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Isle Fincara Trilogy #1
The Seaborne
John Finlay is fleeing from failure. His engineering business has failed. His relationship has failed. His flight from debts leads him to disaster and to the Island, where he must learn to live anew.
Dermot, pulling a boy barely alive from the water, has never seen anyone so strangely dressed. His Celtic island knows nothing of debt, nor engineering. Where has this man come from? John struggles to accept that he has been carried across time and into another world both like and unlike his own. How he got there is a mystery. But John, the foreigner, must turn slowly into Dhion, the lslander. Still, he brings with him unfinished business that must be faced, and ideas that may not always be welcomed. Meanwhile Dermot, consumed with a growing jealousy, develops his own deadly agenda. The whole community finds itself caught up in what becomes a matter of survival- or transformation. A tale of loss and change. A spiritual inquiry. And a love story.
Dermot, pulling a boy barely alive from the water, has never seen anyone so strangely dressed. His Celtic island knows nothing of debt, nor engineering. Where has this man come from? John struggles to accept that he has been carried across time and into another world both like and unlike his own. How he got there is a mystery. But John, the foreigner, must turn slowly into Dhion, the lslander. Still, he brings with him unfinished business that must be faced, and ideas that may not always be welcomed. Meanwhile Dermot, consumed with a growing jealousy, develops his own deadly agenda. The whole community finds itself caught up in what becomes a matter of survival- or transformation. A tale of loss and change. A spiritual inquiry. And a love story.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
372 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2019
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July 1, 2025
A story told in three parts, with an epilogue to comfort those who worry about the ones left behind.
John Finlay had had enough. He was done. Of all the ways to escape, the best is to run, run, run away, by land, air or water. He chooses water. Something shakes his reliable world enough that an unreliable happening changes all.
Imagine yourself, as old as you are now - whatever age that is - and whatever burden/blessing of experience you have comes with you. You find yourself in the world as a new babe does (only remember you are how you are now – same clothes, same hat, same kleenex in your pocket). So far as you can tell you are armed with nothing useful. You have nothing that works in this place you find yourself. You are without the language, the knowledge of managing day-to-day needs, nothing and no one is familiar or known to you. *Boom*. You have landed smack in the where/how/when in which John finds himself. He has lost all. His name, identity, cultural landmarks, context, credibility, and the trust and understanding of where in the scheme of life he fits in. . .pfft!. Gone. Blank slate. Begin. ?again?
I keep thinking about this story. It’s compelling, and reminds me of the precarious precious present tense I take for granted every moment and how it becomes the past in the blink of my eye, beat of my heart, and all those clicking ticking time keepers. . .
All the stars for this one. Kudos to A. G. Rivett, fighting the battle to write these stories, getting the books done and out there. The Seaborne (#1), The Priest’s Wife (#2), The Shareg (#3) coming in 2026!. Now you libraries, publishers and readers. . .get the Isle Fincara Trilogy on shelves!
*A sincere thank you to A. G. Rivett, Pantolwen Press| Independent Book Publishers Association, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #The Seaborne #NetGalley 25|52:37b
* * * * *
[Favorite excerpts and my comment , to replace the GR notes / highlights which have been hijacked. There’s more than one way to skin a banana.]
FIRST PART: CASTAWAY
He had never seen the like. No familiar shapes or patterns that his mind could hold on to. He wondered what it was, what it was for. ‘Do you like it?’ said a voice behind him. He span round, feeling the heat rise to his face. The priest’s wife was standing with a beaker and a pewter plate. ‘Uh… aye.’ He hesitated. He felt the difference in standing between them. ‘But…’ She seemed to sense his question. ‘It’s a map, Dermot. As if you look down on the whole island from on high – higher than an eagle – and you see it laid out below you.’ ‘Like the eye of God, then?’ She gave him an odd, searching look. She was a foreigner, they said, from away in the Northlands, and he never felt at ease when she looked his way. Then she softened. ‘Come outside, Dermot. Surely you’d rather be in the fresh air on a morning like this, not stuck under a roof. Come and sit on the bench outside.’
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 144-152). Kindle Edition.
. . .do you remember your first map??. . .a marvelous thing, a map.
Now Shelagh A’Fengoel came from her house, a dark bundle in her arms. She spread it out on the ground before the door. Dermot recognised it: that was indeed the coat the man had been wearing. He peered at it more closely. It was made of a stuff he could not have imagined possible. ‘We had such a trouble taking it off him,’ A’Fengoel was saying. ‘You see all these tiny…’ She pointed to two rows of minute metal teeth, one down each side of the front opening. ‘These… hook-things here. They were all joined together and for the life of me we couldn’t see how to undo them. Then – I don’t know – there’s this tassel thing. We pulled it down the way and there they were, all undone. Have you ever seen the like, Father?’ The Father had not. The men gathered round had not. Dermot, peering over the shoulders of the others, understood. It was Fengoelan who voiced his thought. ‘He’s a stranger from far away, isn’t he?’ he said. ‘Do you think he could be from beyond the Island, Father?’ Father Hugh touched the little metal teeth, ran his hand over the smooth fabric. ‘I’d be surprised if he’s from anywhere near the Island.
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 195-205). Kindle Edition.
The wonder that is a zipper
He had not dreamed that anywhere in the North Atlantic could be this remote. But it wouldn’t be for long, he was sure. He could bear it for a while – even those crudest of sanitary arrangements. It would only be a few more days, a week, a month at the most. Surely, soon they would find him, or these people would get word back to the mainland, and he could have a bath again, a change of clothes, a phone call to his parents. Communication – that was the key.
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 614-617). Kindle Edition.
To be unplaced. . .removed from every known place. . . .
creates its own kind of urgency, as dire as bodily need. . .
‘Dhion, you say that where you come from you are nobody special. Nobody of importance. Yet this coat – it appears to us like the wearing of one who can command the wealth of a whole people. The Ma’Haengas greets you as befits the son of a mighty chieftain.’
