Jules Watson

I'd already read the first two books in the trilogy, The White Mare and The Dawn Stag, so I was already familiar with Jules Watson's style, of bringing spirituality - in the form of alternative healing, visions and the like - into what were sweeping historical dramas. The characters were interesting (once Rhiann had stopped wailing about how unworthy she was); and the descriptions of place and events well drawn.
But this book, the third and final in the trilogy, took a different and unexpected turn.
I expected it to carry on where the second left off, with the characters who survived the first two books and/or their descendants. The third however has moved on 300 years to Roman Britain in 366AD. Minna, a young Roman serving girl, has lost her home and her family and has to fend for herself in a world that until now she had been protected from. She is desperate to reach her brother, a soldier at the northern frontier. While there are repeated references to Rhiann and Eremon, the main characters from the first books, there is a bit too much "priestessing" for me in this one - and unfortunately the mystery and magic of the earlier stories were replaced by a what for me was a far less credible environment.… (mais)

An outstanding follow-on from The White Mare. The author obviously knows her stuff - and this knowledge, awareness and real interest in the era, people & lifestyle portrayed, enabled the creation of a vivid, imaginative and thoughtful novel (indeed novels) with real depth. In short, I was swept away by the story and the imagery.

I bought both The White Mare and the Dawn Stag at the same time - which was a good move, as it meant I didn't have to wait to carry on reading the next instalment of this top trilogy.

And, whilst taken aback by the ending, I was not disappointed - rather, excited by the potential of the final instalment. I await the next and final instalment - The Boar Stone - with bated breath!… (mais)