Customer Reviews

Lammas Night

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

LAMMAS NIGHT is one of the most original and interesting treatments of World War Two-era fiction ever to be penned. Like many another reader, I came across Sir John Cathal Graham while reading the ADEPT series, and wondered why he didn't rate his own series. I still wonder why he is the central character in only this one book, because Gray Graham is fascinating and complex, far more multidimensional than the too-well-turned-out Sir Adam Sinclair, and capable of so much more literary development. This is one of my favorite books.

Kurtz's writing is crisp, detailed, fast-paced, informative and even educational without being dry. The book could serve as a primer on practices of the Old Religion, which it portrays in a sensitive and sympathetic light. LAMMAS NIGHT includes a spirited discussion of reincarnation theories and comparative religion, written with subtlety and creativity. There are no lectures in the book, just presentations fitting seamlessly into the telling of the tale. There are no magical pyrotechnics here, just psychological drama, good taut storytelling, a compelling plot, and a sense of historical place and time that is undeniably alluring. Hardly the stuff of "Sword and Sorcery" or "fantasy," writing, this novel could easily be classed with Ludlum, LeCarre, Forsyth, and Follett as an espionage thriller par excellence. This may be Ms. Kurtz's finest book.

LAMMAS NIGHT is the one book that I will go out of my way to be sure I always have more than one copy of in my library. I currently have three (one autographed). Kurtz's characters -- particularly Col. Sir John Cathal Graham -- are *fascinating* and so completely captivating that when I found Gray in one of her ADEPT books I was delighted to find that those books were set in the LAMMAS NIGHT universe and that I might have a chance to further explore it.

Katherine Kurtz has written a book that is almost impossible to put down. Once I got into the book the characters seemed real to me. I actually found myself checking to see if there was a Prince William, Duke of Clarence during WWII. She covers a variety of topics ranging from Drake and the Spanish Armada to the Order of the Garter to various secret occult societies to the Sacred King legends. This book is definitely a keeper. I was actually sad when I reached the end of the book. The characters seemed so real that I hated to say goodbye to the. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys occult fiction or historical fiction or just a great read.

I found Lamas Night to be a thoroughly enjoyable read, even though I cried at the end. There truely are more thing in heaven and earth then are dreamed of in anyone's philosophy. The book gives a real feeling for war time Great Britain and the Old Religion. This is something that the average nonpagan reader would usually have very little access to. One can almost imagine the "wise folk" of Great Britain banding togeather to do what they could to protect a beleagered island nation from going under to a mad man. The characters are people you would like to know, and show that pagan does not mean evil. Although it is fiction you find yourself almost believing it could have happened. I hope the authors write another such book featuring John Graham and Phillipa Rhodes Sinclair. Such a book would be truely Stellar!

I enjoy this book immensely and have read it several times. It is not, however, for whiffenpoof pagans. rather it is based in the serious and very sacred and ancient tradition of the sacred king who dies for his people. The prince is also, IMO, a representative of everyone who died in WWII on the Allied side. As to Gray, I respect this character tremendously and wish KK would publish more stories about him. I would buy them all.

This is absolutely one of the most gripping books I've ever read. The historical details are precise but not tedious. The characters are achingly real - complex, imperfect, compelling. Kurtz's understanding of ritual magic is excellent and non-sensational, and her ability to draw on historical hints to weave it into the events of WWII is outstanding. This book will change you - the world will never quite look the same after you put it down

Some readers of Ms. Kurtz's works will know the name of the author, Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki. Her mother and father had an association with an occult group during WWII and had somewhat to do with events similar to those portrayed in the book. Katherine Kurtz was given her mother's diary and papers by Dolores. Katherine returned them to her, along with the galley proof of the book, saying, "You'll need a box of tissues handy when you read this."
And you, the reader, may well do so also. While a fictional book, there are strong, true esoteric underpinnings to the story. That is why it works so well, resonates so well, reads so well. Having spoken with both Dolores and Katherine about this book, I will say it is indeed, 'more than fiction'. Which, of course, makes it all the more delicious. I re-read it about once a year.
Find this book.

As a student of British history, I found myself doubting my own memory -- and had to look up the fifth prince to be sure I remembered correctly, and that no such person ever really existed! The characters are so well drawn that each one seems a living person, someone you would like (or not like!) to know. The book also serves as an excellent introduction to many esoteric practices, for anyone who is or wants to become a student of one or more of the occult disciplines. This book is an absolute MUST for fans of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, history, and/or the occult; your library will not be complete without it. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I had known about Lammas Night since it was first published in 1983, but I was not ready to read it until now. I found the book very well written and plotted. It kept me reading and enthralled to the end, and the characters were people that I wish I had known in real life.

One of the aspects that I appreciated most was her use of the Old Religion of the British Isles, specifically her non-sensationalist presentation of tenets of the faith many people follow to this day. I am not a follower but have read fairly extensively in the Matter of Britain, from various perspectives, and I found myself believing that it could well have happened. I do know that Dion Fortune, who has a cameo in the book, is/was a real person. I also was so taken up in the universe of the novel that I had to look up and find whether there actually had been a Prince William who died in 1940. There wasn't, but there really was a Prince John, who died at the age of thirteen, who in this book is William's twin.

I was not put off by the history of the occult or the past life regressions of both Graham and William; both were vitally necessary to an understanding of what was going on, and not boring in the least. I won't post spoilers, but the past does impinge on the present in the novel, and the idea of the sacrificial king is key to the entire story.

Well done, Ms. Kurtz. I am ambivalent about there being no sequel to the story. It would have been interesting to read about what happened to the characters next, but the story is so complete as it stands that I think writing more would have weakened the story.

As well, I will state that this is an excellent book to read to learn about the Old Religion, in a "spoonful of sugar" kind of way, a good introduction if one wants to read more. I heartily recommend John and Caitlin Matthews' books about The Western Way and the Celtic and Arthurian traditions as a next step in learning about this tradition.

Katherine Kurtz does a wonderful job at recreating history and pondering what could have been. She looks into the lives of people desperate to save England at the height of the Battle of Britain. She explores what it must have been like to be a member of the Royal family devestated by the abdication of Edward VIII and the impending invasion of Britain. Her historical research into the Order of the Garter, the death of Thomas a' Becket - Archbishop of Canterbury, and other historical references is as accurate as historians can agree. This is one of the books in my personal library that I DO NOT lend out. I find myself checking references against Kurtz's research and have not found any conflicts. Lammas Night is a great way to introduce young people to history, making it alive and real for them