Since I'd enjoyed this writer's previous book (Sistersong), I was pretty confident that I would enjoy Song of the Huntress as well and happily I was correct in that assumption. Like Sistersong, this book is set in early British history after the Romans have left and combines history with a heavy amount of fantasy - in this case, the presence of the Wild Hunt and the struggle between both different peoples and different beliefs.

The basic premise of Song of the Huntress is that it's mostly the story of two women - one (Herla) is a follower of Boudicca who makes a deal with one of the Celtic gods for power to defeat the Romans, only to discover she's been tricked; the second (Aethel) is also a warrior but in her case is married to the current Saxon king of Wessex. There's also a third point of view woven through this, that of Aethel's husband, who discovers that others are plotting against him and also struggles with not being what he wants to be, either as a husband or as a king.

I really enjoyed this book, it's got so many elements that I enjoyed and I also liked the fact that it didn't always take the obvious path through the plot-line. Some might feel that the plot flags a little towards the middle but it finishes strongly and gives all our well-written characters an ending that works for them. I'm already looking forward to what Lucy Holland might write next, based on these two books.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley. This is my honest review of the book in question.

The story is told from the viewpoint of three main characters Herla - Lord of the hunt, separate from her love Boudicca by time and space, Ine - King of Wessex making discoveries about himself and Æthel - Queen of Wessex held back by her station and her marriage. The king of Dumnonia is dead and who will inherit the leadership of the Dumnonni? Will Herla learn to be human again? Can Æthel be the warrior queen she wants and rekindle her relationship with One?

It's Fantasy, History and Queer. All the things I love. It's set in the southwest with my Cornish ancestors being the magical ones. Bonus points for sapphic and asexual characters. Emrys deserves 5 stars just themself. Strong political and religious structures including pantheistic nature based belief and practice. Of course I am going to like this book.

It won't be everyone's cuppa tea because of the language and time period (even more extra bonus points for the amount of research that must have gone into this).

Lucy will be an auto buy author for me.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley. This is my honest review, featuring quotes from the ARC.

Buzzwords: female warriors, ancient Britain, religious tensions, Annwn (the Otherworld), LGTBTQ+ (lesbian, bisexual, asexual, trans rep), cursed main character, royalty main characters, magic tied to the land, folktale retelling, character-driven plot

Rating: 3.5 stars

This book is a reimagining of The Wild Hunt, set in Britain during 60 AD. Whilst it is a fantasy inspired by folklore, it is a much more human-centred story, capturing the story of the King and Queen of Wessex during this time. A time of religious turmoil and tension throughout the island of Britain.

“Vestiges of the long ago, places of power and passages that the Christian Church has worked hard to erase. But the memory of them lives on in the land.”

The human focus was a strength of the book. It was more than an atmospheric tale of hunters in the night. It told you about the pain in the land, the responsibility of rulers and the power of change which can be found in each individual. Holland picks her characters very well, using them to show the challenges of the time and adding their own traits to overcome, and further challenge, the plot. I would be bold enough to state that every aspect of this book is in service of the characters, and I thank it for that.

The main theme of this novel was the divide across the land, separate for multiple reasons but most notably religion (in this book). Told from the perspective of the Christian rulers of Wessex. It gives the impression of a singular voice to a divide which affects all, but I felt like Holland was able to point out the areas of them that were sheltered from the reality of the people, even as they focused on the politics of the time. It was only the ruler’s truth and it acknowledged that fact in small details. More than that, it is a tale about flawed rulers which makes it far more interesting than a simple tale.

“Even as corpses, we are not equal.”

The addition of the folklore provided the epic tale you would expect to find in historical fantasy. It added stakes, action and the air of the story being greater than any person. I loved how the folklore had a purpose in driving forces together which added a paramount layer to the novel. It set a dark mood in the novel and Holland delivered the magic of the land as a powerful, sainted force. You couldn’t help but feel moved by the way she wrote about it, only for you to be reminded how alive and dangerous the magic truly was.

I have said it before but Holland writes as if in ancient times, capturing the dangerous folktales whispered next to a fire in the night. The words create a vivid reading experience about epic characters, about magic after dark, and all the danger and heartache that follows. She does not provide the happily ever after but a story which believably survives the night.

