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Tribes of Britain #2
Pagan Curse
Three lucrative trade deals. Two noble Phoenicians. One lethal curse.
Wise woman, Meliora, is afraid for her life. Revealing what she knows will get her killed. Her only chance is to leave camp and join her nephew on a crucial mission across the Channel.
Prince Suliaman from Tyre is in urgent need of a cure. The healing stones at the top of the world could provide relief if Meliora and her nephew can lead them safely across tribal lands.
Are these genteel foreigners all they seem or are more sinister forces at play?
Has Meliora swapped one perilous situation for something far worse?
Join her in the quest of a lifetime, as she navigates cultural clashes and ritual slaughter in book two of the Tribes of Britain series.
Wise woman, Meliora, is afraid for her life. Revealing what she knows will get her killed. Her only chance is to leave camp and join her nephew on a crucial mission across the Channel.
Prince Suliaman from Tyre is in urgent need of a cure. The healing stones at the top of the world could provide relief if Meliora and her nephew can lead them safely across tribal lands.
Are these genteel foreigners all they seem or are more sinister forces at play?
Has Meliora swapped one perilous situation for something far worse?
Join her in the quest of a lifetime, as she navigates cultural clashes and ritual slaughter in book two of the Tribes of Britain series.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 16, 2019
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15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 28, 2021
'𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙫𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙪𝙯𝙯𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚. 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙨. 𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.'
🧙🏽♀️700BC, Britain. After executing their father's killer, Blydh and Tallack, Meliora's grand nephews jointly ruled the Dumnonii tribe, but the actual killer still roams free and Meliora knows it. When Tallack planned to go on a voyage to secure a trade deal, Meliora afraid for her life accompanied him and journey across the sea. Their voyage took them to the islands of Franks where she meets with a wealthy Phoenician Prince Suliaman who is afflicted by a cruse, the kind of which they have never seen/ heard before. He offered Meliora a lucrative trade deal in exchange for taking him to the top of the world, to the Island of Skotek, and arrange the Black Rites Ritual to cleanse the curse from his body. To secure the deal for her tribe Meliora agree to lead him to the healing stones, without knowing the true character of their trading partners and their cruel god Melkarth. Has she swapped one perilous situation for something far worse? Will, she ever able to return to her tribe?
🧙🏽♀️The book - 2nd in Tribes of Britain series - set during the Late Bronze Age follows the adventures of Meliora, the wise healer of the Dumnonii tribe through her own 1st person POV. Whether there exists any direct trade relationship between the Cornish and the Phoenicians during that time period is a subject of speculation, but Sam had beautifully crafted the entire story on basis of this assumption and the way she explores the cultural clashes and ritual slaughter in the book is praiseworthy. I wish she also shared a map and a glossary for Cornish words.
🧙🏽♀️After reading book 1, I've high hopes from Sam's writing and I'm happy to say she didn't disappoint me. The way the story build-up, tension is created and each chapter ends with a cliffhanger hooked me. The thing that I find most intriguing is the use of various natural remedies and herbs of that time which Sam shared in the story. This book had more violence, dark rituals, and death than book 1 which is completely fine with me and its 1st-person narratives perfectly suit the story. I never felt boring nor did I find the pacing plodding anywhere in the book.
🧙🏽♀️Sam had immaculately crafted Meliora's character. Her friendliness, compassion, and helpfulness remind me of my grandmother, while her astuteness, experience, and healing skills surprise me. In this book, she faces many challenges, cheated deaths many times, and at the end survives a personal tragedy. The other 2 women, Bera and Idina in the book are also good but their part is limited. Unlike book 1, in this book, the men - Jago, Tallack, Suliaman, Maleek, and Cade plays an important role in the story. Among them, Jago and Tallack are my favorite.
🧙🏽♀️The ending was heartbreaking and full of surprises which I'll admit I've not seen coming. Nevertheless, it was satisfactory and hooked me for the next book.
Overall, Pagan Curse is a wonderful read and a worthy sequel to Pagan Death. If you like the strong female character and adventure story based on ancient history, then this book for is you. Highly recommended.
𝙈𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)
🧙🏽♀️700BC, Britain. After executing their father's killer, Blydh and Tallack, Meliora's grand nephews jointly ruled the Dumnonii tribe, but the actual killer still roams free and Meliora knows it. When Tallack planned to go on a voyage to secure a trade deal, Meliora afraid for her life accompanied him and journey across the sea. Their voyage took them to the islands of Franks where she meets with a wealthy Phoenician Prince Suliaman who is afflicted by a cruse, the kind of which they have never seen/ heard before. He offered Meliora a lucrative trade deal in exchange for taking him to the top of the world, to the Island of Skotek, and arrange the Black Rites Ritual to cleanse the curse from his body. To secure the deal for her tribe Meliora agree to lead him to the healing stones, without knowing the true character of their trading partners and their cruel god Melkarth. Has she swapped one perilous situation for something far worse? Will, she ever able to return to her tribe?
