Ilka Tampke

Southwest Britain, AD 43. For the people of Caer Cad, 'skin' is their totem, their greeting, their ancestors, their land. Ailia does not have skin. Abandoned at birth, she serves the Tribequeen of her township. Ailia is not permitted to marry, excluded from tribal ceremonies and, most devastatingly, forbidden to learn. But the Mothers, the tribal ancestors, have chosen her for another path. Lured by the beautiful and enigmatic Taliesin, Ailia embarks on an unsanctioned journey to attain the knowledge that will protect her people from the most terrifying invaders they have ever faced. Set in Iron-Age Britain on the cusp of Roman invasion, Skin is a thrilling, full-blooded, mesmerising novel about the collision of two worlds, and a young woman torn between two men.

Skin

Set in Ancient Britain on the cusp of Roman invasion, Ilka Tampke's Daughter of Albion is a mesmerizing novel about the collision of two worlds and a young woman torn between two men. Daughter of Albion transports the reader to the village of Caer Cad in southwest Britain, AD 43, where the dark cloud of the Roman Empire is gathering on the horizon. A baby girl is abandoned on the doorstep of the Tribequeen’s kitchen. Cookmother takes her in and names her Ailia.Without family, Ailia is an outsider in her village, forbidden from marriage and excluded from learning. Despite this, she grows up an intelligent and brave young woman, serving the Tribequeen of her township until the day when an encounter with an enigmatic man named Taliesin leads Ailia to the Mothers, the tribal ancestors, who have chosen her for another path. Ailia’s growing awareness of her future role as the tribal protector and her relationships with the two very different men she loves will be utterly tested by the imminent threat of Emperor Claudius preparing to take the island. With an incredibly compelling heroine, Daughter of Albion is a suspenseful and richly rewarding novel about women, about power, about love, and about the clash of cultures and the tenacity of belief.

A Novel of Ancient Britain

Daughter of Albion

A thrilling historical novel and the sequel to the critically acclaimed Skin, perfect for fans of Outlander and Game of Thrones. One woman's quest to defend her culture. Haunted by the Roman attack that destroyed her home, Ailia flees to the remote Welsh mountains in search of the charismatic war king, Caradog, who is leading a guerrilla campaign against the encroaching army. Ailia proves herself an indispensable advisor to the war king, but as the bond between them deepens, she realises the terrible role she must play to save the soul of her country. Set in Iron-Age Britain, Songwoman is a powerful exploration of the ties between people and their land and what happens when they are broken.

Songwoman: a stunning historical novel from the acclaimed author of 'Skin'

Dochter van Albion / druk 1

One woman’s quest to defend her culture. Haunted by the Roman attack that destroyed her home, Ailia flees to the remote Welsh mountains in search of the charismatic war king, Caradog, who is leading a guerrilla campaign against the encroaching army. Ailia proves herself an indispensable advisor to the war king, but as the bond between them deepens, she realises the terrible role she must play to save the soul of her country. Set in Iron-Age Britain, Songwoman is a powerful exploration of the ties between people and their land and what happens when they are broken. Ilka Tampke teaches fiction at RMIT University. Her first novel, Skin, was published in eight countries and was nominated for the Voss Literary Prize and the Aurealis Awards in 2016. Ilka lives on five acres in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria. ‘Songwoman is a sparkling piece of writing, shot through with complex moral struggles and questions about what it means to belong to a place. Ilka Tampke transported me into the mind of Ailia, into her intense relationship with war king Caradog and her even more intense relationship with the land. Fine-tuned historical research blends seamlessly into this gripping story of a young woman fighting to stop the destruction of her home.’ Jane Rawson, author of From the Wreck ‘Those who root for Game of Thrones’ Daenerys Targaryen will find much to love in Ailia’s personal quest, with Tampke more successfully navigating the realms of almost fantasy than Ishiguro, marking her out as an exciting talent to watch.’ New Daily on Skin ‘[Tampke’s] vision is clear and brought to life vividly through the strength of her singular heroine. We have no heard the last from this resonant new Australian voice.’ Readings on Skin ‘Fantasy lovers will enjoy the mysticism and world building, and historical fiction readers will appreciate the Roman invasion story line.’ Booklist on Skin ‘Tampke has created a visceral tale of ritual, magic and violence.’ Sunday Times on Skin

Songwoman

Albions dotter är en magisk debutroman om makt och livet som kvinna i ett trolskt och grymt forntida Britannien. Om kärlek, identitet och att våga utmana sitt öde. År 43 i keltiska Caer Cad, i sydvästra Britannien, föds alla med ett hudtotem. Detta totem avgörs av var man kommer ifrån och står till grund för varje människas tillhörighet i samhället. Utan det får man varken tillgång till utbildning eller giftermål. Man är och förblir en outsider bland sitt eget folk. Ailia har inget hudtotem. Hon är föräldralös och hittades som barn av den keltiska stamdrottningens kokerska. Hudlösheten till trots, ödet vill något mer med Ailia. Hon möter den mystiske Taliesin och i sin lust och längtan efter kärleken drivs hon ut i det okända – ut i den förbjudna skogen och Mödrarna, som ser något särskilt i henne. Något som motsäger allt det Ailia lärt sig. Ailia visar sig besitta en styrka som ingen hade trott. Men för att skydda sig själv och sitt folk måste hon söka i sitt förflutna och ifrågasätta de tabun som byggt deras samhälle. Ska Ailia bli den som räddar Caer Cad från romarna? Översättare: Örjan Sjögren

Albions dotter

Niemand weiß, woher sie kommt. Niemand weiß, zu wem sie gehört. Und doch ist sie ihrer aller Rettung. Eine Tierhaut zu tragen bedeutet für den Stamm der Caer Cad alles: Sie steht für den Glauben der Menschen, für ihre Vorfahren, für ihr Land. Nur die vierzehnjährige Waise Ailia hat niemanden, der ihr eine Haut hätte vererben können, und ist damit eine Außenseiterin – bis sie durch eine geheimnisvolle Begegnung auf den Weg geführt wird, der ihr seit jeher vorherbestimmt ist. Sie soll zur Kendra werden, zur größten Wissenshüterin des alten Glaubens. Für Ailia beginnt eine Reise in eine ihr unbekannte Welt, wo sie nicht nur ihrer großen Liebe begegnet, sondern ihr Land auch vor einer großen Gefahr retten muss ... Im Hardcover unter dem Titel »Skin. Das Lied der Kendra« 2016 bereits erschienen.

Roman

Das Lied der Kendra

Skin - Das Lied der Kendra

Dochter van Albion van Ilka Tampke is, in de traditie van Jean Auel, het prachtige begin van een historische romanserie die zich afspeelt in de Keltische IJzertijd: de tijd van Arthur, Albion en de Romeinen. Liefhebbers van sterke vrouwelijke personages zoals Claire van Diana Gabaldon of Game of Thrones’ Daenerys Targaryen zullen zeker van Dochter van Albion genieten. Zuidwest-Engeland, het jaar 43. Voor de bevolking van Caer Cad, een gemeenschap vol spiritualiteit, rituelen en magie, is de mystieke band met hun land en hun voorouders het hoogste goed. Ailia is te vondeling gelegd en geadopteerd binnen de Stam: daardoor is ze gedoemd een buitenstaander te blijven en wordt ze uitgesloten van ceremonies, onderwijs en het huwelijk. Maar de matriarchale gemeenschap, met al haar rituelen en gebruiken, wordt bedreigd. De Romeinse legers rukken op. En ook intern is er verdeeldheid: niet iedereen wil vasthouden aan de oude gebruiken. Ailia – intelligent, nieuwsgierig en dapper – gaat op een verboden reis om haar volk te redden. En zal ze ooit te weten komen waar haar eigen wortels liggen?

Ilka Tampke

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