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The Light of Lúnasa
Four Trials.
Three Secrets.
Two Brothers.
One Woman's Wrath.
A Curse…
Confessing to her brother’s death landed Clíona Murphy in a mental institution. After all, it isn’t possible to move things with your mind.
Mere weeks after her release, she kills her next accidental victim—the mayor. Fleeing the scene and an entire town of witnesses, she stumbles through a portal to ancient Ireland—a place where she’s not the only one with power.
A Warrior…
Trapped in this world, brothers are forced to Clíona’s aid: Rían, a quiet hunter of the forest who begrudgingly saves Clíona from death more than once, and Caolann, an admirable warrior who, when he’s not trying to stab her in the heart, is plotting ways to steal it. Doesn’t he know she isn’t capable of love?
A Trial…
When learning children disappear without a trace here, the path of redemption for Clíona's troubled past is clear now: enter the Tuatha Dé Danann’s trials, and secure the prize—a single wish—to save the missing children. Armed with just a sword and her power, and the help of a warrior and a hunter, in order to triumph, Clíona must embrace the darkness that claimed her brother, or risk more bloodshed.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night meets Throne of Glass in Laura Foley’s The Light of Lúnasa, an epic fantasy novel filled with magic, lore, and mystery.
Three Secrets.
Two Brothers.
One Woman's Wrath.
A Curse…
Confessing to her brother’s death landed Clíona Murphy in a mental institution. After all, it isn’t possible to move things with your mind.
Mere weeks after her release, she kills her next accidental victim—the mayor. Fleeing the scene and an entire town of witnesses, she stumbles through a portal to ancient Ireland—a place where she’s not the only one with power.
A Warrior…
Trapped in this world, brothers are forced to Clíona’s aid: Rían, a quiet hunter of the forest who begrudgingly saves Clíona from death more than once, and Caolann, an admirable warrior who, when he’s not trying to stab her in the heart, is plotting ways to steal it. Doesn’t he know she isn’t capable of love?
A Trial…
When learning children disappear without a trace here, the path of redemption for Clíona's troubled past is clear now: enter the Tuatha Dé Danann’s trials, and secure the prize—a single wish—to save the missing children. Armed with just a sword and her power, and the help of a warrior and a hunter, in order to triumph, Clíona must embrace the darkness that claimed her brother, or risk more bloodshed.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night meets Throne of Glass in Laura Foley’s The Light of Lúnasa, an epic fantasy novel filled with magic, lore, and mystery.
430 pages, Paperback
Published January 21, 2025
13 people are currently reading
576 people want to read
About the author
Laura Foley
2 books33 followersHailing from Ireland, Laura is now firmly settled in the south-east, Wexford, where she qualified with a BA in Applied Social Studies. Progressing into a Social Care career, she shifted gears into homemaking to raise her three children. Alongside this she has been a writer for over a decade, writing stories that represent the Irish culture.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
January 20, 2025
This was an epic adventure filled with action, Irish folklore and mythology, romance, treachery, pain and deception. Also two stubborn, broody and complex warrior brothers, and a delightfully feisty and powerful FMC who's stumbled into a different realm.
I loved the character growth from Cliona, she starts off as fearful and filled with self-doubt, but she grows into a remarkable force that's brave, caring, but still very sarcastic and witty.
There is a light love triangle romance, and you will likely switch between loyalties despite a heavier attention on one brother. They both are mysterious and secretive, and entertaining characters.
It has great tension, a hunger games style deadly contest, subplots of disappearances, an obsessed villain, and meddling Gods.
It takes a little time to get into the main plot, but when it hits its full on, and I loved those final chapters and the shocking twists.
It's immersive, funny, intriguing and i'm excited for book 2.
I loved the character growth from Cliona, she starts off as fearful and filled with self-doubt, but she grows into a remarkable force that's brave, caring, but still very sarcastic and witty.
There is a light love triangle romance, and you will likely switch between loyalties despite a heavier attention on one brother. They both are mysterious and secretive, and entertaining characters.
It has great tension, a hunger games style deadly contest, subplots of disappearances, an obsessed villain, and meddling Gods.
It takes a little time to get into the main plot, but when it hits its full on, and I loved those final chapters and the shocking twists.
It's immersive, funny, intriguing and i'm excited for book 2.
November 17, 2024
Hmm, I’m gonna need a night to really sit and think on my thoughts with this, but in a good way! Review to come! ✨
(FINAL REVIEW:)
A quick disclaimer: I was gifted an eARC when I was accepted as part of the ARC team, and in no way did this influence my thoughts and review of the book. Now on to the review! 😊
This was such a fascinating take on Irish mythology in a fantasy book! A time traveling young woman thrown into an ancient Ireland with deadly trials in a Hunger Games like competition, I was hooked pretty much immediately. 😍
The story follows Clíona, a tortured young woman who is guilt riddled and traumatized by the death of her brother and her time spent in a mental institution. I really liked the way that Foley handled these elements of Clíona’s character and felt like they weren’t heavy handed nor overly done to drive home a point. Other than her fiery and take-no-nonsense personality, I loved her wicked sense of humor and sarcasm, especially when the ancient locals had no idea what she was taking about half the time. 🤣
Her growth from being deathly afraid to in awe of her special power was a development that I really enjoyed reading about throughout the book. I’m super excited to see how it continues to evolve in the next book! 🔥
The relationships between Clíona and the brothers were different from what I was expecting (in a good way!). I thought the tension between Clíona and Caolann was done very well, though I personally could’ve done with more between the two just for a more slow burn romance. Rían was interesting because he was such a tease for a long time that I wasn’t really sure what would happen, and now I’m just a bit miffed we didn’t get more between the two. 😅
The one other thing I wish was explained a little bit more were the lines of descent, like which god/goddess had direct influence over which power and such. This is a personal thought though as not only a huge lover of Irish mythology, but also as someone who grew up with Percy Jackson and knowing who gets what power from what god. 🍀
All in all though, I still had a fantastic time reading this and can’t wait for The Shadow of Samhain! Huge thank you goes out to the author, Foley, and Alex Parker Publishing for letting me be a part of the ARC team and spreading the word about this wonderful new series! ❤️
Publication date: January 21!
Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
A quick disclaimer: I was gifted an eARC when I was accepted as part of the ARC team, and in no way did this influence my thoughts and review of the book. Now on to the review! 😊
This was such a fascinating take on Irish mythology in a fantasy book! A time traveling young woman thrown into an ancient Ireland with deadly trials in a Hunger Games like competition, I was hooked pretty much immediately. 😍
The story follows Clíona, a tortured young woman who is guilt riddled and traumatized by the death of her brother and her time spent in a mental institution. I really liked the way that Foley handled these elements of Clíona’s character and felt like they weren’t heavy handed nor overly done to drive home a point. Other than her fiery and take-no-nonsense personality, I loved her wicked sense of humor and sarcasm, especially when the ancient locals had no idea what she was taking about half the time. 🤣
Her growth from being deathly afraid to in awe of her special power was a development that I really enjoyed reading about throughout the book. I’m super excited to see how it continues to evolve in the next book! 🔥
The relationships between Clíona and the brothers were different from what I was expecting (in a good way!). I thought the tension between Clíona and Caolann was done very well, though I personally could’ve done with more between the two just for a more slow burn romance. Rían was interesting because he was such a tease for a long time that I wasn’t really sure what would happen, and now I’m just a bit miffed we didn’t get more between the two. 😅
The one other thing I wish was explained a little bit more were the lines of descent, like which god/goddess had direct influence over which power and such. This is a personal thought though as not only a huge lover of Irish mythology, but also as someone who grew up with Percy Jackson and knowing who gets what power from what god. 🍀
All in all though, I still had a fantastic time reading this and can’t wait for The Shadow of Samhain! Huge thank you goes out to the author, Foley, and Alex Parker Publishing for letting me be a part of the ARC team and spreading the word about this wonderful new series! ❤️
Publication date: January 21!
Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️
December 4, 2024
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much, Laura Foley and Alex Parker Publishing!
“An eye for an eye doesn’t make the world blind, it makes it easier to ignore the bloodshed of necessary vengeance.”
