The prologue of The Silver Road throws readers into an epic exchange involving the witch Cethlenn, who is mustering all her powers against the ice giants Oighir and Sioc to avenge the death of her husband Balor. The melee ends when Oighir climbs back up the cliff and holds Cethlenn long enough for Sioc to take the tathlum - a powerful red stone and central plot element which is possibly reminiscent of the One Ring from The Lord of the Rings - from the witch and flee. This object eventually ends up in the hands of Rose, a council estate girl from Carriganawn who (with the exception of cobbler Gracie and sweet shop owner Nellie) is friendless after gaining a grammar school scholarship instead of going to the local secondary school with her old pals.
The description of magical elements and appearance of characters such as Cethlenn are things that young and older children may find captivating, while the use of Irish expressions and idioms add authenticity to the fantasy. What will Rose do with a powerful stone that can do good and bad?
The description of magical elements and appearance of characters such as Cethlenn are things that young and older children may find captivating, while the use of Irish expressions and idioms add authenticity to the fantasy. What will Rose do with a powerful stone that can do good and bad?