Daughter of Mercia (Dr Anna Petersen medieval mysteries)
Do voices from the past speak to us today? Presumably, any ardent fan of historical fiction would answer in the affirmative, at least on a literary level. This novel takes that idea and magnifies it a thousand-fold.
The modern timeline involves Dr. Anna Petersen, a medieval historian/runologist, who has been brought into an archeological dig that has uncovered the remains of a 6th-century Mercian burial. The 6th-century timeline involves the Mercian ruler, Lady Mildryth, whose viewing of a possibly portentous fireball in the sky sets the tone for her upcoming interactions with an unknown stranger. In parallel ways, Anna and Mildryth experience misty visions and sensations of memories far removed from their own daily lives. Could their visions and they themselves somehow be connected to each other? And while dealing with these mysterious episodes, both women must fight to control their own lives in their own times. Further mysteries that add to the eerie ambience include an unusual runic inscription found on a seax in the grave site, and the presence of a modern skeleton in a burial place that had not been disturbed for centuries.
The robust title and subtitle (“A haunting Anglo-Saxon dual-time novel with mystery, runes and romance”) of the book say it all: the place where the events occur, the tone, the broader historical context, the novel type, and the plot devices that propel the novel forward. All of these elements come together seamlessly as the narrative builds over both time periods in a way that will keep readers deeply engaged as events unfold. Highly recommended as a thrilling way for anyone to hear voices from the past speaking to us today!
