Ailin, a chieftain's son, is supposed to marry a girl from another clan to seal an alliance. But he doesn't want a thirteen year old waif. On a whim he throws the bride gift he had made, a golden torque or neck ring, into an oak sacred to the Celtic fire goddess Bridgid - which is then struck by lightning. In a modern city, Christine Bridget Connolly has just been dumped by her boyfriend as she works her way through a literature degree and nears her thirtieth birthday. She finds a golden object in a yard sale - very old, curiously worked. She expects that it's costume jewellery but just in case, she shows it to a Renaissance professor, and he shows it to a visiting colleague from Ireland, who declares it to be 1400 years old, and sacred to Bridgid, if it's genuine.

That evening Christine is about go out with her girl friend when she cleans up and dons the torque. Instantly she is transported to the midst of a battle. A handsome warrior is defending women and Christine's appearing out of a hut startles the enemy men long enough to let him gain the upper hand. The people here are dressed in wool, fur, linen and leather, beautifully embroidered and worked, and Christine can understand their speech although nothing seems familiar. So begins her time among the people of Eire, who believe her to be a goddess and first serve her, then accept that she wants to be taught how to spin and weave and earn her keep. Ailin will never forget that she appeared out of nowhere in his hour of need and loves her instantly, but Christine doesn't want to be loved as a goddess instead of for herself!

LADY OF FIRE is thoroughly enjoyable and will reward the student of history as much as lovers of romance. The characters are memorable and while Christine has a great deal to learn she also teaches the Celts how to prepare sterile linen bandages, though other ideas, such as writing down the oral histories, are less well received. Wicker chariots, fortified homesteads, heavy wool clothing, brown leggy sheep, lanolin handcream and lye soap all produce a powerful image of the Celtic world. LADY OF FIRE is an excellent read.

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