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Book Tour: The Oath, by A.M. Linden (Excerpt)

Welcome to The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn. I am so excited to participate in the book tour for the novel The Oath, by A.M. Linden. Many thanks to Amy Bruno from HF Virtual Book Tours for the invite.

THE OATH BY A.M. LINDEN

Publication Date: June 15, 2021
She Writes Press
Paperback & eBook; 336 pages

Series: The Druid Chronicles, #1

When the last of members of a secretive Druid cult are forced to abandon their hidden sanctuary, they send the youngest of their remaining priests in search of Annwr, their chief priestess’s sister, who was abducted by a Saxon war band fifteen years ago. With only a rudimentary grasp of English and the ambiguous guidance of an oracle’s prophecy, Caelym manages to find Annwr living in a hut on the grounds of a Christian convent.

Annwr has spent her years of captivity caring for the timid Aleswina, an orphaned Saxon princess who was consigned to the cloistered convent by her cousin, King Gilberth, after he assumed her father’s throne. Just as Caelym and Annwr are about leave together, Aleswina learns that Gilberth, a tyrant known for his cruelty and vicious temper, means to take her out of the convent and marry her. Terrified, she flees with the two Druids–beginning a heart-pounding adventure that unfolds in ways none of them could have anticipated.

AMAZON

Praise

“Linden’s well-researched tale eloquently brings to life a lesser-known period of transition in Britain…The author has created a strong foundation for her series with well-developed characters whom readers can embrace…[a] layered, gripping historical fiction…”
–Kirkus Reviews

“Linden uses a fairy tale-like style almost as though this story has been passed down orally over the centuries. Though the kingdoms are fictional, Linden’s tale draws on meticulous historical research, especially in her dramatization of the Christian persecution of the druids.”
–Booklist

“The story rolls along at a lively pace, rich with details of the times and a wide cast of characters….Those interested in goddess-worshipping religions will be drawn to the novel. Any reader curious about 8th-century Britain will enjoy Linden’s innovative focus on the little-known Druids as well as early medieval Christians. Her plotting, shifting points of view of the three engaging protagonists, and evocative writing style make The Oath a pleasure to read. Highly recommended!”
–Historical Novels Review

“The Oath urges readers along on a richly textured quest among the Saxons and Celts of 8th-century Britain. Young and rather humorously naïve Druid priest-healer Caelym swears to ‘rescue’ a damsel in distress who turns out to be neither a young damsel nor in distress. With a feminist slant, this engaging tale brings the conflict between Druids and early Christians to vivid life through sympathetic and well-rounded characters. I particularly enjoyed the ironic voice of the aging midwife Annwr. Brava!”
–Sara Stamey, author of The Ariadne Connection

“Thrilling historical fiction with heart and soul.”
–Tim Pears, author of The West Country trilogy

“The Oath will appeal to a wide-ranging readership, reflecting Linden’s rich imagination and gift for weaving tales within tales evoking the romance of medieval Britain. Vibrant, determined, and relatable characters with disparate ethnic and religious identities discover their own strengths, and each other’s, as the intricate and engaging plot unfolds.”
–Anne Marie Tietjen, PhD, clinical psychologist and instructor at Western Washington University

“Linden’s knowledge and passion for history is soaked into every word of The Oath, combined with an obvious skill at storytelling. Linden succeeds at every level, but the world building is truly spectacular. Historical fantasy is hard to do well, but Linden makes it look easy. What could be dry details are presented so effectively that the world is elevated to almost being a character of its own. And in a cast of characters as well drawn as these, that’s saying something. I can’t wait to see what else this skilled author comes up with!”
–Bishop O’Connell, author of the American Faerie Tale series

About the Author

Ann Margaret Linden was born in Seattle, Washington, but grew up on the East Coast before returning to the Pacific Northwest as a young adult. She has undergraduate degrees in anthropology and in nursing and a master’s degree as a nurse practitioner. After working in a variety of acute care and community health settings, she took a position in a program for children with special health care needs where her responsibilities included writing clinical reports, parent educational materials, provider newsletters, grant submissions and other program related materials. The Oath is the first installment of The Druid Chronicles, a five-volume series that began as a somewhat whimsical decision to write something for fun and ended up becoming a lengthy journey that involved Linden taking adult education creative writing courses, researching early British history, and traveling to England, Scotland, and Wales.

