The story revolves around the choices and issues that face the druids and priestesses, as well as the Romans. It also follows the relationships that grow and change around, and with Gaius and Eilan, throughout their lives. Bradley's characters, especially Gaius, Eilan, and Caillien, are well written. By the end of the book it seems like you have known the characters for your whole life. The conflicting relationships that exist between Gaius, Eilan and Caillien are also well developed.

To explain more about their relationships of these three, one must first understand the culture of the land. Marion Zimmer Bradley carefully crafted the world that this story takes place in, especially the culture. One strong belief in this world's culture is reincarnation. As Eilan asked herself once, "Why do men fear death when we will live again? "(175). This belief is that certain spirits walk through time, always meeting and always having the same relationships. When two of these spirits meet it is almost immediately felt. An example of this is when Eilan first meets Caillien. Eilan asked Caillien's name, but before Cailien answered a voice went through Eilan's head. "Isarma...when you were my sister, Isarma was your name ..."(95). Isarma was Caillien's name as a priestess, Caillien was like a nick name for her. Another time, in a vision, Eilan felt another bond with someone she new throughout time. When they met, a voice echoed inside her,"Thou art mine, from age to age, while time endures " (174).

Priestesses were also a main part of the culture of the land. They didn't marry. Insted they lived together and learned the ancient lores. They were as close to independent as women got then. They were also much more respected then most (or all) Roman women. Eilan thinks alot about life as a priestess. She belives that, even though she weilds great power, "Every priestess is a prisoner of her gods "(350). She also comes to the conclusion that "[her] life has been one long offering "(412). This basically explains what the life of a priestess was like.

This story is particularly powerful because of how real it seems. The story always retains a bit of believability, nomatter how much magic it worked in. This story helps us look at our own world in new ways. It also makes us rexamin our selves and our values. And it teaches us; "It is the understanding graven in the heart that makes us wise "(130).