The only downside to this is how the story expects you to know about Ancient Britain’s history to an extent. If you cannot picture the landscape, the setting, the clothes, or the titles yourself, you will miss something from this book. On occasion this is something I missed from the story, I wanted the words to build the history up from the page, not just the tone and atmospheric rhythm.


SUMMARY

The Song Of The Huntress is a compelling, well-written book about a moment in Ancient Britain. The use of magic gives readers a folktale adventure about kings and queens with a good message at its core, like all the best stories. It gave balance to complicated discussions and rethought the values of the time to allow unique characters to come alive on the page.

It provided an experience, but it was not without fault. I know it was capable of more complicated discussions with these characters (as discussed further in the character section below) and Herla never really found her place within this tale for me. I did find the story lacking in moments because of this, but there were many moments I truly appreciated and showcased the true capabilities of Holland’s praise-worthy writing.

“The soul of the Land has many names. The names of gods and stars. Poets and priests and men who think themselves wise have named her, but she has no need of them.”



THE CHARACTERS

This is a character-driven story and it is only right that I talk about them in further detail. It is spoiler-free but it is more specific from this point on, so enter at your own choice.

Queen Æthelburg of Wessex

“We are not made of men.” // But you are, Æthel thinks. This world is. And I am suffocated by all of you.”
“Easier to blame a woman, rather than a king.”

She is the warrior queen and the heart of this novel in many ways. She gave voice to a role in history books that only ever sat on the sidelines, and I love fiction for giving life to these stories. Æthelburg’s character discussed her role as queen, firstly how she chose to carry it herself. The responsibility of leadership she valued and the ways she pushed to make the role her own. The second part handled how she was judged for her choices, specifically as a woman. From expectations to having people ridicule what she said and finding little support. She became easy to admire for her strength of character, and the emotional hardships she endured gave extra substance to her.

Æthel is very different to her scholarly husband, their differences both add to and challenge their companionship. From a reader’s standpoint, this made for a relationship I was invested in. Whilst the plot had bigger games at play, it made a point to notice their relationship and talk about its struggles. He represented duty to her, in many ways, whilst Herla represented her freedom. Each relationship had nuance which elevated the novel.


King Ine of Wessex

“The blood in my veins comes from Cynric and all those who slew their way to power in his wake.”
“It is too great for anyone Ine. Of course it is … But does that mean we deny it?

As king, Ine is a dominating force, but he seeks peace. At the start, he comes across as weak-willed but it is not written to be reduced to a simple flaw. It is a product of his life. For he tried to make life easier for others and had to deal with his own insecurities silently. You can feel how much he cares even as his actions are lacking. Across the novel, he is pushed to transform. To overcome silences and find his voice. It is a very heartfelt journey and the fantasy aspect only shines a brighter light on his change. His openness, his flaws and his purpose made the novel for me.

Ine wasn’t the typical King but he had all the making of a hero in his heart. It was this inherent likeability, and even relatability, that made him a stand-out character for me. Ines had a lot of great side characters in his chapters which made me look forward to his parts even more; Emyrs, Gweir and Cadwy. (I’m disappointed to praise mostly men in a feminist novel too.)


Herla, The Lord of The Wild Hunt

“Fury will only carry you so far, but it is far enough.”

The fact that I have barely mentioned Herla up to this point speaks volume for the impact I felt like she had on the novel. It saddens me to say this but I actually felt like she was the weakest perspective. She is on her own journey after being cursed, with her past full of darkness and pain. She should have been an emotionally rich character to explore but I didn’t get that from her. It wasn’t until the end that I felt like she had established a purpose. I enjoyed this ending for it meant a lot. But I needed more than just a good ending from her. She didn’t provide answers to others when she could have and the romance, her main link to the other characters, was rushed. Most of the time was spent complimented eyes to create the illusion of romance. I’m sorry but that isn’t enough. There were good moments between them, but as a whole, it was lacking and took away from the heart of the plot. I was disappointed with her character.

Thank you first of all to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for gifting me this arc.

Song of the Huntress is a lengthy yet eloquently written historical fantasy piece with political intrigue and lgbtq+ representation. Lucy Holland does exceptionally well in highlighting the everlasting nature of the queer community, and her unwavering presence in educating others even in the ye olden times is important when representing the present.

However, I did have qualms with this read. The first two thirds of the book in my opinion took too long in setting up the world, as well as, honestly, being incredibly boring and slow. By the time the action and intensity truly took place, I found myself realising that I did not care about the characters or the hardships they went through. Something that is probably my own fault as well, was needing to flip back to the names list at the beginning as sometimes so much time had past I forgot who was who and why I had to feel a certain way about them.