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 1442-1444). Kindle Edition.
Context. Context is all.
SECOND PART: APPRENTICE
Then Hugh said, ‘But there is something I can give, and it has a name you do not know. I even wonder if you know it in your own tongue.’ Dhion felt Hugh’s eyes on him, searching. The priest went on, ‘I can speak on behalf of the All, of that together-weaving of all that we call the One. You will have to learn to live with the knowledge of the pain you caused. You are by no means alone in this. What you can do now is to come before the All, acknowledging your weakness, recognising how it let you be caught, like a stone in an avalanche, and surrender yourself to the only Power that can begin to mend the rift.’ Steadily, they paced on. ‘Are you ready to receive this medicine, and allow it to change you? The weft cannot be mended while the warp is pulled out of true.’ Dhion looked up again where the eagles were still wheeling. He stopped. They all stopped. Then he said, ‘I have come to a place where I cannot run any further. If you have a medicine for me, I will take it.’ Morag smiled. ‘Dear Dhion. The warp longs to be true again, doesn’t it? It will be. You can hardly say that you have come here. You have been brought, almost against your will – it would seem even across the borders of the worlds. How, we cannot say. All that must be to some purpose.’
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 2413-2423). Kindle Edition.
The weft cannot be mended while the warp is pulled out of true. . .
The warp longs to be true again. . . .doesn’t it?
Ever longs to be true. . .restored to. . .what was. . .
Yet he was still a foreigner here. He caught himself pausing, staring into his bowl of broth and wondering what they were doing at that moment – those others, whom he had left behind. Whom he had loved, cared for, respected, and could see no more. Where were they? When were they? Did such questions even make sense? He missed them. He missed even the noise and bustle of the rush-hour traffic; missed standing on a high green field on a still evening and looking out across the great city, swaddled in a cloak of brown exhaust. He missed them. Yet he had found something he had been looking for, without knowing it. A hollow place inside him was being filled by a way of life lived close to the earth, governed by the simplicity of everyday need.
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 2456-2462). Kindle Edition.
Outsiders. . .we are all. . .until we are not.
THIRD PART: SACRIFICE
There in the sky hung luminous veils, faintly shimmering in the north: blue, and green, and turquoise. Even as she watched they changed. Faint red rays grew in strength and swept the sky, and disappeared again. Again the blue and green curtains hung there, and through them she could see the stars. For long moments she stood, watching, wondering.
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 4320-4322). Kindle Edition.
An Aurora B cameo!
‘I do not know where my choice will lead. I only know that my feet feel they have found a path. Now I will stay on it, and meet whatever it may lead to.’
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 4730-4731). Kindle Edition.
Leaping off the fence, and claiming a side. . .
* * * * *
Author Biography and the Publisher's blurb for this book at gwales.com:
Author Biography:
Ceredigion author A G Rivett (www.agrivett.com) claims to have lived several lives in the course of his one life. Born in London, raised in the Home Counties, he has been a doctor, a priest, and a crofter in the Scottish Highlands. He has lived in rural Northern Nigeria and knows what a simpler life looks like, less dependent on technology. He now lives in Ceredigion with his second wife, Gillian, who is also his editor. There, he cultivates a wildflower meadow.
Further Information on The Seaborne:
John Finlay is fleeing from failure. His engineering business has failed. His relationship has failed. His flight from debts leads him to disaster – and to the Island, where he must learn to live anew.
Dermot, pulling a boy barely alive from the water, has never seen anyone so strangely dressed. His Celtic island knows nothing of debt, nor engineering. Where has this man come from?
John struggles to accept that he has been carried across time and into another world – both like and unlike his own. How he got there is a mystery. But John, the foreigner, must turn slowly into Dhion, the Islander. Still, he brings with him unfinished business that must be faced, and ideas that may not always be welcomed. Meanwhile Dermot, consumed with a growing jealousy, develops his own deadly agenda. The whole community finds itself caught up in what becomes a matter of survival – or transformation.
A tale of loss and change. A spiritual inquiry. And a love story.
John Finlay had had enough. He was done. Of all the ways to escape, the best is to run, run, run away, by land, air or water. He chooses water. Something shakes his reliable world enough that an unreliable happening changes all.
Imagine yourself, as old as you are now - whatever age that is - and whatever burden/blessing of experience you have comes with you. You find yourself in the world as a new babe does (only remember you are how you are now – same clothes, same hat, same kleenex in your pocket). So far as you can tell you are armed with nothing useful. You have nothing that works in this place you find yourself. You are without the language, the knowledge of managing day-to-day needs, nothing and no one is familiar or known to you. *Boom*. You have landed smack in the where/how/when in which John finds himself. He has lost all. His name, identity, cultural landmarks, context, credibility, and the trust and understanding of where in the scheme of life he fits in. . .pfft!. Gone. Blank slate. Begin. ?again?
I keep thinking about this story. It’s compelling, and reminds me of the precarious precious present tense I take for granted every moment and how it becomes the past in the blink of my eye, beat of my heart, and all those clicking ticking time keepers. . .
All the stars for this one. Kudos to A. G. Rivett, fighting the battle to write these stories, getting the books done and out there. The Seaborne (#1), The Priest’s Wife (#2), The Shareg (#3) coming in 2026!. Now you libraries, publishers and readers. . .get the Isle Fincara Trilogy on shelves!
*A sincere thank you to A. G. Rivett, Pantolwen Press| Independent Book Publishers Association, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #The Seaborne #NetGalley 25|52:37b
* * * * *
[Favorite excerpts and my comment , to replace the GR notes / highlights which have been hijacked. There’s more than one way to skin a banana.]
