Tamarind Laurel

Title:	Initiation at Beltane
Sub-title:	Book One of the Ezmereld Chronicles
Author:	Tamarind Laurel
Publisher:	ECW Press
ISBN:	1-55022-496-4
Original Copyright:	2002
Reviewer:	Mike Gleason
Contact Information:	gleason.mike@verizon.net
Category:	Fiction, Magick
Review:	This book is written like Harry Patter for adults. It has many of the same themes - seven terms before graduation (although each term here is not restricted to one year); the hero has no idea why is where he is at the start; he has no idea about his background to begin with, etc. There are lots of "insider" references in it (Grandmother Doreen [Valiente], Azure Green, Magickal Childe, etc.), but one need not know the references to enjoy the book. It also contains a lot of material that is, intentionally, useful for one's own magickal training. This book is probably not for the reader who has a lot of things happening in her or his life. It does take a bit of concentration to get the most out of, although if you are simply looking for a well-written, entertaining book with a strong magickal theme, this will fill that spot as well. Perhaps the thing I find most enjoyable about this book is the "scatter-gun" approach of the lessons the young hero learns. In most magickal novels I have read, the hero is committed to s single path of experience, whether it be ceremonial magick, or witchcraft, or some other particular approach. This novel avoid that by exposing the hero to a variety of teachers, with a multitude of viewpoints, none of whom are in competition with each other. In fact, they work together to see to it that the widest possible experience is available to each student, so they can find their own way and their own methods. Each student in this book is encouraged to step outside their preconceived boundaries.. As an example, Morgan is a student in the Magickal Department, yet he is encouraged to become a chronicler of another individual's experiences - even though that would be expected of a student in the Arts Department. Each student (including those reading this book) is reminded that one's life touches all aspects of the larger world, and cannot be confined to "just magickal," or "just school," or "just' anything. For every technique that is taught, alternates are provided and illustrated to show that a common goal may be achieved by a variety of methods and experiences. Throughout the work, individuality is encouraged and, indeed, praised. The advantages of having more than one mentor are constantly shown through the differing approaches of each of the mentors The appendices contained in this book (side question - how many novels have you read with an appendix?) allow one to begin to formulate their own magickal training. They provide a good, solid, foundation on which to build, while encouraging the reader to follow their own heart in the design and construction of that training. Questions are provided to help you find out things about yourself, guided meditations are here for looking within yourself, and methods of self-evaluation are included which, if used honestly, will be of great benefit for anyone, not just the budding magician. I look forward to following the adventures of self-discovery that young Morgan will evolve through during the upcoming books. It is, after all, self-discovery which is the greatest work of magick that we can engage in. I expect that I will learn (or re-learn) a great deal of magickal training and thought as I work my way through this series.
Review submitted:	26 September 2002