Hekla’s Children

By: James Brogden

Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies

A decade ago, teacher Nathan Brookes saw four of his students walk up a hill and vanish. Only one returned, Olivia, starved, terrified, and with no memory of where she’d been. Questioned by the police but released for lack of evidence, Nathan spent the years trying to forget.

When a body is found in the same ancient woodland where they disappeared, it is first believed to be one of the missing children but is soon identified as a Bronze Age warrior, nothing more than an archaeological curiosity. Yet Nathan starts to have horrific visions of the students, alive but trapped. Then Olivia reappears, desperate that the warrior’s body be returned to the earth - for he is the only thing keeping a terrible evil at bay.

©2017 James Brogden (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

It was good not great

It had its moments but some parts slow and so very confusing at times. The narrator was okay not a lot of range

Amazing book

I really enjoyed this story! The characters were well developed and I just found it intriguing, unnerving, frightening and, surprisingly, heartwarming. I highly, highly recommend it. The narrator did a fine job and made the experience thoroughly enjoyable.

Excellent

Wonderful ancient folk horror blended into modern day and complicated characters. The main character for most of the book isn’t the most fascinating character in the book (no spoilers as to who that is), so if you start off not loving the protagonist (he’s kindof meh, and he’s meant to be) … don’t worry, there are much more interesting people you will meet! The plot seems straightforward until suddenly it’s not, with an ending I did not see coming.

Wow! Blown away!

A sneaky recursive narrative that I couldn't have imagined. Every realm is all consuming and each character's evolution left me reeling.

Excellent story twists

This story is full of surprise twists. I had developed a good idea where it was going half way through and it did an elegant 180. I strongly recommend it.