The Romans came, conquered, and departed, leaving behind them a strange new religion called Christianity. The princes of Britannia have driven back the invading Saxons and dream of a return to bygone days, while others on the island invoke the magic of a time older still. For the revered ancient goddesses Eve on in the hearts and memories of the proud royal women of the old British tribes. And now, King Artor -- wounded in body and spirit -- proclaims that the sword and the spear must be put to rest, and summons his mother Igierne, Lady of the Lake, to use the powers of the Cauldron to heal a troubled, wartorn land. But old jealousies and new power struggles threaten disaster, as Artor's sister Morgause hides a deadly secretand a darker magic. It is Guendivar the queen who holds the key to their survival, if she can master her own power in time. For a darkness is emanating from high places -- and it threatens to devastate a realm. YA-This series, a vivid four-part retelling of the legend of King Arthur, portrays fifth-century Britain as a tapestry woven from richly multicultural strands. The Book of the Sword and The Book of the Spear (both Avon, 1999) revealed Merlin's secrets and described key episodes in the years of war that established Arthur as High King. Here, several enigmas are addressed, including his failed relationship with Guinevere and his problems with his evil sister (called here Morgause). Often lyrical, with frequent moments of startling beauty, Cauldron places the Old Religion at the center of the story, touching on questions of sexuality and spirituality inherent in the saga-and providing a plausible resolution to some of its mysteries. Fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon (Del Rey, 1985) can be steered directly to this book (the author acknowledges her debt to Bradley), though the earlier volumes also offer much to interest these readers. Others who are simply intrigued by the classic Arthurian legends, or who are fans of fantasy in general, can also enjoy Paxson's fresh take on the classic tale, but probably should be advised to read the volumes in order. Readers who find themselves confused by the spellings and usages (e.g., Alba for Scotland, Gualchmai for Gawain) can refer to helpful lists of people and places that conclude the book. Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. "An accomplished writer... I look forward to reading any of Diana Paxson's work."-- Marion Zimmer Bradley The Arthurian saga is one of the most enduring legends of Western civilization -- a stirring tale of destiny, duty, faith, and majesty that has been told and retold by some of the greatest storytellers of all time. In her sweeping and magnificent multi-volume work THE HALLOWED ISLE, acclaimed author Diana L. Paxson brilliantly reinvents the classic myth -- by reimagining the great king, his life and legacy from the unique perspectives of four distinct tribal cultures that shaped Britain in the violent days of the sixth century. THE BOOK OF THE CAULDRON The Romans came, conquered, and departed, leaving behind them a strange new religion called Christianity. The princes of Britannia have driven back the invading Saxons and dream of a return to bygone days, while others on the island invoke the magic of a time older still. For the revered ancient goddesses live on in the hearts and memories of the proud royal women of the old British tribes. And now, King Artor -- wounded in body and spirit -- proclaims that the sword and the spear must be put to rest, and summons his mother Igierne, Lady of the Lake, to use the powers of the Cauldron to heal a troubled, wartorn land. But old jealousies and new power struggles threaten disaster, as Artor's sister Morgause hides a deadly secret -- and a darker magic. It is Guendivar the queen who holds the key to their survival, if she can master her own power in time. For a darkness is emanating from high places -- and it threatens to devastate a realm. Diana L. Paxson is the award-winning author of The Lord of Horses, The Wolf and the Raven, The Dragons of the Rhine, The White Raven, and The Serpents Tooth, and coauthor (with Adrienne Martine-Barnes) of Master of Earth and Water, The Shield Between the Worlds, and Sword of Fire and Shadow, the chronicles of Fionn mac Cumhal. She lives in Berkeley, California.