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White Mare, Red Stallion
In the dark times of ancient Britain, when magic and superstition rule the tribes of Scotland, Maira, riding the white horse of the Goddess into battle, must join forces with Carric, her family's greatest enemy and the only man she had ever loved.
242 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
2 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Diana L. Paxson
170 books411 followersDiana L. Paxson (born 1943) is a novelist and author of nonfiction, primarily in the fields of Paganism and Heathenism. Her published works include fantasy and historical fiction novels, as well as numerous short stories. More recently she has also published nonfiction books about Pagan and Heathen religions and practices.
In addition to her multiple novels and collaborations, she has written over seventy short stories. Her best-known works are the Westria novels, and the later books in the Avalon series, which she first co-wrote with Marion Zimmer Bradley, then took over sole authorship of after Bradley's death.
Paxson was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards twice, in 1989 for the "White Raven" and in 1983 for "Lady of Light".
Paxson's non-fiction books include Taking Up the Runes, Essential Asatru, and Trance-Portation. She writes a regular column for the women's spirituality magazine, Sagewoman.
Paxson has been active in the leadership of a number of organizations. She hosted the first activities of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and was subsequently among that group's founding Directors and Corporate Officers when it incorporated[1]. She was the western regional director of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and is a frequent panelist at science fiction conventions, especially Baycon, where she was the 2007 Fantasy Guest of Honor.
A leader in the Neopagan and Heathen revivals, Paxson is the founder of the The Fellowship of the Spiral Path and has served as First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess. She has been Steerswoman of the Heathen group, The Troth, a member of its Board of Directors, and currently edits its journal, Idunna. She is a pioneer in the revival of Oracular Seidh, which she has taught and performed at many Neopagan and heathen festivals and retreats.
She composes and plays music for the harp. She currently lives at her home, Greyhaven, in Berkeley, California.
More can be found on her blog: http://dpaxson.livejournal.com
In addition to her multiple novels and collaborations, she has written over seventy short stories. Her best-known works are the Westria novels, and the later books in the Avalon series, which she first co-wrote with Marion Zimmer Bradley, then took over sole authorship of after Bradley's death.
Paxson was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards twice, in 1989 for the "White Raven" and in 1983 for "Lady of Light".
Paxson's non-fiction books include Taking Up the Runes, Essential Asatru, and Trance-Portation. She writes a regular column for the women's spirituality magazine, Sagewoman.
Paxson has been active in the leadership of a number of organizations. She hosted the first activities of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and was subsequently among that group's founding Directors and Corporate Officers when it incorporated[1]. She was the western regional director of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and is a frequent panelist at science fiction conventions, especially Baycon, where she was the 2007 Fantasy Guest of Honor.
A leader in the Neopagan and Heathen revivals, Paxson is the founder of the The Fellowship of the Spiral Path and has served as First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess. She has been Steerswoman of the Heathen group, The Troth, a member of its Board of Directors, and currently edits its journal, Idunna. She is a pioneer in the revival of Oracular Seidh, which she has taught and performed at many Neopagan and heathen festivals and retreats.
She composes and plays music for the harp. She currently lives at her home, Greyhaven, in Berkeley, California.
More can be found on her blog: http://dpaxson.livejournal.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 19, 2022
While this story ended up a bit differently than what I had expected (based on the cover image) I truly ended up loving it and I have added it to my favorites category here on Goodreads. Plus I certainly plan to read more books by this author as the characters and the plotline certainly gripped my imagination. It's fast paced too and it never drags which is a big plus in my opinion!
I will be the first to admit I know some things about history but if you would ask me randomly what was going on in the second century I sure would draw a blank. Well thanks to this well researched story now I can answer that. There were tribes of Celts living in Britain and they also worked alongside Druids. And the Romans were there too. All three groups play a big part in this exciting tale.
The main character is a young woman named Maira (which I realize I have no idea how to pronounce - I was basically thinking Mara in my head while reading this). She has a red roan mare named Roud who she is very close to. Maira is of the White Horse people and horses play a very important role in their Druid ceremonies. She is an excellent horsewoman who rides with a simple padded saddle and reins. As far as I can tell she doesn't use any stirrups as they are never mentioned. She can ride bareback as well and there is one scene in here where she does that with incredible skill...
