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Reflection of the Gods
"This is the story of how my third life began. And how my second life ended. They’re the same thing, you know—endings and beginnings. We’re taught to believe they’re different, but in order for one thing to begin, something else must end."
Newly divorced Das MacDermott longs for a fresh start. As he packs up and prepares to move out of the city, he spots a young woman being held at gunpoint by three men. Despite being outnumbered and unarmed, Das does his best to intervene. Once liberated, the victim seems oddly ungrateful, but on an apparent whim decides to join Das in his new life in rural Ontario. Aislinn, as she is called, returns the favour; with her encouragement and support, his start-up photography business takes off, and more importantly, Das is saved from loneliness and self-doubt.
Das, however, is never quite able to fully dismiss the contrary aspects of Aislinn’s nature, and is strictly forbidden from asking about Aislinn’s past. All seems too good to be true, and indeed it is. Aislinn’s unusual talents and odd behaviour, unbeknownst to Das, come from her demigod status. Aislinn is half-Sidhe, daughter of Fionvarra, Ireland’s fairy king, and a human woman. Sidhe wars have so disrupted the mortal world that Aislinn has joined with other immortals in an effort to permanently separate it from Tir N’a Nog, the fairy realm.
Born in ancient Ireland, Aislinn spends millennia as the plaything of the cruel and narcissistic gods. The pain of being neither human nor Sidhe is offset by her relationship to the Fir Bolg, another race of fair folk who take pity on her lonely state; and the refuge she takes in being Das’s lover and protector. As Das comes to accept the possibility that Aislinn belongs to a supernatural world, he discovers that the two worlds are set to collide in a way that may mean the destruction of all humanity.
Newly divorced Das MacDermott longs for a fresh start. As he packs up and prepares to move out of the city, he spots a young woman being held at gunpoint by three men. Despite being outnumbered and unarmed, Das does his best to intervene. Once liberated, the victim seems oddly ungrateful, but on an apparent whim decides to join Das in his new life in rural Ontario. Aislinn, as she is called, returns the favour; with her encouragement and support, his start-up photography business takes off, and more importantly, Das is saved from loneliness and self-doubt.
Das, however, is never quite able to fully dismiss the contrary aspects of Aislinn’s nature, and is strictly forbidden from asking about Aislinn’s past. All seems too good to be true, and indeed it is. Aislinn’s unusual talents and odd behaviour, unbeknownst to Das, come from her demigod status. Aislinn is half-Sidhe, daughter of Fionvarra, Ireland’s fairy king, and a human woman. Sidhe wars have so disrupted the mortal world that Aislinn has joined with other immortals in an effort to permanently separate it from Tir N’a Nog, the fairy realm.
Born in ancient Ireland, Aislinn spends millennia as the plaything of the cruel and narcissistic gods. The pain of being neither human nor Sidhe is offset by her relationship to the Fir Bolg, another race of fair folk who take pity on her lonely state; and the refuge she takes in being Das’s lover and protector. As Das comes to accept the possibility that Aislinn belongs to a supernatural world, he discovers that the two worlds are set to collide in a way that may mean the destruction of all humanity.
- GenresUrban Fantasy
350 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2013
554 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Llamrei
35 books59 followersLisa Llamrei crafts urban romantasy where gods walk among us, love defies destiny, and magic lingers in the shadows of the modern world. A lifelong storyteller and traveller, she draws inspiration from myth, culture, and the places where reality blurs into legend. Her novel Feather of Ma’at was a finalist for the Chaucer Award for Early Historical Fiction in 2024. She is the author of Daughter of Sekhmet and Carriers, with many more tales to come.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 5, 2018
Reflection of the Gods is an unpredictable fantasy-romance that blends ancient Ireland with a modern, Canadian setting. What holds the story together is a feisty female protagonist who sets her own rules. Well researched, with elements like a fairy king, disgruntled gods, and a modern-day mystery, this novel has something for everyone.
May 1, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
Reflection of the Gods was a pleasant, enjoyable read that kept me at the edge of my seat for most of the book. We meet Das MacDermott at the start of the book, a recent divorcee who moves from the big city to a small town. He spots a young woman held at gunpoint by three men. Das intervenes, despite being outnumbered, but Aislinn, the victim he so bravely saved, doesn’t seem too happy with his interference.
However, Aislinn joins him to his new life in rural Ontario, where she helps him set up his photography business. Despite her helping him out, Das can’t get over how different she is – the past she never wants to talk about, her unusual talents and odd behavior.
But Aislinn has more secrets than she wishes to share with the man she’s falling for. She’s half-Sidhe, daughter of a fairy king and a human woman. As a demigod, she’s immortal, and tries to protect humanity from Sidhe wars, and the cruelty of some other gods. But as Das discovers more about Aislinn and who she really is, he also discovers that the human world and the world of the supernatural are set to collide in a way that could destruct all of humanity.
The story starts off in Das’ POV, but switches soon after, and the two main characters occasionally tell us part of the story. The plot was intriguing, and I loved reading about Aislinn’s history, the Sidhe, the war, and all the paranormal elements introduced in this novel.
With decent writing and a solid plot, this is a great read for fans of urban fantasy.
Reflection of the Gods was a pleasant, enjoyable read that kept me at the edge of my seat for most of the book. We meet Das MacDermott at the start of the book, a recent divorcee who moves from the big city to a small town. He spots a young woman held at gunpoint by three men. Das intervenes, despite being outnumbered, but Aislinn, the victim he so bravely saved, doesn’t seem too happy with his interference.
However, Aislinn joins him to his new life in rural Ontario, where she helps him set up his photography business. Despite her helping him out, Das can’t get over how different she is – the past she never wants to talk about, her unusual talents and odd behavior.
But Aislinn has more secrets than she wishes to share with the man she’s falling for. She’s half-Sidhe, daughter of a fairy king and a human woman. As a demigod, she’s immortal, and tries to protect humanity from Sidhe wars, and the cruelty of some other gods. But as Das discovers more about Aislinn and who she really is, he also discovers that the human world and the world of the supernatural are set to collide in a way that could destruct all of humanity.
The story starts off in Das’ POV, but switches soon after, and the two main characters occasionally tell us part of the story. The plot was intriguing, and I loved reading about Aislinn’s history, the Sidhe, the war, and all the paranormal elements introduced in this novel.
With decent writing and a solid plot, this is a great read for fans of urban fantasy.
October 21, 2013
(This review may contain spoilers).
I really liked the idea behind this book. I've read quite a few books about the Sidhe before, but I still find them to be quite interesting.
I did like Das and Aislinn in this book, though their relationship was clearly more physical than anything else, especially since Aislinn was holding so much back from Das.
Although the switching between two different first person perspectives was confusing at first, I did think it worked quite well. And it was good to see Aislinn's history and her relationships with others of her kind.
All told, I did quite like this book. It was a fairly interesting one and well-written and I liked the characters and storyline.
I really liked the idea behind this book. I've read quite a few books about the Sidhe before, but I still find them to be quite interesting.
I did like Das and Aislinn in this book, though their relationship was clearly more physical than anything else, especially since Aislinn was holding so much back from Das.
Although the switching between two different first person perspectives was confusing at first, I did think it worked quite well. And it was good to see Aislinn's history and her relationships with others of her kind.
All told, I did quite like this book. It was a fairly interesting one and well-written and I liked the characters and storyline.
July 3, 2013
Ok, I do have some trouble sometimes getting into books written in first person. It's just weird to me. But I had no such problem with this book. It was very engaging because the story is quite different from what I've read before. Das is a recent divorcee who is moving from a larger city in Canada to a small town. On his way out of town, he acts against his better judgment to attempt to save a damsel in distress, Aislinn. But she's no damsel. She's an immortal.
Just when I thought it would be told totally from Das' point of view, it switches to Aislinn's. The two take turns, with Aislinn choosing to tell her tale a bit out of order, but it makes sense because she's immortal and has little concept of time. She tells things as she wants and she has a long history. Half mortal, half Sidhe, she's an outcast of all worlds. She has the powers of the Sidhe, who were once gods, and the sentiments of a human. She makes many mistakes in her lifetime, which she owns up to. I like that about her.
So she's caught in the middle of a war. Interesting. The Sidhe have been warring since before any can remember. It's a game to them. A bit twisted but alright. Aislinn wants to end that war. She can be a bit harsh and she's very forward. She's not approving of churchgoers because she's seen what their interpretation of God has caused. Das seems like a fling, until pieces start getting put together. Towards the end, I have to admit I don't like Das very much. He gets kinda whiny and just as selfish as the Sidhe. Heh, good reason behind that but still. I'd like to smack him forward to the next millenia.
That's a good thing though. This story is well written and told and leaves you wanting more from it. I sincerely hope there's a part 2 at the least.
Just when I thought it would be told totally from Das' point of view, it switches to Aislinn's. The two take turns, with Aislinn choosing to tell her tale a bit out of order, but it makes sense because she's immortal and has little concept of time. She tells things as she wants and she has a long history. Half mortal, half Sidhe, she's an outcast of all worlds. She has the powers of the Sidhe, who were once gods, and the sentiments of a human. She makes many mistakes in her lifetime, which she owns up to. I like that about her.
