Aleksandra Layland is a retired civil engineer and federal civil servant who worked primarily for the United States Air Force as a senior installation engineering manager responsible for buildings, airfields, infrastructure, fire protection, and emergency preparedness. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Western Caroline Islands where she helped build school classrooms and cafeterias, low income housing, and simple village water distribution systems.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Leofric of Longridge is a medieval fantasy-styled novella that forms part of the Windflower Saga series, written by author Aleksandra Layland. Closely connected to the second volume, The Art of War. The Path of Peace, in this novella we get a glimpse of our hero Leofric when he was a young lad of fourteen. Aimed at both adult and young adult readers, the story introduces a simple orphan boy with no perceived future, but one whom we know will rise to incredible feats of war, leadership and a magnificent future as a hero for all time. As our story begins in Leofric’s monasterial home, we learn of the terrible trials that he faced in his formative years, understanding more and more what it takes to become a fearless leader of tomorrow.
Having read and reviewed several volumes of the Windflower Saga before, it was a delight to return to Aleksandra Layland’s ever-improving style. I’m delighted by the latest instalment, Leofric of Longridge, because the emotional connection with the character is the strongest it has ever been, and this access to backstory really cements the world together in a way that no prior volume has. That said, you can definitely also enjoy Leofric of Longridge on its own as a novella, a gateway to Layland’s complex fantasy world of kingdom politics and brutal wars. There’s plenty of tragedy and story within this novella, and I recommend it as the best addition yet to this lifelike and immersive epic fantasy saga.
