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The Last Days of Magic by Mark Tompkins (Ph
An epic novel of magic and mysticism, Celts and faeries, mad kings and Druids, stalwart warriors and the goddess struggling to reign over magic’s last outpost on the Earth Aisling is a goddess in a human form, born to rule medieval Ireland and reunite the earthly realm with the Middle Kingdom—home to powerful faeries. With her counselor, Liam, and her lover, Conor, she stands between warring clans of Celts, Vikings, and darkly magical otherworldly beings. Meanwhile, even greater forces muster beyond Ireland’s enchanted shores. Jordan, a Vatican commander and clandestine student of forbidden magic, is already torn between duty and desire when he meets Najia, his captive, and a slave. Beneath the chains and spells that bind her, she is an enchantress who draws him closer to what he loves. But the Vatican and England have given Jordan a crucial role in a war they are determined to win—the battle to drive magic from Ireland, and all lands, forever. As kings prepare and exorcists gather in Rome, Aisling, Jordan, and Najia must come to terms with powers given and withheld—and a world that can foster magic hangs in the balance. Loyalties are tested and betrayals sown, yet the coming battle is not to be the last. The repercussions for magical beings ripple centuries later, in today’s world.
Hardcover
First published March 1, 2016
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About the author
Mark Tompkins
1 book99 followersMark Tompkins founded the Aspen Writers' Network and he serves on the board of Aspen Words, a program of the Aspen Institute. He is a published poet and international award winning photographer whose work is held in the permanent collections of museums in the United States and abroad. Born in Texas of Irish ancestry, Tompkins lives in Boston, Houston, and Aspen. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkTompkins...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 579 reviews
May 12, 2019
This is an intricate tale of the loss of magic in the world. I love that idea, that magic once existed and through historical events, was lost or destroyed. It’s not completely original, but the amount and complexity of history, lore, and myth, that author Mark Tompkins weaves into his story is very original. The first half of the book feels almost more history book than fictional novel. We learn huge amounts of myth and legend of 14th century western Europe. I am in awe of Tompkins ability to connect so much lore into his tale. We get palace intrigue and loads of Irish tradition and custom, but we also get Vikings and Celts and fairies and witches and leprechauns and pixies and demons and brownies and druids. Whew, we even get goddesses and the gods themselves. As much as I enjoyed all the mythical backstory, therein lies the central issue. History and folklore were chosen over plot. Not that this tale doesn’t have a clear and epic plot, it’s just overwhelmed by backstory. In the first half of the book, anytime we start to get some momentum in the story, we stop, backup and hear the background of some creature or angel or legate. In my opinion, story should always win out over history no matter how interesting that background may be. Think “Lord of the Rings”, filled with lore and legend, but never at the expense of plot or character development, never enough to spoil the pace.
Another one of my challenges to enjoy this tale was that I never liked any of the characters. Nearly everyone in the book is wicked. There is betrayal and murder and treachery and infidelity abound. I don’t mind heaps of evil in my reading, but I prefer it to be offset with a bit of good. Morally, this book is closer to “Game of Thrones”, than it is “Lord of the Rings”. We have witches killing newborn babies to use their fat to render magical candles and organ-eating demons. At least Game of Thrones has John Snow and Daenerys Tagaryen.
There is also a pretty clear animosity for the Roman Catholic religion. I’m guessing if you’re of Irish decent and have done significant historical research, you would find this to be justified. However, some of the evilest characters in the story are the Catholic Exorcists, Bishops, and even the extremely greedy and dark Pope. The English royal class are idiotic hedonists and easily manipulated and French Royalty are controlled by a malevolent Witch Coven. Once again, maybe there is historical evidence to support much of this but at least give me someone to root for.
In the end, I’m sill going to give this book three stars. The pace improves the second half with some epic battles, mayhem, and lots of drama. All the backstory and exposition are at least interesting enough that I still wanted to read. And you can’t help but be impressed with the shear magnitude of tale. Descriptions are vivid, and locations are interesting. If you’re a fan of western European folklore and history, this is a must read for you. If your looking for a character-driven story to lose yourself in, this is probably not the magic you are looking for.
Another one of my challenges to enjoy this tale was that I never liked any of the characters. Nearly everyone in the book is wicked. There is betrayal and murder and treachery and infidelity abound. I don’t mind heaps of evil in my reading, but I prefer it to be offset with a bit of good. Morally, this book is closer to “Game of Thrones”, than it is “Lord of the Rings”. We have witches killing newborn babies to use their fat to render magical candles and organ-eating demons. At least Game of Thrones has John Snow and Daenerys Tagaryen.
There is also a pretty clear animosity for the Roman Catholic religion. I’m guessing if you’re of Irish decent and have done significant historical research, you would find this to be justified. However, some of the evilest characters in the story are the Catholic Exorcists, Bishops, and even the extremely greedy and dark Pope. The English royal class are idiotic hedonists and easily manipulated and French Royalty are controlled by a malevolent Witch Coven. Once again, maybe there is historical evidence to support much of this but at least give me someone to root for.
In the end, I’m sill going to give this book three stars. The pace improves the second half with some epic battles, mayhem, and lots of drama. All the backstory and exposition are at least interesting enough that I still wanted to read. And you can’t help but be impressed with the shear magnitude of tale. Descriptions are vivid, and locations are interesting. If you’re a fan of western European folklore and history, this is a must read for you. If your looking for a character-driven story to lose yourself in, this is probably not the magic you are looking for.
April 8, 2016
4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2016/03/01/b...
Diving into a debut novel is always a bit of a gamble, but it can also prove exciting and extremely rewarding—especially when a book ends up surprising me or blowing away all my expectations. These are the moments I live for and this is exactly what I felt with Mark Tompkin’s The Last Days of Magic, a breathtaking historical fantasy saga about mysticism and mythology through the ages.
I am absolutely in love with this novel and its premise, which posits that magic is real but merely forgotten, suppressed and denied. Today we dismiss the tales of the Sidhe as nothing but folklore and legend, but just a few centuries ago humans co-existed with all kinds of supernatural creatures, and in no other place was that bond stronger than in Ireland, the last bastion of magic against the encroaching powers of the Vatican Church. Much of island’s strength comes from the protection of its patron deity the Morrígna, a goddess whose three aspects come together to rule over the Celts and the Sidhe. One of Her aspects resides in the Otherworld as a source of power, while the other two—known as Aisling and Anya—are always reborn in the mortal realm as identical twin girls.
The book begins with the introduction to the last incarnations of the twins Aisling and Anya in the autumn of 1387. But just days before their ascendance ritual to become one with the Goddess, disaster strikes. Without the assurance of the Morrígna on their side, fears begin to rise and alliances start to break down, leading to a weakened Ireland and a fractured Middle Kingdom, which is the home of the Sidhe. Taking advantage of this instability, the Vatican prepares to rid the world of its last remnants of magic by using the forces of King Richard II of England to invade. Thus the story is as much about Aisling and Anya as it is about their protectors, and about Jordan, a mercenary turned Vatican commander who arrives on the shores of Ireland to find that the magic is not all as it seems.
