3 Review(s)

Pabo, The priest: A novel examines the tensions of 12th-century Wales through a conflict between faith, identity, and political control. The story begins with a monarch’s failing health and a covert strategy to subjugate the native Welsh population through religious and political manipulation. A Welsh noblewoman, now wife to a Norman figure of authority, stands at the intersection of loyalty to her heritage and allegiance to her husband. As political pressures mount, concerns arise about the appointment of a new bishop, a move that could dismantle Welsh cultural and religious independence. This initial conflict is not only about land or dominion but about identity, survival, and the capacity of faith leaders to resist domination. As the protagonist begins to emerge in this climate of unrest, the stage is set for an exploration of resistance through spiritual leadership, and the price individuals may pay for their beliefs and loyalties. The story becomes a meditation on cultural preservation in the face of foreign control, and the role of conscience in navigating authority.