FIRST PART: CASTAWAY
He had never seen the like. No familiar shapes or patterns that his mind could hold on to. He wondered what it was, what it was for. ‘Do you like it?’ said a voice behind him. He span round, feeling the heat rise to his face. The priest’s wife was standing with a beaker and a pewter plate. ‘Uh… aye.’ He hesitated. He felt the difference in standing between them. ‘But…’ She seemed to sense his question. ‘It’s a map, Dermot. As if you look down on the whole island from on high – higher than an eagle – and you see it laid out below you.’ ‘Like the eye of God, then?’ She gave him an odd, searching look. She was a foreigner, they said, from away in the Northlands, and he never felt at ease when she looked his way. Then she softened. ‘Come outside, Dermot. Surely you’d rather be in the fresh air on a morning like this, not stuck under a roof. Come and sit on the bench outside.’
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 144-152). Kindle Edition.
. . .do you remember your first map??. . .a marvelous thing, a map.
Now Shelagh A’Fengoel came from her house, a dark bundle in her arms. She spread it out on the ground before the door. Dermot recognised it: that was indeed the coat the man had been wearing. He peered at it more closely. It was made of a stuff he could not have imagined possible. ‘We had such a trouble taking it off him,’ A’Fengoel was saying. ‘You see all these tiny…’ She pointed to two rows of minute metal teeth, one down each side of the front opening. ‘These… hook-things here. They were all joined together and for the life of me we couldn’t see how to undo them. Then – I don’t know – there’s this tassel thing. We pulled it down the way and there they were, all undone. Have you ever seen the like, Father?’ The Father had not. The men gathered round had not. Dermot, peering over the shoulders of the others, understood. It was Fengoelan who voiced his thought. ‘He’s a stranger from far away, isn’t he?’ he said. ‘Do you think he could be from beyond the Island, Father?’ Father Hugh touched the little metal teeth, ran his hand over the smooth fabric. ‘I’d be surprised if he’s from anywhere near the Island.
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 195-205). Kindle Edition.
The wonder that is a zipper
He had not dreamed that anywhere in the North Atlantic could be this remote. But it wouldn’t be for long, he was sure. He could bear it for a while – even those crudest of sanitary arrangements. It would only be a few more days, a week, a month at the most. Surely, soon they would find him, or these people would get word back to the mainland, and he could have a bath again, a change of clothes, a phone call to his parents. Communication – that was the key.
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 614-617). Kindle Edition.
To be unplaced. . .removed from every known place. . . .
creates its own kind of urgency, as dire as bodily need. . .
‘Dhion, you say that where you come from you are nobody special. Nobody of importance. Yet this coat – it appears to us like the wearing of one who can command the wealth of a whole people. The Ma’Haengas greets you as befits the son of a mighty chieftain.’
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 1442-1444). Kindle Edition.
Context. Context is all.
SECOND PART: APPRENTICE
Then Hugh said, ‘But there is something I can give, and it has a name you do not know. I even wonder if you know it in your own tongue.’ Dhion felt Hugh’s eyes on him, searching. The priest went on, ‘I can speak on behalf of the All, of that together-weaving of all that we call the One. You will have to learn to live with the knowledge of the pain you caused. You are by no means alone in this. What you can do now is to come before the All, acknowledging your weakness, recognising how it let you be caught, like a stone in an avalanche, and surrender yourself to the only Power that can begin to mend the rift.’ Steadily, they paced on. ‘Are you ready to receive this medicine, and allow it to change you? The weft cannot be mended while the warp is pulled out of true.’ Dhion looked up again where the eagles were still wheeling. He stopped. They all stopped. Then he said, ‘I have come to a place where I cannot run any further. If you have a medicine for me, I will take it.’ Morag smiled. ‘Dear Dhion. The warp longs to be true again, doesn’t it? It will be. You can hardly say that you have come here. You have been brought, almost against your will – it would seem even across the borders of the worlds. How, we cannot say. All that must be to some purpose.’
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 2413-2423). Kindle Edition.
The weft cannot be mended while the warp is pulled out of true. . .
The warp longs to be true again. . . .doesn’t it?
Ever longs to be true. . .restored to. . .what was. . .
Yet he was still a foreigner here. He caught himself pausing, staring into his bowl of broth and wondering what they were doing at that moment – those others, whom he had left behind. Whom he had loved, cared for, respected, and could see no more. Where were they? When were they? Did such questions even make sense? He missed them. He missed even the noise and bustle of the rush-hour traffic; missed standing on a high green field on a still evening and looking out across the great city, swaddled in a cloak of brown exhaust. He missed them. Yet he had found something he had been looking for, without knowing it. A hollow place inside him was being filled by a way of life lived close to the earth, governed by the simplicity of everyday need.
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 2456-2462). Kindle Edition.
Outsiders. . .we are all. . .until we are not.
THIRD PART: SACRIFICE
There in the sky hung luminous veils, faintly shimmering in the north: blue, and green, and turquoise. Even as she watched they changed. Faint red rays grew in strength and swept the sky, and disappeared again. Again the blue and green curtains hung there, and through them she could see the stars. For long moments she stood, watching, wondering.
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 4320-4322). Kindle Edition.
An Aurora B cameo!
‘I do not know where my choice will lead. I only know that my feet feel they have found a path. Now I will stay on it, and meet whatever it may lead to.’
A. G. Rivett. The Seaborne (Kindle Locations 4730-4731). Kindle Edition.
Leaping off the fence, and claiming a side. . .
* * * * *
Author Biography and the Publisher's blurb for this book at gwales.com:
Author Biography:
Ceredigion author A G Rivett (www.agrivett.com) claims to have lived several lives in the course of his one life. Born in London, raised in the Home Counties, he has been a doctor, a priest, and a crofter in the Scottish Highlands. He has lived in rural Northern Nigeria and knows what a simpler life looks like, less dependent on technology. He now lives in Ceredigion with his second wife, Gillian, who is also his editor. There, he cultivates a wildflower meadow.