🧙🏽♀️The book - 2nd in Tribes of Britain series - set during the Late Bronze Age follows the adventures of Meliora, the wise healer of the Dumnonii tribe through her own 1st person POV. Whether there exists any direct trade relationship between the Cornish and the Phoenicians during that time period is a subject of speculation, but Sam had beautifully crafted the entire story on basis of this assumption and the way she explores the cultural clashes and ritual slaughter in the book is praiseworthy. I wish she also shared a map and a glossary for Cornish words.
🧙🏽♀️After reading book 1, I've high hopes from Sam's writing and I'm happy to say she didn't disappoint me. The way the story build-up, tension is created and each chapter ends with a cliffhanger hooked me. The thing that I find most intriguing is the use of various natural remedies and herbs of that time which Sam shared in the story. This book had more violence, dark rituals, and death than book 1 which is completely fine with me and its 1st-person narratives perfectly suit the story. I never felt boring nor did I find the pacing plodding anywhere in the book.
🧙🏽♀️Sam had immaculately crafted Meliora's character. Her friendliness, compassion, and helpfulness remind me of my grandmother, while her astuteness, experience, and healing skills surprise me. In this book, she faces many challenges, cheated deaths many times, and at the end survives a personal tragedy. The other 2 women, Bera and Idina in the book are also good but their part is limited. Unlike book 1, in this book, the men - Jago, Tallack, Suliaman, Maleek, and Cade plays an important role in the story. Among them, Jago and Tallack are my favorite.
🧙🏽♀️The ending was heartbreaking and full of surprises which I'll admit I've not seen coming. Nevertheless, it was satisfactory and hooked me for the next book.
Overall, Pagan Curse is a wonderful read and a worthy sequel to Pagan Death. If you like the strong female character and adventure story based on ancient history, then this book for is you. Highly recommended.
𝙈𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)
September 20, 2020
BLURB
Three lucrative trade deals. Two noble Phoenicians. One lethal curse.
Wise woman, Meliora, is afraid for her life. Revealing what she knows will get her killed. Her only chance is to leave camp and join her nephew on a crucial mission across the Channel.
Prince Suliaman from Tyre is in urgent need of a cure. The healing stones at the top of the world could provide relief if Meliora and her nephew can lead them safely across tribal lands.
Are these genteel foreigners all they seem or are more sinister forces at play?
Has Meliora swapped one perilous situation for something far worse?
Join her in the quest of a lifetime, as she navigates cultural clashes and ritual slaughter in book two of the Tribes of Britain series.
REVIEW
A fascinating adventure following hard on the ending of book 1, Meliora finds herself and companions in the company of a cursed nobleman and his fearsome god of the East. It's one of those tales that barely allows the reader time to take a breath before the next in a page turning series of troublesome events occurs, all of which are leading up to a most traumatic experience for all involved. What you'll find, my fellow reader, is a twisted path of surprises along the way in this bronze age journey. An age of superstitions, and yet surprisingly tolerant of the beliefs of others. The author continues to build the drama; as one problem is solved another arises, to the point where things are looking up...and then the last page... Book 3 already has it's hooks in me and I haven't even started reading it.😊
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Three lucrative trade deals. Two noble Phoenicians. One lethal curse.
Wise woman, Meliora, is afraid for her life. Revealing what she knows will get her killed. Her only chance is to leave camp and join her nephew on a crucial mission across the Channel.
Prince Suliaman from Tyre is in urgent need of a cure. The healing stones at the top of the world could provide relief if Meliora and her nephew can lead them safely across tribal lands.
Are these genteel foreigners all they seem or are more sinister forces at play?
Has Meliora swapped one perilous situation for something far worse?
Join her in the quest of a lifetime, as she navigates cultural clashes and ritual slaughter in book two of the Tribes of Britain series.
REVIEW
A fascinating adventure following hard on the ending of book 1, Meliora finds herself and companions in the company of a cursed nobleman and his fearsome god of the East. It's one of those tales that barely allows the reader time to take a breath before the next in a page turning series of troublesome events occurs, all of which are leading up to a most traumatic experience for all involved. What you'll find, my fellow reader, is a twisted path of surprises along the way in this bronze age journey. An age of superstitions, and yet surprisingly tolerant of the beliefs of others. The author continues to build the drama; as one problem is solved another arises, to the point where things are looking up...and then the last page... Book 3 already has it's hooks in me and I haven't even started reading it.😊
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 26, 2020
Loved it
Great choice of strong female character point of view. Very interesting in inclusion of natural remedies of the time,especially for a nurse! Super easy and fun to read,and I will likely read the series again soon!
Great choice of strong female character point of view. Very interesting in inclusion of natural remedies of the time,especially for a nurse! Super easy and fun to read,and I will likely read the series again soon!
June 15, 2022
History shows ancient peoples were VERY superstitious and truly believed in their gods. Magic and curses were a part of life. Real or not? Who can say? It’s not called the Dark Ages for nothing. Pagan Curse describes Meloria’s first encounter with what appears to be leprosy and provides graphic details throughout the story of the patient’s symptoms and decline. Of course, they believe it to be a curse and not a bacterial/viral infection we know it to be today.