When I’m promised epic historical fantasy, this is exactly the kind of book I’m looking for, pushing the boundaries of multiple genres by blending medieval history, Irish legends, and even Biblical elements. Other religions were mostly stamped out during the Christianization of Europe in the Middle Ages, which serves as the backdrop for The Last Days of Magic. But while this by itself has been a theme in many works of fiction about why real magic has passed from this world, what I find interesting here is foundation for the origins of all supernatural creatures. In this book, magical beings like the Fae (which are typically associated with paganism, earth spirits, and nature worship) also have their roots in Christianity, so that the Sidhe (faeries like the Skeaghshee, gnomes, pixies, fire sprites, leprechauns, dryads, etc.) along with the Elioud (banshees, imps, sirens, goblins, giants, etc.) are all branches of the Nephilim, offspring of humans and fallen angels. Tompkin’s portrayal of the trinity goddess Morrígna as Anann, Aisling and Anya to bring all Irish Fae and humans together adds even more layers to the land’s mysterious and ancient magical customs.
At first, all of this can be a little confusing, and the author’s somewhat pedagogical style also has a tendency to be distracting. He inserts a lot of historical detail, though this isn’t really a criticism since most of the time I find the information helpful and educational. Of more concern is probably the non-linear storytelling. While each chapter is labeled chronologically, within most of these sections are multiple time skips and flashbacks, and it took me several chapters to grow used to this rhythm. Once I got it down though, the story really took off.
Soon enough, this book had me completely captivated. In light of my observations about the writing, I was actually a little surprised at how quickly I took to the characters. I wouldn’t have thought Tompkin’s seemingly didactic style would translate all that well to deep and engaging characterization, but in truth his storytelling is remarkably expressive. There are a lot of players in this book, some fictional and some not, but they are all shaped very convincingly by the story’s events. This is especially true of Aisling, who had her entire worldview ripped away from her on the day she lost everything she loved. Her tale is a tragic one, but after a while Jordan also emerges as a more prominent figure. His role to seek knowledge goes a long way in transforming the narrative by giving it a more hopeful tone. I also enjoyed seeing how everything that happened in this story was placed in a historical context, including all the magically-infused scenarios—a testament to the amount of research that must have gone into the writing of this novel.
All that’s left to say is bravo! The Last Days of Magic is everything I want in a historical fantasy, offering a tale that sparks the imagination and explores the multilayered relationship between truth and myth. Mark Tompkins has created an incredible world filled with vivid characters, capturing the complex nature of faith, love, and conflicting loyalties. A stunning, evocative debut.
Diving into a debut novel is always a bit of a gamble, but it can also prove exciting and extremely rewarding—especially when a book ends up surprising me or blowing away all my expectations. These are the moments I live for and this is exactly what I felt with Mark Tompkin’s The Last Days of Magic, a breathtaking historical fantasy saga about mysticism and mythology through the ages.
I am absolutely in love with this novel and its premise, which posits that magic is real but merely forgotten, suppressed and denied. Today we dismiss the tales of the Sidhe as nothing but folklore and legend, but just a few centuries ago humans co-existed with all kinds of supernatural creatures, and in no other place was that bond stronger than in Ireland, the last bastion of magic against the encroaching powers of the Vatican Church. Much of island’s strength comes from the protection of its patron deity the Morrígna, a goddess whose three aspects come together to rule over the Celts and the Sidhe. One of Her aspects resides in the Otherworld as a source of power, while the other two—known as Aisling and Anya—are always reborn in the mortal realm as identical twin girls.
The book begins with the introduction to the last incarnations of the twins Aisling and Anya in the autumn of 1387. But just days before their ascendance ritual to become one with the Goddess, disaster strikes. Without the assurance of the Morrígna on their side, fears begin to rise and alliances start to break down, leading to a weakened Ireland and a fractured Middle Kingdom, which is the home of the Sidhe. Taking advantage of this instability, the Vatican prepares to rid the world of its last remnants of magic by using the forces of King Richard II of England to invade. Thus the story is as much about Aisling and Anya as it is about their protectors, and about Jordan, a mercenary turned Vatican commander who arrives on the shores of Ireland to find that the magic is not all as it seems.
When I’m promised epic historical fantasy, this is exactly the kind of book I’m looking for, pushing the boundaries of multiple genres by blending medieval history, Irish legends, and even Biblical elements. Other religions were mostly stamped out during the Christianization of Europe in the Middle Ages, which serves as the backdrop for The Last Days of Magic. But while this by itself has been a theme in many works of fiction about why real magic has passed from this world, what I find interesting here is foundation for the origins of all supernatural creatures. In this book, magical beings like the Fae (which are typically associated with paganism, earth spirits, and nature worship) also have their roots in Christianity, so that the Sidhe (faeries like the Skeaghshee, gnomes, pixies, fire sprites, leprechauns, dryads, etc.) along with the Elioud (banshees, imps, sirens, goblins, giants, etc.) are all branches of the Nephilim, offspring of humans and fallen angels. Tompkin’s portrayal of the trinity goddess Morrígna as Anann, Aisling and Anya to bring all Irish Fae and humans together adds even more layers to the land’s mysterious and ancient magical customs.
At first, all of this can be a little confusing, and the author’s somewhat pedagogical style also has a tendency to be distracting. He inserts a lot of historical detail, though this isn’t really a criticism since most of the time I find the information helpful and educational. Of more concern is probably the non-linear storytelling. While each chapter is labeled chronologically, within most of these sections are multiple time skips and flashbacks, and it took me several chapters to grow used to this rhythm. Once I got it down though, the story really took off.
Soon enough, this book had me completely captivated. In light of my observations about the writing, I was actually a little surprised at how quickly I took to the characters. I wouldn’t have thought Tompkin’s seemingly didactic style would translate all that well to deep and engaging characterization, but in truth his storytelling is remarkably expressive. There are a lot of players in this book, some fictional and some not, but they are all shaped very convincingly by the story’s events. This is especially true of Aisling, who had her entire worldview ripped away from her on the day she lost everything she loved. Her tale is a tragic one, but after a while Jordan also emerges as a more prominent figure. His role to seek knowledge goes a long way in transforming the narrative by giving it a more hopeful tone. I also enjoyed seeing how everything that happened in this story was placed in a historical context, including all the magically-infused scenarios—a testament to the amount of research that must have gone into the writing of this novel.
All that’s left to say is bravo! The Last Days of Magic is everything I want in a historical fantasy, offering a tale that sparks the imagination and explores the multilayered relationship between truth and myth. Mark Tompkins has created an incredible world filled with vivid characters, capturing the complex nature of faith, love, and conflicting loyalties. A stunning, evocative debut.
