by Victoria Williamson
Cover Art by Elise Carmichael Back cover design by Mirrin Hutchinson Published by Scotland Street Press
It's always great to see new titles from an author you've enjoyed but it's even better when children are getting excited because the next Victoria Williamson book has arrived!
*Scotland, 158 AD, is a divided country. On one side of the Antonine wall, thirteen-year-old Felix is trying to become a good Roman soldier like his father. On the other, twelve-year-old Jinny is vowing revenge on the ‘metal men’ who have invaded her Damnonii tribe’s homeland*
Are we surrounded by forgotten legends just waiting for their moment to emerge & visit our lives?
This cover definitely invites you in & the whole story keeps you there. With a dual POV we get to experience this story via Jinny & Felix even though they're worlds apart. The Scottish background versus Felix's Roman upbringing really offers a great canvas for this epic tale.
History, myth & adventure blend perfectly to form a story with several layers & characters finding their places with each other despite almost refusing to acknowledge each other at one point!
The reader is completely drawn in - immersed in the atmosphere & settings. We can feel the moody, rough landscapes, tension, fog & rocks that are actually unsettling characters. Is it a crazy idea to bring a Roman boy & a soldier back to the village? What could go wrong?
Will the ultimate goal of peace be realised? You'll have to dare to join the danger & see the twists unfold.
It's amazing how stories from the same author can be so very different. But in my experience, young readers, including the children in the reading miniClub (junior chemo patients) get the feeling that they'll enjoy the next book once they've read one from an author.
We've actually had feedback that some children enjoy some books because they're stand-alone stories.
Thank you for having me on this tour! It's always a pleasure to spread the word about books I think a lot of children (& all readers) will enjoy.
20% of the author royalties for this novel will be donated to Archaeology Scotland.