In the Shadow of the Solstice

by Meg Clothier

A devastating feminist reimagining of Arthurian legend set in the dark and dangerous years after the Romans left Britain.

Nin is joining the gilded world of her sister's husband - a powerful man known only as the Bear. It's midwinter and there's victory to feast. And where better than at the Hall high above the mists of the Lake?

Why is the Lake so unsettled?

The bonds of love and ambition once united the Family. But as night falls and the shadows lengthen dark secrets and unruly passions threaten to rip it apart.

What is the strange crying only Nin can hear?

Torn between loyalty and desire - between rage and fear - Nin must fight to the death to uncover a terrible truth.

Who will live to see the sun rise?

Praise for Meg
'A wonderfully rich and absorbing tale' Observer
'Expertly crafted and beautifully told' Jennifer Saint
'What an extraordinary book' Harriet Tyce
'A ravishing, erudite feminist hijack of Renaissance Florence' Alice Albinia
'Mysterious, bewitching and beautiful' Elizabeth Lee
'Brutal and haunting' Melissa Fu

Genres: Fantasy

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2026

Reviews

[Charlotte]

Actual rating: 4.5

'Where then to start her own Tale? My da died. My sister came. My ma left. The Bear came. Too early. I ran and ran and leapt in the Lake? Too late. And so she started off by saying how she was down by the causeway and how the cold was very cold and the mule was very mulish.'

If an Arthurian retelling that puts its women centre stage whilst taking an unflinching view on how things really could have taken place sounds like your kind of read then 'In The Shadow Of The Solstice' should absolutely be on your to be read pile. It's the immersive, haunting, realistic approach on such myths that I didn't know I needed but am thrilled to have found, with an undercurrent of the mystical beneath the surface that adds to its emotional depths beautifully. If you're remotely into mythology retellings, historical fiction or Arthurian legend then I definitely recommend checking this one out.

From its very first page 'In The Shadow Of The Solstice' pulled me in and immersed me within its world. The narrative style has such a vivid sense of voice which brings everything bursting to life. It's written in Nin's voice and gives a real sense that you're seeing things unfold through her eyes. There's some odd terminology and poor grammar on occasion, but to me it was used with purpose, to give a sense of who Nin truly was and would have been. It added to the sense of time and voice whilst giving the novel its own unique feel. Similarly there seems to be a bit of an absence of commas (although other punctuation is present) on occasion but likewise it's a narrative choice that worked for me here. The sense of voice was so captivating and believable that I couldn't help but find myself drawn in. And I imagine an audio version would feel even more immersive.

In terms of tone 'In The Shadow Of The Solstice' felt almost like the historic approach to the legend of Arthur - a case of what really could have taken place. It shows the shifting religions of the time, where the many old gods are being pushed aside for the one and captures the shifting attitude towards country superstitions. 'Shadow' takes on a deeper and more specific meaning within this text and that's where its mystical undercurrent comes into the mix. There's ghostly happenings but they fit beautifully and never detract from the historic tone. If anything they instead add an additional gut punch of emotion to proceedings.

When it comes to the story of Arthur I'm somewhat of a novice. I'm familiar with parts of the story but I don't know all the ins and outs of the legends by any means. There were some characters that I could pair up with their counterparts and some that possibly passed me by. I liked how Morgana was portrayed here, and how her witchy-ness seemed to come from a combination of refusing to get beaten down by men and holding onto the old ways. Myrddin, this novel's Merlin, fascinated and, occasionally, chilled me. Whilst Arthur; well... let's just say the author's note at the start gives you fair warning of what to expect there.

Most of this novels action takes place over one night and I loved how it delved into the traditions and celebrations surrounding Long Night, particularly the almost feverish effect that took hold as everything started spinning out of control. The drink was flowing as a reader you truly felt the effect that it was having on the characters, whilst the atmosphere seemed to pervade from the pages, giving off a major sense of unease. The timeline of this is fairly short - so don't expect a full blown account of Arthurian legends - but what's covered is beautifully depicted and truly immersive to lose yourself within. It's haunting, cloying and doesn't romanticise who Arthur may have been. You have been warned.

