"Laurence Gardner is an internationally renowned sovereign genealogist and historical lecturer, Chancellor of the Imperial Dragon Sovereignty, Prior of the Sacred Kindred of Columba, Preceptor of the Knights Templar of St. Anthony, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He lives in the United Kingdom." While this was a most interesting read and one that will be of high interest to anyone curious about the Dragon bloodline or the Graal Legends there are too many aspects in which Garnder seems to fall short on proof. The first half of the book is excellent and practically coincides with all the personal research I myself have done regarding these topics and the many sources I have found my answers in. However, the wisdom from the more metaphysical and mystical schools of thought seem to not be fully accurately portrayed here. However, much is always left to interpretation on such things. Personally I found all the information very interesting and inticing, especially the possibility that Ahkenaten may be the biblical Moses. I've questioned this myself. However, his theories on Alchemical Gold being monotamic and the "bloodline" rituals of Starfire seem to be concocted or at least incomplete. The second half of the book seemed to be, in my personal opinion, likely a bit contrived toward his personal goals for organizations he belongs to and the research seemed to be less solid. However, then again that aspect gets into less trod territory and thus there is less information for comparison. I will however say that his views on the Dragon bloodline seem to be in direct opposition to Ike's as he does not portray the Dragons as the "evil conspirators" but the side of the "right". I do think that the books holds some very interesting contents for anyone interested in any of the associated topics as all perspectives should be reviewed. Personally I think the emphasis on the actual bloodline less important than what it represents to mankind as a whole. However, I continue to be intrigued by Gardner's works and will be apt to purchase and devour more books by him in the future.

Interestingly enough the author set out initially to disprove the theory that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. What she found was a very long trail of clues which lead her to conclude many details of a medieval "heresy" based on the ancient Sacred Marriage Rites. From the anointing of Jesus with oil through the middle ages she traces the Sangraal Legend and it's relation to the Black Goddess/Madonna also known as the Hebrew Matronit/Shekinah and further correlations with Isis and Inanna. What I found most intriguing, like many other synchronicities on my personal path, is that this book ties in many aspects of personal research for me that I had been holding as several loose ends which I knew were somehow connected but was uncertain of. She very smoothly completed this picture for me as I had not looked at this possibility at all. However, while she gives great reasons and several likely "proofs" throughout history's art and literature to support the theory they initially intended to discredit, she also states most accurately that whether this be true or not is not what is important but what it represents. This important representation is the lack of the Divine Feminine in modern Christianity with it's wild patriarchal rule and how it must eventually be balanced with a healthy respect for the feminine. THIS is what got me started on my personal path in the first place and this book is a great starting and return point for anyone seeking more than what they have found in modern "religion".

Listed as: "Fascinating compendium of ancient Egyptian mythology, religious beliefs and magical practices. Includes spells, incantations, hymns, magical formulas and prayers. All explained by one of the most knowledgeable and respected Egyptologists of the early 20th century. B&W illustrations, photographs and hieroglyphics throughout. 704 pages." "E.A. Wallis Budge was the Curator of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities at the British Museum from 1894 to 1924. Along with his post at the British Museum, he was a Sometime Scholar of Christ’s College, a scholar at the University of Cambridge, Tyrwhitt, and a Hebrew Scholar. Best known for his numerous translatory works, Budge collected a large number of Coptic, Greek, Arabic, Syriac, Ethiopian, and Egyptian Papyri manuscripts. He was also involved in numerous archaeology digs in Egypt, Mesopotamia and the Sudan. Budge is perhaps best known for translating The Egyptian Book of The Dead (also known as The Papyrus of Ani), as well as analyzing many of the practices of Egyptian religion, language and ritual. Of his written works, Budge made the first books oriented toward students of hieroglyphics. They consisted of translated texts and hieroglyphs, as well as a complete dictionary of hieroglyphs. In addition, his published works cover areas of Egyptian culture reaching from Egyptian religion, to Egyptian mythology, and magical practices. Budge was knighted in 1920. He died November 23, 1934 in London, England." ~ While some scholars suggest Budge's translations are flawed it seems to me that it is only because he entertained more esoteric perspectives in some of his other writings though he is highly acclaimed in more metaphysical circles. However, not being learned in translating Egyptian myself I cannot say and I have not yet read any other translations of this text. However, that being said I found the book overall very interesting and have discovered many points of historic and esoteric reference which seem relevant. Personally I think one can only comprehend even a portion of the meaning behind the text if you have researched some of the esoteric doctrines, otherwise it's just a bunch of meaningless jibberish and repetitive lines with unusual name references and unusual practices. However, even with some previous research leading me here I do find the constant trading of gods and powers to be slightly disconcerting. What is most disconcerting to me is that there are segments where the author sites how interesting another segment of text is from another document that is basically of similar writing but where the segment in question differs and he prints the heiroglyphic version without translation. Thus, anyone who is not learning in translating heiroglyphs remains in the 'dark' about what he's trying to clue us into. Personally I find the Egyptian texts all very long and drawn out and repetitive yet intrigueing at the same time. This is definitely not for anyone who does not take specific interest in Egytology for either historic or esoteric reasons. It would bore you stiff. However, for those who do find that interesting, or who have found their paths leading them here you will likely find many useful references buried within these pages that will at the very least work as confirmation of prior experiences or comprehension or may even be enlightening on varying levels. My favorite part is The Chamber of Torture which speaks much of The Watchers. Anyone curious about The Watchers of Enoch or UFO theories will find this interesting: "Deliver thou...from the Watchers, who carry murderous knives, who possess cruel fingers, and who would slay those who are in the following of Osiris...May their knives never gain mastery over me. May I never fall under the knives wherewith they inflict cruel tortures...The sinner who walketh over this place falleth down among the knives [of the Watchers]...Deliver thou...from the Watchers who pass sentences of doom, who have been appointed by the god Nebertcher to protect him, and to fasten the fetters on his foes and who slaughter in the torture chambers; there is no escape from their fingers. May they never stab me with their knives, may I never fall helpless into their chambers of torture." I'll let you ponder that one on your own. However, when it comes to the ancient spirituality of the Egyptians one must remember they were not polytheistic sun worshippers afterall but pantheistic monists who had esoteric doctrines about natural things like the sun.

As historical fiction, like many in the genre, this book I am sure has and will face severe criticism by those who feel it should be historically accurate since it is based on history at all. However, as fiction it is not required to follow history exact. Thus when certain aspects of the story such as general clothing and appearances may seem a bit romaticized those readers will become elitist and act as though the 'polish' is not warranted. However, I think any good storyteller will always polish over a story to keep the reader interested rather than repulsed especially when you are dealing with a history when in all accurate accounts the people were often very dirty and unkempt. With that aside I found this novel read like a very good fantasy novel with an exchange of magic for ancient cultic ritualism. The story takes place in pre-historic Turkey where cultures were still very tribal and ancient gods were worshipped. The main setting takes us to three main cultures in which two are goddess cults and the third is an ancient sun god cult. Brenda Gates does seem to have actually put some study into the history she writes about and current research highly suggests that matriarchal cultures did exist and were prevalent in ancient times. The story begins about a woman, Yana, who bears a child with a mild deformity and is thus exiled from her homeland in which she never truly felt a sense of belonging. Plaqued by the deceit and disrespect of others her story takes us through her personal life trials and tribulation until she eventually finds a place she can call home. Once she meets with those of a second tribe the story also leads us to follow a second character whom is abducted and forced to live a much harsher life to eventually come home. Basically this book is about descents into 'darkness', life trials, and returning. However, there is much interplay among gods and goddesses especially with the account of the second woman, Henne. I will not give away too much of the story as I think it would ruin it for anyone who wants to read this novel but I will say that what I thought would probably be a 'soft' fiction with undeveloped characters and weak storylines has pleasantly surprised me with the excellent story plots, intertwining of character relationships, and even some excellent representations of Goddess Spirituality perspectives. This book is very much about the 'little deaths' that we experience that make us stronger. While there is much that will obviously appeal to women due to the matriarchal perspectives and women's issues focus, I think this is also an excellent adventure novel that men will love and appreciate as well. There is even just enough spiritual insight in this book that you will want your kids to read it especially if you are raising them pagan. Brenda has done an excellent job with this debut release and I look forward to reading more of her works in the future.

Brian Lumley begins the Necroscope trilogy with introducing us to the two main units called E-Branches of the Russian and British militaries. The ?E’ in E-Branch stands for ESP as these organizations are studying various forms of Extra Sensory Powers to be used by the military as ?spy’ methods. The Necroscope is Harry Koegh, a typical guy with one main exception, he can commune with the dead and even learn skills from them. The story line follows a few different characters and begins with a narration being told by an entity which seems to be ghostlike to a man who is beginning to take charge of the British E-Branch. In the Russian E-Branch they have a man who can learn the secrets of the dead by ?ripping’ it from their corpse by force. This man is a necromancer by all accounts named Dragosani. Dragosani also has associations with a vampiric character whom he encountered in his youth. This vampire is very old but also very unique by all accounts of vampires. It seems to be parasitic in nature and is a creature which is more alien than anything. This introduction to the series gets the reader involved in the various plots of the ESP organizations and studies as well as the sub-plots of the characters involved. It is an original combination of conspiracies, vampires, and the supernatural. An interesting thing to me personally was the use of the Möbius Strip in the storyline. The Möbius Strip is a remarkable yet simple structure of a flat loop folded upon itself to create and endless path. This unique geometric shape is named after August Ferdinand Möbius, a nineteenth century German mathematician and astronomer, who was a pioneer in the field of topology. There are many amazing applications for this geometric shape in modern science and the author uses it to explain how to fold space and time. Such unique thinking is typical of Lumley. The author has some really great ideas that leave the reader to intensely curious that further reading is a must.