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Gifting #1
The Gifting
Trapped in this primitive time, the protagonist must use her 20th-century skills and knowledge to find a way home. But the ancient Romans know she's special and they all want her to do something special for them.
132 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
About the author
Sophie Masson
130 books149 followersBorn in Indonesia of French parents, Sophie Masson was sent to live with her paternal grandmother in Toulouse, France, when she was just a baby and lived there till she was nearly five, when her parents came back from Indonesia and took her to Australia. All the rest of her childhood, the family stayed in Australia, with frequent trips back to France, and this dual heritage underpins a good deal of Sophie's work.
Sophie's first book appeared in 1990 and since then she has published more than seventy books, for children, young adults and adults. Her books have been published in Australia, the USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and many other countries. She has also had many short stories and articles published in newspapers, magazines, and online journals.
Sophie holds a BA and M.Litt in French and English literature, and a PhD in Creative Practice. A former Chair of the Australian Society of Authors, she is the current Chair (2021) of the New England Writers' Centre and of the Small Press Network. She is also the President committee of the New England and North West sub-branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia, NSW branch.
Sophie has received several awards for her creative work, including the Patricia Wrightson Prize in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, and the YA category of the Aurealis Awards. In 2019 she received an AM in the Order of Australia for her significant service to literature as an author, a publisher, and through service to literary organisations.
Sophie's website is at www.sophiemassonauthor.com
She has a writing blog at www.firebirdfeathers.com
Her You Tube channel, with trailers to many of her books, is at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWLa...
She is also a regular contributor to the popular authorship blog Writer Unboxed, www.writerunboxed.com
Sophie's first book appeared in 1990 and since then she has published more than seventy books, for children, young adults and adults. Her books have been published in Australia, the USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and many other countries. She has also had many short stories and articles published in newspapers, magazines, and online journals.
Sophie holds a BA and M.Litt in French and English literature, and a PhD in Creative Practice. A former Chair of the Australian Society of Authors, she is the current Chair (2021) of the New England Writers' Centre and of the Small Press Network. She is also the President committee of the New England and North West sub-branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia, NSW branch.
Sophie has received several awards for her creative work, including the Patricia Wrightson Prize in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, and the YA category of the Aurealis Awards. In 2019 she received an AM in the Order of Australia for her significant service to literature as an author, a publisher, and through service to literary organisations.
Sophie's website is at www.sophiemassonauthor.com
She has a writing blog at www.firebirdfeathers.com
Her You Tube channel, with trailers to many of her books, is at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWLa...
She is also a regular contributor to the popular authorship blog Writer Unboxed, www.writerunboxed.com
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 17, 2015
The thing I like about Sophie Masson's books is that, although the mythological base is always obvious in her stories, you can never guess where she's going to take it.
The main thread of The Gifting seems to be the Irish story of Etain and Midir, although with a Roman/Greek overtone. Only at the end is it evident how utterly wrong that assessment is. Yes, there are aspects of Midir and Etain but not in the way I expected.
The oppressor and the victim are not who they appear to be.
Sulia's father dies and she goes across the Empire (a confederation of tribes and countries evocative of the Celtic lands held by ancient Rome) in search of her mother. The only possession she has saved from her father's estate is an old bronze mirror.
She falls in with Rufus, Apullio and Donalba at various times on her journey. She is particularly suspicious of Apullio who seems to have been waiting for her before setting out on his own journey.
Apullio later adopts the name Lugan when they reach Geallan, the Kingdom of the Heart.
Sulia is sure that nothing in the Kingdom of the Heart is as it appears, least of all Lugan's love for Donalba - that it is an exquisite illusion designed from the desires and longings of the human heart. She tries to warn Rufus, but he is lost in a wish-world where he is held in high esteem and the most beautiful of women want to dance all night with him.
Sulia is, of course, right - but not about who the puppetmaster behind it all is.
The main thread of The Gifting seems to be the Irish story of Etain and Midir, although with a Roman/Greek overtone. Only at the end is it evident how utterly wrong that assessment is. Yes, there are aspects of Midir and Etain but not in the way I expected.
The oppressor and the victim are not who they appear to be.
Sulia's father dies and she goes across the Empire (a confederation of tribes and countries evocative of the Celtic lands held by ancient Rome) in search of her mother. The only possession she has saved from her father's estate is an old bronze mirror.
She falls in with Rufus, Apullio and Donalba at various times on her journey. She is particularly suspicious of Apullio who seems to have been waiting for her before setting out on his own journey.
Apullio later adopts the name Lugan when they reach Geallan, the Kingdom of the Heart.
Sulia is sure that nothing in the Kingdom of the Heart is as it appears, least of all Lugan's love for Donalba - that it is an exquisite illusion designed from the desires and longings of the human heart. She tries to warn Rufus, but he is lost in a wish-world where he is held in high esteem and the most beautiful of women want to dance all night with him.
Sulia is, of course, right - but not about who the puppetmaster behind it all is.
Displaying 1 of 1 review