December 28, 2015
Though I was absolutely sold on the description of this novel - the history and intersection of myth, magic, fairy tales and faith - I struggled to get through it. There is a lot (a LOT) of dense history and backstory, some of it interesting, almost all of it a chore to read. I appreciate the author's vast knowledge of Catholic history and Celtic lore, but he is not good at translating that into story. It reads as if he felt obliged to cram in every morsel of information he had, storytelling (and editing) be damned. There's a lot of potential in the material, but what the author delivers is convoluted, clumsy and cluttered. I just couldn't get into the story at all. I hate to be so negative about a debut effort, but I honestly cannot recommend this to anyone.
April 14, 2017
THE LAST DAY OF MAGIC is Mark Tompkins debut book. Myth and history are mixed together into a wonderful magic story. The book starts off in the present time, but then quickly moves back in time to the year 1387 where Aisling and Anya are about to celebrate their fourteenth birthday, which is also their coronation day when they will become one Goddess. But danger threatens. There are those who would do anything to stop the ceremony from taking place.
READ THE WHOLE REVIEW OVER AT Fresh Fiction!
READ THE WHOLE REVIEW OVER AT Fresh Fiction!
April 10, 2020
I really loved this book. Set in medieval Ireland, half-goddess Aisling, the Celts, and Sidhe faeries battle against Vatican forces and England’s King Richard II. At stake is the very existence of magic. The story is rich and complex, crafted as a sort of pseudo-history that asks: what if the stories of witches, spells, and demons once were true? The world in this novel felt wholly alive—it’s clear the author has done immense research and it shows on every page. Not only was the story engrossing, but I also felt that I learned a lot about medieval history and Irish folklore, which is exactly what I look for in a read. Definitely one for history buffs and fantasy fans alike!
March 26, 2016
1.5 stars - I didn't like it.
Between the blurbs and the eye-catching cover, the publisher did a phenomenal effort with this novel. Few synopses have grabbed my attention and set off my "definitely want to read this" bells as much as this one. It has all the wonderful, fantastical things:
An epic novel of magic and mysticism, Celts and faeries, mad kings and druids, and the goddess struggling to reign over magic’s last outpost on the Earth.
Unfortunately, it all fell apart in execution. There was an overabundance of characters, yet a dearth of character development. The novel is plot driven, yet central plot points are rushed and undeveloped. The story unfolds in a non-linear manner, jumping abruptly forwards, sideways and backwards, but was done in a style that felt like an incohesive tangle of short vignettes. It comes across like writing geared towards a juvenile target audience, but with nonessential adult sexual situations randomly thrown in, as if to remind the reader that this book is for grown-ups.
The author had a brilliant idea and fascinating subject matter, but the writing style killed it all for me. Sadly deciding to DNF this one at 50%.
-------------------------------------------
First Sentence: When Sara Hill’s body washed up on shore, the police concluded—logically, given the lack of injuries—that she must have accidentally fallen overboard and drowned.
Between the blurbs and the eye-catching cover, the publisher did a phenomenal effort with this novel. Few synopses have grabbed my attention and set off my "definitely want to read this" bells as much as this one. It has all the wonderful, fantastical things:
An epic novel of magic and mysticism, Celts and faeries, mad kings and druids, and the goddess struggling to reign over magic’s last outpost on the Earth.
Unfortunately, it all fell apart in execution. There was an overabundance of characters, yet a dearth of character development. The novel is plot driven, yet central plot points are rushed and undeveloped. The story unfolds in a non-linear manner, jumping abruptly forwards, sideways and backwards, but was done in a style that felt like an incohesive tangle of short vignettes. It comes across like writing geared towards a juvenile target audience, but with nonessential adult sexual situations randomly thrown in, as if to remind the reader that this book is for grown-ups.
The author had a brilliant idea and fascinating subject matter, but the writing style killed it all for me. Sadly deciding to DNF this one at 50%.
-------------------------------------------
First Sentence: When Sara Hill’s body washed up on shore, the police concluded—logically, given the lack of injuries—that she must have accidentally fallen overboard and drowned.
December 24, 2015
If the basic outline and concept appeal to you at all, I recommend this without reservation. (If you're the sort of person who wouldn't touch fantasy with a ten foot pole, well, I can't help you. Your life is dull.)
Good atmosphere and take on "historical fantasy." The way the book layers fantastic elements on actual historical events works out well here. The setting is particularly immersive - Irish history is familiar enough in our culture to give people something to start from but feels fresher than the 800th retelling of King Arthur.
Strong characters and motivations and the atmosphere is right up my alley. Most of the characters carve new ground vs being standard archetypes from central casting so the book will keep you guessing in a good way.
Good atmosphere and take on "historical fantasy." The way the book layers fantastic elements on actual historical events works out well here. The setting is particularly immersive - Irish history is familiar enough in our culture to give people something to start from but feels fresher than the 800th retelling of King Arthur.
Strong characters and motivations and the atmosphere is right up my alley. Most of the characters carve new ground vs being standard archetypes from central casting so the book will keep you guessing in a good way.
December 14, 2015
Everything I look for in a book - captivating story, fully realized characters (not all "good guys" are always good and not all "bad guys" are fully evil), and set in a fascinating mix of history and fantasy. Loved it, hope there are more to come!
March 19, 2016
This review was originally posted on [www.125pages.com]
The Last Days of Magic is a sweeping epic that I really enjoyed, even though I was lost most of the time. I do not tend to do well with epic stories. The Lord of the Rings series almost broke me with the ridiculous amount of characters and the over description of everything. I can barely make it through an episode of Game of Thrones without asking my husband who that just was. So even knowing that, I wanted to read The Last Days of Magic, as it just sounded so good. I am glad I gave it a chance, as I really did like the book. (I can't even fully break down the synopsis, so please see it above.)
Mark Tompkins can create quite the world. Rich with a deep connection to the land and detailed (but not too detailed, I'm looking at you LotR with your 6 pages describing a tree). The pacing had a few issues with abrupt time jumps but the action always stabilized it. There was no lack of emotion; between those fighting for their cultures and homes and those fighting for power and religion, the emotions ran high. As mentioned, I did have some trouble with the characters, as there were so many. But those I did follow were great. I rooted for them, wept with them and wished them victory. Tompkins' writing is strong. To be able to build such a nuanced world and have a unique voice for each character takes some talent.
Even thought I did not fully follow the story it was somehow still a really enjoyable read. Action, magic, goddesses, corrupt politicians, power hungry witches and more filled a world that brimmed with war and turmoil. Mark Tompkins crafted a remarkable world in The Last Days of Magic. The ending did not feel final so I hope this is the first in a series, as, even confusing, this is a world I will happily rejoin.
Favorite lines - The quick prayer snatched from the slit throat of the pious. The thunder of riderless horses, crazed from their wounds. The distinctively sweet smell of blood mixed with sweat on the victors, the stench of guts spilling from the losers as the cry of havoc goes up. This is what I have craved. Facing another man, knowing that only one of us will survive the next few heartbeats, feeling his life flee as I push my blade into his body—that’s when I’ve felt most alive. Like an opium addict constantly drawn back to the den, he had been drawn to killing. Until today. Until I arrived here.
Biggest cliché - The plague? No, that's like so totally two years ago.
Have you read The Last Days of Magic, or added it to your TBR?
The Last Days of Magic is a sweeping epic that I really enjoyed, even though I was lost most of the time. I do not tend to do well with epic stories. The Lord of the Rings series almost broke me with the ridiculous amount of characters and the over description of everything. I can barely make it through an episode of Game of Thrones without asking my husband who that just was. So even knowing that, I wanted to read The Last Days of Magic, as it just sounded so good. I am glad I gave it a chance, as I really did like the book. (I can't even fully break down the synopsis, so please see it above.)Mark Tompkins can create quite the world. Rich with a deep connection to the land and detailed (but not too detailed, I'm looking at you LotR with your 6 pages describing a tree). The pacing had a few issues with abrupt time jumps but the action always stabilized it. There was no lack of emotion; between those fighting for their cultures and homes and those fighting for power and religion, the emotions ran high. As mentioned, I did have some trouble with the characters, as there were so many. But those I did follow were great. I rooted for them, wept with them and wished them victory. Tompkins' writing is strong. To be able to build such a nuanced world and have a unique voice for each character takes some talent.
Even thought I did not fully follow the story it was somehow still a really enjoyable read. Action, magic, goddesses, corrupt politicians, power hungry witches and more filled a world that brimmed with war and turmoil. Mark Tompkins crafted a remarkable world in The Last Days of Magic. The ending did not feel final so I hope this is the first in a series, as, even confusing, this is a world I will happily rejoin.
Favorite lines - The quick prayer snatched from the slit throat of the pious. The thunder of riderless horses, crazed from their wounds. The distinctively sweet smell of blood mixed with sweat on the victors, the stench of guts spilling from the losers as the cry of havoc goes up. This is what I have craved. Facing another man, knowing that only one of us will survive the next few heartbeats, feeling his life flee as I push my blade into his body—that’s when I’ve felt most alive. Like an opium addict constantly drawn back to the den, he had been drawn to killing. Until today. Until I arrived here.
Biggest cliché - The plague? No, that's like so totally two years ago.
Have you read The Last Days of Magic, or added it to your TBR?
December 15, 2015
Like the Book of Kells, The Last Days of Magic evokes an adjacent world of half-animal, half-god, half-human creatures wrestling with their place in a medieval Europe shrouded in desire, complexity and mystery. Mark Tompkins has imagined an intricate story of savagery and beauty connected to real world ancient texts and scripture. Reading the book is like a vivid dream, which after waking, one longs to return.
December 21, 2015
Great fun to spend a few evenings in the faerie world that Tomkins has created so masterfully. I was especially intrigued with the way he weaves his story into actual history. I look forward to learning more about the era. And I can't wait for the sequel!
December 14, 2015
This book is hard to put down. The author paints a picture so vivid you become engrossed in the characters and their stories. I didn’t want it to end.
December 28, 2015
What a great book! Mark Tompkins’ debut tale is a wonderful story of ancient times when magic was still alive in the land of Eire. This story of conflict between the fairies (Shidhe), humans and the Church is rich with well-researched detail. The artful intertwining of facts with fiction and myth is so skillful, it’s difficult to tell which is which. The engrossing story of Aisling, the magical half-goddess and young manifestation of the Morrigna, pulled me in and kept me up late reading. I hope there’s more to come!
December 11, 2015
THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC will bring you into a mystical world of faeries and enchantments that you will be hard-pressed to leave. This ride through Celtic history — amidst goddesses, Celts, and Vikings — is a story rich in love, family, and history.
March 9, 2016
Wow, this is the third "best of 2016" book I have read in the past month, a new record!
One of the reviews on the back reads "a wild grab of myth, folklore and the fantastical...". To this list I would add religion, fairy tales and "real" history. (I put quotation marks around real because there are some real historical events taking place in the book but some pretty big liberties are taken, haha.)
I love this book, it had everything. There are a couple of flashes of current day in the book but most of it takes place in Ireland in the 1300's. (Also Rome and England). From a very basic standpoint the story is about the Celts fighting off England the Vatican. But there's magic. And monsters. And faeries. And also some pretty damned good battle scenes and some crazy violence. (Did witches really render the fat from babes to make potions? One wonders.) This book was a fun read because it took real events and surrounded them with fantasy-esque characters and details. For example:
One of the reviews on the back reads "a wild grab of myth, folklore and the fantastical...". To this list I would add religion, fairy tales and "real" history. (I put quotation marks around real because there are some real historical events taking place in the book but some pretty big liberties are taken, haha.)
I love this book, it had everything. There are a couple of flashes of current day in the book but most of it takes place in Ireland in the 1300's. (Also Rome and England). From a very basic standpoint the story is about the Celts fighting off England the Vatican. But there's magic. And monsters. And faeries. And also some pretty damned good battle scenes and some crazy violence. (Did witches really render the fat from babes to make potions? One wonders.) This book was a fun read because it took real events and surrounded them with fantasy-esque characters and details. For example:
March 24, 2016
In the thirteenth century depicted in THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC, magic is still a part of the world and Ireland is one of magic’s last strongholds. The descendants of the Nephilim (i.e. the Sidhe) are still abundant in Ireland. The Catholic church, determined to destroy the Nephilim and to annex the Irish church, teams up with Richard II of England and sets its sights on Ireland. What follows is a desperate battle for control of Ireland and the magic that still resides there.
The major players in THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC are many. Fighting for Ireland and to save the Nephilim are Aisling, one third of the triune goddess Morrigna; Liam, Aisling’s half-sidhe protector; Conor, Aisling’s significant other; Rhoswhen, a sidhe priestess/witch; Fearghal, the sidhe high king and Rhoswhen’s father; and Brigid, a druid priestess. The English that feature prominently include Richard II, Chaucer, and Robert de Vere (9th Earl of Oxford). The members of the Catholic church include Cardinal Orsini (the chief exorcist) and the legate. Members of the French court include Queen Isabeau of France and her daughter, Isabella. Those of undecided loyalties include Jordan, a hireling of the Catholic church who studies magic and witchcraft in secret, and Najia, a witch that Jordan initially takes as a slave and later frees.