Meloria becomes very fond of Jago, her African slave, gets frustrated with Talleck, and tries to avoid Brea like the plague. There is a considerable amount of violence in this book, as with Pagan Death. But what stands out about this book series is the author’s description of daily life in Ancient Britain during the late Bronze Age. Meloria’s POV is detailed and I can empathize with her aging body and its aches and pains.
*****SPOILERS*****
Meloria and Tallack sail to France so Meliora can find poppy resin, which is basically morphine. Prince Suliaman from Phoenicia snaps up the only jar she can find. Turns out he’s been cursed with a wasting disease, so Meloria decides she’s going to take him and his son, Maleek, to the Calanais standing stones in the Hebrides to remove his curse. Curse my ass. He has leprosy. He’s also addicted to morphine. To appease his gods, he performs a living sacrifice every night, including slicing his own son’s arm open and letting him bleed until he almost died. Every day is a new adventure, fighting hostile tribes, almost freezing to death, and being marooned on a deserted island. Witch predicts Meliora will loose someone she loves if they continue on this quest, and sure enough, during the ritual at the standing stones, her slave Jago is sacrificed, leaving her devastated. Ironically, the ritual doesn’t work, because Maleek inherits the curse instead.
Meloria becomes very fond of Jago, her African slave, gets frustrated with Talleck, and tries to avoid Brea like the plague. There is a considerable amount of violence in this book, as with Pagan Death. But what stands out about this book series is the author’s description of daily life in Ancient Britain during the late Bronze Age. Meloria’s POV is detailed and I can empathize with her aging body and its aches and pains.
*****SPOILERS*****
Meloria and Tallack sail to France so Meliora can find poppy resin, which is basically morphine. Prince Suliaman from Phoenicia snaps up the only jar she can find. Turns out he’s been cursed with a wasting disease, so Meloria decides she’s going to take him and his son, Maleek, to the Calanais standing stones in the Hebrides to remove his curse. Curse my ass. He has leprosy. He’s also addicted to morphine. To appease his gods, he performs a living sacrifice every night, including slicing his own son’s arm open and letting him bleed until he almost died. Every day is a new adventure, fighting hostile tribes, almost freezing to death, and being marooned on a deserted island. Witch predicts Meliora will loose someone she loves if they continue on this quest, and sure enough, during the ritual at the standing stones, her slave Jago is sacrificed, leaving her devastated. Ironically, the ritual doesn’t work, because Maleek inherits the curse instead.
August 9, 2022
I didn't enjoy this story as much as the first. It's well written but it just lacks the interest of the first book. In Pagan. Death there are lots of characters introduced and lots of new practices, history's and cultural ideas introduced and lots of elements of the plot hinted at which reading on to the second book I hoped we'd learn more about but that wasn't the case. All the loose ends and little hints at elements that might unfold were pretty much left loose and unravelled. Game of Thrones was renowned for killing off characters but it was a war and so seemed to make sense. In this series the main characters are gotten shot of left right and centre as sacrifices and unfortunately with them is sacrificed a lot of the interest and potential for future development. This story is, one long and as it turns out pointless road trip. The main thing of interest was the mention of other tribes in different areas but I couldn't seem to make sense if either the timeline or the geography so all in all I found this a somewhat frustrating read, waiting for the plot to kick in and them just being disappointed that the most interesting characters where being killed off fir no real reason. I'm not sure if I'll read on, I did want to find out how the 2 brothers manage to lead but whether the next story addresses that will be the decider for me, in the mean time I think I'll give the Bronze age a break.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2020
Meloria & her nephew Tallack set off overseas to try and forge new trading agreements for the Clan. They meet a group of Phoenician's of of whom is dying.
The noble Phoenician who is dying strikes a deal with Meloria for there help to travel across the seas with them to seek a holy site. Meloria & Tallack and a few loyal friends set out across the lands moving from tribe to tribe. A truly brilliant read . Sam has obviously spent time undertaking research with regards this historical period. A well written book, strong characters, the book continues from book 1 . 5 Stars from.me
The noble Phoenician who is dying strikes a deal with Meloria for there help to travel across the seas with them to seek a holy site. Meloria & Tallack and a few loyal friends set out across the lands moving from tribe to tribe. A truly brilliant read . Sam has obviously spent time undertaking research with regards this historical period. A well written book, strong characters, the book continues from book 1 . 5 Stars from.me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2022
Amazing detail in this historical work of fiction! Action,romance and a treasure trove of cultural
I found this novel very interesting and full of cultural details of ancient Briton. The story was gripping. Read the first book as well and you will be richly rewarded.
I found this novel very interesting and full of cultural details of ancient Briton. The story was gripping. Read the first book as well and you will be richly rewarded.
June 10, 2024
The author has done her research on the era in which the series is set. Worth the time spent reading the series.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews