Twilight of the Serpent

The Seedbearers Trilogy #3

by Peter Valentine Timlett, Jeffrey Jones

The Druid cult was doomed to total annihilation by the invading Romans. But the mystical tribe of warrior-priests called up every weapon of man or magic to aid their sacred quest. Bold swords, brutal lusts and demon rites were all unleashed in a war that shook the walls of the universe. And ushered in the bloody dawn of man's awesome destiny...

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Magic

210 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the final volume of a trilogy, preceded by The Seedbearers and The Power of the Serpent. The Conan-esque covers by Ken Barr on the first two books made them look like straight swords & sorcery adventures, but it's a very mystical New Agey fantasy about the survivors of the destruction of Atlantis with Illuminati-influenced overtones. This one has a softer, less violent Jeff Jones cover. It's a magic story about Druids versus Romans, with a lot of light and dark opposing imagery. It's about the transition from Druidry to Christianity in ancient Briton, with lots of behind-the-scenes occult activity. The first book indulged in some graphically detailed violent sexual assault, which is toned down in the subsequent two books, which are also much better written, though the character development and usage is still a little off kilter. The trilogy was published in the mid-1970s in England, followed by Bantam editions in the U.S., and Timlett seems to have published little else until a couple of unrelated novels appeared after the turn of the century. I enjoyed it, for the odd outlooks and viewpoints, well enough to read the whole trilogy.

[Mark Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this final volume Peter really gets it write. His writing style is as strong as the second volume, while the story is this time engaging and interesting again. Its an entertaining and sadly poignant read. I recommend it as an entertaining read that will stay with you. In balance this ending makes the trilogy a worthwhile investment in reader time, so long as you're a serious fantasy fan.

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

It has two separate themes: the invasion and re-conquest of Britain by the Roman Empire under Claudius and his successors, and the end fate of the Druid religion and its passing of the torch to the Christian sect (the Culdees) who arrive before that. Unfortunately its handling of the first is at a high level, in a textbook-like style, and the second is long scenes of introspection and of the Druids dismantling the evidence of their existence and their eventual final slaughter.

While interesting in a history class sense, the unfolding of the Roman conquest fails to compel. It's either described at a very high level or described secondhand. There are some compelling details late in the book about the corrupt colonia system and usurious moneylending by the Romans to local lords, but they are never woven into a compelling tale.

The fate of the Druids becomes self-evident from about page fifty or even earlier, and once revealed it becomes a forced march of the story to the bitter end.

While the Theosophic and occult influences has been dialed way down (and I do like the thought that the Druids have waned in power and spiritual contact, as befits a religion past its prime), Timlett now posits an alternate to conventional Christian history: that Jesus as a boy visited the British Isles to commune with the Druids.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conclusion of the excellent Seedbearers trilogy. See my review of the series under the book The Seedbearers.