The Roots of the Mountains

A companion to The House of the Wolfings, this romance turns from war with Rome to the older, deeper threat of a cruel invading people, the Dusky Men. In the sheltered valley of Burgdale, farmers, woodland folk, and shepherds have long lived at peace, until raids and rumor force them to remember how to fight. The young leader Face-of-god finds himself pulled between two women and between his settled home and a hidden mountain kindred, and his choices help knit the scattered communities into an alliance. Morris fills the book with feasts, weddings, and the practical life of free country people, so that the coming battle feels like a defense of something warm and real. Free to read here as a PDF and EPUB edition.