Customer Reviews

Danelaw

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Epona knows that the times are turning darker at least to followers of the Goddess as Christianity begins to sweep away the old religion that she still practices. She also realizes that her "gift" is beginning to fade and she must quickly mate with the right man to pass on her gift to her daughter just like her mother did to her. However, Pony as she is known, fears she will evanesce just like her mom so has delayed the inevitable for a decade, but the catastrophe her mother predicted seems imminent and time has run out for Pony.

When Pony meets Saxon King Alfred she thinks this noble liege must be the one, but then she encounters Viking Valgar the Beast and wonders if he is the chosen. As Pony struggles to make up her mind by choosing one and leaving the other behind, her selection will impact England. She knows that even with her full of loving for one of the men, her choice must be what is best for her people and not necessarily her heart.

Fans of Dark Ages mystical romances will appreciate Susan Squires' latest magical tale. The key to the exhilarating plot is the lead female character that seems so believable whether she talks with the animals or struggles with her fears, doubts, and uncertainties. As the author did with the delightful DANEGELD, Ms. Squires provides a strong historical romance that adds to her growing reputation for enchanting, unique stories.

Harriet Klausner

Susan Squires is a puzzler to try and shoebox. Her first novel was a grabber. Danegeld dealt with a period in Britain's history, generally ignored (last one I can recall was Johanna Lynsay in her Medieval Trilogy and that was a long time
ago!). It was grimly realistic, provoking - possibly too grim and too provoking for more timid readers. But there was a rare, fresh voice in the work that was so rich in history often sadly neglected in today's lighter romance market. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE fast paced, whimsical romances, but feel there is room - and need - for both styles. Variety is what keeps the market fresh. The trend is to get the history of out historicals for this slows the pace of the romance. I love romance, but I also love history, the pageantry, the drama, so Danegeld was something I was glad to see published. In her second, Sacrament, Squires gave us a thinking woman's vampire tale. Not dwelling on the vampire aspect of it, she provoked (I often wonder if provoke is not Squires middle name) you into looking at good and evil - not of the vampire, but of the desires of individuals, those acted upon and those repressed, and the choices those desire can drive one to make. Many bemoaned this was not a traditional (aka stereotypical) vampire tale, to which Squires quite blithely thanked you and agreed. Her third work, Body Electric, pushed the boundaries and was a brilliantly conceive bit of Michael Crichton techno thriller. Sometimes you might not like what Squires is doing in her books, but she never fails to provoke you.

All three works were of strong merit, well researched, and with interesting characters, even too a walk on the wild side...but she just missed bull's-eye.

Squires comes full circle, returning to that dark period in British History - and WOW - her fourth novel, Danelaw hits the target...in fact she blows it away. This is not a sequel to Danegeld, so do not buy it with that impression.

Danelaw stands on it on and it is Squires' best work. Rich in period lore of the British Isles and the Dane invaders during the period of Alfred, Squires delivers a powerful tale of Epona "Pony" the last of her kind, the woman who speaks to horses and lives below the great chalk horse on the Downs. She little knows she is a priestess to the Cult of Epona, the Scots Horse Goddess of War, but the fame of Epona was spread far and wide. Called 'Mare' (MAH-ray) by the Irish of Dalriada, she was the bringer of dreams good and bad. The English word nightmare is derived from her Irish name. The Goddess was even adopted by the conquering Romans whose cavalry called upon her to aid them before a charge. She was the only Celtic deity enshrined and worshipped in Rome, where they saw her as the Triple Goddess Eponae. To the Saxon Alfred, the man who would unite Britain after the Roman withdrawal, reclaim Danelaw (nearly a 1/3 of England) from the Danes, Epona was called Horsa, but whatever the name, he saw the power and potential of using Pony to achieve his destiny.

Her mother had taught Pony that she must bear a girl child to continue the line from the dawn of time, the keeper of the faith of Epona. Only, she warns Pony not to care for a man else he destroy her through her heart. Pony is a smart lass, though often naive, and sees her role a simple one...to fulfil her destiny to produce the next girl child to live under the chalk horse on the Downs, to continue the line. Though naive, she realised when Alfred appears on her doorstep that he means to use her, but in her shrewdness, she uses him. This is a fine man, a man to give her the girl child to continue the line, a man she will not care for so she will not die of a broken heart. Alfred beds her, getting his "seal" of approval from the Goddess Epona, with the intent of using that to rally the Saxons to push the Danes from Britain. When he leaves, Pony is secure her heart is safe.

Only, the Viking plunders come to Pony's door and Pony's finds there is more to fulfilling a prophecy than conceiving a child, for she is now the pawn of Valgar, the Dane leader. She expects horrid barbarians who would take her prison and try to steal her herd of magickal horses. Instead, she finds a man of wisdom, of fire, of strength. He is fair to the Saxons he conquerors, he is a man who would give his life to save a single man at the risk of losing a battle.

And he knows the way of the Horse.

Squires gives us a rousing Saga of one woman set on filling her destiny, caught between the clash of Saxon and Viking cultures in England and two equally determined men, each bent on making a kingdom in England. Her characters are vivid, well drawn, the research very impressive. I have dealt with history for decades, even wrote a triple essay on Epona being the mother-face of the triple goddess, linking her with Elphame and the Cailleach. Squires impressed me with her dealing with the period and the lore of Epona.

