Official Review: The Ansgar Treasury by Aleksandra Layland

Doug Jones · Post by **Doug Jones** » 22 Oct 2018, 07:46

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Ansgar Treasury" by Aleksandra Layland.]

3 out of 4 stars

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In one respect, I am glad that I had not been aware of Aleksandra Layland’s Windflower Saga. As a result, I am ideally placed to appreciate her compendium The Ansgar Treasury which comprises four works. These are Ansgar: The Struggle of a People, The Triumph of the Heart; The Feathered Crown; Far Endeavor; and Three Brothers of Ansgar.

The compendium is set in the medieval kingdom of Kimbria and chronicles the princeling-turned-monk Ansgar’s search for a near-extinct tribe called the Kimbrii. This search results in his being rescued from certain death by Keholani, the chief of the surviving Kimbrii, and in their subsequent romance. What gives the story its resonance, however, is the themes that Layland explores in the telling of her story. The consequences of war for indigenous cultures, issues of racism and mixed-race relationships, and the importance of family values are all touched on, in addition to a variety of other themes, in this thoughtfully-written compilation.

I appreciate this compendium for the same reason that a reader whom Layland references in her preface would also appreciate it:

“One of my readers asked why the stories of Ansgar’s and Keholani’s family were, as a result, distributed between several books and asked why I hadn’t written them together in one massive novel…In response to my reader’s comment, I decided to publish Ansgar and the novellas related to it as a collection…I hope you enjoy the convenience of having them all together in the order I recommend reading them.”

While Layland’s work is thought-provoking, and she has certainly constructed a fully-fleshed out world in Kimbria, one issue I do have with the books is that she tends to provide far too much description of dynastic genealogies and historical background. While these certainly provide much information about how the present situation has come to pass, they also mar the potential for a character-driven narrative; character development suffers somewhat at the expense of plot exposition. The latter should have served to fuel the former, but it seems at times that the reverse is the case.

In summary, I must award The Ansgar Treasury a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. It is very well-written, and fans of historical fiction will enjoy the immersive world of Kimbria. Social themes which have relevance in our own world are handled deftly by Layland here as well. The only thing that prevents me from giving a full 4 out of 4 is the over-exposition of the background story at the expense of character development. Otherwise, this is an enjoyable compilation that I have no hesitation in recommending.

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The Ansgar Treasury
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fredrick otieno · Post by **fredrick otieno** » 25 Oct 2018, 01:37

This is a perfect way to learn about the indigenous culture of the kimbrii people. For me i do not have interests in the indigenous cultural practices so i would pass. I liked the review though.

Post by **kandscreeley** » 25 Oct 2018, 07:48

I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction; it has to be just the right one. I'm not sure this would be it for me, especially with the over-exposition. Thanks for the review on this one, but I'll pass.

Doug Jones · Post by **Doug Jones** » 25 Oct 2018, 15:13

fredrick otieno wrote: ↑25 Oct 2018, 01:37 This is a perfect way to learn about the indigenous culture of the kimbrii people. For me i do not have interests in the indigenous cultural practices so i would pass. I liked the review though.

Well, to each their own, Fredrick. Appreciate your feedback nonetheless.

Doug Jones · Post by **Doug Jones** » 25 Oct 2018, 15:14

kandscreeley wrote: ↑25 Oct 2018, 07:48 I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction; it has to be just the right one. I'm not sure this would be it for me, especially with the over-exposition. Thanks for the review on this one, but I'll pass.

Can't fault you on that score, kandscreeley. It's great that Layland has gone into as much depth as she has in building her world, but it should never mar the narrative. Thanks for your feedback.

Debjani Ghosh · Post by **Debjani Ghosh** » 26 Oct 2018, 04:26

I like fantasy books where the author invests time to build a believable world. It speaks a lot about their dedication to their own work. However, I am sad to know that in this case, the author sacrificed character development. It's a coherent and lucid review. Two questions though - is this lacuna present in all the four books? How lengthy are the books?

Doug Jones · Post by **Doug Jones** » 26 Oct 2018, 05:27

I'll answer in reverse order, Debjani. The first book is a full novel, and the remaining three books are briefer novellas. The lacuna is most apparent in the novel, which makes sense given both its greater length and the fact that it is the first book. As a result, though the tendency does occur here and there in the novellas, it isn't as prevalent. If you can get past that, though, it is a worthwhile read. And thanks for your feedback.