Otherwise, this atmospheric read was a great stand alone with a satisfying end for the characters. I just wish it took the time for us the reader to properly sympathise with the characters and build bonds, rather than leaving me feeling underwhelmed.

Thankyou to NetGalley, PanMacmillan and Lucy Holland for my e-ARC copy of this title.

•
*mild spoilers*
The initial half of the book moved at a slow pace, which combined with a writing style that included complex sentence structures and eighth-century British language, made it initially a difficult read (despite thoughtful explanations at the start to try and aid this).
However, I did eventually come to appreciate the inclusion of period specific language and became familiar with Hollands writing style which meant it became an easier read as I went on- and it is definitely one worth sticking out for!

The story was a satisfying blend of historical fiction elements with the incorporation of Welsh folklore and magic. It had multiple POVs but each voice was distinct and unique and each angle of the story was just as interesting as the other meaning no one character dominated the narrative.
It was a well-constructed plot filled with political intrigue, Christian-pagan conflict, a believable magic system, tense moments of confrontation, and a unique Wild Hunt retelling.

The subplot of a heartfelt sapphic romance added depth to the narrative, and the addition of an asexual character further built on its inclusivity and both stories enhanced the story with themes of love and duty.

In summary, "Song of the Huntress" earns a 4 star rating. While the initial hurdles of pacing and writing style required some adjustment, the book ultimately unfolds into a rewarding historical fantasy adventure.

4.25*

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan/Macmillan for a digital review copy of "Song of the Huntress" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

I read Sistersong in 2023 and loved that it took a different direction for historical fiction/myth retellings so I of course was immediately interested in reading Song of the Huntress. Compared to it, this is definitely a more grown up story. We still have three core narrators - this time all adults (Ine and Æthelburg - King and Queen of Wessex and Herla, Lord of the Hunt), but they are still navigating a rapidly changing society and battling to understand how to live, and love in communities that are torn between Christian and Pagan influences. The magic system remains the same and I loved the connections back to Sistersong but it's not a sequel by any means and can read as a standalone. I just felt that I got more out of it though because I had already immersed myself in the world and power dynamics of that society.

This novel has much more focus on the political elements but also wonderfully intertwines magic and folklore throughout. There are numerous plot elements that are introduced including betrayal, treason, and an ancient menace with a ticking clock element that propels the story forward.

With all of these storylines and many characters the story does take a while to get going and it took me a while to feel connected to the story and the characters as at times I wasn't entirely sure who was who and what their motivations were. But about 40% in it all clicked and started building to its thrilling climax and for me the remainder of the book was an absolute winner.

For me Æthelburg was the heart of the story and her relationships and interactions were what kept the story moving. Ine was frustrating in his lack of ability to communicate but I loved his story arc in the end, glad to see Asexual representation and how he linked back to Dumnonia.

Herla is a statuesque giant in this book. Strong, tormented with fierce loyalty and love keeping her battling against the curses placed upon her. Her relationships and interactions all feel bittersweet as you feel from page one that everything related to her is ultimately doomed though you can't help but feel connected to her and wish constantly for her to succeed and find happiness.

Much like Sistersong all of these characters are very human, even amongst the magics and fantasy. They are fallible and fully rounded with good and bad traits so you cheer them on and then feel frustrated when they fail. Many of the periphery characters are lacking in characterisation and the villains of the piece do feel more one dimensional but they don't detract from the power of the core three narrators.

The slow build up for this book did pay off for the story and I loved it's focus on love, loyalty and navigating through uncertainty especially in relation to religion and societal changes. Fans of Sistersong will love that it takes the adult perspective this time and doesn't just rehash the same story but keeps the core magics and wonderful storytelling that we got in that book.

Song of the Huntress comes out 21st March 2024

Immensely enjoyable book with sympathetic queer characters against the backdrop of one of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of long ago. I loved all three main characters, even though a few times my biggest wish was to lovingly slap them because they were being so dumb and obtuse. But not in a bad writing way though, no issues there: no matter how annoyed I was at them sometimes, the plot simply demanded that behaviour.

My only gripe with the book was that the set up ended up taking pretty much 85% to 90% of it, and then it sort of stops after a very short climax. I would've loved to spend more time with everyone who survived until the end!

