First published 2021
Devout grows up in a northern settlement during the iron age, where life follows ancient rhythms of planting and harvest. She works the fields beside the young man she loves, dreaming of marriage and prosperity in their close community that honors Mother Earth. The Romans wage war hundreds of miles away, but their isolated bog village remains untouched by outside forces. Seventeen years pass. Devout now has a daughter, but their world has darkened. Crops fail and famine grips the settlement. Foreign invaders arrive with weapons and alien customs, threatening everything the community holds sacred. Devout's daughter possesses an unusual gift that may be their only hope. As the old ways clash with military conquest, the young woman must use her abilities to protect her family and neighbors. The survival of their entire way of life depends on her courage.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, fantasy, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Black Lake, Northern Settlement, Roman Empire
Period: Iron Age, 17 Years
352 pages · Paperback · Riverhead Books
Content warnings: violence