Ancient pagan inscriptions are important artifacts that provide insight into the beliefs, customs, and rituals of ancient pagan societies. These inscriptions, found on various objects such as statues, altars, and tombs, are written in different languages including Latin, Greek, and Celtic. One of the most common themes found in these inscriptions is devotion to gods and goddesses. Many inscriptions are dedicated to specific deities, often requesting their protection or favor. These inscriptions offer valuable information about the practices of worship and the gods that were venerated by ancient pagans. Apart from the devotion to gods, ancient pagan inscriptions also reveal the importance of rituals and ceremonies in ancient pagan societies.
Apart from the devotion to gods, ancient pagan inscriptions also reveal the importance of rituals and ceremonies in ancient pagan societies. Some inscriptions contain instructions for rituals and sacrifices, providing a glimpse into the religious practices of these societies. These inscriptions also give insights into the social and hierarchical structures of these civilizations by mentioning the names of priests, priestesses, and other religious officials.
REVIEW: the Witch King by H.E. Edgmon
In Asalin, fae rule and witches like Wyatt Croft…don’t. Wyatt’s betrothal to his best friend, fae prince Emyr North, was supposed to change that. But when Wyatt lost control of his magic one devastating night, he fled to the human world.
Now a coldly distant Emyr has hunted him down. Despite transgender Wyatt’s newfound identity and troubling past, Emyr has no intention of dissolving their engagement. In fact, he claims they must marry now or risk losing the throne. Jaded, Wyatt strikes a deal with the enemy, hoping to escape Asalin forever. But as he gets to know Emyr, Wyatt realizes the boy he once loved may still exist. And as the witches face worsening conditions, he must decide once and for all what’s more important—his people or his freedom.
Tran MC, diverse supporting characters, queer fantasy, past trauma, some language/ dialogue may be upsetting to some readers.
I was excited when I became aware of this book. This is the debut novel of H.E. Edgmon and I will be looking forward to more of his writing. While “The Witch King” is well-written and creative but I didn’t really connect with it. I respect the fact that the author wrote in an introduction that the novel was a part of his own self-discovery process so I don’t doubt the authenticity of the voice. I think it’s wonderful for such a relevant “own-voice” novel to be on the horizon.
Wyatt is an interesting character. He has been born a “witch” in the Fae world which means that he is not only discriminated against but he has been committed to an arranged marriage by his parents. Wyatt was to marry Emry – the Prince heir to the throne. Unable to deal with the possibilities of his upcoming life, Wyatt fled to the human world and his new family (complete with lovely best friend, Briar). In the human world Wyatt is able to live as the man he has always been.
I did enjoy the way that the author wrote about Wyatt’s transness. He is accepted by his family of choice lovingly and without judgment. When Emry comes to find him and basically forces Wyatt back into the contract he has fled… that was when I began to lose my connection to some of the characters.
Emyr I was intrigued by. I enjoyed that as the Prince of the Fae, he wanted to become a uniting influence over the world. He definitely loves Wyatt and immediately requests his pronouns and never misgenders or deadnames him. Sadly, I didn’t feel like I really understood the relationship between Emry and Wyatt. I’ve never been much of a fan of stories in which a characters is in a “forced” or “contracted” relationship which progresses to love. I find that type of relationship problematic at best as I think that it glosses over the rights of individuals to choose their own fates.
This novel also has a huge component of bigotry and “racism” in terms of a large portion of the Fae people being discriminatory towards witches and humans (to a much lesser degree). It was portrayed as very simple and lacking a lot of nuance. Then again, that’s only part of what is going on in the story and this is a YA novel.
Wyatt’s voice was a bit difficult for me to connect with. I found that there were some really casual phrases/words that made their way into Wyatt’s thoughts repetitively, and some of it just felt really awkward or a bit off-putting. For instance, Wyatt repeatedly adds confirmation that he’s gay as a way of describing his attraction to another male character. Another book reviewer suggested that some of this may change in the final edit of the story. As I read an ARC, I’m not sure how much editing is left to be done on this book.
The author’s writing style is great and I would gladly pick up another title. I will always support own-voices authors.
Things You May Want To Know: Please be aware, I’m by no means an expert on what may or may not have the potential to disturb people. I simply list things that I think a reader might want to be aware of. In this book: (SPOILERS) Violence, violent attacks, blood/gore/murder, character’s parents died, misgendering of character (both by accident and intentionally), deadnaming off-page, severe anxiety, trauma (PTSD?), abuse both physical and emotional, racism/ bigotry in the context of a fantasy world, deceit in a friendship.
Goodreads I received an ARC of The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon from Inkyard Press via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
The author’s writing style is great and I would gladly pick up another title. I will always support own-voices authors.
Furthermore, these inscriptions sometimes contain references to ancient pagan myths and legends. These references help researchers in understanding the stories and characters that were significant to ancient pagans and their religious beliefs. The inscriptions often depict scenes from these myths and are accompanied by short descriptions or prayers. However, deciphering and interpreting ancient pagan inscriptions can be a challenging task. Many inscriptions are damaged or fragmented, making it difficult to accurately translate and understand their meaning. Additionally, some inscriptions contain ancient languages or dialects that are no longer widely spoken or studied, further complicating the process of decipherment. Despite these challenges, scholars and archaeologists continue to study and analyze ancient pagan inscriptions to gain a deeper understanding of the religious and cultural practices of ancient societies. These inscriptions offer unique insights into the belief systems and daily life of ancient pagans, shedding light on their worldview and the importance of religion in their societies. In conclusion, ancient pagan inscriptions are valuable sources of information for understanding the beliefs, rituals, and practices of ancient pagan societies. From devotion to gods and goddesses to descriptions of rituals and references to myths, these inscriptions provide researchers with valuable clues about the religious and cultural practices of these civilizations. Although deciphering and interpreting these inscriptions can be challenging, their study continues to provide valuable insights into the ancient pagan world..
Reviews for "Journey into the Unknown: Exploring Ancient Pagan Inscriptions"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I found "Ancient pagan inscriptions and their explanations" to be incredibly dry and unengaging. The author seemed more interested in showing off their knowledge of ancient languages than actually explaining the inscriptions in a way that was accessible to the average reader. I was also disappointed by the lack of illustrations or images to accompany the inscriptions, making it difficult to fully understand and appreciate their significance. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and informative read on ancient pagan inscriptions.
- Mark - 1 star - I have to say that "Ancient pagan inscriptions and their explanations" was a huge disappointment for me. The book was filled with convoluted jargon and complex linguistic analysis that made it nearly impossible to follow along. It felt more like a textbook for advanced scholars than a book meant for the general public. Additionally, the author's writing style lacked clarity and failed to provide any real insights into the inscriptions. I was left feeling confused and frustrated after attempting to read this book.
- Emily - 2 stars - As someone with a casual interest in ancient history, I found "Ancient pagan inscriptions and their explanations" to be completely inaccessible. The author assumes a level of prior knowledge and familiarity with linguistic concepts that I simply do not possess. The explanations were filled with technical terms and complex theories that left me feeling overwhelmed and lost. I appreciate academic rigor, but this book could have benefited from a more reader-friendly approach. I would not recommend it to anyone without a strong background in linguistics or ancient history.