Too Long a Sacrifice

by Mildred Downey Broxon

Her man, the Bard Tadhg, was not this thing that shivered by the fire on the warmest summer days, his strange eyes vacant. Maire remembered Brigid's curse: May he wander far, and may you seek him down the years.
She tried to forget the words, and knelt beside the pool. She had never before seen the sacred trout in all the times she had come here. It turned sideways; it glowed amber, unafraid. Soundless, it spoke.
"You would be Maire ni Donnall?"
"I am she."
"You search for Tadhg MacNiall, your husband." The trout hung in the water, effortless.
"It seems he is mine no longer," Maire said. "He slept on the faerie mound to hear the music of the Sidhe. Since then he has changed, an in no way can I heal him."
"He played for Conn, King of the Cruithni," said the trout, "but now he plays for the ruler of the Sidhe, while another wears his shape. The Queen of the Sidhe is very beautiful; perhaps your man has forgotten you."
"Four years we had together, tears and laughter. For beauty alone he would not be forgetting me." Maire grew angry. " I will go after him."
When Tadhg would not leave the crystal world of the Sidhe, beneath Loch Neagh, Maire the Healer resigned herself to stay there ....
from the overleaf.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Historical, Ireland, Science Fiction Fantasy

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mildred...

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Sterne

Es war ein wunderschönes Buch und las sich fast wie ein Märchen. Ein dunkles Märchen. Auch, wenn alles schön beschrieben war, hatte die Geschichte die ganze Zeit einen finsteren Unterton, was mir sehr gefallen hat. Mir sind beide Protagonisten langsam ins Herz gewachsen und ich habe ihre Geschichte sehr genossen - gerade Maire mochte ich besonders. Nur sollte man vorher vielleicht sich mit der irischen Mythologie beschäftigen - was ich nicht tat -, denn könnte man die Geschichte und das Ende besser verstehen. (Es ist aber nicht so, dass man vollkommen auf dem Schlauch stand.) Da die beiden Protagonisten auch keine Ahnung hatten, wurde schon die Auseinandersetzung von Irland (Katholiken und Protestanten) erklärt. Jedenfalls so, dass man die Geschichte gut verfolgen konnte. Ich war genau so unerfahren, wie die beide Protagonisten. 😂 Jedenfalls bin ich jetzt dadurch sehr an der irischen Geschichte interessiert und will gerne mehr darüber lesen. Und ich will auch mehr über die irische Mythologie zu lesen. Sie scheint doch umfangreicher zu sein als gedacht.

[Printable Tire · Rating 4 out of 5]

My St. Patrick's Day read.

First, my caveats: the dialogue is often exposition-heavy, and Broxon sometimes shows too much of her homework; the protagonists are incredibly dismissive of Christianity, and the woman is distractedly critical of other women's weight.

But. But! I loved this book. It's a wonderful weave of ancient fantasy and grim reality, eternal struggles and "troubles" in Ireland. The island's rich folklore is deftly used to keep the story moving forward, so while the novel feels epic, it never staggers, or includes magic just for magic's sake (despite what I said up there on the first line - the "showing homework" is indeed a very small criticism).

It's a page turner! Some readers might want more "character development" but I think such would slow the book down- we know who the characters are and what they want, anything else would be excess. Recommended to anyone interested in Irish history of folklore, or the combination of the two.

I will often think of the Sídhe in their underwater palace, blinking in and out of existence, partying forever, before the blood appears on the ceiling, signifying the pain of Ireland...

[Rusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Tadhag and Maire, man and wife from 6th century Ireland, whose life with the faeries leads to quite another existence when they are transported to the war torn Ireland of the 20th century. Tadhag is possessed by The Horned One, a mythical creature who rules the winter month. Maire is possessed by the Goddess who rules the warmer months. It's an entertaining story full of tragedy, death and mythical creatures. Fun read.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read, about a woman from ancient Ireland and her husband, who get separated and then, even more unexpectedly, reunited after an unexpected stay in the land of the fairy folk.

[Bethany (CozyLittleBookNook) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF Page 33
This was a book that I picked up on a whim and I really don't know what I was think I really have 0 interest in it.

[Nicholas Whyte]

I rather groaned at the beginning with its rather idealised Celtic setting of Olde Ireland. But once we get into the action and our heroes are zoomed forward into 1970s Belfast I warmed to it. I winced at the occasional solecism - a character goes "down Falls Road" from the RVH to Milltown, another complains about Monaghan having been partitioned from Ulster, Newgrange is shifted north of Dundalk (though I'd allow this for artistic reasons) and a Peace People march is confronted by a Loyalist counter-demonstration - but I thought the author was relatively evenhanded in her treatment of all sides and her portrayal of the awfulness of violence.

[Macpudel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating segue between fantasy historic Ireland and the bloody recent historical past of the Troubles. I've read books set in the Celtic dreamtime with the fae, and I've read fiction set during the Troubles, but this is the only book I've read that combines them both. It could be described as a time travel story, where the magic follows the characters from the past into the present.

[Janet Whalen · Rating 5 out of 5]

mythical story involving the troubles in Ireland...again, with Mythos leaking into reality....most of the books I love do this

[Michael Carnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book long ago and absolutely fell in love with. A terrific intertwining of Irish folklore, history, and the modern Troubles.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad this book crossed my path by accident! It links the ancient world of the Sidhe with modern day Ireland during the time of The Troubles. Very insightful and captivating.