Silver Hammer, Golden Cross: Book Six of The Circle of Ceridwen Saga

“Silver Hammer Golden Cross” moved the Saga from relatively peaceful era in the nineth century to the brink of war and the emergence and coming of age of the next generation of Ceridwen and Sidroc family. It links the lives, the loves, the adventures, and heroism of those living at Four Stones and Kilton with those living many seas away in Gotland. I highly recommend reading the first books in the Ceridwen Saga before reading the sixth book. Although it is so well written it can stand alone as a fascinating read, it loses much of its meaning and impact if you don’t know the development and growth of the people involved in the story.I was mesmerized by the way that Octavia Randolph is able to get inside the head of people and enable us to feel their emotions, their happiness and their fears. We experience the emotions of the characters in the story who feel hopelessly in love, as well as those who are dealing with the guilt of having killed a man for the first time and the fear of those who are facing their own death for the first time. I have often wondered how people are dealing with having to face death each day as they live with the random killings and bombing around them. In this novel, Ms. Randolph has given me insights into to the human fears and bravery these people experience to enable themselves to go on living.Despite its internal, emotional focus, the book continues with the engrossing story of the now expanded Ceridwen and Sidroc world with the same, ever new, ever exciting, adventurous storyline and the same attention to details that make the life and characters living in the nineth century, so real and so personal to those of us in the twenty first century.

This is the pinnacle of the first six books of The Circle of Ceridwen. All of the characters from the first book that are still alive make an appearance in this one. Yes, Sidroc & Ceridwen, too. But, the book's primary focus is the coming of age of Aelfwyn, Sidroc, & Ceridwen's 3 eldest children, Ashild, Ceric, & Hrald. They are just a bit older than their parents were when introduced in the first book. Just as their parents were then creating new lives after the Danish/Saxon war, their eldest children must pass from being young adults to grown men & women as war comes again to Angle-Land. Kilton is pledged to support King Aelfred, from the first war, is located in Saxon territory, so Ceric knows under which banner he will fight. Sidroc, at 4 Stones, also signed that peace agreement, but 4 Stones is located in Dane-Law territory. With the death of Danish King Guthrum, the peace agreement is in tatters. Will Hrald, now Jarl of 4 Stones, sustain his father's commitment or succumb to pressure from neighbors to join forces with the new Danish interloper who hopes to conquer the entire island? Ceric still wishes to marry Ashild, a half Danish maid. Does Ashild even want to marry Ceric when she would have no position at Kilton? She has been reared to be the Lady of a Hall. Ceric & Hrald face battle as warriors & Ashild becomes a symbol of wisdom & valor. To say more would create spoilers & this book must be read from page to page without a sneak peak at the end because the emotional experience of reading this book would be ruined if you read the end early. It is a satisfyingly lengthy book & I was sorely tempted to peek at the end as I fell asleep with the book clutched in my hand.This is a work of passion that exceeds the writing skill of a long list of best selling authors. Ms. Randolph has poured her soul in to this story. I cried almost non-stop through the last 20% of the book as the 3 young adults find their mettle. Each is very different in character & personality. The manner in which they confront this unexpected crisis varies because each of them has a different cross to bear. There is a surprise in Gotland hinted at for the next book which will delight the devoted followers of this saga.Even if I had not read the first 5 books & did not know the history of the oldest adults, this book is such a gut wrenching heart breaking story, it would still be 10 stars & worth reading. It is apparent Ms. Randolph left pieces of her soul in the words she wrote. Reading these words kept me spellbound. I didn't want it to end. And, I will say that the last words on the last page are so stunning that I awakened my husband with my sobbing & my nose is still raw from all the tissues used.Do not miss this book. Even if you've not read all 5 of the preceding books, this one is a MUST. I would wager there will be few readers who can think of a book that has touched them more deeply.

Silver Hammer, Golden Cross by Octavia Randolph is the sixth book in the Circle of Ceridwen Series. This book deals more with Ceridwen and Sidroc's children in Angleland rather than with Ceridwen and Sidroc in Gotland. It follows Ceric, Ceridwen's older son, that she had with Gyric, and Sidroc's son Hrald and his sister Ashild, both children of AElfwyn. Ashild, who's father was Yrling, AElfwyn's first husband, is old enough to get married, but she doesn't want to leave Four Stones. Both Ceric and her neighbor to the north wish to wed her, but she can't decide which one she wants. Meanwhile, the peace between Wessex and the area held by the Danes is fracturing. The Danish King has died, and many of the jarls holding land in the northern part of Angleand want to take Wessex. Ceric of Kilton is fighting with the king of Wessex, while his best friend Hrald is committed to honoring the peace that was signed between Wessex and the Danes. They both fear that they will face each other on a battlefield.I enjoyed this book very much. The story is very well researched and developed, and the complex characters are relatable. It was interesting to get to know the characters while learning more about a time period I know very little about. As with all the other books in the series, there is action and adventure, plenty of danger to the characters, but also a lot of family relationships and interaction between the family members. I think Ashild is my favorite character, because she is a strong young woman who wants to live her life differently than most other women in this time period. She wants to make her own decisions and not be forced to leave her home just because it is what is expected of her. However that changes when she is faced with the choice to benefit Four Stones by marrying or put her beloved home in great danger. She reminded me of Ceridwen in the first book of the series.Although this book is an excellent read, there were a few things I didn't like. The first was that there were few chapters that followed Ceridwen, who is my favorite character in this series. Another was that the story focused more on Hrald and Ashild than it did on Ceric. I would have liked for it to more balanced between Wessex and Four Stones. Finally, I am still struggling with the pronunciation of some of the terms used from the ninth century. There is a glossary in the back of the book which tells the meaning of the words, and it would be nice if the pronunciation was added.I definitely recommend this book and the series to anyone who enjoys sweeping sagas with strong female characters. Octavia's painstaking research makes this series one of the best I've read. There is quite a bit of violence, as well as some sexual scenes, but the sexual situations are not in graphic detail. It is more suitable for older teens or adults than for younger teens.

