"In this transcendent collaborative collection, Forsyth (The Beast’s Garden) and Wilkins (Sisters of the Fire) touch the heart and speak to the soul, weaving tales rich with magic, love, and loss. The collection of seven stories—all connected by a small place in England, Cerne Abbas, home of the titular well—begins in the present and winds backward through history; the well, which has a reputation for granting wishes, plays a pivotal role in each character’s story. Two souls find love unexpectedly in “The End of Everything,” and the high cost of love’s spite is revealed in “The True Confession of Obedience-to-God Ashe.” Religion and war both play prominent roles, with abundant historical and folkloric references adding further depth. Perhaps the most striking offering to the well can be found in “The Blessing,” which takes place at the height of World War II. The septet is followed by an epilogue that very neatly brings everything full circle. All the stories are vivid, with a full range of emotions and intricacies meant to enrapture and engross. This is a splendid achievement." -- Publishers WeeklyStarred Review
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From two of Australia's most talented authors, Kate Forsyth and Kim Wilkins, comes The Silver Well a magical volume of seven tales, set in seven time periods.
Each story takes place in the English village of Cerne Abbas and one of the many delights of The Silver Well for me was following the journey of the landscape from the pre-Roman village in AD 44 to the modern town in 2017. The characters and themes change from story to story and I found myself captivated by each one.
The gorgeous illustrations by Kathleen Jennings add to the magic and makes this the kind of book that you want on display at home. It would certainly make a lovely gift.
I loved this series of stories sliding backwards and forwards in time, all linked by a well at Cerne Abbas in the south west of England with a mystical reputation.