A fascinating tale of Sorcery and Druidism
937363
The odd thing about this story is that there is a Cerridwen and Rhuddlwm who are connected with a Welsh Witchcraft page at: [...]  They knew nothing about The Chalice and the Blade, but their story parallels the Glenna McReynolds story.  They are Druid/Witches and so are the protaganists of the story.  They are married.  Rhuddlan and Ceridwen are not, but they were lovers.  They are members of a Welsh Druid based religion ( Y Tylwyth Teg) and so are the two characters.  I was not only amazed, but also flabergasted at the synchronistic event of Glenna Writing this particular story.  You see my name is Cerridwen and I am a member of Y Tylwyth Teg which Glenna wrote about without knowing us.  In fact when I called her she too was dumbstruck at the similarities between her book and the real life religion she writes about.  Her book is not only one of the most fascinating historical fantasy books on the market.  But in some respects it carries many elements of truth.  This comes from the extensive research that Ms. McReynolds undertook before writing this wonderful tale.  A must read for all those interested in Druidism and Witchcraft.  Cerridwen ab Gawr, High Priestess Y Tylwyth Teg. (cgriswol@randomc.com) Kennesaw, GA, USA
264118
This is a timeless and beautiful tale of sorcery, triumph and love. An engrossing tale that should be required reading.
444151
In "Fen the Sightless," Michael McShea tells a fine tale of the prehistoric past, with strong mythic resonance. Cave art, a blind story-teller who functions as the tribal seer and wise man, hunting, and a world in which the boundary between living and dead is permeable: all of these interesting themes come together in a tightly woven narrative that holds the reader's interest from the beginning of the story to the end.

I highly recommend this e-book to those interested in mythology, prehistoric art, the psychological and cultural roots from which religious ideas and practices spring, and so forth. For anyone interested in these subjects and others connected to them, "Fen the Sightless" will be a fascinating read.
1951394
If there is one thing to be said about this book, Patricks story telling ability is as beautiful as it is complex and breathtakingly unique. A great find for lovers of dark fantasy!

The story is told in three alternating narratives; the first being our main character Lonan, folklore excerpts, and Lonans dream about a strange man named Adahy and a mysterious man with extraordinary powers that goes by the name of The Magpie King.  We begin the journey with Lonan, a current outcast in his society due to a horrible incident that happened in his village long ago that the local villagers have blamed Lonan for causing. Lonan struggles to find his knack, a special talent or ability that that everyone in Lonans world has that makes them especially good at accomplishing certain tasks. Knacks can be for just about anything: cooking, black smithing, music, medicine, dancing, story-telling, leadership, and even lying. The villagers do not leave their houses after dark due to the presence of creatures that, wouldnt you know, mostly come out at night and that are dangerous and known for killing anyone who may unfortunately find themselves outdoors.

Upon reading this book, I immediately fell in love with the story. The folklore excerpts were expertly used to not only contribute to the storyline but as a smart world building technique that gave authenticity and insight into Lonans world, much in the same way that our own fables, folklore, fairy tales, and legends speak loudly of our cultures. Patricks story creates a world easy for us to explore, a smooth sail on a calm sea to fall into as we are led down this rabbit hole of adventure. I couldn't help but identify with Lonan as his search to find happiness and his own place in his world echoes my own questions about what my knack would be. With each turn of the page, we are drawn further and further in, each paper thin layer of story telling carefully crafted until we get to the end of our journey. A delightful plot twist reveals just how each of those layers came together in a seamless reveal and readers will be able to look back and marvel at the journey that brought them there.

So, if you're in the need of a great story, a wonderful fast-paced adventure stuffed with some everyday magic, a good dose of legend, and stitched together with a little bit of darkness, grab this book!
2908576
This is a book I feel I have been wanting to read for years. It is wonderfully learned and full of provocative tidbits of medieval fairy lore (or medieval scoffing at fairies). More importantly, the book offers a sophisticated framework for retrieving what we can of how fairies were understood in different places by different groups of people. I found the discussions of the presentation of Christ as "elvish" in some of the English civic mystery plays, and of the relationship between developing ideas of Purgatory and traditional fantasies of fairyland, particularly fascinating.
3727284
M.K. Hobson creates a fascinating combination of the old West and magic in her novel, The Native Star, portraying the realities of the late 1800s, its cultures, its cities, its horses and trains, and even its wars with just one vital addition, magic. She creates a fascinating cast of characters, from rich denizens of Los Angeles to tribal villagers, with just enough of both old world and new to make them vividly real.

