📖 Hist Fic Revisited ~ Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

On Hist Fic Revisited

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Let's step back to ...1590

Headline
2012

In light of Season 2 of Discovery of Witches starting on Sky 1 last night I thought that I would revisit my original review of Shadow of Night the book on which this second series is based. As with all screen adaptations there have bound to be some changes to the original which is, after all, quite a hefty read. However, after watching the first episode on TV last night I was relieved to find that Matthew de Clairmont's and Diana Bishop's visit to Elizabethan London has been done with a wonderful eye for historical detail and a definite air of authenticity. 

It's always a worry when a favourite book series is brought to life just in case the characters fail to live up to expectations, and season two has some iconic figures who I'm really looking forward to seeing on screen. Gallowglass, one of my favourite characters from Shadow of Night, makes his first appearance soon so I'm really looking forward to watching actor, Steven Cree, bring him to life. The enigmatic Christopher Marlowe, who has such a dark presence in the story, came to life, last night, in Tom Hugh's brooding performance. And of course, it goes without saying that to see Matthew and Diana step into London in 1590 and don their Elizabethan costume is a real treat, I can't wait to see  how the story of my imagination comes to life.

I could so easily have binge watched the whole ten episodes of season two last night but I'm determined to eke out the enjoyment over the next week or so, after all what better to while away lockdown, than to escape to a fantasy world of Witches, Vampires and Daemons in Elizabeth England.

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“Together we lifted our feet and stepped into the unknown”

At the start of Shadow of Night, Matthew de Clairmont and Diana Bishop, time walk back to sixteenth century England in order to discover more about the mysterious manuscript, Ashmole 782, which featured so predominantly in A Discovery of Witches.

Fraught with danger, and malicious intrigue, their search is never going to be uncomplicated, as 1500 year old vampire Matthew, already familiar with Elizabethan England, must stand back and watch Diana take her first tentative steps in learning her skill in witchcraft. In an age where superstition and malevolent conspiracy is rife, Matthew and Diana must first learn to negotiate through a social and political minefield. It is interesting to observe how this formidable combination of witch and vampire coalesce into a fascinating portrayal of an unconventional relationship. 

In this second volume of the All Soul’s Trilogy, Deborah Harkness has used her undoubted skill as a historian to successfully recreate the world of Elizabethan England. She has combined the fascinating and troubled history of the sixteenth century, with a believable and often mesmerising view of the parallel world of vampires, daemons, and witches and interspersing the story with real historical figures is inspired, and gives a real insight into the period, and makes the story believable.

There is always the possibility that book two in a series will be less powerful than the first novel, rest easy, there is no such problem with Shadow of Night. If anything, this book is even better than the first, and whilst there is a tendency to want to read all 592 pages in one sitting, this is definitely one of those books which is better savoured, and enjoyed slowly.

About the Author

Deborah Harkness is the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night and The Book of Life. A history professor at the University of Southern California, Harkness has received Fulbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships.

Twitter @DebHarkness #ADiscoveryofWitchesS2

@DiscoveryofWTV #Witchmas

@headlinepg

Amazon UK

📖 His Fic Revisited ~ The White Mare by Jules Watson

On Hist Fic Revisited 

Let's go back to ... AD79

2004

Book #1 The Dalriada Trilogy

 

Spanning three centuries, the series recreates Celtic Britain at the time of the Roman invasion: a land of visions and dreams, bloodshed and brutal death.

It is AD 79 and Agricola, the ruthless governor of Roman Britain, is turning his attentions to the last unconquered territory in Britain - Alba, Scotland. Rhiann is a courageous and beautiful Scottish princess and priestess scarred by her violent past. Of noble blood, she faces what for her is the ultimate sacrifice - a forced marriage - to protect the freedom of her people.

Eremon is an enigmatic Irish prince in exile, who must seek an alliance elsewhere to regain his throne. Will he prove himself to be the man who can unite the squabbling Celtic tribes against the more ominous threat of Rome?

With war and chaos looming for her people, Rhiann finds herself drawn into an unexpected journey of the spirit and heart, which will reveal the true purpose of her life.

My thoughts...

This story was recommended to me many years ago by a good friend who insisted that Eremon would give Jamie Fraser from the Outlander series a good run in the macho male stakes, well, I always doubted that bit, but I have to admit that Eremon does have a certain male arrogance that is rather appealing. Sadly, the friend who recommended this lovely story is no longer with us but whenever I see my copy of The White Mare on my book shelf I am reminded of the lively chats we once had about historical fiction.

