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This book should in no way be compared to the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, or recommended to her fans.
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Dark Birthright #1
Dark Birthright
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It's 1619 in Scotland, a time of intolerance, when healers are hanged as witches. A child born of mysterious parentage is given to fisher folk to raise as their son. Dughall grows up in a family bound by love and morality, becomes a healer, and displays psychic abilities. His life is torn apart when he's claimed by his real father, a cruel and powerful lord who tries to mold him in his image. Dughall must define himself, in the midst of a struggle between an Earl, a Duke, and the family who wants him back...
Dark Birthright is a story reflecting the political, religious, and cultural dynamics of 17th century Scotland. The novel is the first book in a trilogy. It is followed by Dark Lord and Dark Destiny.
Dark Birthright is a story reflecting the political, religious, and cultural dynamics of 17th century Scotland. The novel is the first book in a trilogy. It is followed by Dark Lord and Dark Destiny.
429 pages, Paperback
First published October 1,2006
This edition
- Format
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429 pages, Paperback
- Published
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October 1, 2006 by Bruce \u0026 Bruce Inc
- ISBN
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9780972167482
- ASIN
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097216748X
- Language
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English
About the author
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Jeanne Treat is the author of The Dark Birthright Trilogy, which features three illustrated books, Dark Birthright, Dark Lord, and Dark Destiny. To research the books, Jeanne traveled to Scotland to visit castles, seaports, and stone circles, and talk to local historians. To make it authentic, she investigated ancient earth-based spiritual traditions and healing arts. She lives with her husband Robert and two Scottish terriers, Maggie and Duff.
Reviews for Dark Birthright:
Scotland in the year 1619 A.D. was a place where healers were hanged as witches, Catholics and Protestants sought to suppress each other, and a child born of unknown parentage is raised by fisher folk as their own son. Young Dughall growing up in a family that emphasized love and morality becomes a healer, displays psychic abilities, and loves village girl. Then one day a cruel and powerful lord claims Dughall as his father and seeks to mold the talented and conscientious Dughall into a copy of himself. The first of a planned trilogy, "Dark Birthright" is the fascinating and deftly written story of a young man's struggle amidst the political turmoil, religious strife, and dangerous highland world of 17th century Scotland. Of special note is the descriptive introduction of the fisher folk and villagers that still worship the Goddess despite the risk of being put to death as witches. "Dark Birthright" is particularly recommended for readers with an interest in well-rendered historical fiction. - Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/lbw/...
Fantastic! Lucky me to be picked to review this book. In summation it's an adult equivalent of the Harry Potter series… Magnificent human creativity! - read the entire review at: Tregolwyn Book Reviews
http://www.sassoonfellowship.org/treg...
Ms. Treat has captured the life of medieval Scotland with clear and vivid prose. You'll enter a world where you can almost feel the spray from the sea, the warmth from the peat fires and the love as you enter the homes of the seafaring people of Whinnyfold. She shows how a noble may rule with grace and understanding or with unforgiving bitterness. She'll take you to the stone circle to honor the goddess with pagan rituals and celebrations. She touches on the healing powers of herbs, and the medieval superstitions concerning these rites. The relationships are believable whether there's love, loyalty or vengefulness. This is definitely a tale for everyone. It is rich with history, myths, magic, and the paranormal. Characters you'll fall in love with and those who you may actually hate. - Karen Michelle Nutt, author and reviewer for ParaNormalRomance Reviews - paranormalromance.org
http://www.paranormalromance.org/revi...
Reviews for Dark Birthright:
Scotland in the year 1619 A.D. was a place where healers were hanged as witches, Catholics and Protestants sought to suppress each other, and a child born of unknown parentage is raised by fisher folk as their own son. Young Dughall growing up in a family that emphasized love and morality becomes a healer, displays psychic abilities, and loves village girl. Then one day a cruel and powerful lord claims Dughall as his father and seeks to mold the talented and conscientious Dughall into a copy of himself. The first of a planned trilogy, "Dark Birthright" is the fascinating and deftly written story of a young man's struggle amidst the political turmoil, religious strife, and dangerous highland world of 17th century Scotland. Of special note is the descriptive introduction of the fisher folk and villagers that still worship the Goddess despite the risk of being put to death as witches. "Dark Birthright" is particularly recommended for readers with an interest in well-rendered historical fiction. - Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/lbw/...
Fantastic! Lucky me to be picked to review this book. In summation it's an adult equivalent of the Harry Potter series… Magnificent human creativity! - read the entire review at: Tregolwyn Book Reviews
http://www.sassoonfellowship.org/treg...
Ms. Treat has captured the life of medieval Scotland with clear and vivid prose. You'll enter a world where you can almost feel the spray from the sea, the warmth from the peat fires and the love as you enter the homes of the seafaring people of Whinnyfold. She shows how a noble may rule with grace and understanding or with unforgiving bitterness. She'll take you to the stone circle to honor the goddess with pagan rituals and celebrations. She touches on the healing powers of herbs, and the medieval superstitions concerning these rites. The relationships are believable whether there's love, loyalty or vengefulness. This is definitely a tale for everyone. It is rich with history, myths, magic, and the paranormal. Characters you'll fall in love with and those who you may actually hate. - Karen Michelle Nutt, author and reviewer for ParaNormalRomance Reviews - paranormalromance.org
http://www.paranormalromance.org/revi...
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This book should in no way be compared to the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, or recommended to her fans.
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Medieval Scotland: Dughall is born and his poor mother, who had been severely mistreated, perishes. He is given to the Hays, who shower him with love, giving him the foundation to be a good and honest man.
