Circle of Stones

When Brenda arrives at the Gwynedd castle of Prince Owain in twelfth-century Wales, she is still a young girl, full of wonder and naivete about the court life that surrounds her. But it does not take long for her to negotiate the intrigues, both among warring men and bickering women, and gain the attention of the prince. Brenda is clever and thoughtful, and not afraid to speak her mind--attributes that distinguish her from most of the women at court, and that bring her closer to Owain. As the prince's favorite mistress in a Wales torn between the old ways of the druids and the new teachings of Christianity, Brenda finds herself at the center of an ever-changing world.

Soon she gives birth to a son, Madoc, only to have to flee to a druid camp in Ireland to save him from being put to death because of a superstitious prophecy. Well hidden, Madoc is raised by the druids in safety, but Brenda is caught and must return to Gwynedd. Back at Owain's court, she rises to become a chief adviser and confidante to the most powerful prince in Wales--at a time when women had absolutely no power. Her courage and indomitable spirit transform the course of history, while her child grows to be the savior of his people, leading the druids out of Wales and into the New World.

The acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller Sacajawea brings a fascinating legend to life--that of a Welsh explorer named Madoc, who traveled across the world and settled with the Native Americans three centuries before Columbus's famed journey of 1492--beginning with the extraordinary story of his mother, Brenda.