The Druid Isle Paperback – April 8, 2010

This book is the sequel to  Priestess of the Forest: A Druid Journey  and continues to follow the lives of the druid healer Ethne and the warrior Ruadh years after the first book took place, as well introducing the new characters of Aife, their foster-daughter who is studying to be a druid, and Lucius, a young monk with a mysterious past. The story itself is detailed and well told, with strong charcterization and a fast paced story. The reader is quickly swept up in the lives of the four main characters, as well as several minor charcters, and the ending is very satisfying, answering a question left open from the earlier book. Beyond it's value as a good work of fiction - and it's worth recommending just for the story - the book is also a subtle primer on druid belief and practice. Reading this will help the reader understand Gaelic culture circa the 3rd century CE and will also help with an understanding of different druidic principles on a practical level. Unlike a non-fiction book on the same topic the reader isn't spoonfed step-by-step instructions and explanations, instead you see the concepts and practices in action as the characters live them out. Very reminiscent of the old mythologies. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a good story, or for anyone who wants to learn more about druidry.

I so looked forward to this book. The knowledge inside so often confirmed what I knew inside. What I knew inside was old, the story felt familiar. At times it seemed that this story was far fetched, but the lessons on the Isle felt right somehow. I so wished that I could travel there and learn the ways of energy and establish my own connection with Spirit.I look forward to reading the last book in this trilogy, to discovering more what resonates within me and opening myself to what still has not been mined within my own spirit.Again I say that this story of the Gaels is one that sings something deep inside of me, I almost lived this story in places like I did when I first read The Mists of Avalon. I feel opened now in places within myself that have been closed for a long time.

I loved all her Celtic/Druid books. They seem to be historically quite accurate, and her descriptions of the "old ways" are very charming and educational. Character development is very nice. She does a nice job of accurately describing how the early christians were not at all the pious "holier than thou" types that historical revisionists claim they were. I would recommend this book as well as her other books in this trilogy wholeheartedly for anyone who wants to be transported to that bygone era when common sense was held in esteem and before the Roman emperor Constantine forced christianity as the only legal religion. This information is NOT widely known by the masses, and it is refreshing to see it accurately described. EXCELLENT BOOK.

As an enchanting mesmerizing story, I couldn't put the book down. As a book that is now part of my reference library, I found the historical Druid practices, descriptions, and information to be invaluable and enlightening. I bought the book as a companion to Ellen's first novel, Priestess of the Forest: A Druid Journey. The book is excellent even if you haven't read her first novel; as a follow-up sequel, it is terrific. The Druid Isle satisfies that desire to continue on with Ethne's journey that you wish had never ended in the first book. You can't go wrong making the purchase.

Druid Isle wasn't a bad book but I had a hard time believing that the Druids knew about the workings of the Chakra system. And yes, I read the essay at the end on why they might know about it. But I really felt it was a bit of stretched. However I did enjoy most of the story line.But the whole section while Aífe was Druid Isle could been so much better. And that was the part I was looking forward to read the most, instead it read more like a new age book. I wish the author had stuck to more traditional Druid stuff.

I love all of Ellen's books. She weaves in a lot of spiritual information into the story line which I love. Transports me to that place and time.

so far there are three books in this series, and this is the third one.it is great fiction mixed with Druidic knowledge. Ellen Evert Hopman is an entertaining writer as well as an active Druid. But I think one could just enjoy this fiction as it is, without being a Druid oneself.

i love ready the stories ias i read them i feel like that i'm there living in the ways of the oldi'm so very happy that i purchase this book i so love it

Ellen Evert Hopman's novel: `The Druid Isle' is Part 2 of a Trilogy which opened with her `Priestess of the Forest'. It is a fascinating and wisdom-provoking study of the lives of two young people living when Christianity and the Roman Empire are conquering the North of Britain. They grow up apart in two utterly different cultures, but are destined to meet. Aife is the adopted daughter of Ethne, the heroine of Part 1; she grows up in the wisdom and healing serenity and spiritual connection of the Druid Forest School. Lucius, by contrast, grows up in the flesh-denying inauthenticity of a new Christian monastic school. However Lucius finds by chance - or by destiny - the ritualistic beauty and reverence for life, of the `Festival of Summer' of the local pagan people - only for this to be shattered by the Roman slavers, but he ends up finding his destiny and the truth of his birth, on the Druid Isle. Lucius is prepared for the dangerous journey by sea to the Druid Isle by the mystery, peace and joy of a ritual in the fogo of the Mamm an Byss. There, in the most supremely beautiful passage in the book, Lucius is granted a vision of the Sky and Water Mother who has protected him since the day he was born which connects him to his essence and prepares him as the preserver of the Druid wisdom. Michael Conneely

Loved it

I love the way EEH uses the stories of her novels to get her teaching message across. Just the same way as the Druids of old passed on their wisdoms to their novices. The difference is that nowadays we write things down - which produces wonderful novels like these, to open our minds and hearts, again.I really enjoyed this story, more so maybe than the first one (Priestess of the Forest)where I struggled a bit with titles and names of the characters. Felt much more comfortable this time, and took in the wisdoms without obvious struggle. EEH also provides a good picture of daily life back then, so one way or another, a reader learns something and enjoys it too. In short - that's the best kind of novel.Looking forward to getting her third, and hoping that they keep coming!

If you are interested in the old ways and the stories which come from this time, then this writer is one of the best. She channels some amazing stories which you are quickly drawn into and want to be there not only to witness but to live amongst. Her information on potions, lotions and incantations are so well woven into the story you find you are learning at her knee,just as her characters would have done when they too were in training.I have the whole series by her and they are well worth the read; any scholars studying druidism and the ancient arts would do well told buy all three and use them as a reference. Excellent.

It was great to catch up with the exploits of the characters that I first met in the Forest Priestess, and take their story to a brilliant conclusion!