Further Information on The Seaborne:
John Finlay is fleeing from failure. His engineering business has failed. His relationship has failed. His flight from debts leads him to disaster – and to the Island, where he must learn to live anew.
Dermot, pulling a boy barely alive from the water, has never seen anyone so strangely dressed. His Celtic island knows nothing of debt, nor engineering. Where has this man come from?
John struggles to accept that he has been carried across time and into another world – both like and unlike his own. How he got there is a mystery. But John, the foreigner, must turn slowly into Dhion, the Islander. Still, he brings with him unfinished business that must be faced, and ideas that may not always be welcomed. Meanwhile Dermot, consumed with a growing jealousy, develops his own deadly agenda. The whole community finds itself caught up in what becomes a matter of survival – or transformation.
A tale of loss and change. A spiritual inquiry. And a love story.
July 15, 2025
A story told in three parts, with an epilogue to comfort those who worry about the ones left behind.
John Finlay had had enough. He was done. Of all the ways to escape, the best is to run, run, run away, by land, air or water. He chooses water. Something shakes his reliable world enough that an unreliable happening changes all.
Imagine yourself, as old as you are now - whatever age that is - and whatever burden/blessing of experience you have comes with you. You find yourself in the world as a new babe does (only remember you are how you are now – same clothes, same hat, same kleenex in your pocket). So far as you can tell you are armed with nothing useful. You have nothing that works in this place you find yourself. You are without the language, the knowledge of managing day-to-day needs, nothing and no one is familiar or known to you. *Boom*. You have landed smack in the where/how/when in which John finds himself. He has lost all. His name, identity, cultural landmarks, context, credibility, and the trust and understanding of where in the scheme of life he fits in. . .pfft!. Gone. Blank slate. Begin. ?again?
I keep thinking about this story. It’s compelling, and reminds me of the precarious precious present tense I take for granted every moment and how it becomes the past in the blink of my eye, beat of my heart, and all those clicking ticking time keepers. . .
All the stars for this one. Kudos to A. G. Rivett, fighting the battle to write these stories, getting the books done and out there. The Seaborne (#1), The Priest’s Wife (#2), The Shareg (#3) coming in 2026!. Now you libraries, publishers and readers. . .get the Isle Fincara Trilogy on shelves!
*A sincere thank you to A. G. Rivett, Pantolwen Press| Independent Book Publishers Association, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #The Seaborne #NetGalley
John Finlay had had enough. He was done. Of all the ways to escape, the best is to run, run, run away, by land, air or water. He chooses water. Something shakes his reliable world enough that an unreliable happening changes all.
Imagine yourself, as old as you are now - whatever age that is - and whatever burden/blessing of experience you have comes with you. You find yourself in the world as a new babe does (only remember you are how you are now – same clothes, same hat, same kleenex in your pocket). So far as you can tell you are armed with nothing useful. You have nothing that works in this place you find yourself. You are without the language, the knowledge of managing day-to-day needs, nothing and no one is familiar or known to you. *Boom*. You have landed smack in the where/how/when in which John finds himself. He has lost all. His name, identity, cultural landmarks, context, credibility, and the trust and understanding of where in the scheme of life he fits in. . .pfft!. Gone. Blank slate. Begin. ?again?
I keep thinking about this story. It’s compelling, and reminds me of the precarious precious present tense I take for granted every moment and how it becomes the past in the blink of my eye, beat of my heart, and all those clicking ticking time keepers. . .
All the stars for this one. Kudos to A. G. Rivett, fighting the battle to write these stories, getting the books done and out there. The Seaborne (#1), The Priest’s Wife (#2), The Shareg (#3) coming in 2026!. Now you libraries, publishers and readers. . .get the Isle Fincara Trilogy on shelves!
*A sincere thank you to A. G. Rivett, Pantolwen Press| Independent Book Publishers Association, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #The Seaborne #NetGalley
March 15, 2022
This is an excellent introduction to the social world of Celtic spirituality. The story has a straightforward chronology and is narrated in the third person through multiple points of view. Some descriptions of the culture may detract for some readers from the character arcs and flow of the story.
.
The protagonist, John (his English name) or Dhion (his island name), is lost overboard in a storm before the story begins. He is rescued by fishermen who identify him as a Seaborne. John in nursed back to physical health in the fishing village where he was rescued. In the connected inland village on that part of the island, Dhion learns the language and island ways in the home of the village priest and his wife. He gains standing among some in the community when he is apprenticed to the village blacksmith.
.
The islanders live in what the story identifies as a context similar to the 11th or 12th Century in Europe. This uncharted island is located far west of Scotland and north of Ireland and was among the raiding locations of Vikings (Northmen).
.
The_Seaborne is a “portal fantasy” in the sense described by Farah Mendelsohn (Rhetorics_of_Fantasy, 2008). Because we have traveled through a portal to a different world, the protagonist and reader are given explanations of the archaic aspects of daily life that are strange to him (and us). Politics, social life, and religion are not distinct and so not separated. There are no modern technologies or conveniences. The protagonist sees no vapor trails from aircraft, and there are no contacts with ships from Europe or elsewhere. No one in any of the villages on the island, for instance, has ever seen a zipper like the one on John’s jacket. They see it as marvelous and surely a sign of nobility.
.
After Dhion learns the language and local ways, he finds himself in a love triangle that leads to a death and a dangerous trial by ordeal on the open ocean. The island paramount chief is consulted, as is the island prophetess and wise woman. Both are sympathetic characters and play important roles in the story.
.
Because I wanted to learn about the social world of Celtic spirituality, I enjoyed this book very much. I was willing to consider the strange-to-me terms in the early chapters of the book as part of my experience of John’s / Dhion’s adjustment to his strange new world. (The novel nonetheless would benefit from a glossary.)
.
Also, I was willing to allow that whereas a modern reader might expect the focus of the novel to be on the inner life of one or a few characters, this very different world would place the focus on the culture and ongoing life of the group.
.