From the beginning, I was completely enthralled by the story, from the folklore elements to the writing. I absolutely loved how Irish mythology was woven into the narrative. While I was familiar with some elements from other books I’ve read, none have felt so purely and authentically Irish. Being immersed in this lore was such a delight. And the writing? It’s nothing short of beautiful, breathtakingly poetic.
Reading this book made me realize just how much I’d been missing fantasy books. That feeling of not knowing everything right away, of getting to explore a new world alongside the main character, it’s just so magical. And the world-building? It was so organic! Not once did I feel like I was being hit with an infodump, you know? I absolutely loved discovering Ériu through Clíona’s eyes, she's such an amazing character!
Although it's a love triangle, it doesn't really feel like one? And that's not a criticism, quite the opposite! I’m not usually a fan of love triangles, though to be fair, it’s been a while since I last read one. Still, I went into this book knowing it would play a part in the story, and I was pleasantly surprised by how it was handled. I’m not sure what Laura did differently, but it worked beautifully!
The trials had me completely hooked on the story. I was so nervous and anxious reading them, I just couldn’t stop. And the plot twists? Yes, plural. Oh. My. God. They completely caught me off guard. The kind of twist that makes you gasp and put your Kindle down just to recover from the shock, even though all you want is to keep reading to find out what happens next. That pretty much sums up how I felt reading the final chapters.
Seriously, I can’t wait for the sequel!
“An eye for an eye doesn’t make the world blind, it makes it easier to ignore the bloodshed of necessary vengeance.”
From the beginning, I was completely enthralled by the story, from the folklore elements to the writing. I absolutely loved how Irish mythology was woven into the narrative. While I was familiar with some elements from other books I’ve read, none have felt so purely and authentically Irish. Being immersed in this lore was such a delight. And the writing? It’s nothing short of beautiful, breathtakingly poetic.
Reading this book made me realize just how much I’d been missing fantasy books. That feeling of not knowing everything right away, of getting to explore a new world alongside the main character, it’s just so magical. And the world-building? It was so organic! Not once did I feel like I was being hit with an infodump, you know? I absolutely loved discovering Ériu through Clíona’s eyes, she's such an amazing character!
Although it's a love triangle, it doesn't really feel like one? And that's not a criticism, quite the opposite! I’m not usually a fan of love triangles, though to be fair, it’s been a while since I last read one. Still, I went into this book knowing it would play a part in the story, and I was pleasantly surprised by how it was handled. I’m not sure what Laura did differently, but it worked beautifully!
The trials had me completely hooked on the story. I was so nervous and anxious reading them, I just couldn’t stop. And the plot twists? Yes, plural. Oh. My. God. They completely caught me off guard. The kind of twist that makes you gasp and put your Kindle down just to recover from the shock, even though all you want is to keep reading to find out what happens next. That pretty much sums up how I felt reading the final chapters.
Seriously, I can’t wait for the sequel!
December 27, 2024
I want to be totally honest with everyone reading this by starting off with the fact that I was privileged enough to be an ARC reader for this story. This, however, does not compromise any of the following thoughts or opinions.
I had very high hopes for this book. I didn’t have any knowledge about Irish mythology coming into this story, but I thought this was the perfect way to be introduced to it.
I truly tried my best to get into the story, but I ultimately had to put it in my DNF (did not finish) pile. I understand that this makes it hard to give an honest review, seeing as I didn’t give the book a chance. I do however have a few reasons why I DNF’ed the book:
For starters, the writing style just wasn’t my thing. In this day and age, I feel like many starting authors want to “chase” the writing style of the classics, such as Laura Foley did in this one. Unfortunately, how things were described in the book VS. How people talked with each other totally clashed in my opinion. I don’t know how to say it otherwise than that it was a mix between reading a Charles Dickens novel and a Wattpad fanfic. Especially the dialogue coming from Clío(na) took me right back to my Wattpad days, where I would’ve DEVOURED it. But alas, this isn’t 2015 and I’m not a teenager anymore.
I felt like our main character Clío could basically only swear. The way she spoke felt unnecessarily vulgar at some times. I feel like you can convey all her emotions (mostly her anger) and her trauma in another, more realistic way. I feel like it is so normalised in modern day writing to put in any kind of swearing. Sometimes it can elevate the emotions in that scene, but here I just felt it was written in just because it could be. Not because it was necessary.
It were these things that ultimately made me decide to stop reading this book. It has about 430 pages, and I stopped reading after I read about 100. I had to push myself into reading half of it because I wanted to give it a chance, but I just cannot give myself motivation to read something I simply do not enjoy.
Laura Foley, I wish you the best of luck with your book! Please don’t let this review put you down. I already saw that there were lots of people who actually loved your book, so keep reading their reviews. :)
Not every book can appeal to every person, and unfortunately, this one just didn’t tickle the bookworm in me.
It did however spark my interest for Irish mythology, so I’ll be sure to check that out!!
I had very high hopes for this book. I didn’t have any knowledge about Irish mythology coming into this story, but I thought this was the perfect way to be introduced to it.
I truly tried my best to get into the story, but I ultimately had to put it in my DNF (did not finish) pile. I understand that this makes it hard to give an honest review, seeing as I didn’t give the book a chance. I do however have a few reasons why I DNF’ed the book:
For starters, the writing style just wasn’t my thing. In this day and age, I feel like many starting authors want to “chase” the writing style of the classics, such as Laura Foley did in this one. Unfortunately, how things were described in the book VS. How people talked with each other totally clashed in my opinion. I don’t know how to say it otherwise than that it was a mix between reading a Charles Dickens novel and a Wattpad fanfic. Especially the dialogue coming from Clío(na) took me right back to my Wattpad days, where I would’ve DEVOURED it. But alas, this isn’t 2015 and I’m not a teenager anymore.
I felt like our main character Clío could basically only swear. The way she spoke felt unnecessarily vulgar at some times. I feel like you can convey all her emotions (mostly her anger) and her trauma in another, more realistic way. I feel like it is so normalised in modern day writing to put in any kind of swearing. Sometimes it can elevate the emotions in that scene, but here I just felt it was written in just because it could be. Not because it was necessary.
It were these things that ultimately made me decide to stop reading this book. It has about 430 pages, and I stopped reading after I read about 100. I had to push myself into reading half of it because I wanted to give it a chance, but I just cannot give myself motivation to read something I simply do not enjoy.
Laura Foley, I wish you the best of luck with your book! Please don’t let this review put you down. I already saw that there were lots of people who actually loved your book, so keep reading their reviews. :)
Not every book can appeal to every person, and unfortunately, this one just didn’t tickle the bookworm in me.
It did however spark my interest for Irish mythology, so I’ll be sure to check that out!!
January 13, 2025
✨I was gifted an eARC when I was accepted as part of the ARC team, and in no way did this influence my thoughts and review of the book. ✨
🚨Spoilers in the Review🚨
It did take me about 100 pages give or take to get really grasped into this book. The writing was a little slow at the start for me but once it got me I was hooked.
Being Irish having already grown up with the same folklore that was referenced throughout the book really solidified my interest in this book. I had a small qualm in the beginning with how " She's a grand girl - nice personality." was phrased, it felt a lil too stereotypically forced, not like it felt it would normally be phrased, so I was worried this may bother me throughout, though that could be down to different phrasing in different counties. It did end up being the only time I felt this. The rest of the book I found was a lot more fluid and accurate as to how Irish women are and their reactions to different things said/done.
All in all I really did enjoy this book, I am still wondering if the car accident was really Clíona's fault as I feel like Fionn was harvesting his bua during that moment also, that could have caused it. I was a little disappointed that that wasn't elaborated on a little more, though I am hoping maybe in book 2 it might, it felt like it was mentioned and the sole drive of fear in Clíona but was never really fleshed out. I also would have liked to have felt a bit more connected to some characters. After Áed's death I felt like I should have been crying and while I was upset I just didn't feel attached to him enough that I would cry / tear up.
I loved the world jumping and all the Irish folklore and mythology. It's not something you see regularly, especially in Romantasy books.
Which Is why I have given the book a 3.5 rating. But I am really hoping for a second book. It feels like it's set up for another which I think will be possibly a big step up from this as a lot of this book may have just been setting up for a much bigger adventure.