Excerpt:

In this excerpt from Chapter 2, “The Message”: A young Druid priest sent to rescue
a priestess abducted by Saxons several years earlier is surprised to discover that
she is the withered old crone who has taken him into her dimly lit cottage.

“You are Annwr?”
“And if I am?”
“I’ve come with a message for Annwr from her sister and need to know that
it is Annwr I am giving it to.”
“Fifteen years is a long time to wait to bring this message.”
Spoken in an imperious voice—as if Feywn’s voice was coming from the old
woman’s lips—her words settled the last of Caelym’s doubts. Still, it was not fair
that he should have to answer for Ossiam’s failure to have his vision sooner, and
he recovered himself enough to say so.
“I began searching from one end of the land to the other, climbing snow-
covered mountains and descending into desolate valleys, swimming across raging
rivers, and wading through perilous swamps, with little food and no rest, the very
moment it was revealed that Ossiam, Grand Oracle and Master of Divination, had
seen in his dreams that . . . that . . .”
Caelym faltered. The vision that Ossiam had seen was of a beautiful girl
held captive in a king’s palace, not a bad-tempered old woman living comfortably
in a common cottage that was too clean but otherwise quite pleasant. He finished
awkwardly, “That you were still alive.”
The realization of just how far off the mark their Grand Oracle and Master of
Divination had been shook Caelym to his core, leaving him speechless.
Annwr broke the silence. “Ossiam couldn’t divine his way to the latrine in
broad daylight and downwind of it!” She fixed Caelym in a direct glare. “So now
you are finally here, suppose you say what it is you have come to say.”
Challenged to get to the point, he did. “To my sister, Annwr—greetings. In
your absence, much has come to pass. It is imperative that you come without
delay. Caelym, son of Caelendra, who bears this message, will be your guide. All
will be revealed at the equinox.”
“Spring or fall?”
Her words hit hard—harder, maybe, than she intended. Refusing to
acknowledge Annwr’s unwelcome reminder that he’d spent over two months
searching for her and still had a long road ahead of him, Caelym spoke in his most
imposing and masterful voice—a voice befitting an emissary of the Great Mother
Goddess—as he changed the subject.
“Of course, you must be overcome with eagerness to hear of all that has
come to pass in your long, sad years of separation. If there were but time and if
only I had my golden harp at hand, what stories I could tell you, what songs I could
sing. For now, let it suffice to say that Cyri, brave and beautiful, conceived in the
Sacred Summer Solstice Ceremony and born of your exalted loins, stands at
Feywn’s right side, ever yearning for your return.”

He paused there, waiting for the importance of what he’d said to sink in,
before adding, “Now I have found you, you need fear neither Saxon warrior nor
wild beast in the forest, for I will protect you and keep you safe on our journey.”
With this oath, at least, as good as fulfilled, he folded his arms on the table,
put his head down, and fell asleep, the arrow in his back vibrating rhythmically with his snores.

 

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Book Tour Cover Reveal: The Factory Girl and the Fey, Nadine Galinsky Feldman (historical fiction)

Hello Readers, Welcome to The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn! I am thrilled to be a part of the book tour for The Factory Girl and the Fey by Nadine Galinsky Feldman. Many thanks to Amy Bruno at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the invite. Enjoy the tour and happy reading!
Best,
Diane-Lyn
The Factory Girl and the Fey, Nadine Galinsky Feldman
Jane Thorburn straddles two worlds: her life as a “factory girl” in Scotland’s mills, and her birthright as fairy royalty. Abandoned by her parents as an infant, and uncertain about the true motives of the Fey, she learns to depend only on herself. All she wants is to be a great weaver and to maintain her independence.

The Fair Folk, fighting for their very survival, have other plans for her, as does the handsome and charismatic Robert Stein. What life will she choose? And will she even have a choice?

A historical fantasy inspired by the author’s ancestors, The Factory Girl and the Fey is an affectionate tribute to the women who helped fuel Scotland’s Industrial Age, from the workers to the poets…and to the Fey who remind us that magic is real when we believe in it.

