Abandoned, faithful – and on trial for heresy.
On a bleak autumn morning in 1555, Protestant Perotine wakes to find her husband packed to leave. Catholicism has returned to Guernsey, and, fearing for his life, he abandons Perotine, her sister and mother to face increasing hostility alone.
The three women endure a challenging winter of rain, isolation, and poverty – until a dramatic series of events draws unwanted attention. When a local woman asks Perotine to hide stolen goods, what begins as a trial for theft spirals into accusations of heresy.
Secluded, steadfast, and terrified, the women face their plight with fortitude and prayers. Together.
But Perotine Massey holds a terrible secret. One that could bring a reprieve, or a fate worse than death.
And she’ll do anything to keep that secret safe.
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If this story ever makes it to the stage, it should have a constant drone-like hum in the background, to give the audience that terrible sense of foreboding.
It is a dark tale, for sure, and will sit with me for some time, I think. But then, it was a dark time in English history, when it must have been terrifying to have to live your Christian faith according to the whims of whichever monarch was on the throne. Many people were executed for being on the ‘wrong’ side at the wrong time.
What I loved
- The use of language, especially among the three women, was great, very much in keeping with the period, and the differentiation between their speech and the language used among the men at court was well written, emphasising their class and power.
- The weather is almost a character in its own right in this story. I loved how the author made everything feel drab and dreary during the harsh winter with the incessant rain. It’s an important thing to remember when writing my own material, too!
- The fact that this is a true story, and how the author talks about her research methods really resonated with me. As a write of historical fiction myself, I know how important it is to visit places in person to get a feel for what life was like during the period in which you have set your story.
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About the author
Dreena Collins is a multi-genre author. Her short fiction has been listed and placed in numerous writing competitions, such as The Bridport Prize and the Bath Flash Fiction Award. She is also the author of a suspense novel, And Then She Fell.
As Jane Harvey, Dreena writes commercially successful, feel-good fiction: The Hummingbird House series. Books one and two of the series both won the Eyelands International Awards, Published Novel of the Year (2021 and 2022).
‘Perotine’ is Dreena’s first full-length work of historical fiction, and a labour of love, retelling the powerful story of the Guernsey Martyrs of 1556. Shortlisted in the Flash 500 Novel Opening Competition, the manuscript was also a top ten finalist in the Marlowe and Christie prize.
She lives in Jersey with her spouse, a teenage son, and a grumpy white dog, where she also works as the Project Manager for a local charity.
You can follow her here:
Instagram.com/dreenawriting
Facebook.com/dreenawriting
Bluesky: @dreenawriting.co.uk
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