The Amber Seeker

The sequel to The Walrus Mutterer, longlisted for the Highland Book Prize, 2018.

Northern Britain, Iron Age. Pytheas of Massalia, the famed Greek explorer, roves the icy northern lands of Celtic Britain and beyond, in search of amber and other precious goods. He also craves another encounter with Rian, the slave he fell in love with during a previous voyage and who still haunts him. But Rian has other ideas. She has no desire to see Pytheas, and she won’t give up her freedom without a fight.

As Pytheas navigates a world of plundered riches, feuding warlords and ancient curses, will he succeed in finding what he set out for?

In the second volume of this extraordinary, imaginative trilogy, Mandy Haggith takes us back to prehistoric times for an epic saga ranging from the subarctic to the Mediterranean. The Amber Seeker revisits the unforgettable cast of characters we met in The Walrus Mutterer, weaving another visceral tale of loss, longing and revenge in 320 BC.

"A compelling tale of endeavour, bravery and human frailty … The story is visceral and visual, crafted with a lyrical prose." Dundee Courier, Scottish Book of the Week

"Brave and fascinating … asks questions about the nature of truth, perspective, and the power of the narrator to influence where readers’ sympathies lie." Alistair Braidwood, Scots Whay Hae

"An epic tale of adventure, The Amber Seeker is a gem of historical fiction, written with elegant language and telling an emotional story of seeking knowledge in the name of glory." Cultured Vultures

"Exquisite … The Iron Age landscape comes to life with a colourful brilliance and the long sea voyages are by turns magical and terrifying." Undiscovered Scotland

"Marries great storytelling and convincing research … Haggith invites the reader to explore a strange world and far-distant time, and the voyage on which she takes the reader is always interesting, sometimes enthralling." Allan Massie, The Scotsman

"Haggith writes fluently and, with the light of her research into this period leading her imagination, there is a whole new experience for the reader … There is much to enjoy and learn in this novel [which] has a universal resonance and draws parallels with modern life." Tony Michaels, The Wee Review