The Fox Paperback – November 17, 2008

I'm not actually sure what I was expecting when I picked up this book, a short fun children's book, maybe? Especially considering how cute the little fox is on the cover. But fairly early in the book, you realize that the fox represents Lovern, and the border is the clan colors.There are many areas of history that I find fascinating, and anything concerning the Roman Empire will usually catch my eye. An added bonus was that this was also about Scotland and archeology.The book is written in first person - usually from Jahna's viewpoint, but quite at least a third of the book is written from Aine's point of view, and a few places are from Lovern's. This may sound confusing, but the author was careful to label who was speaking first person, and the date. The book begins with Jahna in 72AD October. She is serving her uncle in his home, not as a servant, but with her mother and because her uncle's wife is dead. She is 16, and despite trying to avoid her uncle's glance - she is brought forward to be assigned a husband - one she has no love for the boy or his work. She is devastated, but determines to be a good mate during the year of handfasting. The boy is no more pleased than she, as his heart was set on another girl. But such is the way of the clan.Jahna is telling her life story - to Aine - through dreams that pass through time. Aine lives in modern day London and is an archeologist. She and Jahna have been dreaming together since their childhood. Jahna also dreams of a boy, who takes a fox as his name sign.While the book gets off to a slightly shaky start, as it was difficult for me to get a feel for what was going on right away, by the time I finished the first two chapters, I was completely intrigued - and I couldn't wait for Aine to unearth the bog man ... which I expected to happen fairly early in the book. Chapter after chapter sped by with discoveries of bones, bowls, ashes, homes, and so much more ... but no bog man. I felt keen disappointed when he finally showed up in the story. (This based on the product description from Amazon.)Because of the first person nature of the book, I was really able to get to know the two main girl characters. They are strong and determined, and I found myself hoping that their stories would have good endings. Most of the important characters were well developed. I've got a great imagination, and the pictures were so plainly painted with the authors descriptions, that you could almost smell the peat moss burning, and feel the cold of winter. This was a story that drew me and kept me so involved with the life and love of the characters, that many times, I found hours had gone by without my noticing.BASIC PLOTThis is such an amazing book with so many twists and turns and unexpected discoveries and surprises. Unimportant comments that make the reader shake their head in early chapters, hold vital clues later in the book. This basic plot holds so little of the story, and none of the magic that takes you back into time, to experience the magic, the book must be read in it's entirety.Jahna is planned to be handfasted to one of the boys of the tribe, she is 16. A big winter ceremony is being planned, and her handfasting, and others, will be officiated at the event. That night her uncle brings home a nearly starved druid. She knows him. He is the boy that she has had passage dreams about and with. He knows her, the gods have sent him here to marry her. Lovern convinces the uncle to handfast the boy to another girl, and save Jahna for him.Eventually the two marry, but they don't have a child, in spite of the dreams that Jahna has of a girl child. They live with Jahna's mother, who is increasingly ill with a cough that torments many of the tribe - a side effect of burning the peat moss in too closed in of an area. Johna becomes Lovern's assistant and begins to learn about healing and helping her tribe.The Romans are an ever increasing threat to their lives. Traders cease to come, rumors abound. During a trip when Lovern is gathering supplies, Jahna goes to gather herbs, and a man shoots an arrow through her leg, brings her back to his camp, and rapes her repeatedly. He has no plans to keep her alive when he is ready to travel again, so he doesn't feed her much, not that she is hungry, as her leg is getting infected. She is rescued, but feels great shame and will not go to Lovern when he returns until they have performed a ritual and sacrifice with a white stag. She is finally pregnant with a girl child - Jahna's mother dies soon after she is told this news.Life goes on, but when the clans join for information and trade, the druids single out Lovern for a spying mission into the heart of the Roman camp. When he returns, the druids demand a return to their old ways and a human sacrifice - a willing one, in hopes of appeasing the gods and saving their way of life and the life of his daughter. Will his sacrifice be enough to save them all?While the story of Jahna and Lovern is unfolding in the past, tossed in and out of the chapters, is Aine's story. She is an archeologist, and recently has escaped an abusive marriage. She's trying to get her feet under her again, and make up for the time she lost in her marriage. She joins an old friend, Marc, on one of his digs, and through a dream, Jahna shows her a copper bowl. This bowl will be one of the more important finds of that dig and will show up much later in the book in Jahna's story.Later, while exploring the countryside, Aine has a deep conviction that she needs to dig the area. She is convinced that their is much to find here. But the odds are against her, she has very little money, and the farmer's son wants to sell the family land to a hotel chain. When Aine tells Marc about her dreams, he thinks she is crazy - but chooses to help her out for a short time anyway. The clock is ticking, her money is running out fast, so when a tunnel collapses on top of Aine, trapping her inside, will she be able to hold onto her dream? Will she be able to piece together the story that Jahna is trying so hard to tell to her?The reader is taken on a heart wrenching epic tale. Because the story is unfolding from the past and the present simultaneously, the reader has a unique insight into the archeological finds, gaining knowledge that the modern archeologists will not posses. It is a story that allows the reader to connect the dots for themselves. Just enough adventure to keep the reader involved, just enough romance to stir the heart, just enough danger to keep your palms sweaty, and just enough mystery to keep you guessing until the very end. This was a lengthy read of well over 400 pages, but rarely did the story slow or lag to make me very aware of the length - and usually this was during Aine's parts of the book.I found it very difficult to pull myself back into the present once I reached the end of the book. For days afterwards, I wanted to pick it up and read more, but the book had ended. It wasn't a rosy and happy book - but perhaps, it showed a good picture of what life was like for the people who were being conquered by the Roman Invasion.Spiritual Content:Jahna and Lovern are the spiritual leaders of their tribe. There is a great deal of religious explanation, and ritual. They talk directly to the gods in their dreams. Jahna can see people on the other side of death, and helps the dying cross over. Blood sacrifices are performed often.

