The Secret Child by David Thomas Kay is a historical fantasy and family saga which forms the third novel of the Circles of Time series. Continuing the saga of this large extended family, gypsy folklore helps to connect the past to the present and we find ourselves split between two major time zones from the mid-18th and mid-20th centuries. As Amelia returns from trying to escape scandal at Appleby Castle, she encounters a psychic force that links her back to Mary, the haunting figure of a white wolf, and a runic ring that could change everything Amelia knows.

David Thomas Kay knows how to weave an intricate and deeply engrossing family saga. I was grateful for the additional resources provided which helped me to find my place and contextualize the characters, and from here, it was easy to dive into this multi-stranded tale with secrets, scandals, romances, quests for power, and a sinister undertone of magical realism. I love the way Kay brings history to life with gothic flair and vivid, cinematic description, taking us back to the austere vision of the English Lake District and its moody fells and walkways. As a fan of the area, it was nice to see it mentioned. The magic of nature and our connection to the past is utilized beautifully, entrenching realism into the story. Overall, I would certainly recommend The Secret Child for fans of the existing series and those who adore well-crafted family sagas with realistic characters and twisting plots.

Thomas Johnson would not strike most as the kind of man who could launch a centuries-long scourge on all his descendants, but that is exactly what happens in The Secret Child by David Thomas Kay, book three in the metaphysical Circles of Time series. A phantom lingers, attached to the magic of three relics Johnson possesses. They are meant only to be in the hands of specific people, so whoever has them at any given time will face the consequences if they are not among the pre-ordained caretakers. Johnson's family tree is so extensive that Kay dedicates space to clarifying who's who. As the relics pass through the hands of several people, Kay takes readers on an armchair tour of the Victorian era, with an upstairs-downstairs social order, politics, and moral boundaries that are frequently in conflict with not only the relics but the evolution of its keepers.

The Secret Child is an ambitious novel, to say the least. There is so much going on that I ended up, as I have with other books by David Thomas Kay, having to take notes. I am a history nerd and have a tenderness for children forced into hard labor so there was some heartbreak on my side with some of the content relating to child labor, which was notoriously horrible during the Industrial Revolution. I have the advantage of, first, being an American who calls England her forever home, so my connection and understanding of how historically things worked was beneficial, although not necessary. Kay absolutely has his finger on the pulse of history. The second advantage is that I've read the first two novels in the series so the foundation was solid for me. Readers who start with this novel will be perfectly comfortable reading it as a stand-alone, but what a shame it would be to have missed out on The Sword of Saint Isidores and The Ring of Mann. Very highly recommended.

The Secret Child: Book 3 in the Circles of Time series by David Thomas Kay is a twisting, complicated, familial tale that spans several centuries. With its roots set firmly in Viking lore and mysticism, this tale focuses on the early nineteenth century and the lives of Lady Amelia and her maid and constant companion, Annie. A scandal erupts at Appleby Castle when Amelia’s brother-in-law and known philanderer manages to impregnate both Amelia and Annie. After secretly giving birth and adopting their offspring, the pair flee to India where they remain for twenty years. On their return, the past slowly begins to unravel as an ancient Runic ring and its magical power manage to create havoc for not only them but their descendants, be they legitimate or illegitimate.

The Secret Child is a complicated story that twists and turns in surprising and adventurous ways. The story is crammed full of weird and fascinating synchronicities and Viking mysticism that will lead you down many false trails. I particularly enjoyed the idea of a throwback child that is dark-skinned and abhorrent to a decent and fashionable society. The characters are believable and easy to identify with. It was a time of vast differences between the classes and the different levels of English society. David Thomas Kay does a tremendous job of highlighting the differences between the scandalous behavior of the members of the higher classes that could easily be excused or covered up and the poor, downtrodden working class who were defined by their status and essentially expendable in every way. I also appreciated the sympathetic way the gypsy lifestyle was presented in the story despite many views to the contrary. This is undoubtedly an interesting read and one I can recommend.

The Secret Child is the third book in David Thomas Kay’s Circles of Time series, set in two different eras. In the mid-18th century, Mary Atkinson is dying, reliving the shadows of a Viking revenge warrior called Freydis. In the 20th century, Appleby Castle is plagued by scandal, forcing Anne to escape to Bengal. When she returns after 21 years, the past and the present blur together with the reincarnation of a Gypsy fortune-teller and a psychic. Twisting through the years, a white wolf hovers, and a runic ring wreaks havoc and misfortune on all who hold it. Set in the Lake District, this is a story of layers that reveals more than one secret before its end.

The Secret Child by David Thomas Kay is a stunning blend of fantasy, family, and historical drama that spans the centuries. There are several themes running through the story, including reincarnation, the consequences of keeping secrets, and ancestral legacy, all bound into a complex plot. The character development is such that each character comes to life as you read, and the world-building takes you right into the story with them. The storyline gradually builds, and the connection between the timelines and characters becomes clear, leading to a shocking secret at the end. Although I read the first book in the series, I missed the second one, so I would recommend anyone picking up this book read the series to get the full picture. That said, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who loves a good historical mystery with themes of folklore and family legacy.

