Price of Peace

Price of Peace
Jennifer DiCamillo
Publish America
ISBN: 1-4137-1388-2
Fiction, Fantasy
Reviewed by Dr. Tami Brady

The Price of Peace explores the interwoven politics of five clans in thirteen century Wales. The Rhyls are a small group of farmers and fishermen led by Laird Rhyl. Furthermore, this man is a man easily led by his lover Angharad, a manipulative Denbigh healer. This woman is widely reputed to have poisoned several people including Laird Rhuddlan and Rhyl's wife, the sister of Gogan Laird of Flint.
Rhyl, falling ill with the same mysterious illness that had taken his wife, felt his death was near. With no sons to be his heirs and too few men to defend the village, the leader decides to make peace the Axtyn. The Axtyn , a clan of mighty horsemen, has long claimed the Rhyls clan land as their own. The Axtyn clan also have a problem, not enough women. It seems all Axtyn women conceive only male children. Dougal ap Axtyn and Laird Rhyl discuss the potential of a bond of the two clans through the marriage of Rhyl's daughter Carys and Dougal son Rob. Then something goes horribly wrong.
This book is a complex yet entertaining weave of political ties, negotiations, warfare, and life in thirteenth century Wales. At first, the complex clan ties and large cast of characters is difficult to fully grasp. However, instead of making the book overburdened, this complexity adds an extra aspect of realism. Nonetheless, I suggest frequent reference to the map provided with the book for easier understanding of the placement of key clans.