Fiction

Gossamer Axe by Gael Baudino - This book is wonderful!  After reading this book I felt I got a better idea of what being a Witch is truly about than I did from many of the practical non-fiction books I've read.  The basic plot revolves around Christa, a harper from ancient Ireland who got lost in the world of the Sidhe. She manages to escape but must leave her lover , Judith, behind.  The rest of her life (she's immortal as a result of her stay with the Sidhe) is dedicated to finding a way to reclaim her lover.  As part of her plan she forms a hard rock band.  The other members of the band are trying to deal with serious problems in their lives and all are dramatically changed by their interaction with Christa and with magick.  This book is hard to find but if you find it read it!  It is a truly wonderful book.

Strands of Starlight, Maze of Moonlight, Shroud of Shadow, Strands of Sunlight and Spires of Spirit by Gael Baudino - These books are a series which follows the lives of the Elves and those who cross their path, both for good and bad, in medieval Europe under the shadow of the Inquisition.  The order they are list is the order the series follows.  However Spires of Spirit is a series of short stories - 3 of which occur before the events in Strands of Starlight and 3 of which occur after the events of  Strands of Sunlight.  So if you prefer reading the story in chronological order you might want to start with the first 3 stories in Spires of Spirits and move on to Strands of Starlight.  All of these books are an interesting read but they deal with some serious and painful issues such as revenge, using magic to change people against their will, personal responsibility and betrayal.  I think Gael Baudino gives a very accurate portrayal of the paranoid and claustrophobic feeling that permeated life during the Inquisition, especially for those who didn't fit in.  She also addresses how the demand for conformity leave no room for magic in people's lives.  One of the themes I found woven through the book is that if we are not true to ourselves then we become our own worst enemies.  This is a great series of books with some powerful messages and I highly recommend them.

Lammas Night by Katherine Kurtz - I have heard about this book for many years but it was very hard to find.  Having found it I'm so glad I kept up the search.  This book is wonderful and seems so plausible that I actually found myself looking up certain things in encyclopedias to double check. The plot revolves around the forming of a Great Circle by members of various magickal traditions in order to keep Hitler from invading England.  It also raises issues about the sacrifice of the Divine King and the connection the Royal House of England has had with the Craft.  This book is engrossing, enthralling and fascinating.  I felt as though I knew these characters and felt their pain.  Look for this book and read it, you'll be glad you did.

The Bast Mysteries - Speak Daggers to Her, Book of Moons and Bowl of Night by Rosemary Edgehill - A series of mysteries set in the NYC Wiccan community.  The heroine Bast, aka Karen Hightower, is the publishing industry as well as a Gardnerian Wiccan.  She becomes embroiled in various deadly misadventures as a result of her religious beliefs.  These books are well-written and provide insight into the NYC Wiccan community in all it's sometimes kooky glory.  In fact part of the fun for me was in trying to pair the characters in the book with their real counterparts.  None of the characters are 100% depictions of anyone in the NYC Wiccan community but there are dashes tossed in here and there.  Whether you are a Witch, Wiccan, from NY whatever, these books are a great read.  The trilogy has also been released in an omnibus tome.

Moon Under Her Feet by Clysta Kinstler - This wonderful novel looks at Mary Magdalene's story and her connection to Jesus.  It connects the Christ myth with many ancient Pagan sacrificial god myths.  Almah Mari is the daughter of Anna, Magdalene (High Priestess) of Isis-Ashera.  Almah Mari is the Holy Maiden who makes the Sacred Marriage with the Chosen King and bears a son, Yeshua.  The detailed and interesting look at the Sacred Marriage and how it ties in with the Christ mythos is well thought out and fascinating.  Mari Anath (Mary Magdalene) is also a Priestess of Isis-Ashera and becomes High Priestess after Almah Mari.  She is also Herod's wife and the mother of Salome.  This intriguing and magnificent story ties all these thread together in a grand tapestry that brings the Christ story firmly into the Pagan realm. Find this book and give it a read.  It will dramatically change how you look at the Christ tale.

