"Twisting timeslip tapestry interweaving epic Anglo-Saxon history with 21st-century supernaturalism"
From the bestselling author of Lady of Hay, Barbara Erskine‘s The Dream Weavers is a spellbinding saga that spans centuries through a writer’s eerie connections to Anglo-Saxon King Offa and his indomitable daughter.
In 2021, writer Simon has decamped to a cottage on the English-Welsh border to finish his book about King Offa. Unsettled by noises in the cottage - a woman’s distant voice, banging on doors in the dead of night - he enlists the help of modern-day mystic Bea. In 775 AD, Eadburh, the youngest daughter of ambitious, aggressive King Offa has inherited her father’s ruthless streak, along with unusual gifts from her mother, and it’s not long before these two time periods and gripping stories are seamlessly interwoven, not least when Simon’s daughter vanishes in our time.
While the action is epic, the stakes high, and the historic episodes powerfully evocative, Erskine has an accessible down-to-earth style, with lots of character backstory and side strands feeding into the main narratives. Thronging with mystery, ghostly visions and centuries of secrets, this comes recommended for readers who like historic fiction with meandering intrigue.
| Primary Genre | Historical Fiction |
| Recommendations: |
A sweeping page turner which keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I love Barbara Erskine's books so I was really looking forward to this one. I wasn't disappointed. A sweeping novel switching between the past and present kept me reading late into the night. And the touch of supernatural was different. The characters were well drawn, people you could come to like or dislike. I found myself really wanting to know what was going to happen to them next.... Read Full Review
This is the first book I have read by Barbara Erskine, I chose a good one too!
This is the first book I have read by Barbara Erskine, I chose a good one too! We have visited the area of the Marches between England and Wales. It was easy to visualise where the action was taking place. The subject matter was new to me and a little frightening.
The book was I think the newest in a long line of books Barbara Erskine has written. It was well written and its characters well defined, the writing was a joy to read. As for the story, it was out of this world and in ancient Kingdoms with different beliefs and ways.... Read Full Review
For all lovers of timeslip novels. A book to lose yourself in and not to be missed. Read and enjoy.
Delighted to review the latest book by Barbara Erskine, one of my favourite authors. As with all her books, there is a delicious mix of dual time, historical, romance and intrigue. It’s bound to set Erskine’s many followers, together with new devotees, up for a perfect escape from the depression of the present time.
Set in 775AD, Eadburh is fighting for the right to marry the man she chooses, while in 2021 Simon rents a secluded cottage on the English/Welsh border looking for peace as he tries to finish writing his book about the Anglo-Saxon King Offa. But peace is the last thing that Simon finds as he settles into the cottage. What has all of this to do with his daughter, Emma?... Read Full Review
