Paths of Exile [Paperback]

We are so short of historical fiction set in the period known as the 'dark ages' that it is always a pleasure to discover a new book, and this one does not disappoint. PATHS OF EXILE tells the story of Eadwine of Deira, over the crucial period when he was driven from his home by Athelferth of Bernicia. Eadwine is forced to flee with a small band of loyal companions and we see his struggle to survive and revenge his brother's murder. The dialogue is sharp and realistic and the pace is fast, but with quiet, thoughtful periods that add depth to the characters. Carla Nayland doesn't shrink from gritty descriptions of the harsh conditions of life at that time and we get a vivid picture of the chaos and uncertainty that must have followed defeat in battle and exile into uncertain territory. There is a gentle love story, with heart-breaking moments and some strong women characters. This is a 'rights of passage' story and the reader sees Eadwine as he matures and comes to make life-changing decisions and understand the true nature of loyalty. Carla Nayland's research is impeccable, but at the same time she does not overload us with historical detail. The picture we are given of people struggling to survive amongst warring cultures, land disputes and different languages, must surely have relevance to us today. I like the authors note at the end, which explains the difficulties of setting a story in this period and the historical basis of the story, as opposed to the rich imagination required to fill in the many gaps. I very much look forward to the sequel.

Why are so few novels about the so-called Dark Ages published nowadays? Alfred Duggan used to write them and Bernard Cornwell dabbles there occasionally with his Arthurian novels and his recent series set in the time of King Alfred. It was a pivotal period in English history: from the end of Roman Britain, and into the Anglo-Saxon age, an era of conflict and culture clash with shifting frontiers, divided loyalties, danger, idealism, heroics and high tragedy, far from the popular image of thud and blunder, mud and middens, as Carla Nayland shows us in her new novel, Paths of Exile. And on top of all that, so little is known of the period that the novelist has exhilarating scope for the imagination in the big gaps between the lines of the scant but often vivid sources.

Paths of Exile is set in what is now Northern England at the beginning of the 7th century AD. Aethelferth, king of Bernicia (roughly modern Northumberland) has invaded the neighbouring kingdom of Deira (approximately today's Yorkshire), and defeated its ruler Aelle and his son and heir Eadric. Eadric's devoted younger brother Eadwine comes too late to the rescue and believes Eadric has been treacherously murdered. Eadwine, homeless and lordless, the worst predicament for an Anglo-Saxon man, nevertheless vows to avenge his brother's death and sets out to find the mysterious assassin as well as rescuing his betrothed in the terrible knowledge that Aethelferth has sworn to kill him in thanks to the gods for victory.

Thus begins an exciting, tautly-plotted tale that's action-packed thriller, murder mystery, tragedy and romance all rolled into one and set in an authentic landscape I can see and touch and feel. But it's much more than that, mainly because the author has peopled her story with flesh-and-blood-characters who are both convincingly of their own time and yet, with all their fears and hopes, not at all alien to us. I still find myself thinking of them as if they were old friends just lately gone away and whom I hope to meet again*. Character is revealed mainly through dialogue which is often laced with humour - wry, dry and bawdy. No doubt the purists won't like it (too modern, too much swearing, tsk, tsk, yet it feels entirely right for Eadwine to curse in, for example, moments of affectionate exasperation such as when he tries in vain to release his followers from their oath of loyalty - a telling, and touching, scene).

Oh, and I learned a lot without even realising it, for instance from Eadwine in his moving exposition on the structure of Anglo-Saxon society, "A lord is the helmet of his people, Treowin, not their scourge."

*A sequel is in the offing, hurrah! But will it reveal the words of that naughty ditty known as Attacotti Nell?

Edwin of Northumbria was one of the greatest Monarchs of early Anglo-Saxon England.Carla Nayland`s novel beautifully tells the story of his years in exile from his Kingdom of Deira and how he is pursued by his nemesis Aethelferth of Bernicia who has overrun his Kingdom and slain many of his family.
The Authoress is a brilliant storyteller who knows the difficult and arguable 6th/7th Century period very well.Though there is both action and romance in the story, the book dosent have page upon page of battle description or romantic liason,just the right mixture of action,drama,supsense,romance,humour etc.The characters are highly believable and conduct themselves as would a Heathen Angle,Pictish warrior or Brythonic King.
There are so many nice touches for the followers of this era
Carla Nayland is a name you will certainly be hearing a lot more from,highly anticipating the sequel!