I am looking forward to this being released so that I can go buy the physical book.
🚨Spoilers in the Review🚨
It did take me about 100 pages give or take to get really grasped into this book. The writing was a little slow at the start for me but once it got me I was hooked.
Being Irish having already grown up with the same folklore that was referenced throughout the book really solidified my interest in this book. I had a small qualm in the beginning with how " She's a grand girl - nice personality." was phrased, it felt a lil too stereotypically forced, not like it felt it would normally be phrased, so I was worried this may bother me throughout, though that could be down to different phrasing in different counties. It did end up being the only time I felt this. The rest of the book I found was a lot more fluid and accurate as to how Irish women are and their reactions to different things said/done.
All in all I really did enjoy this book, I am still wondering if the car accident was really Clíona's fault as I feel like Fionn was harvesting his bua during that moment also, that could have caused it. I was a little disappointed that that wasn't elaborated on a little more, though I am hoping maybe in book 2 it might, it felt like it was mentioned and the sole drive of fear in Clíona but was never really fleshed out. I also would have liked to have felt a bit more connected to some characters. After Áed's death I felt like I should have been crying and while I was upset I just didn't feel attached to him enough that I would cry / tear up.
I loved the world jumping and all the Irish folklore and mythology. It's not something you see regularly, especially in Romantasy books.
Which Is why I have given the book a 3.5 rating. But I am really hoping for a second book. It feels like it's set up for another which I think will be possibly a big step up from this as a lot of this book may have just been setting up for a much bigger adventure.
I am looking forward to this being released so that I can go buy the physical book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2025
ARC review
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Laura Foley for letting me read your book!
This book follows Cliona, who was recently released from a mental institution because of her brother’s death. She seems to have a strange power that she can’t control, which she calls her “curse,” and she ends up hurting people…
After finding her brother’s mysterious pendant, she finds herself transported through a portal to ancient Ireland. In order to try to save some village children who keep disappearing, she enters a tournament where the winning prize may give her the ability to find them and return them to their families.
This book was unique for me in that I have not read a lot of books about Irish mythology. A translation guide is available at the back of the book and I definitely had to use it. Despite this, however, I did find myself confused at times. I did enjoy the relationships she developed with the two brothers.
I overall enjoyed the concept of the story. I was intrigued in the beginning, lost a bit of interest in the middle (again partly because I was confused at times and couldn’t fully picture what was happening), but then became hooked again once the trials start. I also enjoyed the twist/betrayal that was revealed! The ending definitely set things up nicely for book 2.
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Laura Foley for letting me read your book!
This book follows Cliona, who was recently released from a mental institution because of her brother’s death. She seems to have a strange power that she can’t control, which she calls her “curse,” and she ends up hurting people…
After finding her brother’s mysterious pendant, she finds herself transported through a portal to ancient Ireland. In order to try to save some village children who keep disappearing, she enters a tournament where the winning prize may give her the ability to find them and return them to their families.
This book was unique for me in that I have not read a lot of books about Irish mythology. A translation guide is available at the back of the book and I definitely had to use it. Despite this, however, I did find myself confused at times. I did enjoy the relationships she developed with the two brothers.
I overall enjoyed the concept of the story. I was intrigued in the beginning, lost a bit of interest in the middle (again partly because I was confused at times and couldn’t fully picture what was happening), but then became hooked again once the trials start. I also enjoyed the twist/betrayal that was revealed! The ending definitely set things up nicely for book 2.
January 22, 2025
Irish Mythology x Outlander x Throne of Glass
This book hooked me immediately and did not let go! I am a huge fan of anti-hero FMCs and Clío absolutely delivers. She is an unapologetically strong and feisty character who struggles to overcome grief and guilt from a tragic event in her life that has left her feeling cursed. The curse continues after another accident has her on the run when she's magically transported to ancient Eíru. The worldbuilding and descriptions here are gorgeous and it is so easy to be transported with her. We also meet our two brothers, and love triangle interests, which quickly become found family who will protect her at all costs. The conflict of this new world helps Clío realize the true power of her curse and it's beautiful to see her growth throughout the book. The high stake trials will also keep you turning the pages and I'm still thinking about the twists! I will be anxiously waiting for book 2 to see what happens next!
This is a must read if you're a fan of:
💚 Irish Mythology
⚔️ High stakes trials/tournaments
💞 Love triangles
😈 Witty banter
🌄 Gorgeous worldbuilding
Happy release day and thank you to Laura and Alex Parker Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book hooked me immediately and did not let go! I am a huge fan of anti-hero FMCs and Clío absolutely delivers. She is an unapologetically strong and feisty character who struggles to overcome grief and guilt from a tragic event in her life that has left her feeling cursed. The curse continues after another accident has her on the run when she's magically transported to ancient Eíru. The worldbuilding and descriptions here are gorgeous and it is so easy to be transported with her. We also meet our two brothers, and love triangle interests, which quickly become found family who will protect her at all costs. The conflict of this new world helps Clío realize the true power of her curse and it's beautiful to see her growth throughout the book. The high stake trials will also keep you turning the pages and I'm still thinking about the twists! I will be anxiously waiting for book 2 to see what happens next!
This is a must read if you're a fan of:
💚 Irish Mythology
⚔️ High stakes trials/tournaments
💞 Love triangles
😈 Witty banter
🌄 Gorgeous worldbuilding
Happy release day and thank you to Laura and Alex Parker Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2025
I had a good time reading this book but I have a mix feeling about this book . I do enjoyed this book but some parts of the book was off to me i fell like story was enjoyable but a little slow paced .
I love the FMC character in the story 😍 she is giving me jude duarte vibes ✨
And the trials part of the story was so good 🤌🏼✨ it keep me hooked up till the end ✨
The story was quite enjoyable the writing style was good.
i think i didn't have any irish mythology knowledge so i had a little hard time to understand some of the story and had to go back and forth to read some plots. I do find the storyline slow paced and i think the story lack characters development and the relationship between FMC and MMC was also very fast paced it would be better if it was slow paced and there was a love triangle in the story but I didn't feel any of it . Overall i feel like there is something missing in the story . Love the ending and i do love to read second book in the series ✨
If you like fantasy,irish mythology,a badass FMC like jude duarte and deadly trial go check out this book ✨
I love the FMC character in the story 😍 she is giving me jude duarte vibes ✨
And the trials part of the story was so good 🤌🏼✨ it keep me hooked up till the end ✨
The story was quite enjoyable the writing style was good.
i think i didn't have any irish mythology knowledge so i had a little hard time to understand some of the story and had to go back and forth to read some plots. I do find the storyline slow paced and i think the story lack characters development and the relationship between FMC and MMC was also very fast paced it would be better if it was slow paced and there was a love triangle in the story but I didn't feel any of it . Overall i feel like there is something missing in the story . Love the ending and i do love to read second book in the series ✨
If you like fantasy,irish mythology,a badass FMC like jude duarte and deadly trial go check out this book ✨
November 10, 2024
The Light of Lunasa by Laura Foley captivated me from the very start, with its beautifully descriptive writing style that draws readers deeply into the rich, magical world Laura has crafted. Obsessed with the chapter titles as well. I found myself obsessed with the main character right away—she’s compelling and so well-written that her emotions and motivations felt authentic and relatable. I had quite a few laugh out loud moments as well which is rare for me.
I loved the magic system and intense trials, though I did have to pause to look up some Irish mythology references, as they weren’t always explained but I don’t mind a bit of research! The 🌶️ scenes were spicing for sure and very well done. The ending was ridiculously exciting and I’m usually pretty good at predicting how a story will go and didn’t have a clue this time around which I love! I can’t wait to see what happens next! Overall, this is a beautifully written and immersive story with humor, magic, and depth. I’m so happy to have received an ARC of this book and will 100% be buying it on release day!
I loved the magic system and intense trials, though I did have to pause to look up some Irish mythology references, as they weren’t always explained but I don’t mind a bit of research! The 🌶️ scenes were spicing for sure and very well done. The ending was ridiculously exciting and I’m usually pretty good at predicting how a story will go and didn’t have a clue this time around which I love! I can’t wait to see what happens next! Overall, this is a beautifully written and immersive story with humor, magic, and depth. I’m so happy to have received an ARC of this book and will 100% be buying it on release day!