With such a large cast of characters, you might think it would be hard to keep track of everyone. It’s not, thank goodness! Each character has their own unique set of strengths and weaknesses. The characters, especially Jordan, are intricate. Is Jordan a good guy? Or is he a bad guy? It was great fun trying to guess. Aside from Jordan, Richard II is pretty much my absolute favorite aspect of this book. Tompkins does a great job of showing his megalomaniacal side while still infusing enough pathos for me to feel sorry for him and his fate.
It was a joy to read THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC. I cannot imagine the amount of research Mark Tompkins conducted to write such a rich, complex novel. Fiction and history are woven together seamlessly to create a medieval Europe full of political and magical intrigue. 5 I’m-hoping-for-a-sequel stars!
**Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC in exchange for an honest review.**
The major players in THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC are many. Fighting for Ireland and to save the Nephilim are Aisling, one third of the triune goddess Morrigna; Liam, Aisling’s half-sidhe protector; Conor, Aisling’s significant other; Rhoswhen, a sidhe priestess/witch; Fearghal, the sidhe high king and Rhoswhen’s father; and Brigid, a druid priestess. The English that feature prominently include Richard II, Chaucer, and Robert de Vere (9th Earl of Oxford). The members of the Catholic church include Cardinal Orsini (the chief exorcist) and the legate. Members of the French court include Queen Isabeau of France and her daughter, Isabella. Those of undecided loyalties include Jordan, a hireling of the Catholic church who studies magic and witchcraft in secret, and Najia, a witch that Jordan initially takes as a slave and later frees.
With such a large cast of characters, you might think it would be hard to keep track of everyone. It’s not, thank goodness! Each character has their own unique set of strengths and weaknesses. The characters, especially Jordan, are intricate. Is Jordan a good guy? Or is he a bad guy? It was great fun trying to guess. Aside from Jordan, Richard II is pretty much my absolute favorite aspect of this book. Tompkins does a great job of showing his megalomaniacal side while still infusing enough pathos for me to feel sorry for him and his fate.
It was a joy to read THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC. I cannot imagine the amount of research Mark Tompkins conducted to write such a rich, complex novel. Fiction and history are woven together seamlessly to create a medieval Europe full of political and magical intrigue. 5 I’m-hoping-for-a-sequel stars!
**Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC in exchange for an honest review.**
February 12, 2016
A publisher rep pitched this to me as "the next Lord of the Rings;" I chided her for saying so. While her comparison was faulty, her recommendation was not. This has much to my liking. It is focused in Ireland, not Finland, but it has more in common with The Kalevala, which inspired Tolkien, than it does with his own works. He certainly would not have condoned the use of biblical verses and portrayal of the Catholic Church, to which he belonged. The less said about him and the more acclaim for the accomplishment of this novel, the better. Could it be called Shakespearean, although it pre-dates him and has Chaucer as a character? I would shelve it with Trinity and How the Irish Saved Civilization, with Stalking Irish Madness: Searching for the Roots of My Family's Schizophrenia and The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act nearby.
March 23, 2016
I really, really enjoyed this book! It is enticing to think how magic and faerie tales are real and there is some explanation for their disappearance in the modern world. That is exactly what this book puts forth. It's set in 1300's Ireland and follows the conflict between Celts, Vikings, English, the Vatican, Irish Faeries, goddesses and witches! There are many memorable characters, I badly wanted more of Ty and the Queen of France. The mix of real history, with "real" mythology, with fiction is very well done! It was obvious the author did an extensive amount of research. I can tell this one will have a lasting impact with me. On a side note, I plan use the name Aisling for my next female warrior type video game character I create and Grogoch for a dwarf/stonemason type lol.
January 27, 2016
Mark Tompkins debut novel THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC is a wonderful historical fantasy with a delightful mix of history and myths. Based on meticulous research, Thompson's created a beautifully imaginative world where Sidhe and the Morrigna reborn fought for Ireland against the power of Vatican and the spread of Church across Europe.
The introduction of this book hooked me up immediately. What became of magic in the world? This is the book I always wanted to read. Not only was engrossing, but I also felt that I learned a lot about Irish folklore. It took me a while to go trough it but just because I was reading it while researching online about all the legends that where mentioned here.
My beloved Ireland, a place soaked in magic , is the background of the best fantasy book I read in my life and is once more the backdrop of this enchanting, educational and though-provoking book. When did fairies stop to be scary and start to look like Tinkerbell? In this book Tompkins mix both all the supernatural beings of the Celtic world and the ones from the Bible; and that intrigued me. A tale that combines the Dead Sea Scrolls, Vikings, a Celtic goddess, and Vatican plans of conquest. And you know what? Dead Sea Scroll are real, the quotes from the Bible that are reported in the book about Nephilim and demons and magic are real. This is like honey for bears for all the fantasy geek out there!
The first part of the book was quite fast, action packed and dynamic. There was a good amount on magic, violence and sex on the league of Martin's Chronicles. Tompkins create a complex and sometimes dark tale set in quite complicated world of allegiance, betrayals and loyalty. A captivating story and very well developed characters . I found this book also very informative. The Dead Sea Scroll and all the research that it must be behind this book is incredibly fascinating for all us fantasy estimator .
My only complain is regard the last part of the book that was quite slow with way to many battles and a little too much detail that low my involvement with the story. While the story itself interested me and I liked the writing, I reckon it needs some editing in this part to keep the reader inside the book.
The last days of magic reminds me why I started to read fantasy. Read it and get lost in the green woods of Eire and in the mist of legends that still permeate Irish hills.
Recommended!
The introduction of this book hooked me up immediately. What became of magic in the world? This is the book I always wanted to read. Not only was engrossing, but I also felt that I learned a lot about Irish folklore. It took me a while to go trough it but just because I was reading it while researching online about all the legends that where mentioned here.
My beloved Ireland, a place soaked in magic , is the background of the best fantasy book I read in my life and is once more the backdrop of this enchanting, educational and though-provoking book. When did fairies stop to be scary and start to look like Tinkerbell? In this book Tompkins mix both all the supernatural beings of the Celtic world and the ones from the Bible; and that intrigued me. A tale that combines the Dead Sea Scrolls, Vikings, a Celtic goddess, and Vatican plans of conquest. And you know what? Dead Sea Scroll are real, the quotes from the Bible that are reported in the book about Nephilim and demons and magic are real. This is like honey for bears for all the fantasy geek out there!
The first part of the book was quite fast, action packed and dynamic. There was a good amount on magic, violence and sex on the league of Martin's Chronicles. Tompkins create a complex and sometimes dark tale set in quite complicated world of allegiance, betrayals and loyalty. A captivating story and very well developed characters . I found this book also very informative. The Dead Sea Scroll and all the research that it must be behind this book is incredibly fascinating for all us fantasy estimator .
My only complain is regard the last part of the book that was quite slow with way to many battles and a little too much detail that low my involvement with the story. While the story itself interested me and I liked the writing, I reckon it needs some editing in this part to keep the reader inside the book.