Publication Date: October 14, 2021

Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy

 About the Author

Nadine Galinsky Feldman is an author of women’s and historical fiction. Her novel What She Knew was a finalist in the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book awards. The Foreign Language of Friends was a finalist in the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Chick Lit category. It was also named a Gold Medal Winner, Women’s Issues, in the 2011 eLit Book Awards.

As an editor, Nadine produced Patchwork and Ornament: A Woman’s Journey of Life, Love, and Art by Jeanette Feldman, which won the 2010 Indie Excellence Award for Best Memoir.

Her first book, When a Grandchild Dies: What to Do, What to Say, How to Cope, provided grief support to an underserved population.

When not working on her many writing projects, Nadine loves traveling, gardening, genealogy, and yoga. She lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley of New York state.
                                                                                   
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The Children’s Blizzard, Melanie Benjamin (new release)

The Children’s Blizzard is a new release by Melanie Benjamin.

Based on actual events, The Children’s Blizzard is a historical fiction novel about one of the most deadly blizzards in American history. The storm killed at least 235 people, many of whom were schoolchildren trying to walk home.

During the 1800s, masses of European immigrants uprooted their families and their lives to move to Nebraska and Dakota Territory. These relocation decisions were based on widely publicized news reports falsely promising a better, more prosperous life on acres upon acres of rich, fruitful farmland. Native Americans were cruelly pushed out so immigrants could move in. A new railroad was built, and immigrants arrived in droves having no idea that everything they were promised was a lie. The “wonderful” farmland turned out to be a desert with harsh blizzards, prairie fires, aggressive grasshoppers and tornados. Life was nothing but a struggle and poverty for the new settlers, and many of those who were able to move back home did so.

Raina Olsen was a sixteen year old immigrant schoolteacher at a one room schoolhouse in Nebraska. She was boarding with a local family, the Pedersens. Anna Pedersen was an unhappy and hateful woman, and life under her roof had been difficult to say the least. Also living in the home was little Anette, one of Raina’s students. Anette was rejected by her family, and her own mother sold her to the Pedersens for two chickens and a pig. Mrs. Pedersen used Anette as a servant and mistreated the child terribly. Anette was abused, overworked and lived in constant fear. Her only advocate was her teacher, Raina. Her only friends were Tor and his little brother Fredrik, two of her classmates. Anette’s only escape from her miserable existence was the little bit of time she could spend in school, away from Anna.

Gerda Olsen was Raina’s older sister. Also a schoolteacher, she worked at another schoolhouse in Dakota Territory. Gerda was the strong and responsible one, and Raina looked up to her. The sisters enjoyed a close bond and were part of a farming family.

Then there was Gavin Woodson, a news reporter struggling with remorse and regret over the propaganda he helped to create. Propaganda that lead his readers into a life of hardships and turmoil. He wanted desperately to make things right, but he didn’t know how to do so.

January 12, 1888 started out as a beautiful, unseasonably warm day. After a brutal cold spell, temperatures spiked and excited school children walked to school wearing only light jackets after being cooped up for weeks because of the cold. As the day progressed, however, the weather changed drastically. Suddenly and without warning, temperatures sharply plummeted right before the children were to be dismissed from school (It has been estimated that temperatures fell nearly 100 degrees in a twenty-four hour period). A brutal, extremely rapid blizzard ensued. Temperatures in the schoolhouses were dropping fast, but the wild conditions outside were escalating by the second. Panic set in, children were sobbing. Raina and Gerda, young teachers and each responsible for their own roomful of pupils, had to make quick decisions – decisions that would shape the rest of their lives. Decisions that changed families and communities forever. Decisions that would create a better life for one sister, but completely ruin the other.

Wow, I mean – wow! This was a book I blew through faster than the storm itself! I could not put it down, not for a second. My heart was in every page. As a parent, I cannot imagine being in that situation and having no way to find my child. No phones, no way of communicating. Just wait and wait. Teachers who were still children themselves forced to make monumental decisions with no resources, no electricity, no real meteorology, no way of predicting what would happen as a result of their choices and so many factors out of their control. The storm lasted seventeen hours, and many of the children never made it home. Several of them remained missing until the spring thaw – when snow melted months later and tiny bodies were uncovered. Many of those who did make it lost feet, hands, limbs, and ears.

