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The Dalriada Trilogy by Jules Watson
I finally finished The White Mare and I really enjoyed it! 4/5 for sure! I'm glad I have the second book in the trilogy waiting right her on Mt. TBR as it seemed things didn't really heat up between Eremon and Rhiann until the end.
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
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
[quote=""LCW""]I finally finished The White Mare and I really enjoyed it! 4/5 for sure! I'm glad I have the second book in the trilogy waiting right her on Mt. TBR as it seemed things didn't really heat up between Eremon and Rhiann until the end.[/quote]
I read them more or less back to back, and they work really well as a pair - almost as if it was one long story split into two books.
I read them more or less back to back, and they work really well as a pair - almost as if it was one long story split into two books.
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
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
- Anna Elliott
- Compulsive Reader
- Posts: 579
- Joined: March 2009
I just finished the third of the trilogy, The Boar Stone, and it was lovely! She has a new book out, as well. I believe it's called The Swan Maiden--although I haven't read it yet.
I love the level of detail in her books--she makes the whole historical world come so vividly alive.
I love the level of detail in her books--she makes the whole historical world come so vividly alive.
Author of the Twilight of Avalon trilogy
new book: Dark Moon of Avalon, coming Sept 14 from Simon &Schuster (Touchstone)
http://www.annaelliottbooks.com
- diamondlil
- Bibliomaniac
- Posts: 2642
- Joined: August 2008
Anna, you may be interested to read an interview with Jules that we did recently at Historical Tapestry.
BTW, welcome to the boards!
BTW, welcome to the boards!
My Blog - Reading Adventures
All things Historical Fiction - Historical Tapestry
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Edith Wharton
All things Historical Fiction - Historical Tapestry
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Edith Wharton
- rex icelingas
- Reader
- Posts: 74
- Joined: March 2009
I think im going to give `The Boar Stone` a try on my next Book spend
I do enjoy the late Roman period
Ive not read any of her books,(i ended up clicking the link in her sig actually)
Didnt fancy the first two of the trilogy as have a book called `the Pict`by Jack Dixon that seemed similar
Can anyone tell me if the Romans are portrayed as one dimensional village burning bad guys or otherwise?
I do enjoy the late Roman period
Ive not read any of her books,(i ended up clicking the link in her sig actually)
Didnt fancy the first two of the trilogy as have a book called `the Pict`by Jack Dixon that seemed similar
Can anyone tell me if the Romans are portrayed as one dimensional village burning bad guys or otherwise?
I tore through the trilogy this past week. Thought they were great page turners, but in retrospect, I might have been better served by waiting a little bit to catch my breath between the 2nd and 3rd book, because the emotional level they are written on is quite intense. I do think the first and second book should be read together, though. The stories are very much driven by a great love story and the Goddess religion, and those two elements can be a little overpowering. In fact, I thought those elements worked better in The Swan Maiden, where they are better balanced and really elevate the story to something quite special (maybe because that story is much more firmly rooted in myth and legend?). The epic nature of the struggle and the spiritual elements of the Dalriada trilogy often give it that larger than life feeling of an epic fantasy.
As for how Romans are depicted, Agricola is the antagonist in the first two novels, but villains are not limited to the Romans. Agricola is depicted as ambitious but patient and intelligent (as you would expect). However, the story is very focused on the Alban tribes, and Romes wider concerns arent explored. Agricola isnt as complex as I would have wished, but I realize that was a limitation of his role.
In the 3rd book, you see abuses on both sides, as one would expect in a conflict of this nature, but the Albans get much more screen time than any of the Romans. One of the biggest threats from Rome is not the Romans themselves but their way of life and turning away from old ways and traditions. Does that help?
As for how Romans are depicted, Agricola is the antagonist in the first two novels, but villains are not limited to the Romans. Agricola is depicted as ambitious but patient and intelligent (as you would expect). However, the story is very focused on the Alban tribes, and Romes wider concerns arent explored. Agricola isnt as complex as I would have wished, but I realize that was a limitation of his role.
In the 3rd book, you see abuses on both sides, as one would expect in a conflict of this nature, but the Albans get much more screen time than any of the Romans. One of the biggest threats from Rome is not the Romans themselves but their way of life and turning away from old ways and traditions. Does that help?
- rex icelingas
- Reader
- Posts: 74
- Joined: March 2009