The Mark of a Druid

by Rhonda R. Carpenter

Have you ever had a dream so real that when you awoke, it didn't leave the recesses of your mind for days? Eve McCormick just did, and this experience will change her life and the lives of those around her permanently. A twenty-six year old hypnotherapist who oversees a research project based on discovering the answer to an age-old question, "Is reincarnation fact or fiction?" must learn to trust a Welsh stranger. An ancient Celtic prophecy and long sought-after revenge entangles the past with the present in the struggle for existence that threatens to destroy her project. A druidess and a shape-shifter must join as one to save the Druid way of life, while a Queen conspires to kill Erin's only High King. Will the oaths and agendas of the past reach across the centuries to strengthen or destroy? For more information, please visit The Mark of a Druid

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Paganism, Magic, Supernatural

364 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Rhonda R. Carpenter is an award winning Clinical Hypnotherapist specializing in Past Life Regression as well as a renowned Psychic, the 5th generation in a long line of powerfully clairvoyant women. Her first fiction fantasy novel was released in 2008. She lives and works on her ranch in SW OK. For more information here are her websites where she blogs about life, writing, podcasting and publishing www.themarkofadruid.com www.rhondacarpenter.com

Reviews

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhonda has successfully woven two worlds together into a believeable search for reasons. A researcher using hypnosis to delve into past lives, starts on her own journey to resolve problems and rebuild relationships that have survived centuries of living and dying.

[Ancestral Gaidheal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhonda R Carpenter has managed to pack a lot into " The Mark Of A Druid ". It features England, Ireland, the United States, the past, the present, druids, christians, sovereignty, shapeshifting, prophecy, reincarnation, past life regression, hypnosis, murder and drama.

I listened to the book in audio format via the free subscription at iTunes. The story seems slow to start and jumped quite a bit, from past to present, and between characters but, eventually, I was hooked. Towards the end, as all the elements started to come together, the pace quickened, but the author was careful to keep you waiting for the ending you knew just had to be.

One quibble I had with the podcast format was the Rhonda R Carpenter's reading style. Strange punctuational pauses were distracting as was the apparently inappropriate changes in pitch giving emphasis were it was not warranted. After a while, I noticed it less and less, with only the occasional inner query arising. Still, it was worthwhile listening to the audio version on my commute to and from work.

I will purchase a hard copy of " The Mark Of A Druid ", eventually, to re-read at my leisure. I would imagine it would be a great book to take on holiday as the story is broken down into small segments, as it alternates between the past and present, thus allowing the reader to pick it up and put it down at will.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you believe in reincarnation? Ever meet someone and liked, loved, or hated instantly? Do you believe that the people you were with in a previous life are with you now? The author is a past life regretion hypnotist and a renown psychic and this book is one of the best I've read! It takes you into the life of Eve McCormick, she is doing clinical studies in past life regretion, until she started having very vivid dreams that left her battered, bruised and she had a birth mark she never had before. This can't be just a dream and it wasn't. She was Aileann, O Great One of the druids - and the people she loved and hated in that life, worked with her in this one. The Author captured both lives so wonderfully - would read this one again! This would make a great movie!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good audiobook. There were a lot of characters, that would be my only complaint. It was a really interesting plot and some nice plot twists.

[Claire Tanner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit of an odd concept.
I was on board with the concept of dream visions linking the main character to a past life - but when almost all the characters started to have them and they were all linked in the same community in a past life, it started getting very unbelievable. What are the chances that 6 people reincarnate in a community for a second time?

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I last read this book in September 2012 and commented that I found the ending a bit rushed so would try it again to see if it made a difference.

IT DID!!!

There is so much detail in this book and it has such a build up to the big finale, with new characters even appearing right at the end, that that is why I felt it was rushed. This book is definitely better second time around as you don't feel so overloaded with characters and you are able to enjoy it more. It is a fantastic story, rich in detail and imagery. Excellent book that gets better every time you read it. Definitely a keeper.

27th April 2013

I recently "bought" this ebook (totally free!!!!) and thoroughly enjoyed it ... until the ending. It can be a bit complicated trying to read it with 2 girls vying for your attention as it flips from ancient Wales to modern day LA but the characters intermingle throughout both eras. The only trouble I had with it was the ending - it just seemed a bit rushed to me. Perhaps I'll have to read it again and see if it makes a difference. Apart from that - excellent book.

September 2012

[MJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Practicing self-care as a reader means giving yourself permission to stop reading a book that just doesn't work for you. This is one of those books.

