The Martyr's Victory, by Emma Leslie, begins by introducing us to Egbert, a young frail Saxon living in the country of Mercia. He is continually scorned and laughed at by his family and the world. Resolving to run away and die in the woods, he meets an elderly monk who invites Egbert into the church's realm of safety. Forsaking all he has ever known, Egbert follows the monk, Osric, to a new life at the monastery. There he learns to read, write, and copy the scriptures.

But danger arises as the savage Danes of the north threaten to destroy the monastery and all of Mercia. A meeting is held in the church and it is decided that six monks shall venture to the Danish lands bringing not only the seed of grain, but also the seed of truth found in the Word of God. Egbert wishes to come along but cannot, because he is too weak. Told that he, and several others, may join the party of six in about a year's time, he is content to remain.

Upon arriving in Ea, an island in East Anglia, the six monks meet a young girl named Elswitha. They soon find out that she has just escaped from being sacrificed to Odin, their false god. Later in the village, Osric encounters a Danish warrior who has been drastically wounded in a single-combat battle and now believes that he is destined to die. As he is a skillful leech, Osric uses all in his power to work to cure the unfortunate Dane. Will he succeed? If he does succeed, will it help in saving Mercia from the warlike Danes? Will Osric's faith impact the Danish people? And what will happen to Egbert? Find out in The Martyr's Victory!

Emma Leslie, whose actual name was Emma Dixon, was a prolific Victorian children's author. She wrote over 100 books; many of which are published worldwide. She was born in 1837 and lived in Lewisham, Kent, which is in southern England. She died in 1909 and was buried in St. Mary's Parish Church, in Pwllcrochan, Pembroke, South Wales. Emma Leslie wrote with a strong Christian accentuation in her books, and encouraged us to fight for faith and believe in God always-no matter what the consequences.

-Product review by Abigail Kessler, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, February, 2008