want to be forced into a loveless marriage; she feels she can rule on her own. Swietoslawa's history is fascinating, and Cherezinka vividly brings her era to life, but this audiobook is heavy going. There's a lot of detail that makes for a slow listening experience. However, the audiobook does allow listeners to hear the Polish names spoken aloud, and Cassandra Campbell does a remarkable job narrating the book. VERDICT Fans of George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones may be attracted to this title. Otherwise, it is an additional purchase for most libraries.--B. Allison Gray, Goleta Valley Lib., CA