Tristan and Isolde’s story has haunted me for decades. It doesn’t hurt that it’s set in the wild, romantic landscape of Cornwall. As soon as I saw the character names, Elen had my attention. What would she do with these familiar figures, in a modern setting? It isn’t a simple bringing up to date of the original myth. The energy and tensions between the characters are all present, but the radically different context makes for an entirely different shape. We can’t just plonk the past down in there here and now and expect everything to work the same.

I really enjoyed this book. It is an excellent piece of contemporary Pagan fiction that put me in mind of Charles De Lint. There are times when what you really need is a comfy chair, ideally with a cat, cocoa and a book that makes you feel a bit better about life. This is one of those books. It is gorgeous and enchanting, the plot is engaging and full of surprises. There’s also hope in it, passion, romance, and magic. As a Pagan alert to the state of our world, and as a frequently weary activist, hope is something I most definitely need. I think it’s something we all need. Belief that we might do better, that we might find ways forward, that there can be re-enchantment and better ways of living and being. Elen’s story gives all of that, and more, in a way that doesn’t feel so idealised as to be unreachable.

You can read Elen's take on her book in this blog post.

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