Ceri Norman's début novel, Celtic Maidens, follows the inhabitants of a Maenddu, a small village nestled in the Preseli Mountains of South Wales, as their world is transformed by an unfinished tale of love and betrayal. Still haunting the nearby stone circle after several thousand years is the tale of Morwyna, a hapless maiden of Celtic Wales. In this modern-day romance, heroines Siân and Ffi, and Siân's love rivals through the ages, Badden and Ryan, are swept up in the forces of timeless love, endless obsession, mystery and magic. A druid herself, Norman juxtaposes neo-pagan practice with the 'old ways', as Ffi, local pub landlady and practising druid, struggles to battle ancient forces latent in the mountains surrounding her home - mountains once home to the powerful druids of ancient Britain. Under the forces of dark magic, the veil thins at Maenddu, and inhabitants of Annwn, the Otherworld of Welsh mythology, begin trickling through to the other side.
Norman's engaging, well-drawn characters are easy to relate to and likeable, and the style is fluid enough to draw the reader in. Smatterings of Welsh throughout gave an authentic feel to the dialogue, although, as a Welsh speaker, I may find it more beneficial than others! In novels of this nature, short glossaries or pronunciation guides are useful, and some have maps detailing the the old kingdoms of Britain as well as stone circles or sites of ancient significance. These can be a fascinating addition to fiction set in Ancient Britain, and would complement Norman's novel perfectly.
The book has caused controversy in the publishing industry, with the author experiencing strong opposition to its overtly pagan themes. Yet I feel that the themes of novel could easily transcend all spiritual paths, focusing as they do on a reverence for nature, rather than specific deities. I know I'm not the only one to have been unable to put the book down and I hope for more of the same from this promising new writer.
Celtic Maidens is printed on FSC accredited paper, and is available from all good book shops.
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