January 21, 2025
This is such a beautifully written story that feels both magical and grounded. The worldbuilding is rich and atmospheric, pulling you right into its lore and landscapes. The characters are complex and relatable, especially the FMC, who is a strong and relatable character, grappling with guilt and trauma. Foley’s writing has this poetic quality that makes every page feel vivid and alive. Definitely a book I’d recommend to anyone who loves immersive fantasy with magic, Irish lore, and mystery.
Thank you to Laura Foley and Alex Parker Publishing for the opportunity to read ARC of this book.
Thank you to Laura Foley and Alex Parker Publishing for the opportunity to read ARC of this book.
November 5, 2024
Great story, very interesting and unique.. it was a bit much for me at the start cause I'm not familiar with Irish mythology, and there was a lot of therms and gods and everything.. I really enjoyed the story, and hope so to get more answers in the second book, for example about Fionn and what was happening to Mollie when Clio disapeared etc..
January 21, 2025
Author Note.
A heartfelt thank you to anyone who took the time to read this story. Clíona is the fiery woman inside all of us, and I'm so happy her story is officially out in the world.
The journey she embarks on is like no other Irish tale you've ever read before. And those brothers... readers, you are in for a twistiest ride of 2025.
Le ghrá,
Laura
A heartfelt thank you to anyone who took the time to read this story. Clíona is the fiery woman inside all of us, and I'm so happy her story is officially out in the world.
The journey she embarks on is like no other Irish tale you've ever read before. And those brothers... readers, you are in for a twistiest ride of 2025.
Le ghrá,
Laura
Read
January 26, 2025Got 40% through and unfortunately wasn't vibing with it. Might return to it again at some point to see if it picks up in the later half.
January 21, 2025
ARC Received for review
Really loved this! I think the writing was incredibly done, Laura has such a fantastic way for description
I loved the way the romance was woven into the plot, I think for me to truly love a romantasy it has to be a solid plot behind it which this 100% did!
My biggest criticism (not even that big tbh) is that the pacing from the first half to the second was really different, I very much enjoyed both parts but it did make it feel slightly disconnected
Really loved this! I think the writing was incredibly done, Laura has such a fantastic way for description
I loved the way the romance was woven into the plot, I think for me to truly love a romantasy it has to be a solid plot behind it which this 100% did!
My biggest criticism (not even that big tbh) is that the pacing from the first half to the second was really different, I very much enjoyed both parts but it did make it feel slightly disconnected
January 29, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this book! As an Irish girlie, I loved reading about Irish mythology and the Irish language.
This book starts in modern-day Ireland and follows the FMC Clíona through some struggles that she is facing, which later leads her to travel through a portal that lands her in ancient Ireland. During her time in ancient Ireland, she meets the MMCs Rían and Caolann, brothers that will do anything to protect her. She finds herself in trials where she must fight to survive to save the people she has come to love.
In my opinion, this story was beautifully written, and the author did an amazing job of integrating some Irish words into the story with a guide to help with punctuation.
Normally, I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, but after reading this, I have no doubt that the trope has been weakly executed in books I have previously read, as this book left me unsure of who I want her to end up with, as I fell in love with both MMCs.
I am very excited about what the next book is going to bring, as I feel like the ending set up the second book amazingly!
I would just like to say thank you to Laura Foley and Alex Parker Publishing for the opportunity to ARC this book.
This book starts in modern-day Ireland and follows the FMC Clíona through some struggles that she is facing, which later leads her to travel through a portal that lands her in ancient Ireland. During her time in ancient Ireland, she meets the MMCs Rían and Caolann, brothers that will do anything to protect her. She finds herself in trials where she must fight to survive to save the people she has come to love.
In my opinion, this story was beautifully written, and the author did an amazing job of integrating some Irish words into the story with a guide to help with punctuation.
Normally, I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, but after reading this, I have no doubt that the trope has been weakly executed in books I have previously read, as this book left me unsure of who I want her to end up with, as I fell in love with both MMCs.
I am very excited about what the next book is going to bring, as I feel like the ending set up the second book amazingly!
I would just like to say thank you to Laura Foley and Alex Parker Publishing for the opportunity to ARC this book.
January 19, 2025
I was very lucky to receive this as my first ever ARC read. Although I was an ARC reader this did not sway my opinion or my review of the book!
Without that out the way on to the review!
As an Irish girl myself I loved the touch and nod to the Irish mythology that Laura has incorporated into this book it made for an interesting magic system and fantasy land!
I say magic system but I’m not even sure you can call it that! The FMC was relatable in the way she spoke and acted and was lot this shy submissive girl that the world loves to see she is fierce and empowering and I love how she was written and bought to life.
The love triangle makes for an interesting story and makes me wonder where it is going!
I love this world and how Laura has expressed herself within the book it was so different to any other fantasy books I have read and I have read a lot !
Follow the FMC as she embarks on an epic adventure to find herself and also find answers to burning questions 👀
Laura this book was amazing so excited for you and what’s next!
If you haven’t already please check this book out ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Without that out the way on to the review!
As an Irish girl myself I loved the touch and nod to the Irish mythology that Laura has incorporated into this book it made for an interesting magic system and fantasy land!
I say magic system but I’m not even sure you can call it that! The FMC was relatable in the way she spoke and acted and was lot this shy submissive girl that the world loves to see she is fierce and empowering and I love how she was written and bought to life.
The love triangle makes for an interesting story and makes me wonder where it is going!
I love this world and how Laura has expressed herself within the book it was so different to any other fantasy books I have read and I have read a lot !
Follow the FMC as she embarks on an epic adventure to find herself and also find answers to burning questions 👀
Laura this book was amazing so excited for you and what’s next!
If you haven’t already please check this book out ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 21, 2025
I was kindly offered the chance to get an ARC of this book. I could not put this book down. I loved the FMC Cliona and her journey. I learned a lot about Irish folklore along with the gripping story. There were so many twists and turns, and the chemistry between our FMC and the two brothers was "chiefs kiss". I've recommended this book to so many people. It's one of my favourite reads of 2024.
January 4, 2025
ARC Reader Review. Thank you Laura Foley and Alex Parker Publishing.
I totally loved this. I've been waiting for the right time to curl up with this one, and it definitely was worth the wait!
Great character building, and Clíona was quite fiery. Loved how her character was portrayed.
Loved the Irish mythology.
The trials were great, I literally couldn't put the book down. I just needed to know what happened next.
The plot twists 😱 I did not see them coming at all!
Writing style was right up my street. The book is well written.
Cannot wait for the next book.
I totally loved this. I've been waiting for the right time to curl up with this one, and it definitely was worth the wait!
Great character building, and Clíona was quite fiery. Loved how her character was portrayed.
Loved the Irish mythology.
The trials were great, I literally couldn't put the book down. I just needed to know what happened next.
The plot twists 😱 I did not see them coming at all!
Writing style was right up my street. The book is well written.
Cannot wait for the next book.
January 18, 2025
This story was a fairly enjoyable one that features an entertaining, realistic, and fairly relatable (to me at least) main character that was surrounded by a beautiful and plentiful supporting cast. The blurb does a great job of telling you the story without spoiling a lot of it so I’ll get into more of what I liked/disliked about the story and why ⬇️⬇️⬇️
What I liked:
1) The characters:
- The whole cast of characters definitely kept me interested even in the slower moments of the story. Each character had their own personality, purpose, and mannerisms that added to the story. Clíona is our main character and she’s someone that has enough feistiness and sass that I wish she could gift to me so that I could have a stronger backbone. The found family aspect is so important and prevalent that it made me wish for a sister like Roísin, a mother like Bebhínn (though my own mother is equally as fantastic in different ways), a brother like Lester, and someone protective and devoted as Rían (though the protectiveness may get annoying).
2) Portal Fantasy
- I’m a sucker for alternate universes/timelines/realms and if you’re a fan of stories like Outlander, this definitely has a similar feel, but Irish instead of Scottish and with divine beings. Clíona definitely felt like a fish out of water in her own realm and that feeling intensified being thrown in another world with absolutely nothing and no one to help.
