BooksChatter: ☀✂ After Whorl: Bran Reborn: Celtic Fervour [2]

Thank you for joining us on the final date of the Virtual Book Tour for After Whorl: Bran Reborn, a Historical Fiction Saga by Nancy Jardine (first published 26 November 2013; this second edition 19 April 2018, Ocelot Press, 261 pages).

This is the second book in the Celtic Fervour series.

Don't miss our interview with author Nancy Jardine.

PREVIEW: Check out the book's synopsis, the Kindle Cloud Reader Preview, and our Exclusive Excerpt below, as well as full details of the series.

After Whorl: Bran Reborn is FREE on Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owner's Lending Library.

Author Nancy Jardine will be awarding a signed paperback, and an ebook copy of the book to two randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter during the tour. Please do take part: comment on our post and follow the tour where you will be able to read other excerpts (☀), interviews (ℚ), reviews (✍) and guest blog posts (✉).

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || Teaser: Exclusive Excerpt || The Series || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

Synopsis

“…the author brings the culture and society of Celtic Britain vividly to life - and in this book there is also an intriguing contrast with the ordered, militaristic lifestyle of the occupying Romans.”

AD 71 Northern Roman Britain

Ravaged at the Battle of Whorl, Brennus of Garrigill is irrevocably changed. He embraces a new identity as Bran, vowing to avert Roman domination of Brigantia. Though how, when he and Ineda – his healer’s granddaughter – are forced to labour for the Roman IX Legion? Trading with the usurpers provides opportunities for gathering information, but after they are attacked by a Roman patrol, Ineda cannot be found.

Distraught with her loss, can Bran find a new occupation?

The adventures of the Garrigill Clan continue…

Teaser: KCR Preview

Teaser: Exclusive Excerpt

A.D.73 Roman Britain, Fortress of Viroconium Cornoviorum

     For many months Ineda and Bran feed back information on Ancient Roman troop movements across the occupied territory, to their Brigante King Venutius – till disaster strikes. They’re set upon and Ineda is taken captive by Tribune Valerius. Dragged across unfamiliar countryside, she’s no idea of where she is, and is especially distressed at knowing nothing of Bran. Weeks later, Tribune Valerius still isn’t much help…
      “You were not worth the effort of me having to discipline the men under my command any more severely than they received. Had they violated, or killed you, they would have been discharged from the Legio XX. Orders are to be obeyed. Their punishment was severe enough.”
     Tribune Valerius’ answer was better than she had had before, nonetheless it still did not explain. No one told her much of anything.
      “What happened to Bran?” She had asked the question repeatedly, but he never gave answer.
      “Olives?”
     She silently pushed the dish away when he held it hovering over her platter. He picked up a few of the green olives and chewed heartily, his eyes rarely straying from her face.
      “Has Agricola reached Stanwick yet?”
     The silent battle of wills continued. She asked questions; Tribune Valerius either failed to answer or tendered another question instead.
     Though she had constantly probed she had been unable to find out if Agricola’s army had reached the stronghold of Venutius at Stanwick. No one would tell her if any huge battle had resulted from Agricola’s northwards march, and no one would tell her if Bran still lived, though in her heart she willed him living.
     Via Tribune Valerius’ militis she had heard her three molesters had been demoted to a lower rank and sent to a different cohort. As far as she knew, the men were now somewhere further west in much more hostile Ordovices territory, the small auxiliary fort they were sent to constantly under tribal attack. Their fate may already have been sealed, since there had recently been some Roman casualties. Even if death did not come at the hands of a Celtic sword, they had already paid dearly for their treatment of her.
     She probed for more, unwilling to keep censure from her tongue. “The soldiers of Rome have molested many Celtic women. Why not me?”
     The memory of her attack was still fresh, but beyond opening her eyes when her assailants were forcibly ejected from her body, all she really remembered was the widening of Tribune Valerius’ eyes when they locked with her own, and his rapid hollering to his troops. Although she had been truly terrified about what was happening to her, she had also been raging.
     Something about her quandary had made the man intervene, but he would not disclose his reason. In general terms, and in the nature of war, she was just another enemy woman to be dealt with. Why he had saved her, and was determined to keep her prisoner, was a deed she had not fathomed.
      “You needed to live.”
     His blank stare continued but his words were new, and even more confusing.
      “Live?” By Rhianna! She did not understand the man.
     Reaching for the flask of wine, he busied himself refilling the deep red liquid into his goblet. She had learned it was the job of a militis to do this, but there was no such second-level recruit in her room. The full goblet that had already been poured for her was placed closer to her elbow, Tribune Valerius’ expression now more of a question. So far, she had refused to drink the potent brew in his presence, preferring to keep her senses, but he repeated the gesture every time he came to eat with her. Perhaps hoping to change her mind.
      “The drink will not harm you.”
     She knew it would not harm her since he was freely drinking it…but he might. Doubt laced her tone, sarcasm abundant in her spat reply.
      “You kept me alive to drink your rich red wine?”
     For the first time in more than a moon’s worth of nights, the man’s mask slipped. The smallest of smiles turned up the corners of his lips and his brown eyes sparkled, softening the harsh cut of his shaven jaw.

