Customer Reviews

The Light Bearer

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Since I picked-up this book, I have not been able to put it down. Not since Tolkien's trilogy have I been so captivated by a story. The characters are surprisingly well-developed and "real."
Normally, fiction does not affect me the way this novel has, but this is one of those extremely Rare novels that makes you want to jump into the book and avenge the characters, or fight by their side.
I love the format of the book. The author uses a Stephen King style, in the sense of starting one character's story, then alternating between the main character's life story, and other integral character's life stories, keeping you on the edge of your seat, with anticipation.
The characters are very well developed. I have not cared this much about fictional characters, for a long time! The author not-only lets you see through their eyes, but makes you feel what they feel. She creates scenes which draw you in and will not let you go.
I strongly suggest giving a weekend to this novel.
So much happens to the main characters, in the first 100 pages, you wonder what the rest of the book could possibly be about! However, the book just keeps getting better and better, as you read. There are times, when you just cannot imagine what may happen next. This is the most Unpredictable novel I have read, in years.
If most fiction bores you, purchase The Light Bearer, now. The historical detail and the amazingly descriptive text, combined with the author's obviously vast wealth of spiritual and cultural insight, make this novel a treasure.
I hope I can one day be half the Anthropologist the author seems to be! If history were taught in this format, I believe young people would be more excited about learning.
The battles, the love, the glory and the defeat are all described with wonderful detail--but, not boring detail. The details are subtly worked into the storyline and in no way detract from the excitement and fast-paced action.
This is the only book I have ever owned that kept my rapt attention on EVERY page. Only Tolkien even compares with this author, in my mind. I only hope this is not her last book.
For anyone interested in History, Archaeology, Culture or just-plain GOOD fiction, this is the book to put on your Wish List!
This novel is also a very good gift for feminists, and women who enjoy the idea of the protagonist / hero being a female.
I swear the main character (Auriane) of the novel is the most "real" character I have experienced. There are no "filler" characters, in this amazing novel-each character has a role to play and the most trivial background character may serve a higher purpose at some time.
This author knows how to describe her world (our world), and she knows how to create tension, excitement, despair, glory.....she evokes Emotions like no other writer I have experienced reading.
I am stunned by this author's ability with writing, and I am enthralled by "The Light Bearer."

"Better a spirit that does not quite fit in this world than one that is broken."

Such is said by Baldemar, chieftain of the Chattian tribe on the border between the wild lands of Germanis and the ever-encroaching Roman empire. His daughter Auriane is our heroine for this rousing adventure tale, and she proves her father's words in spades.

As a young girl, Auriane wants nothing more than to be a happy wife and mother, like her own mother, comfortable and beloved by the hearthfire. But her first taste of battle leaves her unsatisfied with such a life; fighting awakens a dark passion in her that she does not quite understand. Adding to her confusion, the high priestess Ramis predicts that Auriane is also gifted with the powers of magic. Then Auriane is thrown into the middle of the Roman-Chattian war. I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but let me just say that violence, treachery, danger, and true love abound.

Gillespie is talented at depicting her world. She is equally at home in the forests of Germania and the crowded streets of Rome, and she takes us along with her. She has the gift of a Margaret George or Kathleen Winsor for showing us historical detail we never could have imagined. She's obviously done her research on everything from Roman politics to pagan customs to battle tactics. But don't be deceived--this is no dry historical text! I was so caught up in the story I was yelling cheers at the good guys and obscenities at the bad guys, not to mention begging for more as I realized I was on the last page. My only gripe is that Auriane seems too good to be true at times--but maybe I wouldn't have liked the book so much had she not been "larger than life". It's hard to say.

One of the finest examples of HISTORICAL fiction I have read. There is a romance component to this novel, but it is very much in the sub-plot category. The characters are complex and developing throughout the book, the setting - including the warring psychology and belief systems of Rome and the 'barbarians' - are wonderfully described. I am still 'haunted' by some of the imagery and marvelous juxtapositions in this book (after a couple of weeks). On the other hand, the historical detail does not prevent this from being a page-turner - and a pretty easy read.

After reading this book, Donna Gillespie has made it high on my list of favorite historical fiction (loosely defined) authors, which includes Margaret George, India Edghill, Edward Rutherfurd, Steven Pressfield, Diana Gabaldon, Ken Follett, Irving Stone, and Sharon Kay Penman. All of these authors have varying styles, but what unites them is portrayal of the paradigms of the times about which they write through well-researched detail. The Light Bearer is a perfect example of this amazing talent. If you enjoy HISTORICAL historical fiction, and some of the authors above, this is a book for you.