University educated warlock Dreadnought Stanton finds himself saddled with awkward country witch Emily Edwards in a race against time to save the universe. As they speed from one end of the country to the other, Emily learns about different types of magic, with delightfully well-thought-out rules and wonderfully confused questions reflecting much of modern life in the light of the magical. In Emily's world, not only are science and religion at odds, but so are each with magic, adding a third point of contention to civilized, and uncivilized life. Magic practitioners will either be revered as the hope of the nation, or burned at the stake as the causers of all ills.  Valuable artifacts might be captured and studied, stolen and used, or spirited away for safekeeping. But which is the right reaction when Emily tries to tie her long-dead mother's inheritance with the future world's plans and the precious stone she holds in her hand?

Of course, Emily is learning about another magic too as she travels, and the bonds of true love. But the question remains, of two loves, which one is true, and indeed, which can be true?

The exciting conclusion solves this mystery and more, bringing a pleasant sense of completeness to the tale. But other secrets lie in the eaves, waiting, I hope, for a second book in the series. Certainly these characters and their world merit more words, and the author has imbued them with such a convincing reality they're sure to stay in the reader's mind until book two comes out. Horses, trains and biomechanical flying machines will people my dreams, and the landscapes of late 1800s USA will form a beautifully described background waiting for more.
727184
Having recently lost both parents, Madeleine Niteclif was searching for connections and for some unknown reason she felt a compulsion to travel to the United Kingdom and visit the famed stone circle of Stonehenge. It's in this famed and mystical circle that her life takes a turn towards the magical. She is thrust into a world of dragons, fairies, vampires and other supposed mythical beings. She is also told that she is to be the supreme law of this supernatural world. It is her duty as the Niteclif, a calling handed down through genetics that must be heeded. She is not in this alone however, Bahlin Drago, a dragon shifter and High Council member and Tarreck, First Prince of Fairy are both eager to lend their assistance in whatever capacity Maddy desires. As her first duty, Maddy must find the culprit behind the recent murders in this magical realm and failure to do so means death. She has to learn quickly that her trust is not always well placed, and since her word is law, Maddy has to be certain she gets it right the first time.

The Niteclif Evolutions offers up a refreshingly unique concept into the paranormal romance genre. This book threw surprises at me right and left, and caused me to reevaluate some long held likes and dislikes. If you like a good 'who dunnit' mystery, you need to jump on board and get this book. Even after the culprit was revealed there were still " Say, WHAT?!?" moments. Told in first person point of view from Maddy's perspective , the reader takes the harrowing journey from grieving human to super cop of the supernatural world right along with the wonderfully snarky heroine. Legacy combines, Celtic and Norse legend together with Sherlock Holmes in a brilliantly executed story that makes total sense. Who'd think of that? Evidently Denise Tompkins. She also throws in some compelling characters full of energy, humor and a smidgen of lust.

