New Book Alert: Hag of the Hills (Bronze Sword Cycles Book 1) by J.T.T. Ryder; Epic Fantasy With Misleading Title Shows The Graphic Making of a Warrior
By Julie Sara Porter
Bookworm Reviews
Spoilers: I can't fault J.T.T. Ryder's Epic Fantasy, Hag of the Hills for much. The book is set during the La Tene period between 400-200 BCE in the Isle of Skye and captures the setting and especially the Celtic mythology rather well. The Reader sees various legendary figures like fairies, goddesses, and selkies, and many human characters who invoke the gods for success, healing, revenge, and other things. It has a strong lead character and the suspenseful plot shows the graphic violence that can change one from a naive nervous kid into a strong warrior and leader.
I can't fault it for much except for one thing. The title.
The title the Hag of the Hills refers to a mysterious woman, possibly a goddess named Chailleach Bhear, who is portrayed as a hag who delivers winter. She appears before the protagonist and gives him his call to adventure. The protagonist leaves and occasionally he sees visions of her, but only a few times.
For a title character, Chailleach Bhear is barely in it. While she serves an important part and her presence is strongly felt throughout the book, she really doesn't appear very much. The book could have easily been called Warriors of the Hills or even The Bronze Sword (the latter is the name of the series) and it would make more sense. The supernatural divine aspects are present throughout the book. The main focus is how a young man is strengthened by his loss to become a violent man thirsting for revenge and embracing the warrior code in which he had previously paid little attention.
Brenn is the youngest in a family that boasts of warrior blood. His parents are dead and he is currently in the care of his older brothers, Bodvic and Fennigus. He knows his place in this clan and is soon to marry Clodagh, the neighbor's daughter in an arranged marriage. He also fancies Myrna, the chief druid's daughter though she is above his station. His sexuality may be more complex than we are led to believe.
The entire novel is a giant epistolary to someone named Luceo. We have yet to physically meet Luceo in person, but Brenn keeps referring to him in endearments like "my dear" and "beloved." The book is almost a confessional to this person who is clearly important to Brenn's future. He tells all about his past so there are no secrets between them.
Even though Luceo has yet to appear, it's clear that Brenn is close to him on a physical and emotional level, possibly a soulmate. It will be interesting to read when Luceo is introduced, why he deserves to know so much about Brenn's past.
Anyway, returning to the main plot, Brenn hears voices to go up the Slighan Hills. When Brenn goes, he meets Cailleach Bhear taking the form of an eccentric old woman named Cally. In one of the strangest but also beautiful chapters in the book, Cally invites Brenn to come and have tea with her and her companions. Her companions are sidhe, or the faire folk. They seem to come from thin air or out of the ground. They blend into their natural surroundings. It's a moving tribute to the Celtic pagan pantheon and the close connection that spirits have with nature. It also shows the concept of fate and destiny. After his encounter with Cailleach Bhear, Brenn has the power of seeing sidhe. This comes in handy when he and his companions are attacked by such creatures, including a selkie.
Cailleach Bhear leaves such a memorable impression that I wish she was in the book more, especially, since she is the title character. She only appears here and there in other scenes, but her presence and motives are unclear. After he leaves Slighan Hill, Brenn's village is attacked by enemies from the hill. At this point, Cailleach Bhear seems to switch alliances and dances with glee at the violence. Is she on the side of the Hills, but why does she give such an awesome power to Brenn to give him a distinct advantage? If she is on Brenn's side why is she dancing with delight at their defeat? Or is she more than likely the living embodiment of death and darkness, the winter of life? She knows that humans will do what they do, fight and kill just as she foresees? She is on her own side, the side that knows death and loss is on its way.
Brenn's village is attacked and his friends, family, and neighbors are either killed, wounded, or kidnapped. Brenn finds himself kidnapped by a group of raiders. He eventually fights his way into joining and then ultimately leading them. He was once very young, naive, and accepting of the warrior life, though not really a part of it. Through the book, he gains physical strength and begins to develop the lust for blood and fighting that other warriors have. He is stripped of his earlier naivete, coddled life, and boyish ideals. He is even stripped of his name and is called Vidav by the warriors.
There are many times with Vidav's new more weathered angrier outlook at the world, his morals become more questionable and less cut and dry. He sees the shades of gray that his youth never allowed. In one heart wrenching passage, an elderly druid begs Vidav to kill him. Later his wish is granted in the most violent way possible.
Vidav also considers selling a female companion to a monarch for a stronger army and safe passage. With Vidav ascending into adulthood and becoming a hardened warrior, he has to be awakened to tough decisions and actions that he would have never done before or once considered repellant if he had.. Right or wrong, it is a part of adulthood to make choices that could be immoral for a chance to survive. It's certain that Vidav's character will get darker the more the plot continues.
The Hag, Chailleach Bhear, may leave an unforgettable presence and had the title but the truth is, this is the kid, Brenn's story as he becomes the warrior, Vidav.
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