Tindr, Book 5 of the Circle of Ceridwen Saga, does not disappoint.

Octavia Randolph has written a beautiful and fitting fifth book of her series, focusing on a character we met in The Hall of Tyr, Book 4, and and the book is called Tindr. One does not need to have read her previous works to enjoy this book, it is certainly a stand-alone work, but the pleasure derived from knowing these characters before they appear on the page is great. I highly recommend the entire series, in order, for an epic journey to a long ago time in a far away place.

Tindr is deaf – no spoiler here; you can read that on the back cover. We know much of him from Book 4, but the beauty of this book is learning his back-story. Randolph has imagined (or researched, but I’m not sure how much information is available on how the deaf communicated in the 9th century) how a boy whose hearing is lost while he is still a toddler learns to make himself understood, and how a loss of a sense has heightened his capabilities in other ways. He is a gifted and intuitive hunter, a natural with animals and bees, and he has a good heart. His story is a special and magical one, and one in which Randolph’s research shines. The history of the place, the Norse gods and goddesses, the topography is all beautifully described. The language Randolph uses is enough to make one feel they are immersed in the time, but not so much as to be difficult to read or understand. And she provides a glossary of terms with which to refresh one’s memory.

But the real beauty of this book is how Randolph weaves the story of Tindr into the narrative of Ceridwen, and makes both the saga’s heroine and our hero shine. Another triumph for Octavia Randolph.

Deborah