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.