Author: Paulo Coelho
Edition language: English
Characters: Brida
Published March 1st 2009 by HarperTorch (first published 1990)
Format: Paperback, 266 pages
ISBN: 0007274459
ISBN13: 9780007274451
Genre: Romance, fantasy, spirituality, literature

Brida is a young, Irish girl, who seeks spirituality and knowledge through her path of becoming a witch. On her journey she learns many things, meet many people of great wisdom. As the story progresses, however, she finds herself in two boats—finding her soul mate and continuing her path to be a witch. She learns of the two traditions—the Sun and the Moon. She meets a magi residing in a forest, who as part of her training leaves her alone in the forest for a night. Not quite convinced by his method of teaching, she moves on to find another teacher, a middle-aged woman named Wicca.

The Good:

1. There are many inspiring quotes throughout the book which I surely found convincing. For example:”Nothing in the world is ever completely wrong. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day”

   “What is now proved was once only imagin’d”

   None of us knows what might happen even the next minute, yet still we go forward. Because we trust. Because we have Faith.”

2. Unarguably Paulo Coelho is a very good writer and knows how to write his stories well. The language and writing style is captivating.

The Bad:

1. The overall plot lacked a focus. It was hard for me to connect to the story for the most part of it. In fact, some of the things didn’t even seem coherent. For example, witches being Pious Christians. I am not sure how true that fact is, but it was the first time I read something of that sort. Why would Christian priests aid in burning Pious Christian followers? Or, that the best way to connect to God is through orgasm. I mean for real? Does that mean people with ‘nymphomania and satyriasis’ are closest to God?
2. In the end the plot diverts from attaining spiritual enhancement to finding soul mates (with a torch hanging over their heads all the time).
3. I could never connect to the characters at all. Brida suitably fits in the shoes of Mary Sue, a beautiful girl with a gift, everyone finding her special and in the end her purpose of life is reduced to finding a soul mate (while already dating a boy, who later turns out be one of her soul mates, magi being another. Whoa! Meeting two soul mates in the same birth, a rare incident).

Overall, I’d like to give this book a total of three stars. A decent read, recommended to people who likes romance for a medium to attain spirituality.