{"product_id":"columbas-bones-ebook","title":"Columba's Bones","description":"\u003c!-- One-line hook --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA fierce, witty and gripping Darkland Tales novella — blending Viking mayhem, early Christian history and a sharp, surprising meditation on faith, violence and survival.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Tagline --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Greig reimagines the bloody raid on Iona in 825, following a stranded Viking who must outwit monks, nature and his own demons to uncover the relics of St Columba.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Access Your Content --\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 2px solid #ddd; padding: 16px; border-radius: 6px; background: #f9f9f9; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAccess Your Content in Seconds\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003col style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eComplete your purchase on our store.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (free).\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eLog in using the same email from checkout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eYour ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ol\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"font-size: 14px; color: #555;\"\u003eAll content is securely delivered through our app and not offered as a Shopify download.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- About the Ebook --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eColumba’s Bones\u003c\/strong\u003e transports readers to the Isle of Iona in the year 825 — a moment of brutal violence and spiritual upheaval. During a savage Viking raid, Abbot Blathmac is murdered on the steps of his monastery for refusing to reveal the hiding place of St Columba’s sacred relics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe next morning, one Viking wakes alone, hungover, abandoned by his crew and stripped of his sword by the island’s last surviving monk. He cannot swim, there are no boats, and the relics he came to steal remain hidden. With only his wits, he must survive long enough to rejoin his comrades — and uncover the treasure that brought him to Iona in the first place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRooted in real history and the early monastic culture of Iona, this novella is a thrilling, darkly comic and deeply thoughtful exploration of the clash between Christianity and paganism. Greig expands the tale into a meditation on shame, redemption, violence, love, transcendence and the strange, slippery nature of reality itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eShortlisted for the \u003cstrong\u003eHighland Book Prize\u003c\/strong\u003e and the \u003cstrong\u003eBookmark Book Festival Book of the Year\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Reviews --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCritical Praise\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"A bold, imaginative and utterly compelling reworking of a pivotal moment in Scottish history.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Why You'll Love This Ebook --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy You'll Love This Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA gripping Darkland Tales entry\u003c\/strong\u003e blending history, myth and razor‑sharp storytelling.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA unique Viking protagonist\u003c\/strong\u003e — flawed, funny, violent and unexpectedly philosophical.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRich historical grounding\u003c\/strong\u003e in the early Christian world of Iona.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePerfect for fans of historical fiction\u003c\/strong\u003e with a dark, literary edge.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA standout debut book\u003c\/strong\u003e from one of Scotland’s most celebrated playwrights.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- About the Author --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDavid Greig\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of Scotland’s leading playwrights. A graduate of Bristol University, he co‑founded the Suspect Culture theatre company in the 1990s, and his plays have been performed across Scotland and internationally. His works include \u003cem\u003eMidsummer\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Events\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCharlie and the Chocolate Factory\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eLocal Hero\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart\u003c\/em\u003e. He is Artistic Director of Edinburgh’s Lyceum Theatre. \u003cem\u003eColumba’s Bones\u003c\/em\u003e is his first book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Publication Details --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Birlinn Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprint:\u003c\/strong\u003e Polygon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5 October 2023\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrint Length:\u003c\/strong\u003e 184 pages\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN (Ebook):\u003c\/strong\u003e 9781788855969\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ebook\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e English\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCategories:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fiction \/ Historical Fiction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- FAQ --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I access my ebook?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and log in using the same email you used at checkout. Your ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I read it online?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can also access your purchases via our online reader at \n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reader.thegreyhill.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ereader.thegreyhill.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eI can’t see my ebook — what should I do?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTap the refresh button in the app or online reader. If it still doesn’t appear, ensure you’re logged in with the same email used at checkout. If issues continue, contact us and we’ll help right away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I gift this ebook?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can purchase a Grey Hill Gift Card here:\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/the-grey-hill-gift-card\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBuy a Gift Card\u003c\/a\u003e.\nThe recipient can redeem it on our store, and the ebook will appear in The Grey Hill App.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Birlinn Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56540298248565,"sku":null,"price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/5662\/5269\/files\/9781788855969.jpg?v=1767100813","url":"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/columbas-bones-ebook","provider":"The Grey Hill","version":"1.0","type":"link"}