This Present Past

By: Traci Harding

Narrated by: Edwina Wren

Before he was Taliesin of Lynn Cerrig Bach, he was Gwion of Lynn Tegid, bumbling his way through this Present Past. Born in Powys, the son of a lowly wood merchant, Gwion is enchanted by the comely Creirwy – daughter of Tegid Foel, the Giant and his wife, Keridwen, the goddess witch of Lynn Tegid. During a brush with the Sons of the Long Knives, Gwion earns the trust of Keridwen and is offered employment at her Castell in Gwynedd. There the goddess is brewing a potion of prophetic insight and secret wisdom, destined for her monstrous, shape-shifting son, Morvran. But an ill-timed accident on the final day of his task sees Gwion inherit all the potion's supernatural abilities. In a shapeshifting battle, Gwion is swallowed by Keridwen and upon her return to human form, the Goddess discovers that she is pregnant. A punishment imposed on her by Gwyn ap Nudd, Lord of the Otherworld, dooms the goddess to carry the babe in her womb for decades. Twenty three years later, in the weir on the Afon Dyfi, a child is found by Prince Elphin of Meirion, and due to the light radiating from his brow, is named Taliesin. An exceptional lad, Taliesin's presentation at court, sparks a nasty feud with King Maelgwn of Gwynedd, that threatens to bring rebellion and the downfall of all the kingdoms of Cymru.©2018 Traci Harding (P)2018 Bolinda Publishing

Amazing addition to the stories of the Chosen

Traci Harding has done it again, I believe this is a truly excellent story and I have enjoyed more than I can say. While I admit I have always had questions regarding Taliesin's past, this story answered questions I didn't even know i wanted answers too. I cant speak highly enough of the story of Taliesin's mortal life as Gwion, before he became the legend we all know and love is a wonderful read.
Edwina Wren once again delivers an amazing tale, In my opinion she is by far the best of the many narrators who have voiced the stories of Traci Harding.