Daughter of Black Lake by Cathy Marie Buchanan

March 29, 2023

Daughter of Black Lake by Cathy Marie Buchanan

Set in Roman Britain, Hobble and her family are bog dwellers, living in a remote settlement. Called Hobble because she was born with a lame leg, Hobble has prophetic visions that are sometimes disturbing. Life revolves around the seasons of the year and respect for nature. When a Druid priest named Fox comes to their village ordering them to join a rebellion against the Roman occupiers, their family, their community and their way of life are threatened.

Historical fiction with elements of magical realism. The historical research and storyline are interesting until the last few chapters, where one of the main characters reveals her "mystical" pregnancy, then it just gets silly. I read Buchanan's previous novel The Painted Girls and enjoyed it, but this one left me wanting. Just average.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Ruins of Roman Britain - even the characters who hate the Romans admit they were damned good road builders

The Bright Ages: a New History of Medieval Europe by Matthew Gabrielle

 July 22, 2022

The Bright Ages: a New History of Medieval Europe by Matthew Gabrielle

Interesting re-evaluation of European history during what we commonly think of as the Dark Ages.  Turns out they weren't so dark after all:  people, religions, and cultures migrated farther than originally believed, women had more influence than is usually credited to them, and broad terms like "Viking" need to be re-defined.  People who lived in the Bright Ages considered themselves to be as modern as we consider ourselves today.  The Dark Ages are considered to be dark only because fewer records were preserved, compared to later eras.

I was expecting the narrative to be focused on a popular audience, but I think it's a little too scholarly for that.  Serious historians will be intrigued by the author's new perspective.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.