"Brilliant historical fantasy"

It has been three decades since Dylan Matheson, with the help of the fairy Sinann, traveled back in time, hoping to change history and stop Culloden from happening. In time both realizes that fate cannot be changed and Dylan prepares the clan to change so that when hard times arrive they will survive. When Dylan dies, Ciaran becomes the Laird of Ciorram and Sinann makes her presence known to him. She tells him that his father doesn't want him to go with Bonnie Prince Charlie to fight because the Highlanders will definitely lose.

Captain Radley of the English Dragoons and his daughter are stationed with other English soldiers at Clan Ciorram. At first, Leigh thinks the Highlanders are barbarians but when she comes to know Ciaran, she falls in love with him. When the English retreat to the lowlands, Ciaran makes the decision to fight for the Prince. When the time of battle looms, Leah sneaks out to find Ciaran, which she does with the help of Sinann. They will live or die together depending on her father's decision.

This brilliant historical fiction brings to life the events that preceded Culloden and gives the audience a taste of how the Highlanders felt going into the war. Ciaran is like his father, brave determined, and loyal to the Highlanders and just like his sire, he made his own decisions no matter that they might bring about his death. J. Adrian Lee gives readers a magical yet historically accurate historical fantasy that is tragically haunting.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted June 15, 2004

Summary

Ciaran Matheson inherited the lordship of the Ciorram Clan when his father Dylan died. But he also inherited the friendship of the fairie Sinnan-and the knowledge that his father was from the future, brought back in time by magic. Now, warned by Sinnan that the Scottish uprising against the British will fail, Ciaran must decide whether or not to fight by his clan...