The Heart of the Fire

by Cerridwen Fallingstar

Fiona McNair is a peasant girl in 16th Century Scotland. Her grandmother, the leader of the village coven, is teaching her herbcraft, healing and magic, as she follows the visions that lead her in a path of shamanic powers known as Witchcraft. Fiona grows to be beautiful and falls in love - with her wild Gypsy friend Annie; with Sean, the youthful, wealthy and potentially dangerous son of the village Lord; and with a minstrel who still dares sing the old songs of magic and power. Then, the Witch-hunter comes. The Heart of the Fire is a suspenseful blend of magic, romance, danger and eroticism. Even more, it is an authentic past-life chronicle, a unique and revealing window into the lives of historical Witches from their own who they were, what they believed, what all of us lost as the magical web of life was torn asunder.

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy

521 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1990

Reviews

[Deidre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly real. Emotionally Wrung me out, Finished it and cried for an hour. Inexplicably moved me. Must have been a witch in a former life:)

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after meeting it's author back in 1992. I could hardly put it down. I've been thinking about this book lately and would like to read it again soon!

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!! Full of great descriptions. When Fiona walks through the woods, you see what she sees, hears what she hears, smells what she smells, and feel what she feels. You are where she is. And when she makes love, its you who makes love. And when she's hurt, its you who are hurt. And if you can pull out the herbology, rituals, and incantations you would have a great start to your own B.O.S.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for book club and have mixed feelings--could take it or leave for roughly first 200 pages and then got more enraptured and couldn't put it down by the end. A bit erratic (and eccentric--is supposed to be the author's past-life experiences) and sometimes extraordinarily romance-novel-esque what with all the heaving and bodice-ripping

***Spoiler warning***

For those who, like me, prefer to avoid horrible scenes of brutal rape and torture, I suggest skipping pages 466-490, at minimum.

[Kelly Miess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it over a year ago now and I absolutely loved it - it is one of the best books I have read. It has stayed with me in a way very few books do. Such beauty, such a immersion into a life - such intensity, both both positive and negative. I would love to read it again but the ending just about killed me - beware the ugliness and brutality at the end.

[Syd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read about a young girl growing up in Scotland in the 1500's. It is fiction placed against the real backdrop of the witch hunting that occurred.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book,really drew me in,love the setting,and how involved you feel in the story line.

[Susan]

I've read this one but it's been a while, would like to read it again.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book , it's my long time favortite.
Tried to buy more copies but can't find them .
Would love to read more books like this .

[Alejandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, magical and vivid.