Steven Till

Awen: A Novel of Medieval Wales by Susan Mayse

Hardcover: 404 pages
Publisher: Eastern Washington University Press (December 1997)
Average Customer Review on Amazon: 5 stars (6 reviews)

Editorial Review from the Publisher:

Awen is a tightly woven novel of suspense, intrigue, love, and warfare set on the border between the Welsh kingdom of Powys and the English kingdom of Mercia at the end of the eighth century. The result of years of devoted research, the novel centers on an ancient and enigmatic poetry cycle, Canu Heledd. Battles and kidnappings, blood feuds and political murders entangle the poet Cynfarch, as Brochfael of Powys struggles to protect his people’s culture and sovereignty from the growing might of Offa of Mercia. From the harsh mountains valleys of North Wales to the quiet streams of western England, from the vanished court of Mathrafal to Charlemagne’s throne, a bloody apocalypse looms as Cynfarch pursues both Meirwen’s heart and his own quest for reinstatement as bard to the king of Powys.

Filed under: Middle Ages History, Medieval History, Historical Fiction on September 16th, 2008