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Aelf Fen #5
Land of the Silver Dragon
Apprentice healer Lassair isn’t too alarmed when a travelling peddler relates a grisly tale of a red-bearded giant breaking into a woman’s home and caving in her skull like an eggshell; peddlers, she has observed, tend towards the dramatic. But her attitude changes when she learns that the dead woman is a distant relation. The incident makes Lassair’s family uneasy, for the intruder seemed to be searching for something.
What could it be? Lassair has no idea. But as the stranger grows increasingly desperate, his search brings violence to her very home.
What could it be? Lassair has no idea. But as the stranger grows increasingly desperate, his search brings violence to her very home.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2013
9 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Alys Clare
46 books222 followersAlys 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 2, 2017
It's always a treat to go back to the 11th Century with Ms. Clare. The story unfolded more like a straightforward adventure than a mystery but was still very engaging.
January 11, 2024
In this fifth volume of the Norman Aelf Fen series, the Saxon healer Lassair ranges far afield in the attempt to solve the puzzle of a gigantic Norseman who is attacking the women of her family … the novel expands to cover more than just the English fenlands … a bit formulaic …
by
Alys Clare
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Alys Clare
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Alys Clare
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Alys Clare
by
Alys Clare
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Alys Clare
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Alys Clare
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Alys Clare
April 14, 2025
Plot twist in more ways than one! The latest installment in this early medieval mystery series set in East Anglia a few decades after the Norman Conquest, saw our heroine Lassair kidnapped and shipped off to Iceland for an intriguing (though brief) change of scene. The murders hit close to home this time and the perpetrator was only slightly in doubt. But I still kept turning the pages. Clare leaned much harder on the mysticism that's played a minor role in previous books. I prefer Lassair when she's more historically accurate than mythic, so we'll see how that goes moving forward. I already have the next in the series checked out from the library.
August 15, 2021
There is a term in TV known as ‘jumping the shark’ where far fetched events are included. This was how I felt at the start of this book. However I decided to persevere as I have enjoyed the books in this series.
Lassair hears of violence in a nearby town, the town where her sister lives. In the violence her sister’s mother in law has died. Then Lassair hears of violence at the convent that houses her sister. Someone is after her family and she begins to investigate, only to be kidnapped.
Some events are explained and others must hold the seed to future books.
Lassair hears of violence in a nearby town, the town where her sister lives. In the violence her sister’s mother in law has died. Then Lassair hears of violence at the convent that houses her sister. Someone is after her family and she begins to investigate, only to be kidnapped.
Some events are explained and others must hold the seed to future books.
March 2, 2023
Life in the fens of southeast England in the 11th century is never boring, at least for Lassair, apprentice healer and mystical woman. She is kidnapped and taken on a mysterious voyage to Iceland. Her visions bring both comfort and more questions, particularly when she is returned home.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the aspects of Lassair's journeys, her growth and love of family, the adventures and the fascinating conclusion. However, the story-line of of Lassair's lover Rollo on his spy journey to Sicily and beyond, felt like filler pages, that had no bearing on the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the aspects of Lassair's journeys, her growth and love of family, the adventures and the fascinating conclusion. However, the story-line of of Lassair's lover Rollo on his spy journey to Sicily and beyond, felt like filler pages, that had no bearing on the story.
October 23, 2025
A Hidden Treasure & a Family Secret
Working as an apprentice healer with possible magical abilities, Lassair and her family becomes targets of a deranged Viking. He is looking for a magical object given to a healer who had healed his grandfather. This search is violent in nature and leads to Lassair being kidnapped by a group of Vikkings opposed to the searcher. She learns a family secret that will change the course of her life.
Working as an apprentice healer with possible magical abilities, Lassair and her family becomes targets of a deranged Viking. He is looking for a magical object given to a healer who had healed his grandfather. This search is violent in nature and leads to Lassair being kidnapped by a group of Vikkings opposed to the searcher. She learns a family secret that will change the course of her life.
January 22, 2023
Another good book in the author's Aelf Fen series. This book finds Lassair, healer and heroine kidnapped and taken to Iceland. Meanwhile a "red-headed giant" is ransacking her relatives homes and has killed a few of them. People that can help Lassair are too far away: Rollo, Gurdeyman, Hrype and Edlid. However, nothing is as it seems and Lassair's world is turned upside down.
February 28, 2018
I wouldn't read another of these. They are very detailed and draw a good picture of a new world, but the heroine is so good, and the baddies are so bad and the plot so minor that it wasn't really worth it.
June 1, 2019
This is a fast paced and well crafted story about the Nordic influence on Lassair and her family. There were a few typos but it is still a very engaging and spell-binding tale.
August 15, 2019
Lassiter finds herself kidnapped and on a boat. Why she thinks. And the answer is c quite intriguing.