I loved The Idea of dreams giving us real messages.We should heed the messages and take action. You never know what the results will bring.

The FoxPosted by dlbach on January 7th, 2014 | 2 commentsIn 2010, I had the great honor of meeting author Arlene Radasky online in the virtualThe Fox world of Second Life. I was attending a weekly event where poets and authors read their work aloud for others to enjoy. Ms. Radasky was reading her recently published novel, The Fox. Having Celtic roots and currently writing a novel that takes place in Ireland, I was drawn into the story and sat mesmerized as the author lovingly read each word. It delighted my soul when the Arlene sent me an autographed copy of her book and I began reading it as well.Recently, I purchased the ebook as well as the audio book on iTunes and once again indulged. As I read the ebook (this was before I purchased the audio book), I read it while listening to my meditation music which includes Gregorian chants. It seemed that the music I was listening to added to the intensity of the book transporting me even further within the words I was reading and the world I was reading about making it even more real.When I read a book, watch a television program or movie the one thing that makes it ‘good’ for me is IF the writer(s)/producers have created a body of work that I can believe is happening, has happened or could happen. Arlene Radasky accomplished this in spades. From chapter one and the first words, “I will die when I choose to die”, I was transported to first century Scotland and was more than an observer of all that was going on in the story. When the story changed gears and took me to London and Scotland 2005, I was right there enveloped in everything that was happening to Aine and then back into the mist with Jahna and Lovern.At times I could feel the book was written by an American, but it was only a mild distraction from the reading, as Ms. Radasky’s words were so well selected to help me see things through the proper eyes and return my focus once more to the action within the pages. Jahna and Lovern’s love story bled into Aine and Marc’s love story bringing even more veracity to the overall story. Few authors have the ability to transport your imagination and even few have the ability to transport you into the pages they have written. Arlene Radasky has succeeded in doing this. Allow your mind to be transported back to a time and place that is no more.After reading the ebook, I listened to the audio book, while reading along. A few Gaelic terms were mispronounced and some alteration in words and passages, but all-in-all, the audio book is a must. Listen to this while you are commuting, walking or working. Better still, put on your head set and lay back, close your eyes and journey into the world of The Fox. The audio book also injects music by Steve McDonald which adds to your enjoyment.Ms. Radasky stated that she had read about the Lindow Man in the book, The Life And Death Of A Druid Prince – How the discovery of Lindow Man revealed the secrets of a lost civilization, by Anne Ross and Don Robins. Reading The Fox sparked an interest in me to read about Lindow Man as well. I have also, as a researcher, began looking at the history revealed in The Fox and all that was going on in the region at the time of the story. Ms. Radasky paid close attention to detail with regard to history. This has pleased me as many writers will not and just leave everything as complete fiction. The authenticity of the historical references adds to the enjoyment and the journey that is taken.Arlene, my friend, I thank you for writing this book and providing me and many others with hours of enjoyment and adventure into a world we would not otherwise know about. I recommend this book for anyone who loves to read and loves to read stories written out of history to give us a different perspective of the way things were in ancient times.

