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Until age sixteen, Charles de la Fontaine lived in Brussels with his father. But his true home would forever be his family’s twelfth-century estate comprised of Blancheron Castle and the turreted retreat Villa Antioch nestled in the Belgian Ardennes. Charles spent his summers exploring the sacred waters and stones of the Blancheron forest with his Uncle Theodore, an eccentric historian who passed along his fascination with medieval history and their family legacy to his nephew. Theodore introduced Charles to the majesty of slipping between dimensions to touch the past and bring it back to life.
Charles’ father, Hugues, had no interest in Blancheron’s rich history and no patience for his family’s idealism. He relocated to the US, uprooting his son in pursuit of the American dream. For seventeen years, Charles followed the path his father dictated, pursuing wealth at the expense of his true calling. But a return trip to Blancheron rekindles Charles’ fascination with the magical world of history. He embarks on a quest of discovery with ramifications that reverberate across nine centuries.
Although the historically inaccurate characterization of Moors as animalistic and unlearned is off-putting, the book is an interesting blend of history and fiction. Francombe possesses a lyrical writing style that imbues her descriptions of nature with mystical beauty. Lovers of medieval history will appreciate this vivid account of the Crusades that goes far beyond a discussion of gallant knights inspired by religious fervor. The book depicts the visceral reality of the brutality committed in the name of God and the disease, exhaustion, and starvation experienced by the Crusaders. The book also explores the demonization of ancient female nature mysticism as a result of imposed reverence at the emergence of Christianity. Francombe artfully weaves history into a tale of otherworldly intrigue.