The Secret Child is the third book in the Circles of Time series by David Thomas Kay. In the seventeenth century, Thomas Johnson arrives in Whitehaven on a ship from Boston. Despite his initial reluctance, he ends up meeting his beautiful cousin Mary and stealing her amber brooch. Decades pass, and Mary tells her grandson about his true grandfather. She discovers who inherited the ancient runic ring that brings misfortune to anyone who possesses it. In the early 1820s, Annie Burton started working at Appleby Castle, where she struck up an unexpected friendship with Amelia Atkinson. But a shocking scandal involving Amelia's brother-in-law forces them to escape to India. After twenty years, they return to England and meet a young gypsy and a psychic whose bloodlines define their legacy.

The Secret Child is a multi-generational saga of four interrelated families and the legacies they leave behind. Packed with romance, drama, and a dash of the supernatural, this engrossing tale spans over a century, featuring a large cast of characters and story arcs. Author David Thomas Kay has crafted an intricate plot. Relationships and events have ramifications over several generations. Additionally, the characters are flawed and have vulnerabilities, which only makes them feel even more human. Whether it's Mary and Thomas' complicated affair or Annie and Amelia's desperation to protect each other at all costs, the relationships in this book are so vivid and lively that you can't help but resonate with the characters. Pali and Helena's storyline was another highlight for me. If you enjoy Victorian family dramas with a generational supernatural twist, definitely grab a copy.

The Secret Child by David Thomas Kay spans several generations, and deep and dark secrets connected to multiple families and their lives propel the story. This detailed, well-researched book reveals the interconnectedness between "the sins of the past" and their destructive influence on future generations. From Viking warriors and necromancers to witches and Gypsy curses, The Secret Child offers a plethora of intense supernatural events and colorful, intriguing characters set in an era of great technological and social transformation during the 1800s. The most influential characters like Annie, Amelia, Helena, and Pali share dark secrets that could change the course of their family history for good. As time passes, it becomes clear to them that the secrets from their past can ruin generations of their descendants. Will the secrets stay hidden, or will the characters’ lives change drastically when revealed?

David Thomas Kay offers readers a wonderful, puzzling, and exciting glimpse into a historically driven and meticulously researched world of intrigue and mystery. The reader becomes an important witness to the past, and the complex characters are guides through the era of innovation and a web of secrets that each of them weaves as time goes by. The characters' personal experiences are full of drama and fascinating details from that era, which Kay expertly uses to create stories that last for generations. It is this historical authenticity, mixed with rich storytelling, that challenges our perception and inspires a range of emotions as we read. The author's writing style is relatable on a personal level and successfully draws the reader into the spellbinding world of the past.

The Secret Child is the third book in the Circles of Time series by David Thomas Kay. The family drama continues, spanning centuries, as each generation feels the burden of the past. Thomas was still reeling from a disturbing vision. Before dying, Mary saw a vision of the Viking warrior Freydis as a white wolf staring at her from the shadows. Anna returns home after twenty years as she investigates her past. Helena, a psychic, and Pali, a Gypsy fortune-teller, are haunted by the visions of a floating island and a ring that neither of them understands. Things get even stranger when Thomas Johnson, a young miner, inherits the same unusual ring that apparently brings revelation and misfortune. The destinies of all these people are tied together because of their pasts. Will they break the chain or pass on this legacy?

David Thomas Kay delivered an entertaining story that had me hooked until the end. I loved the time jumps and how the narrative style changes as new generations appear. I enjoyed Pali’s whimsical nature and Helena’s seriousness. Thomas, on the other hand, was not prepared for what would happen in his life just because of a simple inheritance. The narrative style was fantastic and perfect for the plot. I loved the element of mystery. The symbolism, the white wolf, and the floating island kept me immersed until the end. I also enjoyed the Norse legends and Victorian England's societal expectations, which added to the story. These depict how family expectations and trauma can change the course for generations to come. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

David Thomas Kay’s The Secret Child is an intricate and atmospheric epic family saga, infused with ancient Viking family heirlooms. The setting is mostly in the 19th century in Whitehaven and Keswick in England’s Lake District, and in London. Three English families, the Atkinsons, the Johnsons, and the Crosthwaites, are connected in one way or another to early Viking settlers who first settled in the Lake District centuries ago. The story opens in the 17th century. Mary Atkinson is the rightful possessor of three Viking family heirlooms: a silver ring with Norse runes, an amber brooch, and a silver hammer. The heirlooms inflict a curse on anyone who is not the rightful owner. The family webs grow more complex with the birth of illegitimate children. The story twists and turns to the very end, both captivating and terrifying.

​I thoroughly enjoyed David Thomas Kay’s The Secret Child for its remarkable characters, immersive subplots, and the suspenseful presence of the Viking heirlooms. I loved how the heirlooms are interwoven into the story, appearing unexpectedly, enigmatic, mystifying, and terrifying in their effect on the characters who acquire the heirlooms, but who are not rightful possessors. Given the many different characters, the focus on the Viking silver ring with its Norse runes gave me a way to follow the characters whose journeys and fates feel the impact of the ring. What also helped me was the summary of the major characters of the three English families, including most of the illegitimate children and their biological parents. I liked how the story is developed to reveal the secret child in the title. I loved the details of the settings, making the characters spring vividly to life. The story gained depth with the interweaving of vivid descriptions of visions, past and future, and made for a powerful connection between the ancestral past and the present, and between characters. I liked the character development of Pali, Annie, Isabella’s young son Thomas, and the very intriguing Pahlevi. I loved the final chapters, twisting and turning into an exciting cliffhanger. I highly recommend The Secret Child to readers who love complex, paranormal historical fiction.

​