Poor Maddy stands up well against these fearsome creatures of myth. Keeping her wits about her, she wields her sharp tongue like the deadliest of blades as she untangles the myriad threats of deceit and treachery surrounding her in this strange land. I can't wait to see what happens next to this fledgling sleuth and her hunky sidekick. There is still a prophecy hanging over their heads and Maddy has made some nasty enemies in her short time on the job. It promises trouble for Maddy, but a good book for us.
668518
A Druid's Odyssey by Francis Gene Collins follows the life of Harra from Hibernian or ancient Ireland. He leaves his parents' home at the young age of twenty-two to find himself and a vocation, and heads into a mystical and dangerous journey. When he meets a traveling companion, Lurco along the way, he at least has some extra food and an extra set of eyes to deal with marauders on their path.  Soon, Harra becomes a physician's assistant, and while some of the content therein is quite graphic, it doesn't detract from the story. Harra's main goal though is to save the woman he loves, Alba, from certain death at the hands of the Romans. With a bit of a love story and excellent historical facts, this is a fascinating look at the world of Druidism; this book is ripe with history that is presented in a fictional manner. That alone is an education, and makes this book worth reading. Highly recommend for a wonderful reading diversion.
4782693
"The Book of Occult" is a wonderfully imaginative and well-written novel that delves into the world of the occult in a fantastic way. Using a vivid writing style and authentic characters to tell this tale, Simon W. Clark pulls you into the story and makes you eager to unravel the mystery of the manuscript and the hidden workings of the world Peter Ashton has found himself thrust into. It's fast-paced, sharp, focused and exceedingly entertaining. What I liked about this novel was that the author didn't just fake his way through the more esoteric portions of the occult, he did his research and created an authentic world were magic and the occult come together nicely. I had a great time reading this and I think it was a promising introduction to Mr. Clark as an author. "The Book of Occult" was well worth the read and I would certainly recommend it to other readers looking for a fast-paced, well-written and enjoyable novel to sink their teeth into.
4283067
Gryphon's sense of history and lore is woven through the story of Amelia Pivens, whose mother is murdered during a magic ritual performed on the Autumn Equinox.  Amelia was seven years old at the time, and present for the ritual.  At that point, she uses her fledgling skills to try and call forth the universal powers to save her mother.  As the power builds, Amelia flees the scene leaving death behind her.  She also leaves the witnesses with the knowledge that she is a witch of tremendous power and control.

Amelia's life changes after her mother's death.  Her father moves them to London, where they ignore and banish all aspects of witchcraft from their lives.  Amelia becomes a successful art critic working at the National Gallery, and has no contact with witchcraft for twenty years.  Suddenly, with the approach of her twenty-eighth birthday, Amelia is drawn back into the world of The Craft.  She is exposed to the people responsible for her mother's death, and she finds that she may be part of a centuries-old prophesy meant bring balance to The Craft and banish their enemies.  Amelia's life changes in the course of events, and as her power grows, so does the threat surrounding her.

Gryphon's world of Witches fits seamlessly into a contemporary landscape in which The Craft is unusual, but practiced.  She creates The Organization, a brilliant opposition to the Witches and the source of witch hunting and persecution for centuries.  She weaves Pagan lore and history together in a compelling and extremely well-written story of love, loss and magic.  Amelia must suspend her distrust in The Craft, which she feels took her mother away, as she learns the truth behind other painful moments in her life.  Gryphon leaves the reader wanting more.  I read it in one sitting, and eagerly await the second installment.  This is a book that will be enjoyed by fantasy and intrigue lovers alike.
2120826
After getting this book free on the Kindle, it sat in my archives for several years.  I am so sorry I waited that long to read it.  Told through the perspective of Lewis Gillies, an American graduate student at Oxford, it recounts his travel to Albion.  Through a cairn in Scotland, he (along with the reader) is transported to this mystical world based on Celtic lore.  He learns the language and customs from his druid companion Tegid.  It is a wonderful story and as soon as I was finished, I downloaded the second book, Silver Hand, so I could finish the story.  I recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy like C.S. Lewis' Narnia series.
2357081
Impressively imagined in a wonderfully rich tapestry of lands and creatures, this story is full of adventure, drama and magic. From the outset the pages reveal one surprising event after another. The pace is well judged and the story is gripping from the beginning to the very satisfying conclusion. That conclusion has me licking my lips in anticipation of further magical adventures in which Taren is the central figure. I also find that I hope to meet Zamna again, and I don't even like reptiles! Some readers might feel that the writing is too simple, perhaps too easy-reading in style; this is a matter of personal taste. I would point out that Nathaniel Hawthorne once commented, Easy reading is damn hard writing. All of the characters are well drawn, and the magic working is outstanding. I felt that this was an original creation, not quite like any other fantasy that I have read, and thoroughly enjoyable. Fantasy lovers, this one is for you.
1127813
A swift moving story, filled with mystical creatures and a fast moving plot!