Overall I definitely recommend picking 'In The Shadow Of The Solstice' up if you're remotely interested in these kind of retellings. It's a beautifully penned and immersive novel which brings its historic setting vividly to life. The narrative voice may take a bit of getting used to but any oddities are used simply to make its voice stay true to life - Nin wasn't highly educated, after all - and personally once I realised how it was being used it simply added to the overall reading experience for me. It brings many Arthurian women centre stage and captures the clash of religion and superstition wonderfully. Needless to say I'll be sure to pick up more by the author as soon as possible.

[Tanya]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of In the Shadow of the Solstice! I'm rating it 2.5 stars.

The Shadow of the Solstice is a horror-tinged take on the myth of King Arthur. But this isn't a story of knights and chivalry. Instead, we get brutality, superstitions and dark secrets, along with a more historically accurate Dark Ages setting. There's a large focus on family dynamics and interpersonal relationships, as well as loss and grief.

For the right reader, I'm sure this book will be an excellent read. I'm sad to say that I am not that reader. I loved the concept of this novel but found the execution to be a drag. The only thing that fully worked for me was the more historically realistic Dark Ages setting with the different superstitions, religious beliefs, descriptions of the landscape and material cultures.

The horror and supernatural elements were fun, but they felt severely under-utilised. I never found myself scared or even on edge. There were also a couple of mysteries to solve with some big reveals towards the end, except it always felt a little too obvious what had happened.

I always like retellings, and this was an interesting take on the King Arthur myth. However, some things didn't logically add up for me, and trying to make sense of them kept breaking my immersion. For example, much of Arthur's extended family turn up unannounced on the same night at what is modern-day Glastonbury Tor. This would be completely believable if they lived nearby, of course. But the book never said where they travelling from, so I defaulted to the most common locations in the myth — meaning the Orkney Isles, which lie north of Scotland, and Cornwall. There is no magical or logical explanation for why or how they all arrived there on the same night. There were several other elements in this retelling that similarly didn't make sense to me and kept breaking my immersion.

Stylistically, the prose is a little experimental. It's written in the main character's voice, and we get non-standard spelling, grammar and punctuation. That worked fine, except for one thing: the occasional switch from third person, focused on Nin's POV, to a first person narrator observing Nin and the rest of the world. When this first started, I assumed the actual book's narrator would be revealed at some point, and throughout the book, I tried to work out who it could be. I don't want to spoil the ending, but it ended up feeling pointless.

Even though this book didn't work for me, I'm sure it will have its fans. You might enjoy it if you like Dark Age historical fiction, folklore-inspired horror, family drama and unique takes on the King Arthur myth that centre the women rather than Arthur and his knights.

[Acantha]

This is Arthur and Guinevere, but not as you know them. Forget the tales of shining armour, of honour, chivalry and the round table. This is Britain in the so called Dark Ages, after the fall of Rome, and is a dark reimagining of the life and death of Arthur.

We follow Nin, half sister (British freedwoman mother and imperial father of her sister) to Guenevera as she joins her household. They travel to the Lake, the meet Guenevera's husband. Bear. A brute of a man who is holding the area together through the force of arms, who follows a form of Christianity but also wouldn't think twice about brutalising man, woman or animal to satisfy his whims.

Nin has been brought up to follow the teachings of Jesus but she is half in the old world too, her British mother having told her of Shadows and the water, of ritual and fear, respect and desire. She is very much of a different class to her sister and although she loves Guenevera dearly, as the reader you can see the signs Nin can't, the moments where it is clear just what her sister thinks of her. It adds an extra layer of tension and creates an unsettling atmosphere as Nin tries to navigate this new world she has been flung into and her innocence is slowly stripped away.

Part of the joy is in working out just who is who. Some are very obvious and a few will tease at the back of your mind, before clicking into place as we follow the familiar tale told from a very different perspective.

