From my personal perspective, this work was a struggle and I, won;t lie, a bit of a disappointment  to me. The narrative flowed well, but try as I might, I could not recapture the tone and mood of it's prequel, Soldier. I am a firm believer that it is the character's who dictate what we write, where the plot takes us and the tone of time and place so I have put down the difference between Soldier and Meeting The  Past to Healer. Her presence is vital to Soldier but as time and need take him away from her, so her presence is lacking here, and I missed her.

I'm glad to say however that my readers still loved Meeting The Past  for its own unique place in the second part of the Soldier trilogy

 

In the opening of Meeting The Past we find Soldier, having just learned his true identity as King Richard III from the Abbot of Jervaulx Abbey, now travelling across the High Moor of Middleham, where he is met by  heOld Meg, a wise old women with whom he had struck up a friendship in his childhood, a friendship which lasted all his life. The injuries from Redemore, though healed, still cause him pain and stiffness and the long journey from Leicestershire to Yorkshire have taken its toll. Meg soon takes him in hand and not only treats his injuries but guides and grounds him spiritually also - the pull of his love for his wife Anne and son Edward is strong on this moor, with the castle that was their once happy home, close by. But it is not a happy home any longer. Now in the hands of Jasper Tudor it is a place of tyranny and repression.

Under Meg's care and guidance he grows  ever more stronger, taking daily  gentle rides on Spirit, the full brother of his destrier White Syrry, which carried him into battle on that fateful day in 1485. Later, joined by Francis Lovell and men escaping the carnage of the York Rebellion, Richard is pulled back into his old affinity. Lovell also brings him news, which he cannot ignore. Kathryn, his natural daughter, is in danger, and must be rescued before he can do anything else.

 

In Praise of Meeting The Past

 

All reviews verified by Amazon

 

5***** Good fantasy read with good, well done research

 

Available on Amazon

Signed copies can be ordered  by completing the form