Book Description
Had fate and nature not conspired, Alyce Redgrave would have been a child of wealth and privilege. But the night of her birth was shadowed by an eerie Devils Moon and her christening day marred by a fierce hailstorm—ill omens that led the superstitious peasants to seek Alyce's life. Desperate to save her infant daughter, Alyce's mother flees with her baby, finding shelter and goodwill at the isolated farm of strangers . . .
There, Alyce's life is filled with secrets, unanswered questions, and a sense of foreboding. Her worst fears are realized when she narrowly escapes the clutches of a murderer by fleeing into the forest. Fate steps in once more to change the course of her life when Alyce is found and taken in by Elspeth, a wise woman with the uncanny ability to commune with nature. Trained by Elspeth in the art of healing, Alyce remains haunted by the puzzle of her past until she discovers her mother's lost pendant. With the help of this object and the aid of the enchanting William Pascoe, Alyce finally holds the key to who she once was and who she will become.
My Review
I was immediately drawn into this book filled with superstition, science, Christianity, and magic. When the countryside thinks Alyce to be born the "Devil's Spawn" her mother flees to save her with the help of Roan, the Steward to Alyce's grandparents.
The story is beautifully divided into parts going from Alyce's mother's perspective to hers. We watch Alyce grow and the forces that come into play that will determine her fate forever.
The beauty of this book is her mother and the other motherly influences that help Alyce along her journey, in her growth, and in her understanding of the world around her. She will slowly learn the truths surrounding her birth and background of her mother and eventually find love.
I was engrossed in this story and really couldn't put it down. The setting is late 1600s to Early 1700s England. It definitely looked at the superstitions and beliefs of the time.
This was beautifully written and like I said it drew me in and wouldn't let me go.
You can buy this book on Amazon, Deseret Book, Seagull Book, and Barnes and Noble