Review: Absolutely Fabulous!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 22, 2013
I am a huge fan of Harper Fox and was waiting for the release of this book as I had a feeling it would bowl me over. I am so very, very glad I was right and that this book continues the genius of this author.Set in 687 AD, Christian Era on the far, far northeast coast of Britannia, I wasn't sure how I would respond as I am normally not a fan of historical books. I will admit that it took a few chapters before I got completely ensnared into this incredible story. I will also admit that the teachings of Cai's first and well-loved abbot, Theo, hold very true of my own beliefs. And, that the abbot sent to replace Theo was completely abhorrent to me. I can't begin to imagine how very difficult life was in this time and place. Not to mention Viking raids up and down the coasts would have been a regular occurrence in their lives and that seems wholly incomprehensible to my modern life.Caius is a young monk who came to the monastery two years ago from his chieftain father's hill. He is the physician at Fara and tries very hard to be a good Christian. An easier thing to attain when Theo preaches astronomy and science, very heretical subjects per the "new" Church. But Caius struggles and when the Vikings raid, killing Theo and Cai's young friend/lover he is devastated. And, along comes Fenrir, a wounded Viking left behind by his brethren. Now this is quite the pair, I might add. A Christian monk and a Viking raider. Two of the most conflicting set of values and morals at the time. And, yet, they learn from each other, taking what is good and discarding the rest. They struggle together with each others differences and learn to love. Fen is grateful because they take him in, feed and clothe him while his own brethren left him on the shore to die. It seems that all will be okay and that Cai and Fen will stay at Fara to farm and care for the monks.And then the Vikings returned. And Fen had to choose who to stand with. His kinsmen or his lover and newfound home. The battle is vicious with more dead on each side and Fen and Cai struggling to survive and leaving Fen with a heartbreaking decision.It's very hard to express how much I really loved this book. It's a beautiful story with wonderful writing, strong characters and a clean, crisp plot line. It's a story of magic and faith, hope and love, life and death.