Moondance of stonewylde
Berry, Kit200611UU
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Yul has incurred Magus' wrath by challenging him for the leadership of the community. The sunrise ceremony amongst the great standing stones was a disaster for Magus, with Yul lighting the Solstice Fire and receiving the powerful earth energy in his place. But Magus still holds the power, and embarks on an attempt to subdue the Village boy. "Moondance of Stonewylde" is the second in this series of five titles, and follows on from "Magus of Stonewylde". The story is picked up again at the Summer Solstice, where Yul has incurred Magus' wrath by challenging him for the leadership of the community. The sunrise ceremony amongst the great standing stones was a disaster for Magus, with Yul lighting the Solstice Fire and receiving the powerful earth energy in his place. But Magus still holds the power, and embarks on another attempt to subdue the rebellious Village boy. The story unfolds throughout the glorious summer at Stonewylde, where crops are grown organically and the people are self-sufficient and productive. Beautiful descriptions flow of this idyllic place, a community steeped in magic and time-honoured traditions. There's an exhilarating cricket match on the Village Green at Lammas, and the harvesting of wheat in honour of the Corn Mother.Yul proves worthy of the wise-woman's prophecies, hardening himself to the brutality that Magus inflicts so casually, and waiting with growing impatience for the time when his destiny can be fulfilled. But Magus discovers Sylvie's secret gift, bestowed during the rising of each full moon, and sees a way to exploit her to boost his own waning power. His attempts to harness the young girl's magic are aided by his shaman half-brother, who is weak and easily bribed with the addictive hallucinogenic cakes that are part of every pagan festival at Stonewylde. Sylvie grows fragile and thin again, and Yul seems powerless to save her from Magus' cruelty. The Autumn Equinox sees the harvesting of apples in the great orchards at Stonewylde, and Sylvie realises she has a rival for Yul's affections.Her innocent and evocative relationship with the boy is developing into something more adult, and both struggle to control their powerful feelings for each other. Meanwhile Sylvie's mother Miranda remains besotted with Magus, his baby growing inside her, and abandons any attempts to protect her daughter from the man's exploitation. As Samhain (Hallowe'en) approaches, the tension notches even higher when Yul makes a disastrous attempt to rescue Sylvie from the clutches of the two men. By the end of the book, his life hangs by a whisker as Magus gives free rein to his excesses.The reader is left feverish to discover what happens next. Once again, extensive research and close attention to accurate detail of life in an alternative Dorset community creates a sense of reality that seems at odds with the green magic and earth energy of Stonewylde. A bucolic cricket match and the weaving of corn dollies, reaping time with traditional threshing and winnowing, the apple harvest and cider making - but also a brutal fight scene worthy of any action movie and a romantic encounter in the Cider House that would put many bodice-rippers in the shade, means there is something for everyone in this electrifying sequel. 2008 sees the launch of a strong media and PR campaign promoting both the "Stonewylde Series" and the author Kit Berry, and builds on the success of 2007.Review: "Loved the first book and the second is even better! Stonewylde is a whole new world, a world that once I've entered I don't want to leave. Pure brilliance! Can't wait for the third book! KC I just couldn't put it down, absolutely brilliant! Felt bereft when I'd finished. Now have to wait again for book three! SE Did you weave a spell on every written word because the book was sheer enchantment! The descriptive passages of summer in Stonewylde took me back to childhood days when life was simple. You deserve success! SB aged 83 These two books are absolutely brilliant they are the most captivating books I have ever read. AH Just finished Moondance, and wow! Another blaster from Ms Berry! Another cliff hanger too, so can't wait for book three. The descriptive writing is as fabulous as ever, and the world of Stonewylde just as enticing as before. Book two is fast, furious, and gripping; the story moves along at a cracking pace, and the characters draw the reader more and more into their story, and their lives. Another star turn! Now, when's book three coming out??!! TA What a fantastic follow on to Magus of Stonewylde. Have not been able to put it down! Gripped by the magic and great storyline. Haven't read such a good storyline in ages, can't wait for Solstice of Stonewylde. Highly recommended. TL Kit you've done it again! This is a superb follow up. Straight away the reader is pulled back into Stonewylde and everything again is so vividly written, that once again you feel that you are there and can picture everything in your mind so clearly. The characters are developing so well and the passion shown between the main ones is electrifying. PLEASE dont make us wait another year!!!! JA".
Main title:
Moondance of stonewylde / Kit Berry.
Author:
Imprint:
Weymouth : Moongazy Publishing : [distributor] Counter Culture, 2006.
Collation:
320 p. ; 20x13 cm.
Series title:
The Stonewylde series ; Bk. 2
Notes:
Paperback.
Biography/History:
Kit Berry lived in Dorset for most of her adult life. Surrounded by rolling hills and with the sea not far away, she was inspired to write the Stonewylde series. She found walking in the hills and woods spiritual and uplifting, and it was this love of the natural world that drew her to paganism. Kit was a school teacher for many years, first in a primary school and then in the secondary department of a special needs school. She loved teaching and has happy memories of these years, remembering all the children she taught with great affection. Writing had always been a dream for Kit. Once started, she wrote the first draft of the first three books very fast, and then expanded the trilogy into a series of five books. The last two years have been spent redrafting and polishing the books until they sparkle. Stonewylde is Kit's dream come true - a special place she's created, with characters that live and breathe. She's passionate about bringing the world to visit Stonewylde, and loves to hear from the many readers who've enjoyed the books. With her children now grown up and gone, Kit has given up teaching and moved with her partner to Reading, Berkshire, where she is concentrating on marketing and promoting her books. Kit can be contacted via her website www.stonewylde.com.
ISBN:
9780955143915 (pbk)0955143918 (pbk)
Dewey class:
AF
Language:
English
Subject:
BRN:
59192
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