This is a brutal tale of men and the horrors they can inflict. There is some abuse of women and normally I find that very overdone. It's both overdone here and it simply follows the tales we already know. We perhaps just don't normally tell those versions of Arthur. It's also a gothic haunting, a horror story that will have you turning the pages in a mix of delight and fear.

There was something so dreamlike about this story. It's in the actual way it is written, the strange, almost lyrical choice of prose, tenses and formatting. It's in the blurring of Old and New, of the Gods that were and the God that is. It's in the crying and whispers that linger in the Long Night, the winter solstice that this book takes place during. The ending is as dreamy and ambiguous as the rest, with certain things left unexplained or undefined so if you want everything tied up this might not be the book for you. I have to admit, it stung a little to have some characters tales not wrapped up, after becoming invested in them, but it didn't ruin the experience.

A chilling read that should be on anyone's TBR who likes dark retellings, atmospheric tales and men mostly getting their comeuppance.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~

[Linnéa Lange]

In the Shadow of the Solstice is a dark reimagining with all the characters from the Arthurian tales. It’s not a tale of brave men, nor is it a tale of mysterious witches. Instead, Clothier weaves a tale of regular men and women living in darkness and with darkness. Ultimately, it’s a tale of survival for the women who had to live through times when they meant nothing, and men were ruling.

It is a dark book containing violence, assault (physical and sexual) and dying children. Don’t read this book if you don’t want to encounter these themes.

I found myself struggling a lot to get into this book and almost DNFed at 20%. The prose is experimental and at times really hard to get past. I felt it did get better after around 30% and at that point, I was fine reading it. But here is intentional eschewing of grammar and streams of text that are almost like unintelligible streams of thought. It’s clearly a choice that has been made to set the tone, and to show Nin’s social class.

Once I got past the hard bits, I really enjoyed the gothic feel and the dark themes of the book. Nin goes with her sister Guenevera to Morgana’s lake house and is tangled up in some severe family trauma. We’re trickle fed truths, and get to discover the dark undercurrents together with Nin, which lends to a delicious gothic vibe, except it’s set in 6th century Britain where old gods meet Christianity. This is very well done.

I think if you like experimental writing that serves to create a connection with the characters’ time and place, you might really enjoy this. If you’d rather straightforward and lyrical prose, this might be a tough nut to crack. For me, I appreciate what it was trying to do, but it got so distracting at points that it detracted from the build up of the story.

I received an ARC from Headline Books. Thanks for the opportunity to review it!

[Charlotte reads history]

An intoxicating blend of historical fiction, mythological retelling and a narrative that centres women - In the Shadow of the Solstice is an immersive, claustrophobic tale of Nin, a bastard daughter of a former high-ranking Roman soldier and sister to Guinevere.

Nin is swept up into the world, mystery and danger of Arthur and Morgan Le Fay on the longest night of the year, but not as you might expect.

The Post-Roman setting is described so vividly throughout - the crumbling of centralised control, the degrading buildings and sense that the old powers and beliefs are asserting themselves once more.

I loved Clothier’s narrative style for Nin, especially at the beginning of the book when we through her eyes as she begins to understand more of the world after the death of her father. Impatient and only educated for her purpose as a helpmeet, Nin’s distinct voice is created through a lack of punctuation, colloquial word choices and grammar. I absolutely love when authors are bold enough to make their character’s personalities sing on the page like this.

Choices about Nin’s future are made, which is when the mythical retelling takes hold. There is no Arthurian chivalry here. The themes are dark, and include sexual assault and infanticide and this retelling is packed with an unsettling atmosphere.

What will happen on the longest night of the year, when the window between worlds is at its thinnest? Like the mist from the lake, not everything is immediately explainable or clear - the reader is encouraged to interpret the mystery, old magic and horror of the actions unfolding through Nin’s eyes. Nin is naïve, new to the political machinations of a powerful family and Arthur, here portrayed as a brutal, misogynistic warrior keeping invaders at bay.

