There are those who write good fiction, fantasy, history, mystery, and legendary tales, but how rare are those who write an enchanting combination of all! Kathleen Guler has written the first in a series of what promises to be among the GREAT stories about the historical period and treasures associated with the time before King Arthur! This reviewer has a particularly passionate love of Arthurian and Arthurian-associated history, nonfiction and fiction stories. I tell you - BUY THIS BOOK NOW - or miss a phenomenal reading experience!

The time is 459 A.D. Claerwynn and Grania watch as their home is burned to the ground. Hiding in the forest's edge, they watch their relatives and neighbors brutally slain and their homes decimated beyond repair. They barely escape, only to be caught and brought to the home of a warlord who would marry Claerwynn to the most repulsive-looking and sounding person in existence, the evil Drakar. After accidentally meeting a mysterious stranger, Claerwynn and Grania escape, are again caught, are rescued anew and brought to the home of a woman who offers them unconditional shelter and healing of their traumatic memories. However, peace eludes them again, as it seems several threaten and seek to capture them for the secret of a mysterious treasure or treasures.

Who is friend and who is foe? Myrddin Emrys, the man who shares Claerwynn's gift of visionary "fire"; Marcus Ap Iorwerth, a Prince; the Iron Hawk who poisons but frees; Owein, Marcus's cousin; Taran, Marcus's scorning brother; Rhun, a man who speaks of a "pledge" to Grania; Vortigern the man who would be King of Britain but hears a different Druidic prophecy; or Padrig, an elderly man who teaches Claerwynn how to do more than survive a constantly threatened existence? Just when the reader seems sure, the swirling plot spins elsewhere multiple times in the course of these four hundred plus pages.

What is the mystery possessing all these amazing, fantastical yet oh so realistically portrayed characters? Is it the torque? The spear? The sword? The Grail? The Crown of Kings? - all described in a mystical poem by the great Myrddin Emrys.

This reader was paralyzed within Claerwynn's God-fire spells; crept into secret places and disguises with the two main protagonists; was spellbound and nerve-wracked at each shocking betrayal; was intensely bound and horrified by the numerous, narrow escapes from death, was intrigued by the whirling plots and counterplots for the throne of England and for the treasure that would guarantee this position; and was constantly and passionately swept into a whirling, romance burning into and fortifying an elusive but determined quest.

This is going to be an award winner! Geoffrey Ashe, Britain's most respected historian, praised this novel for its historical accuracy and literary skill unswervingly true and magically alive to the "real" aspects of this amazing time! This has been described as the first of a series of several books, each one dealing with one of the famous Macsen's five treasures, all blessed by the God waiting to free Britain from her enemies and usher in a time of prosperity and blessings!

There are many who claim to be masters of this period in historical fiction, literally hundreds who have added their perspective to the story of the one who is said to have freed Britain from her darkest demons and potential destruction. Move over and step down apace! Kathleen Cunningham Guler is holding court! You are invited to behold and partake of the splendor, integrity, power and majesty of literary royalty!

I can't stay to say more; I absolutely must now begin the second novel in this series, "In The Shadow of Dragons."

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