Beneath the Tor

by Kat Yares

Miriam is a priestess from the Isle of Avalon. Yahshua is the love of her life. Because of that love, her father Joseph of Arimethia forces Miriam to Jerusalem in an attempt to keep the lovers apart. Fleeing her father's house after an attempted rape, Miriam faces stoning and death when she becomes a priestess in the Temple of Isis. Her one hope for a happy future is the return of Yahshua. Once reunited, the two lovers change the course of destiny.

An alternative history/fantasy Beneath the Tor is sure to excite readers of both the Mists of Avalon and The Da Vinci Code as it blends both premises into a spellbinding thriller that will keep you reading from the first to the last page.

214 pages, ebook

First published September 15, 2012

Reviews

[Terry Palardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat Yares' novel, Beneath the Tor, is a compelling retelling of the beginnings of Christianity. Her inclusive version recalls many well-known names from the New Testament, adding depth to each one's personality and destiny. She begins the tale at the Isle of Avalon, with the Lady of the Lake, her younger sister, and other priestesses who worship the Goddess as the one true deity. Miriam is an old woman talking to a young woman from the island, having asked her to transcribe her narrative for future generations.

Miriam's life changes dramatically when her father arrives from Jerusalem to reclaim her as his daughter and brings her to live as a hidden servant in his home. Miriam's life-long friend has convinced her father to bring her and keep her until they can be married three years hence. This young priestess of Avalon is scorned as being one from 'the fairies' and is soon in need of a sanctuary, which she finds in a temple of the Goddess Isis.

Her story includes Joseph of Arimathea as her father and his hostile wife and sons, as well as Peter, Paul (Saul), Judas, Barabbas, John, Mary, Joseph, and more. The settings of the story logically include early Rome, Jerusalem, Egypt, Britain, Nazareth and India, and the transports of two thousand years ago: large and small ships, carts, and litters. Household implements such as stones used for grinding wheat to flour, wooden goblets and plates, and pallets for sleep are easily worked into Yares' story.

The roles of men and women are in sharp contrast between the Isle of Avalon and 'the world,' and Miriam learns to adjust as needed to each, for the sake of her children and husband, Jesus (named Yahshua in the story.)

This version from the other side of the lake does change outcomes, character development and history as we've been told; it raises within the reader a sense of possibility. What if it happened this way, and the truth was hidden by those who assumed power through the ages?

The ultimate question left unanswered is when the story hidden beneath the Tor of Avalon will be found; the prophecy is that it will be discovered when the time is right. How might it impact the distribution of power and influence in the world?

This story leaves a great deal to the imagination, and to the aspirations of many women. Well done, Kat Yares!

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story. Like how the author used a well known story and adapted it. Writing style was okay, a little simplistic. But, I enjoyed it.

[Lynne Cantwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beneath the Tor - Kat Yares I felt a little subversive, starting this book on Easter Sunday.You could say that Beneath the Tor is a mash-up of New Testament history and the backstory of the King Arthur legend, but that would be a little unfair. Yares has certainly re-imagined the life and death of Jesus, and along the way, she explains who Mary Magdalene might have been, and why Joseph of Arimathea might ever have traveled to Glastonbury, England.The main character in this novel is Miriam, a priestess of the old religion as practiced on the Isle of Avalon. She has known Yahshua since they were children, and the two of them are in love. However, Joseph of Arimathea, who is both Miriam's father and Yahshua's uncle, is grooming Yahshua for the role of the Jewish Messiah. Joseph hopes that the Jews who rally around the Messiah will overthrow the Romans and end their occupation of Judea.I won't go much farther into describing the plot. Suffice it to say that this novel would give Biblical literalists a coronary. Yares has described a very different -- and mostly plausible -- explanation for the goings-on in the early days of the church. I did have some trouble believing that Yahshua would become such a hard-liner as he got older.So the plot is interesting and worthwhile. Unfortunately, the book could use an editor's careful hand. I found numerous errors in punctuation, particularly in dialogue, and a few terms were used incorrectly. For example, there's a construction technique that's called wattle and daub, but it's referred to as "waddle" in the book.With a better edit, I'd be pleased to recommend this book.

[T.W. Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a horror buff. That is just my thing. My second favorite is fantasy like Song of Ice and Fire or Wheel of Time. This is a book that I would never have given a thought to on my own. I was given a review copy, and these are the types of surprises that remind me to expand my horizons.

With some very interesting and unique characterizations of some popular biblical figures, Beneath the Tor by Kat Yates is character-rich. This is not what I would consider a "casual" read, and demands that you actually spend some time with the book. It is engrossing and entertaining, and has a lot of "conversational" moments. I recommend that you read this with a friend because this is a story that you will want to talk about while and after you read it.

There were some editing touch ups that could make it smoother--mostly in the dialog, but there is nothing glaring that will distract the reader. So, find a friend, or tell your book club about this one.