It's not a bad story. The main problem is the lack of attention to detail. The use of American spelling is a bit irritating. But a far bigger flaw is the language! A Scottish/British woman in the 21st century would not call Autumn, The Fall!: And certainly she would use an Estate Agent not a Realtor!This would have been three stars but for those mistakes.

The tale of Jahna and her husband, Lovern, the fox of the title, is interwoven with that of her descendant. Life in a Scottish village in 80AD is clearly depicted, and the characters seem as real as my neighbours here today.There is a very real threat of Roman invasion and we experience, with Jahna, the terrible decisions made to try to save the people.Jahna somehow interacts with an archeologist in today's Scotland and leads her to find the site of her village.It is a well written book, and the characters develop through their experiences. The only thing that I would criticize is the use of the odd American word in the mouths of British people. An example is the use of 'realtor' instead of 'estate agent'. No British person would use this word.I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and will recommend it to my friends.

I bought this book because it had a similar name to a self published book I wrote - it sat on my kindle for some time until I was on holiday and now it is clear I was destined to read it in the baking Spanish sun.As a Celtic descendent myself this book drew me in and immersed me in the times of my forefathers and mothers. Its spirit infused my very soul as I read it and I am a better person for having done so.I was taken by surprise by the clarity of writing and by the physical and spiritual transportation to eon's gone by and won over by the relevance of the story to todays turbulent times. It seems that turbulence is normal for human kind and conflict is never more than a generation away if that. This story is one of the importance of kinship, family and unity against conflict and one of healing and faith in ones purpose and path in this life. It is also the story of a very real sacrifice, the sacrifice of a mother and a father for their family and their clan so that those who are loved may survive and prosper. It is highly relevant to todays disconnected way of life where family is scattered to the winds of the world and only electronic connection is the norm.This is a read for anyone who has loved and lost or loved and won, its a story for those who need to re-connect with our ancient tribal past and who we actually are and where we have come from. It is a story that reminds of of the journey of mankind and woman kind and why we exist and that the obstacles, trials and joys that exist are all part of life's path, a labyrinth.Although the story is set in my home Country of Scotland and talks with accuracy, no doubt, about my ancestors and heritage, the story is equally pertinent to natives from all over this planet we live on. It especially made me think of the native indians of the americas and of the aboriginal australasians, the african natives and even the middle eastern tribes. It speaks of the same human pressures that have always existed and will continue to exist as long as there are humans on this planet. It tells of all of these cultures and how they still permeate modern life today in ways that we are mostly unaware of. The story hints at our festivals, traditions, fables and songs and as humans we are better to be reminded of this lest we forget the trials of our ancestors and the sacrifices they made for us to still breathe and procreate.I commend Arlene for this wonderful book, you brought a new colour into my life these past few days and leave fragments of bronze, black and hazel with me forever. The fox and the raven now have new meaning.My second toe is also longer than my big toe!James FlynnAuthorThe Fox and The Thistle

What an interesting story, so full of history, yet told I'm a very unusual way. It makes the whole story believable, and it draws you into its web. The factual information within is extremely well presented, but it still has an appeal that comes across from the story as it is told. Arlene Radasky has captured the essence of Scottish history of the time whilst including a romantic background that is totally believable.

Arlene Radasky weaves the themes of history, threat, magic, ancestors, past lives and communication with the past and future brilliantly. It was exciting to discover a personality for someone who was clearly based on Lindow Man, and even more so because the personal story, family and life were thoroughly imagined before it ever became apparent that this would be one such sacrifice. Thank you Arlene Radasky, I can't wait to read more of your stuff.