Review: Into the Path of Gods by Kathleen Cunningham Guler

Into the Path of Gods
by Kathleen Cunningham Guler

Bardsong Press, Steamboat Springs, Colorado (1998)

I received this book from Kathleen Cunningham Guler on Librarything's Member Giveaway.

The Roman Empire collapses and Arthur will become King of Britain. Meanwhile, the main character of this book (Marcus ap Iorwerth) as a spy and warrior pursues the rightful of the Britains to follow their own paths. Claerwen, Marcus' lover, holds the secret because they are always in trouble.

In this book we find a different viewpoint, the viewpoint of a woman, not of warriors or chiefs. A woman (Claerwen) whose gift of visions leads Marcus into the path of gods.

I don't like the first half of the book: too much romance, I was thinking about a new title: Into the Path of Romeo and Juliet in the 5th century; we are lost in lengthy descriptions of rendezvous, sometimes too detailed. "You remind me of fragile crystal, but you are though as iron and dragons, my Claerwen." p. 150

I like the second half: magic, wild nature, history (and less romance). "Her shriek emerged from the thunder, carried far and away above the storm, disturbing the night creatures." p. 293

Excellent description of the differences between the rational world built by the Romans (roads, villages, etc.) and the Celtic world (bravery, adaptation to the surroundings, magic).

A question: Is Claerwen the ancestor of Aliena (a character of the Pillars of the Earth by Follett)?