The Last Princess

The Last Princess is an intriguing coming-of-age tale about a young girl fighting for both the legacy she was born into and the legacy fate has offered her. Princess Edith of Northumbria is the eldest child of the Saxon king. Without a male heir, Edith is groomed to take the crown. However, when the king is betrayed by one of his Elderman, the succession plans die alongside him. Edith escapes the ambush, only to find herself captured and enslaved by a roaming band of pirates and later handed off to a Viking jarl. Motivated by revenge, Edith swears to return to the shores of England for both her crown and the usurper’s head.

The story is rich in historical lore from the Viking Age. The author clearly invested time in building a historically accurate world with authentic figures, places, and customs. However, with so much emphasis on the setting, other elements such as character development appeared to be a secondary focus. The characters lacked depth and often failed to express a range of emotions. Due to the noticeably absent human connection, the story felt rather anti-climactic.