After Whorl: Bran Reborn
Available NOW!

The Series: Celtic Fervour

|| [1] || [3] || [4] ||

Click on the book cover to Look Inside the book on Amazon and read an excerpt.

The Beltane Choice [1]

AD 71 Northern Roman Britain

Lorcan of the Brigantes knows that unity of the northern tribes is essential when the Ancient Roman legions advance northwards to Brigantia. Yet, everything comes at a price. Using his captive, Nara, as a political bargain with the Selgovae comes with impossible stipulations. Battle at Whorl – Iron Age tribes against the Romans – is inevitable.

Will Nara have her Beltane choice?

The adventures of the Garrigill Clan begin…

[First published 15 October 2012; this second edition 19 April 2018, 259 pages]

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After Whorl Donning Double Cloaks [3]

“…if the Celts are to achieve freedom from oppression, the rape of their lands, the slaughter of their people and hold fast to the dream of one day setting the might of the Roman Army to flight, they must stand and fight!”

AD 73 Northern Roman Britain

Brennus of Garrigill—Bran—monitors Roman activity across Brigantia. Stability prevails till AD 78 when Agricola, Governor of Britannia, orders complete conquest of all barbarians. Brennus heads north, seeking the Caledon who will lead the northern tribes against Rome.

Ineda treks northwards with her master, Tribune Valerius – supplies officer for Agricola’s Britannia campaigns. At Pinnata Castra, she escapes and seeks fellow Brigantes congregating for battle in the north. The Legions of the Roman Empire and the Caledon allies clash at Beinn na Ciche in AD 84, but where are Brennus and Ineda?

The adventures of the Garrigill Clan continue

[First published 2 Mar 2014; this second edition 19 April 2018, 294 pages]

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Agricola's Bane [4]

A.D. 84 Northern Roman Britain

Nith of Tarras helps Enya of Garrigill in the search for her kin, missing after the disastrous battle at Beinn na Ciche fought between the Caledonian warriors and the mighty Ancient Roman legions. Enya soon has a heartrending choice to make. Should she tread Vacomagi territory that’s swarming with Roman auxiliaries to find her brother? Or, should she head south in search of her cousin who has probably been enslaved by the Romans?

The Commander of the Britannic Legions and Governor of Britannia – General Gnaeus Iulius Agricola – is determined to claim more barbarian territory for the Roman Empire, indeed plans to invade the whole island, but finds not all decisions are his to make. It increasingly seems that the goddess, Fortuna, does not favour him.

The adventures of the Garrigill clan continue...

In Book 4, the tales of the Garrigill Clan come to readers of the series via members of their second generation of Brigantes – their fight against the oppressive forces of the Ancient Roman Legions and their General Agricola a continuing and unending struggle.

[Published 30 Oct 2018, 328 pages]

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About the Author

Nancy Jardine writes historical fiction; time-travel historical adventure; contemporary mystery thrillers; and romantic comedy.

She lives in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where life is never quiet or boring since she regularly child minds her young grandchildren who happen to be her next-door neighbours. Her garden is often creatively managed by them, though she does all the work! Her husband is a fantastic purveyor of coffee and tea…excellent food and wine! (Restorative, of course)

A member of the Historical Novel Society; Scottish Association of Writers; Federation of Writers Scotland; Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Independent Alliance of Authors, her work has achieved finalist status in UK competitions.

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Giveaway and Tour Stops

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