So she's caught in the middle of a war. Interesting. The Sidhe have been warring since before any can remember. It's a game to them. A bit twisted but alright. Aislinn wants to end that war. She can be a bit harsh and she's very forward. She's not approving of churchgoers because she's seen what their interpretation of God has caused. Das seems like a fling, until pieces start getting put together. Towards the end, I have to admit I don't like Das very much. He gets kinda whiny and just as selfish as the Sidhe. Heh, good reason behind that but still. I'd like to smack him forward to the next millenia.
That's a good thing though. This story is well written and told and leaves you wanting more from it. I sincerely hope there's a part 2 at the least.
October 28, 2013
I feel like Marty McFly when reading Reflection of the Gods. This urban fantasy tale constantly shifts to the POVs of Das MacDermott and Aislinn and the way the author does it, proves to be effective. Ancient time to 21st century, it’s an interesting concept and it feels like time travel. Reflection of the Gods opens with a brief chapter of Das’s childhood which results in unforgettable repercussion. Sparks fly between Das and Aislinn and I find the development between them a little too fast-paced. It feels bumpy. On a different note, Llamrei’s writing is captivating and appealing. The POV of Das mainly shows how important it is to follow your passion. He’s a relatable character. Despite having unsupportive parents, he dumped his job as an accountant and went on full speed for a career as a photographer. Aislinn, a demigod, is alone in this world and longs for a companion. It’s hardly a surprise to see these two characters falling madly in love as they complement each other really well. Some parts are more funny than a barrel of monkeys. It’s witty and eccentric. Even though I clearly had trouble remembering the characters’ names, Reflection of the Gods is canon-worthy. The ending left me somewhat unsatisfied. I have a feeling there’s going to be a sequel. Magical and sensual, Reflection of the Gods will knock your socks off.
Memorable quotes from the book:
Politeness is a very human failing. Pretense and artifice are what distinguish you from the lower orders of animalia.
When one lives forever, time has little meaning.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.
Memorable quotes from the book:
Politeness is a very human failing. Pretense and artifice are what distinguish you from the lower orders of animalia.
When one lives forever, time has little meaning.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.
October 1, 2013
I received this book as a First Reads winner. I enjoyed the story, and thought it was well written.
Its a first person account, told from two viewpoints. There is Das, who steps in to help a girl he finds being attacked in an alley. It turns out the girl, Aislinn, is a centuries-old immortal. Of course, the adventures go on from there. I found the storyline from the view of Das, the well meaning guy, the most enjoyable. I guess because I'm a guy. Or maybe because the Aislinn viewpoint had a little more historical Irish mythology, which was a slower read.
it was a good book and I kept wanting to find out what would happen next.
Its a first person account, told from two viewpoints. There is Das, who steps in to help a girl he finds being attacked in an alley. It turns out the girl, Aislinn, is a centuries-old immortal. Of course, the adventures go on from there. I found the storyline from the view of Das, the well meaning guy, the most enjoyable. I guess because I'm a guy. Or maybe because the Aislinn viewpoint had a little more historical Irish mythology, which was a slower read.
it was a good book and I kept wanting to find out what would happen next.
October 15, 2013
Reflection of the Gods is the captivating story of Das, a would-be photographer, and Aislyn, a mysterious woman who Das saves from a beating. The story is told in alternating chapters, with Das telling his story and Aislyn telling hers. She's one of the Sidhe, embroiled in a centuries old war, and she falls for Das. There is a good mix of action and characterization, and the details of the Sidhe and the wee folk are very well described. I enjoyed this world, and at the end of the story I was left wanting more. And that's what the best books do.
April 27, 2014
I must be honest, I can't say I liked this book.
I liked the mythology and the general idea, but the characters annoyed me.
It has taken me over 4 months to finish this book. I usually take less than a week to finish a book... And if I really like it, maybe less than a day. So... That should show how much I struggled with this one.
That's all I can say. Some people will like it, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
I liked the mythology and the general idea, but the characters annoyed me.
It has taken me over 4 months to finish this book. I usually take less than a week to finish a book... And if I really like it, maybe less than a day. So... That should show how much I struggled with this one.
That's all I can say. Some people will like it, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
November 24, 2013
Lisa uses all the right ingredients that makes Fantasy worth reading. A rich sense of history and lore, some dark humour, an epic battle and some romance that didn't overwhelm the story.
All the things that captured my attention in the Irish/Scottish/English folktales, she wielded with a deft hand that is a testament to her research.
All the things that captured my attention in the Irish/Scottish/English folktales, she wielded with a deft hand that is a testament to her research.
February 24, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews