When Dan and Ursula become lost in a thick mist, they have no idea that once they step out of the other side they will find themselves in an England of thousands of years ago and embroiled in a civil war between ancient Britons and Romans. Soon they will have to rely on strengths that neither of them knew they had as they battle both physical and magical enemies, not only to ensure their own safety, but also to try and help save the lives of the Combrogi who face the might and power of the Roman army.
In this powerful and sweeping epic novel, survival depends on learning magical arts and respecting codes of behaviour that pre-date all modern life. It is a difficult world to survive in. Are Dan and Ursula able to master all they need to know in time to ensure that they do not become victims of a time far harsher than any they could ever have imagined?
Reviews for series
'Riveting adventures in a story which is also crammed full of historical interest' Independent 'A wonderful fantasy series ... full of accurate and sophisticated detail. [Readers] will find themselves out of breath and absolutely satisfied' www.bookbag.co.uk 'One of the very best magical adventures of the past 30 years ... [Browne] is a part of the grand Celtic storytelling tradition in British children's literature that began with Kipling's Puck of Pook's Hill, continued with T.H. White's The Sword in the Stone and blossomed in Tolkien and Alan Garner' The Times
Review
"An absorbing fantasy with thought-provoking issues to ponder. A field trip to the battlefield at Hastings turns into much more when a mysterious yellow mist transports Dan and Ursula to A.D. 75 Britain. The indigenous Combrogi tribesmen are fighting the invading Ravens for their land and their lives, and Combrogi Princess Rhonwen has used magic to summon the present-day teens to help her brother battle the enemy. Dan is popular and athletic and becomes an incredibly effective but mindless killing machine. Ursula, who is too tall and bulky to fit in at home, once again becomes the butt of teasing and torment until she realizes that her talent in this world is the same magic that Rhonwen used to find her and Dan. Gradually she learns to use her powers and, in the end, it is she who raises the Warriors' Veil, first to bring an entire Roman legion to help the Combrogis, and then to try to get her and Dan home again. Both teens find themselves wondering who the good guys are-the blood-thirsty Combrogi, who butcher as much as battle and collect severed heads as trophies, or the "more civilized" Ravens, who fight in organized legions but slaughter entire villages of men, women, and children. In the end, Dan and Ursula leave the Combrogi wondering about their place in their own world after what they have experienced. Combining the thrill of a video game come to life with the tempering of both a strong heroine and hero finding themselves in a difficult world, this novel deserves a wide audience."School Library Journal
N.M. Browne went to New College, Oxford to read Philosophy and Theology and then to King's College, Cambridge, to train as a teacher. She is now a powerful voice in children's fiction. She lives in London with her family.