Second Son - Book Review

Second Son
by Pamela Taylor

The royals follow specific protocols in terms of succession and inheritance. As expected, the successor to the throne is the firstborn male of the monarch. The Second Son, meanwhile, takes on specific duties in support of the Crown. What, then, is Alfred’s role in Pamela Taylor’s novel?


Written by Pamela Taylor, Second Son is historical fiction. The plot revolves around a particular kingdom in Europe at the dawn of the Renaissance. This book, however, does not directly refer to any of the actual realms that existed in the aforementioned era.

Second Son follows the story of Alfred, a grandson of the king. The major character introduces himself as,
“…I am a second son and so my prospects are limited. Moreover, I am a second son of a second son, making me twice removed from the advantages of inheritance.”

The Second Son’s Journey

Alfred finds himself mounted on a horse, but he does not know who the rider is. Is he a savior or a captor? He just wakes up from a stupor and unaware of the direction they are headed.

Soon, Alfred realizes he is taken captive by someone not keen on revealing his identity. The man only tells him he wants a ransom. Fitted with shackles, Alfred is taken westward for many weeks. His captor threatens that unless he gets the ransom, he will take Alfred farther to the west.

The two finally arrive at Owen’s territory. Here, Alfred learns of his captor’s name, Ralf. Alfred is then locked in a cell while Ralf goes out with Owen. To keep his sanity, he keeps on thinking about his wife and his baby. He also recalls his life prior to his captivity.

Will Ralf gets the ransom money? Will Alfred find his way back home? And, who is Ralf? Follow Alfred’s story in Second Son.

The Book and the Author of Second Son

Written in an easy writing style and at a brisk pace, Second Son is a feel-good book. It gives readers a glimpse of the lifestyle of the royals. What I like the most in the book is the king’s profound advice to Alfred. He says:
“There’s nothing more valuable than knowledge. Men can take away your belongings, your lands, even your family. But no one can take what’s in your mind. You can use what’s in your mind to rebuild. So, fill your mind with books.”
I find this counsel not only applicable to Alfred. The reader may learn and even apply it to himself. When taken to heart, this advice helps build a person’s character.

Meanwhile, on the technical side, Second Son is proofread well. I don’t see any typographical or grammatical errors. So, I give it a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to readers 15 years old and above.

I also wish to read the succeeding installations of the Second Son series to follow Alfred’s life journey

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