Danelaw [Mass Market Paperback]

When Pony meets Saxon King Alfred she thinks this noble liege must be the one, but then she encounters Viking Valgar the Beast and wonders if he is the chosen. As Pony struggles to make up her mind by choosing one and leaving the other behind, her selection will impact England. She knows that even with her full of loving for one of the men, her choice must be what is best for her people and not necessarily her heart.

Fans of Dark Ages mystical romances will appreciate Susan Squires' latest magical tale. The key to the exhilarating plot is the lead female character that seems so believable whether she talks with the animals or struggles with her fears, doubts, and uncertainties. As the author did with the delightful DANEGELD, Ms. Squires provides a strong historical romance that adds to her growing reputation for enchanting, unique stories.

Harriet Klausner

All three works were of strong merit, well researched, and with interesting characters, even too a walk on the wild side...but she just missed bull's-eye.

Squires comes full circle, returning to that dark period in British History - and WOW - her fourth novel, Danelaw hits the target...in fact she blows it away. This is not a sequel to Danegeld, so do not buy it with that impression.

Danelaw stands on it on and it is Squires' best work. Rich in period lore of the British Isles and the Dane invaders during the period of Alfred, Squires delivers a powerful tale of Epona "Pony" the last of her kind, the woman who speaks to horses and lives below the great chalk horse on the Downs. She little knows she is a priestess to the Cult of Epona, the Scots Horse Goddess of War, but the fame of Epona was spread far and wide. Called 'Mare' (MAH-ray) by the Irish of Dalriada, she was the bringer of dreams good and bad. The English word nightmare is derived from her Irish name. The Goddess was even adopted by the conquering Romans whose cavalry called upon her to aid them before a charge. She was the only Celtic deity enshrined and worshipped in Rome, where they saw her as the Triple Goddess Eponae. To the Saxon Alfred, the man who would unite Britain after the Roman withdrawal, reclaim Danelaw (nearly a 1/3 of England) from the Danes, Epona was called Horsa, but whatever the name, he saw the power and potential of using Pony to achieve his destiny.

Her mother had taught Pony that she must bear a girl child to continue the line from the dawn of time, the keeper of the faith of Epona. Only, she warns Pony not to care for a man else he destroy her through her heart. Pony is a smart lass, though often naive, and sees her role a simple one...to fulfil her destiny to produce the next girl child to live under the chalk horse on the Downs, to continue the line. Though naive, she realised when Alfred appears on her doorstep that he means to use her, but in her shrewdness, she uses him. This is a fine man, a man to give her the girl child to continue the line, a man she will not care for so she will not die of a broken heart. Alfred beds her, getting his "seal" of approval from the Goddess Epona, with the intent of using that to rally the Saxons to push the Danes from Britain. When he leaves, Pony is secure her heart is safe.

Only, the Viking plunders come to Pony's door and Pony's finds there is more to fulfilling a prophecy than conceiving a child, for she is now the pawn of Valgar, the Dane leader. She expects horrid barbarians who would take her prison and try to steal her herd of magickal horses. Instead, she finds a man of wisdom, of fire, of strength. He is fair to the Saxons he conquerors, he is a man who would give his life to save a single man at the risk of losing a battle.

And he knows the way of the Horse.

Squires gives us a rousing Saga of one woman set on filling her destiny, caught between the clash of Saxon and Viking cultures in England and two equally determined men, each bent on making a kingdom in England. Her characters are vivid, well drawn, the research very impressive. I have dealt with history for decades, even wrote a triple essay on Epona being the mother-face of the triple goddess, linking her with Elphame and the Cailleach. Squires impressed me with her dealing with the period and the lore of Epona.

I simply could not put this book down. Squires, you did a magnificent job!!

Take a well-earned bow.

WISE Writers and Readers Book of the Month Selection 2003