I recently read Sistersong and really enjoyed it so I was excited for the chance to read another book set in the same world. Compared to that, this story is more 'grown up' in that it features adult charactures and focuses more on political elements. It keeps the same magic system, and I was glad to have read Sistersong prior to this to establish a bit more about how this works, as well as providing some more foundation about the cultural conflicts taking place during this time.

Cast of characters:
Queen Æthelburg: Sword bisexual/girlboss
King Ine: Depressed asexual wife guy
Herla: Lesbian horse girl who's not over her ex (her ex is Boudicca)

I enjoyed seeing their relationships develop alongside the plot in which political scheming mixes with darker forces that threaten the human world. Overall if you like historical fiction, mythology, and fantasy I definetly recommend picking this up, but I suggest considering reading Sistersong as well which is also a wonderful story.

Herla is cursed. Once she had a cause, but no power; now she has power without a cause. As Lord of the Wild Hunt she is shackled to the bloodlust and to the never-ending passing of time. When her mind finally breaks through the fog, the only thing on it is revenge. Revenge and the face of a Queen that inspires feelings she didn’t even know she could still have.

King Ine rules fairly from the comfort of his halls, writing laws and navigating the politics of court. It is his wife and Queen, Æthel, who rides out to fight the battles of their kingdom. Together they hold all the qualities one could want in a ruler. Unfortunately they have one flaw in their relationship: a lack of physical intimacy which leads the court to blame Æthel for their lack of an heir. And there is one who would use this weakness against them.

All three must join together, with as many allies as they can muster, if they are to face the Otherworldy threat that aims to destroy all of Britain. Enemies must come together and differences must be put aside. And they only have until Samhain until the door to their enemy swings wide open.

With so many characters and conflicts to introduce this book was slow to get started, but once I got my head around who was who it was difficult to put down. Æthel’s complicated love life runs as a thread throughout, binding the emotions of the story to the plot itself. This bought the pages to life with a beating heart without ever distracting from the important events of the book. It also worked well as a way to flawlessly weave two worlds together.

The merging of the natural and supernatural is a time-old tale and one that rarely fails to impress. This book tackles this merging in as many different shapes and forms as possible. It has humans that believe, ones who learn to believe, and ones who utterly refuse. It has humans with magic, including ones who did not expect it. It has humans without magic, yet which face the forces of magic fearlessly. It has characters who used to be human, but are now something more, and ones which have never been human at all. It has an all-seeing-all-knowing figure who appears only when they are most needed and spirits which appear where they are least wanted. It even features a scattering of supernatural animals.

Aside from the magic, what I particularly like about Lucy Holland’s characters is that none of them are infallible. Good and evil alike all have their weaknesses and all make mistakes. The difference between them seems to be that the good characters learn from these mistakes and embrace their weaknesses, whereas the evil characters double down on their decisions even when it is clear they have chosen the wrong path. Yet there are also middling characters, who follow through with their decisions whilst still seeming able to display regret and remorse when things don’t turn out well.

Overall this book spins a haunting tale of love, loss, and determination against all odds.

*I was lucky enough to receive an arc from Netgalley and Pan Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.*

I was absolutely enthralled by this book from start to finish. I'm not hugely knowledgeable about the historical setting or the mythology and folklore that drive the plot but I didn't feel like I needed to be. The character and world building in this book was just incredible.

The themes of religion and love and loyalty were explored so deeply and I made connections with so many of the characters through the multiple POVs. Æthelburg and Herla are such strong and amazing heroines and I loved watching as their relationship grew while being badass warrior women.

Song of the Huntress comes out 21st March 2024

In Song of the Huntress we follow Æthelburg, Queen of Wessex, as she leads an army against rebel forces - and whilst leading this army, she comes across a mysterious force of riders. We come to learn that the riders are, in fact, the Wild Hunt, led by Herla, a former warrior under Boudicca, who was cursed to lead the hunt for eternity.

They become enamoured with each other, Æthel endeavouring to find out who these mysterious riders are whilst fighting a court who seeks to undermine her, and Herla seeking to discover what dark forces are at play in Wessex, whilst also looking for a way to break the curse that’s plagued her for centuries.

Needless to say, I LOVED this book. I was a massive fan of Sistersong and Song of the Huntress improves and builds upon what Sistersong created fantastically. Interesting, complex and compelling characters, a deep plot and rich setting - as I mentioned earlier, I practically read the whole book in one sitting, and I loved it from start to finish.

