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The Well Of Shades (The Bridei Chronicles book 3) by Juliet Marillier
01/11/2007 . Source: Eamonn Murphy 
pub: TOR/Forge. 494 page hardback. Price: $27.95 (US), $34.95 (CAN). ISBN: 978-0-7653-0997-6. Buy The Well Of Shades in the USA - or Buy The Well Of Shades in the UK  check out website: www.tor-forge.com and www.julietmarillier.com
This is volume three of 'The Bridei Chronicles' and it would be wiser to read volumes one and two before starting it, not least because they're pretty good. So is this, though at times I thought it should be titled 'The Faolan Chronicles'. I thought the same about volume two.
Bridei is King of the Priteni in ancient Scotland and Faolan, a Gael, is his bodyguard and best spy. In volume two, Faolan was unlucky in love and the start of this book finds him back home in Erin trying to put his past to rest and pay old debts. Previously, a man called Deord saved Faolan's life at the cost of his own. Faolan tracks down Deord's daughter, Eile, and finds her in difficult circumstances, that is, half-starved and being serially raped by her stepfather. She has a three year-old daughter, Saraid, from this union. Faolan's debt of honour to her father means he ends up taking charge of their destinies but his own is troublesome enough. Confrontation with his family, who thought him long dead, brings several surprises.
Back home in Fortriu, King Bridei has his own troubles. He wants a time of peace in the realm but others want him to seek the throne of the sister Kingdom of Circinn to the south. Fearing another war he doesn't want to do this, which means some chiefs may turn against him. Meanwhile, his wife Tuala confronts Chief Druid Briochan with the fact that he is her father. Briochan then vanishes into the wilderness just when Bridei needs him most. He needs him because the charismatic Christian Colm, a monk, is coming to petition for a colony on Iona. Bridei is faithful to the Old Religion but there are Christians all around him and offending them is risky. Then there is a beautiful blonde guest at his court who is, it turns out, as crazy as a shithouse rat and far deadlier.
I can't say more without giving away the plot, suffice to say anyone who enjoyed the first two chronicles will love this as well. In fact, it's probably the best of the bunch. It has the Druid magic of the first two books and accurate descriptions, too, of the cold, harsh reality of life in ancient Scotland. Juliet Marillier's writing is simultaneously elegant and easy to read. The characters are loveable, likeable or dastardly enough to stir the emotions and clever plotting keeps the suspense building right to the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The story is loosely based on Pictish history in the latter half of the sixth century and several of the main characters were actual historical figures, notably St. Columba. This book ends with Bridei still a young man, a political/religious situation still in flux and a large cast of interesting characters all set for further adventures. There is lots of scope for more 'Bridei Chronicles' and I, for one, hope more will be forthcoming.
Eamonn Murphy
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