The Valley is book two in The Druid Chronicles. I enjoyed book one, The Oath, quite a bit, and this second book is even better. A.M. Linden’s research and attention to detail make this book come alive. It is rich in history, culture, and mythology, which is a combination I’ve come to love in historical fiction.

I think I resonate so well with The Druid Chronicles because, while this is a historical fiction, it brings in a taste of what ancient cultures might have looked like. I love the exploration of the rituals and day-to-day life of people we know very little about. The research and guesswork this author put into this novel allowed it to have a life of its own.

The writing is superb and allows the reader to get lost in the story and forget the world around them for a while. I thoroughly enjoyed The Valley. I look forward to more from A.M. Linden. I would recommend reading these in order to get a fuller picture of the story. Great read!

Thank you to HFVBT for the review copy and tour invite. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

Although this is book two in The Druid Chronicles series it actually reads as book one. Without having much historical content to rely upon, Linden recreates an entire culture with all of its religious traditions, familial strife, and the encroaching influence of outside ideas. The Druids are brought to life through the eyes of the chief priest and storyteller, Herwyn. In a sense, this is a story of a bard told in the way of a bards tale.
Herwyn uses reflection as a means to provide information about the evolution of the Druids and their religious beliefs. Through Herwyn the reader experiences how the reincarnation of the Great Mother Goddess guides this matriarchal society. He and his two cousins are key members of the high council and are sworn to uphold the traditions passed down to them. The reduced number of children available to fill the roles of the chief priests and priestesses leads to a power struggle over which chief priest will obtain the most viable candidates. As outside influences leak their way into their secluded sanctuary, key members of the upper echelon make choices that impacts the Druids entire way of life.
This is a book to be savored. The writing is rhythmic with lush descriptions and complex characters. It provides so much content that was needed to supplement the plot of The Oath. The series just gets better and better!
I received this copy via NetGalleyn conjunction with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.

A well plotted historical novel. Well developed characters as well. All in all a good read. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.