Rhinegold and Attila's Treasure by Stephen Grundy - These two books are written by a man who takes his mythology seriously.  Rhinegold is an enormous tome with an epic quality to it.  It examines the Germanic legends of the Volsunga Saga and Nibelungenlied and comes up with an intriguing synthesis.  The tale starts at the beginning, explaining how the Rhinegold was demanded as payment from Odin, Rig and Loki for the death of Otter.  Loki, using trickery, learns the secret of gaining the gold and returns with it to Otter's family.  The sight of the gold, especially the cursed Andvari's ring, sets the family against each other and in their greed Ragin and Fafnir kill their father to get their share.  The story then follows the brother's flight and their battle with each other for the horde.  The tale then follows the story of Sigimund the Walsing and his sister, Sigilind.  These twin children born of Wal and his Valkyrie are warriors.  When circumstances force them to avenge their family's slaughter they do what must be done.  The Sigimund wins back his father's land and sets about building a kingdom.  He fathers Sigifrith, who comes to be know as Fafnir's bane because he is able to destroy the dragon.  Sigifrith is betrothed to Gundrun of the Burgunds and becomes close to her brothers - Gundahari and Hagan.  Before he goes to claim Gundrun, Sigifrith comes across Brunahild in her enchanted sleep.  He wakes her and they fall in love. She teaches him runecraft and other skills and Sigifrith leaves promising to return to her.  This saga remains true to the original legends, only varying where the originals were unclear or conflicted.
Attila's Treasure follows the story of Hagan the Gebicung during his sojourn among the Huns.  It's a very moving story and makes Hagan a much more understandable and even likable character than he is portrayed in most of the legends.  Grundy describes him as a fish out of water.  He loves his family but is the changeling in the bunch.  His struggle to decide what course his life will take is well-written and enthralling.
If you are a fan of Germanic mythology then I recommend you add Rhinegold and Attila's Treasure to your collection.

Diana L. Paxson - I am a huge fan of Paxson's work.  I've enjoyed all the books I've read. The fact that she is a Pagan Priestess and friend of Marion Zimmer Bradley only adds to her appeal for me.  The following books are all wonderful and highly recommended:

• White Raven - This is one of my favorite Paxson books.  It is the tale of Branwen, Iseult's cousin and lady-in-waiting - the one who gives the potion to Tristan and Iseult.  Paxson looks at the legendary lovers through the eyes of one who is an unwilling participant in their affair.  Branwen is portrayed as the unwanted child of the Morholt, Ireland's champion and brother to the queen.  She grows up in the shadow of Iseult and is often required to ignore her own wishes in order to serve Iseult's.  Branwen is forced to sacrifice much to aid and abet the tragic love affair between Iseult and Tristan.  And King Mark is portrayed as a sympathetic and lonely, yet vital,  man who is seeking to maintain the ideals of Arthur's Camelot.
• Woden's Children Trilogy - The Wolf and the Raven, Dragons Along the Rhine & Lord of Horses - This trilogy is a different perspective on the Volsunga Saga and Nibelungenlied than that offered by Grundy.  The characters in Paxson's books are more introspective.  The reader is given more insight into their motivations and behaviors.  Ironically it doesn't necessarily make them more sympathetic or likable. But these books are wonderfully written and offer an interesting glimpse at how we can get caught up in our own fate whether we wish it or not.
• The Serpent's Tooth - This is Paxson's take on the King Lear legend.  Lear's two elder daughters are the children of women who came from matriarchal societies and they resent Lear's rule.  The youngest, Cordelia, loves her father and wishes to help him and support him.  But of course the king longs for that which is not offered to him - the love of his older daughters.  Paxson offers an interesting look at the struggle Cordelia experiences while trying to be true to her beliefs and still honor her father.
• Brisingamen - This interesting tale is set in 80s California and follows what occurs when a young woman named Karen Ingold finds a necklace in an ancient chest she is restoring. Unknown to Karen the necklace is Brisingamen and by wearing it she not only invokes Freya into her life but unwitting looses Loki upon the world.  It's a great story and a fun and thought provoking look at the power the Gods have upon our lives.
• The Hallowed Isle series: The Book of the Sword (Bk1), The Book of the Spear (Bk 2), The Book of the Cauldron (Bk 3) and The Book of the Stone (Bk 4) - this is Paxson's version of the Arthurian legends.  At first I was upset because Morgan does not appear in this tale.  Much of her persona is taken over by Morgause.  Despite this oversight I found the series enjoyable.  The first book begins the tale with Artor's grandmother Argantel (the Branwen, hidden queen, of Britain) and explains how the legend of the Sword and it's guardians begins.  The Sword is one of the four hallows of Britain and can only be wielded by the one whose coming has been foretold. Merlin is introduced in his wild man aspect (this is not the powerful wizard made familiar in many versions) and his ancestry is left rather murky.  It also covers the familiar story of Artor's conception, his secret upbringing and eventual claiming of the Sword.  One of my favorite scenes in the book is the end when the Battle Raven of Britain defeats the Ravens of Odin.  The second book adds a very different twist to the story.  It is told from the viewpoint of Oesc, the grandson of Hengest, who possesses the Spear of Odin.  Paxson explores the reasons the Saxons came to Britain and their determination to set down roots.  Oesc becomes a captive at Arthur's court and is included with Arthur and his companions during many of their adventures.  He is eventually freed to return to take over his grandfather's kingdom where he marries and has a son.  His betrayal by one of Artor's companions is the climax of the book.  The third book looks at the middle years of Artor's reign, his marriage to Guendivar and the Quest for the Grail/Cauldron.  Much of this book portrays Morgause's quest for power and her desire to be the Queen of Britain (not the hidden queen).  Paxson reveals how Morgause corrupts Merdraut in order to achieve these ends and how her hatred of Artor twists her soul.  I like the way Paxson incorporates Pict traditions and magick into the storyline as Morgause seeks more power. We are also offered a glimpse into Guendivar's childhood and the forces that create the woman she becomes.  The final volume in the series deals with Merdraut's betrayal of Artor and Artor's battle to regain his kingdom.  This book seems to be about transformations - Morgause was transformed by the power of the Cauldron, Guendivar and Artor and their relationship to each other are transformed through the power of the Goddess and God and the magic of the land. Even though the ending is inevitable the tale is moving, powerful and hopeful.