The old Roman Empire was a kind of nasty place to be if you weren't Roman. But for Auriane, a daughter of the Germanic tribes, it's become a hell on earth. All Auriane really wanted in life was to be like her lovely mother and have a good home. But being born to the warlike Chatti tribe as the daughter of the tribes' leader insures her life will different than she planned. From her first day on earth when a powerful seer/witch woman predicts she will cause the death of her father-the greatest sin a person can commit, Auriane is different. Over her short teenage years she becomes a daughter of the earth, a warrior women sworn to protect her people, and never know the touch of a man.

Yet all along a young man in Rome, Marcus Julianus, gutter rat who turned out to be the lost son of a Senator has been wearing a bag of dirt around his neck, a bag given to his father by a wise woman of the Chatti tribes, a bag that there is only one other like...around Auriane's neck.

Destiny collides in the fierce arena of the Roman imperial court and the terrile but lovely woods and bogs of Auriane's home. Auriane must fight for her life against the might of Rome and Marcus Julianus must fight for his own in the corrupt Emperors court...can these two people prevail?

This is a wonderful book. It's full of life, and the descriptions are so vivid I found myself wondering that I was reading a book, not falling back in time-and I am normally not a fan of ancient historical fiction at all. In fact I have purposly avoided it ever since I started reading historical fiction when I was a kid. But this book changed all that! the characters are all very real people (even the larger than life Auriane is insecure about her body) and the plot line is so vivid and realistic it's hard to stay still while reading. You will be running around, book in hand, screaming for the good guys and cursing the bad. This is probably the best book I ever read, bar none. And there is not one boring sentence in the whole book. Its chopped full of action, romance and adventure, and it's impossible to believe this is a first novel. I plan on buying another copy soon so I'll have one for mine falls apart. I'm sure I will read this book every year of my life.

I recommend this book to any one who loves history, drama, romance, or action. It has something for everyone, and I just received an email from the author saying the sequel is done (!!!) and it will be published in November of this year. Lady of the Light here we come...I'm preordering.

Five stars

I discovered this book by accident. Having read Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel and been a member of her website I found this absolute gem listed in her alternate reading suggestions.

I love all books set in the ancient past (Egypt, Greece, Rome etc) and beyond and have read enough to fill large bookshelves. Nothing however compares to this.

The book is an absolute page turner. It action, adventure, romance all rolled into one. If you get to page 50 (of 788 pages) and are not hooked on this book in a mesmerised way then you are clearly not a fan of the genre.

Donna has created a tale so alive it is like the prose comes to life in photographic detail. Her imagery of Ancient Rome, its people, politics, entertainment, philosophers, and life are breathtaking. The less well known life of the German frontiers from a Roman and barbarian perspective with intra tribal infighting, and inter tribe rivalry, traditions, pagan rituals, survival and clashes with their Roman masters is fascinating.

Into this clear and crisp research is wound a story of Auriane. The daugher of a tribal chieftan waging war on the Romans. Born with a seeresses prophecy to match her noble status she tries to shrug this off and live the simple life of a regular tribeswoman - marriage and family. However unspeakable horrors follow her and her peoples lives and the prophecy can not be ignored.

Its two stories becoming one as Aurianes exploits become the embellishment of myth and legend finding their way back to Rome in the writings of the former Governor of this far flung province. When a chance reading of his fathers documented accounts of frontier life take place, the son, reknowned and respected Roman statesman Marcus Julianus is besotted with the galant image of Auriane the warrioress. Surrounded by the demanding and over pampered women of high nobility circles he yearns to see her for himself before the Roman legions close in and she is no more.

The blending of historical fact and fiction are seemless.

This book is a pager turner and so rich and complex, with intricate plots and twists that you can read it again and again and still feel inspired.

Every possible element of good writing comes alive in this book. Gillespie recreates a lost time with such powerful detail we can feel we're living there with her characters. Those characters are larger than life, just as they should be in an historical novel of epic scope. Who would want to read about Robin Hood if he couldn't shoot an arrow straight?
But best of all is the plot. I don't *think* I read books for plot, but without a plot, no book really succeeds. It's like the skeleton of a human. You don't want to look at someone's hipbones directly, but without them, there are no graceful dancers. Gillespie's plot is as intricate as a 3,000 piece jigsaw puzzle and that's what drew me in and got me so involved with the characters that I was disappointed to see the book end -- and it's not a short book, either.

