Hag of the Hills

The Bronze Sword Cycles #1

by J.T.T. Ryder

“Nothing is unconquerable; even our gods can die.”

Brennus is destined from birth to become a warrior, despite his farmer’s life. But when the Hillmen kill his family and annihilate his clan, he now has the opportunity to avenge those who he loved.

Brennus must survive endless hordes of invading Hillmen and magic-wielding sidhe, aided by only a band of shifty mercenaries, and an ancient bronze sword.

Failure means his family and clan go unavenged. Victory will bring glory to Brennus and his ancestors.

Hag of the Hills is a heroic fantasy novel set in 200 B.C. on the Isle of Skye, steeped in Celtic mythology and culture.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Adult

ebook

Published March 1, 2022

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Hag of Hills by J.T.T. Ryder was definitely a well thought out book. It is filled with mythological beings through out.

Brennus does not want a quiet life, he wants adventure, to make a name for himself. To be remembered. But after an encounter with the Hag of the hills, he learns the hard way that everything has a price. He's been told to beware of the Hag. But Brennus wants that glory and if she can offer all his desires, all the glory, the gold and the women. How do you say no?

Like I said everything comes with a price.

The Hillmen are invading and Brennus is nothing really but a farmer, with warriors blood in is vain but no real training.

Everything comes with a price, so much destruction and death.

I enjoyed what I have read there is a lot of potential for this series and I am interested in reading the next book. The author did a great job with the battle scenes, and I do like a good battle.

The writing has moments where it comes across as weaker then other times, I tend to like my prose a little more wordy so to speak. I have some issue with some repativeness and the way to many chest references both male and female, it was a bit much for a just over 300 page story. But over all a an enjoyable story that had my eyes fill a little.

So if you like historical fiction/fantasy, especially involving the Celts and Roman's then I really think you will like the Hag in the Hills

Originally posted on ICanHasBooks

[Joshua Shuh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hag of the Hills was my pick for this month as an independent book to review. I know, I’ve really been slacking on that, but life has been busy.

I found this book to be very interesting. The main plot revolves around a Faustian deal with a devil and the conflicts that surround such an arrangement. I not only thoroughly enjoy this type of plot, but it’s always interesting to see how authors weave it into the narrative. Mr. Ryder does this quite effortlessly in his work and I believe it is his shining achievement of the novel.

The strengths of this book are numerous, but I will list four.

First, there is Mr. Ryder’s obvious wealth of knowledge regarding history, culture, and day to day life of people who would live in such a period. Given his background, he does this so well I felt like I was reading a more interesting version of a documentary on the history channel. I was honestly so interested in the world that sometimes the story became secondary. I have to say, this is an achievement. World building, for me, can sometimes feels like a bit of a grind when reading. I never felt that during this book even one time.

Second, I have read the reviews that say this depicts women as one dimensional. I agree with this statement. The book does do this. And I believe, this is great story telling. The book is told from a first person narrative and it’s that of a man, Brenn. I have to imagine, this is how a man would view women in such a time period.

Third, the pacing of the book is excellent. It slowly reveals more and more while slowly hooking you in.

Fourth, the prose is well done, in my opinion.

My main critique of the novel is this - I feel that Brenn is often a passive observer in this world. He’s not passive physically, he fights and is involved in plenty of conflict. Emotionally, I felt he was a little lacking. Often times, I felt he was just describing the action that was happening around him. There was not much detail to his thoughts concerning those things or the emotions that arise from them. In that sense, Brenn sort of reminded me Shadow from American Gods. I like both characters, but I wanted a bit more from them.

All in all, I would give this book a well deserved 4/5 stars.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long time ago, at the edge of the known world a grizzled veteran recounts his past.

Brennus is a young man at the crossroads of boyhood and manhood. Growing up listening to the heroic adventures of his far roving father, Brennus dreams of being a warrior. Although, all he seems destined for on this sleepy island is a life of farming. His brother, Fennigus, chaffs at this staid life. He talks his brother and several other young men into a cattle raid, an act the druids have expressly forbade. In the aftermath of this misadventure, Brennus begins to question what he really wants in life. Lost within himself he heeds the siren call to Slighan Hill. What he does there will change his life forever.

The sidhe will guide you. They will guide your path, and that path of yours will be the warrior’s path. You will know all the pride and the pain, the death and honour, all the blood and battle, and the gold, and glory, and girls. That is what you want. Now go home and face the druids with comfort in knowing they shall not grant you death – go on the new thread we spin for you.

At first Brennus is a callow youth. He experiences several encounters, both ordinary and supernatural, that leave him shaken and questioning what he knows and wants. Fate shuffles him from one bad situation to another in which he finds very little control of the outcome.
After being at the mercy of others for far too long, Brennus puts away his boyhood and becomes the man Vidav. Finding his place in the pecking order of a motley band of mercenaries is difficult with many setbacks. Against all odds, proving himself and leading his newfound brotherhood against the hill men.

Harsh realities are realized, and dire decisions are made. Some men are fickle with their oaths faced with their own mortality. Some never waver. Oaths are given and upheld even faced with possible betrayal and faulty knowledge. I personally feel like I am a man of my word, but I would not be able to hold an oath in one particular instance Vidav finds himself involved in.

Ryder is an archaeologist specializing in the Viking Age and Celtic Iron Age. The knowledge this background brings to his writing does not go unnoticed. Hag of the Hills is book one of a duology. While there is some closure at the end of the novel the story continues in The Lion of Skye available August 1st. Also be sure to check out Tomb of the Blue Demons the prequel novella to the Bronze Sword Cycles Duology available now.

[TheBookDude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there were more historical fantasies like this. It is just SO well researched. And I mean like not just adequately researched, or pretty well researched, but so well researched that it just feels like you are right there. The places are real the names are real the world is real. I found myself fully immersed in this almost instantly. I was not the least bit surprised when I found out the author was an archaeologist. His Love and knowledge of history and the area and its culture just oozes out of each line.

You can see the influence of the Táin Bó Cúailnge (one of my favourite ever myths) throughout, not only is Cúchulainn mentioned numerous times but cattle raiding is literally an intrinsic part of their lives. There is an entire season for cattle raiding. I also love all the Gaelic names throughout.

I literally want to go to the Isle of Syke after reading this even if the weather was ‘awful with rain and fog and seldom can one see far away.’

I’m not gonna talk much about the plot as what really made me fall in love with this was the setting, the level of immersion in a totally alien, but vaguely familiar culture and setting that the author achieved, that is what you need know. You will be immersed, the plot then flows organically from that.

5 stars. Fabulous. Best historical fantasy I have read in quite some time. Its pure, its real, its right… and its bloody brilliant.