The White Mare is set in the distant past, when the Roman invasion of Britain is well under way. Agricola, the ruthless Roman governor, is intent on conquering the last unconquered territory, namely that of Alba, Scotland. Rhiann is the beautiful but remote Scottish priestess, who is the last remaining hope of the female blood line on which her royal heritage is based, and Eremon is a fugitive Irish prince who in order to gain strength by association, is persuaded to take the inscrutable lady Rhiann as his wife. However, whilst Rhiann and Eremon’s enforced marriage offers some protection to the Epidii people of the White Mare, there are others who seek to destroy this alliance. Whilst the echoes of primeval mysteries surround this ancient game of thrones, the storm clouds gather and as the distant warlords hear the rumble of the mighty Roman army, the observance of time honoured rituals offer no protection against impending danger.

The White Mare is the start of this trilogy of novels which hover in the twilight world of myth and legend. The second book, The Dawn Stag, continues the story of Rhiann and Eremon, whilst the third book The Boar Stone concludes the story some three hundred years later. The White Mare is well worth a read if you like historical romance, mystery and ancient history combined with a rollicking good adventure. 

It's been ten years since I read this and the story is still as strong as ever, the author creates a really believable ancient world, so much so you can feel the danger and learn to cherish each moment of peaceful activity, although to be fair there's not much peace and tranquility in this lively adventure. It's a perfect read for a dark winter's night, curled up by a warming fire to chase away the chill that permeates throughout the story.

I have to say though that this series is pretty hard to find in paper copy in the UK, which is why my paperback copies are precious, but,  you never know, some antiquarian book sellers may have dusty copies lurking on a dark shelf somewhere. Thankfully, however, the whole series is now available on Kindle. 

Amazon UK

About the Author

Jules Watson was born in Australia to English parents. She came to fiction via archaeology and public relations, working most recently as a freelance writer in England. She and her Scottish husband divide their time between the United Kingdom and Australia. ( Source: Goodreads)

Hist Fic Revisited ~ Kingdom of Shadows by Barbara Erskine ☼

 ☼  On Hist Fic Saturday  ☼

Let's go back to ....14th Century Scotland

in

Hist Fic Revisited

Harper Collins
2004

The Battle of Bannockburn, witnessed the defeat of the forces of the English King, Edward II, by the army of the Scottish King, Robert the Bruce, in 1314. This battle for Scottish independence was the culmination of a long fight which had started during the reign of Edward I, who ever after is known by the sobriquet ‘Hammer of the Scots’ and made infamous for his brutal execution of the Scottish warrior, William Wallace.

Kingdom of Shadows takes the story of the tragic Isobel of Buchan whose support for Robert the Bruce put her in defiance of both her husband, and the English King. The disaster of her life is well documented, although perhaps the reason behind her actions is less known. What Barbara Erskine has done is to add flesh to the story and has produced an unforgettable heroine and a tragedy of epic proportions.

The time slip story, uses as its focus the twentieth century story of Claire Royland and her fiercely ambitious husband, and mirrors that of Isobel, who trapped in the thirteenth century uses Claire as the medium through which her story is told. The transition between time frames is seamless and whilst the thirteenth century story becomes more compelling, there is no doubt that the developing situation between Claire and her husband is no less forceful than the conflict between Isobel and her husband.

The novel was originally published in 1988, and I remember reading Kingdom of Shadows for the first time in the early 1990s. The story is beautifully told, rich in historic detail and alive with mystery and intrigue. Isobel’s final punishment by a malicious and ill favoured King is stark and brutal, and yet in the hands of this talented writer, Isobel’s human fragility, combined with her strength of spirit truly comes alive.

And as the final tragedy of the story is revealed, the mists of time shimmer and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as Isobel's ghostly figure tells you that for her the story is never finished and that as long as Kingdom of Shadows remains in print she will be heard time and time again.

It has been a wonderful treat to revisit this story which remains one of my all time favourite historical reads. I think the story remains as strong as ever, with perhaps the twentieth century aspect seeming a little dated now however, the story is none the worse for that. 

About the Author

An historian by training, Barbara Erskine is the author of bestselling novels that demonstrate her interest in both history and the supernatural, plus two collections of short stories. Her books have appeared in at least twenty different languages. She lives with her family in an ancient manor house near Colchester, and in a cottage near Hay-on-Wye.

Twitter @Barbaraerskine #Historical Fiction 

@HarperCollins

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