Wondering why this volume is more expensive? It's got to be double the size of the last book. They just keep getting bigger as the series progresses. I haven't finished it yet so I can't give you a critical review of the story, but it's off to great start and, if it's anything like the previous five Circle of Ceridwen novels, it will be engaging, engrossing and thoroughly enjoyable. Now, back to the blades and browis!

This book which is the last book so far in The Saga Series by Octavia Randolph just sent shivers down my spine. It tells the story of the journey and shared but very different experiences of Ceridwen and Aeflwyn's children Ceric and Hrald after they had first visited Gotland after so many years apart in Tyrsborg and the terrible events that happened during their time there. I was not sorry that Godwin met his fate. It has been four years since they last saw each other until they meet again under very different circumstances. Ceric with faithful Worr by his side and facing a time of great change and unrest between the long held peace between the Anglo Saxons and Danes and because of how religion and cultures continue to collide. We find out more about how their wealth bequeathed to them by both their mothers and given for Ceric by Modwynn's loyalty to Ceridwen for the love and care she gave to Gyric before he died. It also continues to raise conflict for Ceric as to why as the older child Edwin should be the next ruler of Kilton. Ceric holds Ashild, the daughter of Yrling and Aeflywn in his heart. Octavia Randolph is again unsurpassed in the detail she writes about, such as the gift Ceric choses for her and the hammer and the cross signifies so much hence the title of this book Dear Reader you will be blessed by the weaving of a wonderful story of not only the characters but again by the description of the life people led during this time in history, the weapons that were crafted and had so much meaning and history behind them. The thegns and their wives of Kilton wearing their finest clothes and how these were made are described in exquisite detail I want to wear them all. Like I wanted to ride the wonderful horses to and the care of animals during this time may be harsh but never cruelty for the sake of it as in modern day life. As the book unwinds it's secrets, heartache, treachery, violence and loss are never far behind. I would give this book more than five stars and am a devoted reader and will be so until the end of my time, Whether the Norse Gods take me to one of their halls or I become an angel in the sky please don't pass this gem hopefully made of amber, by and delve into a world that captures more than the essence but life as it was then and so much research and hard work by this author continues as every other in this series and is really unmatched in a remarkable way. Go and purchase it now. I had purchased this book when it came out but it was given to me by someone else and now have my own copy so can at last write a long overdue review. A new book has come out this year and please read this too.

I'm flying through these books! Really enjoyed this one. It does take a little while to warm up to Ceric, which might be a bit unfair to say but maybe that's the point. Ashild is a brilliant character, she does a good job of showing what it would have been like for a woman at that time. The ending is very tense and very fun to read! It's mostly focused on the younger characters and England but the original characters do feature too.

Here we have Book Six in the “The Circle of Ceridwen Saga”. Octavia has woven many beautiful interconnecting stories into one glorious tapestry. This book is, like its sister volumes, an absolute delight and when it ended I found myself looking forward to the next in the series – hopefully the tale will continue! In Book Six our families in Gotland and England are growing up and the tenuous peace negotiated between Alfred and Guthrum is about to be tested, as will relationships between siblings, step siblings and friends. The women in this saga, while very different, have great strength and face their individual challenges with courage and dignity. It is a joy to read about such women – no simpering, shrinking violets here! I can highly recommend “Silver Hammer, Golden Cross” and all the other books in this saga. Keep them coming Octavia!

Love the series and would definitely buy a sequel BUT and this was a BIG BUT for me, despite the good character development and quality writing style I feel the main plot was really incongruous. SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT - I really cannot understand why Sidroc would undertake such a massive journey to Ingle Land (England) - massive emotionally, practically, risk etc - only to stay for ONE fairly minor fight. I'm really not convinced that he would go at all or having done so that he would leave again. Hrald is still so young and relatively unproven. Sidroc has not been there for his upbringing. I really don't think he would abandon Ceredwen and their other children and risk so much effectively for a brief family reunion.