After Whorl: Donning Double Cloaks by Nancy Jardine

Amazon UK £1.99 £7.99

Amazon US $2.49 $3.67

Amazon CA n/a

Fictional Saga / Military / Romance

1st Century Roman Britain

#3 in the Celts and Romans series

“After King Venutius’ defeat, Brennus of Garrigill – known as Bran – maintains a spy network monitoring Roman activity in Brigantia. Relative peace reigns till AD 78 when Roman Governor Agricola marches his legions to the far north. Brennus is always one step ahead of the Roman Army as he seeks the Caledon Celt who will lead all tribes in battle against Rome.

Ineda of Marske treks northwards with her master, Tribune Valerius, who is responsible for supplying Agricola’s northern campaigns. At Inchtuthil Roman Fort Ineda flees seeking fellow Brigantes congregating on the foothills of Beinn na Ciche.

Will the battle against the Romans bring Ineda and Brennus together again?”

Starting wherebook two left off, this exciting adventure continues – it is a stand-alone, but I urge you to start at the beginning with The Beltane Choice because the read is well worth it.

The story follows the paths of Bran and Ineda as they pursue their vow of revenge against Rome.

Ineda is now a slave to a Roman Tribune, while Bran joins his brother, Lorcan, hoping to find a leader strong enough to rebel against the Roman victors. This is a thoroughly exciting and enjoyably absorbing read, wonderfully researched and elegantly written giving a vividly compelling view of life as it may have been after Rome had swept into Britannia and taken everything for their own gain – except they never managed to conquer the hearts and minds of the Celtic people they conquered.

The story is about the might of military Rome, the political events and upheavals, but primarily it is the story of ordinary people surviving through extraordinary times, of the struggles of dealing with conquest and oppression – of making it through from dawn till dusk day after day, week after week. It is a story of survival and determination and hope. Of enduring brutality and absorbing kindness. To say more will reveal spoilers, but the entire series is set firmly among the very best of early Romano British novels.

© Helen Hollick

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