The Forest House (Avalon Series #2) Book

A beautifully written prequel to the magnificent Mists of Avalon, the story of a doomed star-crossed love between British Priestess, Eilan and a half British half Roman legionnaire Gauis, in first century southern Britain, also takes us to Caledonia (Scotland) , Germany and Rome. Gives us rich insight to and brings to life both the Roman Empire and Celtic Briton society, especially that of Druidic persuasion.
At this time the Roman are ruthlessly destroying the Druidic culture and a small b and of British nationalists sworn to drive the Romans from Britain, called the Ravens' led by Eilan's foster brother Cynric.
Eilan falls in love with Gauis after he is rescued by her and her family after falling into a pit and being wounded, and convalesces with them without their knowledge that he is a Roman Legionnaire.
Gauis is forced by his father Marcellus, a wealthy and powerful tribune to marry a Roman girl, and Eilan pregnant with his child is now a priestess on Avalon.
Years go by and the political and religious intertwines with love and hate between people , leading to a tragic end.
Playing a role are the Irish high priestess Cailean , the Arch Druid, Elain's granfather Ardanos and her cruel father Bereigid and her resentful sister Deida.
The new sect know as the Christians has come to Britain and Gauis' wife Julia and the young trainee priestess Senara joins them. We learn of insights into faith, including the Christian concept of the female side of G-D known as the Sophia, which might have had its roots in the Jewish concept of the female incantation of the holy spirit known as the Schechina.

An absorbing and at times heartbreaking tale, which makes the experience of reading the Mists of Avalon richer reading of the ancestors of the protagonists in that feminist retelling of Arthurian legend.