Out of the Dawn Light

Aelf Fen #1

by Alys Clare

A brand new medieval mystery from the author of the Hawkenlye series - England, 1087. On her sister's wedding day, Lassair meets an attractive and enigmatic stranger who brings a breath of the fascinating outside world to her backwater Fenland village. When he asks Lassair to use her unique talents to help locate a mysterious treasure she accepts, despite the dangers. But this is no ordinary treasure hunt; the object of the perilous search is five hundred years old and has a terrifying power of its own . . .

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Medieval, Historical Mystery, British Literature

213 pages, ebook

First published August 1, 2009

About the author

Alys Clare is the pen name used by Elizabeth Harris for the Hawkenlye series of historical mysteries.

Alys Clare is the pseudonym of a novelist with some 20 published works to her name. Brought up in the countryside close to where the Hawkenlye Novels are set, she went to school in Tonbridge and later studied archaeology at the University of Kent. She lives for part of the year in Brittany, in a remote cottage deep in an ancient landscape where many past inhabitants have left their mark; on her doorstep are relics that date from the stone circles and dolmens of the Neolithic to the commanderies, chapels and ancient tracks of those infamous warrior monks, the Knights Templar. In England, Alys's study overlooks a stretch of parkland which includes a valley with a little spring. The waters of this spring are similar in colour and taste to Tunbridge Wells's famous Chalybeat Spring, and it was this that prompted Alys's setting of her fictional Hawkenlye Abbey in the very spot where her own house now stands.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating period in which to set a story- just after William the Conqueror’s death where we see the interplay between the Normans and the Saxons. The Normans attempted to squash the ‘old pagan ways’; Saxon lands were awarded to Norman lords as reward and to fortify Norman claim to the land. I really appreciated the mysticism of the healers and Sorcerers of the Aelf Fen region; interesting how the Saxons’ halls merged with the landscape, whereas the Norman buildings of stone were perceived as ugly monstrosities. Great start to a series.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was in the crime section at my local library, but I think this is firmly a Young Adult book. The main character is thirteen-year-old Lassair who is recruited by handsome stranger, Romain, to help him find a mysterious object along with Lassair's friend, Sibert. The story hops between Lassair's first person narration and a few other characters, whose narration springs up every now and then (often in the middle of Lassair's chapters) in third person.

Young Adult is not a genre that I regularly read and I probably would not have chosen to read the book if I had known it was more geared towards it. For an author who has written several other books, I found the writing itself to be incredibly amateur and childish with awkward sentence structure and modern dialogue and phrases that threw me off. For example, Lassair refers to her feelings for Romain as a 'crush', while her incredibly two-dimensional sister screams 'I am the pregnant one!', and the dialogue is peppered with 'um's and 'er's. For me this rather destroyed the historical setting, but I suppose it could be excused for a Young Adult novel.

What I can't really excuse, though, was the sheer abundance of telling rather than showing. We are constantly told how the characters are feeling and why they do what they do, which really distanced them and made them rather flat and just made the story boring. Because of this, the 'romance' element of the story felt completely out of place, slightly unbelievable and very rushed. I've read much better Young Adult novels and it really doesn't entice me to want to read anything else by this author.

As for the story itself, had it been better executed, the plot may have been more interesting. The story does not flow well but rather appears as merely a series of events happening one after the other and I found it to be rather predictable and unoriginal. I didn't really care for the characters and I thought the historical setting could have been used to better effect as details of the lives of eleventh century people were rather glossed over.

This book was a big let down for me, definitely in the wrong category and I would have expected an author with as many books as Clare to write a lot, lot better than she does in this book. The execution of the writing really lets this book down.

[Andree]

DNFing about a quarter of the way in. This isn't badly written, and it might get better, but I struggled with the set-up. I like the idea of a young protagonist in a medieval English village in changing times. But the two guys she's going off on some sort of quest with are poorly introduced, so her motivations are somewhat unclear. In fact, most of the book seems to be taken up with a description of the protagonist's terrible older sister that she has to deal with, and I'm sorry, but I'm just not interested in reading about that. I let my library loan lapse, and I don't feel like continuing. I suppose I may at some point, because I quite like one of the author's other series, and this might get better. But right now, it's a miss.

[Andria Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This surprised and delighted me with how easy and fun a read this was. Fast paced, with likeable characters, I was sucked into this book and read it in two sittings. 5 ⭐!

