A world like eleventh-century Britain; an island like the Western Isles. Caerpadraig is the only town with a woman for their priest. And there lives time-traveller, John Finlay, whom the Islanders call Dhion.
The town’s headman—the shareg—feels his age and must stand down. The contest to replace him is intense and even the foreigner, Dhion, is drawn in. Meanwhile, the Archpriest’s men are on the move, emissaries of a missionary push to replace longstanding Island traditions.
As the new shareg is chosen, two of them appear, the first signs of the conflict that will change everything. Bookended by a body washed up on a beach and a glass of whisky on the Inverness train, the world of Caerpadraig comes alive with characters who dance to a different drum.
Ceredigion author A G Rivett claims to have lived several lives in the course of his one life. Born in London, raised in the Home Counties, he has been a doctor, a priest, and a crofter in the Scottish Highlands. He has lived in rural Northern Nigeria and knows what a simpler life looks like, less dependent on technology. He now lives in West Wales with his wife, Gillian Paschkes-Bell, who works with him as a writing team. There, he grows fruit and vegetables and has sewn a wildflower meadow. He has three daughters and two grandsons.
My thoughts: Things are changing on the mystical and hidden island of Fincara, the town’s leader, the Shareg, is ailing and his successor must be decided. At the same time men from the Archpriest on the mainland are coming, to remove Morag from her role as priestess and take control of the worship again, asserting their changing belief system over the one the islanders have followed for generations. This will lead to conflict.
Dhion, or John, the Seaborne, from the 21st Century, will be involved in much of this, but it is his wife who will assert herself and take a leadership role for once.
As things change in the town and outsiders attempt to seize control, the residents will need their friends from across the island to aid them in protecting themselves and their way of life. A fascinating end to this trilogy, out of discord comes a new way that upholds the traditions but reshapes them for future generations. Dhion’s story comes full circle and the island disappears into the mist.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
🧡💛 Thank you so much for being a part of this adventure x
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