The Amethyst Wand

Spirals of Time - The new historical fiction series for Middle Grade readers:

BOOK 2 The Amethyst Wand 

The Amethyst Wand is the second story in the series, Spirals of Time. While visiting their grandparents near Caerleon, time travellers Tara, David, Simone and Bethan enter a portal which takes them back to 79 AD. They arrive outside a hill fort belonging to the Silures, an Iron Age tribe. Below the fort, at Isca, is the might of the Roman army, their deadly enemies.

Will the Silures be crushed? Can they survive the most powerful army in the world? At the hill fort Alys the Seer gives the trio a dangerous mission. With Mariad, her granddaughter and young bard Edryn they skirt the Roman fort.

Why are they there? What are the perils that await them? In this second book of the Spirals of Time series, the time travellers vow to continue their quest - to save Planet Earth. Will they survive the power of the Roman Empire?

Review

Another adventure with the three youngsters as they move back through time!

Iggulden writes eras and names with ease, allowing younger readers instant access to significant historical events. It’s a fast moving read that transports you into the heart of the adventure and highlights our modern day opinions about them like the Roman era invasions. At the heart of these adventures is empathy, logic, and the support of the friendship/family group. While these children annoy each other like crazy, they will always stick together.

Themes included are nature, climate change/environment, and of course history. I love that she highlights archaeology to young readers too. It’s an important aspect of history educating us all.

A worthwhile read intended for middle grade readers but entertaining for any age.

Sarah Banham , director of "For the Love of Books."