The Horse Goddess

by Morgan Llywelyn

In my urge to stay away from Celtic Paganism I did a stupid, stupid thing: I avoided Morgan Llywelyn's books. I'm older now, and smarter. This was the first book of her's I've read, and it's bloody excellent. It's an interpretation of the origins of the myths of Epona and Cernunnos, as well as a chronicle of how the Celts became a horse faring people. Epona, a young woman of a pre-Celtic tribe, is the main character; she resists the call of magic in her blood and follows her heart (and her hormones--this is a romance of sorts) to a people whose ways are completely alien to her. In the process she comes to understand and accept her talents and realizes she can embrace her culture and be her own woman at the same time. Llywelyn's style is poetic and magical, and the story's ending is satisfying (important criteria in my mind).

Reviewed by Diane Sylvan

Other Books by Morgan Llywelyn