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As every Latin student knows, ancient Gaul was divided into three parts, all conquered by Caesar. Llywelyn tells of that conquest from the viewpoint of the defeated Gauls. Her story is told by the Druid Ainvar, whose"soul friend" Vercingetorix leads the Gauls in their doomed defense of freedom. Llywelyn is most successful in her evocation of Celtic culture and Druidic beliefs, based on harmony with nature. Once Caesar and Vercingetorix join battle, however, the story bogs down in endless marches, raids, and battles. The characters serve the needs of the plot admirably but are never fully fleshed out and compelling in their own right. Less successful than Llywelyn's earlier novels (e.g. Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas , LJ 3/1/86), this one is still likely to please those who enjoy meticulously crafted historical fiction.

my favorite book EVER. ainvar is such a captivating character as a young, cocky pre-teen, and his steady transformation from sudden orphan to chief of the druids is fascinating, because he still retains that mindset - he refuses to do what is expected of him, and both he and the tribe come out better for it. the ending is simply heartbreaking, even though you know it's coming. a fabulous mix of history and fiction.

It is like watching the Roman invasion of Gaul from the Gaul point of view. I couldn't put it down. If you are interested at all in druids or Vercingetorix. A must read!

A tale that imagines the life of Celtic druid in the midsts of Roman invasion.