[Carly Rheilan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faux-Celtic worlds are a favorite setting of fantasy. Romantic, thrilling, poetic. Ye olden days in pure culture, with fiercely glorious heroes, fascinating heroines and touches of wizardry. Historical fairyland.

I opened this book imaging it might be one of those. It has plenty of those components. It has a warriors, druids, a maiden to be protected. There are feasts and a great deal of fighting. And there are encounters with fantastical creatures. At its heart is a faustian deal between a would-be warrior and a supernatural being: he can have what he wants, but there will be a price. The story is the working out of that price.

So far so familiar, but it soon became evident that JTT Ryder is actually doing something very different. He is an archaeologist writing meticulous fiction to put blood and sinew on a real world constructed from fragments and relics that he knows better than any of us. He is not using 'ye olden days' as a vehicle for fanciful adventures. He is writing about a specific period and place: around 200BC, at the start of the iron age, on the isle of Skye. It’s a remote and barbaric world, but its people are aware of a wider geography and politics. On the edges of their geographical horizon there are Greeks and Romans, Egyptians even. There are travellers’ tales of Africa and Asia. These are people without written history, but they are tethered in oral lineages that reach back into a time that was ancient even to them. These are people whose world is dominated by conflict – survival requires scrabbling for scant resources: cattle grabs, land grabs, power grabs. And politics cannot be separated from technology: different groups, on slightly different trajectories, are making the transition from bronze weapons to iron - hot on the heels of the transition from stone to bronze, and these transitions entail shifts in power, social order, life chances. On the edges of this world, there is also the transition to the technology of writing… a technology whose absence from this novel fits well with its style of storytelling. Presented as a life-story told by one man to another, the narrative is episodic, its arc slow and low slung, more engaged with the battle than the war. I was reminded of the Odyssey and of the Orkneyinga Saga. In such a history the supernatural components are at ease: it is a world where everything is alive.

In depicting this world, Ryder is seeking create not just a historically possible world, but a historically possible consciousness. He is trying to depict, through fiction, what it may have been like to inhabit that world, to see it through eyes which have seen no other, to be born and die in it. So (unlike the Hollywood version of the period) his characters are not modern people with familiar sensibilities, fancifully adorned with flowing clothes and archaic weapons, elecuting olde english.

They are very different from us. They see the world very differently. The emotional landscape is shockingly unfamiliar.

Did I like this world? No. This is a book about men, told from a male perspective. The hunting dogs appear to have more personality than the women, possibly more value, with the mules and cattle not far behind. There is much too much fighting – and relish in it – than suits my tastes. Certainly too much blood and gore and death. I did not like our hero’s world view: his desire for vengeance at the death of his brothers seemed far more intense than any affection for his brothers in life; his determination to protect the heroine is motivated by the protection of his own honour rather than any real interest of hers. The crystalline moments in his memory are not moments of reflection or tenderness or even grief – they are moment when a man is slashed open in battle, and his viscera pour out in a cascade and he slips on them. No, I didn’t enjoy my visit to this world.

All the same, I was utterly compelled by it. This is a story that grabs you by the hair, doesn't much care if you like it, but simply holds on. As the slow arc of the story progressed, the consciousness of these distant people began to make sense to me. I began to understand them, to inhabit them. I began to want what they wanted. In the end I did not even want to leave.

This is a consummate achievement of storytelling.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided by the author.

This novel tells of a Celtic warrior trying to save both his homeland of Skye and the beautiful daughter of a Druid from enemy invaders. Brennus son of Biturix lives in a volatile and violent pre-Christian world where gods and fantastic creatures influence humans by pressuring them to act on their basic instincts, or not as the case may be. One can rise from abject slave to war hero in a shockingly short time. One's oath is one's bond, unless one can find a way to get out of it. And if one has the second sight, it can be a blessing or a curse.

The author spices up his archaeological and historical knowledge with a lot of imagination to produce a gripping fast-paced tale. It's also a pretty great effort to produce the mindset of the people of a particular time and place.

You might even say the Skye's the limit.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set on the Isle of Skye around 200 BC, this heroic fantasy novel tells the story of Brennus, a young man who, stifled by pastoral village life, wishes to follow in the martial footsteps of his late father. He has an encounter with the titular Hag of the Hills, a wicked sidhe who promises that his wish will come true—but at a cost. Brennus' life is immediately thrown into chaos as mysterious invaders sweep across the island. He manages to survive the initial onslaught, but a doomed druid's final wish saddles him with a heavy burden.

This novel is exciting and action-packed, featuring plenty of both ancient warfare and bizarre encounters with the supernatural. The author has an archaeological background, and that clearly has enriched the story. Ancient Celtic customs and religion feature prominently; oaths possess an inviolable importance for the characters in the story and slaves are casually sacrificed to the gods in an effort to seek their favor. While the characters presented are largely relatable, I appreciated the occasionally alien mindset revealed by their actions.

First in a duology, this book tells a fairly self-contained story, but certain framing passages hint about a larger, more epic tale. I look forward to reading the forthcoming sequel.

[K.E. Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to start my review by saying that this book contains some things not suitable for every reader: bloody battles, gore, torture, killing of animals, nudity, human sacrifice, slavery, and some things that could be viewed as sexual assault. This is a corner of fiction I haven't delved into much, but I was interested to read more Celtic fiction. This story follows a young man named Brennus as he struggles with losing his home and upholding an oath, while also making a deal with the hag of the hills. It's evident that Ryder knows his stuff with Celtic history and wove a story together that meshes both history and mythology in a cool way. I was interested to know who this mysterious person was that Brennus was talking to and think the revelation/hint about who it is at the ending is interesting. Verc was one of my favorite characters. This author is also unafraid to unalive dogs, so don't trust him if you see a dog in his books lol. What mostly made me give this book 3.5 stars was some of the depictions of the female characters. I felt like they could have been fleshed out more, especially Myrnna who is the one we see the most of in this story. While I know this is historical fiction and that women in this society weren't treated well most of the time, she felt more like an accessory to the story rather than her own person. Brennus' relationship with her didn't feel as fleshed out as it could have, and he went from viewing her as his charge to just someone who was good-looking. There were moments where I really wanted him to talk with her more, but it didn't always happen. This was also the case with the slave women in the story. The two that I felt were more well-defined as characters were Aunee and the Hag herself (she intrigued me from the beginning). There were also times in the story that I wasn't sure how much time had passed or really what Brennus was feeling about things, like his reunion with his brother. I didn't dislike him but I suspect it wasn't the author's intention for most of the characters to be seen as solely good or solely evil. One thing that was very unique to this story is that it reads more like an ancient heroic tale like Beowulf. With the revelation in the epilogue, that writing style makes sense and works well for the story. This story may not be for everyone, but it does offer an interesting look at prehistoric Celtic culture. 3.5/5 rounded up.

[Theartsyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing pulled me in from the start. Give me anything mythological (Celtic especially) and I will be interested, mention a fairy or other mythological being and I will be super excited, but something about the way this book is written kept my eyes glued to the page and I didn’t just want to, I NEEDED to read on.

This is historical fantasy as it should be done. The places are real, the myths are ‘real’ and instead of feeling like a modern day person writing for a modern audience with modern sensibilities we instead get something which ‘feels’ more real, feels like we are actually there in ancient Scotland and not in some made up, completely unrealistic, sparkly Hollywood fantasy version of it.

Now, that is not to say there isn’t fantasy in this, but the fantasy is fantasy that meshes with and comes from the actual ‘real’ myths and is grounded in the historical world. It is not the usual stuff you get in book after book these days of some MC getting magic powers and brief mentions of some Scottish place or myth to loosely link to it for the sales and spark interest. This book NEEDS to be set where it is, because it lives and breathes there.

Something I really appreciated was that the author shares his list of place names as well as non-English words in the fore- as well as afterword. An index at the end is cool, but not very handy when you have an ebook in my opinion (so I really liked this!!).

I also liked the way the story unfolds. Main character and warrior son Brennus is telling his friend Luceo about his life. He can see the sidhe, the fair folk. The time (about 200 BC) as well as place the story is set in is laced with mythology and superstition, something that heavily influences the MC’s story and his narrative. Since Brennus can see and interact with beings of the ‘other side’, his interaction with the titular hag of the hills – his wish to fulfil his dreams is at the forefront of the story. But like everything else that has to do with magical beings, her help comes with a price…

If you are a fan of fantasy, epics, mythology, history and archeology and like stories set in Scotland, this is a book you absolutely have to pick up!

5 stars from me – and highly recommended! Head over to my blog for my full review:
https://theartsyreader.com/book-revie...

[Brenda Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hag of the Hills is the first book in the series. And it wasn't long enough - bring on the next!
Brennus is tired of living a quiet, farmer life. He seethes to become a warrior.
And he gets his wish - after visiting the Hag of the Hills. A group of invaders decimates his clan - leaving him the task to escort the Druid leader's daughter to a village. Lots of trials to overcome.
Then his life takes another direction.
Very well written.
#hagofthehills
#historicalfantasy #randomthingstours #fantasyfiction #warrior

[Marian Thorpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complex and detailed. Hag of the Hills is a hero’s journey with a difference. In the second century BCE, Brennus of Skye is a warrior’s son who isn’t allowed to be a warrior, until invasion changes that fate. But his journey to heroic status spirals around the geology and mythology of his island. His forward momentum is inexorable, driven by the words of a local deity and his own conviction that he must honour both his oaths and the visions granted to him – but with many mistakes, fears, denials and reversals.

Hag of the Hills is not a conventional Celtic-based fantasy book. I’d hesitate to call it fantasy, rather than a form of magic realism. The Sidhe are a real part of Brennus’s world, whether is it is the Cailleach or giants or the shape-shifter who speaks in words later attributed to the bard Taliesin. But they are not earthly beings, as often in fantasy, but remain other-worldly, real but inhabiting a different realm to which Brennus is given occasional access.

In The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in The Modern World, ethnobotanist Wade Davis wrote:

“The world can only appear monochromatic to those who persist in interpreting what they experience through the lens of a single cultural paradigm, their own. For those with the eyes to see and the heart to feel, it remains a rich and complex topography of the spirit.”

And this is what J.T.T. Ryder, an archaeologist specializing in Iron Age northern European cultures, has attempted to show us: that rich and complex topography experienced through a different cultural paradigm. Is it successful? In my opinion, yes, for the most part.

Brennus’s world is one in which Cuchulainn walks in memory and stories are told of war-elephants crossing the Alps; where men leave Skye to fight in Thrace, where the stone tools found in caves are left by the Sidhe and the bronze sword in a barrow belongs to an ancestor: a world both intensely rooted in its geography and conscious of a wider world beyond, known through trade and commerce in soldiers and slaves. This duality is echoed in others: as well as the Sidhe and the everyday world, there are few shades of grey in Brennus’s world: he is either an oath-keeper or an oath-breaker, a free man or a slave, a warrior or a coward.

Whether purposely or not, this sense of duality is echoed in Ryder’s prose, which frequently changes tenses within a paragraph, creating for this reader a feeling of dislocation. Jarring at first, as the novel progressed I found it added to the veracity of Brennus’s experiences. Unconventional to 21st century prose, perhaps, but echoing the blending of past and present that Brennus’s cultural paradigms encompass. Time is a construct not experienced by all cultures in the same way.

(What was less effective for me was the use of modern words and terms, which took me out of the immersive and different world I was experiencing and returned me to ours. ‘Fetal position’ is one example.)

We are used to epic hero’s journeys, from Odysseus onward. Brennus’s is not epic; it is extremely local, both in geography and psychologically. Much of what he works towards may make readers uncomfortable: honour, revenge, a glorious death – and while there is near-constant action, the real journey is in Brennus’s mind – not a comfortable or familiar place to be, but one I found worth experiencing.

[Mario Carić · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Historical) heroic fantasy is alive and well! A fellow archaeologist by trade, Ryder provides the reader with deep descriptions and understanding of the 200 B.C. Celtic culture, and as someone who had visited Scotland (also in the archaeological context), I can only say he did an amazing job at it.

Though it may seem too dense at times, Ryder's writing needs to be understood from his professional perspective; it is something akin to Stephen King's description of Robert E. Howard's prose—where Howard's writing (especially Conan) seemed to be 'tripping over itself' in the frantic need to get everything out, Ryder's own style semi-mirrors that in the sense that the author tries to cram as much (historically correct) details within the narrative as possible in order to provide us with rich world building. And he does just that. Indeed, the Isle of Skye and the entire ancient world depicted in the Hag of the Hills can be easily read as a Tolkienesque story set in some imaginary, secondary world, which furthermore demonstrates the author's ability to convey the richness and difference of the olden days compared to our own, modern age. In addition, Ryder's stroke of genius comes in the form of a glossary at the beginning of the novel which elucidates the less known terms from that period and place, furthermore adding to the perception of a far off, fantasy land.

In terms of plot, the author delivers what the book promises—drama, action, and sorcery rounded up with well-defined character-driven moments. It would have been impossible to create a slow-burning, but ultimately thundering heroic fantasy without a well-thought out road map of character development, and in this the author succeeds as well.

