Riddles of the Ancestors: Legends of the Grail Series by Ayn Cates Sullivan is a towering epic fantasy that crosses millennia, dimensions, and cultures. Humanity is slowly destroying our very planet, and perhaps the only way to save it before it is too late is to delve into the mystical and magical world of the past. From modern-day London to inter-dimensional space and time, we find ourselves on a journey to seek help from the ancients, Merlin and his twin sister Ganieda, to restore balance to the universe. Along the way, readers will be immersed in Celtic lore, the Druidic stronghold of Mona (or modern-day Anglesea), Avalon and the Knights of Camelot, ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian gods, with dragons, and at the centerpiece of everything, the famous “Round Table.” The journey will open readers’ minds to the possibilities and unlimited power of not only the universe but of our individual minds. This is a journey of discovery that will reveal hidden truths through an epic fantasy adventure.

Riddles of the Ancestors is a compelling adventure. Author Ayn Cates Sullivan weaves together many different cultures, legends, and magic in a coherent story that makes sense and is eminently believable. I truly appreciated the different time frames and realms the author uses to unravel the twisting journey through time, culture, and space. To successfully combine and make sense of different folk histories and lore takes great literary skill, and the author has achieved this delicate assignment. I loved that the underlying theme was to reveal the reality of the world in which we live, and more importantly, the power of each individual to shape and create the environment around us through the power of thought. The idea of a collection of “golden ages” throughout history gives us hope that there is still more to come in our human journey. This is the fourth book in the Legends of the Grail series, but it is a standalone story that can be enjoyed on its own. It will make readers want to read more from this creative and talented author. The prose is, at times, exquisitely lyrical and poetic, carrying readers on a linguistic journey they will enjoy greatly. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend it.

Ayn Cates Sullivan’s Riddles of the Ancestors is part of the Legends of the Grail Series, inspired by mythology, and written as a standalone novel. This fascinating novel is based primarily on Britain’s mythology, interwoven with magic, fantasy, mystery, romance, and science fiction. By the 21st century, Earth is struggling with diminished resources and destruction caused by wars, crime, violence, pollution, and climate change. According to ancient wisdom, the 21st century will be the dawning of a New Age on Earth. To heal Earth and usher in the New Age, Merlin of Camelot, his twin sister Ganieda, the Ladies of Avalon, and other enlightened magicians will have to defeat the Niente, the dark magicians, who currently control Earth. They must also first solve ancient riddles before they can defeat the Niente. Will they be successful in solving the riddles in ancient mythological realms like Glastonbury and the Celtic Underworld, amongst others?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Riddles of the Ancestors for its fantastic multilayered storyline, with remarkable characters, their challenges and quests, set across timelines from ancient times to the 21st century. This quickly turned into a character-driven story for me, and I greatly enjoyed following the journeys of the magicians. Each has a unique role in finding the riddles and their answers before they can defeat the Niente. The story sprang to life in different ways, as each woman connected with a particular ancient mythological realm. I really liked the magician Ganieda, who appears with Merlin early on in the story, together with Lady Gaea or Mother Earth, and the magical Round Table of Camelot. I enjoyed the very imaginative worldbuilding of the settings, with major mythological figures and creatures in realms from Glastonbury to the Isle of the Druids, the Celtic Underworld, and the Isle of Delos in ancient Greece. I also liked the way the story transitions into science fiction, with magic still very much in the picture. I highly recommend Ayn Cates Sullivan’s Riddles of the Ancestors to readers who enjoy stories about ancient mythologies, lost histories, and the wisdom and self-discovery of challenging personal quests.