Fantasy/SF Book Reviews
Page Three of ThreeDaughters of Bast: The Hidden Land by Sarah Isidore
Eos, Sept., 1999.Paperback, 373 pages.
ISBN: 0380803186.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
In the land of the Celts, the Druids are the spiritual
leaders of the tribes. To cure a deadly plague,
the Druids determine that they must sacrifice a black
cat to their Gods. Veleda, a young girl with Druidic
blood in her veins, is sent to find the cat. She finds
a beautiful black cat, but sets it free at the last minute,
although she knows she will incur the wrath of her
people for doing so. The cat is actually a magical
creature named Mau, and leads Veleda into the
forest where she finds a fabulous temple and the
Egyptian Goddess Bast. Bast gives Veleda special
powers, and she returns to her people to train as a full
Druid. Veleda has been chosen to lead her people against
the invading Julius Caesar, and she will have many
trials to face in order to free her people -- and
perhaps even find true love for herself.
The Hidden Land is the first book in a trilogy of the Daughters of Bast. Author Sarah Isidore combines Celtic religious and spiritual practices with Egyptian mythology in an unusual and fascinating way. Veleda, the Druid who is caught up in the war between the beneficent and mysterious Bast and her evil sister, the Goddess Sekhmet, is a complex woman caught in forces beyond her understanding. The unusual mix of Celtic and Egyptian mythologies make an interesting background for the magic, action and romance which permeate this compelling story.
The Heart of a Witch by Judith Hawkes
Signet, April, 1999.Paperback, 418 pages.
ISBN: 0451197224.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
In upstate New York sometime in the late 1950s,
teenaged twins Kip and Shelley Davis lived in
a small and prosperous village named Green Hollow.
The twins were always fascinated by the Victorian
inn located across the street from their home. The
Lockley Arms was home to wealthy and interesting
guests, and the twins eventually got jobs there.
But the Lockley Arms has its secrets; in residence
is a witches coven, led by the beautiful Snow.
When two of the thirteen members of the coven die,
Kip and Shelley ask to take their places.
Becoming members of the coven, they learn much
about magic and themselves. But jealousy and an
old crime rear their ugly heads, and Kip and Shelley
become involved with events and forces which
are beyond their powers to control.
Heart of a Witch is a compelling portrait, both of the Wiccan religion and of the growing pains that affect all adolescents. The story is really about the human heart; its passions, its desires and its dark side. Hawkes is a master of suspense and pacing; the story builds, slowly at first, then picking up pace until the shocking conclusion. Her prose is rich and seductive, providing an eerie yet compelling world for this unsettling, yet utterly engaging story. Highly recommended.
The Stone and the Maiden by Dennis Jones
Eos, August, 1999 .Hardcover, 421 pages.
ISBN: 0380978016.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
Mandine Dascaris is the heiress to the throne of
the Ascendancy, the once-mighty, but now
crumbling empire, ruled by the King, her
ruthless father. Assisted by
Erkai the Chain, an evil sorcerer, the barbaric
Tathars are sweeping across the countryside,
killing everyone in their path. With the help of
her Gods, Mandine escapes, and meets
a young soldier, Key Mec Brander, who will
help her in her quest to find the Stigmata,
an ancient magical relic which will help Mandine
and Key vanquish Erkai and restore the Ascendancy
to its former glory. On their journey, they will encounter
adventure, magic and romance.
The Stone and the Maiden has all the right ingredients for a rousing fantasy tale: good, evil, magic and romance. Mandine's family is simply ghastly: neither her cold, ruthless father or her power-hungry stepsister are the types to engender any kind of positive family feeling. The fantasy world is well-imagined and the mythos is appealing. With the number of characters and subplots introduced, this story is well positioned for the sequel. An excellent entry which will please romantic fantasy fans.
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