Hag of the Hills provides a rich experience in the manner of the old adventure novels of the past century, though adapted for the new sensibilities. In that it proves that the classic storytelling applies in every age, but only if the author possesses enough knowledge and skill to present it in the new and fresh way, and J.T.T. Ryder is certainly one of those.

[A.D. Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I am not afraid of anything except the sky falling down on my head, and the ground opening up under me. “

Wow, this takes the level of fantasy that I love, and doesn’t force me to sit through a 100 pages of forced world building; we’re off to a winner.
Fantasy doesn’t always have to be this grandiose affair: it can be heroes with rough swords, caked in mud, fighting for their lives against similar foes.

I really enjoyed the plot for this novel in that it wasn’t some super over the top story, it was grounded quite well while still having some elements that clearly placed it in the fantasy bracket. The writing was beautifully descriptive and easy to visualise and carried the story along at a pace that didn’t feel bloated at all, leading to a satisfying finish with room for a sequel.
There was definite growth within the characters and while the places within could be entirely fictional, the foreword actually shows that the author has fully researched and used real geographic places and language accurate to the time period, which adds depth for sure.

If I was to look for things I didn’t like(and I always do), I would struggle; short of the potential for a “drink when you see the word nipple” drinking game.

I would recommend this to fans of low fantasy/mythology/adventure novels and will be picking up the sequel for sure.

[Stephen Babb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must for fans of sword and sorcery. Excellent storytelling!

[Rowena Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will say that I am glad that I had read that the author was an archaeologist before reading Hag from the Hills because it meant that I went into this one with the right frame of mind, and I think that is important because this book should not be mistaken for ‘conventional’ (whatever that is) Celtic-based fantasy although I do think it will appeal to fans of that. Instead, Hag from the Hills leans very strongly into the historical side, and the fantastical elements are more magical realism and belief than pure fantasy, and I have to say that the depiction of the Sidhe here is one of my favourites that I’ve seen depicted in a while. Ryder has not just tried to capture the geography and historical accuracy of the setting, but also its heart and mind, where aspects such as belief in the Sidhe are interwoven with everyday life.

The influence of that archaeological background can be seen most strongly in the worldbuilding because Ryder has created a richly realised world, that uses the relics and fragments of archaeology to anchor itself in a specific time and place. I loved the marriage of adding story to the bones provided by evidence, the fantastical elements of the sidhe and the feeling that this was an oral telling which worked beautifully with the period and setting. Hag of the Hills is incredibly grounded in the local, and yet in many ways, it is epic in scale, because there was an awareness and an acknowledgement of the wider geography of the world, from culture to politics and commerce, and again it built into the richness of the world and made for an interesting duality between the local and the wider world, the familiar and the other (a mirror in some ways of the interactions with the Sidhe).

I very much enjoyed the writing style although it did take a little getting used to because it is a life story told to another, it was somewhat episodic with tense changes. While it was a little jarring, to begin with, it worked very well with what was being done here – whenever you recount a tale, you jump around in time, and considering the melting pot that Brennus experiences, it is fitting that is mirrored in the recounting.

Brennus was a complicated character. I can’t say his viewpoint or his hunger for vengeance was something I agreed about, but his character voice, and the dichotomy of his place in the world at different points in his life. He is a man that has gone through many roles, who has fallen from honour and risen to its heights. What, he was, regardless of how you view him, is an incredibly compelling character. And I think the same can be said for the book in general – it was incredibly compelling, it’s action-packed both in terms of drama and battle, and sometimes it’s not the easiest world to read about or spend time in – fitting for the period, and yet Ryder makes it so consuming that you’re just swept along and enjoying every moment.

Hag from the Hills is a wonderful take on the hero’s journey in that it is not a sprawling epic, although the world is epic in context, but rather a localised tale – both in the geography of where the events occur, but also because much of the journey is within Brennus. I really loved the writing once I had got used to its flow, and the worldbuilding was absolutely fantastic, and I honestly can’t wait to see what Ryder will do in the second book of the series.

[Iseult Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first half of this book. It was an easy 5 stars for me, and I almost rushed out to buy the other books in the series. The author realistically depicts a pagan world. Life is cheap, there are slaves and human sacrifice and women are for sex, but there is humanity and connection and a very believable way of life. I loved the Celtic gods and traditions, and even the fact that the main character is relating his story to another gave it a very Celtic feel. The turn of phrase of the main character as he described his life felt authentic and I loved every minute of the descriptions, characters, action and peril.
Unfortunately, the second half lagged for me. While the first half had a drive and purpose, and excellently balanced the brutality of the world with the relationships of the characters, the second half seemed to stagnant, with repetitions of the same scenes between the main character and the mercenaries he has aligned with, before finally just ending without any resolution.
I was particularly disappointed in the character of Myrnna, a druid taught daughter of a chief druid who seems to be wanted by everyone. I had hoped that her character would develop and she would at least speak to the main character, but she never speaks and is little more than a macguffin. I understand that this world was hard on women, but one of the things I loved after the first half of the book was that it showed women were more than sex slaves. It was disappointing therefore that the female characters in the second half of the book were literally that.
The second half of the book reminded me very much of day in the life iron and Bronze Age books I read as a child, except this book has more sex, violence and swearing.
I admire the author for his research and historical accuracy, as much as possible, and for creating a believable picture of Skye in 200 BC. I particularly loved how learned, well travelled, and colorful the characters were, which I think is often forgotten by authors when they write about the past. I loved the details about what was going on in the rest of the world and the Easter eggs, if you will, hinting at what was to come.
From a story point of view, however, I wish that the strong character development and narrative drive from the first half of the book had continued into the second half.
Thank you to Blackcoffee book tours and the author for giving me a free copy of the book. I’m
voluntarily leaving an honest review of this book.

[TaniaRina · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a difference reading a fictional book written by an author with relevant professional experience and knowledge.
I’m not an author, so cannot fathom the amount of research that goes into historical fictional. But to be able to harness all the scientific and archaeological information in order to craft a novel (or series) that lay readers can understand and even appreciate? Wow, just wow.

So many disparate cultures lived in proximity to each other – sometimes at peace and sometimes at odds. The varying mindsets leading to misunderstandings and war are mind-boggling. Then add the slave mentality and the institution of bonded servants. Not to mention religious practices…

Humans have change soooo much since this book’s time period; one example is the meaning of names.
Unfortunately, we have lost the power of making and keeping an oath (especially one of protection). And we’ve also lost touch with nature and our role in it.

Fave quotes:
‘Nothing is unconquerable. Even our gods can die.’
‘The sea is where you go when you die and one should not eat from it.’



Looking forward to reading The Lion of Skye.

