Bloodline

Those of us who grew up with Rosemary Sutcliff as our lodestone, our baseline, our highest bar of excellence in the writing of the ancient world for children (and for adults) have long been looking for someone who might pick up her mantle: someone who could combine the glorious freedom and innocence of childhood with the magic of old Britain and the sense of battling against vast powers, but with a possibility of success. Lots of authors have tried and some have come close, but Katy Moran's 'Bloodlines' is the first book I've read which carried me the same way the Silver Branch did, or Lantern Bearers , Set in the immediate post-Roman world (AD 630) of a Britain where the native Britains are being slowly pushed out by the Anglish, where warring kings vie for power... in this case, where Mercia is pushing into East Anglia, this is a novel of a lost boy, abandoned by his father, seeking his identity while at the same time, seeking not to lose the people he has come to love. It's an easy enough narrative trope, but done here with a flair that many strive for and few achieve. Essa feels real the way Esca felt real in The Eagle of the Ninth. When his father Cai, the bard, leaves him behind in Wixna, in a village that will be right on the battle lines of the upcoming conflict, his sense of desperation and abandonment are plain without being mawkish. He has his hound, Fenrir, and his horse, and a sword left to him by his father, which has a history yet to be explained. In a pagan village, he is notionally Christian, but prays to the old gods as much as the new and when he begins to fly out of himself, to enter into the bodies of the hawk, the hound, the horse, he is harking back to the ways of Old Britain. His journey takes him west almost to Wales and north towards Scotland before he returns to East Anglia, to the gathering army that waits for a king who has taken himself to a monastery and is refusing to fight. The magic, the battles, the sense of a boy on the brink of adolescence... all are brilliant, all are pure Sutcliff, but better, because this is written for a twentyfirst century audience and lacks the innate sexism of Sutcliff. The author studied history at university and so the sense of time and place, are both beautiful (I'm not sure they had stirrups then, but I stand to be corrected) - but so many academic historians are writing leaden prose, aimed at impressing other academic historians. This is so very much better than that. It lifts off the page. It sings. I can't think why it's taken me so long to find it, but I'm so very glad I did. Rosemary Sutcliff said she wrote for children of all ages from 8 to 80 - and this is the same. Anyone who love our past will love it. I'm heading for the sequel as soon as I can.

I am an avid reader of historical novels, which is why I chose to review this. I would recommend it to readers with similar tastes, but I doubt whether the target audience will be gripped! It takes something really special to get teenagers to read historical fiction, and I don't think this quite cuts it. There's a fair amount of action,since the times were very violent and turbulent. The history seems well-researched, the relationships between the individuals, and the ups and downs of tribal alliances and enmities are well done, but there was something about it which somehow kept all the emotion and passions at a distance. It didn't engage my feelings at all, and I couldn't work up much concern about the fate of the protagonists. I was not surprised to see that this is a first novel, and my guess is that the author is very young - it just has that sixth-former literary style! OK, but I'd rather read Rosemary Sutcliff!

A smooth , compelling read set in Dark Ages England, one of my favourite periods and settings. Traces the stroy of Essa, a half Briton, half Saxon boy abandoned by his travelling bard/spy/father in a Wixna village without explanation when he is nine He grows up in the village, struggles to find his place in the world until his village is attacked by Mercian marauders. He not has a mission to fulfill, while preventing war between the various kingdoms and tribal federations, and has a psychic talent for astral travel and communication with animals, even with entering their bodies.He makes friends and enemies, and his strong bonds with his animals and his love for his childhood sweetheart, blond saxon beauty Lark, are both beautiful to read. his ultimate task is to stop the savage and bloodthirsty Mercian king Penda, after having gone with Penda's son, Wulfehre, on a journey to Powys to fetch Wulfhere's young bride. The author shows great understanding and research of the Britain of this time , and we get a feel fro the characters and places. She definitely shows a feel for Britain and it's history.

This is a really excellent book for an older reader, a fine introduction to historical fiction, and very evocative of the misty origins of the British Isles. Essa is a half British, half Anglish boy, son of a 'scop' or bard, who becomes embroiled in the high politics of the 7th century, as rival British and English kingdoms struggle for power in the post-Roman landscape of Britain. In addition to this, Essa not only has to deal with the awkward process of growing up, but also to manage his unique and mystical gift which connects him to the natural world and the spirit world. This is beautifully and evocatively written, and impeccably researched. So many historical novels are awfully clumsy in their handling of their research and their prose style: it's really refreshing to find a book like this which achieves both with seemingly effortless ease. Very much in the tradition of Henry Treece and Rosemary Sutcliffe - more from this writer please.

I often read books aimed at children but sadly this is one of that didn't appeal to me as an adult, which is a shame as I love a good children's book. Other reviews cover the plot in excellent detail but basically it's set in the dark ages with warriors and tribes. It is quite predictable in places, which is why I don't feel it is transferable to an adult audience. Katy Moran is clearly a good writer and has incorporated a lot of different themes in this novel, which is good for children to access - love, friendship and honour; to name but a few. A detailed study of life at that time as well. It's quite a lengthy novel though and this may put some readers off who are not avid readers. If you have an average reading ability as a young teenager then this may not keep you interested enough but if you are a capable reader then go for it.