Thank you to @headlinebooks for an advanced copy of The Shadow of the Solstice for review - which is out now!

[Tina]

This was a wonderful read. A thoroughly enjoyable experience of a tale re-told from a different point of view. Based on Arthurian legend it is a tale told by an all knowing narrator who tells us of Viviana or Nin as she is known throughout, with a little twist at the end. A tale full of danger lurking in the swirling mists rising from the Lake where dwell, according to myths, dangerous creatures called the Shadows.

Nin joins her older sister Guenevera, who is married to a powerful warrior known as The Bear, and gradually dark dangerous secrets are revealed. What terrible deeds were done, what plots and betrayals are being hatched and why is Nin the only one who hears the sound of a child crying? Who is that boy clothed in rags who slips away into the mists? Why does he want revenge? From whom?

This is a tale well told. The style of writing is quirky enough to reveal the distance between us now and the characters in the story which is set just after the Romans left Britain and records are scant. I was carried along by the wonderful narrative style and because the character of Nin is so sympathetic and vital as are all the others. Names familiar from the story of Camelot; but this is no Camelot. The Bear comes back to his wife and the settlement on the Hill above the Lake, victorious after many battles, and already we know all is not well as gradually the tension rises with the waters of the Lake.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves atmospheric well-written tales.

Thanks to NetGalley for the kindle ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Seriesbooklover]

I received an eARc for a free and unbiased opinion.
I have enjoyed the recent trend of retelling of old stories with a feminist view and In the Shadow of the Solstice place the women from Camelot at the front of the story, it didn’t feel as feminist as described. There are characters from Camelot here such as Morgan Le Fey and Guinevere but really wasn’t sure of the male characters ( and I spent a lot of time being annoyed when I couldn’t place the other male characters). For a book described a feminist retelling , the men in the book commanded much of the book and the action.
The book is beautifully written and would be the kind of book I would recommend to non- fantasy literary readers to dip their toes in fantasy, but the style of writing does take some time to get used to. The pace is slow at the start but begins to pick up pace just towards the end with the latter third packed with shocking revelations magic and action.
Nin’s journey from young naïve girl, who is only acknowledged in the context of her half-sister, to a strong ( still very young )woman who learns to wield power in her own right and redress wrongs done to innocents.
This is a dark story with dark themes including sexual assault, pregnancy loss , the death of children and war .
If you are expecting a fantasy involving chivalry, knights and Queens this is not the book but if you like your olden time fantasies dark with a huge dose of reality, complex characters with complex motives but with a coming-of-age story at its heart, then pick up this book

[Fiona]

Wow! What a read!

The book is described as historical fiction and based on an Arthurian legend, but I felt it was so much more. There was a beautiful, eerie gothic theme woven with dark secrets, folklore, and a strong female lead.

The story is about a girl named Nin, who is a lovable, caring, and incredibly loyal person, especially to her older sister Guenevera.

Guenevera is married to a legendary warrior named The Bear. When Guenevera asks Nin to join her at her home (The Fort), Nin jumps at the chance. Before The Bear, his men, Guenevera, and Nin travel all the way back to the Fort, they first journey to visit The Bears sister beside the lake. During this stay, their characters develop and deep truths unfold.

The writing style and the specific words used in the narrative were highly interesting. I really enjoyed this aspect, and it allowed me to immerse myself so much more into the story.

I loved the character development, as well as the strong sisterhood that grew between the women.
At the start of the book, the narrative moves at a slower pace, but it really sets the scene for what lies ahead and perfectly complements the faster-paced story further on. Nin was a great protagonist, and the growth and changes in her throughout the plot really shone through.

I highly recommend this book—it is beautiful, tragic, and wonderfully eerie.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline (Wildfire) for providing me with this copy. A massive thank you to Meg Clothier for creating this amazing read!

[Bee Casey]

This book starts strong and stays strong. The very first few lines had me spellbound, and the magic hadn’t even started.

