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Paths of Exile by Carla Nayland

briansellars
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Paths Of Exile by Carla Nayland. Declaration: I'm also published by Quaestor2000.

Post by briansellars » Fri August 14th, 2009, 10:41 am

Paths Of Exile brings rich illumination and clarity to a period in history whose wars, feuding, treachery and deadly scheming have long fogged the glass of time. The few reliable sources available to us present images of tantalising vagueness, raising many more questions than they answer. Carla Nayland strides into the mists of this enigma, armed with her obvious love and familiarity with the history, art and literature of both Celts and Anglo-Saxons. She draws out fascinating threads of fact and mythology and weaves them together with her imagination into an intriguing tapestry.

Edwin, a young prince of Northumbria is dispossessed and exiled in a brutal power struggle. Badly wounded, he is driven out into a deadly world where every hand is seemingly raised against him. As the only remaining obstacle to his enemy's absolute victory, he is promised in sacrifice to the old-gods, and an enormous bounty placed upon his head.

Weak and wounded, betrayers and mercenaries trip and snag his way, dogging his every step; he can trust no-one. Then, in a harsh, moorland wilderness, deep among foreigners, he finds peace and undemanding love. Loyalty blooms on hardship, and tested friendships rearm and rebuild his spirits for the long paths of exile.

The settings for the tale are very well drawn. The author takes us to the small farms and wooden halls of the English. She leads us through the ruins of Roman Britain, showing us its crumbling grandeur - the work of giants – with its capacity to bemuse and even overwhelm the people living in its midst.

I know a little of the history of the real King Edwin of Northumbria, and reading this interpretation of the early part of his life - before he made it to the pages of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles - was a real treat. I was sorry to finish reading this book – and that's always a good sign.

I must declare an interest as I am also published by Quaestor2000 Ltd. However, I did buy the book and read it, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I feel entitled to say so. http://www.briansellars.co.uk

Carla
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Post by Carla » Fri August 14th, 2009, 6:31 pm

I am never sure if authors are allowed to respond to review threads on their own books. Anyway, thank you very much to Rex Icelingas and Brian, and I am delighted that you enjoyed the story!
PATHS OF EXILE - love, war, honour and betrayal in Anglo-Saxon Northumbria
Editor's Choice, Historical Novels Review, August 2009
Now available as e-book on Amazon Kindleand in Kindle, Epub (Nook, Sony Reader), Palm and other formats on Smashwords
Website: http://www.carlanayland.org
Blog: http://carlanayland.blogspot.com

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Margaret
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Favourite HF book: Checkmate, the final novel in the Lymond series
Preferred HF: Literary novels. Late medieval and Renaissance.
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Post by Margaret » Fri August 28th, 2009, 12:46 am

I definitely need to make time to read this one. In the meantime, Annis has contributed one of her typically lively and insightful reviews at HistoricalNovels.info and Carla gave us a fascinating interview for the blog.
Browse over 5000 historical novel listings (probably well over 5000 by now, but I haven't re-counted lately) and over 700 reviews at www.HistoricalNovels.info

JenniferLovesRoxi
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Post by JenniferLovesRoxi » Sun August 18th, 2013, 7:21 am

I just finished reading Paths of Exile and loved it! I just send Carla an email asking if there would be a sequel, and then I came here and saw that she had posted on here in 2008 saying there would be. But I can find nothing else since then mentioning a sequel.

Does Carla still post here? And if so, are you still working on the sequel Carla? I HAVE to find out what happens to Eadwine and his friends.... (AND Severa please!!)!

But seriously, that was by far the best book I have read so far this year and I have read quite a few already!

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Ludmilla
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Post by Ludmilla » Sun August 18th, 2013, 2:09 pm

We actually had a book discussion for this one:

http://www.historicalfictiononline.com/ ... php?t=3217

(hope the link works).

JenniferLovesRoxi
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Post by JenniferLovesRoxi » Sun August 18th, 2013, 6:47 pm

Thanks for the link! I also read the article Carla has posted on her blog about early medieval surgical knowledge. Very interesting! Can't wait for the sequel! I'm just glad that I read the book now and not back in 2008 or 2009. I'm sure I would have died of suspense, having to wait that long to know what happens next!

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Post by Carla » Sun August 25th, 2013, 4:14 pm

Hi Jennifer - yes, I do still post here (although not as often as I would like). Hence the delay in replying to your post - apologies. I'm delighted you enjoyed Paths of Exile! Yes, I am working on a sequel, though there's no publication date yet - I'll put an announcement here and on my website as soon as there's something to announce.

PS - are you the Jennifer who emailed me, and if so, did you receive my reply?
PATHS OF EXILE - love, war, honour and betrayal in Anglo-Saxon Northumbria
Editor's Choice, Historical Novels Review, August 2009
Now available as e-book on Amazon Kindleand in Kindle, Epub (Nook, Sony Reader), Palm and other formats on Smashwords
Website: http://www.carlanayland.org
Blog: http://carlanayland.blogspot.com

JenniferLovesRoxi
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Post by JenniferLovesRoxi » Tue August 27th, 2013, 2:53 am

Hey Carla! Yep, that was me in the emails. And yes, I did get your reply. I have been working on my reply back to you, but I have been very busy the past few days and haven't had a chance to finish it up. I will try to get it out to you tonight!

Oh, and I would be more than happy to proofread any uncorrected manuscripts of the sequel, you know, to check for spelling errors and such... LOL :D

Carla
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Post by Carla » Wed August 28th, 2013, 11:53 am

Hi Jennifer - glad it arrived.

Thanks for your kind offer, I already have proofreaders :-)
PATHS OF EXILE - love, war, honour and betrayal in Anglo-Saxon Northumbria
Editor's Choice, Historical Novels Review, August 2009
Now available as e-book on Amazon Kindleand in Kindle, Epub (Nook, Sony Reader), Palm and other formats on Smashwords
Website: http://www.carlanayland.org
Blog: http://carlanayland.blogspot.com

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LCW
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Post by LCW » Thu August 29th, 2013, 12:46 am

This sounds like just the book I'm in the mood for! I just bought the kindle version. Which was practically free!
Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them. --Arnold Lobel

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