3) The presence of Irish mythology and folklore
- This was my first real introduction into Irish mythology and folklore and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ve heard of some of the names of different beings referenced in other fantasy stories or lore, but never with them being part of the main plot. This isn’t a deep dive into all things Irish mythology, folklore, and mythology, but it definitely has sparked a desire to learn more about it and find more books that feature more authentic Irish aspects.
4) The representation of real world struggles such as mental health, self harm, suîcide, grief, depression, and anxiety
- This book does not shy away from discussing heavy, deep, and potentially triggering situations and experiences. Though I’ve never had to experience these things to the degree Clío does, I think it paints a very realistic picture of what struggling with these issues can look like.
5) The twists and the ending
- Thiugh some of the twists and revelations may be somewhat easy to guess if one paid attention, it didn’t make them any less enjoyable or impactful when they were actually revealed. The ending just makes me excited for the sequel.
6) Singular Point of View (POV)
- so many times I come across stories that are told from multiple POVs (which are great) but I love singular POV stories as well. I love that as the reader, I get to be just as shocked as the main character when certain things are revealed. Having just one POV keeps the mysteries unknown and mysterious for just a little bit longer and I don’t have to keep referencing whose POV I’m in especially if there are multiple storylines happening and we (the readers) have to keep bouncing between them every other chapter or so.
What didn’t really like:
The pacing
- The only real thing that brought the rating down for this book was the pacing. It takes quite a while to really get set up and to have the plot move forward. I feel like there were some things that moved along too quickly and then there were other parts that I felt should’ve slowed down or be drawn out a little more. Part of this could be that I’m a mood reader and depending on my mood and the part of the story I was at could play a big factor in how fast I read through those parts.
Other notable commentary:
- The writing style is going to be a hit or miss with some people. I enjoyed the more classical/older style of writing (similar to that of CS Lewis, Dickens, Tolkein, and others) with how it describes things in a poetic manner but then it paired with the modern language and way of speaking Clíona has. It’s not a writing style that is common with a lot of modern American authors or even traditionally published authors so it was a nice change. On the other hand, because it isn’t as common, the story was definitely one that I felt I needed more brain power to read and understand what was happening so it wasn’t one that I could just read in a whim.
- Because everyone perceives spice differently, I can’t give an accurate rating for how much spice there is, but there are a couple of detailed scenes (though if you are a lover and frequent smut reader, I’d wager you’d want more scenes and more details because there aren’t enough). I would say this is more of a new adult romantasy with spice as opposed to a spicy romantasy (I hope that makes sense).
- There is quite a bit of language, but based on different videos I’ve seen featuring Irish people, it could be so much worse.
- There are quite a few descriptions of some vî0lence, g0re, and other unpleasant things.
Overall I think if I didn’t have an ARC (advanced reader copy), I wouldn’t have finished the book. There was something more that I wanted at different times whether it was more romance, sometimes more details, sometimes less details, more drama, etc. The stakes are high but there were many times that I didn’t feel like they were high. It could be the writing but more likely it was me and my preference of what I wanted to read at the time. I am so glad that I finished though because the last third of the book is so good and I’m excited for the sequel.
If I could give partial star ratings I would give this story somewhere around a 3.25-3.5/5.
What I liked:
1) The characters:
- The whole cast of characters definitely kept me interested even in the slower moments of the story. Each character had their own personality, purpose, and mannerisms that added to the story. Clíona is our main character and she’s someone that has enough feistiness and sass that I wish she could gift to me so that I could have a stronger backbone. The found family aspect is so important and prevalent that it made me wish for a sister like Roísin, a mother like Bebhínn (though my own mother is equally as fantastic in different ways), a brother like Lester, and someone protective and devoted as Rían (though the protectiveness may get annoying).
2) Portal Fantasy
- I’m a sucker for alternate universes/timelines/realms and if you’re a fan of stories like Outlander, this definitely has a similar feel, but Irish instead of Scottish and with divine beings. Clíona definitely felt like a fish out of water in her own realm and that feeling intensified being thrown in another world with absolutely nothing and no one to help.
3) The presence of Irish mythology and folklore
- This was my first real introduction into Irish mythology and folklore and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ve heard of some of the names of different beings referenced in other fantasy stories or lore, but never with them being part of the main plot. This isn’t a deep dive into all things Irish mythology, folklore, and mythology, but it definitely has sparked a desire to learn more about it and find more books that feature more authentic Irish aspects.
4) The representation of real world struggles such as mental health, self harm, suîcide, grief, depression, and anxiety
- This book does not shy away from discussing heavy, deep, and potentially triggering situations and experiences. Though I’ve never had to experience these things to the degree Clío does, I think it paints a very realistic picture of what struggling with these issues can look like.
5) The twists and the ending
- Thiugh some of the twists and revelations may be somewhat easy to guess if one paid attention, it didn’t make them any less enjoyable or impactful when they were actually revealed. The ending just makes me excited for the sequel.
6) Singular Point of View (POV)
- so many times I come across stories that are told from multiple POVs (which are great) but I love singular POV stories as well. I love that as the reader, I get to be just as shocked as the main character when certain things are revealed. Having just one POV keeps the mysteries unknown and mysterious for just a little bit longer and I don’t have to keep referencing whose POV I’m in especially if there are multiple storylines happening and we (the readers) have to keep bouncing between them every other chapter or so.
What didn’t really like:
The pacing
- The only real thing that brought the rating down for this book was the pacing. It takes quite a while to really get set up and to have the plot move forward. I feel like there were some things that moved along too quickly and then there were other parts that I felt should’ve slowed down or be drawn out a little more. Part of this could be that I’m a mood reader and depending on my mood and the part of the story I was at could play a big factor in how fast I read through those parts.
Other notable commentary:
- The writing style is going to be a hit or miss with some people. I enjoyed the more classical/older style of writing (similar to that of CS Lewis, Dickens, Tolkein, and others) with how it describes things in a poetic manner but then it paired with the modern language and way of speaking Clíona has. It’s not a writing style that is common with a lot of modern American authors or even traditionally published authors so it was a nice change. On the other hand, because it isn’t as common, the story was definitely one that I felt I needed more brain power to read and understand what was happening so it wasn’t one that I could just read in a whim.
- Because everyone perceives spice differently, I can’t give an accurate rating for how much spice there is, but there are a couple of detailed scenes (though if you are a lover and frequent smut reader, I’d wager you’d want more scenes and more details because there aren’t enough). I would say this is more of a new adult romantasy with spice as opposed to a spicy romantasy (I hope that makes sense).
- There is quite a bit of language, but based on different videos I’ve seen featuring Irish people, it could be so much worse.
- There are quite a few descriptions of some vî0lence, g0re, and other unpleasant things.
Overall I think if I didn’t have an ARC (advanced reader copy), I wouldn’t have finished the book. There was something more that I wanted at different times whether it was more romance, sometimes more details, sometimes less details, more drama, etc. The stakes are high but there were many times that I didn’t feel like they were high. It could be the writing but more likely it was me and my preference of what I wanted to read at the time. I am so glad that I finished though because the last third of the book is so good and I’m excited for the sequel.
If I could give partial star ratings I would give this story somewhere around a 3.25-3.5/5.
January 20, 2025
✸ 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 ✸
Irish mythology 🇮🇪
Forced proximity 🛡
Found family 🤍
Love triangle 🖤
High stakes trials ⚔️
“𝘼𝙣 𝙚𝙮𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙮𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙙, 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.”
I went into this book blind without any real knowledge of what to expect and Oh. My. God. it completely exceeded my expectations!
I thought it might end up being a little predictable but it really wasn’t! It was so refreshing to have no idea where the plot was going and even when I thought I had something figured out, I was completely wrong and loved the twists because I didn’t see them coming! To say I was caught off guard is an understatement, I was constantly battling with wanting to put my Kindle down and scream, but also needing to find out what happened next!