We switch between three POV’s in Song of the Huntress, each with distinct voices and each with their own motivations. Æthel was witty, rebellious and headstrong and I really enjoyed following her as she sought to discover who the mysterious riders were, what her sly brother in law is up to, and most of all, I loved seeing her relationship with Herla develop, as their paths inevitably ended up crossing.

I love books set in this time period - the Early Medieval period is just so fascinating to me - and to find queer representation in this as well is amazing, and it really does warm my heart in inexplicable ways.

Ine, Æthelburg’s husband and king of Wessex, was a surprisingly standout character for me. To be honest, I didn’t expect to see much of him at all, but his story and POV is so interesting to follow. As he grapples with his asexuality, the Wessex court, and a gift he is both afraid of and doesn’t understand - he is a character that certainly took me by surprise, but certainly enjoyed.

You know I love a good mythology book so I couldn’t stop myself from requesting to read Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland! Thank you to @netgalley and @panmacmillan for allowing me to read this eARC in return for a fair and honest review🤍

Song of the Huntress is a dark mythological fantasy, inspired by Welsh folklore and mythology. In a story that deals power, love, duty and ancient malevolent forces, Æethelburg, Ine and Herla try to navigate their way through their challenges. King Ine of Wessex struggles with navigating the political scene in his court, trying to keep peace whilst dealing with his own magical issues and inner turmoil. Queen Æthelburg struggles to find her place on the battlefield and in her husbands court, torn between her duties as Queen and Wife as well as dealing with her growing connection with Herla, a warrior huntress who finds herself cursed to be Lord of the Hunt by the ruler of the Otherworld. The three find themselves unexpectedly greown together as a dark force threatens to destroy their world as they know it.

This started slow but WOW did it get into it! I loved the themes of magic, folklore and political rivalries which created a really juicy and tense atmosphere that simmered under the surface, especially in the second half of the book where the story really picked up. The characters are so well-written and fleshed out, especially Æthelburg was my absolute fav! We LOVE a powerful queen 👸💅 I loved the multi-POV which was really balanced between the three mains. I just really enjoyed how the story built, starting off slowly and building on these nuances between the delicate relations between kingdoms and characters, with tense moments that eventually exploding in the climax of the story in the best way!

If you like strong female characters, stories rich with mythology, folklore, magic, kingdom rivalries and enjoyed Game of Thrones then this book is for you!

4/5⭐️

Song of the Huntress will be published in the UK on 21 March 2024.

This was such a beautifully written medieval fantasy with a sapphic love story and lots of representation - bi/lesbian/ace MCs. It’s also connected to Hollands other book just several hundred years in the future. I ended up really enjoying this but that ending did make me sad, I was such a simp for Herla😩😩

I adored Sistersong so was eager to read this companion novel and it didn't disappoint. The writing style was lyrical and engaging, with obvious care taken to construct each sentence. The characters were fleshed out and every one felt authentic with believable motives. Historical fantasy at its best.

I was so excited to get an e-ARC of this as I loved sister song.

Sadly this didn't quite live up to my expectations. I gave it 3.5 stars because the second half really picked up.

The first half was quite a slow build and took a long time to get going.

The ending was quite satisfying though.

60ish AD. Herla is a warrior, fighting alongside her sisters against the Roman conquest of Britain. But they are fighting a power they cannot surpass in numbers. Herla and her warriors reach out to another power. One that lives on a hidden plane. But the weapons offered come at a price. One Herla is sure she can pay… until she pays it.

600ish AD. Æthelburg is Queen of Wessex. She too is a warrior. Standing on the field of battle, despite her husband’s reticence to let her go. She knows some battles cannot be fought by courtly words, and some doors cannot be opened but must be kicked down. And she’s going to do some kicking. With enemies standing on the other side of the hill, Æthelburg is prepared to fight any man. Until a host of riders swarm through the night, killing everyone in their path. Æthelburg is faced with a kind of battle she never knew existed. One that will threaten her home, her husband, and even her heart.

