Riddles of the Ancestors is a mythic fantasy novel rooted in Arthurian legend and spiritual fiction. The story follows Merlin and his sister Ganieda across timelines, from a magical Foretime to modern-day London, as they protect the secrets of the Round Table and work to activate an ancient star-coded template called Logres. Along the way, druids, goddesses, healers, and everyday people are drawn into a larger unfolding meant to heal the Earth and usher in a new age of balance.

This book felt less like racing through a plot and more like being invited into a long, winding conversation with myth itself. Sullivan’s writing moves gently, often lingering on gardens, sacred landscapes, and quiet moments of recognition between characters. I found myself slowing down as I read. The author seems less interested in suspense than in atmosphere and meaning. At times, the story reads like a modern-day fairy tale layered with Celtic lore, astrology, and goddess wisdom. If you enjoy mythic fantasy that feels devotional rather than dramatic, this book leans into that space.

What stood out most to me was Sullivan’s choice to center Ganieda and other feminine figures alongside Merlin. The emphasis on healing, collaboration, and remembrance gives the book a softer pulse than traditional Arthurian retellings. Some scenes feel almost ceremonial, like stepping into a candlelit room where symbols matter as much as actions. Occasionally, I wished for sharper tension or more restraint with exposition, especially when spiritual concepts were explained directly rather than shown. Still, there is sincerity here. The book believes deeply in what it is saying, and that conviction carries it forward.

Riddles of the Ancestors will resonate most with readers who enjoy mythic fantasy, spiritual fiction, and reimagined Arthurian legends infused with goddess traditions and New Age themes. It is for readers who like to wander, reflect, and sit with big ideas about time, memory, and the living Earth. If you enjoy stories that feel like modern myths meant to be felt as much as understood, this book is worth your time.

– Reviewed by Thomas Anderson - 5 Stars!

In Riddles of the Ancestors, the fourth installment of Ayn Cates Sullivan’s Legends of the Grail Series, ancient magic and modern life collide in the adventures of young Merlin and his twin sister Ganieda. The siblings discover a mystical Round Table inscribed with star codes, keys to activating a new Golden Age on Earth. This cosmic quest unfolds across multiple timelines, from the druids of Mona and the Olympians of Greece to King Arthur’s storied court and twenty-first-century London. To usher in the rebirth of Gaea (Mother Earth), magical riddles must be solved and ancient wounds healed. As demi-gods and awakened humans gather in modern England, resistance from the destructive old order, represented by the soulless Niente, threatens the hope of renewal. Follow a tale that melds soul retrievals, ancestral reckonings, and the restoration of lost wisdom as the guardians of the magical world unite to shift humanity into the New Epoch.

I found Riddles of the Ancestors to be a hugely imaginative read, and I recommend it to fans of mythology, like myself. Ayn Cates Sullivan’s characters are exceptionally well-drawn, both legendary and original. Merlin and Ganieda’s sibling bond is central to the story, while figures like Nina/Nimue, the healer Abigail/Abae, Lady Gaea, and the mysterious dragon Delphyne are fully developed and resonant. The novel brims with mythological elements: the Arthurian Round Table is revealed as a celestial template, the Greek and Roman pantheon walk among mortals, and the faery realms pulse just beneath the surface of the everyday. Themes of healing, feminine wisdom, and the restoration of sacred earth are central to the story, with the setting shifting from enchanted meadows and mystical caves to the modern streets of London and the hallowed landscapes of Glastonbury and Wales. The writing cast a spell that had me turning the pages, characterized by its rich symbolism and lore.

– Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite - 5 Stars!

An epic adventure!

Ayn Cates Sullivan takes you gently on an epic adventure though mythology with a fresh new twist. Slowly she introduces you to the world her story is set in then, while still holding your hand, brings in the drama and intrigue keeping you turning those pages. There is so much detail in the beautifully written, relatively short book, you’ll be happy to read it again and again. Especially for the message of hope and healing for the world wrapped up in Ayn’s unique cozy storytelling style.

– Hannah Hocking, Devon, England