One of the most important advantages of this novel is its portrayal of a way of life which, it acknowledges explicitly, is much harder than John had known before, but also much more deeply satisfying for Dhion. This life exacts its toll even as it avoids so many of the things degrading modern lives and destroying our ecosystems and our planet.
.
The novel explores indirectly another important theme: the disconnect between modern life and Celtic spirituality. The latter demands much more of us than fits easily into our modern consumer lifestyles. For this reason as well, The_Seaborne is a must-read if you are interested in Celtic spirituality.
.
The protagonist, John (his English name) or Dhion (his island name), is lost overboard in a storm before the story begins. He is rescued by fishermen who identify him as a Seaborne. John in nursed back to physical health in the fishing village where he was rescued. In the connected inland village on that part of the island, Dhion learns the language and island ways in the home of the village priest and his wife. He gains standing among some in the community when he is apprenticed to the village blacksmith.
.
The islanders live in what the story identifies as a context similar to the 11th or 12th Century in Europe. This uncharted island is located far west of Scotland and north of Ireland and was among the raiding locations of Vikings (Northmen).
.
The_Seaborne is a “portal fantasy” in the sense described by Farah Mendelsohn (Rhetorics_of_Fantasy, 2008). Because we have traveled through a portal to a different world, the protagonist and reader are given explanations of the archaic aspects of daily life that are strange to him (and us). Politics, social life, and religion are not distinct and so not separated. There are no modern technologies or conveniences. The protagonist sees no vapor trails from aircraft, and there are no contacts with ships from Europe or elsewhere. No one in any of the villages on the island, for instance, has ever seen a zipper like the one on John’s jacket. They see it as marvelous and surely a sign of nobility.
.
After Dhion learns the language and local ways, he finds himself in a love triangle that leads to a death and a dangerous trial by ordeal on the open ocean. The island paramount chief is consulted, as is the island prophetess and wise woman. Both are sympathetic characters and play important roles in the story.
.
Because I wanted to learn about the social world of Celtic spirituality, I enjoyed this book very much. I was willing to consider the strange-to-me terms in the early chapters of the book as part of my experience of John’s / Dhion’s adjustment to his strange new world. (The novel nonetheless would benefit from a glossary.)
.
Also, I was willing to allow that whereas a modern reader might expect the focus of the novel to be on the inner life of one or a few characters, this very different world would place the focus on the culture and ongoing life of the group.
.
One of the most important advantages of this novel is its portrayal of a way of life which, it acknowledges explicitly, is much harder than John had known before, but also much more deeply satisfying for Dhion. This life exacts its toll even as it avoids so many of the things degrading modern lives and destroying our ecosystems and our planet.
.
The novel explores indirectly another important theme: the disconnect between modern life and Celtic spirituality. The latter demands much more of us than fits easily into our modern consumer lifestyles. For this reason as well, The_Seaborne is a must-read if you are interested in Celtic spirituality.
September 10, 2026
This is the first book in The Isle Fincara series and I was first introduced to this series and author when I read The Priest's Wife (book 2!) back in 2023.
Now, you know me, I hate reading books out of order and so, with book 3 on the horizon, I jumped at the chance to catch up and read this series as a whole and in order to make much more sense of what I'd read all that time ago.
Heading right back to the beginning we meet John as he flees from his life back in London where he is failing at everything.
His business is going under, his relationship has failed and he has so much debt and regret, he feels the only way now, is to run.
As he heads to a remote Scottish island, his boat gets into trouble and the next thing he knows, he's waking ashore an ancient dwelling where he has to learn to live anew.
Now, this really isn't normally my kind of read - but I do love to broaden my horizons when reading and I tend to find that I enjoy these reads and that was certainly the case here.
With John trapped miles away from home in a totally unfamiliar setting, he also realises that he's been transported back through the centuries.
I know he spends a lot of time recovering from his journey, but I really don't know how he coped so well under the circumstances.
I was completely immersed in this community and loved meeting all of the inhabitants and learning about their roles in their society.
They also have to learn to live with an outsider and it was really interesting to see how some of the natural dynamics in the groups were changed by certain events.
There was a real emphasis on spirituality and Celtic myths throughout and it was interesting to see some parallels with modern day beliefs.
I may not be religious myself, but I thought the writing here was well crafted to suit all and I found it felt authentic to the setting and era as well as emphasising some of the issues that exist in the modern day society.
This may not be my usual genre, but I was hooked from start to finish and I can't wait to reread book 2 now in preparation for the next new release.
Now, you know me, I hate reading books out of order and so, with book 3 on the horizon, I jumped at the chance to catch up and read this series as a whole and in order to make much more sense of what I'd read all that time ago.
Heading right back to the beginning we meet John as he flees from his life back in London where he is failing at everything.
His business is going under, his relationship has failed and he has so much debt and regret, he feels the only way now, is to run.
As he heads to a remote Scottish island, his boat gets into trouble and the next thing he knows, he's waking ashore an ancient dwelling where he has to learn to live anew.
Now, this really isn't normally my kind of read - but I do love to broaden my horizons when reading and I tend to find that I enjoy these reads and that was certainly the case here.
With John trapped miles away from home in a totally unfamiliar setting, he also realises that he's been transported back through the centuries.
I know he spends a lot of time recovering from his journey, but I really don't know how he coped so well under the circumstances.
I was completely immersed in this community and loved meeting all of the inhabitants and learning about their roles in their society.
They also have to learn to live with an outsider and it was really interesting to see how some of the natural dynamics in the groups were changed by certain events.
There was a real emphasis on spirituality and Celtic myths throughout and it was interesting to see some parallels with modern day beliefs.
I may not be religious myself, but I thought the writing here was well crafted to suit all and I found it felt authentic to the setting and era as well as emphasising some of the issues that exist in the modern day society.
This may not be my usual genre, but I was hooked from start to finish and I can't wait to reread book 2 now in preparation for the next new release.
