It’s England in the 14th Century, under the reign of King Edward II. A rebellion against the king hasn’t ended so well, and the man who is behind it, Roger Mortimer, has succeeded in escaping. Now the King and his most trusted Chancellor are after suspects. A man named Adam Guirande must decide where his loyalties lie and he has to play his cards carefully or fall under the iron hand of Hugh Despenser, the King’s trusted Chancellor. Unknown to the King, the Queen plots to overthrow him, and she has formidable allies, too. Days of Sun and Glory by Anne Belfrage tells the story of Adam and his wife as they wade through the multi-layered conflict, barely succeeding in staying alive, and for how long?

There is a lot that readers will love in this historical novel. First off, the language is excellent with moving dialogue, and at times the diction mimics the cultural and historical setting of the story. There is a lot of drama to keep readers reading on. The author carefully employs the use of suspense, and there is little telling in the story which makes it even more interesting to read. The characters are rock-solid and convincing, and the author has done a great job in researching this period of England’s history very well. It takes a lot of skill to write historical fiction without sounding like merely relating historical facts and Anne Belfrage comes across as gifted in this area. Days of Sun and Glory is a masterpiece that will be well-received by fans of historical novels, a very entertaining and engaging read.

Days of Sun and Glory by Anna Belfrage is Book Two in the compelling The King's Greatest Enemy series, a tale of intrigue, betrayal, and loyalty. It is 1321 and England is in turmoil, suffering from a deadly coup masterminded by Roger Mortimer, now on the run. After stirring up rebellion against the king, Mortimer succeeds in creating a general sense of fear and suspicion. Now, King Edward II and his Chancellor, Hugh Despenser, are doing everything to ensure that Mortimer hasn’t left allies behind. Adam de Guirande must play his cards very carefully, or he may become one of the victims of the infamous scheme of Hugh Despenser. Will his wife and the Queen be enough to help him through the conflict?

The historical setting of this well-crafted novel is one of the powerful elements that will draw readers in. The author has done a wonderful job in researching her characters and in integrating strong historical elements into the story. The writing itself is a huge success from every angle --- great and memorable characters, marvelous descriptions, lively dialogue, a complex and intriguing plot, and large scale conflict. Adam is a man who can be thought to personify conflict. He is torn between different worlds and it is interesting to see how he plays his cards to stay alive. There are other compelling characters like Hugh Despenser (who seems to personify evil), Roger Mortimer, Queen Isabella, and Kit. Days of Sun and Glory by Anna Belfrage is a highly entertaining work that fans of historical novels will find irresistible. A masterpiece in its genre.