The last days of magic reminds me why I started to read fantasy. Read it and get lost in the green woods of Eire and in the mist of legends that still permeate Irish hills.
Recommended!
March 19, 2016
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from LoP.
First I would like to say to Mark Tompkins, Thank you for writing this book! I have been waiting for many years to find a book written about the Druids, Fae and the Church. I so enjoyed reading this book and I would have to say Liam was my favorite character. I love reading about the Druids and fae. Ireland always has been and always will be full of magic and I hope some day I will get there and find my relatives. I had this book with me every where I went, even work:). I very much appreciate the opportunity to read this wonderful book and hope to read more by Mr. Tompkins.
First I would like to say to Mark Tompkins, Thank you for writing this book! I have been waiting for many years to find a book written about the Druids, Fae and the Church. I so enjoyed reading this book and I would have to say Liam was my favorite character. I love reading about the Druids and fae. Ireland always has been and always will be full of magic and I hope some day I will get there and find my relatives. I had this book with me every where I went, even work:). I very much appreciate the opportunity to read this wonderful book and hope to read more by Mr. Tompkins.
April 3, 2016
Loved this novel!I lost myself in the story and stayed up late to finish it. It’s rich with fascinating history, which drew me in and made the fantasy elements come to life. The novel is written as historical fiction of a more magical version of our world. By the time I was a third of the way into the story, I had begun to forget the line between history and fiction.
Some of my favorite passages included King Richard II, Queen Isabeau, and Geoffrey Chaucer. I found myself Googling them to find out what was true, as this was not the Chaucer I remembered from The Canterbury Tales. Googling other aspects as I went, I was often surprised to discover what is true and what fiction.
It’s easy to connect to the characters, and I kept turning the pages to find out what happens to Jordan and Aisling. I also fell in love with some of the magical creatures like Ty. Of the marvelous villains - my favorite was Orsini the Exorcist.
This is a complex and sometimes dark tale, with lots of betrayal and revenge, but with just enough redemption that the ending left me satisfied, and hoping for a sequel. Disclosure: the above is my honest review of a free ARC (advance review copy).
Some of my favorite passages included King Richard II, Queen Isabeau, and Geoffrey Chaucer. I found myself Googling them to find out what was true, as this was not the Chaucer I remembered from The Canterbury Tales. Googling other aspects as I went, I was often surprised to discover what is true and what fiction.
It’s easy to connect to the characters, and I kept turning the pages to find out what happens to Jordan and Aisling. I also fell in love with some of the magical creatures like Ty. Of the marvelous villains - my favorite was Orsini the Exorcist.
This is a complex and sometimes dark tale, with lots of betrayal and revenge, but with just enough redemption that the ending left me satisfied, and hoping for a sequel. Disclosure: the above is my honest review of a free ARC (advance review copy).
March 22, 2016
Wonderful tale full of intrigue, lust for power, magic and love. I read this in one very long sitting, I didn't want to put it down. I will admit to it taking quite a few chapters to solidify the characters as to who was who but the writing was intriguing enough I didn't really seem to care.
This had it all, a goddess reborn, the evil that turns good, the bad that gets uglier, the love that transcends and the underlying magic that everyone secretly craves. I highly recommend that this be in your library collection as soon as its out.
This was read as an ARC through netgalley.com for an honest review. Get this book!!
This had it all, a goddess reborn, the evil that turns good, the bad that gets uglier, the love that transcends and the underlying magic that everyone secretly craves. I highly recommend that this be in your library collection as soon as its out.
This was read as an ARC through netgalley.com for an honest review. Get this book!!
December 28, 2015
A brilliant mix of history and fantasy that rouses the spirit and enriches the mind. Mark Tomkins exhaustively researched legends stretching back to the Dead Sea Scrolls and conjured a dreamy tale set in a mythical Ireland teeming with fairies, Vikings, angels, villains and heroes. He has woven such a rich, colorful, entertaining and dreamy tale, I could not put the book down. After racing through the pages like one of the fast-moving fascinating characters, I was sorry to come to the end. I hope there is more coming. This is a must read.
March 2, 2016
The Last Days of Magic by Mark Tompkins seemed like the kind of book that had all of the elements that I really enjoy reading. As a huge fan of Irish folklore, I was very excited to get into it.
The story is mainly set in the 1300s, however there are a couple of leaps to the present day that at first, I thought would be very relevant to the plot but sadly ended up feeling odd and unnecessary.
In this book, we follow a vast amount of characters. Arguably, the main character might be Aisling, one of the human reincarnations of the triple goddess Morrigna. She's the one that's supposed to unite Celts and Sidhes (faeries and magical beings), and to guarantee a peaceful coexistence among these races. However, when something happens that jeopardizes this alliance, some of the Sidhes take advantage of the willingness of the Vatican and England to invade Ireland to start a war.
The author has an incredible knowledge of history and folklore. However, this doesn't translate well to the story. He's so interested in explaining historical events or rites, that sometimes the story becomes very slowpaced and even boring. The huge amount of characters can be somewhat confusing, and some of them just seem to be there to fit an immediate necessity but then vanish (like Ty and some of the witches) and end up not having a real repercussion in the story.
For example, the whole storyline about the witches had so much potential and -in my opinion- ended up very badly.
I think that the main problem I had with this book is that it was full of great ideas, but there were so many of them that they were eclipsed by each other. Character development wasn't particularly good either, since there were so many of them.
Connecting the Irish myths with the Christian tradition was something that the author really nailed (even when I had a little trouble following up everything) and as I said before, the research and historical knowledge of Tompkins is amazing.
Hopefully for his following books the author will learn that less is more.
Note: I received an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Viking Books and Edelweiss.
The story is mainly set in the 1300s, however there are a couple of leaps to the present day that at first, I thought would be very relevant to the plot but sadly ended up feeling odd and unnecessary.
In this book, we follow a vast amount of characters. Arguably, the main character might be Aisling, one of the human reincarnations of the triple goddess Morrigna. She's the one that's supposed to unite Celts and Sidhes (faeries and magical beings), and to guarantee a peaceful coexistence among these races. However, when something happens that jeopardizes this alliance, some of the Sidhes take advantage of the willingness of the Vatican and England to invade Ireland to start a war.
The author has an incredible knowledge of history and folklore. However, this doesn't translate well to the story. He's so interested in explaining historical events or rites, that sometimes the story becomes very slowpaced and even boring. The huge amount of characters can be somewhat confusing, and some of them just seem to be there to fit an immediate necessity but then vanish (like Ty and some of the witches) and end up not having a real repercussion in the story.
For example, the whole storyline about the witches had so much potential and -in my opinion- ended up very badly.
I think that the main problem I had with this book is that it was full of great ideas, but there were so many of them that they were eclipsed by each other. Character development wasn't particularly good either, since there were so many of them.