I was completely hooked from the beginning, from the story itself to the folklore elements that were woven throughout the entire story. As soon as Clíona was transported to The Otherworld, I couldn’t put it down! I’ve never read a fantasy book that sucked me into the culture so much and felt like such an authentic portrayal of Irish mythology! The world building was so effortless and didn’t feel confusing like a lot of fantasy books can be, it felt like I was right there with Clíona!
The emotions and feelings were so realistic and well written, you’d start off disliking a character and without even realising it you slowly began to like them until a point that you couldn’t even remember why you didn’t like them!
The romance and slight love triangle element felt so natural, and as someone who doesn’t usually read the love triangle trope, I was pleasantly surprised by how well it was written and how it all played out!
It felt like such a rollercoaster of emotions, from anger to happiness and heartbreak! At the end I was sobbing so hard that I couldn’t see the words, but I still couldn’t bring myself to put the book down!
I haven’t read many fantasy books for a while but this has me yearning to explore new worlds and characters! So now I’ll be patiently waiting for the sequel!
Thank you Laura Foley and Alex Parker Publishing for the review copy!
Irish mythology 🇮🇪
Forced proximity 🛡
Found family 🤍
Love triangle 🖤
High stakes trials ⚔️
“𝘼𝙣 𝙚𝙮𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙮𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙙, 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.”
I went into this book blind without any real knowledge of what to expect and Oh. My. God. it completely exceeded my expectations!
I thought it might end up being a little predictable but it really wasn’t! It was so refreshing to have no idea where the plot was going and even when I thought I had something figured out, I was completely wrong and loved the twists because I didn’t see them coming! To say I was caught off guard is an understatement, I was constantly battling with wanting to put my Kindle down and scream, but also needing to find out what happened next!
I was completely hooked from the beginning, from the story itself to the folklore elements that were woven throughout the entire story. As soon as Clíona was transported to The Otherworld, I couldn’t put it down! I’ve never read a fantasy book that sucked me into the culture so much and felt like such an authentic portrayal of Irish mythology! The world building was so effortless and didn’t feel confusing like a lot of fantasy books can be, it felt like I was right there with Clíona!
The emotions and feelings were so realistic and well written, you’d start off disliking a character and without even realising it you slowly began to like them until a point that you couldn’t even remember why you didn’t like them!
The romance and slight love triangle element felt so natural, and as someone who doesn’t usually read the love triangle trope, I was pleasantly surprised by how well it was written and how it all played out!
It felt like such a rollercoaster of emotions, from anger to happiness and heartbreak! At the end I was sobbing so hard that I couldn’t see the words, but I still couldn’t bring myself to put the book down!
I haven’t read many fantasy books for a while but this has me yearning to explore new worlds and characters! So now I’ll be patiently waiting for the sequel!
Thank you Laura Foley and Alex Parker Publishing for the review copy!
January 7, 2025
If you're a fan of Irish mythology, this book is an absolute must-read! It blends ancient mythological elements with a contemporary setting, creating a captivating story. The FMC Clío, is struggling with what she believes is a "curse" after the tragic death of her brother, Fionn, in a car accident. Since that fateful day, her life has been in freefall, and after spending some time in a mental hospital, she has just returned home to her mother, Mollie. At home, Clío and her mother attend the town's annual festival, but Clío's curse takes over, and in a moment of uncontrollable rage, she kills the mayor. In a panic, she flees to the one place that still feels familiar to her – the treehouse she and her brother once shared. While hiding there, she uncovers a mysterious medallion hidden in the treehouse. As she touches it, the medallion vibrates and transports her to the outskirts of Ériu, a place that feels completely foreign to her.
Upon arrival, Clío meets Rían, who helps her navigate the strange village. The locals speak an ancient language, and Clío struggles to adapt. Her fiery nature leads her to clash with the village leader, though she finds allies in Rían, his older brother Caolann, and other villagers like Bébhinn and her daughter Roísín, who take her in and help her adjust. However, Clío keeps her origins a secret, leading to some suspicion among the villagers. Meanwhile, children begin mysteriously disappearing, adding to the tension.
As Clío unravels the truth about her curse and her powers, she realizes the importance of the Tuatha Dé Danann's trials, which take place during the Lúnasa festival. The winner will not only receive a wish from the Gods but also gain demi-god status. Clío is determined to compete, hoping to use the opportunity to help the village find their children.
This novel is a journey of self-discovery and healing, as Clío grapples with grief and her identity in a new world. It’s a tale of standing up against injustice and embracing the unfamiliar. The story ends on a cliffhanger, leaving readers eagerly awaiting the next book. Overall, I really liked this book and can’t wait to see where Clío’s journey takes her next!
Upon arrival, Clío meets Rían, who helps her navigate the strange village. The locals speak an ancient language, and Clío struggles to adapt. Her fiery nature leads her to clash with the village leader, though she finds allies in Rían, his older brother Caolann, and other villagers like Bébhinn and her daughter Roísín, who take her in and help her adjust. However, Clío keeps her origins a secret, leading to some suspicion among the villagers. Meanwhile, children begin mysteriously disappearing, adding to the tension.
As Clío unravels the truth about her curse and her powers, she realizes the importance of the Tuatha Dé Danann's trials, which take place during the Lúnasa festival. The winner will not only receive a wish from the Gods but also gain demi-god status. Clío is determined to compete, hoping to use the opportunity to help the village find their children.
This novel is a journey of self-discovery and healing, as Clío grapples with grief and her identity in a new world. It’s a tale of standing up against injustice and embracing the unfamiliar. The story ends on a cliffhanger, leaving readers eagerly awaiting the next book. Overall, I really liked this book and can’t wait to see where Clío’s journey takes her next!
March 6, 2025
I was sent a copy of this book for review.
Clíona Murphy believes she is cursed. After killing her brother, she ends up in a mental hospital instead of prison because she is convinced that she can move objects with her mind. When she is finally released, an unfortunate situation escalates into danger, resulting in another death. In her distress, Clíona flees and unwittingly falls through a portal to ancient Ireland, a place filled with magical powers beyond her imagination.
Clíona is trapped in the past and caught between two brothers: Rían, a hunter and her unexpected savior, and Caolann, a warrior who is equally likely to kill her or kiss her. When Clíona learns that local children are disappearing, she believes that if she can help save them, she might break her curse and redeem her soul. To do this, she enters the Tuatha Dé Danann's trials to obtain its prize—a single wish—which she hopes to use to return the children to their families.
To compete in the challenging trials and win the competition, Clíona must embrace her powers and the darkness within her while also learning to trust the people around her. If she fails to do so, she risks losing more than just her life.
A beautifully written fantasy story which featured Irish folklore. I read a lot of fantasy and magic-inspired stories and it was wonderful to finally read one that was based in my own country and was influenced by Irish mythology. Ireland has a rich history of magic and storytelling and this book brought both to life. Clíona was a conflicted character with flaws and trauma, but she also strove to better herself, to save others and to use and understand her powers to do good in the world. I was intrigued by the imaginative world-building that pulled from aspects of historical Irish culture which was infused into the magic trials and everyday life of this story. The love triangle between Clíona, Rían and Caolann was hot, captivating and had me swapping loyalties with each brother as the story unfolded. Overall, a powerfully dramatic narrative with a plot that built to a surprising end.
Clíona Murphy believes she is cursed. After killing her brother, she ends up in a mental hospital instead of prison because she is convinced that she can move objects with her mind. When she is finally released, an unfortunate situation escalates into danger, resulting in another death. In her distress, Clíona flees and unwittingly falls through a portal to ancient Ireland, a place filled with magical powers beyond her imagination.
Clíona is trapped in the past and caught between two brothers: Rían, a hunter and her unexpected savior, and Caolann, a warrior who is equally likely to kill her or kiss her. When Clíona learns that local children are disappearing, she believes that if she can help save them, she might break her curse and redeem her soul. To do this, she enters the Tuatha Dé Danann's trials to obtain its prize—a single wish—which she hopes to use to return the children to their families.
To compete in the challenging trials and win the competition, Clíona must embrace her powers and the darkness within her while also learning to trust the people around her. If she fails to do so, she risks losing more than just her life.
