Set in Roman Britain, in the province of Britannia Prima [today's Somerset and Gloucestershire], late 360s AD, this novel was a nicely crafted story of a Roman soldier and the priestess of a British goddess, each on separate quests, who travel together. I enjoyed this novel, set in a time period not much written about, with a satisfying blend of historical fiction and fantasy. A statuette of Hecate,the Roman death goddess, brings together two unlikely companions: Canio, a soldier in the 'Civil Guard', which I assume would be similar to the Urban Cohort of classical Rome, although its jurisdiction would include the countryside as well as the city; and Vilbia, a priestess of the goddess of a sacred spring, Leucesca. The soldier and the priestess join forces and travel together to the south of Britannia. He wants to find a treasure of gold buried in a lake, and she wants to restore her wavering faith in the goddess she serves. The novel recounts their journey of discovery. They are accompanied by Antares, Canio's horse. Antares is almost another character.

The novel recounts their adventures--bucolic, difficult, exciting, fantastic. I could relate to the two main characters: Canio, a flawed but increasingly complex and well-rounded character as the story progresses and Vilbia, the young, virginal, mysterious priestess. I liked their relationship: completely brotherly and sisterly. I liked their dynamic--sometimes serious, sometimes comic. I liked their badinage. Such gorgeous descriptions of Britannia in the spring and summer were presented!! I felt like I was travelling with the couple. The ending was not really satisfactory to me; but because of motivations, it was probably inevitable and logical. Canio stood at a metaphorical crossroads; his choice would determine the outcome. The author kept using the motif of two yellow autumn leaves floating down a stream to express this. This novel was well written. Canio reminded me somewhat of Curtius Rufus in Wallace Breem's "The Legate's Daughter", each a flawed but sympathetic protagonist. One could read this as a standalone novel, but there is a prequel, : The Moon on the Hills, also a sequel: One Summer in Arcadia, both of which I want to read.

Recommended very highly!! I have reread twice more than the original date and each time it is just as charming, with its mixture of historical fiction and a tiny bit of fantasy. ( )