Song of the Huntress is Lucy Holland’s second historical fantasy novel, and having read Sistersong (her first), I gotta say, she keeps getting better. The Wild Hunt, the magic of the land, the dangers of faith, the movement of political strife, the drama of a complicated marriage, the thrill of battle and the thirst for blood all weave together in this story.
Given the sparseness of historical record of this era, Holland has taken a lot of liberty to make a very well-crafted tale. The halls of the kings feel genuine and bring civility through gritted teeth. The fights and struggles look dangerous, armoured and bloody. And the supernatural, and magic, beings of the land fit right in.
The relationships, especially those Æthelburg has, are a good representation of how we have always been here, even if there’s no way to be sure what Æthelburg or Ine’s preferences were in actual history.

If you enjoyed Sistersong, or Genevieve Gornichec’s The Weaver and the Witch Queen, then I think you will also enjoy this one!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The world-building and character development were exceptional, immediately drawing you to root for the main characters. Despite initial concerns about the unusual names, they didn't hinder the flow, and the pronunciation guide provided was really helpful.

The narrative from three different points of view was a pleasant surprise, as I found equal joy in each character's perspective—a rarity. The strong female leads, intertwined with magic, myth, and a touch of romance, captivated me.

Being from Somerset, reading about familiar places added an extra layer of enjoyment, prompting me to revisit and delve deeper into the history. The book's ability to spark curiosity and encourage research epitomizes a truly engaging read.

I read an e-ARC of this book so thank you to Nat Galley, the author and the publisher.

I loved this! It’s such a wonderful blend of historical fiction and folklore inspired fantasy.

The characters really stand out in this. We primarily follow Aethalberg Queen of Wessex, her husband Ine King of Wessex and Herla, an ancient warrior trapped in the wild hunt who previously fought for Queen Boudicca. We get chapters from all their perspectives and told in third person. These voices are all so distinct and absolutely fascinating. Occasionally in books with multiple POVs, some characters are more interesting than others and I just want to rush back to their chapters. Not the case here, every voice is equally thrilling! The characters are so strong in their own ways and I was rooting for them all.

The plot is so gripping. An ancient menace, enemies in those you thought you could trust, growing discord, kingdoms teetering on the brink of war. It’s all absolutely fascinating and wonderfully tense. I loved the folklore woven through this, it was beautifully written.

I was so impressed with this book, the pace was excellent, the plot intriguing, the writing was enjoyable and the characters were so rich. I will be looking out for more from this author!

Thank you so much netgalley and Pan Macmillan for letting me read the advance reader copy of this book.

I loved this book so much! The world building and character development was so good it immediately made you want to root for the main characters.

At first I was worried all the unusual place names and character names would make this a bit tricky and not flow however I was very wrong, and after looking up some pronunciation guides for æ I was away.

This is a book from 3 points of view and I was equally happy to read each character which isn't always the case.

I was lucky enough to meet the author when she interviewed Samantha Shannon in Falmouth and I have been wanting to read her work ever since. It did not disappoint at all with strong female leads, magic and myth and a hint of romance.

I was very excited when I also this week received sister song as my Secret Santa present and am so excited to read more by this author.

I am Cornish and have been to Tintagel (Dintagel) and it's always nice when you read about places you have been as you can try and form more of an image in your mind. Reading this has made me want to go back learn about the history and I was Google searching names and places as I read and to me wanting to learn Moreno's the epitome of a good book.

I will be heading straight out on release day to get the prettiest hardback version I can find of this book.

I had such high expectations for this novel as I loved Sistersong so much, and Lucy Holland did not disappoint!
It is a brilliantly written and structured book, with the story woven together through chapters that swap between Ine King, Queen Aethelburg, and Herla, Lord of the Hunt. You see the story unravel through each persons perspective as they add in their own piece to the jigsaw.
The plot is complex and there are a lot of moving parts, but Lucy Holland is such a brilliant storyteller that it feels simple and straightforward.
The story is that of Herla, who visits Gwyn ap Nudd, King of Otherworld, Annwn, asking for his help to defeat the Roman Invasion. After visiting his land for what Herla believes is three days, she leaves to find that three hundred years have passed. And now, whenever the old moon rises, she awakens for The Hunt.
The story is also that of Ine King and Queen Aethelburg. A traitorous brother, and a fight for the crown and Wessex. That of Dumnonia and the Dumnonian Birthright, a power given to humans by the land, and the only power strong enough to rival that of the King of Otherworld.
The mythology and folk lore that is woven into this story is also brilliant and exciting to read, done with care and integrity. I cannot recommend this novel enough!