October 5, 2026
Although the story, which is the first part of The Isle of Fincara Trilogy, is speculative in nature it also brings together a myriad of aspects and perceptions. The spritual awakening for one. Not so much in a religious, pagan or the natural origin of past societies who are perhaps isolated from greater advancements and developments, but rather an awakening of self.
How John/Dhion adjusts and then comprehends that in this new setting he is no longer John with the burden or lightness of his previous life and identity. In this setting he is in fact Dhion and walks in the shoes of this emerging identity, albeit with the bonus of being able to access the knowledge and ability of John.
I did wonder why Dhion doesn't really delve deeply into the why or how of his new existence. Is it perhaps because he welcomes a new beginning or the concept that something more unusual than being recovered from the sea is at hand.
To some of the people who surround him he will always be the one borne of the sea, and that mirrors the way modern society distinguishes born and bred from the outsider, even if the outsider has a generational standing in said village, town or society. That inkling of other often brings an element of distrust with it, which explains the wariness when Dhion uses modern ideas to enhance the lives of those around him.
I think it's a book - or a start of a journey - that is better served without too much pre-knowledge from others. What I will add is that one of the last sentences captures not only the entirety of John becoming Dhion, but also serves a gentle reminder of something not everyone experiences - 'my feet feel they have found a path' - it encapsulates so much of this story and more.
How John/Dhion adjusts and then comprehends that in this new setting he is no longer John with the burden or lightness of his previous life and identity. In this setting he is in fact Dhion and walks in the shoes of this emerging identity, albeit with the bonus of being able to access the knowledge and ability of John.
I did wonder why Dhion doesn't really delve deeply into the why or how of his new existence. Is it perhaps because he welcomes a new beginning or the concept that something more unusual than being recovered from the sea is at hand.
To some of the people who surround him he will always be the one borne of the sea, and that mirrors the way modern society distinguishes born and bred from the outsider, even if the outsider has a generational standing in said village, town or society. That inkling of other often brings an element of distrust with it, which explains the wariness when Dhion uses modern ideas to enhance the lives of those around him.
I think it's a book - or a start of a journey - that is better served without too much pre-knowledge from others. What I will add is that one of the last sentences captures not only the entirety of John becoming Dhion, but also serves a gentle reminder of something not everyone experiences - 'my feet feel they have found a path' - it encapsulates so much of this story and more.
June 26, 2020
The Review
This was such an engaging read. The author does a great job of creating a breathtaking world that draws the reader in and populates it with characters that keep the reader invested throughout.
The interesting concept of how society has evolved and the ways in which people choose to live are thoroughly showcased throughout the narrative. The thing that fascinates me as a reader is how John’s mentality and way of life from his own time and the way of life he learns to have while in this new world is interesting to see, both in their similarities and differences. In the end, is it not true that the past and the future both have their ups and downs, and can impact the present?
The Verdict
A powerful, memorable, and evenly paced read, author A.G. Rivett has masterfully told a brilliant tale of a man outside of his own time, and the community impacted by his appearance, both good and bad. Fueled by culture, romance, questions of morality, and advancements in technology, mentality, and society, the novel does an excellent job of creating a thought-provoking narrative that will keep readers wanting more. Be sure to grab your copy of “The Seaborne” today!
This was such an engaging read. The author does a great job of creating a breathtaking world that draws the reader in and populates it with characters that keep the reader invested throughout.
The interesting concept of how society has evolved and the ways in which people choose to live are thoroughly showcased throughout the narrative. The thing that fascinates me as a reader is how John’s mentality and way of life from his own time and the way of life he learns to have while in this new world is interesting to see, both in their similarities and differences. In the end, is it not true that the past and the future both have their ups and downs, and can impact the present?
The Verdict
A powerful, memorable, and evenly paced read, author A.G. Rivett has masterfully told a brilliant tale of a man outside of his own time, and the community impacted by his appearance, both good and bad. Fueled by culture, romance, questions of morality, and advancements in technology, mentality, and society, the novel does an excellent job of creating a thought-provoking narrative that will keep readers wanting more. Be sure to grab your copy of “The Seaborne” today!
October 2, 2026
I have always been interested in Celtic history so was extremely keen to read the Isle Fincara trilogy. I have to say I don’t think I’ve read a ‘portal fantasy’ so well executed in such a long time. John Finlay is thrown from his ‘world’ to the Island. I loved how wonderfully Rivett brings the world to life. The narrative kept me hooked and I adored the vivid depiction of life in this other time and world that resembled something of our Celtic past. John was an interesting character and I enjoyed watching him grow and develop along the journey. Dermot was also a brilliant antagonist and believable in his agenda. If you enjoy a well written fantasy with elements of historical accuracy this is a series you are bound to love. I won’t spoil anything but I will say I am hooked and could not put it down.
As always thank you to ZooLoo’s Book Tours and author for the free copy to review. My review contains only my honest opinions and is freely given.
As always thank you to ZooLoo’s Book Tours and author for the free copy to review. My review contains only my honest opinions and is freely given.
May 27, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
A slow, quiet story about a man who discovers a slow, quiet life after washing ashore on a mysterious island and realizing that he has been transported a thousand years into the past.
This book is strongly rooted in historical fiction rather than leaning into the fantastical. Time travel aside, it’s an intriguing and detailed look at life on a Celtic island in the 11th century. We follow John as he slowly integrates into society, develops an appreciation for nature and spirituality, and falls in love. I enjoyed the way the narrative unfolded – there was excellent pacing and foreshadowing – and found the interpersonal dramas quite gripping. Although historical fiction isn’t my usual fare, I enjoyed this one a lot more than I’d expected.
*DISCLAIMER: Thank you to Pantolwen Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
A slow, quiet story about a man who discovers a slow, quiet life after washing ashore on a mysterious island and realizing that he has been transported a thousand years into the past.
