In the late first century A.D., one woman dared to defy the Romans. Boudecia was born to Celtic royalty, then began training to be a Druid, but eventually wed a king. Accepting Rome's rule kept the peace and avoided bloodshed, until her husband's death. After that, the invaders turned traitor to the agreements, inciting Boudecia's actions that made her a legend. Becoming a vessel for Morrigan, the raven battle goddess, she defied the soldiers who brutalized her and those she cared for. This is also the story of a lesser known figure, Boudecia's mentor, Lhiannon, a Druid priestess whose war was to be one of a more spiritual nature, preserving their ways so that Avalon and the Forest House will live on.

With its epic scope, this saga will surely appeal to those who have followed Morgan Llewllyn's career and put Colleen McCullough's Rome series on the best seller lists. Ms. Paxson's own voice combines with the stylistic paradigm established by the late Marion Zimmer Bradley to continue her work in a way that is both true to the old while adding newness. If you are a fan of the historical fantasy genre, this is not to be missed.