It felt like one book trying to be several at once. Any one of the bag of plot threads could have been an interesting read. Mixed together, with inconsistent character development and choppy transitions, it was just a tangle of knots. I tried skipping through to the Druid storyline but the lack of consistent flow made that too difficult.

In more polished hands, I think this could work. It didn't here.

[Sal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhonda Carpenter is an amazing author with a wonderful style. She transports you in time and place with this fantastic book and helps you wonder, "Have I lived before"?

You can listen to my radio interview with Rhonda about her book at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Dr-Sally...

Our video interview is at - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGZual...

I highly recommend this wonderful book!

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm totally hooked on this book by Rhonda Carpenter. It is the type of book that you think about during the day and dream about at night.
Good stuff!!!
My only complaint (the reason it gets a 4 instead of a 5) is the author puts pauses in her sentences where there shouldn't be one. It can be very aggravating to listen to at times, but the story is so good that you can overlook it.
I love her writing and will look for more books by her in the future.

[David Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and I loved the concept of past lives effecting the present and always meeting the people you knew in past lives again and again.

It was obvious a lot of work wen't into researching this book and I felt that both the past and the present story really came to life. My only complaint was that I wanted to hear more about the past lives and not as much in the present. This book is definitley worth your time.

[Elayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting concept of souls being intertwined in different lives. Eve is the head of a clinic doing research into regression. When she starts to have dreams of another life herself, a story unfolds, involving not only herself, but it seems everyone around her. Treachery and villainy soon come into play, in the past as well as the present and all becomes obvious to the reader who are the players in both "times".

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Oddly enough, I read it not long after having some freaky dream experiences myself! There's a lot going on in the story, but not so much to confuse or distract. There were times while reading I was smiling like a cheshire cat and times when I was crying my eyes out. Brilliant book!!

[Paul Kater · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are into past life experiences and Druids, then The Mark of a Druid is for you. Rhonda Carpenter created a fascinating tapestry where past and present are woven together. The plot is very well worked out and as the story progresses you learn more and more while at the same moment you start making false assumptions about 'who did it'. I can fully recommend this book.

[Zaanodes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost a 4. Needed some proofing. Ending was...lacking. There were also some what I call 'stutters', phraseology that did not flow well. That said...

If this is her first book, she is off to an amazing start!

[Susie Bunkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. The author did a wonderful job of joining two worlds into one.

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreams and past lives become entwined. This book will suck you in and keep you enthralled. I couldn't put it down!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most addicting books I've read in a long time. Mark of the Druid goes on my favorites shelf. Well written & a great read for other Pagans.

[Hilarie Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish the second one was available. This has the making of a great series. Any fans of Bernard Cornwell or Fred Saberhagen would love this. Up and coming author.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was kind of confusing with the time flips. Ending was too abrupt.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not often a book brings tears to my eyes but this one did, several times.

The Mark of a druid is a tale of love and revenge played out during the span of two different lifetimes; the characters linked together in the present by their past lives. An inspired story by Rhonda R. Carpenter and one I truly enjoyed, despite it being quite sad/emotional in places.

The reason this book lost a star was due to the formatting issues. Speech paragraphs were oddly formatted in places, meaning the flow of conversation was sometimes confusing and I also got lost occasionally by the present day timeline, which jumped backwards and forwards in places as the author switched between point of view characters. Oh, and there were some spelling/grammatical errors, but those I tend not to be too bothered by.

Overall, this was a roller-coaster of a story and I'm glad I had the chance to read it.

[Catherine Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! At the beginning I struggled to get involved. There are lots of characters, and I became very confused trying to decipher their connections and relationships. This isn’t helped by the fact that the story revolves around past lives, regression, and people remembering themselves in different eras. My advice is to stick with it, because once you get half way through, you will be hooked! I loved the historical references, because it resonated with me personally, as it will to anybody who feels drawn to Celtic heritage and ancient folklore. It is different to anything I have read before, and I am very impressed with the author and the way she wove a very difficult story into something entertaining and absorbing. Try it for yourself!

[Karyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

page 101 of 388 and finding the constant erroneous punctuation a pain in the butt trying to understand how the sentences should read and there is not really any great depth of character,fleeting from one to another with very little cohesiveness, but staying with it only to find out how they have all lived these earlier incarnations to meet up again all here together in the present time and for what purpose. A Little too remeniscent of Barbara Eskine's Lady of Hay but we shall see..

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved this book. Proper review to follow.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it

[Graisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reincarnation adventure was good enough for a re-read.