Nin was just so undeniably compelling, her wit, the way she weaves a story, offering insight into the world and the setting so naturally that you don’t even realise.

The style though, was a complicated one for me, the lack of speech punctuation is a stylistic choice, I know, but it’s a bugbear. It seemed to flit between first and third and the absence of punctuation overall could either give the prose an interesting flow, or be really frustrating depending on the reader. I was quite a bit thrown when the language shifted as people are introduced — it almost slips into a cockney style, shattering some of the beautiful illusion the author had created. However, everything else with the setting was just perfect — not only the physical descriptions but the superstition, the landscapes, the way people spent their time all worked together to create a picture of post-Roman Britain.

The legend is woven into our main characters life, with a dark, supernatural edge that could border on soft horror in places. I adore anything that recaptures old tales of Albion, even if the writing didn’t work for me.

Content note: this title includes violence, sexual assault and the death of children.

[Paul Gormley]

A retelling of the Arthur story. Here Arthur is no king but a local lord whose army defends locals from foreign invaders and are also wont to raid the lands of other lords (including his very own sister’s).
These men are no heroes. Full of bluster and bravado and bloodlust, their allegiance to Arthur is purely based on his physical dominance.

There are events which mirror the dying days of the more familiar Arthur legend and the main characters share similar names but this is a much darker version of the story. There is no round table, no search for the Grail, no chivalry.

Classed as a feminist reimagining but, despite the tale being told from a female perspective it’s hard to see what is feminist about this version of the story, which in the end becomes something of a family saga, where past deeds (the usual tropes unfortunately) are brought to light and vengeance or escape is sought.

The story starts off promisingly and does engage but the supernatural stuff left me cold.

(I was given an advance copy in exchange for an honest review)

[Alannah Clarke]

In the Shadow of the Solstice was an atmospheric and intriguing read that really drew me in with its blend of history, folklore and mystery. Meg Clothier creates a wonderfully unsettling sense of place, and I loved how the story played with old beliefs, superstition and the darker side of the past.

The atmosphere was definitely the strongest part for me. There is a creeping feeling that something isn't quite right throughout, and the historical setting adds to that sense of unease. I also enjoyed the way the story gradually revealed its secrets rather than giving everything away too quickly.

There were a few points where I felt the pacing slowed and I wasn't quite as invested in every part of the story, which kept it from being a five star read for me. However, the writing and atmosphere were strong enough to keep me interested, and I particularly enjoyed the darker, more mysterious elements.

Overall, a beautifully written and haunting historical novel with plenty of folklore and intrigue. A very enjoyable four star read.

[Jess B]

The only word I think that I can use to describe this book is 'interesting'. It is a deeply unique re imagining of Arthurian legend with a strong feminist twist.

The structure and writing style dips in and out of multiple narrative perspectives nearly always focalised on Nim, the protagonist. Initially, this makes the reading hard, the prose lacks punctuation and has non standard spelling, but after a few pages I fell into the rhythm.

I felt Nim's character resembled most of us when we were at that bridge between girl and woman and reading in her voice felt deeply authentic - for me at least.

Another review referred to this book as an anti romantasy and I think that is a good description. Turning all the tropes and clichés (that I usually love) on their head to create something darker.

Perhaps not for everyone, but I found it deeply compelling and read it in 2 days. I think it is an impactful read more than a fun one.

[Klaire Sinclair]

Meg Clothier's In the Shadow of the Solstice is a fiercely atmospheric, feminist reimagining of Arthurian legend that ultimately splits the difference between artistic ambition and readability. Confined to a single, claustrophobic winter night in post-Roman Britain, the novel brilliantly reframes a familiar myth through the eyes of its sidelined women, trading chivalric romance for a muddy, raw, and deeply immersive pressure cooker. However, the book's highly experimental prose—which frequently discards standard punctuation, abruptly shifts narrative viewpoints, and relies on an archaic vernacular—creates a massive barrier to entry. While historical fantasy purists who appreciate highly stylized, poetic syntax will find it uniquely compelling, readers looking for clear storytelling and steady pacing may find the linguistic hurdles too frustrating to overcome.

[Lesley McLean]

In the Shadow of the Solstice by Meg Clothier is the perfect read for this time of year. The story unfurls through the swirling mists to give us an Arthurian tale retold from a female perspective.

Nin’s father has died, so she joins her sister and her feted husband - the Bear - for a new, more glamorous life. Or so she thinks…

Set in midwinter at a  hall high on Glastonbury Tor, as the night’s shadows envelope the feasting party celebrating the Bear’s victories, strange cries are heard and the Lake’s waters start to rise. Not everything is at it seems.

This is a novel full of mystery and atmosphere, where there are elements of Arthurian myth tied into the countryside that inspired the legends. Concentrating more on the female characters, it gives a fresh perspective to the tales.

It’s evocative and beautifully descriptive - well worth a read on a dark night.

Thanks to @netgalleyuk for a proof to read and review in my own way.

[Jo-anne Atkinson]

When her father dies, Nin is separated from her mother and goes with her half-sister to her husband's lands. Guenevera is married to The Bear, a great chieftain. To get there they have to cross the Lake, a marshy area supposedly haunted. Nin manages to rescue a sword from the water but sees 'the shadows', strange spirits belonging to a different world. As the group celebrates in December, family rifts come to the surface.
Clothier writes books which draw heavily on myth, legend and superstition, this is no exception. Here the focus is on post-Roman Britain and the tribes struggling to survive. There are memories of the roman culture but also a battle between Christian and Pagan beliefs. The writing is very dream-like throughout and swaps tenses occasionally. It is a story of love and betrayal which is essentially the myths of Arthur and based around Glastonbury

[Emma]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Meg Clothier for my ARC of this book.

Unfortunately, this book sounded great in principle and there were some good elements to it scattered throughout, but the writing style was a little jarring for me and really impacted on my read of this book. Plus, I did not feel that the incredibly long chapters were warranted. The book would have worked just as well, possibly better, had they been split.

I liked Nin as a main character and her growth through the whole book. Morgana was great and Gawain was a nice little love interest, albeit quite fleeting. The last 20% of the book was the best section for me. But overall, it just didn't quite hit the mark for me

[julie]

I requested this book as the premise sounded interesting, and I had previously reviewed and enjoyed ‘The Book Of Eve’ a previous novel from this author. Once adjusted to the unusual style of writing and unfamiliar words, the story was intriguing.There was much to like- mystery, myths and legends, ghostly figures etc. However, although I really enjoyed the first part of the book, I found the second half quite slow and would have liked more of the magical side to develop, but an enjoyable read overall.

[Jen]

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

This is an Arthurian retelling and it does go for quite a radical reimagining. We follow Nin (a nickname) as she follows her half sister Guenevara, leaving her mother behind. This builds up to significant events and conjunctions of characters on the winter solstice.

The books does have quite a different and experimental prose style. There’s some quite casual grammar and dialect. This does give the book a really unique voice, but I will admit there were times it was a little confusing.

I did find this confusion meant my engagement waned at times, however the ending was spectacular! Everything built up to such a dramatic and explosive conclusion. The book does contain some quite dark content, and characters have secrets and cruel deeds they are hiding. It’s worth checking trigger warnings. It’s necessary to the story and the powerful revelations towards the end of the book, but it could be upsetting.

[Karen Coles]

I loved the author's previous story, The Book of Eve, so was excited to be able to read this new one. I was a bit nervous in case I didn't like it as much but I needn't have worried. In The Shadow Of The Solstice is an immersive, atmospheric tale that swept me away to a world of myth and magic. The description is so well done that I felt as if I was there, in that bleak, draughty hall perched on a windswept hill, surrounded by a lake seething with dark secrets. The main character, Nin, is wonderful; brave, sparky and immensely likeable, so that you're rooting for her from the very first page. A brilliant read. Loved it!

Many thanks to the author and the publisher Wildfire for my advance copy.