She was called Gull at birth, then Linnea and, finally, Pythia. She is a Sybil, an Oracle, guided by the hand of the goddess Death; she, in turn, guides Kings to their destiny. Born to a captured slave, Gull’s future was imperiled when a chariot accident left her lame and unable to work in the fields. But given to the Shrine in Pylos, her life’s journey takes an interesting twist that will see her travel to distant lands and witness the rise and fall of many great nations.

A remake of the Greek tale, The Aeneid, BLACK SHIPS is told through the eyes of the Oracle rather than the warriors. Touched by the goddess, Gull is of the People, but ever apart. Fate brings her to her mother’s people, led by Prince Aeneas. A small number they are, but determined to find a new land they can call their own. Faith is at the heart of this tale. Gull’s belief in her goddess, as well as her own intellect and wisdom, carries her through dangerous and happy times both. Secondary characters include Aeneas, seen as a man and friend rather than the imperturbable warrior in the original tale; Xandros, Aeneas’ best friend and captain of one of his ships; and Neoptolemos, an Achaian Prince and wannabe King who devastates Aeneas and his people several times.

For a wonderful retelling of a well-known mythological tale, check out BLACK SHIPS, a bittersweet saga with enough action, romance, and intrigue to entertain and enthrall.

Kathy Samuels