Maira is of age where she should be thinking of marriage and having children but she finds it all somewhat embarrassing? But there is a guy from another tribe she likes: Carric. And both of them are the children of chiefs.
But conflict comes. And things go incredibly wrong. Blood is spilt. Swords slash. Horses rear and scream. You get the idea. There are lots of battles and plans being made. How to keep the people safe from the enemy (who lives just across the river).
While reading this I was totally caught up in Maira's saga. The descriptions are very vivid and the unique culture comes through so clearly. The people are very superstitious too. They see omens everywhere. A bird calls and it means something. And they believe in visions and magic too. Maira is especially gifted with this and she has several visions, but they do not always help her decide what to do. There are problems with her brother Eoc and with her mother Druith. Often she doesn't want to face the hard truths about these issues or about herself. Maira definitely grows up and changes during the book. She is very strong and she gains wisdom.
And the story had a huge plot twist. I guess it shows how unsuspecting some people can be. I certainly never saw that coming!
Reading this wants to make me read not only more historical fiction but also more stories about the Druids and the Celts. Oh and Stonehenge is in here too!
There is a map at the beginning of the book which I found very useful plus there is also a list of characters and who each is: also very useful. Although this is not one of those books where I got the characters mixed up...but the list is still very handy to have. More books should use these.
I will be the first to admit I know some things about history but if you would ask me randomly what was going on in the second century I sure would draw a blank. Well thanks to this well researched story now I can answer that. There were tribes of Celts living in Britain and they also worked alongside Druids. And the Romans were there too. All three groups play a big part in this exciting tale.
The main character is a young woman named Maira (which I realize I have no idea how to pronounce - I was basically thinking Mara in my head while reading this). She has a red roan mare named Roud who she is very close to. Maira is of the White Horse people and horses play a very important role in their Druid ceremonies. She is an excellent horsewoman who rides with a simple padded saddle and reins. As far as I can tell she doesn't use any stirrups as they are never mentioned. She can ride bareback as well and there is one scene in here where she does that with incredible skill...
Maira is of age where she should be thinking of marriage and having children but she finds it all somewhat embarrassing? But there is a guy from another tribe she likes: Carric. And both of them are the children of chiefs.
But conflict comes. And things go incredibly wrong. Blood is spilt. Swords slash. Horses rear and scream. You get the idea. There are lots of battles and plans being made. How to keep the people safe from the enemy (who lives just across the river).
While reading this I was totally caught up in Maira's saga. The descriptions are very vivid and the unique culture comes through so clearly. The people are very superstitious too. They see omens everywhere. A bird calls and it means something. And they believe in visions and magic too. Maira is especially gifted with this and she has several visions, but they do not always help her decide what to do. There are problems with her brother Eoc and with her mother Druith. Often she doesn't want to face the hard truths about these issues or about herself. Maira definitely grows up and changes during the book. She is very strong and she gains wisdom.
And the story had a huge plot twist. I guess it shows how unsuspecting some people can be. I certainly never saw that coming!
Reading this wants to make me read not only more historical fiction but also more stories about the Druids and the Celts. Oh and Stonehenge is in here too!
There is a map at the beginning of the book which I found very useful plus there is also a list of characters and who each is: also very useful. Although this is not one of those books where I got the characters mixed up...but the list is still very handy to have. More books should use these.
Read
August 10, 2021well the first 75 pages read like a category romance and then after that it definitely did not read that way, which i was very cool with! i didn't end up loving the book and i won't read it again, mostly bc the author only ever spent time developing Maira the mc, and despite the author's intentions for her to be heroic & great, she came off to me as a very cold person with bad judgment who never grows out of those traits. also if you are someone who does not like it when the lead has on-page sex with someone after they've already met & fallen for their endgame love interest, this book is not for you girl
December 18, 2023
Well written, well conceived, and an interesting speculative exercise on life in 2nd century Scotland. Read for the r/fantasy 2023 Book Bingo for the Druids square. Iykyk
Currently reading
August 10, 2011its good
September 23, 2011
Normally really like Ms. Paxson's work, but this one I did not enjoy as much. Can't really put a finger on why, but did not leave me satisfied,
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews