The Children of Llyr

Walton's writing is as stunning in this as in its predecessor. She is amazingly adept at expanding the original text, adding a modern concern with psychology, while never giving the feeling that she is doing violence to the feel of the ancient text.

Her neo-pagan and anti-Christian intrusions are annoying at time (does it simply never occur to her that my Celtic pagan ancestors gave up their old gods so easily and willingly for a reason?), but that annoyance is easily forgiven for the sake of the beauty of her writing and the majesterial authority of her vision. (Yes, I just wrote “the majesterial authority of her vision” and I mean it.) Her insights into the inner thoughts and feelings of the people she writes about make me willing to cut her some slack for her comment about the old gods' supposed “charity.” “Charity” is precisely the last word that would come to mind for me.

I love Walton's retelling of the Mabinogion and recommend it for anybody who loves old stories, human psychology, the real ancient Celts as well as the misty and mystical “Celtic twilight,” beauty, the Matter of Britain, or a haunting and engaging tale.