Daughter of Mercia
by Julia Ibbotson
Echoes of the past resonate across the centuries as Dr Anna Petersen, a medievalist and runologist, is struggling with past trauma and allowing herself to trust again. When archaeologist (and Anna’s old adversary) Professor Matt Beacham unearths a 6th century seax with a mysterious runic inscription, and reluctantly approaches Anna for help, a chain of events brings the past firmly back into her present. And why does the burial site also contain two sets of bones, one 6th century and the other modern?
As the past and present intermingle alarmingly, Anna and Matt need to work together to solve the mystery of the seax runes and the seemingly impossible burial, and to discover the truth about the past. Tensions rise and sparks fly between Anna and Matt. But how is 6th century Lady Mildryth of Mercia connected to Anna? Can they both be the Daughter of Mercia?
For fans of Barbara Erskine, Elena Collins, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley and Christina Courtenay.
Universal Buy Link: https://myBook.to/DOMercia
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
My Review:
Daughter of Mercia is a beautifully crafted dual-timeline novel that blends the excitement of archaeological discovery with the intrigue of the Anglo-Saxon world. In the present day, Dr Anna Petersen, a specialist in medieval runology, finds herself working alongside archaeologist Professor Matt Beacham when a Midlands excavation uncovers a 6th-century seax inscribed with runes—and secrets long buried. The dig scenes feel wonderfully authentic, filled with earthy, tactile detail that transports the reader straight to the trench’s edge. I particularly enjoyed the vivid descriptions and the fascinating insights into the world of archaeology.
Centuries earlier, Lady Mildryth of Mercia rules with a deep sense of duty, but her carefully balanced court is unsettled by the arrival of the enigmatic Theowulf. Julia Ibbotsen captures the richness of Anglo-Saxon life with a historian’s accuracy and a storyteller’s flair, immersing us in a world of political tension and quiet courage. Her secondary characters are well defined and play a pivotal role in both plots, and Ms Ibbotsen masterfully and subtly keeps us engaged in all the players. The mirroring of the two timelines adds a further layer of depth, making the journey between past and present both seamless and rewarding.
The romantic elements in both storylines unfold with warmth and heart, and while familiar at first glance, they are soon enriched by unexpected twists and turns. The conclusion draws the threads together in a way that feels both surprising and entirely fitting, leaving a lingering sense of connection across the centuries. Full of historical texture and emotional resonance, this is a novel that satisfies both the heart and the mind.
Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time. She is the author of historical mysteries with a frisson of romance. Her books are evocative of time and place, well-researched and uplifting page-turners. Her current series focuses on early medieval time-slip/dual-time mysteries.
Julia read English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language / literature / history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. After a turbulent time in Ghana, West Africa, she became a school teacher, then a university academic and researcher. Her break as an author came soon after she joined the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2015, with a three-book deal from Lume Books for a trilogy (Drumbeats) set in Ghana in the 1960s.
She has published five other books, including A Shape on the Air, an Anglo-Saxon timeslip mystery, and its two sequels The Dragon Tree and The Rune Stone. Her latest novel is the first of a new series of Anglo-Saxon dual-time mysteries, Daughter of Mercia, where echoes of the past resonate across the centuries.
Her books will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful story-telling’, ‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’ and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’.
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