Fictional saga / Fantasy
11th century
Ireland
In this sixth installment of Christy Nicholas’s Druid’s Brooch series,
Etain, a 12th-century Irish woman, has the ability not to age thanks to the
magic she draws from her Druid’s brooch. The brooch is an heirloom inherited
from her mother, passed down the family line, first given to her family by a
Druid in thanks for saving his life. Etain is able to change her appearance at
will, so she can age herself appropriately over the years, but her natural
appearance is of a woman around 30 years old. In truth, she is around 150. She
has had many husbands, many children, and has had to leave them all behind in
her long life to avoid being discovered and killed as a witch or Fae. Her
current husband, Airtre, is a mentally and physically abusive putrescence of a
man, a Christian priest whose primary goal is to move up in the Church to a
bishopric. Etain stays only to protect her young grandson, Maelan, from Airtre.
When events explode, Etain is forced to flee, getting help from some unexpected
allies, including other priests and monks, as well as a few kindly Fae.
I have read several books by Christy Nicholas, including some in the Druid’s Brooch series, and I must say I
think this is my favorite one so far. The characters were all multidimensional
and interesting, for the most part, and I enjoyed seeing a variety of people
mingling together in the villages Etain traveled to, even if life wasn’t really
like that in 12th-century Ireland. I think the author captured the fear and
ambivalence of an abused woman well, though I hope I never truly understand
that personally. Etain had a horrific life and it speaks to the strength of her
spirit that she kept going and trying to survive rather than just giving up and
letting some mad horde kill her as a witch, for the brooch can’t protect her
from death.
I loved the theme of tolerance woven throughout, as well as the Gaelic
hospitality. There were many instances of travelers or even old friends being
offered food, drink, and washing water the moment they set foot indoors. I
loved that because that’s how I was raised and it felt like home to see it
reflected on the page. As well, the tolerance was a thread throughout. Etain
has lived long enough to know that belief isn’t what is important, it is people
who are important. She tells Maelan that “a
little kindness can have unexpected rewards,” and often she herself has to
remember her own lesson and take the kindness of others. Later, Maelan’s wife,
Liadan, tells her, “Before I met [Aes], I
didn’t realize pagans were just normal people like you and me.” Learning
that people have more similarities than differences is a vital life lesson that
many people today still need to learn.
The one thing I wish was different was that some of the narrative felt
rushed. When Etain left Faerieland and settled in the ringfort, working in the
kitchens, for example, little time was spent there, little real detail. The
same happened before she entered Faerieland, when she was in the village and
traded all her herbs for a cow. I wanted more detail and time spent in those
places. Doing so, I feel, would give more of a sense of loss, of fatigue,
because Etain was happy in both of those places and then was forced to go
again. But these are minor quibbles in my overall enjoyment of this very
engaging historical fantasy.
© Kristen
McQuinn
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Thank you so much for the lovely review!
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