Rating: 
Summary: what is Druidism? what is a Druid? are there survivors?
Review: first of all for all those who say there's no historical accuracy on the practice or family clans of Druidism (or even witchcraft at all) u are totally false! there have been surviving families people! they didnt all die out and the author is extremely accurate in the history and practices.about the pumpkins on samhain our holiday of the dead, the author strictly says "it was later used as it is used in modern times on halloween and that the original usages were of squash and such!" Lighting a circlular (circles represent protection in Druidry) lantern in a window was a celtic folk practice of warding off evil spirits, and represented our god bran the blessed himself a god of protection. About Druidic magickal practices, for the seekers especially, the Merlyn story is only half authentic and highly romantic/dramatized however the proceedures in which Merlyn teaches is magnificent in every way and fully traditional, that was the whole meaning of this book, to put us in a fantasy land where we can go back and learn from what a true Druid would have taught us. Trad. Druidic ritual is different from these new age druidic group wannabees (who only base their findings on enemy texts) in that we do use the four quarters and certain symbolic tools to aid us in our spiritual communion with the gods, elemental magick, and divination trance, we base our ways on a continuance from the ancient ages where actual legends remain intact and we find historic facts about Druids within our own kind rather than our enemies. Be u Pantheist, Monotheist, Polytheist, it doesnt matter how u see the gods, the importance of being a Druid is to honor them, our culture, and our hearts towards becoming in balance, purity, and harmony with all of nature.... this is a perfect book for the adventurous seeker of Druidic lore, and yes we need to be adventurous, bring the pagan spirit back into paganism! thats what Celtic festival is all about, and thats enjoyment in life! now about women and Druidism. Women and Men were both held in equality in Celtic Society unlike most other ancient cultures, and yes the women became Druidesses, who practiced and were keepers of the lunar mysteries and the later term (established of course from the Christian Church was termed witchcraft which is now in a state of transformation called fairy wicca/celtic wicca). to establish my fact, every branch of witchcraft is lunar, never solar. think about it, its derived from the druidess religion. the Druids were keepers of the Solar Mysteries, HOWEVER both still practiced each other's traditions and both studied with each other, the author represented that female and male energies are opposites, but just remember this before u think he's making some sexist conclusion towards women, "we all have male and female energies flowing through us." Druids were meant to be the keepers of Solar mysteries, and Druidesses for the Lunar mysteries, that does not mean a Druid cant tap into female energies and vice versa, because they most certainly did. Otherwise the Sun and Moon wouldnt be included within each other's practice, its just that the Druids could better tap into the Sun's power, while the witches better tap into Lunar power, why? because the Sun is Masculine, the Moon feminine....Both energies are opposites, yet both make up the whole..... This is the best book to get on Druidism, period! it will change every part of your being and as u follow this story consider a quote from the book "it is not u that chooses Druidism in life, but Druidism chooses you."...the spirits of old shall bless the lost seekers for they have tread the most treachurous paths, finding greatest wisdom.....
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Listen to Uninformed Critics
Review: Douglas Monroe has set forth a study in the druid (or derwydd) apprenticeship of old and has done so in a story much the way the ancient druid passed knowledge to their students. Those who say he is wrong cannot site examples of facts to the contrary. Monroe has given a basic view of what it was like to be an apprentice using what we know and the sources we have. The fact is that the derwydds did not leave a discription of their practices for us to find because writing them down was forbidden (or blasphemous, we're not sure which), so Monroe took what little we do know, unlike other authors who just make the details of a druidic ritual up, and made it into a stunning and beautifull work of fantacy while still usefull for practical study and apprenticeship for those not fortunate enough to live next door to Merlyn. He also is brave enouph to admit that there is no evidence to support the existance of druids but that there is evidence of a seperate but equal priestesshood, a bold move that other authors wont make for fear of angering feminists and dianics who insist that a woman can do anything a man can do, but a man cannot do everything a woman can do. Monroe points out that the only evidence for female druids is the roman account of white druids on the battle field entertwined with black clad women which is clearly a seperate entity or tacitus would have left them in the same description as the druids. Monroe gives us the truth as it is found in history without shugar coating or flat out lies. I recomend this to anyone who wants honesty instead of false derwydds.
Rating: 
Summary: All Wrong
Review: If your after an entertaining read, then happy trails, but if your someone like me who is genuinely interested in learning about Druidism and Celtic Paganism, then this book is about as functional to you as a blowdryer is to a bald guy. If i could have given it less than one star i would have, purely based on the fact that it is presented as a tool for learning the ways of the Druids, when it is nothing of the sort. This book is full of half-truth, elements stolen from different pagan beliefs, and ALL-OUT lies. In fact, I have found from reliable sources in the pagan community (Druids in particular) that most, (if not ALL) books from this publisher are unreliable if you intend to learn anything.
Rating:
Summary: A druid is dependent upon no man....