Themes of death, grief, suffering, poverty, anger, and the impacting ripple effect of a single decision were well presented and felt deeply throughout the book. The overall plot pacing was appropriate. Melanie Benjamin provided poignant sensory details throughout the novel. I could almost feel the freezing wind permeating through the pages, and a child’s painful terror as tears froze on their face, and lifted flesh with them as they were wiped away. My heart sank as little Anette snuck out of the schoolhouse and ran into the blizzard because she was so afraid of what Anna would do to her if she got home late. The entire novel penetrated every emotion – especially heartache. Heartache over what those families must have gone through as they anxiously waited for children who never came home. Heartache over two teenaged sisters forced to become adults in a matter of hours. Heartache over lives taken too soon, and families destroyed as a result.

The Children’s Blizzard is multi-layered – diving deeply into the lives of a variety of different characters from vastly different worlds. I especially enjoyed seeing how some lives changed for the better after the storm, even if it was under such tragic circumstances. I fell in love with little Anette, but also appreciated how her character development and response to her changing circumstances were presented realistically, and how she remained true to herself. This novel is well written and extremely engaging from start to finish. I felt such a connection to the characters and their journeys. I completely enjoyed and highly recommend The Children’s Blizzard. I look forward to reading more from Melanie Benjamin.

“And as we are faced with challenges of a climate and planet that are continuing to change due to human carelessness, we must take action now, before more lives are lost.” Melanie Benjamin

***To purchase on Amazon, click here. This is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click the link and purchase this book, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you.

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Weedflower, Cynthia Kadohata

Weedflower, Cynthia Kadohata, is a historical fiction novel for middle school readers. Cynthia Kadohata is a Newbery Award winning author of Kira-Kira. Weedflower is the story of a young Japanese-American girl and her struggles with loss, loneliness, war, racism, and life in an internment camp during the World War II era.

Sumiko was twelve years old and lived on a flower farm in California. She and her little brother had lost their parents years ago in an accident, but they were taken in by their loving and supportive extended family. They all lived and worked together on the flower farm, a job that Sumiko enjoyed. The book opened with Sumiko very excited to be the recipient of a birthday party invitation. As the only Japanese student at her school, she was used to being ignored or teased by other children. So when Marsha, a popular classmate, invited her to a party, Sumiko was thrilled. For the first time in her life, she felt proud and special. When the day finally arrived, Sumiko wanted everything to be perfect. She wore her best dress and brought an expensive and impeccably wrapped present. But everything turned sour the moment she arrived – the moment Marsha’s stunned mother came to the door and saw her. When Marsha invited her whole class to the party, her mother hadn’t realized that a Japanese child was a classmate. She quietly stepped out on the porch, explained to Sumiko her concerns over what her husband and others would think, handed her a piece of cake, and quickly sent the devastated child home.

Life for Sumiko and her family only got worse from there. On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was bombed and the United States entered into World War II shortly thereafter. Japanese-Americans, suspected of being spies, were sent to internment camps. Sumiko’s family lost everything they owned and became prisoners. Her new life was on a dusty camp set in a scorching hot Arizona desert, which had previously been an Indian reservation. Barely fed and living under horrible conditions, Sumiko found ways to survive. She planted a flower garden and dreamed of owning her own flower shop someday. She met a young Mohave boy, Frank, who eventually became her first real friend. It was difficult to comprehend the treatment of those imprisoned, but also refreshing to see Sumiko authentically evolve and mature despite the hardships.

Weedflower is the story of a lonely, rejected adolescent girl longing for acceptance in the midst of a world crisis and explosive racial divides. The author’s father was an internment camp survivor, so this is clearly an issue close to her heart and realistically represented throughout the novel. Kadohata gave an honest description of the brutality against incarcerated Japanese-Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. These events were presented poignantly, but without being overly graphic in my opinion. Weedflower is well-written, educational, well-paced and age appropriate. Sumiko’s character is sweet, likable, and relatable and I think middle schoolers will connect with her social struggles and desire to belong. I admired her determination to survive and her unwavering empathy despite the circumstances. This novel offers multiple themes – loss, family bonds, friendship, war, the power of perseverance and of course, racism. As we all know, the overall racism themes still apply today as this sadly continues to be an issue in our nation. In light of recent events, including violence against Asian-Americans, it is critical to open a dialog with our youth about these issues, and to keep these conversation going. There is much work to be done and everybody deserves a voice. Weedflower would make a great conversation starter between young people and adults, a platform on which to begin these important dialogs.

