Amazon:
After the death of his mother, young Alwin of Whittaker leaves the only home he has ever known to seek answers about his unknown father through a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.
On the journey, Alwin falls in with a band of violent and marauding soldiers and is witness to their terrible crimes. When Alwin later joins up with a group of pilgrims, he must hide his identity . . . but he is not the only one with secrets to keep. Rosamund, a young woman travelling the same path, has much to conceal too.
The journey to discovering who he really is will lead Alwin into great danger and great passion. These are dark times, and through them, Alwin must shine a light.
Will the revelations to come destroy everything that came before?
My reading experience:
Firstly I would like to thank Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my free ARC.
This is a well researched story with factual references sparkling through an historical fiction novel.
The literary prose are evocative of gender politics and the roles and responsibilities of men and women, and the burdens that brings.
the protagonist Alwin is drawn to Rosamund, an opinionated fellow pilgrim and thus ensues a love story, a mystery and political tale.
Rich in periodic detail, I thoroughly recommend this book.
Themes: pilgrimage, parental lineage, ancestry, love, relationships, mystery
Appletree Books 