Connecting the Irish myths with the Christian tradition was something that the author really nailed (even when I had a little trouble following up everything) and as I said before, the research and historical knowledge of Tompkins is amazing.
Hopefully for his following books the author will learn that less is more.
Note: I received an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Viking Books and Edelweiss.
March 27, 2016
Now now now. What I got from this book was a rather good history lesson. I had a few complaints about it, but the positives eclipsed the negatives..
In the beginning of the book, the pacing is slow. So slow that I had to switched to another book for the sake of pace. There were just so many characters introduced in the beginning and several leaps back and forth in time. I had to buckle up the courage to finish it, and Boy am glad I did. Overtime the characters diminish in numbers (Spoiler) and more focus is put unto the major characters.
What I enjoyed about the book was the balanced character development. It was so good and subtle that I didn't realize that I hadn't picked a favorite character by the
middle of the book. Hard to explain until you read it.
The research and history was rather interesting and the world building was just awesome ( not that he had a lot to add). We have seen enough Victorian movies that help shape the imagination.
Now like someone am sure has well noticed, the book had many subplots and storylines. I think the author had so many ideas that they got jumbled in the main story and he wouldn't ve be able to smoothly connect them..
Anyway, I enjoyed the book and would be glad to see a follow-up.
In the beginning of the book, the pacing is slow. So slow that I had to switched to another book for the sake of pace. There were just so many characters introduced in the beginning and several leaps back and forth in time. I had to buckle up the courage to finish it, and Boy am glad I did. Overtime the characters diminish in numbers (Spoiler) and more focus is put unto the major characters.
What I enjoyed about the book was the balanced character development. It was so good and subtle that I didn't realize that I hadn't picked a favorite character by the
middle of the book. Hard to explain until you read it.
The research and history was rather interesting and the world building was just awesome ( not that he had a lot to add). We have seen enough Victorian movies that help shape the imagination.
Now like someone am sure has well noticed, the book had many subplots and storylines. I think the author had so many ideas that they got jumbled in the main story and he wouldn't ve be able to smoothly connect them..
Anyway, I enjoyed the book and would be glad to see a follow-up.
March 13, 2016
Myth, legend, and lore. Angels, fairies, and magic. Conspiracy. This book has it all in such compelling narrative. This story highlights a time when illiteracy was rampant and the records were what the victors made of them. Ireland relied on their fables to guide them through the mysteries of life, while the Romans were busy focusing on the power of the Vatican priests to dictate people's future. This book shines light on the struggle between the two magics.
I was originally drawn to historical fiction because of the imaginative freedom to build the characters and motives of history. I was drawn to this novel in particular because Tompkins ties the religious connection to magic. They really are more interconnected than many realize, and I want this part of history to see some more popularity. Tompkins clearly put some good research behind his development of the battle for the last days of magic.
While I knew most of the myths and historical names presented, I don't believe that will hinder the reading for any new to the subject. The narrative can get a little bogged down with all the history, but the characters are rich and intriguing. The action moves along with a choppy pace. I wouldn't classify it can't-put-down; however, it kept me picking it back up. The action, violence, and sex are not frivolous. They all have meaning for the movement of the story.
This novel is 4 stars narrative wise. It is well written and entertaining. Tompkins captures the essence of magic living in every part of our lives.
I was originally drawn to historical fiction because of the imaginative freedom to build the characters and motives of history. I was drawn to this novel in particular because Tompkins ties the religious connection to magic. They really are more interconnected than many realize, and I want this part of history to see some more popularity. Tompkins clearly put some good research behind his development of the battle for the last days of magic.
While I knew most of the myths and historical names presented, I don't believe that will hinder the reading for any new to the subject. The narrative can get a little bogged down with all the history, but the characters are rich and intriguing. The action moves along with a choppy pace. I wouldn't classify it can't-put-down; however, it kept me picking it back up. The action, violence, and sex are not frivolous. They all have meaning for the movement of the story.
This novel is 4 stars narrative wise. It is well written and entertaining. Tompkins captures the essence of magic living in every part of our lives.
March 18, 2016
For centuries, Ireland has awaited the return of the Morrigna, twins that can unite the Sidhe clans. When Ashling and Anya are tested at birth, it is confirmed that the Morrigna has returned at last. Trained their whole lives for this role, and protected at all times, no one foresaw the attack that would part the Morrigna and leave Ireland vulnerable to the English. This is a great story, filled with magic, rich in historical fantasy, and I hope to read more!! I received this book at the Goodreads Lovers of Paranormal group for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank You LOP and Mark Tompkins! This book was worth the wait.
March 22, 2016
Ambitious in scope The Last Days of Magic weaves together exciting strands of Celtic mythology and Biblical lore with deadly medieval mechanizations creating a rich landscape as author Mark Tompkins sets readers on a quest asking will the last days of magic truly end? Faeries, druids, warriors and witches clash as the last place of magic, Ireland, becomes a battleground between the humans who want to destroy the last vestiges of magic and the otherworldly powers that fight to keep it.
When I first saw the cover and summary for The Last Days of Magic I was immediately intrigued by the mention of Celtic faeries and a mysterious group of angels. The book's inside flap mentions two very important questions which really convey what this historical fantasy is all about. It asks: “What became of magic in the world? Who needed to do away with it, and for what reasons?” The surprising answers are a mix of history, folklore and fantasy.
I can say without a doubt that debut author Tompkins has a passion for research. Historical figures like the Geoffrey Chaucer, Queen Isabeau of France, and Father Patrick of Ireland mix with dark faeries, witches, exorcists, and angels. From Rome and England to the shores of the Emerald Island, readers are taken on a whirlwind of an adventure. I was fascinated by all the strange tidbits pulled together in this debut trilogy opener. I’m a fan of non-linear timelines as well and The Last Days of Magic use of one which kept me on my toes when reading it.
Now, for everything that I mentioned enjoying, I had really one area that I felt could have been stronger and that is its characterization. The Last Days of Magic boasts a large and interesting cast, one with a few key characters the story focuses on which I really wanted to spend more one-on-one time with. One of the main protaganists, a young heroine named Aisling who has a prophecy about her rising to rule over the Middle Kingdom and Celtic faeries, ended up being one of my favorite characters but I needed more page time with her. I’m hoping in the next installment readers get to know a few of these fascinating characters in greater details.
The Last Days of Magic is a strong debut filled with a heady brew of historical fantasy. There’s a lot of great things to devour in this read and author Mark Tompkins has created something enchanting.
February 16, 2016
I requested an ARC of The Last Days of Magic from NetGalley because it was a good fit with the trend of stories I'd been reading (and writing). There were Celts, fairies, magic, druids, kings, goddesses and Fomorians. Besides, who can resist the line, 'Drawing on myth, legend, fairy tales and Biblical mysteries'? This, I thought, is something I could get behind.
