Customer Reviews

The Heart of the Fire

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is an unforgettable book about the ancient Goddess religion and its survival even to the 16th century. For women, reading it is a particularly empowering experience, a reclaiming of our ancient heritage. I think, however, it could be an empowering experience for men as well.

Fallingstar shows both what it means to be a man in a male supremacist culture, and what it can mean to be a man outside of patriarchy, in a culture that celebrates the sacred humanity of both woman and man, goddess and god.

One of the underlying themes of the book is how male domination corrupts men, and like all supremacism does, destroys their humanity.

We see young Fiona and Annie, best friends, learn about their ancient heritage from the elder women of the village, a heritage stretching in to ancient times, perhaps to the origins of humanity. We experience their intense bond, their falling in love, with each other and with young men who cross their path. As another reviewer noted, each eventually meets her true mate, both men of power and magic.

Ms Fallingstar's portrayal of the lovemaking scenes was consciousness-raising for me, since it showed once and for all that there is a definite, indivisible line between the erotic and the pornographic. One is based and grounded in humanity; the other in ownership and domination. Women have had it beaten into us that if we are anti-porn, we are anti-sex. It was joyous to re-discover that this is not so, and to find writing that depicts that so beautifully.

This is a story about the Burning Times, so it does end tragically. I want to include a warning here for anyone thinking about getting this book for their teen daughter, or any reader who is a survivor of violence. The end of the book contains vivid descriptions of rape and torture from the victim's point of view and is traumatic to read. Otherwise, this book is a must.

Cerridwen Fallingstar's novel is amazing. Her writing style is not that original or beautiful, but her descriptions manage to reenchant the world...after reading the first few chapters I went outside, cast a circle, and felt a more palpable energy than I have recently.

As Fiona, the main character, grows and changes, one can't help but be caught up in her world. Once she met the minstrel i felt something catch and i thought, 'ah, that's a lot like the kind of person i'm looking out for..." And once the witchhunter came, Goddess, I felt my heart sink heavy with some sort of collective memory.

Even though I am a Witch, the New-Agey, simplistic politics that Fallingstar adds at the end got my goat a little bit. You see, she claims that Fiona McNair is one of her past incarnations..which I find simultaneously annoying and believable.

At any rate, this book is not to be missed.

Reading this book was like going home for me. The descriptions of the countryside and rituals, the smells and feelings invoked transported me through time. I read the first 225 pages in a day. I highly recomend this book to anyone interested in the old ways, herb lore, and magik.

The love scenes will make you squirm in your seat and long to run your fingers through the long smokey hair of Annie or press your face in to the strong chest of the minstrel. I wish it could have lasted forever.

I was not prepared for the brutality at the end of the book, however, and felt the wind knocked from me. I ached to help Fiona, feeling every stab of pain she felt... I sobbed, and wept for not only her experience but for all those who have suffered in the name of "God" and religion.

This is an outstanding book but be wary the end is very graphic and brutal.

Blessed Be.

Being a Wiccan of Celtic descent, many of the events struck a cord of resonance in my soul... If you enjoyed Mists of Avalon and The Forest House, you will love the Heart of the Fire.

After reading this book, I will never take for granted the liberties of today. I became one with Fiona (whose story is told) through her love, fear, joy, sadness, strength, and pain. There are no words to describe the power that this book holds. Being taken back to a time that I felt a personal connection, I found myself knowing, feeling, and seeing as I held onto each and every chapter. I have purchased additional copies of this book for my own coven sisters. You are sure to treasure this book as I have. I pray that the Goddess sends love and healing into the past to Fiona, Annie, and the other brave innocent spirits who fell to the hands of hatred. To Cerridwen Fallingstar, thank you for sharing your memories. Blessed Be!

I happened upon this book by accident. For me this book was a fast read, although there were parts of the book that seemed to drag. Overall a good read. I especially enjoyed the depictions of how it may have been like to practice the old ways during the hard times of the inquistion. While there is alot to gain from this book and I did enjoy it, I thought it best to rate it a bit under the full star rate. My reasoning only for the fact that this is not a book for the faint of heart. It containes deep discriptions of the torture at the hands of the Witch hunters, including the high sexual nature of the book. For anyone interested in knowing what it may have been like in that era and who can stomach the detailed discriptions I would recommend.

This is one of the most brilliant, magickal books I have ever read. I just finished it, and still have tears in my eyes as I write this. I felt like someone was telling my own story as I read it. I don't remember the last time I lived in a book like I did with this one; I was brought home again. From this story, many of us will be able to heal scars from the past.The characters are so real I could feel them breathing and hear their voices and their songs. To anyone who wishes to learn of the old ways, I urge you to read The Heart Of The Fire. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time...

Fallingstar's story binds the reader so closley with the protaganist that when the inevitable occurs, much as one is aware of the pending outcome, one cannot abandon the character. This reviewer found herself calling "I am here for you, Fiona!" through each horror experienced. I've passed it around to all of my friends. Now my 13 year old daughter is reading it...and I hope she will come to further celebrate her self, her spirit and her sexuality by way of the reading.

Ok, all the debate of true past life or not that seems to creep into all the reviews...this book was amazing. Take it for what you will; I see her truth and her experiences. Fiona became so real to me. I laughed and cried with her. I wept at the depth of trials and pain. I thanked all those who have gone before me that I can call myself a Witch with so much less fear now because of those that died before me. Rather you believe 1 or 1 million witches died during the times written about, there were too many killed. This book is haunting and powerful. A book I will cherish in my own library always. Highly Recommended!

The story was beautifully woven, poetic, like a tapestry of perception and feeling. I did not think it was going to grip me like it did and I thought about it even when I was not reading it. It is well worth the read no matter how badly the ending punched me in the stomach. People need to remember what it was like to persecute women who were different and honored the feminine creator.