Auriane, warrior-priestess, and daughter of a Germanic tribal chieftain, defies the powers of ancient Rome. Her courage and feats in battle are legendary, reaching the far shores of Rome.

Marcus Julianus, a famous Roman statesman, reads his father's journals about this mysterious woman who bears arms, and leads her people in battle against the great Roman army. Auriane continues to haunt him, and he draws strength from her courage.

Unknown to either of them, they wear identical amulets given to them at birth. Their destinies are intertwined despite the throes of war and an emperor's wicked obsession.

I was drawn into this amazing world and didn't want to leave. The author describes in vivid detail how life was in ancient Rome and Germania. She expertly breathes life into all facets of Roman culture from slaves to nobles, and emperors to gladiators. Germanic life is equally portrayed with a skillful hand, dramatically showing the vast differences between the two cultures. All characters, even the minor ones, are fully developed and believable as actual historical figures. I especially found Auriane's courage and perseverance to be both touching and inspirational. This epic story is filled with excitement and intrigue, erupting with an ending that readers will not soon forget. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ancient history or who wants to be enchanted by a superb storyteller.

The last book I read was The Light Bearer by Donna Gillespie. What can I say? Awesome. Simply a great, great epic novel.

The Light Bearer tells the duel story of the Germanic tribeswoman Auriane and the Roman Senator Marcus Julianus. From the reviews I've read, this is a very thoroughly research book. It takes place during the reigns of Nero, Vespatian, Titus, and Domitian. While the books caption leads one to think it's a love story, it is first and foremost a book about people trying to preserve their way of life. The Romans view the Germanic tribes as uncivilized and little more than groups of animals. The Germans view the Romans as domineering, unreligious, and misogynistic.

Auriane is the daughter of the head of the tribe. A priestess deemed at birth that she is destined for so much and that comes to fruition as Auriane grows older. She has a Roman serf teach her how to fight because she sees that the ways her people fight are not effective against the Romans. But still, she cannot completely reconcile her feelings for the Roman ways of war with her people's way of life, creating an interesting and heartfelt internal conflict.

Meanwhile, the governor of Germania (Marcus Arrius Julianus) finds his long lost son (Marcus Julianus...confusing, I know) in the slums of Rome and raises him to take his mantle as a strong Roman figure. What he doesn't expect is that his son's life in the slums has taught him the value of intellectual and social equality...which causes more than one Roman eyebrow to lift in suspicion. But when Nero targets the Julianus family as traitors, Marcus's father takes his own life.

Okay,that's enough, because if I were to summarize this novel appropriate, I wouldn't be able to stop myself from telling too much. This book is slow enough that you can absorb the cultures, lives, and emotions of the characters, but fast enough that the 1000+ pages seems no more than any other novel.

It's fabulous. A new favorite book of mine.

I highly recommend it.

As a man somewhat wary of historical novels about female warriors, I have to proclaim my love for this deep rich luscious book. I want to propose to Auriane. Not since Patrick O'Brien has a historical novel so utterly convinced me that it was written in the time it portrays. I can't even imagine how one human being accumulates the collosal amount of research evidenced in every detail and layer of this book. Gillespie is able to imagine everything, at any scale: ancient poverty, grotesque depravity,; gossamer flutterings of interior motivatons to sweeping herd dynamics; the tiny details of mundane to the great issues of politics and religion. You sink your teeth into the carnality; your heart soars with the spirituality. The paganism, the vividly drawn and wide array of characters, the dialogue, the mysticism-- The Light Bearer easily has the sweep and depth and profundity of War and Peace. There. I said it. Cast stones at me if you will. If the Light Bearer does not become a timeless classic, there is no justice in this world. Read it.

HOw anyone can write about such completely different worlds, the Roman world and the Germanic, but Ms Gillespie does it, masterfully. She can do anything! Deftly interweaves the stories of a Roman elite, Marcus Julianus during the era of Nero, and the warrior priestess, Auriane, of the Germanic tribes. Excellent detail and thought. You are right there with Marcus, traveling down the street to the Forum or turning up your nose to the sights and sounds that greet you on the way to the Colisseum. You struggle with Auriane, as daughter, mother and leader to her people. Aurianes religious dilemmmas---Marcus' ethical dilemmas. Gladiator school. Beltane. Battles. Your blood runs cold at Marcus' wedding---Highly engrossing. This is the second read for me. I read this while driving across country in 1994. Surprised to see its still out, knowing how excellent it is, I got it again and was not disappointed. I close with a plea to Ms Gillespie---when will she write more? The time is NOW! :)