I found this a hugely inspirational read when I first read it back when I had just discovered paganism. Emma Restall Orr has a beautiful writing style that captivates me every time. ( )

This is not an easy book to read.

It switches style every few pages, alternating between a raw, colourful, sometimes confusing and very personal diary that follows Bobcat through a year in her life as a druid priestess; and a more conventional feeling Druid craft 101' type of instructional passage. The latter is more refreshing than usual, however, as the Druidry here is no staid OBOD public tradition, but something much more alive and personal, though somewhat patchwork.

I found the switch from one style to another quite jarring in places, Bobcat's lecturing voice is very different from her chronicling voice, and I much prefer the latter to the former. In common with many pagans she uses a fair amount of astrological symbolism – something that I have much greater difficulty accepting than many of the other things she talks about. When she speaks of it within the diary sections it is easier to just pass over it and continue – within the lecture passages it felt much more jarring.

In spite of these comments, I would recommend reading this over and above an awful lot of other books on this, or similar subjects. I have read a lot of pagan books from various different traditions that have felt more like a roleplaying manual than anything else; this book engaged my mind and awoke my emotions, which is why I have stuck with it despite having issues and have felt compelled to set my thoughts down after finishing.

Rating: three stars. Well worth a read if you've an interest in the subject and like your religious writing with a bit of passion. ( )