I received a review copy from the publisher as part of the blog tour in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
Genre: Historical Age Range: MG Star Rating: 4 stars Series: standalone
Blurb:
Scotland, 158 AD, is a divided country.
On one side of the Antonine Wall, thirteen-year-old Felix is trying to become a good Roman soldier like his father. On the other, twelve-year old Jinny is vowing revenge on the ‘metal men’ who have invaded her Damnonii tribe’s homeland. At the Damnonii’s sacred circle of standing stones, her planned attack on Felix goes badly wrong, awakening a legend that threatens to bring fire and destruction down on them all.
Can Jinny and Felix overcome their differences and soothe the stones back to sleep before it’s too late?
Blurb taken from Goodreads. Add to your shelves here.
Review:
THE WHISTLERS IN THE DARK is a great middle grade historical in Roman Britain.
This book is set in Central Scotland in the second century AD around the Antonine wall, the less known other wall the Romans built on their frontier here in the UK. This wall was further north and in operation for far less time than the much more famous Hadrian’s wall. I loved that this book focused on a lesser known part of the northern frontier, bringing this part of our history to more children’s notice.
There are myths woven throughout this tale, but I would say this book is firmly planted in historical rather than historical fiction, which I enjoyed. I love both genres, but I think this worked so well in historical alone, but showing where belief systems interacted with daily life.
The story explores the tensions between the Brythonic tribes and the occupying Romans, both from the perspective of an outsider to Rome (Jinny) and someone with a foot in both worlds, so isn’t fitting into either (Felix.) I particularly liked the tension for Felix, wanting to be the world that doesn’t always accept him as well as exploring the ways Rome looked on different people it had conquered or tried to.
It is a tale of overcoming differences to do the right thing as well as also exploring forgiveness and guilt. I really enjoyed watching Jinny and Felix struggle with the expectations and condemnations of their own people and slowly coming together despite their past to do the right thing.
The dialects are done so well. It’s really easy to tell not only who’s speaking but also the fact they’re used to different languages with their word choice and grammar. It’s a little detail (particularly going past vocabulary into grammar!) but it makes such a difference in selling the characters.
Read my reviews of other books by Victoria Williamson:
Middle grade:
Standalones:
Young Adult:
Feast of Ashes:
- FEAST OF ASHES (#1)
Sifa Elizabeth Reads 