The Spirit of the Times
Publisher: Troubador Publishing
Pages: 264
Genre: Historical Fiction
A prophecy never spoken, kept quiet and secret, unfurls in a life-changing moment for Karia. On the night of her sister’s wedding, Karia steals a glance into the Mirror of Fate and witnesses a horrifying vision: her new brother-in-law slowly succumbing to a painful illness. But Karia is not a shaman, and her family make it abundantly clear that she should keep her nose out of other people’s affairs. So, despite the terrible warning she has seen, she keeps the vision to herself.
When her brother-in-law falls ill and it becomes clear there is no choice but to flee the sickness ravaging her people, Karia takes her newborn niece from her sister and seeks safety among the caravanserai. Although never formally trained, her gift gives her something valuable to offer in exchange for travelling with the caravan. She can warn them of danger and guide them through fleeting glimpses of the future. With the pestilence close behind, every decision becomes a matter of life and death as she desperately tries to stay ahead of the danger, using her abilities to protect the villages and people she encounters along the way.
The Spirit of the Times by Justin Newland is a historical novel woven together with strong spiritual themes. Blending historical fact with elements of fantasy, it draws readers in through its gentle connection to the natural world and keeps them engrossed as Karia struggles to discover her own purpose and place within it.
Having spent her entire life overlooked, Karia emerges as a compelling heroine, though one burdened by self-doubt. Her family show open disdain towards her, their longing for sons resulting only in daughter after daughter, with Karia bearing the blame for this perceived disappointment. Cruelly nicknamed 'Burul', meaning 'enough', she grows up constantly reminded that her family had already received enough girls before her arrival. As her visions are dismissed and her warnings brushed aside as the foolish imaginings of a young girl, Karia learns to distrust her own instincts and abilities. Yet despite a lifetime of ridicule, she continues to challenge injustice and fight to make herself heard. She is resilient rather than fearless, shaped by hardship instead of born with confidence, and that vulnerability makes her feel wonderfully authentic. I found Karia an incredibly relatable character whose struggles and determination felt deeply real.
Karia’s fierce protectiveness over Abi, her young niece, reveals an entirely new level of strength. Entrusted with the baby after her sister falls victim to the same illness that claimed Abi’s father, Karia questions whether she is capable of raising a child. She feels wholly unprepared for such responsibility, yet Abi awakens something impossible to ignore within her. Her maternal instincts develop naturally, and her growing love for the child soon outweighs her fears of the uncertain future. The relationship between aunt and niece is beautifully portrayed and becomes the emotional heart of the novel. No matter the dangers they face, Karia finds the resolve to endure, driven above all else by her determination to keep Abi safe.
The historical setting is one steeped in fear and superstition. As the pestilence spreads relentlessly from village to village, Karia is forced to remain constantly on the move in the hope of staying one step ahead of the disease. Faced with so much suffering, people search desperately for someone—or something—to blame. Whether they believe the plague is God's punishment or the work of darker forces, fear soon turns into suspicion when they notice that wherever the sickness strikes, a young woman travelling with a small child is never far away. Rumours of witchcraft spread quickly, and although Karia seeks only to protect those around her, she soon finds herself hunted by fear as much as by the disease itself. This growing sense of accusation creates an atmosphere of mounting tension, while the sheer scale of the devastation brings an overwhelming feeling of helplessness. However hard Karia tries to shield those she meets, nothing seems capable of stopping the relentless march of the pestilence.
The geographical scope of the novel expands steadily as Karia and Abi travel across the land, their circumstances constantly shifting with each new destination. Justin Newland's careful research is evident throughout, grounding the historical setting with authenticity while allowing fictional characters to illuminate the human impact of the events unfolding around them. Although the narrative follows many different paths, some considerably darker than others, Karia and Abi remain its constant emotional anchors. At times they seem to recover remarkably quickly from the hardships they endure, but their focus is always fixed firmly on survival and on what lies ahead rather than dwelling on the past. Abi, in particular, brings warmth to the novel. Blissfully unaware of the horrors surrounding her, she remains cheerful, eager to dance, laugh, and spread joy wherever she goes. Her innocence provides a welcome contrast to the darkness of the period, offering small moments of hope within an otherwise sombre tale.
A novel charting the devastating spread of pestilence through the eyes of two people forever moving forward in an effort to escape it, The Spirit of the Times presents a story of hope quietly persevering even in humanity's darkest moments. As communities fall to illness and villages are left in ruin, children still sing and dance, while simple posies of fragrant flowers offer fleeting comfort against the ever-present stench of death. Written in elegant prose, Justin Newland explores themes of compassion, resilience, and looking beyond fear towards the possibility of a brighter future. Combining historical fiction with spirituality and magical realism, this is a memorable novel that draws readers in through its richly imagined world and keeps them invested through its heartfelt characters.
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