A beautifully written fantasy story which featured Irish folklore. I read a lot of fantasy and magic-inspired stories and it was wonderful to finally read one that was based in my own country and was influenced by Irish mythology. Ireland has a rich history of magic and storytelling and this book brought both to life. Clíona was a conflicted character with flaws and trauma, but she also strove to better herself, to save others and to use and understand her powers to do good in the world. I was intrigued by the imaginative world-building that pulled from aspects of historical Irish culture which was infused into the magic trials and everyday life of this story. The love triangle between Clíona, Rían and Caolann was hot, captivating and had me swapping loyalties with each brother as the story unfolded. Overall, a powerfully dramatic narrative with a plot that built to a surprising end.
January 7, 2025
My first five star book of the year was the second book I completed, the fantastic The Light of Lunasa. Firstly thank you to @laurafoleyauthor for kindly letting me be a part of the arc reviewers in return for an honest review. I absolutely loved The Light of Lunasa from start to finish. It was also my first time reading an Irish mythology inspired book and I loved it. It also inspired me to look up more about the topic.
The Light of Lunasa tells the story of Clíona Murphy, who is suffering with the grief of the passing of her brother in which she blames herself. She has these feelings that she can't control and ends up accidentally killing the mayor. Fleeing from the scene she runs home and finds the runs her brother owned which ends up transporting her to ancient Ireland. Once there she is confused about where she is but soon discovers she's not in her home any longer and she's not the only one with powers. Trapped in this world, Clíona's aid comes in the form of two brothers Rían and Caolann. She soon becomes accustomed to life in this world and makes friends until she learns of the disappearing children. In a quest to find out what happened to the she enters the Tuatha Dé Dananm trials to uncover the truth and redeem herself but will she survive the trials.
I loved the concept and execution of this book! I was feeling fascinated throughout and kept on reading to see what would happen to Clíona and if the truth would've revealed. I won't lie I didn't love Clíona's character at the start with her decisions and self pity but I get the author was trying to show the effects of grief on people. However once she went to this other world I started to love her and the fact she didn't really listen to instructions from others. I absolutely adored the characters of Roisin and Lester, their powers were also so cool. I also loved Rían, I was definitely team Rían in this book!
Overall I loved this one and would definitely recommend picking it up. It's out on the 21st of January!
Favorite quotes:
"Happiness was reserved for those worthy."
"Feels like the stars themselves have been keeping us apart these past few days."
"Even darkness holds beauty."
The Light of Lunasa tells the story of Clíona Murphy, who is suffering with the grief of the passing of her brother in which she blames herself. She has these feelings that she can't control and ends up accidentally killing the mayor. Fleeing from the scene she runs home and finds the runs her brother owned which ends up transporting her to ancient Ireland. Once there she is confused about where she is but soon discovers she's not in her home any longer and she's not the only one with powers. Trapped in this world, Clíona's aid comes in the form of two brothers Rían and Caolann. She soon becomes accustomed to life in this world and makes friends until she learns of the disappearing children. In a quest to find out what happened to the she enters the Tuatha Dé Dananm trials to uncover the truth and redeem herself but will she survive the trials.
I loved the concept and execution of this book! I was feeling fascinated throughout and kept on reading to see what would happen to Clíona and if the truth would've revealed. I won't lie I didn't love Clíona's character at the start with her decisions and self pity but I get the author was trying to show the effects of grief on people. However once she went to this other world I started to love her and the fact she didn't really listen to instructions from others. I absolutely adored the characters of Roisin and Lester, their powers were also so cool. I also loved Rían, I was definitely team Rían in this book!
Overall I loved this one and would definitely recommend picking it up. It's out on the 21st of January!
Favorite quotes:
"Happiness was reserved for those worthy."
"Feels like the stars themselves have been keeping us apart these past few days."
"Even darkness holds beauty."
January 21, 2025
💚🧡 Tropes 🧡💚
Irish Mythology
Forced Proximity
Love Triangle
Found Family
High Stake Trials
Anti-Hero FMC
Lineage Magic
Disability Rep
The Light of Lúnasa allowed me to step right out of my comfort zone and embrace a genre different than my normal reads; fantasy & what better way than a fantasy based in Ireland and mixed with Irish Mythology (I LOVE Irish Mythology). I went into this with zero expectations, just happy to shake things up and enjoy something different and enjoy it I absolutely did.
I was drawn straight into this book, the author grabbed my attention with her descriptive writing and the wonderful magical world she created. There was so much to love in this read, the old ancient Ireland, the Mythology, magic, the very gripping trials and the wonderful characters. I instantly loved Clíona, I loved how fiery & strong she was while also hilariously funny and dripping with sarcasm but I particularly loved her personal growth and how much she embraced & took ownership of her powers.
The romance/love triangle aspect worked really well and flowed naturally into the storyline, I know love triangles is not for everyone but the author did it really well. I really enjoyed the trials, I lot more than I thought I would, they were exciting and nerve wrecking at the same time, I was scared to see what happened at times yet couldn't stop myself from reading. There were also plenty of twists & surprises that I was not expecting and loved.
This was a really enjoyable read, if I'd had expectations it would have exceeded them and some. I cannot wait for the sequel, I think the fantasy seed has been planted.
"An eye for an eye doesn't make the world blind. It makes it easier to ignore the bloodshed of necessary vengeance"
I received an advanced copy of The Light of Lúnasa from the author, all thoughts are my own.
Irish Mythology
Forced Proximity
Love Triangle
Found Family
High Stake Trials
Anti-Hero FMC
Lineage Magic
Disability Rep
The Light of Lúnasa allowed me to step right out of my comfort zone and embrace a genre different than my normal reads; fantasy & what better way than a fantasy based in Ireland and mixed with Irish Mythology (I LOVE Irish Mythology). I went into this with zero expectations, just happy to shake things up and enjoy something different and enjoy it I absolutely did.
I was drawn straight into this book, the author grabbed my attention with her descriptive writing and the wonderful magical world she created. There was so much to love in this read, the old ancient Ireland, the Mythology, magic, the very gripping trials and the wonderful characters. I instantly loved Clíona, I loved how fiery & strong she was while also hilariously funny and dripping with sarcasm but I particularly loved her personal growth and how much she embraced & took ownership of her powers.
The romance/love triangle aspect worked really well and flowed naturally into the storyline, I know love triangles is not for everyone but the author did it really well. I really enjoyed the trials, I lot more than I thought I would, they were exciting and nerve wrecking at the same time, I was scared to see what happened at times yet couldn't stop myself from reading. There were also plenty of twists & surprises that I was not expecting and loved.
This was a really enjoyable read, if I'd had expectations it would have exceeded them and some. I cannot wait for the sequel, I think the fantasy seed has been planted.
"An eye for an eye doesn't make the world blind. It makes it easier to ignore the bloodshed of necessary vengeance"
I received an advanced copy of The Light of Lúnasa from the author, all thoughts are my own.
December 20, 2024
Clíona is still recovering from the death of her brother Fionn, which she confessed to. Clíona thinks she's cursed, and when she accidentally kills again, she stumbles through a portal into ancient Ireland, where people have powers just like hers. Clíona enters the Tuatha Dé Danann’s trials in the hope of winning the prize of a single wish. A wish could help save children who keep going missing. But the trials won't be easy, and Clíona is going to have to risk it all to win...
The setting in this book is unlike any book I've ever read before, and it took me a while to understand the advanced world and the magic system in it. Once I did, I really enjoyed reading about it. The stakes are high, and there's a lot going on. Clíona faces many challenges along the way. The trials and they way they were structured and set out were really interesting. I loved Clíona as a character. She is strong, witty, and independent. You could see how her experiences had changed her, and I think her character was really well developed. I didn't think much of the romance in the book, but that's only because I was so interested in the main plot and story. I just wanted to keep reading about what would happen next. I think the romance complimented the story well, and it did blend in nicely with the plot rather than being shoved in for the sake of there being a romance. The Light of Lunasa took me on a journey of action, high stakes, magic, love, and loss. I really enjoyed it, and I'm glad I took the opportunity to read this ARC as this is not usually a book I would pick up. I recommend this book to fantasy romance and high fantasy readers as the world is so interesting.
