Soul Flame

I have owned this book for over 10 years. Every 2-3 years I read it over, and I enjoy every page as if it's the first time reading it. The story is wonderful, exciting, romantic, and educational all rolled into one. I would encourage everyone to own a copy, used or new!

I have fallen away from reading over the past several years, and I picked up a copy of this book in a bin at the supermarket... and sitting down to read it had no idea what to expect. I read the entire book in one sitting, cover to cover in one evening... because I couldn't stand to put it down. It was fantastic... a perfect combination of storytelling and education...

There is never a dull moment in "Soul Flame," the story of Selene, adopted daughter of a healer woman who herself becomes a healer and dedicates herself to furthering the healing arts. Selene is also dedicated to unravelling the mystery of her true identity and discovering her destiny. At sixteen, she falls in love with the handsome Greek physician Andreas but... well that would be telling. This book ranges across many of the key locations of early civilization, and Ms. Wood's prodigious research serves the reader well. In addition to lore on early medicine and herbal cures we are treated to glimpses of exotic early cultures. Leanly written, densely plotted and full of fascinating characters, "Soul Flame" never disappoints. If you are like me, you will be hungering for a sequel when you reach the last page. Let's get this book back into print, and -- Ms. Wood, are you listening? -- let's get started on the sequel. A terrific read!

I never thought I would enjoy learning so much about herbal medicine. I never knew the Egyptians were the first to have a surgery for cataracts and diabetes or that Hecates Cure, used in small doses in tea, was used in the reduction of fever. I never knew that the upper classes had lead poisoning from the pipes where they got their water, which made it difficult to bear children. I liked the historical tie linking Selene and her brother Pindar to the Emperor Claudius and his family through Caesar and Cleopatra's son Cesarion, her father. Being a healer woman made it easier for her in captivity. It surprised me that the Grand Vizier let Selene and Wulf escape when he had planned to make her his wife. The scene where Selene and Wulf had made love was tastefully done too. I would definitely read this book again. Ms Wood really knows her stuff.

This book was 5 stories rolled into one. I read this book over 10 years ago and though I generally read atleast one book each month, it is still my favorite. This book rekindled my love for reading novels...I am so sad that it is out of print, I gave my copy to a friend and she gave it to a friend and so on, and so on....the publisher would do the world of readers a great favor to reprint this book!