DARK BIRTHRIGHT is a lovingly crafted piece of fiction that was written by
Jeanne Treat, a woman of extraordinary insight and ability. Originally a
native of Western New York, Mrs. Treat spared no expense and instead visited
Scotland - not the touristy areas, mind you - to get a feel for the sighing
winds of the lush green forests, the salty air of the coastal regions, and
the castle ruins that dot the landscape and that speak of victories,
defeats, and so much human suffering and triumph. Not a stranger to the
written word, Mrs. Treat has seen her writings published in local papers and
magazines, yet is making her novel debut with this book.

DARK BIRTHRIGHT tells the story of two children - both boys - one who is
born to a hardworking fisherman and his wife, and one who is adopted by them
- albeit somewhat covertly. Set in the year 1619 where religious strife
leaves many at odds with one another, while also spawning the witch scares
of that century which have seen many men and women and also children burned
at the stake, tortured, or hanged - life is not easy, and the daily struggle
for survival is amplified by the desperate struggle to also survive
spiritually.  For the followers of the goddess, Christianity has become a
religion of intolerance and hate, while for the followers of Christ, the
goddess is a thing of threat and bad fortune. Dialog is impossible and the
battle lines are drawn. The Highlands and their mists serve as the backdrop
for this story that speaks of two boys who grow up as brothers only to find
out later that one is actually the son of a Earl, while the other one is
simply an ordinary fisherman.  Both gifted with intensely spiritual gifts,
they rebel against the apparent status quo of religiously fueled cruelty,
and more than once seek to help others understand that the differences in
spirituality are not meant as a dividing factor but can actually be the one
thing that truly draws them together. Yet in the midst of this struggle, the
boys, too, must struggle against a fate that seeks to kill one and quite
possibly the other one as well.  Will they succeed in rebelling against the
status quo, or will they fall victim to the narrow mindedness of those on
both sides?

Mrs. Treat has indicated that DARK BIRTHRIGHT is the first book in a
trilogy, and that the next book will follow some time in 2007. If you love
the stories that take place in the mists of the Highlands, you will treasure
this historical novel, and you will quickly fall in step with the characters
that struggle and strive to eek out a corner in life for themselves and
their loved ones. The writing is done beautifully, and Mrs. Treat is able to
capture the lyric undertones that make up the melody of life in those days.
Because of her strenuous research, this book has all the qualifications a
historical novel requires to be truly head and shoulders above the rest of
the genre, and you will simply love the fast paced action, the facts about
the time period and the location, as well as the language that simply seems
to flow from Mrs. Treat's pen. This book is highly recommended!