[Susan in NC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this first book in Alys Clare's new medieval series; I hesitate to call it a mystery, it seemed more historical fiction or even young adult/adventure, as the heroine is Lassair, a 14-year-old girl on a treasure quest with two young men. One is her friend Sibert from her village, the other is Romain, a handsome, obviously well-born young Norman who seeks out our heroine and Sibert because he needs their knowledge and gifts to find a mysterious treasure. Lassair is flattered at the attention and half in love with the handsome boy Romain; Sibert, a moody, quiet boy, has his own reasons for agreeing to go along, but of course things become more complicated as the adventure unfolds . . . No spoilers, but there is a murder eventually and it becomes apparent who the villain in the piece is; the fun is tagging along with Lassair as she attempts to prove the innocence of a friend.

Lassair is a great character; Clare has given her great spirit, strength, intelligence and healing and spiritual gifts, but also a sense of humor and she is very likable. She lives in a tiny village in the Fens with her large and loving family; the book opens in 1087 with two momentous events, one local and one with national consequences. Lassair's family is celebrating the wedding of her cranky, obnoxious eldest sister Goda; our young heroine quite humorously explains to the reader that it took several visits to the market where such peasant matches are made, but Goda finally got a proposal and the family was anxious to see the happy young couple off before the gullible groom looked past Goda's large breasts and noticed her personality!

Clare had me from there, as I love historical mystery series with wonderful, rich characters that can draw me into a world so different from our modern times. Then she adds this interesting event to the mix - William the Conqueror has just died, and the villagers are bracing themselves for whatever conflict may come from their harsh Norman overlords as the two heirs, William Rufus and Robert, Duke of Normandy plot, plan and battle for control of England. Who can resist that combination? I love Clare's strong female characters, especially with this historical setting: Lassair comes from a long line of healers and storytellers that can trace their ancestral line back to the old gods of Britain, and the Church thus far has a tentative hold (at best) on the greater population, so strong women still have sway in villages for their wisdom and healing powers. We history buffs know this pleasant state of affairs won't last for long, but it's a fascinating period I haven't read widely about; I look forward to reading the rest of this series and Clare's other popular Hawkenlye series. Highly recommended to medieval mystery fans, especially those like me that have read the outstanding series like Brother Cadfael, Dame Frevisse and Catherine Levandeur set in the later medieval period when the Church wielded great power, but haven't read as much about this England where the old gods still held the hearts and imagination of the people.

[Suburbangardener · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the Hawkenlye series; the mystery wasn't that mysterious (I figured it out long before the denouement) and the changing of perspective from 1st person to 3d person made for an uneven tone. The setting and detailing are rich and captivating, making up for the deficiencies.

[Brooke, · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

OUT OF THE DAWN OF LIGHT (Hist Mys-Lassair-England-1087) – G
Clare, Alys – Standalone
Severn House, 2009, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780727867636

First Sentence: The news of William the Conqueror’s death reached us when we were celebrating my sister’s wedding.

Lassair, at 13 years’ old, is happy to see her very difficult sister, Goda, getting married and leaving the house. At the wedding, Lassair meets a handsome young man, Romain, to whom she is attracted. Some time later, she is approached by her friend Sibert, to help him and Romain find a treasure. Lassair has a talent they need; she is able to find things. However, the treasure is one which should not be found and the result is death to one of the three young people.

This was very different from Clare’s Hawkenlye books. The book does include some wonderful history of the time in a very readable manner.

I particularly liked the point it made about the impact on non-nobility of the struggles for power and the throne. Religiously, this was an interesting time as the country was Catholic but the stories and beliefs of the old religion still played a critical role. The paranormal, or magical, aspects were well done and handled in a believable fashion.

I enjoyed the book, but prefer the Hawkenlye series. I felt this really read more as a young adult novel and would, in fact, recommend it as such.

[Lucinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of the Dawn Light (Severn House 2009) introduces Lassair, a 14-year-old girl in a Fenland village in 1087 England. Lassair has the gift of finding lost objects and dowsing for water, and is in training with her aunt to be a healer. But Lassair has more important things on her mind — will her friend Sibert ask her to dance even though her womanly shape refuses to emerge? William Rufus has just taken the throne after the death of William the Conqueror, and the common people are not happy with the harsh new regime. Lassair’s father is hard pressed to support his large family and comply with the demands of the Norman overlord. When Lassair’s older sister Goda, who delights in making everyone miserable, becomes pregnant with her first child, Lassair is sent to care for her. Sneaking out for the Midsummer Night festival, Lassair meets Romain, an attractive and wealthy stranger, who convinces her to set off on a quest with Sibert to find a mysterious object on the coast. Eager to escape Goda’s demands for a few days, and to finally see the ocean, Lassair agrees, though neither Romain nor Sibert will tell her anything about the object they are searching for. Treachery, murder, and the clash between the pagan gods and Christianity enliven this first in a series.
Alys Clare page at SYKM

[Annmarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable mystery set just after William the Conquerer's death in the fens of the British Isles. Or whatever they were called back in the 1080s. An appealing young heroine, 13 year old Lassair, is enjoying her unpleasant older sister's wedding and impending departure from her family's small cottage. When a handsome young stranger visits, it sets in motion a sequence of events involving politics, ancient history, and rather surprisingly, magic that I thought at first was simply a depiction of the conflict between the older pagan religious beliefs and the more strict version of Christianity brought by the Norman conquerers... but that turned out to be "real", in a pagan religion sort of way. The brave young heroine, the relationship between the family members, and the political history make this a satisfying if light mystery read by the fire. it's the first of a series. I think it has crossover appeal, given the young heroine and her young friend and romantic interest Sibert, who shares this adventure with her (at some peril).

[Indeneri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is engaging from the very first chapter. Although the protagonist is rather young, 13/14, I wouldn't add this to the YA shelf, as she grows up rather fast in the later books.

I read the 4th one before this, The Way Between the Worlds and find this one has the same problem as the first. After the mystery has ended, there is an anticlimactic end to the story that is too long and adds nothing much over all.

However, I like the stories, a mix of fantasy, historical fiction and mystery and Lassair the protagonist is a likeable character.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read this author before and I liked this book very much. It takes place in England in 1087 after the Normans have taken over. A young woman Lassair is learning about herbal medicines from her aunt. Her older sister has just married (the whole family is pleased to get her out of the house - a bully and a constant complainer) and when she becomes pregnant, Lassair is sent to help her in her pregnancy. But, one of her best friends, Sibert, asks her for help in locating a lost treasure. Lassair is an accomplished dowser and he hopes that her abilities will help find the treasure. There is another young man, Romain, who has convinced Sibert to look for this treasure. Well, they find it. Sibert and Lassair run off with it as it really belongs to his family. Romain goes after them but is murdered. Now, it is against the law for anyone to leave their village without notifying someone that they are doing so, especially for young girls. Lassair and Sibert think that they have succeeded in fooling everyone about where they've been, etc. Until, that is, Romain's uncle comes to town, takes the treasure (a crown) and accuses Sibert of murder. Lassair knows he didn't do it, but no one will believe her. So she and Sibert's uncle have to work together. Lots of history of the time in here and I really enjoyed the mystery and the characters. The paranormal sneaks in because the crown has power and so do Lassair and her aunt. But, not a lot of power and it doesn't feel unbelievable.

[Rachel Roberson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a positive review of the latest book in this series, so went back to Book #1 to see what was up. I love a historical mystery, and this fits the bill. It was also a quick, easy read on a weekend where I didn't want to think too hard.

Our main character is Lassair, a teen viewed basically as an adult in these first decades following the Norman Conquest of England. She's appealing, and the supporting cast is strong (I imagine we'll see more of them later). We get a good view of East Anglia and the Fens during this unsettled time in history. There was a light dusting of Dark Ages mysticism a la "Mists of Avalon," but nothing too intense. The mystery was mostly an adventure with an uncertain outcome than a classic whodunit. I appreciate that Clare passed on at least one opportunity to elevate her peasant heroine to a higher status. We'll see what happens in subsequent books, but it was nice that 1) Lassair's social status plays a role in the plot, and 2) she is also happy to return to her village at the end rather than longing for something else.

[Patrick Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Aelf Fens series. It takes place in the aftermath of William the Conqueror's Death. England is divided in loyalties to the Normans in Normandy and the Normans in England. Many too still rememmber their autonomy before the conquest. The styories protagonist is Lassait, a dowser, the equivalent of a human bloodhound. She sets off woth an old friend an a new acquaintance to whom she is attracted. They seek a crown, but nature has obscured its location. Eventually they find the crown but is it a blessing or curse to its owner? Anice introductory story to new characters in another era.

