Blog Tour: Rider of the Storm

I have always adored historical fiction. It allows readers to explore the past, sparking interest in different periods, encouraging them to make connections between the past and the present. It opens the reader to reflection and can offer new perspectives. It allows them to ‘be’ there as stories unfold and to witness the action and adventure as the author brings to life the events experienced by everyday people as well as key historical figures. Well written historical fiction should inspire the reader to find out more about the period, igniting their curiosity. And the ‘Circus Maximus’ series does all of the above! Today, I delighted to be taking part in the Blog Tour for ‘Rider of the Storm’, the third book about Dido and her adventures.

‘Rider of the Storm’ continues Dido’s story which started in ‘Race to the Death’ and ‘Rivals on the Track’. About a year has passed since her last adventure and Dido is now back home, training horses with Scorpus and Parmenion. However, word arrives from Rome that her cousin, Abibaal, has left the Blues, the chariot team he was racing with at the Circus Maximus, to race for the Greens- for the Emperor Caligula. In an attempt to save Abibaal, Dido must return to Rome where she finds herself facing old enemies and new challenges in her most dangerous adventure yet.

There is so much to recommend this story. Full of action and excitement, the plot gallops along at a pleasing pace towards a very satisfying conclusion. The racing scenes are completely compelling, combining historical detail with rich descriptions. For example, Caligula’s building of a circus on his mother’s property, described in the story, is based in fact and an author’s note at the end of the book and an annotated diagram of a charioteer and his team at the front support the reader’s understanding.

Characterisation is a huge strength of this series- both human and horses! At the outset, Dido is struggling with her longing to return to the Circus Maximus and her desire to race and her fear of being discovered and endangering those she loves. She is loyal and kind, fiercely courageous and determined to do what she thinks is the right thing, no matter what the cost. Her devotion to, and understanding of, the horses, is superbly handled. Caligula is also well developed- his cruelty and capricious nature are well documented; however, Annelise Gray offers a nuanced portrayal, hinting at how his upbringing might have had an impact on his behaviour (although not seeking to excuse it). His manipulation of Abibaal plays on that young man’s desire to earn praise from his father by deepening the rift between them. There are many characters worthy of comment- but the best thing is for everyone to read the story and ‘meet’ each one for themselves!

Although this is a series - and each book is worth reading- it would be possible to read this without having read the two previous stories as the writing skilfully builds the picture of past events, filling in necessary details where appropriate. This really is historical fiction at its best- superb for a class reader to bring to life a topic on the Romans, excellent for a guided reading text to help develop understanding and make connections or as an exciting independent read!

Circus Maximus: Rider of the Storm Annelise Gray

Zephyr ISBN: 978-1803281063

Make sure you follow on the rest of the Blog Tour to find out more about this wonderful series! Many thanks to Annelise and the team at Zephyr for asking me to take part.

Once Upon a Hillside

In ‘Once Upon a Hillside’, Angela McAllister skilfully combines seven different, yet linked, stories following the changing landscape of a hillside over the course of six thousand years. It celebrates the healing power of nature, the beauty and joy to be found in the outdoors and how it connects us to the past.

There is so much to love about this story. Angela draws on folklore, her fondness for archaeology and nature’s wonders to create something very special which would be an incredible choice as a key text to inspire and develop children’s own writing.

The stories are linked, not only by the landscape, but also by objects which are significant to characters being found those in the later tales. This idea of history from objects- the stories of past owners- the personal stories uncovered by archaeology- is one which fascinates children and the book could be used to develop work on the local area through significant or relevant periods of history. This island is so full of history that every village (let alone town or city) has a wealth of material to draw on. My own village has an iron age hill fort, had a Roman temple (some say you can still hear the echoes of the footsteps of Roman soldiers haunting it!), was the site of a battle between the Saxons and Danes, suffered at the hands of Royalist soldiers and was flooded in the Somerset tsunami amongst other things- plenty to capture the imagination. Angela’s beautifully constructed and sensitively written book is perfect for inspiring children to write their own stories as well as developing their own ideas about the characters in the book.

Richly illustrated, ‘Once Upon a Hillside’ would make a wonderful gift to share and enjoy again and again. Below, I have included a synopsis of each story, but I would hate to spoil this gorgeous story for anyone- so please stop here to avoid spoilers!

The book opens with the story of Tani as she ‘walks where no foot has ever stepped before…’. Set in the Neolithic era, the hillside is wild and wooded, full of creatures, and Tani is determined to uncover its secrets. Her family have different ideas, feeling she should take her place with the women. Whilst knapping, she finds a flint containing the form of a white bird with outstretched wings which her people believe indicates she is a chosen one and soon, she proves her worth…

Time passes and twins, Corio and Lucillia live on the hillside in their family’s villa. Corio longs to join the Roman army and march across the Empire and is delighted to find an old arrowhead containing the milky white shape of a bird. Lucillia finds a wounded hare which she cares for, praying to a statue of the goddess Diana to take pity on the poor creature.

The Middle Ages arrive and Ailith and her mother, Isolda, arrive on the hillside and make their home in an abandoned cottage. At one with nature, Ailith wishes ‘she could gather a cloak of sunset and wrap it about herself’. She ties a horseshoe to the low branches of an ash tree and she and her mother help those around them with remedies from nature until their well being is threatened by lies of a stranger. When Ailith helps Ellen, who has hurt herself, she is given small Roman statue which Ellen found on the hillside as a token of thanks and the truth about the lies is discovered, leaving the wildmaid free to dance with the wind.

In 1650, young Liddy arrives on the down, trying to make his way in the world. Hired as crow scarer by a farmer, he works hard at this thankless task before stopping to listen ‘to the music of the down’. He is befriended by a shepherd who carves him a wooden sheepdog. After a storm, he finds horseshoe half buried in the heartwood of a tree which leads to him finding family he never knew he had.

The Victorian era arrives and we meet Clara, who is fascinated by grandfather’s collection of finds, and joins him on a dig on the hillside where they are exploring a burial mound from around 6000 years ago. She is given brass magnifying glass by grandfather before a series of strange events lead the workmen to abandon the dig. Determined to solve the mystery, Clara investigates, hiding in a shepherd’s hut where she finds a wooden carving of a dog. Having found a solution to the dig’s problems, Clara’s grandfather gifts her a stone tool from the dig.

Three children, Peggy, Dennis and Stan, arrive on the down in the 1930s, to stay with an old lady who had been friends with their granny. Peggy finds a little brass magnifying glass and in the woods, the children find a den which they make their own. When the boy who made den turns up, conflict develops, but a game of football brings peace.

In today’s landscape, Amari often stays with her Granny Down whilst her parents are working. As Granny grows older, Mum and Dad think that she should leave the down and live with them. But a visit to the Wishing Tree, an ancient hawthorn growing on the hillside, inspires Amari to take photos of all Granny’s favourite places for scrapbook. Involving her dad in her plan helps him to remember how mush he loves the place and how important it is to spend time in nature and with those we love, leading to a change in plans.

A stunning book from an incredible author.

Once Upon a Hillside

Angela McAllister, illustrated by Chiara Fedele

Head of Zeus ISBN: 978-1801107525

You can read my review of ‘A World Full of Nature Stories’ here and my Q and A with Angela here.