A very good book. The pagan priestess chick reminded me of you BP (but in a good way).
Thanks.
The community that she and her followers were aiming to build is not unlike some ideas that I have had for my Grove. One thing I will say about the way she was portrayed (and this is something that is tragically prevalent in all manner of SF/Fantasy, as an effort to try to convey that these people are "different", spiritually) is that she used exclamations that were way the heck too long.
When I watch a plane fall out of the sky and crash, chances are, my swearing is going to be short and to the point, along the lines of "Damn!" or "Holy s*&^!". Not (as in the book) "Great Goddess, Mother of all, protect us!" That sort of stuff pervades most fiction that depicts people who aren't "everyday folk", and I'll tell you right now, a "Great Good Goddess!" exclamation comes nowhere near the handy utility of a "F&*%!"
Often people are surprised to find out I'm a preacher, when they meet me in person.
Can't wait for my next high-school reunion.
-BP