Etruscans: Beloved of the Gods

....It is as fine a novel as any of Llywelyn or Scott's other work. While the characterization here is acutely archetypal, excusing it readily from Proustian descriptive depth, it is truly memorable. The dark goddess Pythia is absolutely Lovecraftian in her gross morbidity and utter vileness. Hero Horatius strides manfully from the literary gene pool that spawned Odysseus, David, Beowulf, and Superman. The sensuously depicted settings easily bring Dante and Milton to mind. This is masterful storytelling at its finest from two of contemporary fiction's best.

Although usually not a big fan of fantasy, I found this story to be exciting and almost impossible to put down. Ms. Llywelyn and Mr. Scott have done a superb job of writing with their descriptions of the netherworld, its dangers and pitfalls . The premise that Horatrim's ancestors bestow upon him the powers needed to overcome all odds and to defeat the powers of evil are certainly in keeping with the modern idea that we all inherit certain qualities from our forbearers. I hope that there will be a sequel to this book as I really want to know what happens to these characters in later life.

The caldron of this historical fantasy roils with the ingredients that go into the making of a genre-specific brine: A sprinkling of Etruscan, Roman, Greek and Egyptian mythologies; overdoses of action; spicy thriller-type dialogues, short and poignant; and chunks of raw meat (literally!) In spite of all the spice and gore, the soup turns out a bit watery -- with some remarkable exceptions. There is the splendidly horrific descent into the Netherworld, described with with Danteesque flair and the quality of an epic in its own right. There are metmorphoses left and right: a fantastic creature may change shapes several times, from a griffin to a dragon to a serpent, and so on in stunning sequences of transubstantiations. Incomprehensibly, some of these marvelous scenes end in sophomoric punch lines, as, for example, when the hero Heratius, after his epic struggle of penetrating the Netherworld to rescue his mother, exclaims, "We did it, my friend! We did it!" (p. 330) How can an editor overlook a slip from style? There are other, similar slips, at times nudging the narrative to the edge of kitsch. Luckily, the vigor and the color of most of the narrative make up for faux pas. The authors are to be complimented for their unrelenting assault on our senses. Visions are blood-curdling, and olfactory realism is so punchent that it may drive a reader to the bathroom to quickly apply deodorant. (Not since Norman Mailer, ANCIENT EVENINGS has there been such a prodigious attack on our nostrils.) The historical foundation of the plot is fair. The authors do a fair job in sketching the ethnic diversity of Italy during times B.C.: Romans, Etruscans and,somewhat vaguely, Teumetians. They also cover the ancients' division of the universe into Earthworld, Otherworld and Netherworld with their respective denizens, emphasizing the fluidity between the realms and the possible transmogrifications -- a feat for the New-Age minded and those steadfast Christians who still confuse the Inquisition with a panel of enlightened anthropologists. In sum, this is an entertaining book with historical insight, though the style is a bit too hectic for my taste and neglects opportunities for more contemplative and uplifting moments. Also there is a certain psychological superficiality that impedes the chance for the reader's identification with the emotions of the protagonist Heratius. Nonetheless, knowing only too well the harrowing demands made on authors of historical fare, I sincerely appreciate what Llyewlyn and Scott have accomplished.

This book will be a classic. The wonderfully designed cover art by Boris Vallejo is like the ribbon on a wonderful package you have been wanting for a long time. Morgan and Michael back together again to perform their magic in the world of the Etruscans. The uniqueness of the opening poetry and the Prologus are like tantalizing tasty morsels that leave you wanting to devour this book, and devour is what you will do. The crescendo of excitement is not linear at all, it starts and pulls you along a little and then you feel the urge increase dramatically to finish this book. This is a case study for the basis of many contemporary religions, with the overall impact of Good and Evil and what can go dreadfully wrong when they are blended, and also what can go wonderfully right. With the following line from the book you may not know the total context but it will make you wonder, and also make you disgusted, but more than that it compels: He had ingested dead flesh! If you are squeamish then don't bother reading this, but if you like well written literature that is never boring, you had better hurry and get your copy while they are still available in hardback. This is bound to become a much sought after edition, Morgan, Michael & Boris together, what could be better

I've been an admirer of Ms. Llywelyn's writings for many years, and ETRUSCANS rivals BARD in its evocative look at the Gods and the way in which mortals interact with them.Many years ago I sat at the feet of a High Priestess of the Strega tradition and learnt the means by which the Gods and Goddesses of the Etruscans took on new names under the Romans and exist, even today, in yet newer forms. The authors of ETRUSCANS brought all these things - and more - back to me in this crisply-written, compelling volume. To be honest, I read it with a well-worn copy of Charles Godfrey Leland's "Etruscan Roman Remains" at hand for easy reference. Needless to say, I found that the scholarship of the authors was faultless. Character development and plot were superb! The book kept me so enthralled that I finished it in one long, sleepless night.Kudos and bright blessings, Ms. Llywelyn and Mr. Scott, for a true literary treat! Mr. Macaulay, I'm sure, would have delighted in this tale of the man who "bravely kept the bridge!"