Kindle Edition Category:  Historical Fiction Publisher: FeedAread Pages: 217 Copyright: March 2012 ISBN-13: 9781781761557 7th Century Powys, at the hall of Cynddylan, King of Pengwern. Heledd and Ffreur attend a feast where fifteen year old Heledd develops an infatuation for a travelling minstrel that initiates a sequence of events that will destroy two kingdoms and bring down a dynasty. Excerpt The eagle of Eli, loud his cry: He has swallowed fresh drink, Heart-blood of Cynddylan fair! I dreamed of the eagles long before they came swooping down from their cloudy crags. They blackened the sky, the wind from their wings lifting my hair as they circled, talons extended, before settling on the field of death to feast upon the corpses of my brothers. Too torn for tears, I waded through my slaughtered kin while pain ripped my heart like a dagger and, then I saw Cynddylan’s fallen standard and my step faltered. As the smoke cleared I saw him staring blindly into the blemished sky, his torso twisted, his neck broke, his mouth gaping. And when I saw him there the world turned dark around me. I knelt in his blood and tried to close the yawning wound upon his chest but I was too late, he was gone and I was to blame. All of my kindred were lost and the Kingdom of Pengwern was shattered. Only I was left, alone. I threw back my head, unprotected beneath the vast and empty sky and screamed a protest to the vengeful gods. When I woke in the morning and found myself safe in my furs, I flung back the covers to run outside. My playmates tumbled as usual beneath a kindly summer sky while the women spun yarn in the shade of the alder trees. Putting up a hand, I shielded my eyes from the sun and saw my brother’s hounds come bounding to meet me. They leapt up, trying to lick my face but I pushed them away and looked around for my brother. The King of Pengwern was striding across the enclosure with an arm about his companion. ‘Cynddylan,’ I called and ran to tell him of my terrible dream but he was intent on the affairs of men and, waved me away. He would not listen. I was just nine summers old then and, as I grew to womanhood, the dream faded and I forgot all about it. It was many years later, on the cusp of a great battle, when I heard again the far off cry of the wheeling eagles, that I remembered my dream and knew what was to come.

Travel back to the 7th century
In her 'authors notes' at the end of this wonderful book, Judith Arnopp tell us that 'History is an unknown place, full of half truths and many opposing opinions.' The undoubted truth of this statement makes it even more extraordinary that from the fragmentary sources and poetry at her disposal, Judith has once again built a narrative that draws the reader right into the 7th century. It is a fast moving, feisty, tumultuous and often violent world, but the compelling descriptions of place and character are so engrossing that we are immediately transported into the life of Heledd, sister of the King of Powys, and her younger sister Ffreur, as they live the lives prescribed for them as members of the aristocracy at that time. In her youthful exuberance, Heledd makes a tragic mistake, and although she is successful in putting this behind her, its ramifications colour all the events of the story, leading to terrible consequences years later. This story is a tragedy. but told with such rich detail and poetic prose, that it becomes indeed 'the song' of Heledd, and the elegaic melody stays with us long after the tale ends.
I loved this book, and if you like to lose yourself in a book, and enjoy early medieval history, this is for you. Enjoy!

song of heledd a brilliant read,
this is a must read for all history fans,it grips you from the start and holds you through to the end.ive read other books by this author and have enjoyed them all, this one wont dissapoint.