Geraint: Modern-day, Medieval-alternate-world

Hengist- People of the Horse #5

by Jacky Gray

Purest Evil threatens Renegates and Townies alike. Can Geraint unite these warring factions in time to save Oxford? Geraint’s life is Hell. He despises his father’s scavenging lifestyle and loathes the brutal training designed to make him worthy of being the next Renegate leader. During the combat trial, he bests a nasty bully who seeks revenge. Light brightens Geraint’s darkness when he meets Siany, a Townie girl who teaches him how to read, write and believe in himself. This meeting of souls awakens strong powers in both of them, but the bully severs their connection, plunging him back to that dark place. Prophetic dreams help Geraint to save Siany’s family from cut-throat bandits, who go on to besiege Oxford, a stepping stone to ruling the land. Geraint and Siany’s role in uniting their peoples against this evil is crucial, working alongside the legendary Archer. When the warrior’s nemesis joins the murderous band, death and destruction seem inevitable. This epic, medieval fantasy will appeal to fans of Romeo and Juliet romance, magical adventure and irreverent (British) humour. Interview with the Author: Q. What’s this about a prequel series? A. I’m so excited about this. Called Nature’s tribe, these stories go right back to 14th Century England, when plagues and witch-hunts meant it was not a great time to be a midwife. Especially one using the magic of herbs and earth energy in her healing. But Senna is no ordinary woman, and when she befriends cousins Jarl and Lyran, something magical is set in place which has far-reaching ramifications. The books so far #1 - Three Handfastings and a Burial #2 - Twelve Days of Yule #3 - Eight Sabbats of the Sun New for February 2019! But there are at least 3 more in the pipeline. Guess I know what 2019 is all about. Q. How do the Hengist stories fit together? A. It's a little different than many series, because each book features a different hero, allowing a glimpse into each of the main clans in this world. Archer, the Warrior, introduces us to a world where teens experience jousting, sword-fighting and Beltane rituals instead of mobile phones, social media and reality TV. Rory, the Anglecynn, is the only person who understands the way Archer thinks when he's sent to a different world on an information-gathering mission. Reagan, the Magi, has to solve a DaVinci-style puzzle to figure out what is causing the increasingly dangerous accidents threatening his village. Slater, the Outil, has more links to the magic rituals held at the henges than the stone-craft required to maintain them. Until he's torn back in time to watch them being built. Geraint, the Renegate, hates his father's patriarchal ideals about trials and suffering, and is grateful when Siany finally brings some female energy into his life. But their pre-ordained meeting has far-reaching ramifications when everything they know and love is threatened by darkest Evil. Q. So it's set in medieval times, then? A. Not exactly, although you may think so as the people ride in horse-drawn carriages, have no electricity, and are governed by the seasons. Like in Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones. Q. Do you need to have read all the previous stories to enjoy each one? A. No.

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2015

About the author

As so often happens with these things, Archer was born while I was in the middle of writing another book. Events were conspiring to ensure I wrote this story, beginning with a trip to Warwick Castle where I stood enthralled with my friend and our kids while the Warwick Bowman talked us through the history of the long bow. He treated us to the ultimate demonstration, firing 100 arrows in rapid succession through a loop of rope, approximately the size of a human head. The warrior within me awoke - I was hooked.

I had recently read the first two books in Bernard Cornwell’s excellent Grail Quest series – these obviously made a big impact. I started writing it in march 2009; 18 days and 56,000 words later, Archer’s tale was told. After a year spent mostly in Wessex, the next four books were drafted and I was ready to go back and start editing the first two books.

I am currently writing the 6th book in the series and wondering if this will be the last.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know you are in for a treat from the very start with Geraint with its clever contemporary medieval setting. This opens up a lot of plot threads which are cleverly executed whilst building a complete social structure into which the characters are placed. With plenty of suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat Geraint was a genuinely enjoyable book and one which has piqued my interest in the series.