The Shepherd of St Just
Set in the South West of England in 1297 The Shepherd of St Just tells the tale of young Kerra, a girl who finds friendship in the unusual form of the village outcast, the shepherd accused of communing with spirits. Living with her mother in the small village of St Just, Kerra must juggle the demands of helping to make the curatives needed by sick members of the community with her desire to spend time with her unusual friend, who may hold the answer to the mystery of her father who disappeared a year before.
Meanwhile, Wynfred of Wales is hunting a wolf, intent upon killing the creature that has injured and scarred him. Wynfred, however, is not the only hunter wanting to do harm. As the story unfolds, the lives of these and other individuals will cross in a dramatic conclusion.
The lead characters are thoroughly described, and beautifully intertwined, but there is less attention paid to ancillary characters and therefore the bigger picture is slightly lacking. However, this does not detract from what is fundamentally an excellent book. The lyrical and almost poetic use of language is a pleasure to read, feels authentic, and makes it easy to visualise the environments and people described. Edwin Page is clearly a writer of talent with an eye for detail.
(Hard copy reviewed)
