Of Wisdom and Valor: The Art of War. The Path of Peace is part two of The Windflower Saga Trilogy by Aleksandra Layland, an epic fantasy with powerful plot lines and believable characters. This is a story with strong political themes, one that reflects the game of power and how political leaders can manipulate the will of the people and use lies, intrigue, and machinations to deceive the people and keep them in ignorance and misery.

Kimbria is plunged into misery, thanks to the very few who hold her destiny hostage. The people live in abject poverty and the days of glory are long gone. The people want the Royal Council to be replaced. Their only hope is in a woman, the young Duchess of Ansgar who has spent the last twenty years in a convent. When the Royal Council decides to make her Queen and give her to a powerful warlord, it is not with the best intentions. In fact, they don’t plan for her to ever rule as Queen. But she has her own plans and what follows are surprises that both readers and characters in the story won’t see coming.

Aleksandra Layland is a good storyteller and I enjoyed her unique sense of world building and the deft handling of conflict. She doesn’t just make readers care about her characters but succeeds in making them want to see what becomes of a people. The descriptions are vivid and even though the setting is imaginary, the writing leaves vivid images in the minds of readers. Of Wisdom and Valor: The Art of War. The Path of Peace is ingeniously plotted and written with skill, an entertaining narrative that will appeal to fans of epic fantasy.

Of Wisdom and Valor: The Art of War. The Path of Peace is a continuation of The Windflower Saga. This novel is the second in the trilogy by Aleksandra Layland, which could stand as a standalone story. Layland has written several novellas which give a clearer vision of the descendants of Duke Ansgar and his indigenous wife, Keholani. This novel focuses on Duchess Keridwen and her husband, Leofric the Longsword. He is a warlord commissioned to marry the young, inexperienced Queen of Kimbria. She has grown up in a convent, but is educated in all things to help her rule if they chose her. The Royal Council just wants a figurehead while they dictate and manipulate the people. Together, Leofric and Keridwen become a force the Royal Council didn’t anticipate. Their love and resources allow them to give back to their people and turn the tide for a new beginning of rulers.

Aleksandra Layland describes her characters well, giving Of Wisdom and Valor an edge and endearing the characters to the reader. The challenges Leofric and Keridwen face take the reader to another world where rulers need both brute force and intelligence to gain the respect of their people. The author has built a world around this family and the reader feels compelled to read each of their lives and the different directions they take. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves historical romance, but the added books about the family are a definite plus in my eyes.

Of Wisdom and Valor: The Art of War. The Path of Peace is Part II of The Windflower Saga trilogy by author Aleksandra Layland. It's an epic romance novel set in the fictional kingdom of Kimbria. Lord Leofric Longsword is a mercenary hired by the Royal Council to act as the Warlord of Kimbria to deter neighboring states from declaring war on it. Accompanied by his trusted Lieutenant Wulfgar, Leofric travels to Whitehaven on the Council's orders to crown the Duchess of Ansgar, Lady Keridwen, Queen and take her hand in marriage. Keridwen soon charms her way into Leofric's heart, and they both fall in love. But the Royal Council have plans of their own as they threaten to shake the foundations of Leofric and Keridwen's relationship.

Of Wisdom and Valor is a well-written fantasy epic that seems set to worm its way into the hearts of fans of both fantasy and romance. Riding on the backdrop of a love story between two star-crossed lovers, author Aleksandra Layland's story is tragic, heartwarming, brutal, and poignant in equal measure. The characters have well-thought-out arcs and layers of depth. I was deeply enamored by the worldbuilding and the depth of lore provided by Layland. The ambiance created by the narrative takes the reader straight into a medieval world, which makes for an immersive reading experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I would highly recommend it to fans of medieval fantasy worlds and romance.