7th Century AD
Bullying
Category=FMM
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eq_fantasy
eq_fiction
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forthcoming
Friendship
Grief
Magic realism
mythology
Wales
Women.
Product details
- ISBN 9781916821477
- Dimensions: 129 x 198mm
- Publication Date: 23 Jul 2026
- Publisher: Honno Welsh Women's Press
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Paperback
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Seren is 14 years old and lives with her nain having lost her single-parent mother to cancer. An only child, scarred by this early bereavement, she struggles at school. Heledd, a girl who exists in the 7th century AD, whom Seren meets in her dreams, has her own struggles in the aftermath of the Mercian war which left almost everyone dead. Together, they help one another survive.
A magic realist story with creative engagement with the Early Welsh poem, Canu Heledd drawing on the rich mythology and literary heritage of Wales. Set in contemporary North-East Wales, near the border with England, and, in the dream world of Seren, in the 7th century kingdom of Pengwern, in the borderlands close to Mercia. A sensitive exploration of themes of grief and bullying in young adulthood.
Fiona has been a professional spoken word storyteller for thirty years, working with people of all ages and abilities in a diverse range of settings. She tells traditional tales from around the world, with a special interest in stories of strong women and girls, and in the Tales of Wales. She respects the traditional cultures which speak to us through story. She works in English, her mother tongue, and Welsh, her second language. She was Welsh Learner of the Year at the National Eisteddfod in 2019.
As well as being a prize-winning poet, she is the author of ‘Pryderi’, a re-imagining of the Four Branches of The Mabinogion; three volumes of North Wales folk tales; and two international collections, one for young women, Folktales for Bold Girls, and one for readers who are reaching the end of their life, Folktales of the Ever After: Stories of Death, Dying and What Comes After’ All these folktale books are published by The History Press. She has also published two collections of Welsh folktales in Welsh for Welsh learners, published by Gwasg Carreg Gwalch.
