Offa - The Winter Forest
Author John V Kernaghan
“Offa The Winter Forest “ is a great read. Set in Wales in the first century AD, the hero, a great warrior and clever tactician, returns from Rome to the birthplace of his mother who had been sold into slavery years before.
His mission is to prepare for the second Roman invasion of Britannia, but as he travels through the country of his maternal ancestors, he comes to realize the strength and values of the society, and the havoc that would befall them should the Romans arrive and conquer them. So he chooses a different path.
There is heart rending brutality in the book typical of the era in history, but that is balanced with tenderness, humour, compassion and heroism. Characters come alive in this book.
It seems that the author is planning a series as Offa prepares to thwart the plans of his former masters. I very much look forward to Book #2.
Fred Archibald MD
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 November 2020
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I loved this book!!! It’s beautiful, I was so swept away by the imagery and the storytelling! I would highly recommend this read! I didn’t want it to be over!! I really hope there is more the author wants to tell us because I’m there for it!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 November 2020
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I have read several of J V Kernaghan's books and have enjoyed them all. I like his style of story telling and the accuracy of true events and characters. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this latest novel to anyone who likes historical stories, especially when woven around actual people from history.
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsOffa - The Winter Forest
Reviewed in Canada on 1 November 2020
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JVK melds Welsh folklore and mythology with accepted history resulting in a fascinating work of fiction. The language is beautiful, the characters and the landscape into which he weaves them are wonderfully crafted, resulting in a tale that is both magical and epic. However, this is a very adult story portraying the brutality of the era, which he balances well with constant humour and interesting insights into 1st century life. I found this book highly entertaining and look forward to the next in the series.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 November 2020
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It's rare to find historic fiction that is satisfying at both an intellectual and recreational level. This book gets it just right; it's a page turning action/romance, filled with interesting ideas about life in 1st century Britain. It's often brutal, but that's balanced with plenty of humour and wit. An enjoyable read with wide ranging appeal, and I will definitely read the next in the series.
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