Review: Daughter of Mercia by Julia Ibbotson
Today, I'm delighted to welcome back an author of perfect dual-timeline mysteries – Julia Ibbotson. I'm sharing my review of her intriguing new tale, Daughter of Mercia. It's well worth checking out, just as I expected!
Daughter of Mercia is currently on blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club. Find other fascinating posts – excerpts, historical posts, author interviews, and reviews – HERE!
Daughter of Mercia
Dr Anna Petersen Mysteries #1
Julia Ibbotson
I'm a huge fan of Julia Ibbotson's fabulous dual-timeline novels, and I was very excited when I first heard about her brand-new release, Daughter of Mercia. You just know there is so much history there – where would the author start?
In fact, we delve into the earlier days of small English kingdoms, the sixth century, where Lady Mildryth has been given her own lands to govern my her father, King Cnebbe, an Angeln. At a time of great religious change – the old gods were being phased out by the new, Christian, monotheistic religion – we find Mildryth addressing both the gods and God, which I found refreshing. Amongst her retinue is her maid, a Saxon girl of farming stock, who from the start has me wondering about her intentions. Eager to please, yet often sharp towards her mistress, Edythflaed is a conundrum. I was amazed by Mildryth's patience with the girl.
Aware of her status as a woman, Mildryth is keen to show her family that she can indeed govern her lands, peacefully, but defensively if needs must. She acts like a man – aloof and at times arrogantly – to get her message across. Necessary in those times, where leaders could be challenged, usually by force, swiftly.
When a stranger arrives, ostensibly suffering from a form of the plague, she moves to protect her people. But who just is this man who turns up on their patch?
Forward 1500 years to the present day, where Dr Anna Petersen teaches archaeology. In her early thirties, she also tries to maintain a cool (male?) head when challenged. This shows subtle parallels between the two women.
When Professor Matt Beacham asks her to identify the runes on an ancient seax he found in a strange grave, she begins to suffer from visions – just like Mildryth does in the past. His archaeological dig displays a strange anomaly – two bodies of entirely different eras are seemingly buried together, side by side.
Will they uncover the mystery? And what is Anna herself hiding? Where is her ex, with whom she had a major fallout? I would highly recommend you read the book!
Daughter of Mercia is an atmospheric, and wonderfully immersive, novel that has it all: characters with their own conflicts, both in the past and the present; a mystery that links the eras; the intrigue of Mildryth's fate and Anna's secrets; and all within the fascinating setting of archaeology. Discovering two bodies from different times buried together makes for a brilliant plot that makes you wonder.
Ms Ibbotson's knowledge of the subject matter is so comprehensive, it shows on every page. The linguistic hints of the ancient Germanic rune carvings – predating many Viking versions – are so interesting, cleverly creating a plot that bridges the 1500-year gap perfectly.
And whilst Anna is almost too matter-of-factly (we learn why), Matt comes across as a typical university professor completely secure in his knowledge and experience. Yes, I've met a few like him in my line of work at several universities.
As for Mildryth, the daughter of Mercia... she is a tough cookie, who also looks after herself (as today, a woman's appearance was important then, too, for a range of reasons). She enjoys her power, and does not wish to relinquish it. I liked her immensely, as she strove to rule fairly, but strongly.
Daughter of Mercia takes you to the distant past, in Mercia, an area where nothing was set in stone, and where fates and fortunes changed at the whim of the gods. Or was it God's whim? As for the present, Anna's secret keeps you on your toes!
A highly recommended, utterly compelling dual-timeline mystery that has you reading into the early hours of the morning. You won't want to miss a moment of this fast-paced, riveting plot. Go on, treat yourself!
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Blurb:
A brand-new Anglo-Saxon time-slip full of mystery and romance.
Echoes of the past resonate across the centuries as Dr Anna Petersen, a medievalist and runologist, is struggling with past trauma and allowing herself to trust again. When archaeologist (and Anna's old adversary) Professor Matt Beacham unearths a 6th century seax with a mysterious runic inscription, and reluctantly approaches Anna for help, a chain of events brings the past firmly back into her present. And why does the burial site also contain two sets of bones, one 6th century and the other modern?
As the past and present intermingle alarmingly, Anna and Matt need to work together to solve the mystery of the seax runes and the seemingly impossible burial, and to discover the truth about the past. Tensions rise and sparks fly between Anna and Matt. But how is 6th century Lady Mildryth of Mercia connected to Anna? Can they both be the Daughter of Mercia?
For fans of Barbara Erskine, Elena Collins, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley and Christina Courtenay.
Praise for Daughter of Mercia:
“Ibbotson’s prose immerses you in the vivid world of the Anglo-Saxon era, richly layered with sensory detail that brings both the past and present timelines to life. I could feel the atmosphere—the cold stone and the wind on the hills. Her writing weaves the two eras seamlessly, connecting people across time and creating a mysterious, slow-building tension that keeps you turning the pages.”
~ Alis Page, Reviewer, 5*
~ Alis Page, Reviewer, 5*
Buy Link:
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
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About the Author:
Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time. She is the author of historical mysteries with a frisson of romance. Her books are evocative of time and place, well-researched and uplifting page-turners. Her current series focuses on early medieval time-slip / dual-time mysteries.
Julia read English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language / literature / history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. After a turbulent time in Ghana, West Africa, she became a school teacher, then a university academic and researcher. Her break as an author came soon after she joined the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2015, with a three-book deal from Lume Books for a trilogy (Drumbeats) set in Ghana in the 1960s.
She has published five other books, including A Shape on the Air, an Anglo-Saxon timeslip mystery, and its two sequels The Dragon Tree and The Rune Stone. Her latest novel is the first of a new series of Anglo-Saxon dual-time mysteries, Daughter of Mercia, where echoes of the past resonate across the centuries.
Her books will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful story-telling’, ‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’ and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’.
Connect with Julia:
Thank you so much, Cathie, for this wonderful review of my book, Daughter of Mercia. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Julia. I always enjoy reading your wonderful novels.
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