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Stone and Water
When the Romans invade Britain, the Celtic tribes are fragmented and the old magic has long been forgotten. Fedlimid, the daughter of a Cornovii chieftain, is the victim of an inter-tribe dispute but is saved by Druistan, a swineherd from another tribe.
As the Romans march westwards, Fedlimid and Druistan are forced to deal with kidnapping, death and betrayal.
Growing up in strange lands, away from home, they discover untapped sources of bravery and strength and something even older.
But will bravery be enough when the final battle comes?
"Stone and Water will sit on your shelf alongside the great historical writers of our childhoods - Roger Lancelyn Green, Rosemary Sutcliff, Henry Treece. James Marshall takes us through a magical gateway to experience everyday life in late Iron Age Britain as the first raiding parties of the Roman Empire reach the Southern tribal domains. You will smell the bonfires and roasting meat, feel the soaking rains of Exmoor, taste the fear as a Roman contingent slashes its way through your dun. A book for young and old alike that will leave you wanting more."
Mandi Abrahams, Castle Books.
"Stone and Water is a richly imagined history set in Celtic Britain during the Roman invasion. The novel follows two young Fedlimid, the headstrong daughter of a clan King, and Druistan, the unassuming son of pig farmers in a distant village.
Fedlimid is used to getting her own way, but in the rapidly changing political climate she realizes she still has a lot to learn…especially when she discovers she might have magical powers she doesn't fully understand.
Druistan is accustomed to his quiet life on the pig farm, but once Roman soldiers invade his village, nothing will ever be the same. He soon begins his own training to become a soldier, unaware that enemies can become allies and allies might not be what they seem.
Stone and Water is a gripping tale of courage, loyalty, loss, betrayal, and revenge that will captivate readers of any age." Leslie Wells
As the Romans march westwards, Fedlimid and Druistan are forced to deal with kidnapping, death and betrayal.
Growing up in strange lands, away from home, they discover untapped sources of bravery and strength and something even older.
But will bravery be enough when the final battle comes?
"Stone and Water will sit on your shelf alongside the great historical writers of our childhoods - Roger Lancelyn Green, Rosemary Sutcliff, Henry Treece. James Marshall takes us through a magical gateway to experience everyday life in late Iron Age Britain as the first raiding parties of the Roman Empire reach the Southern tribal domains. You will smell the bonfires and roasting meat, feel the soaking rains of Exmoor, taste the fear as a Roman contingent slashes its way through your dun. A book for young and old alike that will leave you wanting more."
Mandi Abrahams, Castle Books.
"Stone and Water is a richly imagined history set in Celtic Britain during the Roman invasion. The novel follows two young Fedlimid, the headstrong daughter of a clan King, and Druistan, the unassuming son of pig farmers in a distant village.
Fedlimid is used to getting her own way, but in the rapidly changing political climate she realizes she still has a lot to learn…especially when she discovers she might have magical powers she doesn't fully understand.
Druistan is accustomed to his quiet life on the pig farm, but once Roman soldiers invade his village, nothing will ever be the same. He soon begins his own training to become a soldier, unaware that enemies can become allies and allies might not be what they seem.
Stone and Water is a gripping tale of courage, loyalty, loss, betrayal, and revenge that will captivate readers of any age." Leslie Wells
201 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2025
3 people want to read
About the author
James Marshall
6 books6 followersJames is a father of two, and husband of one. He lives and works in Devon,UK, running a sports club for local children and young adults in Willand.
He started fiction writing under the tutelage of Jenny Kane at her Imagine writing group in Cullompton.
He won the ‘Pen to Print’ 2022 short story competition, and his novel, ‘The Poster,’ was runner-up in the 2024 ‘Book Challenge Award.’
His non-fiction books about sports coaching highlight his decades of experience in easy-to-follow language.
Apart from writing, James is a Masters weightlifter, a keen barbecuer and an avid reader.
He started fiction writing under the tutelage of Jenny Kane at her Imagine writing group in Cullompton.
He won the ‘Pen to Print’ 2022 short story competition, and his novel, ‘The Poster,’ was runner-up in the 2024 ‘Book Challenge Award.’
His non-fiction books about sports coaching highlight his decades of experience in easy-to-follow language.
Apart from writing, James is a Masters weightlifter, a keen barbecuer and an avid reader.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 8, 2026
Note: I received and am reviewing an early copy of this story.
This story had a great premise and was rooted in an interesting time period. It showed a perspective (clans of pre-Roman Britain) that I don't often get to hear about. I appreciated the details throughout this story and the connection between characters.
Even while liking the story, I thought this book was either too short or even possibly needed to be trimmed down and shortened more. I had some difficulties following the actions within chapters fairly often, as it seemed to bounce from one action to the next with no connector. Characters would flip emotions, particularly the female lead, in a way that felt nonsensical to either the situation, their past behaviors/thoughts, or the immediately previous emotion/thought. Other characters, particularly adults, seemed to do dumb things just to move the plot along, often annoying me.
I also found the ending difficult to comprehend for thay character and what they've been saying the whole story. it was somewhat anti-climatic as well.
Overall, a solid story and premise but needs some work on the connectivity of the story and characters. With that in place, I could see this as a great teen/young adult read.
This story had a great premise and was rooted in an interesting time period. It showed a perspective (clans of pre-Roman Britain) that I don't often get to hear about. I appreciated the details throughout this story and the connection between characters.
Even while liking the story, I thought this book was either too short or even possibly needed to be trimmed down and shortened more. I had some difficulties following the actions within chapters fairly often, as it seemed to bounce from one action to the next with no connector. Characters would flip emotions, particularly the female lead, in a way that felt nonsensical to either the situation, their past behaviors/thoughts, or the immediately previous emotion/thought. Other characters, particularly adults, seemed to do dumb things just to move the plot along, often annoying me.
I also found the ending difficult to comprehend for thay character and what they've been saying the whole story. it was somewhat anti-climatic as well.
Overall, a solid story and premise but needs some work on the connectivity of the story and characters. With that in place, I could see this as a great teen/young adult read.
July 6, 2025
Great to see another book out from this talented Devonian writer. This second book could not be more different to The Poster set in a dystopian Plymouth. In Stone and Water, you are out on the tops of the moors with druids and herbalists. You are riding on horseback from dun to dun warning of the imminent arrival of the vanguard of the Roman Empire, elite well-equipped soldiers who will slash their way through long-established and peaceful communities. You feel you are sitting at the tribes' firesides as they eat and gossip, you bathe with the women in the cool pools, you are present at the tribal gathering where they will decide if they can put aside their differences to fight the new common enemy. James' writing is as vivid as ever, and once more you are left wanting more. Well researched and showing a deep knowledge of the landscape and prehistoric sites of South West Britain, this book should be in every Devonian Xmas stocking this year.
March 8, 2026
Received through a giveaway on StoryGraph. Good premise but execution was lacking. Grammar and syntax issues took me out of the story, which at times was very detailed and others would skip time or major scenes completely. The protagonist was hard to like as a bratty teenager. Would be good as an early YA / middle school read.
February 8, 2026
Well paced and interesting world building. Interesting setting that both enhances the story and adds context to the themes.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews