Once there he looked back and sensed rather than saw a shimmer in the air about Finlay’s head. It might have been a trick of the light, or of his own imagination; but Hareth mac Enna, Mormaer of Moray, looked at his new King; descended from a long line of Pictish and Scottish kings and, like any good Celt, took it as an omen of goodwill for the years of this reign.”

Daveth mac Finlay loves Scotland and deplores the way it’s foreign-born King (Malcolm) and his son (Duncan) dishonorably behave, ruling more with fear and the reputation of his fierceness than by respectful loyalty. Do the names sound familiar to those who’ve read or studied Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”? They should, for Jen Black has clearly researched her history and combined her knowledge and imagination into a fictional tale about the real King Macbeth. However, this protagonist has a long, arduous journey to travel before he reaches his benign reign.

Finlay, the protagonist of this novel, desires a woman destined for someone else. Kilda is a pawn at the hands of many suitors and plotters, for her lineage will guarantee the dynasty’s continuation. It seems, however, that neither Finlay or Kilda are afire for each other at the same time, after the initial chapters of this novel; and the romances that ensue for each are cleverly and frustratingly crafted, both by the powers that be and the circumstances of time and chance.

King Malcolm sends Finlay north to woo Thorfinn of Orkney with an offer that Finlay should marry Thorfinn’s sister, Ratagan. But Finlay and Ratagan are like oil and water and their verbal sparring and combat are alternatively amusing, challenging, and irritating. Eventually, they both somewhat learn to control their tempers, recognize their true enemies (who include a friend, a slave, the slave’s son, and a so-called peer), and unite their vision to accomplish their regal goal, the peace and progress of Scotland.

This reviewer was reminded, while reading this tale, of well-known writers of epic stories, such as Sigrid Unset, author of the Norwegian Kristen Lavransdatter series, as well as others who have depicted Scottish and British history in fiction form. Such comparisons speak volumes about Jen Black’s talent. Although Ms. Black doesn't’t spend too much time describing the usual Scottish rebellions common to this period, she does weave into the story an accurate and fascinating account of the dress, weaponry, navigational skills, battles, culinary habits and tastes, and poetic talents of famous bards of the time. She also knows how to intertwine various subplots to keep the story from becoming a predictably tedious account. Dialogue is rather repetitive but taut with tension and leaves the reader wondering whether a solution is possible in the cross-hairs of so many plans determined to succeed.

Look for more stories by this new and very talented author! You won’t be disappointed!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on September 4, 2004

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