[Phair · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of an adventure than a mystery although there is a murder. A little too much political content for me and I did not like the way the pov kept changing. Lassar did not come across as a strong central character although she probably matures to become more interesting in future books. Some interesting folklore and the latter half of the book where there was more action was better than the deadly slow first 100p. This is the third Clare series I've tried. Of the three I still like the Gabriel Taverner series best. Still, I might pick up a later Fen title just to see how Lassar turns out.

[Rosemary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clare has offered a fantasy reader an interesting view of 11th century Britain under Norman rule. A magical and dangerous crown, cast in gold by one of the ancients of the land, was secreted and then stolen. A murder followed, then an attempt by a greedy and evil man to secure the crown for himself. The outcome was predictable, as were the characters of a young man who shall become powerful and an enchantress in training. This is not a series that I plan to continue to read.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going back having started with # 5. anyway I like fantasy, medieval, mystery, and this it! Although more a youth reading level, it goes fast and I still learn stuff like healing with herbs they used in 1100! a bit romantic but Lassair is not only a healer, apprentice in magic (later) but also a good detective.
Nice to learn the old ways but glad we don't need permission from our lord to leave the village!

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Early on, I became very irritated by the constant secrecy about the object of the search. It felt as though the author was singing that playground refrain 'I know something you don't know'. By the end of the book, I was interested in the story; but probably not interested enough to continue with the series.

The cover blurb on my ebook says 'a worthy successor to Ellis Peters'. neither the characters, nor the storyline here, come close to the Brother Cadfael series. However other readers pointed to the Hawkenlye trilogy - and now I see where the Ellis Peters comparison does work!

[Kelly Callaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the early 11th century not long after the death of William the Conquerer. This mystery focuses on the lives of the villagers, and in particular Lassair, who at 13, is apprenticed to her aunt, a healer. A stranger comes to the village to convince Lassair and Silbert to undertake a treasure hunt with him. Finding this powerful object is just the beginning of their adventures. Given the time and culture Lassair is a pretty modern young lady.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am completely entranced by this new series. England in the time right before and after the Norman invasion is my favorite era. Set in Anglia this book introduces Lassair, a young maiden who is learning how to be a healer. She finds herself caught up in a rescue of sorts. Can't wait to read the next one.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleventh century England; young teenager Lassair and her family live in a small village in the fens. Lassair has shown a talent for dowsing and, in general, finding things. Unfortunately, the girl has to spend a lot of time with her sister, who is a tiresome character that drags the entire story down. Requires a fairly low threshold for suspension of disbelief.

[Jennifer Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author was recommended to me and I really enjoyed the start of the series. Set in England after William the Conqueror dies, we follow a young woman on a treasure hunt with a young man from her village and a stranger. I'm looking forward to reading more. If you enjoy the television series The Last Kingdom, you might enjoy this book as well.

[SJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid. Unique. Interesting.

This book got me out of my book hangover - I️ started 4 in a row and just couldn’t get hooked after the Outlander series. I’m curious how this will become a series. If you like historical fiction you will enjoy this.

[Sheila Pritchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This definitely kept me reading. An intruiging twisty plot. But I found all the historical details hard to keep up with - probably just my problem. However that made me want to skim quickly to solve the plot without trying to keep track of the history!

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good start to a new series. Set at the end of the Norman Invasion, it takes place among the Saxon community still tied to the Old Ways. The energies at play are presented in a powerful, yet subtle manner.

[Soli Nichiyo Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enraptured

As always the characters take me on a journey through the time of William the Conqueror! Alys manages to spin a wonderful story of courage and build a time and place that you can almost taste,see and smell!!

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up the current book in the series, realized it was a series and started with #1. By the third chapter I was bored with the storyline and decided that I wasn't going to slog through the book. She is an excellent writer, this particular series was not caputuring my attention.

[Andrea Engle · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Rufus is now King of England … in the tiny village of Aelf Fen in East Anglia, Lassair and her family are celebrating the wedding of her oldest sister Goda … Lassair meets a handsome stranger, Romain, and the adventure begins … unusual …

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written story with a strong plot and interesting characters. Clare manages to give her characters more depth in 215 pages than some writers manage in 300+ pages. Excellent start to the series.

[wendy hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a great author. Love every book I have read

Always a great love every book I have read. Every should read about medieval times. A great interesting eerie era.