Eternity and Infinity by Maggie Shayne - I enjoyed both these books which deal with the lives of two immortal Witches, who happen to be sisters.  There were a couple of things that bothered me but overall I would recommend them for anyone who is a fan of romance novels.  Eternity tells the story of Raven, a young woman growing up in England during the Witch Hunts, whose mother is accused of being a Witch.  Raven and her mother are hung. However something really strange happens, Raven wakes up after dying.  She manages to make her way back home and finds a journal left behind by her mother explaining that Raven is an immortal Witch and cannot be killed.  Raven journeys to Colonial America to the home of a distant relation.  During the journey she meets a young priest, Duncan, who was at her hanging. Duncan becomes intrigued by Raven and determines to find out her secrets.  As the years go by Raven uses her powers to help her relative prosper, raising the suspicion of some of the locals.  The townspeople are roused against Raven and Duncan dies trying to protect her.  Of course this is one way for someone to be reborn as an immortal Witch. Raven spends the next few centuries catching up with her sister  Arianna (another immortal Witch) and waiting for Duncan to return.  Naturally he does and more problems ensue. Infinity is the story of Arianna, Raven's sister ,and her trials she overcomes trying to find true love.  Arianna is a strong-willed young women living in Scotland in the early 1500s. She is different from the other townspeople and she knows it.  Arianna is also mourning the death of her sister, Raven, who died while saving Arianna's life.  Into Arianna's life rides Nicodimus who, we soon learn, is another immortal Witch.  He hides his secret from others by disappearing for many years and then returning as his own son.  He watches as Arianna makes a bad situation worse by seeking more knowledge about her powers.  He agrees to help her but they are betrayed by an enemy of Nidodimus' and his heart is taken .  If a Dark Witch takes the heart of an immortal Witch, the Dark Witch gains the immortal's power and the immortal goes into a state of death-like suspended animation.  Arianna manages to find Nicodimus; heart and restores him to life.  But of course he still believes she betrayed him. Before true love can prevail they must defeat their enemy and learn to trust each other again. There were a few details in these stories that bothered me - like how does Raven's mother know Raven is immortal and the fact that immortal Witches possess special powers.  In fact Shayne really doesn't address the religious aspects of Witchcraft much (except for a brief time when Arianna studies with the local Wiccans).  And the whole immortal aspect is reminiscent of the Highlander series (of which Maggie Shayne is an avowed fan) with some traditional vampire overtones thrown in.  I think fans of romance novels would enjoy these books but if you're looking for good fiction with Witchcraft woven through it, I think I'd look somewhere else.