Blue Eyed Stranger
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4.4 • 8 Ratings
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Publisher Description
Billy Wright has a problem: he’s only visible when he’s wearing a mask. That’s fine when he’s performing at country fairs with the rest of his morris dancing troupe. But when he takes the paint off, his life is lonely and empty, and he struggles with crippling depression.
Martin Deng stands out from the crowd. After all, there aren’t that many black Vikings on the living history circuit. But as the founder of a fledgling historical re-enactment society, he’s lonely and harried. His boss doesn’t like his weekend activities, his warriors seem to expect him to run everything single-handedly, and it’s stressful enough being one minority without telling the hard men of his group he’s also gay.
When Billy’s and Martin’s societies are double-booked at a packed county show, they know at once they are kindred spirits, united by a deep feeling of connectedness to their history and culture. But they’re also both hiding in their different ways, and they need each other to be brave enough to take their masks off and still be seen.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Beecroft's very English contemporary romance, a standalone linked with Trowchester Blues, is note perfect from start to finish. Martin Deng, a 20-something schoolteacher, is proud to be the only Sudanese Viking in Bretwalda, a battle reenactment troupe. His towering physical presence stands in stark contrast to Billy Wright, a long, lean, and very white Morris dancer. Yet from the moment they meet, the two are certain they're meant to be together. Martin and Billy have much in common, especially a love of all things historical, but they differ on one very critical point: Billy is openly gay, and Martin is steadfastly closeted, fearing the loss of both his job and his fellow reenactors' respect. Beecroft's depictions of Martin's cognitive dissonance and Billy's clinical depression are superbly sensitive, infusing every part of how they interact as they strive to resolve their individual and mutual conflicts. These two highly credible, intelligent characters are portrayed with humor and pathos in a narrative awash in English historical references and local color.
Customer Reviews
Two lost souls finding each other.
With the first pages I read, I fell in love with Martin. Such a thoughtful teacher, knowing instinctively how to teach to give the most to, and get the best from, his young students.
Whilst at a country fair where Bratwalda, his group of historical re-enactment Viking warriors are performing, Martin meets Billy, a member of a troupe of morris dancers. Something happens when they see each other, an attraction that starts there, and continues as they get to know one another. The road is not easy, Billy suffers from depression and Martin is afraid of admitting that he is gay.
It’s a well thought out story, with a lot of real historical detail about their individual groups, as well as the feelings that beset Billy and Martin.
Both of them are so young, dealing with worry, health issues, a fear of coming out - but love is a strong emotion and with the right impetus, love wins.
One small disappointment for me was the book cover. I believe the covers should be correct to the story and sadly this wasn’t. It depicts Martin in the foreground with a figure in armour in the background. The thing is that Martin plays a Viking warrior and the armour depicted in the picture is by no means what a ninth century Viking warrior would wear. And why no depiction of Billy in his full morris dancing clothes?
Petty of me, I know, but I felt the picture was confusing and didn’t do the characters justice.
The story is really more important than the book cover though, and that I did enjoy.