In the Shadow of the Solstice
On sale
10th September 2026
Price: £20
A devastating feminist reimagining of Arthurian legend set in the dark and dangerous years after the Romans left Britain.
Nin is joining the gilded world of her sister’s husband – a powerful man known only as the Bear. It’s midwinter and there’s victory to feast. And where better than at the Hall high above the mists of the Lake?
Why is the Lake so unsettled?
The bonds of love and ambition once united the Family. But as night falls and the shadows lengthen, dark secrets and unruly passions threaten to rip it apart.
What is the strange crying only Nin can hear?
Torn between loyalty and desire – between rage and fear – Nin must fight to the death to uncover a terrible truth.
Who will live to see the sun rise?
Praise for IN THE SHADOW OF THE SOLSTICE:
‘This story got under my skin and stayed there. Meg Clothier writes with beauty and grit, and the world she creates in these pages feel as real as my own two hands.’ STEPHANIE BUTLAND
‘Absolutely superb . . . eerie yet gritty, combining an acerbic wit with magic and mystery. A genius concept, and so well executed – I haven’t stopped thinking about it.’ NAOMI KELSEY
‘The dark and twisted Arthurian anti-romantasy you didn’t know you needed! Clothier’s inventive, rich vernacular effortlessly evokes the brutal, chaotic world of post-Roman Britain. At once historically convincing, yet spookily otherworldly, this is a twisty and addictive tale of supernatural vengeance that will keep you guessing to the final page.’ NIKKI MARMERY
‘With a voice that’s lyrical, playful, and entirely unique, Meg Clothier truly brings the history of King Arthur to life. In the Shadow of the Solstice is a book that pulls you in, and doesn’t let you go until the final page.’ PHOENICIA ROGERSON
‘Vivid, earthy and captivating, In the Shadow of the Solstice is a bold and brilliantly drawn reckoning with British mythology, history, and the legendary characters that dominate our oldest stories. Meg Clothier has conjured an uncanny, spellbinding tale – to read this book is to be immersed in the ancient landscapes of our past, a gripping journey steeped in swirling mists, bloody conflicts and the darkest secrets the night can hide.’ SOPHIE KEETCH
More praise for Meg Clothier:
‘A wonderfully rich and absorbing tale’ Observer
‘Expertly crafted and beautifully told’ JENNIFER SAINT
‘What an extraordinary book’ HARRIET TYCE
‘A ravishing, erudite feminist hijack of Renaissance Florence’ ALICE ALBINIA
‘Mysterious, bewitching and beautiful’ ELIZABETH LEE
‘Brutal and haunting’ MELISSA FU
Nin is joining the gilded world of her sister’s husband – a powerful man known only as the Bear. It’s midwinter and there’s victory to feast. And where better than at the Hall high above the mists of the Lake?
Why is the Lake so unsettled?
The bonds of love and ambition once united the Family. But as night falls and the shadows lengthen, dark secrets and unruly passions threaten to rip it apart.
What is the strange crying only Nin can hear?
Torn between loyalty and desire – between rage and fear – Nin must fight to the death to uncover a terrible truth.
Who will live to see the sun rise?
Praise for IN THE SHADOW OF THE SOLSTICE:
‘This story got under my skin and stayed there. Meg Clothier writes with beauty and grit, and the world she creates in these pages feel as real as my own two hands.’ STEPHANIE BUTLAND
‘Absolutely superb . . . eerie yet gritty, combining an acerbic wit with magic and mystery. A genius concept, and so well executed – I haven’t stopped thinking about it.’ NAOMI KELSEY
‘The dark and twisted Arthurian anti-romantasy you didn’t know you needed! Clothier’s inventive, rich vernacular effortlessly evokes the brutal, chaotic world of post-Roman Britain. At once historically convincing, yet spookily otherworldly, this is a twisty and addictive tale of supernatural vengeance that will keep you guessing to the final page.’ NIKKI MARMERY
‘With a voice that’s lyrical, playful, and entirely unique, Meg Clothier truly brings the history of King Arthur to life. In the Shadow of the Solstice is a book that pulls you in, and doesn’t let you go until the final page.’ PHOENICIA ROGERSON
‘Vivid, earthy and captivating, In the Shadow of the Solstice is a bold and brilliantly drawn reckoning with British mythology, history, and the legendary characters that dominate our oldest stories. Meg Clothier has conjured an uncanny, spellbinding tale – to read this book is to be immersed in the ancient landscapes of our past, a gripping journey steeped in swirling mists, bloody conflicts and the darkest secrets the night can hide.’ SOPHIE KEETCH
More praise for Meg Clothier:
‘A wonderfully rich and absorbing tale’ Observer
‘Expertly crafted and beautifully told’ JENNIFER SAINT
‘What an extraordinary book’ HARRIET TYCE
‘A ravishing, erudite feminist hijack of Renaissance Florence’ ALICE ALBINIA
‘Mysterious, bewitching and beautiful’ ELIZABETH LEE
‘Brutal and haunting’ MELISSA FU
Reviews
With a voice that's lyrical, playful, and entirely unique, Meg Clothier truly brings the history of King Arthur to life. In the Shadow of the Solstice is a book that pulls you in, and doesn't let you go until the final page.
Absolutely superb . . . eerie yet gritty, combining an acerbic wit with magic and mystery. A genius concept, and so well executed - I haven't stopped thinking about it.
This story got under my skin and stayed there. Meg Clothier writes with beauty and grit, and the world she creates in these pages feel as real as my own two hands.
Vivid, earthy and captivating, In the Shadow of the Solstice is a bold and brilliantly drawn reckoning with British mythology, history, and the legendary characters that dominate our oldest stories. Meg Clothier has conjured an uncanny, spellbinding tale - to read this book is to be immersed in the ancient landscapes of our past, a gripping journey steeped in swirling mists, bloody conflicts and the darkest secrets the night can hide.
In The Shadow of the Solstice is the dark and twisted Arthurian anti-romantasy you didn't know you needed! Clothier's inventive, rich vernacular effortlessly evokes the brutal, chaotic world of post-Roman Britain. At once historically convincing, yet spookily otherworldly, this is a twisty and addictive tale of supernatural vengeance that will keep you guessing to the final page.