Thareous is a young man, with a huge destiny before him. His journey takes him on many paths, with still more paths before him to choose from. Met with many tempations, and obstacles along the way, Thareous and his newfound friends must fight for Keiratha.

It took awhile for me to "get used to my surroundings" but when I did, this books sped by. I could totally see reading The Dark Legion aloud, because there are so many great lines that just beg to be spoken in bold British accents!

This book was written in a unique style, that I will admit took me some time to adjust to, I would say that this book has a lilt to it that would greatly appeal to those who like a classic medieval tales. There were vivid descriptions of the various settings, painted with such precision of word choice and usage. The setting descriptions were probably my favorite part, because I could actually feel it and see it, as if it were before me on a movie screen.

This tale is a tale of the battles between good and evil, and the temptations of living for one's own selfish desires. A couple things that I will note is that this book does have magic, dragons, and a various assortment of other mystical creatures, and that there are "Fates" who are credited with effecting destinies, even though there was an allegorical God-like figure and an evil, power grasping Devil-like figure. So that was the one thing that baffled me, and made me conflicted about this book. I will also note that I found one use of "d--n."

Overall, I would recommend this to fantasy lovers, who have a spot in their hearts for the classics. One thing that I thought was cool, was how eloquently the characters spoke, with using some words that I'd never even heard before, of course I had to look them up! The Dark Legion is a fast-moving tale about the choices that we make, who will we serve?

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. It was not required that I give a positive review, but only that I give my thoughts and personal opinions. Thanks.
498959
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy based on myth and legend. The story involves present-day 15-year-old boy-and-girl twins, Josh and Sophie, who suddenly find out that they are the only ones who can save the world as we know it; Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel (familiar to those of you who've read "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone"); Dr. John Dee, the chief villain; and an enormous contingent of characters from myth and folklore who, it turns out, are real (the Morrigan, Hekate, Bastet, the Witch of Endor, vampires, werewolves, et al.).

Nicholas Flamel has long had possession of the powerful Book of Abraham, or the Codex, which contains mystical secrets that have kept the Flamels alive since the 14th century. John Dee is the leader of the evil forces who steal the Codex. If it is not retrieved from them, our familiar world will be destroyed, and humans will be enslaved or used as a food source. This is the first installment of a riveting tale, written by an Irish authority on mythology and folklore, that will appeal to both kids and grown-ups.
960814
This is an adventure full of tension, action, magic, and a little romance. Frequently funny, now and then deeply sad, marbled with mysteries, and populated with living characters who move against a fascinating background of land and culture, it is especially notable for the rich storytelling possibilities of its unique conception of magic. The pacing is good, the dialogue is clever, and the narrative style has some stylish quirks that tend to grow on one - for example, a heavy reliance on onomatopoeic sound effects, such as "Wheeeee eeeee" for Gairloch's neighing. I would only ding the writing for a couple of glaring redundancies, like a paragraph that says the same thing twice, or a sentence that uses the same adjective twice. These are possibly the kind of goofs that happen when a writer produces a tremendous amount of material in a short time; even editors can only work so fast without missing things.
3988688
The world of the Kitsune Tales is a richly-drawn world with complex politics and intriguing mythology. Combining the elements of magic and mystery, the author tells the story of Tsurugu, an onmyoudou (magician) who hides a multitude of secrets within himself while attempting to serve the lady Kaede and her husband. This novel is populated with an array of youkai, supernatural beings of varying powers and abilities, chief among them the kitsune, or fox spirits.

The intertwining plots and compelling characters combine with rich Japanese culture and mythology to provide a thoroughly enjoyable read.
2398495
I enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down.  I loved how one can learn about how various powers work (druidic powers interaction with nature or sorcerers powers that fetch magic directly from the well) and also about powerful natural spirit forces like Cenarius or Aviana and also the Aspects (powerful dragons embodying some cosmic force like time or the earth).  There are hints about how the Old Gods (H.P. Lovecraft's cuthulu like entities) somehow corrupted the Well of Eternity and also corrupted Nefarion in a complex endeavor to engineer their release.

I've found that these details can really give on a feel of the Warcraft's universe that one cannot easily get through MMORPG or pen-n-paper Warcraft d20 game.