Review - The Pillar by Kim Fielding

The Pillar

by Kim Fielding

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Tags: Historical

Posted in Book Reviews on 22 April, 2026

Faris is the village herbalist. He dispenses the teas, tinctures and salves he makes to help cure the various ills of everyone in the town. Faris was taught by the previous healer who has since passed away. Among his most distasteful duty is tending to those punished in the town square, where criminals and misbehaving slaves are tied to a stone pillar, lashed mercilessly, and left to die. Some are beyond saving and the most Faris can do is help ease their way. He hates the memories each trip to the pillar brings up. It’s how Faris met his mentor. As a boy, Faris was homeless and driven to steal to eat, so was sentenced to be lashed at the pillar. Boro is the latest victim Faris rescues. The former slave is near death but strong enough to recover. As he does, he’s revealed to be a kind, handsome man about Faris’ age. The two are attracted to each other, but they live in a world where relations between men are officially frowned on.

Although not a historical novel in the strictest sense, this is not the type of medieval fantasy romance that you might expect from this author. There is no magic nor are there any mythical creatures. The time and place where the story is set is not mentioned. The development suggests early second millennium while the names for places and people as well as the cultural mix of Christian and Muslim makes me think of the Balkans. However, in the end, this is a made-up world populated by people similar to those that might have existed at some time in our pre-industrial past.

The story is told entirely from Faris’ point of view. Despite his years of service to the community, Faris still sees himself as the thief who should have died on the pillar. He hides away in the cottage he once shared with his mentor, and ventures out mostly only to collect the herbs and other plants he needs from the forest, but he helps everyone who comes to his door and has earned the gratitude of the entire village.

It takes a while for us to learn Boro’s full story. He wasn’t always a slave, and how he got there, and ultimately to the pillar, is a heart wrenching story. It’s quite remarkable that, once recovered, he is revealed to be a sweet natured man that still has a capacity to trust and love. The dramatic turn of events is somewhat obvious when it happens, but feels completely natural in the story’s context.

“The Pillar” is available from Smashwords or from independent booksellers through Bookshop.org.