[Becky • bookmarked by becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨This faux-Celtic world is filled with deities, heroes and villains - giants, serpents, fairies, shapeshifters which makes the book feel almost Tolkienesque. But the epic battle scenes as Brennus tries to recapture his homeland and seeks vengeance for his family feel similar to Game of Thrones - very descriptive and very fast-paced. If you are a lover of either, I think you’ll really enjoy this series.

Others who would love this book?
✨People who love the history channel - the vivid descriptions felt like I was transported back to 200 B.C.
✨Readers who dabble in fantasy - the world-building is easy to follow, almost more magical realism.
✨Fans of Celtic Mythology and Celtic folklore - my favorite part of the book!

[Ονι · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝕹𝖔𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖎𝖘 𝖚𝖓𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖖𝖚𝖊𝖗𝖆𝖇𝖑𝖊; 𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓 𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖌𝖔𝖉𝖘 𝖈𝖆𝖓 𝖉𝖎𝖊."

Do you guys like Celtic mythology/ Fantasy? I do. I mean if you know anything about me, one of the main things you must now that I love anything mythological.

Hag of the Hills is an immersive fantasy that will whisk you away to fantastical Celtic lands! This book has druids, warriors, maidens, and anything and everything that would make a celtic based historical fantasy a hit.

Without much nit-picking, I will say that this is an enjoyable. I was trying to remember if I had seen any movies that's closer to this but I haven't. There should be one though (like specifically this book🤣) But this book did inspire me to go as a viking for Halloween. Maybe I'll be a viking witch (what's that you ask? I don't know yet 😅)

[Scott | Scottsforayintofiction · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very lucky when JTT Ryder offered to send me an Arc in exchange for an honest review before the books officially release in March. So a huge thank you must first go to you JTT Ryder!!

Let’s start by highlighting this is a heroic historical fantasy book, which I will be the first to admit, I haven’t read much in this sub genre. This may have played a part in my overall enjoyment of this book, so please bear this is mind when reading this review.

This story is set 200 B.C. on the beautiful Isle of Skye, as someone with a real passion for Scotland, I was so excited to read a story set here.

JTT Ryder is an archaeologist by trade, therefore, we can take great comfort knowing a lot of time, effort and research has been invested into this book, you can really feel this as you read this book.

This book is steeped in so much Celtic mythology and historical culture.

We follow the main character of Brennus as he navigates through young adulthood and stumbles into a number of situations he is severely unprepared for and we follow along as he deals with the trials and tribulations of what comes his way as best he can.

Brennus is a young man with some naive traits and we learn with him as he goes on his journey.

The writing style is very lyrical and can feel a little dense at times. This is not to say the writing is bad by any stretch of the imagination.

I can easily see how this style of storytelling will be loved by others, so you should definitely read this book and decide for yourself.

The biggest plus points about this book for me were the world building and the action.

The world-building is very descriptive and you can feel the island and its people. Similarly the action scenes are fast paced and very detailed.

I’m very interested to see where the story goes from here in book 2.

If Historical fiction is your flavour then, I would definitely recommend you giving this debut story a try.

[Melissa De Cunto · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book for exchange for a honest review. The genre of this book is heroic historical fantasy. I have never read a book in this niche genre so that why I found this book to be okay. I don’t like reading historical or fantasy book usually. I like the writing style in this book because it what in depth of historical aspect that I felt at times I was in this world. If you like reading about Vikings and want a correct historical aspect on it but also want a fantasy aspect on it you should pick this up.

[Booklover69 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hag of the Hills is a very well researched and well written historical fantasy set on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It is set in pre christian times with druids and myths and witches and superstition abounding. Brennus, the main character recounts the story of his life. Brennus is one of the few who can actually see the side (fairies) including the Hag of the Hills herself. Brennus is man who wanted adventure and glory, but such things come at a price.

The best part of the book was the attention to detail. The lengths the author went to to ensure that it all felt real. A very enjoyable readable in all. If you want to get a taste of what life might have been like in 200 BC in the wilds of Scotland, then look no further than Hag of the Hills by J.T.T. Ryder

[Bibek Dhakal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review by the author.

(SPOILER FREE)
3.5/5
I really enjoyed reading this book. I was reading this in the middle of chaos that is the grad school admissions, so it did take me quite a while to finish this book despite it not being a long book.
The book is a historical heroic fantasy. Having not read many books based on Celtic mythologies, I found the setting of this book to be very refreshing. The atmosphere in the story has been handled very well. The story is quite simple to follow but the actions and tensions are so well written that book can keep you hooked from very beginning to the end.
The book is a dark fantasy as slavery, sexual violence and violence in general is prevalent throughout the story. So, the book might not be for everyone.
The only major problem I had with this book was the character writing. I didn’t feel any serious connection to the main character and side characters aren’t explored that much as this is a first-person narrative. So, if you are character focused reader this might not be for you.
But if you love the action-packed stories with darker themes and setting, you will enjoy this book.

[Cécile · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this novel, for free. I think that it did not affect my honest review of this book.
I don’t read books that I don’t like. A three-star rating, for a book I took the time to finish, isn't a bad review: it means that overall, I liked it!

In short, this is a book with a lot of heart, beautiful and compelling action and world-building. It is strong in the right places: imagination, rhythm, storytelling with an original voice. With interesting women and more solid writing, I would have given it one more star.

Hag of the Hills is a heroic historical fantasy novel set on the island of Skye in the iron age. That was enough to grab my attention from the start! We follow the journey of Brennus, a young man whose life is turned upside down when invaders annihilate his clan. Many conflicts and setbacks follow, with a dash of magic and a lot of blood spilt, turning him slowly into a different man.

I found the first chapter difficult to read. It was mostly exposition, but while it did introduce us to Skye and the characters, it felt like reading character sheets, not getting to know them through what is happening. From the second chapter on, things got a lot better.

The main strength of the book is the meticulous, fascinating, nuanced world-building, backed up by the obvious expertise and passion of the author. The descriptions of the weaponry, buildings, daily food and activities, gods, and so on, gave real substance and an original voice to this story.

The action scenes and overall rhythm worked really well. The book was compelling, difficult to put down and haunting you when not reading. I enjoyed the battle scenes, especially the main one towards the end of the book, as it focused on gestures and emotions – it felt like you were right in the middle of it, watching it happen in detail. Gory details, yes – maybe too much if that is not your thing. The battle took the time to evolve and unfold without dragging. Great job.

The style of the book was very much “weapons, tits, and gods”. We follow male characters, and a male point of view. The portrayal of the women was extremely poor. The males themselves had little space for anything other than masculinity, honour, and gawking at breasts. If that is not your thing, or if you think enough good world-building and action won’t make up for it, this won’t be a book for you.

