Circle of Stars [Mass Market Paperback]

Anna Lee Waldo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 18, 2002

Emerging from his hidden, pastoral childhood, Madoc, the prophesied savior of the druids, rises to fulfill his fate as messiah to his people. Fearing persecution, Madoc must protect his true identity while learning the ways of the ancient druids for control of Wales, Madoc sets out on a dangerous voyage to find a new home for his dwindling flock. It is a journey that will lead him to the land that will later be known as America.

There on the beaches of ancient Florida, he meets Cougar, a Native American healer of the Calusa people. Madoc discovers his match in this beautiful, gifted young woman. And Cougar finally meets the white ghost whom she has known in her dream and awaited her entire life. Now, their love can be the key that links together the legendary blue-eyes, fair-haired Native American tribe to that of the ancient druids as they struggle to forge a future for themselves in a new land that could bring them their ultimate chance for survival...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As Oscar Wilde once observed, "America had been discovered before, but it has always been hushed up." This intriguing premise is one that Waldo explores in depth. While she was researching her bestselling novel Sacajawea, she came across information concerning a tribe of fair-haired, Welsh-speaking people in the Dakotas who were encountered by Lewis and Clark. From here, she was led to the legend of a Welshman named Madoc who sailed to America three centuries before Columbus; this prompted her to write Circle of Stones. Now she continues the story of Madoc's early days among the Druids during the 12th century, as well as of the extraordinary seafaring exploits that made him legendary. His story here is intertwined with that of Cougar, a Native American girl of the Calusa tribe (in the area now known as Florida). Both Madoc and Cougar are raised by people other than their birth parents, making this a tale of two foundlings. Madoc's people believe him to have been destined by the gods to lead the Druids, while some in Cougar's tribe fear she might be a shape-shifter. The novel charts their individual trials and adventures as life sets them on a course that will ultimately lead to their meeting. Despite being set in a different time period, at times Waldo's epic of discovery impresses as being part Jean Auel and part Homer. Scrupulously researched, with enlightening epigraphs opening each of the 24 chapters, Waldo's latest will satisfy fans of her previous work and prove that she has not lost her historical touch. Agent, Jean Naggar.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Waldo had a best seller with her epic Circle of Stones; now she's reaching for the stars. As the Christians chase the Druids out of Wales, young Madoc heads west for a romantic encounter with a Native American woman.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; 1st edition (November 18, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312980353
• ISBN-13: 978-0312980351
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #393,248 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Circle of stars, September 18, 2001

By 

Willard Burge (Chino Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Circle of Stars (Hardcover)

This is an interesting book that fills in the legend of Madoc. As a Welsh American,it fills in historical nuances that are not covered in our education system. It is a good, readable fictional story of how it might have happened.

I was pleased at how each of the chapters included a quote from a recognized expert who covered the accuracy of the historical facts used in that chapter. This made the story both interesting and enlightning.

I have also read the precurser or this book 'Circle of Stones and all of the above would pertain to that also.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This one is almost as good as Sacajewa., June 30, 2004

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Circle of Stars (Hardcover)

Anna Lee Waldo writes very long books, and this one is no exception. There is a lot of repetitiveness for the first third of the book from Circle of Stones, but it was done from a different viewpoint. Circle of Stones was from Brenda's viewpoint, and this one is from her son Madoc's viewpoint. This book is wonderfully researched and the little introductory paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter reinforce that research has been done. Ms. Waldo builds very real fictional characters around legendary ones and actual historical facts so the book is like a very interesting history lesson. The primitive sea voyage taken by Madoc and his fellow druids is written with such description that it's easy to picture the tiny boats heading out on the vast Atlantic ocean. What an awesome and couragous feat it was for these Welshmen to undertake. The book is quite graphic as well, so potential readers should be aware of that. If you are a fan of sweeping historical fiction, you will love this book. If you like a good story masterfully told, you also will love this book. I know I did.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantatic epic saga, July 31, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Circle of Stars (Hardcover)

He was born to be a leader of the Druids, destined to save them and their way of life from the New Religionists by finding a new land were they could live and prosper. Madoc ap Owen Gwyneth does not know that his destiny was foretold before his birth because he was raised as the child of crofters who found him as a baby floating in the river. When he was seven they sent him to the Druid Colony in Ireland because his thirst for knowledge was great.

Eventually, he traveled to Wales for further teaching. There he learned that his birth father was the Prince of Wales and that his mother was his mistress. When his half-brother poisoned his father and took up the mantle of leadership, the Druids were hunted down and killed. The Archdruid gave Madoc a fortune in jewels to build a floatilla so that he could find a place for them to call home. Eventually, ten ships with twenty men on each sail for what will be later called the new world, enduring hardship and trouble nearly every mile of the journey.

CIRCLE OF STARS continues the story that began in CIRCLE OF STONES and is every bit as fascinating and enthralling as its prequel. Readers will be amazed to see the early influence of Henry II of England on the political and religious situation in Wales and Ireland and they will see a side of Thomas Beckett rarely seen in history books. Anne Lee Waldo has written an epic yet this reviewer believes there is more to the story to tell.

Harriet Klausner