A very enjoyable and readable book on modern, Celt-inspired shamanism. It's not, however, a reliable guide to Pagan Celtic beliefs. The research quality is extremely erratic. Much of it is okay/good, though Cowan has a tendency to re-write the myths and present his re-workings as original texts. However parts of the book are abysmal. The chapter on the "shamanic" aspects of witchcraft, for instance, is completely inaccurate, showing a near total ignorance of historical witchcraft. So if you're looking for history, look elsewhere. However if you want a "Celtic" brand of Neo-Paganism, this is a very beautiful, evocative vision.