This book is strongly rooted in historical fiction rather than leaning into the fantastical. Time travel aside, it’s an intriguing and detailed look at life on a Celtic island in the 11th century. We follow John as he slowly integrates into society, develops an appreciation for nature and spirituality, and falls in love. I enjoyed the way the narrative unfolded – there was excellent pacing and foreshadowing – and found the interpersonal dramas quite gripping. Although historical fiction isn’t my usual fare, I enjoyed this one a lot more than I’d expected.
*DISCLAIMER: Thank you to Pantolwen Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
October 9, 2026
The Seaborne by A.G. Rivett is the first book in the Isle Fincara trilogy. It is a great start to the series in my opinion. John Finlay is our MC who has washed up on the Isle of Fincara where he is the outsider to the natives who look at his strange clothing and “Inglshee” speaking as something that is unusual to themselves. John is kind of glad at having escaped from his old life through water. He is now in the world of Celtic spirituality. I loved this part of the story, the amazing descriptions and the characters. John becomes Dhion in their language, as he is nursed back to health after washing up on the shore. John learns the language over time and even becomes a blacksmith to the village, all while the villagers struggle to accept the outsider to their village. John really struggles in the beginning with fitting into the island and with the people but then finds his place. I really enjoyed this first book in the series. There is so much going on with the plot and also I loved that the plot was so well written and I love the character of John.
October 3, 2026
It took me a little while to get into the flow with this one, but once it settled I was invested in the story and how it would play out.
There are quite a few themes running through this story that have you considering whether life was better when it was simpler, or if it's better now.
When the villagers were struggling to accept John, and things took a bit of a turn for a while, I could see the reflection of hatred against immigrants in our current world.
When John tries to bring more modern inventions to their world, I couldn't help but feel it would be a slippery slope if he succeeded. But it also portrayed the difficulty humans in general have when they are shown new things that may or may not help in their lives.
The only thing I struggled with was the pacing felt a little up and down at times. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
There are quite a few themes running through this story that have you considering whether life was better when it was simpler, or if it's better now.
When the villagers were struggling to accept John, and things took a bit of a turn for a while, I could see the reflection of hatred against immigrants in our current world.
When John tries to bring more modern inventions to their world, I couldn't help but feel it would be a slippery slope if he succeeded. But it also portrayed the difficulty humans in general have when they are shown new things that may or may not help in their lives.
The only thing I struggled with was the pacing felt a little up and down at times. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
October 13, 2026
The Seaborne is a fascinating blend of historical fiction, time travel, spirituality, and romance. I enjoyed the intriguing idea of a modern-day Londoner suddenly finding himself in a world a thousand years in the past, where even the simplest things become a challenge. The setting of Caerpadraig feels wonderfully atmospheric, and the Islanders’ reactions to John and his strange ways add plenty of mystery to the story.
What I especially liked is the theme of transformation and the way two very different worlds come together. John’s journey toward becoming Dhion offers more than an unusual adventure; it raises interesting questions about identity, belonging, faith, and what truly makes us who we are. This is a thoughtful and immersive beginning to a trilogy, perfect for readers who enjoy historical settings with a touch of the extraordinary.
What I especially liked is the theme of transformation and the way two very different worlds come together. John’s journey toward becoming Dhion offers more than an unusual adventure; it raises interesting questions about identity, belonging, faith, and what truly makes us who we are. This is a thoughtful and immersive beginning to a trilogy, perfect for readers who enjoy historical settings with a touch of the extraordinary.
June 6, 2023
I loved this book from the start. Andrew's beautiful writing carries one along from John's arrival in an strange place and time, through his experiences in the new world he has landed in and his gradual growth into Djion, his new name and new identity. The characters are strongly drawn and Andrew's intimate knowledge of the Scottish landscape is an almost sensual experience throughout the book.
This is a meeting of two worlds - the modern physical and the Celtic spiritual ; it is the story of a soul faced with many deep choices and also a tender love story. I've read it twice and see new insights each time. I will most likely read it again and look forward to the sequel 'The Priest's Wife' which comes out in October 2023 - and the third of the Trilogy yet to come.
This is a meeting of two worlds - the modern physical and the Celtic spiritual ; it is the story of a soul faced with many deep choices and also a tender love story. I've read it twice and see new insights each time. I will most likely read it again and look forward to the sequel 'The Priest's Wife' which comes out in October 2023 - and the third of the Trilogy yet to come.
September 8, 2026
I was drawn to this book since I am a sucker for time travel and was not disappointed. John is unhappy with his life and goes off on a boat to escape. He is found in the ocean and brought to an island near Scotland/Ireland. He has to learn a new language and find his way in the 11th century. I loved the characters and how they accept him and are also fearful of his different ways not unlike what modern day immigrants go through. The descriptions of nature and customs were beautifully written. This book was lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pantolwen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pantolwen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2023
The Seaborne gripped me from the first chapter. The story is compelling and captivating. A story of loss and discovery, of isolation and belonging. I loved the elemental quality, the spirituality, the unfolding love between Dhion and Shinane, the wisdom and sacrifice of the wise woman and the constant presence of the wild and rugged landscape. The characters are strong and believable. Seaborne is a deep and thought-provoking book, and the story lingers on in my mind. I await the next book eagerly.
October 5, 2026
First of all trilogy and what a beautifully written book this is, both the cover and the words.
I started reading planning on just reading a few chapters but I was completely drawn into this word so beautifully laid out on the pages.
Imagine finding yourself in another timezone, where nothing you are used to has been invented yet, back to medieval times where community is different the language used is different, so many things to take from this book.
I highly recommend anyone to read this book.
I started reading planning on just reading a few chapters but I was completely drawn into this word so beautifully laid out on the pages.
Imagine finding yourself in another timezone, where nothing you are used to has been invented yet, back to medieval times where community is different the language used is different, so many things to take from this book.
I highly recommend anyone to read this book.