January 13, 2022
Interesting characters, set in England more than a thousand years ago. Vikings, healers, mystics, fishermen and shepherds live in these pages.
March 5, 2014
I've enjoyed this series very much and think Lassair a wonderful heroine - funny, brave, strong and smart. Her adventures so far have been exciting and taught me a lot about a historical period I wasn't familiar with, catnip for historical mystery buffs! But I have to admit this outing really didn't do it for me; it got off to a strong and chilling start with the brutal attack on the household of Lassair's obnoxious older sister Goda, and the tension mounted as the attacks continued and it became clear some giant man was stalking female members of her family.
The mystery seemed to be, who was the giant and what was he after? It was obvious Lassair would be attacked as she is the heroine of the series, and she was; I read along to see where this new adventure would take our brave young healer, what twists and turns the story would take and if the mystery would be explained and what were they looking for and...it all just kind of ground to a halt. Lassair was taken to Iceland and met her kidnapper's family and had a few feisty scenes where she let the Icelanders know she didn't appreciate her treatment, was worried about her family and wanted to go home, but that was about it - stories were told, and then more stories, and frankly it got really boring for me!
I don't want to give away any spoilers but it was kind of obvious to me who among Lassair's relatives had been involved with the Icelanders, and all of the talk about spiritual journeys and mysticism just got old; I had borrowed the e-book from my library and it was about to expire so I skimmed the last 50 pages or so. Again, no spoilers, but the ending was very touching, seeming to wind up loose ends - but then jarringly the last chapter jumped to Lassair's beloved, Rollo, as he was leaving his home in Sicily and heading off on some spy mission for King William. He knew Lassair was in trouble but "felt" the danger dissipate and his mother somehow managed to communicate through the ether with Lassair's essence or something and determined she was out of danger - huh? Sorry if I sound snarky, but that was a bit much for me, it seemed like everyone could read everyone's thoughts and I was running out of patience with the whole lot!
Anyway, I was disappointed in this book but I will be curious to see where Alys Clare goes with the Aelf Fen series from here, if she follows Rollo's adventures, brings the two young lovers together again, or just ends it altogether. I know I have several books yet to enjoy in the Hawkenlye series, so I'm content!
The mystery seemed to be, who was the giant and what was he after? It was obvious Lassair would be attacked as she is the heroine of the series, and she was; I read along to see where this new adventure would take our brave young healer, what twists and turns the story would take and if the mystery would be explained and what were they looking for and...it all just kind of ground to a halt. Lassair was taken to Iceland and met her kidnapper's family and had a few feisty scenes where she let the Icelanders know she didn't appreciate her treatment, was worried about her family and wanted to go home, but that was about it - stories were told, and then more stories, and frankly it got really boring for me!
I don't want to give away any spoilers but it was kind of obvious to me who among Lassair's relatives had been involved with the Icelanders, and all of the talk about spiritual journeys and mysticism just got old; I had borrowed the e-book from my library and it was about to expire so I skimmed the last 50 pages or so. Again, no spoilers, but the ending was very touching, seeming to wind up loose ends - but then jarringly the last chapter jumped to Lassair's beloved, Rollo, as he was leaving his home in Sicily and heading off on some spy mission for King William. He knew Lassair was in trouble but "felt" the danger dissipate and his mother somehow managed to communicate through the ether with Lassair's essence or something and determined she was out of danger - huh? Sorry if I sound snarky, but that was a bit much for me, it seemed like everyone could read everyone's thoughts and I was running out of patience with the whole lot!
Anyway, I was disappointed in this book but I will be curious to see where Alys Clare goes with the Aelf Fen series from here, if she follows Rollo's adventures, brings the two young lovers together again, or just ends it altogether. I know I have several books yet to enjoy in the Hawkenlye series, so I'm content!
February 21, 2016
In Land of the Silver Dragon, Lassair continues her growth from an unsure young teen (from Out of the Dawn Light) to a more young woman who has growing healing skills. In this, the fifth in the Alf Fen Mystery series, the women of her family are targeted for ... what? In the midst of her confusion, she is kidnapped & take to Iceland to find out that the attacks are part of a blood feud over a object, supposed to have magical powers, passed to one side of a family. Now a descendant of the other side is looking for the object and will stop at nothing to get it.
One surprise for me was that the action ended about 40 pages from the end of the book. Normally, I find long wrap-ups (in this case 1/6th of the story) to weigh down the overall enjoyment value of the story. In this case, it raised my rating one star. For fans of the series, it shows us a destiny that Lassair could not imagine & I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
One surprise for me was that the action ended about 40 pages from the end of the book. Normally, I find long wrap-ups (in this case 1/6th of the story) to weigh down the overall enjoyment value of the story. In this case, it raised my rating one star. For fans of the series, it shows us a destiny that Lassair could not imagine & I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
October 1, 2013
Excellent! Really loved this entry in the series, which continues the adventures of Lassair, apprentice healer in a medieval village of the fens.
