It suggests doctrinal and theological principles that Druids likely taught in relation and perception to the Celtic way of life and perspective. Many of which we would do well to emulate and thus the title – it is very appropriately title for the contents of this book.

It does not have any rituals, but these are available from several other sources. It simply reflects what a Druid should be, steeped in Celtic lore of one living in our harried world of today. Good read – get it.

It tells the story from the narrative of Ainvar, an orphan taken in by the chief druid of the Carnutes, and marked from an early age as having talents as a Druid.
It explores the Celtic religious beliefs, in everything emanating from the Source, or the Creator. “Nothing ceases to be” Ainvar assures his beloved Briga, “Therefore we are, all of us, perfectly safe, even though the conditions of our existence change”.

We learn of Julius Caesar’s utter brutality in his massacres of Gaulish, Helvetic, Belgic and Germanic tribes.
Through all of this Ainvar journeys with Vercingetorix through all seasons in Gaul.

Morgan Llyewelyn is adept at drawing up the touching scenes that grows between Ainvar and the feisty Briga, and the loyalty of the Egyptian slave woman rescued by Ainvar, Lakutu.
An exciting read wherein the author demonstrates a passion and understanding for all things Celtic and Druidic.

Some of the things that unfold between Ainvar and Briga, his first wife made me scratch my head. Her previously described feisty nature didn’t lead me to think she would share Ainvar with Lakutu so easily, and the series of events that lead to the loss of Maia seemed flimsy, and I was disappointed no resolution to that surfaced by the end of the book. Well, at least I didn’t have to wait 16 years to find out if it’s taken up in the new book, The Greener Shore, since I only bought a used copy in 2003 and finally read it a couple months ago.

I also am unsure of her purpose in naming human Celts after deDannans, such as Dian Cecht, who was the Dannan god of medicine, and Crom Daral, who must be modelled after Crom Dubh, who, Mara Freeman says in Kindling the Celtic Spirit, was a small dark hump-backed agricultural god, who may bear a resemblence to Kokopeli of the SW American Indians. Crom Dubh, according to a Sligo legend, taught the people to sew and reap, and advised them about weather conditions. Even if we are reading of characters who may come down mythologized through the eons, the Crom described as a person in this novel seems a far cry from any helpful agricultural deity. Likewise, his father, Ogmios, described in the novel as “stupid as a barrel of hair” is based on a son of the Dagda, the Good God, of the deDannans, and is Ogma in Ireland. He is cognate with the Continental god Ogmios. Ogma is the god of eloquence and literature, so here again, I do not understand or find, the fit in naming characters so different from their originals. Maybe I’m nit-picking, but it lent an inconsistency to the narrative I couldn’t put aside as I read it. Still, I plan on giving Greener Shore a go, just to see how she does deal with the Dannans, and if Maia ever shows up.

Lastly, I decided to read this novel while I was watching the HBO series Rome on DVD, to get the perspective of the Celtic side, which she does give quite eloquently. Again, because the Celtic peoples did not write their wisdom, much had to have been lost, and though this novel is total reconstructionism, it does give one a feeling of connection to an important and pivotal time in western civilization. Lately I’ve been going about saying, if you hate the I.R.S., you have the Romans to thank!

Morgan Llywelyn’s Druids is the story of the eradication of free Gaul by the Roman general Julius Caesar. It takes place in what would someday be called France during the first century before the Christian era. The Chief Druid is the “soul friend” of the great Gaulish leader Vercingetorix, whose skepticism about Druid magic is an ever present division between the two men. Ultimately, however, neither might nor magic can stop the flood tide of the Romans’ technology and discipline. The entire society based on the druidical earth religion is fated to be squeezed ever north and west and ultimately blotted out by Christianity.

Llywelyn’s plot is subtle, though you don’t notice that at first. Romans are a threat on the border when the tale begins, becoming more ruthless and more immediate as it develops. The Gauls at first are willing to let Rome in the backdoor in exchange for the luxuries traders bring in, but the Roman genera’s best ally is the inability of the Gauls to work together to present a unified resistance. This is partly their tradition but also in reaction to brutality of Roman retribution for “rebellion”. Vercingetorix and his Druid seek to remedy this, and here’s where the subtlety sneaks in, for they start to adopt Roman discipline, tactics and technology in order to defeat the Romans, surrendering their unique identity quite voluntarily.

In Ann Parson’s Mystery Book Discussion group recently we talked about whether you can like a book without liking a main character. I can categorically affirm that you can, as I really rather detested the narrator, the Chief Druid. I rather wish the main character had been Vercingetorix, but that is the author’s decision. I know she had her reasons. I felt cheated on Vercingetorix’s part as he loses all while the narrator simply retires into the woods with his three wives. I know he lost much more, but if he believed his own view of death, that it is a short phase in life, he definitely made out much better than his friend, whom he annoyingly calls “Rix”.

The novel itself also sneaks up on you. I almost hit the off button a few times early in the book, finding myself not enjoying it as much as I have other Llywelyn’s. But I stayed with it and am glad I did. There is a sweet bit of information revealed in the brief author’s note at the end that tickled me and would not have come as any sort of surprise to the Chief Druid that you will just have to learn for yourself.

From That’s All She Read http://allsheread.blogspot.com

Highly engaging, this type of scope and the author’s attention to details, patterns, metapatterns, and probabilities are consistently and delightfully conveyed with such a carefully (!) and well articulated level of honesty – this is why I have a serious crush on this author’s work. And how often do I see this caliber of work? Not nearly often enough and rarely when it comes to religion!

Enjoy.