Except that the novel starts with a disjointed story of a dead body and a girl who has been asked by her grandmother to run because hidden within her old set of fancy fairy tales are secret pictures of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which contain things the Vatican does not want anyone to know of. It then plunges you into the 1300s, flitting between Ireland and England and Rome, and the girl doesn't appear again until the end. So besides an unnecessary prologue and epilogue, which I can only guess means that the author is leaving himself an avenue to pursue a sequel or two, this is basically medieval fantasy.
The first thing that really bugged me about the digital galley I received was how badly it was formatted. Seriously, Viking, I can format better than that. Did you just dump the print version into Kindle format and not bother to proofread or something? Scrollability also fails when there are no Chapter breaks. This is like... one block of text with awkward paragraph breaks mid-sentence.
The second thing that really, really bugged me was the way Tompkins used all the Bible verses out of context and perverted everything in an attempt to... I don't know, create conflict? I'm probably a bit more pissed about this because I am a Christian and I don't like having tenets of my faith being twisted about. I'm not one who takes everything in the Bible as 100% literal truth - I've been known to admit that some of my readings (especially Revelations) are taken at a slightly more allegorical level, and there are times I read the Old Testament as myth and legend; i.e. they may or may not have happened as written, but the underlying principles are still the same, consistent and true. I believe I try to do the same when I write my own fairy tales and myths - if a certain fairy creature is written a certain way, I would try to stay true to type.
Tompkins has instead decided that the only reason the Roman Church performs Exorcism is to then capture the demons and use them against other demons and half-angelic beings. In his novel most (if not all) magical beings are actually the offspring of angels/demons and humans, i.e. Nephilim. I'm rather meh about that. This trope has been used before, including in Patricia Lynne's Michael, which I loved/hated. Secret Vatican group, fine. Exorcism, fine. Strange myths about Adam/Lilith vs Adam/Eve, strange but okay, I've encountered those before... Priests running about using witchcraft and summoning demons? Uh, no. Mis-quoting Bible verses for no good reason (and didn't add anything to the story except a tinge of blasphemy), why and what for?
Anyway, between Ireland where the priests of the order of St Patrick spout weird legends posited to be biblical (as far as I know, they're not) and Rome where factions of the Vatican are plotting to destroy Ireland in order to gain control of the magic (eh, what?) and the Irish Christian Church, King Richard II is apparently a half-crazed bi-sexual man who's in bed with his wife, Anne and his um, friend (?) de Vere at the same time and being outmaneuvered by de Vere, his lords, and his priests into throwing money and forces to subdue Ireland for them. Let's not forget France, where the King (again, mad) is controlled by a coven of witches whilst his Queen sleeps with his brother. I am not a history buff - these could actually be historically true (I mean, without the magical tangent). But a novel where most of the powerful men are weak and controlled by conniving, power-hungry and money-hungry women is just... extremely grating.
I suppose in a mad sort of way this is supposed to make sense and supposed to fit together into a remarkable tale - a feat of world-building that poses astonishing and resonant answers to epic questions but the writing is choppy and disjointed, jumping back and forth between years and locations, raising more questions than it does any answers. Lumps of fake history, unconvincing legend and perverted myth are added in as backstory, making it even more unwieldy a read.
It was a tedious read and I was most happy to get to the end of it so that I could write this review. I was about to give it two stars, but I realised... no, this story is not okay. I did not like it. Religious protests aside (because I could be biased), it was still annoying confusing.
I wish I liked it, but I don't.
Except that the novel starts with a disjointed story of a dead body and a girl who has been asked by her grandmother to run because hidden within her old set of fancy fairy tales are secret pictures of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which contain things the Vatican does not want anyone to know of. It then plunges you into the 1300s, flitting between Ireland and England and Rome, and the girl doesn't appear again until the end. So besides an unnecessary prologue and epilogue, which I can only guess means that the author is leaving himself an avenue to pursue a sequel or two, this is basically medieval fantasy.
The first thing that really bugged me about the digital galley I received was how badly it was formatted. Seriously, Viking, I can format better than that. Did you just dump the print version into Kindle format and not bother to proofread or something? Scrollability also fails when there are no Chapter breaks. This is like... one block of text with awkward paragraph breaks mid-sentence.
The second thing that really, really bugged me was the way Tompkins used all the Bible verses out of context and perverted everything in an attempt to... I don't know, create conflict? I'm probably a bit more pissed about this because I am a Christian and I don't like having tenets of my faith being twisted about. I'm not one who takes everything in the Bible as 100% literal truth - I've been known to admit that some of my readings (especially Revelations) are taken at a slightly more allegorical level, and there are times I read the Old Testament as myth and legend; i.e. they may or may not have happened as written, but the underlying principles are still the same, consistent and true. I believe I try to do the same when I write my own fairy tales and myths - if a certain fairy creature is written a certain way, I would try to stay true to type.
Tompkins has instead decided that the only reason the Roman Church performs Exorcism is to then capture the demons and use them against other demons and half-angelic beings. In his novel most (if not all) magical beings are actually the offspring of angels/demons and humans, i.e. Nephilim. I'm rather meh about that. This trope has been used before, including in Patricia Lynne's Michael, which I loved/hated. Secret Vatican group, fine. Exorcism, fine. Strange myths about Adam/Lilith vs Adam/Eve, strange but okay, I've encountered those before... Priests running about using witchcraft and summoning demons? Uh, no. Mis-quoting Bible verses for no good reason (and didn't add anything to the story except a tinge of blasphemy), why and what for?
Anyway, between Ireland where the priests of the order of St Patrick spout weird legends posited to be biblical (as far as I know, they're not) and Rome where factions of the Vatican are plotting to destroy Ireland in order to gain control of the magic (eh, what?) and the Irish Christian Church, King Richard II is apparently a half-crazed bi-sexual man who's in bed with his wife, Anne and his um, friend (?) de Vere at the same time and being outmaneuvered by de Vere, his lords, and his priests into throwing money and forces to subdue Ireland for them. Let's not forget France, where the King (again, mad) is controlled by a coven of witches whilst his Queen sleeps with his brother. I am not a history buff - these could actually be historically true (I mean, without the magical tangent). But a novel where most of the powerful men are weak and controlled by conniving, power-hungry and money-hungry women is just... extremely grating.
I suppose in a mad sort of way this is supposed to make sense and supposed to fit together into a remarkable tale - a feat of world-building that poses astonishing and resonant answers to epic questions but the writing is choppy and disjointed, jumping back and forth between years and locations, raising more questions than it does any answers. Lumps of fake history, unconvincing legend and perverted myth are added in as backstory, making it even more unwieldy a read.
It was a tedious read and I was most happy to get to the end of it so that I could write this review. I was about to give it two stars, but I realised... no, this story is not okay. I did not like it. Religious protests aside (because I could be biased), it was still annoying confusing.
I wish I liked it, but I don't.
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