December 31, 2019
Its 3am and I have been kept up by this book - a compelling read! Beautifully crafted, evocative and a gently gripping storyline that grows as you read. The main character develops into a man whom I felt I really got to know, and made me question how I would manage myself, if something like this happened to me. The images the author has created in my mind make me feel like I am also part of this community. That's quite a skill, and I look forward to the next book.
June 5, 2020
A gripping and thoughtful book about a shipwrecked man who is rescued in a different time and world. As he gradually recovers, learns to communicate and to live in this new world, his influence brings challenges to his hosts too. Can they deal with the disruptions he creates in their settled lifestyle? And given the choice, would he return to his old world or make his life here?
I am greatly looking forward to the sequel.
I am greatly looking forward to the sequel.
November 7, 2023
Both books of the Isle Fincara Trilogy want to be read several times: first as a good yarn, a page turner, books for staying up all night to find out what happens next. Then, as a story from the oral tradition, for reading aloud and slowing down into the deep breath of the story, into the fabric of time and place. In the third reading, ask questions of the book, and find answers from the different characters for our time, our lives, and our world.
Read
February 27, 2024I was given the opportunity to read this book via NetGalley. I enjoyed this book. It was a little disorienting at first but it didn't take long to figure out what was going on. I would recommend this book if you like alternative fiction. The characters were well developed and the story line kept my attention. I enjoyed it so much I read The Priests Wife which is the second book in the series. The Scotland like setting really added to the story.
August 25, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley and Pantolwen Press for the ARC in exchange for a review.
This started off a little bit confusing for me. So much so I had to put it down and come back to it. It does make its way back around to figure out what is going on. The concept of being lost at sea and then showing up on an island a thousand years into the past almost seems like a concept for a horror story, but this book digs into it as a story of discovery and belonging.
This started off a little bit confusing for me. So much so I had to put it down and come back to it. It does make its way back around to figure out what is going on. The concept of being lost at sea and then showing up on an island a thousand years into the past almost seems like a concept for a horror story, but this book digs into it as a story of discovery and belonging.
October 6, 2026
A.G. Pulled me into this world with the incredible writing style and details. The characters were well written and lively with great personalities. The plot was intricate, interesting and detailed. It kept my attention page after page. If this catches your attention at all, I definitely recommend it!
June 15, 2020
The Seabourne. -
I found the language difficult, and the concept of the storyline hard to hold in mind. I did however finish the book and like the ending in a strange way as it raises a good ethical question about social progress and it’s impact to relationships in a community.
I found the language difficult, and the concept of the storyline hard to hold in mind. I did however finish the book and like the ending in a strange way as it raises a good ethical question about social progress and it’s impact to relationships in a community.
October 4, 2026
This story begins with a man washed ashore on an unknown island only to realise all is not as it seems and he has in fact been transported back in time to 1,000 years ago.
After living a modern Life John has to navigate a new existence without all he has come to know and be accustomed to and in doing so he finds a new outlook and appreciation for spirituality and in doing so also falls in love.
Although there is the obvious fantasy element of time travel this book doesn’t read as such at all, it is very much a historical fiction novel with romance and a message of adapting and belonging throughout.
Thankyou for my gifted copy of this very thoughtful book.
After living a modern Life John has to navigate a new existence without all he has come to know and be accustomed to and in doing so he finds a new outlook and appreciation for spirituality and in doing so also falls in love.
Although there is the obvious fantasy element of time travel this book doesn’t read as such at all, it is very much a historical fiction novel with romance and a message of adapting and belonging throughout.
Thankyou for my gifted copy of this very thoughtful book.
February 27, 2020
This book is beautiful. Rivett's way with imagery is fantastical. You, the reader, feel as if you were born on the island along side Shinane and Dermot, and yet, you are also alien to its customs and practices much like John. The writing style in this book reads almost like poetry, the mountains and pools call to you like water burbling over stones. I found myself sad when I had to leave the island at the end of the book, because I enjoyed the peace and strength that it lent me.
It is that same peace and strength that John/Dhion finds on the island which is so enticing to him. Yes, our world is easier, more technologically advanced, and travel is much quicker, but do we take time to celebrate the sky on a winter's night? Or feel so connected to our land that we would never think of leaving it? There is not an overabundance of stillness in our modern world unless we make it. John is not someone who took the time to make stillness. His whole world was absorbed by his career, so much so, that when it began to crumble he ran away instead of facing his problems and adapting to his new life. John's landing on the island represents a new life for him. His own life had become so hectic and cold that he needed to start fresh in order to become his true self: Dhion.
This book is fantastic. Truly a beautiful historical fiction work of art. I don't know if you've read any of Stephen Lawhead's books, but this is on par with them. I would definitely recommend this book to any fans of ancient Britain, or historical fiction.
Written in February 2020, before the Covid 19 lockdown
Check out my full.review at The Wood Between the Worlds (www.woodbtwntheworlds.blogspot.com) !
It is that same peace and strength that John/Dhion finds on the island which is so enticing to him. Yes, our world is easier, more technologically advanced, and travel is much quicker, but do we take time to celebrate the sky on a winter's night? Or feel so connected to our land that we would never think of leaving it? There is not an overabundance of stillness in our modern world unless we make it. John is not someone who took the time to make stillness. His whole world was absorbed by his career, so much so, that when it began to crumble he ran away instead of facing his problems and adapting to his new life. John's landing on the island represents a new life for him. His own life had become so hectic and cold that he needed to start fresh in order to become his true self: Dhion.
This book is fantastic. Truly a beautiful historical fiction work of art. I don't know if you've read any of Stephen Lawhead's books, but this is on par with them. I would definitely recommend this book to any fans of ancient Britain, or historical fiction.
Written in February 2020, before the Covid 19 lockdown
Check out my full.review at The Wood Between the Worlds (www.woodbtwntheworlds.blogspot.com) !
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