Scottish History & Fantasy Novel New Book Award

LOS ANGELES - April 10, 2015 - PRLog -- The book is a superb, one-of-a-kind Scottish historical fantasy novel. The story-line has a real Queen of Scotland, Elizabeth de Burgh de Bruys (1283-1327), falling from the edge of a volcano into its burning caldera. When she opened her eyes she found herself in a different reality. The superbly written fictitious plot is blended with real Scottish and Biblical history. The novel is multifaceted, highly entertaining and predictive.

The author’s “Sparhawk Hutchins” name is a pseudonym for a California attorney. “Sparhawk” is the name of the attorney’s mother’s ancestor. He has published her descent from King Robert I of Scotland.

From the many book submissions received a few noteworthy books are approved for a no-charge recommendation and review in the “Mindquest Review of Books,” published by Lightword Publishing. Only one book is selected from each issue for a “Featured Book” award. The mission of Lightword Publishing is to provide free and low cost promotions for books by self-published authors, small press, and university press.

Queen Elizabeth & Moses

The principal character in “And the Hills Replied” is Queen Elizabeth de Burgh de Bruys and the story is told in the first person format from her perspective. After falling into the caldera she awoke and experienced bright colors and wonderful scents. The person with her was young Moses in ancient Egypt’s Amarna.

Moses vs the Pharaoh

Historically, this time period was when Moses faced Egypt’s Pharaoh- a time of plagues. The Pharaoh invited Niul, a teacher of languages and sciences, to Egypt to teach. One of his pupils was Scota, the Pharaoh’s daughter.

Fleeing Egypt with the Stone of Destiny

The “Stone of Destiny” has a foundation in real history, however, the story-line is fiction. The Pharaoh’s daughter, Scota, and her teacher, Niul, flee Egypt with the “Stone of Destiny.” The journey was extremely difficult. The fleeing travelers would blow ram’s horns and “the hills replied” with echoes to guide them along the correct path to freedom.

The stone, “once a young child,” has a strong connection to Queen Elizabeth’s life. It was destined to provide the power to build a new nation and with the ability to turn myth into reality. The “Stone of Destiny” is thought to have actually existed. Historically, it was last kept at the Scone Abbey, in Scotland.

Each chapter of this unique book begins with a poem providing deep insight into the chapter’s essence. “...a place, they said, where hills could talk...the blare of the horn so shrill...in a moment denied when the hills...they actually replied...” is part of a poem for the chapter, “Dunfermline Abbey, Scotland.”

“And the Hills Replied” is a totally unique novel. By combining the real history of Scotland with an absorbing and entertaining story-line, readers will keep turning the pages. The author has created a noteworthy, literary gem.

Author Website

Amazon Reviews

Mindquest Review of Books