The violent death of Utta, mother-in-law of Lassair's older sister, and the injury of her sister by the same mysterious hulking stranger - brings Lassair to that village to see if she can heal her sister's wounds. That attack is followed by others - all by the same stranger -seemingly targeting members of Lassair's own family.
Then Lassair herself is abducted, bundled onto a ship and taken far away... The resulting developments endanger her life, but also bring her new experiences, friends, and new powers.
The story ends with a clear promise of more to come.
The violent death of Utta, mother-in-law of Lassair's older sister, and the injury of her sister by the same mysterious hulking stranger - brings Lassair to that village to see if she can heal her sister's wounds. That attack is followed by others - all by the same stranger -seemingly targeting members of Lassair's own family.
Then Lassair herself is abducted, bundled onto a ship and taken far away... The resulting developments endanger her life, but also bring her new experiences, friends, and new powers.
The story ends with a clear promise of more to come.
October 27, 2013
As compulsively readable as all of Alys Clare's books have been so far, this one disappointed in two small ways: the identity of the mystery healer was easy to guess, and it was a little too much stretch of the imagination that so many of these people could so easily read each other's minds. At first it was just Lassaire, then it was her Aunt, and her Aunt's lover, and then her teacher. But now Lassaire's love interest Rollo's mother can read minds too, as well as his cousin. After getting past that, though, I always enjoy reading about Lassaire, her relatives and her life in the fens, the trouble she gets into, and how she gets out of it. Rollo had a very small part in this book, I missed the interplay between them. Looking forward to Clare's next Aelf Fen book.
August 5, 2016
This was a further installment in the Aelf Fen mystery series about a woman, with a few psychic gifts, living in the fens in the 1100s. In this book, she strives to discover why the women in her family are systematically being attacked and their homes searched. The reason is something she could have never imagined (slight SPOILER). It turns out an ancestor of hers kept a magic token deemed too dangerous for a Viking to carry, and now his warped kin are searching for it. Clare walks the fine line between an ordinary prosaic world and one in which magic occurs. The young woman Lassair is a sympathetic protagonist. An entertaining read.
September 11, 2014
I always like to return to the Fens and experience Lassair's adventures.I wonder how different the Fens are from the salt meadows that I am familiar with?
Immediate post Conquest is an interesting time to explore historically, and Alys Clare is very adept at bringing that to life. Politics in England at that point in time even intrude in this very remote, inaccessible area.
Lassair learns through a series of scary adventures that her grandfather was from Iceland. Family secrets give way to violent intruders into their quiet Fenland community and her grandmother's resting place is disturbed.
Recommended for those who like Medieval history with their mysteries.
Immediate post Conquest is an interesting time to explore historically, and Alys Clare is very adept at bringing that to life. Politics in England at that point in time even intrude in this very remote, inaccessible area.
Lassair learns through a series of scary adventures that her grandfather was from Iceland. Family secrets give way to violent intruders into their quiet Fenland community and her grandmother's resting place is disturbed.
Recommended for those who like Medieval history with their mysteries.
August 30, 2013
A nice solid historical fantasy/mystery, part of a series set in post-William the Conquerer English Fen-land, with some side trips to Iceland and Italy. Likable characters, good descriptions, evocative settings, and a little magic thrown in for good measure. Of course, the addition of red-bearded Vikings doesn't hurt. I just may check out the earlier titles, and I'm looking forward to seeing Constantinople through Alys Clare's eyes.
May 16, 2013
This series has been quite interesting, set in the Fens, soon after the Norman Conquest. It has followed the life of a young woman, who is a healer and also a bard. This story picks up her family, her tutor in Cambridge and violence aimed at her family.
August 3, 2013
This works well as a historical detective novel with a thriller element and a slight romantic overtone, but it rather breaks the genre rules by introducing some fantasy.
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February 13, 2014
I have fallen in love with historical mysteries thanks to Alyce Clare, particularly her fen-land series. She didn't miss with this one. Gave only 3 stars as the trip to Iceland was too far fetched. Wish I was better at this review business.
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May 10, 2015Really great mystery. Wheels within wheels that keep you intrigued. very enjoyable, with some nice surprises for the series' development!
August 12, 2013
Excellent continuation of the story of Lassair and her family.
November 7, 2013
Sort of a sci fi mystery with a lot of ancient Norse history at the core. Loved it. will read more of her.
October 31, 2015
Best in series so far! Come on #6!
December 5, 2013
This is a small book that I feel should be listed as a young adult novel. The plot is quite simple and the main character, Lassair, is simply too good to be real!
July 24, 2014
A bit more disjointed than her other books and a bit more stretched in plot for me.
November 1, 2015
An evocative but ultimately bland Anglo-Saxon mystery.
March 6, 2015
I am watching this story evolve into two stories that intertwine once in a while.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews