Columba's Bones (The Darkland Tales Series)

In this edition of the Darkland Tales, Columba's Bones tells a tale from Iona, 825. In a bloody, brutal Viking raid, Abbot Blathmac is slain for refusing to reveal the hiding place of the relics of St Columba. Following a night of mayhem, one Viking wakes up to find himself alone, hungover, and abandoned by his crew mates. His sword has been taken. With only his wits, he must survive long enough to rejoin his comrades, and find the elusive relics that brought him here in the first place.

The Darkland Tales series sees Scotland’s best writers re-imagining stories from their country’s history, myths and legends for a modern audience. Other titles in the series include Hex, available here.

• Author: Greig, David
• Publisher: Polygon
• Format: Hardback
• Pages: 128

'A real page turner - set on Iona it is both dark and witty and gives a real sense of both the isolation and beauty of the place, as well as an understanding of the constant threat that historically inhabitants would have lived with'.