Paths of Exile (Paperback)

~ Carla Nayland (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Editor's Choice for the August 2009 issue of the Historical Novels Review. A powerful novel. I was completely transported to the world of seventh century Britain. A strong new voice in the field of historical fiction; Carla Nayland has written a fine book. --Elizabeth Chadwick, award-winning author of The Wild Hunt, A Place Beyond Courage, The Greatest Knight and other novels Carla Nayland pulls the curtain back on the little known period of seventh century Britain to reveal the fascinating world of Eadwine. Filled with unforgettable characters and wonderful historical detail, Paths of Exile is historical fiction at its most intriguing. --Michelle Moran, best-selling author of The Heretic Queen Paths of Exile is an epic tale of battle, honour, loyalty and betrayal that is at once exquisitely entertaining and utterly convincing. Carla Nayland's prose is irresistible, luring the reader from the comforts of the 21st century into the harsh and often bloody reality of Saxon England . A triumphant debut that demands a sequel. --Russell Whitfield, critically acclaimed author of Gladiatrix.

Product Description

The stirring story of a young prince caught between Britonnic and Saxon worlds in 7th century England. When his homeland is defeated by a predatory neighbouring kingdom, Eadwine finds himself on the run for his life. Homeless, penniless and friendless, literally with a price on his head, he must evade his enemies, avenge his brother's murder and rescue his betrothed. Along the way, he will lose his heart to another woman and discover a shattering secret that challenges all the ideals he holds dear.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Quaestor2000 Ltd (January 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1906836094
• ISBN-13: 978-1906836092
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,185,624 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read!, February 21, 2009

By	Michelle Moran (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Set in 7th century Britain, Carla Nayland's Paths of Exile follows the the fate of Eadwine, who has lost his kingdom and found himself in sudden exile. The novel is rich in period detail, and the plot takes unexpected turns, leaving the reader wondering what will happen not just to Eadwine, but to the woman he's supposed to marry.

With his life on the line, Eadwine must discover a way not only to avenge a murder in his family, but to defeat the enemy king Aethelferth. A gripping good read!

5.0 out of 5 stars Rousing tale of another time, May 20, 2009

By	Nan Hawthorne "Nan" (Bothell, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love this era, Anglo Saxon England, and I love this book. That should tell you how good it is. Nayland is faithful to the time and place but has the insight and heart to understand that people are people. That is to say, Eadwine is faithful to the sort of man he would be in that time but he is also someone you become invested in, care about, and regret his hurts.

One thing I liked about Nayland's writing is that she has both an effective and playful touch with the dialogue and with conveying the fun she had alongside the hard work she put into research.

If you want to read a rousing story of battle and betrayal, of loyalty kicked in the stomach, of wistful love and shattered hopes, this masterful novel will engage you. I look forward to the sequel, knowing that Nayland will take a character often villefied in history and historical fiction and make him compelling and real and his final triumph a bittersweet consummation.

Nan Hawthorne
Author, An Involuntary King: A Tale of Anglo Saxon England

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid, well-researched, short historical novel of early England, April 22, 2009

By	James Aach (USA) - See all my reviews

Not my usual reading fare, but as an American with a passing interest in dark age British history it seemed worth a try. The author knows her stuff - something that really comes out in the end notes. (Even though these notes contain a couple of minor plot spoilers, I wish I'd read them first.) It turns out many of the book's characters, even minor ones, have some historical basis, and if the reader is in England they can visit many of the sites mentioned. The book has a map of the area covered. Paths of Exile features a plot that interests the reader from Page 1 and drives the narrative onward while allowing for some digression into description of the time and place. While the focus of the book is on the son of a deposed king, and there is some royal intrigue, this is not really a book about shenanigans at court, but more of a ramble across the countryside. There are ample descriptions of what domestic farm life was like in the years between the Roman occupation and the coalescing of England into a single state. One strong impression is how empty of people England was compared to today. Language differences and various belief systems are also brought out.

The dialogue in Paths of Exile comes across as realistic. The main characters for the most part are treated as contradictory real people versus cardboard cutouts - particularly the king's son and the women in his life. (The choices women had to make in that time period are nicely brought out.) Once past the two or three main characters I did occasionally have trouble remembering the background of others who also have a key role to play in the story, though the author does make an effort to sprinkle reminders into the text. Occasionally, the interludes between action sequences seemed to run a little long, particularly the landscape descriptions - but these are well written and might mean more to a British native. (Overall, though, this is not a hefty or over-written book by any means.) Just as a preference I would also have liked more description of large town life, since that is the origin of the main character. Both the needed explanations and interesting descriptive details are generally weaved well into the text - - which I would think are two key elements in this sort of story-telling. I shy away from five star ratings and reserve four stars for the spectacular, so this one gets three stars. A solid, entertaining effort for anyone interested in the period.