I highly recommend Cynthia Kadohata’s Weedflower for middle school students, teachers and parents. Kadohata has written many books for this age group. In an educational setting, an author study on her work would make for rich, engaging discussions. Please see my review of her novel, Kira-Kira. There are several parallels between these two novels. Kira-Kira is a story of another young Japanese-American girl struggling with similar social and discrimination issues, but during a different era. Both novels are thought-provoking and excellent choices for young readers.

This is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click the link and purchase the book, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions remain my own. Purchase Weedflower at Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2Rf4bw9

“I feel like I speak for many Asian Americans when I say I am fearful, a little angry, and frustrated at the uncertainty of the entire situation.” Benny Luo

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Day of Tears, Julius Lester

Day of Tears, Julius Lester (1939-2018) is a historical fiction novel for teens and tweens, based on actual events. On March 2nd and 3rd of 1859, the largest and most devastating slave auction in American history was held in Savannah, Georgia. Ironically, as soon as the auction began, the skies darkened and heavy thunderstorms ensued. Torrential downpours lingered for two days, ceasing only when the auction ended. Many referred to this as the day God cried, or “the weeping time”. Over 400 slaves were sold. Some families were separated forever, many of whom were denied the chance to even say goodbye. Sobbing children were ripped away from their mothers, couples were separated, human beings were shipped away like cattle, their fates unknown.

Pierce Butler owned a large, inherited plantation and hundreds of slaves in Savannah, Georgia. He had been married to actress and abolitionist Fanny Kemble, but Butler’s need for control and their opposing views on slavery caused the marriage to end in divorce. Pierce used his influence to take custody of their two daughters, Sarah and Francis, but family tensions continued. Francis, eager to please her father, supported slavery. Sarah, like her mother, opposed it. Pierce couldn’t accept Sarah’s views and the two were constantly at odds. Three of Butler’s slaves, Mattie, Will, and Emma were a family that had been with the Butlers for three generations. In Fanny’s absence, Emma was a committed, loving caretaker to the girls, and she bonded deeply with them. Sarah was especially close to Emma, who was like a maternal figure to both girls.

Pierce, once wealthy, lost most of his money gambling. In order to satisfy his debts, he held a massive slave auction and made over $300,000. But his problems were far from over. The auction not only tore slave families apart, but his own as well. The horrible decisions he made during those two days impacted all of them forever, breaking relationships and forever changing the course of his family.

Day of Tears, Julius Lester, is written in the multiple voices of several characters, slaves and owners. This book seamlessly transitions through different points in time, as we hear from some characters as children and then as adults years later. Written in a play/script form, Day of Tears is a fast-paced, smooth, extremely poignant, heavy read. Lester always did a phenomenal job of placing the reader right in the middle of his chapters. I was right there at the auction, standing heartbroken in that sweltering hot, overcrowded stable, breathing in the stench of sweaty bodies, listening to deafening, pelting rain and claps of thunder. Flashes of lightening offered glimpses of trembling slaves, packed like sardines in the stalls, waiting to be sold like meat to the highest bidder, holding their children for the last time. Then there were the finely dressed bidders, fanning themselves, laughing, socializing, acting like over-zealous holiday shoppers celebrating their purchases without a fleeting thought for the human beings in front of them, who were viewed as nothing more than a business transaction. I left a piece of my heart inside this book.

Parents, this book is educational and based on true events in history, but also a heavy and, at some points, disturbing read. I think this book would make a gripping, engaging piece of a slavery study for middle school teachers. However, I recommend using caution given the graphic nature of certain scenes. Day of Tears is extremely well-written, and brings out the emotional side of history because it connects us to the families and real people affected, and we clearly feel their struggles. It serves as a painful reminder of one of the most shameful parts of American history, and how far people will go in the name of greed. I recommend this book for middle school aged readers and adults alike. It would make a great conversation starter about an appalling piece of American history. Rest in peace, Julius Lester, and thank you for giving a voice to the victims of slavery. Nobody deserves it more than them.

To see more of Julius Lester, check out my review of his book, Let’s Talk About Race.

To purchase, click the Amazon link here. This is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click this link and purchase the book, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you.

“Man puts manacles on his fellow man; God never.” Lyman Abbot