Last, I was not convinced by the writing itself. It’s a delicate exercise to write heroic fantasy without sounding ridiculous, and the author did make it work in that regard. However, the structures of the sentences were very repetitive, some words repeated to the point that it bothered me, too many sentences had weak verbs, some paragraphs were downright illogical... That was a bit surprising, because the author seemed to do world-building or battle scenes effortlessly, which would seem more difficult writing challenges than building solid basic writing skills.

[Joey Madia · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a longtime writer of historical fiction, I deeply appreciate the time and effort—the passion and commitment—that authors in this popular genre expend. After all, many authors claiming to be writing in this genre simply make things up, shooting from the hip of history, inserting well-known names and tropes like the Nazis and Templars, and promoting their slipshod stories as authentic historical fiction.
The fact is, in order to make such a claim, you have to be willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Bernard Cornwell (arguably the best historical fiction writer of the late BC/early AD periods), Caleb Carr, Michael Shaara, George MacDonald Fraser, and John Jakes. It’s nearly as daunting as claiming a spot in the realms of high fantasy, where JRR Tolkien (whom Ryder quotes in the Afterword) and George RR Martin are the scales on which we are (brutally, ruthlessly ) measured and weighed.
JTT Ryder (his name itself is staking a claim) not only puts himself forth for membership in the class of historical fiction writers (using the term “heroic prehistoric fantasy fiction”)—he firmly earns his place with the names I just mentioned. An archaeologist by trade, Ryder transfers the skills of the exhaustive researcher, painstaking fieldworker, cataloguer, and patient artisan to craft an engaging and educational story of the Iron Age of Britain.
As are many writers of historical fiction (Fraser and Cornwell again come to mind), Ryder is rightfully proud of the length and breadth of his research. He shares name and place lists and both front and back matter explicating his approach, the fact/fiction line, a lexicon of Celtic and other words, and providing other value-added information for the reader.
Although I recommend reading the supplementary text, the reader loses nothing by simply engaging with the book and its characters, starting with the protagonist, Brennus (who later changes his name to Vidav). Similar to Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind, the story unfolds through the device of Brennus telling his friend Luceo about a certain period of his life while they sit beside a campfire. The son of a warrior and ironsmith, Brennus can see the sidhe: the faerie spirits. Made a trope by Ghost Whisperer and parodied on Saturday Night Live, such an ability is a gift (slash) curse as stated repeatedly throughout this book, Knowing several people with this ability, trope or not, this dual condition is true.
Book one takes place circa 200 BC, in Skye in the Hebrides. It’s a time of mythology, folklore, and some say superstition: festivals like Samhain and Lughnasa (from where we get lunacy); goddesses/gods and monsters such as the Morrigan (death and battle), Cernunnos (the horned god), and giants; epic heroes such as Cúchulainn; and shapeshifting (at least psychologically) through the donning of animal masks. It is also the time of the Druids, perhaps the most misunderstood and villainized nature-worship sect.
It is also a period of human sacrifice. There is a particular instance of human sacrifice in the book, near the end, the details of which are too gruesome for Brennus to share with Luceo (and therefore with us). For those familiar with wicker-man rituals, there is one well worth reading at the end of the book.
The titular character, the hag of the hills, is a “goddess of lambs, the patroness of sheep, and warden of spring.” Brennus’s encounter with her (which comes with an unrevealed price) is his Call to Adventure in Hero’s Journey terms. Also according to the terms of that time-honored storytelling structure, before he can commit, he must have everything he has known removed—think of Luke in Star Wars, returning with Ben Kenobi to find his home a smoking ruin and his aunt and uncle dead. Brennus’s losses are due to a brother’s betrayal and an attack on their village.
Fans of the plethora of historical fiction cable shows, from Barbarians and Britannica to The Last Kingdom and Vikings, will love the array of warriors Ryder presents. Painting their bodies blue using woad, spiking their hair with beeswax and growing their moustaches long, draped in bones and feathers, these bronze sword and spear-wielding warriors come out of the mist and into your mind as you read, sometimes on horseback and sometimes over hills, out of dense forests, and through streams. There is combat aplenty, both man to man to settle a dispute and between groups. Ryder’s research on weapons and tactics brings these scenes to life, as does his knowledge of their cultures and travels to the great centers of the world of that time. The conversations around campfires when the warriors brag about where they’ve been, the wonders they’ve seen, and the treasures they’ve collected are a highlight.
These are times of slavery and the subjugation of women, who men use as bargaining tools for alliances, bestow upon one another as gifts or rewards to the strongest warriors, and give very little choice in the course of their lives. A Druid about to die in battle places his daughter in Brennus’s care, forcing the hero to make a complicated oath, which sends the reluctant warrior out into the great wide world as both Protector and Avenger, a quest as worthy as that of Frodo—which is not to say that Brennus is psychologically similar to Frodo. He is more akin to Hercules and Jason, with his gift/curse of “the sight” and his enhanced ability to identify and do battle with monsters.
The monsters Brennus encounters can be horrific, like the morgen, who appears beautiful until it lures an unsuspecting victim into the water to drown. Other cultures have some versions of this, from kelpies and selkies, to naiads and sirens, and even the woman in the bathtub in The Shining.
Oaths and honor are key to keeping the world from slipping into chaos, and even the fiercest warriors keep to codes and engage in reparations when these codes are broken. After all, this is a world similar to that of the Vikings, where “even the Gods will die.”
Brennus/Vidav forgets this central fact of his and other cultures’ cosmologies and mythologies by three quarters of the way through the book, when he becomes, while relating his story to Luceo, a bragging, seemingly unconquerable, and perhaps wholly unreliable narrator (unreliable being a feature often found in the narrators of Poe’s short stories). When asked who he is, Brennus/Vidav spends approximately 120 words relating his titles, nicknames, and achievements. This cues the reader that the hero of the story is suffering from hubris, a condition named by the Greeks, which is a psychological aspect prevalent in every flawed hero. The key to the experience of catharsis in the theatre of the Classical world (and still an element of the voyeuristic viewer experience today) was to watch the hero make mistakes and fall from grace so the audience member did not have to experience such extremes themselves. William Shakespeare expressed the dangers of hubris in the lines: “They that stand high have many blasts to shake them/And if they fall, they dash themselves to pieces” (Richard III, A1, S3).
The strongest blast to Brennus’s self-perceived status (although, in fairness, he does earn several legitimate wins) is King Fenn Beg Corm. As to what transpires between them, and in what form Corm delivers the biggest of the blasts, I will leave for you to discover. I will be reading Book Two to see where it leads.
In closing, perhaps the greatest compliment I can pay JTT Ryder is that, upon finishing his book, I bought and read A Brief History of the Celts by Peter Berresford Ellis, which served to confirm just how much research Ryder did in order to write this excellent piece of “heroic prehistoric fantasy fiction.”

