Overview

Ancestry. Myth. Revelation. How far can you reach into the past? The ancient Ardennes Forest holds more than just the beauty of nature for Charles Fontaine. When he returns to this land of sinuous rivers and lonely ridges to sell his ancestral domain, he stumbles upon a twelfth-century legend woven into the complex tapestry of his heritage. Driven by unresolved questions, Charles delves into the tale of a local seeress, Arda, a centuries-old story intertwining Christianity, paganism and a battle for identity. With the help of a famous medievalist and an enigmatic woman from his youth, Charles draws ever closer to the truth of this legend and its stunning historical secret...and to his own buried self. The Heron Legacy is a gripping mystery set against the mystical backdrop of the Belgian Ardennes. If you love compelling family histories, otherworldly intrigue and rich, atmospheric settings, you'll be captivated by Leona Francombe's immersive storytelling. From the author of The Universe in 3/4 Time: A Novel of Old Europe, shortlisted for the Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize.

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9781737160021

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Reviews

""A mesmerizing piece of historical and legend-filled fantasy...the perfect blend of historical nuance, linguistic dexterity, and narrative twists. Francombe has a delicate pen and a flair for treasure-hunt energy in her prose, ensuring a wonderfully rich read in a superbly crafted world."" - The Independent Review of Books ""Francombe possesses a lyrical writing style that imbues her descriptions of nature with mystical beauty...she artfully weaves history into a tale of otherworldly intrigue."" - US Review of Books ""A sublime tale...its pages oozed a sense of beauty and wonder. A read that will inspire us to live life through our passions and disregard the need to satiate our ego with money and prestige."" - Reedsy Discovery ""Wow! What an incredible book! History, mystery, music, nature, romance...all beautifully woven together... - LibraryThing ""...Beautifully written and enthralling...rich and descriptive language. The characters and surroundings are so well detailed that I felt immersed in the story."" - Goodreads ""The novel is skillfully put together - echoes of the past are inserted into the present in the roles and essence of the characters. The clues draw the reader along as the puzzle is pieced together."" - NetGalley ""I'll be recommending this for sure!"" - It's All About the Book

"""A mesmerizing piece of historical and legend-filled fantasy...the perfect blend of historical nuance, linguistic dexterity, and narrative twists. Francombe has a delicate pen and a flair for treasure-hunt energy in her prose, ensuring a wonderfully rich read in a superbly crafted world."" - The Independent Review of Books ""Francombe possesses a lyrical writing style that imbues her descriptions of nature with mystical beauty...she artfully weaves history into a tale of otherworldly intrigue."" - US Review of Books ""A sublime tale...its pages oozed a sense of beauty and wonder. A read that will inspire us to live life through our passions and disregard the need to satiate our ego with money and prestige."" - Reedsy Discovery ""Wow! What an incredible book! History, mystery, music, nature, romance...all beautifully woven together... - LibraryThing ""...Beautifully written and enthralling...rich and descriptive language. The characters and surroundings are so well detailed that I felt immersed in the story."" - Goodreads ""The novel is skillfully put together - echoes of the past are inserted into the present in the roles and essence of the characters. The clues draw the reader along as the puzzle is pieced together."" - NetGalley ""I'll be recommending this for sure!"" - It's All About the Book"

Author Information

Author, pianist and composer Leona Francombe is of English and Czech heritage and grew up in the United States. Her novels include: ""The Heron Legacy"" (Merle Books Brussels, 2024); ""The Universe in 3/4 Time: A Novel of Old Europe"" (Merle Books Brussels, 2021; shortlisted for the Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize); ""The Sage of Waterloo"" (W.W. Norton, 2015); ""Madame Ernestine und die Entdeckung der Liebe"" (Random House Germany, 2014). She is also the author of many short stories and essays. Her work is inspired by, among other things: European history and atmosphere, music, ancient mysteries, Nature mysticism and the otherworldly. ""The Heron Legacy"" came to life after the discovery of a medieval ruin in a remote part of the Ardennes Forest. Encountering an abandoned piano on a Brussels street one winter's night was the catalyst for ""The Universe in 3/4 Time."" Leona lives in Belgium with her family.

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