Home

Book Reviews

Sanctuary of the Gods is a novel wrapped around a theory. The novel is well-written and entertaining and the theory is an interesting one, especially for anyone interested in Pagan history or the Tarot.

I'll start with the novel itself. The story begins in 1350 AD when a young man makes an assassination attempt on a member of the church and, fleeing, finds himself in a valley with a 900 year old secret. Without giving too much away, I will say that the novel begins there, but the story does not, and we are led back through time to 900 BC, 347 BC and 400 AD. We find ourselves facing the question of how the ancient Pagans of Greece and Rome, faced with the coming takeover of Christianity, might have tried to preserve their beliefs for a time when the old gods would again be recognized and worshipped. Sanctuary of the Gods manages to provide us with a thoughtful answer in a story that involves religion and philosophy without overwhelming us with the headiness of it. In the process, Nathan Cate gives us the birth of the Tarot.

Sanctuary of the Gods really has two sections, the novel and the appendix. The lengthy appendix describes the Tarot from the context of the underlying theory of the novel and, for all I know, may have pre-dated the novel. The Tarot is a lesson in an ancient belief system and a map, figuratively and literally, to our Pagan history. While I haven't completely accepted the information laid out in the appendix, it is well though-out and quite interesting. It will certainly add another dimension to my Tarot readings.

I recommend this book for both its entertainment value and its ability to make you think outside the box.