Pagan novels

[DrumWolf]

Anyone got any recommendations for pagan / magic / Old Ways-themed novels?

Here are two series of novels that I've found interesting:

The Stonewylde series by Kit Berry

The stories centre around a community living in modern-day rural Dorset but who follow Wiccan principles, so lots of festival celebrations, moon magic, herbalism. This is the first one:



The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by Michelle Paver.

A series of stories following a young Paleolithic boy in Europe just after the Ice Age. Lots of stuff on bushcraft, survival, ancient gods and goddesses, shamans and shape-shifting woven into the stories. They're written primarily for 12-15 year olds , but I love them (and I'm 50!).

Here's the first one:


Anyone got any others? (of course, fera's novel will be recommended on this thread in the near future )

[Bartmanhomer]

Originally Posted by DrumWolf

Anyone got any recommendations for pagan / magic / Old Ways-themed novels?

Here are two series of novels that I've found interesting:

The Stonewylde series by Kit Berry

The stories centre around a community living in modern-day rural Dorset but who follow Wiccan principles, so lots of festival celebrations, moon magic, herbalism. This is the first one:



The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by Michelle Paver.

A series of stories following a young Paleolithic boy in Europe just after the Ice Age. Lots of stuff on bushcraft, survival, ancient gods and goddesses, shamans and shape-shifting woven into the stories. They're written primarily for 12-15 year olds , but I love them (and I'm 50!).

Here's the first one:


Anyone got any others? (of course, fera's novel will be recommended on this thread in the near future )

Would those are great Pagan novels. I might be thinking of reading one of those pagan novels someday.

[SunSister]

Juliet Marillier's works are absolutely steeped in this stuff. Lots of Celtic/druidic leanings in particular. The Sevenwaters series, especially the first trilogy, is fairytale fantastical with herbs and mythos aplenty.


For those of us into energywork, I recommend Chris Wooding's The Braided Path. It's not an obvious choice to name in this thread, maybe, but it's my favourite fantasy trilogy and the way the Weave is described reminds me so much of the way I personally see energy and the threads that bend and twist together to form shapes of life.



Charles de Lint, Guy Gavriel Kay, Gabriel King, Jean M. Auel, Alice Hoffman, Neil Gaiman, S.M. Stirling's Emberverse, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima, Jesmyn Ward's Sing, Unburied, Sing, Tahereh Mafi's Furthermore/Whichwood, Monica Furlong's Wise Child/Juniper, and the list goes on.. They're all books/authors that tend to incorporate forms of myth, magic, old paths, and/or spirituality into the narrative. There are also other things like Cate Tiernan's Sweep series and so on, but I didn't think those were particularly well-written.

[DrumWolf]

Lots of good suggestions there, SunSister. Jean Auel's 'Clan of the Cave Bear' novels are great (but I found the last one a bit disappointing). I've just ordered Juliet Marillier's 'Daughter of the Forest'. Thanks for the tip.

[feranaja]

Originally Posted by SunSister

Juliet Marillier's works are absolutely steeped in this stuff. Lots of Celtic/druidic leanings in particular. The Sevenwaters series, especially the first trilogy, is fairytale fantastical with herbs and mythos aplenty.

A big fan here, I second this suggestion and will be interested in Drumwolf's response.

For those of us into energywork, I recommend Chris Wooding's The Braided Path. It's not an obvious choice to name in this thread, maybe, but it's my favourite fantasy trilogy and the way the Weave is described reminds me so much of the way I personally see energy and the threads that bend and twist together to form shapes of life.

Definitely picking this up!

Charles de Lint, Guy Gavriel Kay, Gabriel King, Jean M. Auel, Alice Hoffman, Neil Gaiman, S.M. Stirling's Emberverse, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima, Jesmyn Ward's Sing, Unburied, Sing, Tahereh Mafi's Furthermore/Whichwood, Monica Furlong's Wise Child/Juniper, and the list goes on.. They're all books/authors that tend to incorporate forms of myth, magic, old paths, and/or spirituality into the narrative. There are also other things like Cate Tiernan's Sweep series and so on, but I didn't think those were particularly well-written.

I've either read most of these or they're on my list, but a few new names here as well. As always, SunSister is the bets at this!

I might add (again not necessarily, explicitly Pagan, but mythic or fantasy based) to consider.

Anything by Patricia McKilip: http://patriciamckillip.com/novels/


Tad Williams is another good read: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6587.Tad_Williams



Just (finally) finished Uprooted and it is SUPERB: http://www.naominovik.com/uprooted/


I love Theodora Goss: https://theodoragoss.com/


and Terri Windling has not only written some amazing stuff herself (notably the Wood Wife) but has a wealth of resources on her site: http://www.terriwindling.com/



Just ordered The Bear and the NIghtingale, it was highly recommended, so we shall see: https://www.amazon.ca/s/?ie=UTF8&key...l_1aswew89ot_e





Hope you find some things that delight you!

[DrumWolf]

Originally Posted by feranaja

A big fan here, I second this suggestion and will be interested in Drumwolf's response.

I'm halfway through 'Daughter of the Forest' and enjoying it. Worst part was when the dog died!
I've ordered the other two books in the trilogy.

[feranaja]

Originally Posted by DrumWolf

I'm halfway through 'Daughter of the Forest' and enjoying it. Worst part was when the dog died!
I've ordered the other two books in the trilogy.

Oh I'm glad you're enjoying it, I am overdue for a re-read for sure.
And the Clan of the Cave Bear series.

Right now, working through the Snow Child, not overtly "Pagan" but deeply magical all the same. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...the-snow-child

[DrumWolf]

Originally Posted by feranaja

Right now, working through the Snow Child, not overtly "Pagan" but deeply magical all the same. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...the-snow-child

I read this a couple of winters ago. It's a good story and quite sad in places. And, yes, it's a very magical book.

[feranaja]

This was just recommended to me (gotta love the name, too) - has anyone read this trilogy?
https://www.amazon.ca/Year-Horses-Ca.../dp/0595311164

[Brigidrose]

Originally Posted by feranaja

This was just recommended to me (gotta love the name, too) - has anyone read this trilogy?
https://www.amazon.ca/Year-Horses-Ca.../dp/0595311164

I think I might download it for my trip... sounds really good.