Review: As Carl Llewellyn Weschcke states on the first page in his introduction this book is a RECONSTRUCTION of the Druidic Tradition. In this sense it is as accurate and authoritative as any other reconstruction. Indeed, this is the best I have seen because it intuitively taps into the spirit and essense of the old Celtic priestly cast. Monroe is a primal mystic that understands other primal mystics throughout the ages. The book itself is a masterful blend of fictional narrative and detailed lore. Indeed, there is a great store of knowlege between and within the threads of the story. It is all consistent with the great wisdom teachings of East and West- there is no hidden left hand path stuff here. If you want to immerse yourself into the Druidic mind set, take this book and go camping in an oak grove for a week. I know if I ever finally make it to Old Briton I shall take this book with me. I intend to read it upon a faery hill and find either wisdom or madness- or finally discover that on the most fundamental level they are one and the same....
Rating: 
Summary: Good fiction, not historically accurate at all!!!
Review: I felt that as a fiction story it was fabulous. I enjoyed the storyline very much. I gave it two stars because it was a good story, but for historical accuracy I would have given it zero stars. If you're looking for books about actual Druidry look somewhere else. There are many out there that are historically accurate and an interesting read. Try any books by Philip Carr-Gomm, Ellen Evert Hopman, and Caitlin and John Matthews...just to name a few. If you're looking for why this book [is not good] regarding Druidry I suggest going to the OBOD (Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids) website and do a little surfing to the library page...very enlightening.
Rating:
Summary: "Incorrect Information"-How do you know?
Review: MAy I ask you, how do you know this incorrect information? Unless you have traveled in time or thousands of years old, you do not know for sure.
The reason I gave this book 5 stars is because if you read between the lines this is real. The magic and the spells!
Rating:
Summary: Contains at least a grain of worth...
Review: This book is gross in its misinformation, lack of research and overall terrible scholarship. More than enough reviews here present the falsities contained in Monroe's work(s). This book can cause harm due to its inaccuracies. Mistletoe is POISONOUS. For all this and more I rate it a one star, but I feel that it does have some merit and this is why: This was the second book I read on the Celts and Druidism in particular. In hindsight, I am a bit angry at the lies it fed my eager mind, but also still thankful for the imaginative inspiration it fostered within me. I think that most will agree that the book has a good story (albeit fiction) and overall "magical" feel to it, and this is where I think that we should pay the most attention. The format and "feel" of the book should be a sort of guide-post/model for future authors in this genre. I have been on many mailing lists that attest to the great number of young pagans/druids that this book inspired to further their knowledge. Yes, it can and has done harm, but as a source of inspiration to those looking for an introduction, etc it has done its job. An eclectic view of mixing and matching the good of the book with the good of quality scholarship could be a great thing indeed.
Rating:
Summary: False but inspiring
Review: This was the second book I read on the Celts and Druidism in particular. In hindsight, I am a bit angry at the lies it fed my eager mind, but also still thankful for the imaginative inspiration it fostered within me. I think that most will agree that the book has a good story (albeit fiction) and overall "magical" feel to it, and this is where I think that we should pay the most attention. The format and "feel" of the book should be a sort of guide post/model for future authors in this genre. I have been on many mailing lists that attest to the great number of young pagans/druids that this book inspired to further their knowledge. Yes, it can and has done harm, but as a source of inspiration to those looking for an introduction, etc it has done its job. An eclectic view of mixing and matching the good of the book with the good of quality scholarship could be a good thing indeed.
Rating:
Summary: Bardic Talent at its Best...
Review: Although there are many complaints of "I really don't think this could all be accurate" so many of our traditions have been lost in the veils of time, how can we say that anything is more accurate than anything else?
I have seen many seeds of this truth in Douglas Monroe's books, and many new ideas which, though perhaps weren't traditionally implemented, can certainly be used with good results! My suggestion, before you complain that something can't work because it isn't what was done in history, TRY IT. You might be surprised.
The beautifully crafted tales which complement the tone and readability of this book make it even more worth your time. Walk on starlit paths.
Rating:
Summary: Misinformation at its Worst
Review: This book is terribly innacurate and makes the Druid path out to be something it definitely is not. Unfortunately this book, and its equally bad sequel somehow seem to make their ways into the bookstores as some of very few, if not the only books available on Druids and Druidry among a sea of books on Wicca and Witchcraft. As a result, unknowing people interested in Druidry buy the books, and read this twisted tale which has women not being permitted to be Druids, nor anyone who is not white with blond hair and blue eyes. The list of inaccuracies goes on and on. I was once given a copy of this as a gift, and I read it through, and found myself disgusted with it, especially as a girl, being told that I could not be a Druid (when historically there were female Druids, and of course there are female neo-Pagan Druids). I hung on to the book for a long, long time, thinking that I'd eventually write a review on it for some site or other, and would need it to pull quotes from. Just recently though, I was cleaning my bookshelves and decided it was time to get rid of the book. Other books I had decided to get rid of were set aside in a pile to give away to the library or to charity, but this book went straight into the recycle bin. At least the paper is good for something.
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