The Last Rainbow

This book is a lovely intermingling of two worlds. On the one side is Patrick, a fiery young priest enamoured with the idea of leading Ireland to the faith. On the other side is the Prydn: a nomadic people blessed with a great love of life and Earth, but slowly marginalised into the feared and hated faerie folk. Patrick is drawn into a small tribe of Prydn, most of whom shine with their own fierce diamond-bright personalities: thoughtful, determined Dorelai, gentle Drust, bold Cru, and a host of others. The interplay and exchange of knowledge between the two worlds--the world of Christianity and the world of magic--is so gradual and sensual that it almost feels like lovemaking. Soon enough, though, we come to realise that both Patrick and the prydn queen Dorelai share a commons sin--pride--that draws them irresistably into the climax of the tale.Stylistic shifts abound, allowing the readers to look through the minds and eyes of all the myriad cultures displayed. The use of language is rich and deft, frequently dissolving into comedy, and just with as much mastery turning into a passionate love story and a richly wrought history. There's something for everybody at the end of this Rainbow.

I have owned this book for nie on six, seven years, but was never able to get past the first chapter until this week. The book left me feeling incomplete in a good way, by not tying lifes up in tidy little endings, but allowing the end to continue beyond the last page. I love the twist on the Fairie legend Godwin gives to us - not a magical race of legendary immortal sidhe, but an endangered people trying to live their nomadic lives on the plains of Britain being inexorably pushed out by the late-coming Britains and Romans.What I especially liked was the simple God-loving faith the people had from time immortal, time before St. Patrick came to share Christianity. I think it demonstrates the similarities between all God loving people everywhere, regardless of their nomitive religions. Religion is not a nomitive profession of faith, but the living, breathing, eating, sleeping, mating, dying activities of life. Faith is. That is all. Godwin expresses this beautifully beyond church dogma and religious intolerance as Patrick changes to see Godliness in all people, not only those who believe the same as him.

I love this book, plain and simple. It contrasts clearly the hazards of *thinking* one's spirituality versus feeling it in one's soul. Don't be put off by the fact that its about St. Patrick - this book more clearly shows the heart and lives of early earth-loving pagan peoples than any book I have ever read. A must for any goddess-worshipper.

this was one of the few books that took me by surprise.... looking forward to a good oldstyle medival noval.. what I got was something completly different... more like a mysthic explanation of the spreading of christianity across the isles...and that is where my only point of chriticismn takes root... does the author really think that all 'heathens' accepted faith so willingly...? or is that not a kind of makebelive from the church?!!! Nevertheless the style of this novel is amazingly refreshing and fun to read....

I had to read "Firelord" and "Beloved Exile" before I could get through the first couple of chapters of this one. But what a surprise! The culture of 5th Century Britain was an eye-opener, and this author spun many of our tales into the history of the Prydyn. The character of Saint Patrick is put through the fire, and comes out the other side the humble, loving man described in the history books. This book will break your heart, and put it back together again for you.