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5
I was kindly given the ARC for the debut Hag of the Hills by the author in exchange for an honest review. … Thanks a lot JTT Ryder.

This book is historical fantasy. we learn a lot about life at that time intervowen with coming-to-life myths and legends. the writing style is very lyrical and can feel a little dense at times. Furthermore world-building, for someone who never visited the Isle of Skye like myself, is very descriptive and you can feel the island and its people.
The story is told by the main character in the present to a bard about his past and how he became who he is now and why. And so the story begins with comments from his present self in between.
Our main character stumbles into a situation he is not prepared for and has to deal with the obstacles that are coming his way as best as he can. He was ripped out of his known life and set on a journey no-one every prepared him for. We are learning with him as he goes.
Yes he makes stupid decisions and sometimes he reads like he is not the brightest candle on the cake but it also makes him more realistic, more 3dimensional and not the young super-hero that gets everything handed to him and saves the day. On the contrary, he gets to know the world better that he is thrown into and grows as we go along.
Great worldbuilding, interesting battles and characters packed in a historical fantasy hommage to the Isle of Skye.

[Julie Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't fault J.T.T. Ryder's Epic Fantasy, Hag of the Hills for much. The book is set during the La Tene period between 400-200 BCE in the Isle of Skye and captures the setting and especially the Celtic mythology rather well. The Reader sees various legendary figures like fairies, goddesses, and selkies, and many human characters who invoke the gods for success, healing, revenge, and other things. It has a strong lead character and the suspenseful plot shows the graphic violence that can change one from a naive nervous kid into a strong warrior and leader.
I can't fault it for much except for one thing. The title.

The title the Hag of the Hills refers to a mysterious woman, possibly a goddess named Chaellliac Bhaer, who is portrayed as a hag who delivers winter. She appears before the protagonist and gives him his call to adventure. The protagonist leaves and occasionally he sees visions of her, but only a few times.
For a title character, Chaellliac Bhaer is barely in it. While she serves an important part and her presence is strongly felt throughout the book, she really doesn't appear very much. The book could have easily been called Warriors of the Hills or even The Bronze Sword (the latter is the name of the series) and it would make more sense. The supernatural divine aspects are present throughout the book. The main focus is how a young man is strengthened by his loss to become a violent man thirsting for revenge and embracing the warrior code in which he had previously paid little attention.

Brenn is the youngest in a family that boasts of warrior blood. His parents are dead and he is currently in the care of his older brothers Bodvic and Fennigus. He knows his place in this clan and is soon to marry Clodagh,the neighbor's daughter in an arranged marriage. He also fancies Myrna, the chief druid's daughter though she is above his station. His sexuality may be more complex than we are led to believe. The entire novel is a giant epistolary to someone named Luceo. We have yet to physically meet Luceo in person, but Brenn keeps referring to him in endearments like "my dear" and "beloved." The book is almost a confessional to this person who is clearly important to Brenn's future, all about his past so there are no secrets between them.
Even though Luceo has yet to appear, it's clear that Brenn is close to him on a physical and emotional level, possibly a soulmate. It will be interesting to read when Luceo is introduced and why he deserves to know so much about Brenn's past.

Anyway, returning to the main plot, Brenn hears voices to go up the Slighan Hills. When Brenn goes, he meets Chaelliac Bhaer taking the form of an eccentric old woman named Cally. In one of the strangest but also beautiful chapters in the book, Cally invites Brenn to come and have tea with her and her companions. Her companions are sidhe, or the faire folk. They seem to come from thin air or out of the ground. They blend into their natural surroundings. It's a moving tribute to the Celtic pagan pantheon and the close connection that spirits have with nature. It also shows the concept of fate and destiny. After his encounter with Chaelliac Bhaer, Brenn has the power of seeing sidhe. This comes in handy when he and his companions are attacked by such creatures including a selkie.

Chaelliac Bhaer leaves such a memorable impression that I wish she was in the book more, especially, since she is the title character. She only appears here and there in other scenes, but her presence and motives are unclear. After he leaves Slighan Hill, Brenn's village is attacked by enemies from the hill. At this point, Chaelliac Bhaer seems to switch alliances and dances with glee at the violence. Is she on the side of the Hills but why does she give such an awesome power to Brenn to become a powerful warrior. If she is on Brenn's side why is she dancing with delight at their defeat? Or is she more than likely the living embodiment of death and darkness, the winter of life? She knows that humans will do what they do, fight and kill just as she foresees? She is on her own side, the side that knows death and loss is on its way.

Brenn's village is attacked and his friends, family, and neighbors are either killed, wounded, or kidnapped. Brenn finds himself kidnapped by a group of raiders. He eventually fights his way into joining and then ultimately leading them. He was once very young and naive and accepting of the warrior life though not really a part of it. Through the book, he gains physical strength and begins to develop the lust for blood and fighting that other warriors have. He is stripped of his earlier naivete, coddled life, and boyish ideals. He is even stripped of his name and is called Vidav by the warriors.

There are many times with Vidav's new more weathered angrier outlook at the world, his morals become more questionable and less cut and dry. He sees the shades of gray that his youth never allowed. In one scene, an elderly druid begs Vidav to kill him. Later his wish is granted in the most violent way possible. He also considers selling a female companion to a monarch for a stronger army and safe passages. With Vidav ascending into adulthood and becoming a hardened warrior, he has to be awakened to hard decisions and things that he would have never done before. Right or wrong, it is a part of adulthood to make choices that could be immoral for a chance to survive. It's certain that Vidav's character will get darker the more the plot continues.

The Hag, Chaelliac Bhaer, may leave an unforgettable presence and had the title but the truth is, this is the kid, Brenn's story as he becomes the warrior, Vidav.

[Rae, shutupandbookup · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, this book is set around 200 B.C. in the Iron Age of Britain. Meaning you need to just toss the modern mentality of things into a box and save it. Enjoy this fun adventure and leave now's society and it's dramas behind.

"Let it be known to all that one must rip himself from himself to form anew." - Vidav

Brennus' life is a very simple one. Minding the farm for his oldest brother who wishes to keep Brenn from following in their father's footsteps. Only Brenn wants more from his life and to have everything his father did. But how can a youth who apparently has no backbone become a warrior legend like his father? Not to mention he hasn't been allowed to go into the tombs to claim his sword and be reborn a man. . .

"Come to the Slighan Hill. . ." - Mysterious Voice

Brenn's simple life changes in a course of a night. Hillmen, mercenaries, sidhe (spirits), and so much more. Brenn wanted a life of adventure, little does he know he's about to get one! Only will he embrace it or wish he was still leading a mundane one?

