1066: What Fates Impose

by G.K. Holloway.

Know More

England is in crisis. King Edward has no heir and promises never to produce one. There are no obvious successors available to replace him, but quite a few claimants are eager to take the crown. While power struggles break out between the various factions at court, enemies abroad plot to make England their own. There are raids across the borders with Wales and Scotland.

Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, is seen by many as the one man who can bring stability to the kingdom. He has powerful friends and two women who love him, but he has enemies will stop at nothing to gain power. As 1066 begins, England heads for an uncertain future. It seems even the heavens are against Harold.

Intelligent and courageous, can Harold forge his own destiny – or does he have to bow to what fates impose?

Our Review

This was a great read! The author did a great job in bringing to life the historical characters. Personally I really liked Harold Godwinson and Lady Edyth, on the other hand one personage that really bored and annoyed me was king Edward, called the Confessor, what a spineless man, he ruled from 1042 to 1066. The prose is great and dialogues are very good, the harshness and brutality of those times are very well portrayed – war; the viking raid; the destruction of entire villages – the carnage. People usually think that the life of nobles was very good but I suspect it was sometimes very hard, you weren’t free to do as you pleased since you had to work hard(and eventually even pay with your life) to grow the power, prestige and influence of your house. With all that struggle for power going on you never knew who you could trust, even the closest family member might betray you and the marriages were more to establish or strengthen political alliances than for love – the result was a great number of children born out of wedlock bringing more misery and strife to the fore. Certainly G.K. Holloway did a long and detailed research about all I mention above as it comes through with great force. If you like historical fiction you’ll love 1066: What Fates Impose.

A Word from the Author

‘I thoroughly enjoyed what Fates Impose and consider it an exceptionally memorable novel. If you know the history, you will enjoy the drama and scene setting but if you don’t, you will enjoy it even more.’ Carol McGrath – author of The Daughters of Hastings Trilogy.
‘An extremely promising debut – highly recommended.’ Historical Novel Society

In January 1045, many people in England think their prayers have been answered. Their king, Edward the Confessor, has just married Edith, daughter of Earl Godwin. Surely, an heir to the throne will soon be produced and England can look forward to a strong and stable future. King Edward has other ideas.
Refusing to produce a successor, Edward provokes a succession crisis. Who will rule England after his demise? This is a question asked not just in England but by rival claimants abroad. As 1066 dawns, the list of adversaries to Harold, the new King of England, grows long. Years marked by assassinations, court intrigues, family feuds papal plots and political maneuverings, come to a head. The issues can only be resolved on the battlefield.

(G.K. Holloway, December 2017)