Spirit and Fire

Sue Hampton

Average Rating 7/10 (1 Review)

It is AD 60 and a young Celtic girl is caught in the crossfire of Roman Britain at war. Aifa is a thinker whose quietness and fears inspire her warrior father to call her Mouse. But when she is captured and sold as a slave to a Roman household in Londinium, she learns unexpected courage. Her new life is alien, cruel and unjust, and the favour she finds with her high-born mistress breeds resentment among her fellow slaves. As she faces bullying, humiliation and many dangers, her faith in the goddess Epona sustains her. But finally she is alone. Can she survive hunger, pain and sickness to find what she is looking for? This is an action adventure with depth and heart.

Sue Hampton wrote stories as a child, inspired by her father, Paul, who was a poet. Now a teacher in Hertfordshire, she originally began Spirit and Fire as a Story Time read for her class when they were studying the Romans. A lot of research went into getting the historical details right. Her other two children's novels from Pegasus, Voice of The Aspen and Shutdown, will be available in November 07 and early 08. She writes adult fiction too.

Review by Jessica (281007) Rating (7/10)

Review by Jessica
Rating 7/10
Sue Hampton enjoyed writing stories inspired as a child by her father, Paul, who was a poet. Sue became a teacher and found the motivation to write this tale when her class were studying the Romans. Sue also enjoys writing adult fiction too.

Spirit and Fire is a historical novel aimed at the early teens audience. It is a nice handy size read, which does not go on too long for younger reader.

Aifa is captured and taken away from her home, sold as a slave to a Roman household in Londinium. What will she do? What can she do? Faced with her new life, there are so many things she hates. Cruelty is certainly at number one. Her superior mistress encourages anger amongst the other slaves and hurt is never far away. As Aifa faces bullying and sometimes humiliation her undying faith in the great Goddess Epona sustains her during her days of need.

A good book for children with an appealing cover and a storyline that should keep the reader hooked. Many of the incidents inside this tale really do stay in your imagination after you’ve turned the last page.
Jessica (28th October 2007)