This is a coming of age story. It focuses on the life of Brenn and I loved how the story is told to someone. Think of the aesthetic of Anne Rice's book, "Interview with the Vampire". How it's clearly being relayed to someone but then switches to first person POV and things are happening in the present.

I could tell as I read chapter one, I was going to love this book! The writing styles amazing. The author does like to use a lot of descriptions but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The words just flowed within the sentences, really allowing me to be submerged into this read. He kept the plot moving and the pacing was perfect. I also loved how the author included a couple of glossaries in the book, front and back. Including pronunciation of words!

The author's also an archaeologist! He states in the first part of the book that he specializes in this time period! But being an author, he left himself room to infuse an artistic flare. So there may be some things or places that are truly a part of the past and some things he took artistic liberties with. But you very much get the feel of 200 B.C. and the real tribal mindsets of the people in this time.

I loved all of the mercenaries! The different characters brought different things to the table and Brenn even utilizes it. I wasn't too fond of Fennigus, honestly wanted to punch him. I loved the character arcs, especially Brenn's. Don't let his lack of physical strength or muscle tone fool you. He's a clever one!

This may be a trigger for some. But this book is set in 200 B.C. in the Iron Age of Britian. Just addressing this again. Women, specifically, were not seen as equals per say. They were more servants or slaves. Helping to keep the home warm and children a plenty. But it is honestly just a wow moment of how far we have come in the world.

There's slavery in the book because in this time period there were slaves. Even some who have chosen slavery to work toward something or work off something. The author does mention some treatment of the slaves but there's nothing extremely brutal or drawn out.

This book has darker, grittier themes, think "Game of Thrones". I really loved this book and just being submerged into this time period. I want to continue the series! There's language in the book, MF action, violence, glimpses of what happens when a siege is about to happen, happening, and after. There's also some bloody practices performed within as well. Just fair warning.

"All a man has in this life is his word. Break the word, and you break yourself as a man." - Tratonius

Enjoy this time piece with some fantasy elements mixed in and give the author some stars!

shutupandbookup.blogspot.com

[Helen Hollick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iron Age Skye, in the second century BC. A place of hillforts and homesteads, cattle and seabirds, a land where warriors and druids are honoured – but also not an isolated island, but one known to traders from the east, and a land that men leave to find employment and glory fighting in wars not their own.

Brennus’s father is one of these warriors, leaving his family to fight in and die in distant lands. Brennus should follow his father into the warrior’s life, but this is not to be his fate, he believes (and regrets) – until his home is invaded by an unknown group of men he labels ‘the Hillmen’. Eschewing iron, fighting with stone tools, they are nonetheless a formidable foe.

Brennus’s world is one where the border between the world of men and the world of the Sidhe, the supernatural beings of his land, is thin, at least for him. He can see ‘beyond the fields we know’ to interact with the powers of the land, one of whom, the Cailleach, the hag of the title, tells him he can have what he wants – at a price. His journey towards the achievement of his dream is the heart of Hag of the Hills. Brennus is no stoic hero: the price the Cailleach spoke of is great; his doubts and fears are many, and only an oath sworn to a Druid keeps him on track for much of the story.

Hag of the Hills is an imagined recreation of a time before history – a written record – has much to say about the location and time of the book. Perhaps Himlico of Carthage explored these lands in the 5th C BC, as Pliny says. According to Avienius’s Oro Maritima, written 900 years later in the 4th C AD, the Carthaginian explorer was following routes set down by earlier traders from southern Iberia. Disputed as reliable history, these accounts nonetheless provide an anchor to the ‘what if’ of the story.

The inclusion of various manifestations of the Sidhe might suggest to some readers that Hag of the Hills is historical fantasy, but I hesitate to call it that. Author J.T.T. Ryder is an archaeologist specializing in Iron Age cultures of northern Europe, and in Hag of the Hills he has attempted to show us a world interpreted through Iron Age eyes and beliefs. While these are clearly not those of our modern world of scientific rationalism, they are not ‘magical’ either, but a different way of interacting with reality. The Sidhe serve to guide Brennus, not to intervene.

The sense of a different experience of reality is increased by Ryder’s unconventional switching of tenses within paragraphs as Brennus narrates his experiences. For me, it added to the feeling of a world experienced and understood differently, one in which time might not be always or entirely linear. There are a few errors, mostly homophones, and a few word choices which sound too modern, perhaps the archeologist’s vocabulary overriding the writer’s.

Brennus’s attitude towards women is very much that of the ‘male gaze’, and this may feel uncomfortable to some readers, especially in an era where the role of women warriors and leaders is central to many stories. But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Hag of the Hills, and am looking forward to its sequel, completing the duology, later this year.

Originally Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical-based fiction has long been a favorite genre of mine. Regardless of the era – from paleolithic such as Clan of the Cave Bear to the Victorian Era with my beloved Sherlock Holmes stories – tales set in another time are quite enjoyable. So one can easily imagine I would enjoy reading J.T.T. Ryder’s Hag of the Hills. And they would be right.

Hag of the Hills follows Brennus, a young man who longs for the fame and prestige being a warrior brings. His father was known far and wide for his bravery and Brennus wishes to follow in those footsteps. His destiny however centers around farming life regardless of whether he likes it or not.

A poor decision on Brennus’ part leads him to make a kind of Faustian deal with the hag of the hills. She offers Brennus the fame he seeks but at a price. And it is only when his clan is decimated does Brennus understand just how high the price might be.

Hag of the Hills could almost be labeled a “sword and sorcery” type of book. Though the book is based on a factual time in history, there are magical elements to it that add a supernatural feel to the story. Goddesses, witches, and giants make appearances and there are mentions of other types of non-human creatures. They live side by side, the influence of one always being felt on the other.

One thing that might detract some readers is how this is a violence-heavy book. It is true, that there is a good deal of violence. It was a part of everyday life and Hag of the Hills does not shy away from that fact. Wars and raids were common, and taking prisoners and slaves were expected.

Another thing that some might take issue with is how one-dimensional the handful of female characters are written. On the surface this is accurate, the few female characters are little more than background fodder. But when one realizes Hag of the Hills is written as the Brennus recounting his younger years, it makes sense. One doesn’t have to like it, but it does fit the narrative.

It is obvious to see the amount of research Ryder put into writing Hag of the Hills. It is also not surprising to know he is an archaeologist specializing in the Iron Age, specifically the time this story takes place. The characters are well thought out and well written and while I did not always agree with their decisions, neither could I blame them.

My readers who are real history buffs will likely enjoy reading Hag of the Hills. I encourage all of my readers to give it a try.