Prequel to the Mists of Avalon! Wonderful! If you loved Mists, you'll love this. Magic, pagan vs. christian characters, forbidden love and all of that good stuff.
Julie

Sent this book to bookcrosser MarinaW. Enjoy!

Received this in yesterday's mail delivery. I'm VERY excited about finally having this title in my hands again. Long story short, I loaned my copy to a friend, she moved, then couldn't find it, then we lost touch.

Description from back cover:
"She was Eilan, the daughter of a Druidic warleader and gifted with visions. In a land struggling to survive both Roman conquerors and her own people's enemies, surely fate had marked her to become a priestess of the Forest House.
But first Eilan had chosen a different, forbidden path--to love Gaius, a soldier of mixed blood among the legions sent to subdue her country. And so, she must hide a terrible secret when she is annointed as the new High Priestess. When mighty enemies poised to usurp the wealth of magic the Forest House sheltered, Eilan could only trust in the power of the great Goddess to find her destiny amidst the treacherous labyrinth in which fate had placed her..."

update 06/23/03: Promised in trade to KatrynD.
Update 2/27/04: Awaiting news whether she is still involved in BC.

Lovers of Mists of Avalon get the pre-prequel (Lady of Avalon is next) in this novel. I don't normally appreciate it when authors write novels that need a cast and setting list at the front. Bradley, however, pulled me in enough that I overlooked the effort I'd have to make to keep everything straight.

I found it intriguing that Bradley was able to take the basic plot of an Italian opera [Norma--I'll go put it on my radar, maybe I'll luck out] and mold it to fit a time that preceded the original story, and also to characters far removed from the original setting. Very different than the current trend of taking inspiration from fairy tales.

The hymns: [which I'll probably make use of]

"I am the green earth that cradles you and the womb of the waters. I am the white moon and the sea of stars. I am the night from which the first light was born. I am the mother of the gods; I am the virgin; I am the dark serpent that swallows all. Do you see me? Do you desire me? Do you accept me now?"

"Hail to thee, thou new moon, guiding jewel of gentleness,
I am bending my knee, I am offering thee my love:
I am bending my knee, I am giving thee my hand;
I am lifting to thee mine eye, Oh new moon of the seasons!
Hail to thee, thou new moon, Joyful maiden of my love!
Hail to thee, thou new moon, Joyful maiden of the graces!
Thou art traveling in thy course,
Thou art showing us thy shining face,
Oh new moon of the seasons!
Thou queen-maiden of guidance,
Thou queen-maiden of good fortune,
Thou queen-maiden, my beloved new moon of the seasons!"

An invocation:
"We call upon the Goddess, the Lady of Life, whose garment is the starry heavens; She is the virgin bride, the mother of all living, the wisdom beyond the circles of the world. She is all goddesses, and all the goddesses are one Goddess; in all Her phases, in all our faces, as She shines in the heavens, She shines within us all!"
Goddess, hear us/Goddess be near us.

Released on Monday, March 01, 2004 at Sent in trade to another BookCrosser in Hershey, Pennsylvania Controlled Releases.

Finally on its way...this was lost track of in the Great Move. Am hoping that it will be enjoyed.

Got it in the mail today and have it on my "to be read" list

Can't wait to read it :)