I simply could not put this book down. Squires, you did a magnificent job!!

Take a well-earned bow.

WISE Writers and Readers Book of the Month Selection 2003

I loved the first Susan Squires book-Danegeld-it was gritty, original and riveting throughout. Unfortunately, despite my high expectations for this novel, I was disappointed. I found the main characters difficult to sympathize with and the plot structure a little awkward. I used to live in the village below the white horse where Ms Squires based her novel and it truly is a mystical magical place. I found the book difficult to read and I have a degree in history, classics and archaelogy so it wasn't that it was beyond me-I hope that she gets back on track with the next one because she truly has an original and unique voice

Okay, lessee. We've got the goddess-worshipping white-haired 'just say no to meat' healer/vegetarian heroine and the obligatory Saxon brute hero who kidnaps the unwilling heroine. Does this plot sound familiar? It should, it's the plot used over and over in romance novels from J. Lindsey to Clan of the Cave Bear.

Okay, you might say...This is romance. But this plot was just silly. How many books can one read where the nasty Viking kidnaps the silly and oh-so-politically correct pagan priestess? While I like Squires writing in previous works, I had hoped this book would be more than just a 'lovespell-esque' book filled with pseudo-history and psychic healer women. I guess I'm just disappointed. A little research into the lifestyle of ancient Brits might have made these characters really shine.

Although I knew this was a romance novel, I wasn't expecting everything that I got! I hadn't ever read a book with a pregnancy story, and it was interesting.

Val (fair, law-creating Viking) and Pony (vegetarian, driven to birth a girl child, and the last remaining follower of the Horse Goddess) are opposites, but seeing them slowly close the gap was very pleasing. Each gradually came to understand the other more and more, and it didn't feel rushed as many romance novels do. The romantic plot centers on Pony and Val, but there is a relationship (won't spoil it!) between Pony and Alfred the Great that holds Val back a little bit. It was interesting to see how this played out.

In the backdrop of the book is also the story of the Danes trying to win over the Saxons and the rivalry between Guthrum and Alfred the Great. If you have studied the Dark Ages a bit, then this is an interesting element of the story. If you haven't, then the suspense will hold you; there isn't much indication who will reign supreme until the end (and even then...). ;) The communication with animals that Pony has isn't overpowering -- just a small part of the book.

Also, equally satisfying was Squires' Danegeld, which took a lot of risks for a romance novel, but turned out to be spectacular. Karn and Britta (who also appear in Danelaw) are the stars of it, and Karn is the last survivor of a Viking raid on a Saxon village. He must overcome difficult memories of torture, fear of intimacy, and his prejudice of all Saxons. This book also features a historical rivalry, but between Edmund and Ivar the Boneless. Another interesting question in the book is "witch or saint"? (Britta's internal conflict.) It's refreshing to see an untraditional pair try for true love. I just wish it wasn't out-of-print... still available Used though.

I highly recommend both of these books.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

This is an interesting story about the blending of cultures and religions of an ancient European past.

Epona, "Pony," is the last of her line, the only remaining female follower of the Horse Goddess. She has a unique ability of touch that bonds her to all leaf-eating creatures. This makes her able to hear them and communicate with them, showing her what they know. However, her gift is fading. If she does not find someone to sire a girl-child for her, the gift will die, unable to be passed on into the future.

Val is Danir...Viking... sent to the land of Saxons to help hold the borders for his leader, and to teach these people the way of Law, a previously unknown concept outside of Danir lands. He sees this opportunity as the final chance to prove his loyalty to his king, having failed in the past to set aside his desire to protect the weak, for the benefit of his King.

Val is in for a challenge when he arrives in Saxony. He sees a vision of Pagan beauty, white-haired, white-skinned, whom is near-worshipped by the people, even respected by the followers of Jesu. Epona is in the company of his enemy Albert, the idealistic boy-king of this land. Val needs her, as does Albert, to cement his claim as ruler. Both also need the horses to which she is bonded. Val never expected the desire he feels for this woman so full of strength and calm. Epona only wishes to birth her girl-child and pass on her ancient gift, but this wish is quickly complicated by the attraction she feels for the foreign warrior/Viking. How can she feel tender emotions for one of a believed vile race of people? As tensions build and conflicts mount, Epona and Val must decide... Work together and allow their feelings to grow or accept that their conflicting worlds will forever keep them apart.

This should have been an intriguing tale, but this reviewer could not become engrossed in the story. Though there is some strong character development, Pony and Val just didn't captivate attention enough. There are glimmers of what drives them, and the reader will feel their respective internal conflicts, but it just wasn't enough for an emotional investment in this story.

There are some fascinating plot elements found in the merging of two very different cultures of people - one with a developed system of Law and one disorganized where the "law" changes with the regions held by different land barons. There is also the interesting conflict of religions - Paganism as old as time, and the newly born Christianity. How they blend probably would keep a reader interested. However, there are several parts of the story that drag, causing this reviewer to lose interest.

Ms. Squires must be commended for her obviously intensive research into the time period, the cultures, and even the language. It is extremely apparent she did her homework before penning this novel. That comes across in her descriptive prose. History lovers will especially enjoy those facets of this book.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, March 2004. All rights reserved.