Book Review: The Circle of Ceridwen (Circle of Ceridwen Trilogy #1) by Octavia Randolph

I loved this book! It's set in a period close to my heart - Anglo-Saxon England - and evokes this era beautifully. 

The story is told in the first person, from the point of view of Ceridwen, a young woman from Mercia. She is orphaned and brought up by her uncle. After his death, she is brought up by local monks. At the age of 15, she has two choices: marry locally or take the veil. She chooses neither and rides away in search of a new life.

What I truly enjoyed about this book was that the author immerses us completely in the world of Anglo-Saxon England, at the time when the Vikings had invaded and were settling the land. The atmosphere is completely different to that of the medieval period, and Octavia Randolph has clearly researched every aspect of her novel, from what people ate and wore, to customs and beliefs. Every page rings true.

Ceridwen is an interesting, complex character. She develops a bond with the Danes she initially lives with, forming a particularly strong bond with one of the warriors, Sidroc. However, she is conflicted by her loyalty to her own people. She does make one or two decisions I didn't understand, but then that's to be expected as the story is entirely from her perspective - and she's not always honest with herself, let alone the reader!

All the relationships in this novel are complex, and this was something else that made it hard to put down. Danes and Saxons alike have their strengths and flaws, which makes the story all the more gripping. Also, I'd like to mention how beautifully edited this book was - not a word out of place!

I have already bought the second book in this series, and can't wait to read it.

Highly recommend - Five stars!

Buy a copy of this book on Amazon.

The Deepening Night - the new book of the Kingdom of the East Angles is underway

Starting on a new book is always an exciting moment for any author. It's the rewriting, editing and polishing process that gives one grey hairs, and makes you wonder why you put yourself through it.

Of course, you know exactly why you do it - to be able to see your story come to life, and for others to read and enjoy the novel once its finished. At least, that's why I write. I love sharing my stories with others.

The Kingdom of the East Angles series has, in many ways, been very easy to write. These days, I plan and research meticulously before I ever sit down to write. I employ a far more 'businesslike' attitude to my writing. I schedule writing time, and I stick to it. I also keep records of my writing, so that I can get a sense of when, where and how I'm most productive. Plus, it helps that these stories are gritty, romantic adventures set in my favorite era - they're great fun to write!

I'm very excited about my new project - the last of The Kingdom of the East Angles series - The Deepening Night.

The Kingdom of the East Angles is a series of historical romance novels set in Anglo-Saxon East Anglia. These are stand-alone novels set around the lives of actual East Anglian Kings: Raedwald, Sigeberht and Annan, and spanning eight years, from 624-631 A.D - at a time when the East Anglian kingdom's power was beginning to wane under the threat of Mercia.

Dark Under the Cover of Night, the first story in the series, begins in 624 A.D. The novel takes place at the end of King Raedwald reign (the king thought to be buried in the Sutton Hoo longship), and is the story of Raedwyn and Caelin: lovers who are kept apart by feuding fathers. The second novel in this series 

Nightfall till Daybreak, takes place five years after the first story. This novel is centered around King Raedwald's stepson, Sigeberht, who returns to Britannia from exile in Gaul to take back the East Anglia throne for the Wuffinga family. This is the tale of Freya and Aidan, a slave and a warrior, and of the king who rules their fates. 

The Deepening Night is the third, and final, story in this series. This tale begins in the spring of 630 A.D., and is the story of Annan - the proud East Anglian king who must 'bend the knee' to Mercia - and Saewara, the sister of Annan's enemy. 

Here's a sneak peak at the cover art for the novel. Click on the image to find out more about Annan and Saewara's story.

Right - back to writing!