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A review by booksuperpower
Triad: A Novel of the Supernatural by Mary Leader
4.0
Triad by Mary Leader is a Hodder & Stoughton Ltd publication.
I’m going to give a very brief review for this book since it is a rare novel and very hard to find, and if you do find a copy online, it’s going to cost you.
As many of you know, I collect vintage paperbacks and the 'Gothic Horror' novels of 1960's and 70's are of keen interest to me. I love those covers with the girl running away from the house/castle. This novel did not have that type of cover, but it was grouped in with a bulk buy on Ebay many years ago, and got shoved up on a top shelf, buried behind a couple of other layers of books.
I had forgotten all about it, but after reading the recent autobiography of Stevie Nicks, my interest was renewed, because this book was an inspiration for the mega-popular hit ‘Rhiannon'. I had never read the book, so I was very curious to see how it became an inspiration for the song Stevie wrote.
The novel is very typical of its era, but is also ahead of its time, in some ways, even setting the stage for certain trends that would emerge into mainstream consciousness a few years later.
Branwen moves with her husband to an old mansion after the death of their first child. But once they are settled in, Branwen begins to experience blackout periods, where she can’t account for her time or what she did during these blank episodes. Objects have been moved around, and her husband relates conversations and activities they shared, but she has no memory of. But, she is really shaken up when her husband refers to her as ‘Rhiannon’, the name of her long dead cousin.
Already feeling bruised by her loss, the overwhelming job of refurbishing the house, and her desire to have another baby, Branwen’s guilt over Rhiannon’s death, surges as she becomes convinced Rhiannon’s spirit is inhabiting her body, trying to take control, and is seeking retribution.
Of course, it is impossible not to seek out correlations between this book and the famous song that was partially derived from it. I think Stevie did an amazing job with the song and even after all these years, it brings the song and its meanings into sharper focus.
But, this is a review of the book- not the song.
Even if it hadn’t experienced a kind of cult status, this story really is a rare gem. It’s not a very long book, but it’s filled with vivid imageries and is very well versed in Welch mythologies. It is a very effective story, even for a jaded reader like me. I can imagine the impact it would have on readers in 1973.
Once I started reading it, I found myself hypnotized by it. This is a moody, dark, atmospheric supernatural tale, that certainly stands the test of time.
I would love to find a way to petition the publisher to release this one in digital format, so everyone could read it.
If you stumble across this book in a used bookstore or garage sale, snap it up. It’s a really good Gothic horror novel, but it’s also rare, so it could be worth something if it is in decent condition.
4 stars
I’m going to give a very brief review for this book since it is a rare novel and very hard to find, and if you do find a copy online, it’s going to cost you.
As many of you know, I collect vintage paperbacks and the 'Gothic Horror' novels of 1960's and 70's are of keen interest to me. I love those covers with the girl running away from the house/castle. This novel did not have that type of cover, but it was grouped in with a bulk buy on Ebay many years ago, and got shoved up on a top shelf, buried behind a couple of other layers of books.
I had forgotten all about it, but after reading the recent autobiography of Stevie Nicks, my interest was renewed, because this book was an inspiration for the mega-popular hit ‘Rhiannon'. I had never read the book, so I was very curious to see how it became an inspiration for the song Stevie wrote.
The novel is very typical of its era, but is also ahead of its time, in some ways, even setting the stage for certain trends that would emerge into mainstream consciousness a few years later.
Branwen moves with her husband to an old mansion after the death of their first child. But once they are settled in, Branwen begins to experience blackout periods, where she can’t account for her time or what she did during these blank episodes. Objects have been moved around, and her husband relates conversations and activities they shared, but she has no memory of. But, she is really shaken up when her husband refers to her as ‘Rhiannon’, the name of her long dead cousin.
Already feeling bruised by her loss, the overwhelming job of refurbishing the house, and her desire to have another baby, Branwen’s guilt over Rhiannon’s death, surges as she becomes convinced Rhiannon’s spirit is inhabiting her body, trying to take control, and is seeking retribution.
Of course, it is impossible not to seek out correlations between this book and the famous song that was partially derived from it. I think Stevie did an amazing job with the song and even after all these years, it brings the song and its meanings into sharper focus.
But, this is a review of the book- not the song.
Even if it hadn’t experienced a kind of cult status, this story really is a rare gem. It’s not a very long book, but it’s filled with vivid imageries and is very well versed in Welch mythologies. It is a very effective story, even for a jaded reader like me. I can imagine the impact it would have on readers in 1973.
Once I started reading it, I found myself hypnotized by it. This is a moody, dark, atmospheric supernatural tale, that certainly stands the test of time.
I would love to find a way to petition the publisher to release this one in digital format, so everyone could read it.
If you stumble across this book in a used bookstore or garage sale, snap it up. It’s a really good Gothic horror novel, but it’s also rare, so it could be worth something if it is in decent condition.
4 stars