Other Gods: The Averillan Chronicles

by Barbara Reichmuth Geisler

Book by Geisler, Barbara Reichmuth This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1882897641
• ISBN13: 9781882897643
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Lost Coast Press
• Length: 286 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful book

I enjoyed this book very much. It was well written and told an interesting story. Lots of good imagery.

History and Mystery

This is a well researched historical novel. The characters are believable and have individual personalities (no one is all good or all bad, just like in real life). The author blends the story and its historical setting in a very readable and engaging way. Her attention to detail adds to the depth of the story without bogging it down in minutae. A definite good read.

A Delightful New Twist on an Old Genre

When I picked up this delightful book, I fully expected it to be a "no-brainer" quickie read -- what a surprise! Barbara Geisler weaves a fascinating, well-balanced blend of mystery, history, anthropology, and arcane and religious studies. If you are a history/anthropology buff -- you will be delighted. The author gives enough detail to feed your imagination and teach -- but not so much that it becomes a pedantic bore. If you like mysteries -- this is as well-crafted as most of the better ones on the market. If faith and religion are your bailiwick -- there are wonderful little bread crumbs left on the trail of this tale that enhance the experience and give the reader a little extra to ponder. It is an easy book to read -- but not "lightweight". I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to the future offerings in the "Averillan Chronicles" Highly recommended!

Set in the twelfth century Norman England

Other Gods: The Averillan Chronicles is a female protagonist-centered response to the Brother Cadfael mysteries. Set in the twelfth century Norman England of the wars of King Stephen and Empress Matilda, This challenging-paced medieval mystery incorporates historical details of daily living and speech patterns as well as beautiful landscape and environment descriptions into the tale. Dame Averilla, infirmaress of the Benedictine abbey at Shaftesbury, seeks to find the lost Laece Book, King Alfred's collection of precious herbal lore, and to find the lost Dame Agnes, thought to be possessed. Her search abilities, sleuthing skills, and faith are put to the extreme test by a complex struggle for power among Norman and Anglo-Saxon women of rank who are cohabitants of the Order. Amidst rumors of witchcraft, the return of "Old gods" of the forest, and continued civil strife and disorder, Dame Averilla must find her way with the help of several unlikely allies. She strives to uncover the truth despite horrible and fearful obstacles and in the end is rewarded. Other Gods: The Averillan Chronicles does a highly credible job of recreating a sense of fear and despair and loss of order that must have characterized this age, reverse side of the faith which sustained it.