Dughall and his brother Ian Hay share the same birthday of Oct. 31st, the day of the dead. They have the sight and can sense each other’s pain and pleasures. Doughall also has a connection with Keira, a pagan priestess. They dream of each other and hope to marry one day. For a while, everything is wonderful at the seaside village of Whinnyfold, until Dughall’s real father shows up to bring him home to Huntly.
At the castle: The Earl of Huntly gives a new name to the word evil. He is cruel and deals out punishment sometimes without reason. Dughall tries to understand his father, but there seems to be no pleasing the man. There’s Kate, the Earl’s mistress who has her own agenda and Fang, who takes great pleasure in torturing people. Dughall does find friendship with Murdock, who is assigned to protect him. He realizes there is more to his brother Gilbert than meets the eye and he meets his mother’s father, the Duke of Drake. He is a kind man who would like to take Dughall away from the Earl, but law states he cannot interfere.
As the story unfolds, the reader will find out how the characters shape each others lives and their futures.
Ms. Treat has captured the life of medieval Scotland with clear and vivid prose. You’ll enter a world where you can almost feel the spray from the sea, the warmth from the peat fires and the love as you enter the homes of the seafaring people of Whinnyfold. She shows how a noble may rule with grace and understanding or with unforgiving bitterness. She’ll take you to the stone circle to honor the goddess with pagan rituals and celebrations. She touches on the healing powers of herbs, and the medieval superstitions concerning these rites. The relationships are believable whether there’s love, loyalty or vengefulness. This is definitely a tale for everyone. It is rich with history, myths, magic, and the paranormal. Characters you’ll fall in love with and those who you may actually hate.
Reviewed for PNR Romance
Dughall and his brother Ian Hay share the same birthday of Oct. 31st, the day of the dead. They have the sight and can sense each other’s pain and pleasures. Doughall also has a connection with Keira, a pagan priestess. They dream of each other and hope to marry one day. For a while, everything is wonderful at the seaside village of Whinnyfold, until Dughall’s real father shows up to bring him home to Huntly.
At the castle: The Earl of Huntly gives a new name to the word evil. He is cruel and deals out punishment sometimes without reason. Dughall tries to understand his father, but there seems to be no pleasing the man. There’s Kate, the Earl’s mistress who has her own agenda and Fang, who takes great pleasure in torturing people. Dughall does find friendship with Murdock, who is assigned to protect him. He realizes there is more to his brother Gilbert than meets the eye and he meets his mother’s father, the Duke of Drake. He is a kind man who would like to take Dughall away from the Earl, but law states he cannot interfere.
As the story unfolds, the reader will find out how the characters shape each others lives and their futures.
Ms. Treat has captured the life of medieval Scotland with clear and vivid prose. You’ll enter a world where you can almost feel the spray from the sea, the warmth from the peat fires and the love as you enter the homes of the seafaring people of Whinnyfold. She shows how a noble may rule with grace and understanding or with unforgiving bitterness. She’ll take you to the stone circle to honor the goddess with pagan rituals and celebrations. She touches on the healing powers of herbs, and the medieval superstitions concerning these rites. The relationships are believable whether there’s love, loyalty or vengefulness. This is definitely a tale for everyone. It is rich with history, myths, magic, and the paranormal. Characters you’ll fall in love with and those who you may actually hate.
Reviewed for PNR Romance
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This book had an interesting storyline however I really didn't enjoy the writing style at all. I found it very juvenille and written like a fanfiction. I think it could have been better written and I found the style very lacking. That being said, I enjoyed the story and the main character, Dughall. I found his story intriguing enough to keep reading through it. Some of the secondary characters were .... well ... idiotic. I really didn't like the druid Kira, she really irked me and I found her exceptionally flakey. I'm glad that Dughall's story was more interesting than hers becuase I'd have stopped reading then and there. A good read if you don't want to really think!
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I was so pleased to meet the author at a local Celtic Festival and could hardly put the book down the day I bought it. What an interesting woman and author! She, herself, is a healer and she has traveled to Scotland several times to study her ancestors and to research for this book. I could definitely sense this with the authenticity of the scenes. I think I especially enjoyed the way she recreated the mystical aspect of this time in Scottish history.
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Did not finish. I found the "good pagan, bad christian" slant offensive.
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Excellent series of well researched historical fiction of Auld Scotland. The characters are well developed, the plot is robust, and you can immerse yourself in this Scottish world of times past. And the artwork (drawings of characters) are excellent.
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I don't normally like "historical fiction", but I really enjoyed this one. It is set in Scotland, and there is a pleasant amount of slang in it. I have heard that there is supposed to be a second book to go with this one, but it ends really well, and wouldn't need another one.
I really liked the complexity of this book. There was a lot that happened, and the author did a good job of wrapping it all up at the end.
I really liked the complexity of this book. There was a lot that happened, and the author did a good job of wrapping it all up at the end.
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I'm struggling to get through this book even though I WANT to read it because it is set in the land of my ancestors - their very castle and even bears their very names, but all of the "thanks be to the goddess" stuff and the pagan worship crap is really hard for this Christian to get past. My ancestors were Protestants and Catholics and supporters of the king/queen, so much so that they went to war over it (even amongst themselves). To this day, some theorize that is why there are two branches of the family spelling the surname differently - to distinguish which chose Catholicism from Protestantism. In one place, the writer would have the would-be nominal churchy pagans say regarding the witches "but what does it matter? They're people like us. They heal our sick and tend our wounds. Should we kill them because they're different?"
Now, lest someone think that I'm advocating killing witches, I'm not. I'm just saying that their theology/idealogy creeps me out.
Now, lest someone think that I'm advocating killing witches, I'm not. I'm just saying that their theology/idealogy creeps me out.
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