Thank you to Laura Foley and Alex Parker Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The setting in this book is unlike any book I've ever read before, and it took me a while to understand the advanced world and the magic system in it. Once I did, I really enjoyed reading about it. The stakes are high, and there's a lot going on. Clíona faces many challenges along the way. The trials and they way they were structured and set out were really interesting. I loved Clíona as a character. She is strong, witty, and independent. You could see how her experiences had changed her, and I think her character was really well developed. I didn't think much of the romance in the book, but that's only because I was so interested in the main plot and story. I just wanted to keep reading about what would happen next. I think the romance complimented the story well, and it did blend in nicely with the plot rather than being shoved in for the sake of there being a romance. The Light of Lunasa took me on a journey of action, high stakes, magic, love, and loss. I really enjoyed it, and I'm glad I took the opportunity to read this ARC as this is not usually a book I would pick up. I recommend this book to fantasy romance and high fantasy readers as the world is so interesting.
Thank you to Laura Foley and Alex Parker Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2024
✨The Light of Lunasa✨
Well now! Laura does NOT hold back on thrusting us straight into the fray, trauma, and action! Alongside our FMC who is going through deep seated grief and fighting sanity, we find ourselves placed in Southern Ireland with a feast of Irish lore and attractive Viking men!
In TLOL, we follow our feisty and struggling FMC, Cliona, as she wanders through life an outcast, a “cracked nut”, harboring the guilt of her brother’s death and a secret power. When she finds a Celtic amulet in her brother’s safe space, she is magically thrust into ancient Ireland where hardship and darkness are common tongues. Saved by two brothers, Clio is now bound to them to be “babysat” or death.
It is in this ancient land full of evil, beauty, and old English style Irish language, that Clio finds more than an adventure, but friendship, acceptance, empowerment, and love.
However, with younglings going missing, Clio decides to enter the trials to gain a god’s favor. It’s here where Clio is tested and betrayed. Laura made sure to blow our minds in the end!
TLOL is full of beautiful imagery, intriguing dialogue and prose (which I absolutely adored how they spoke), and intricate lore. The character growth is well done and the found family is just so so good! And the brothers? Holy smokes; how do you choose? Well, I do think I know who’s team I’m on, but it wasn’t easy! 🤭
Tropes you may find in TLOL are love triangle (light), medium spice, portal fantasy, found family, deadly trials, meddling gods, mental health and grief rep, betrayals and hidden identities, unique powers, and an ending that left me gasping for more.
Thank you, Laura, for connecting with me and this gifted arc. I am so committed for book two!
Well now! Laura does NOT hold back on thrusting us straight into the fray, trauma, and action! Alongside our FMC who is going through deep seated grief and fighting sanity, we find ourselves placed in Southern Ireland with a feast of Irish lore and attractive Viking men!
In TLOL, we follow our feisty and struggling FMC, Cliona, as she wanders through life an outcast, a “cracked nut”, harboring the guilt of her brother’s death and a secret power. When she finds a Celtic amulet in her brother’s safe space, she is magically thrust into ancient Ireland where hardship and darkness are common tongues. Saved by two brothers, Clio is now bound to them to be “babysat” or death.
It is in this ancient land full of evil, beauty, and old English style Irish language, that Clio finds more than an adventure, but friendship, acceptance, empowerment, and love.
However, with younglings going missing, Clio decides to enter the trials to gain a god’s favor. It’s here where Clio is tested and betrayed. Laura made sure to blow our minds in the end!
TLOL is full of beautiful imagery, intriguing dialogue and prose (which I absolutely adored how they spoke), and intricate lore. The character growth is well done and the found family is just so so good! And the brothers? Holy smokes; how do you choose? Well, I do think I know who’s team I’m on, but it wasn’t easy! 🤭
Tropes you may find in TLOL are love triangle (light), medium spice, portal fantasy, found family, deadly trials, meddling gods, mental health and grief rep, betrayals and hidden identities, unique powers, and an ending that left me gasping for more.
Thank you, Laura, for connecting with me and this gifted arc. I am so committed for book two!
January 9, 2025
✨E-Arc Review✨
Absolutely speechless, that’s how I would describe myself right now. I usually would have a good eye for plot twists but I just love those books that absolutely catch you off guard👏🏼 In other words I need the next book now👀.
Now as an Irish woman myself I knew this book would be right up my alley as it is absolutely jam packed with Irish mythology, and honestly it just warms my heart to read about these folklore stories since I was a child mixed in with some romance and adventure💚
Sometimes I’m very reluctant to start a fantasy book but the world building was very smooth and the reader is not overwhelmed with information. This book follows Clíona who is devastated and guilt ridden after she lost her brother and as a result of this spent some time in a mental institution. Honestly, Clíona I absolutely ADORED her. She’s fiery and hilarious 🤣
If you have read the blurb of this book you will be aware there is a slight love triangle and I was very intrigued of the contrast in Clíona’s relationship with both brothers Caolann and Rían. I’m normally not a fan of a love triangle (I am always a why choose girlie) but I felt like the author wrote this trope quite well, which I absolutely commend 👏🏼
Also can I just say this is definitely something I’ve started to like over the last few months but, absolutely yes to the chapter titles👏🏼
If you are looking for a book with the below tropes then I would most certainly look now further.
✨ fantasy romance
✨ magic trials
✨ strong heroine
✨ two brothers who protect our FMC
✨ spice
I cannot wait to dive deeper into this world in the near future. Thank you so much to the author who provided the e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭
Absolutely speechless, that’s how I would describe myself right now. I usually would have a good eye for plot twists but I just love those books that absolutely catch you off guard👏🏼 In other words I need the next book now👀.
Now as an Irish woman myself I knew this book would be right up my alley as it is absolutely jam packed with Irish mythology, and honestly it just warms my heart to read about these folklore stories since I was a child mixed in with some romance and adventure💚
Sometimes I’m very reluctant to start a fantasy book but the world building was very smooth and the reader is not overwhelmed with information. This book follows Clíona who is devastated and guilt ridden after she lost her brother and as a result of this spent some time in a mental institution. Honestly, Clíona I absolutely ADORED her. She’s fiery and hilarious 🤣
If you have read the blurb of this book you will be aware there is a slight love triangle and I was very intrigued of the contrast in Clíona’s relationship with both brothers Caolann and Rían. I’m normally not a fan of a love triangle (I am always a why choose girlie) but I felt like the author wrote this trope quite well, which I absolutely commend 👏🏼
Also can I just say this is definitely something I’ve started to like over the last few months but, absolutely yes to the chapter titles👏🏼
If you are looking for a book with the below tropes then I would most certainly look now further.
✨ fantasy romance
✨ magic trials
✨ strong heroine
✨ two brothers who protect our FMC
✨ spice
I cannot wait to dive deeper into this world in the near future. Thank you so much to the author who provided the e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭
January 5, 2025
Firstly, big thanks to Laura Foley and Alex Park Publishing for letting me be an eARC reader, I was super excited as it was my first time, leading to my first review on goodreads!
When I seen this book I knew I had to get my hands on it, being Irish myself and a big fantasy lover.
I LOVED the Irish references, the strong grounding in the mythology, and the Gaeilge sprinkled throughout. If you’re interested in Irish mythology and enjoy the bit of Irish language I definitely recommend. A bit more explanation of the Irish myths could be beneficial for people who don’t know a lot about it but a deep knowledge base definitely isn’t needed to follow and thoroughly enjoy the story.
Clíona is a truly enjoyable FMC, fiery and funny, I enjoyed her inner monologues and how she interacted with the world. The first part of the story sets up Clíona and understanding her and the world around her as she goes on an unintentional path of self discovery. The second focuses more on the trials and has a lot more action. The romance was good, maybe a bit rushed but good tension and interactions throughout. I loved the characters we met along the way but I did think some characters and relationships could’ve been a bit more developed. I particularly enjoyed friends made during the trials.
I did NOT see some of the twists coming and it did keep me up late reading one night to see where it was going! The trials were nail biting and fast paced, and the climactic ending left me page turning and reeling, I’m excited to see where the story leads next in book 2!
Will definitely be buying a copy when released, hup na húdair Ghaeilge 🇮🇪
When I seen this book I knew I had to get my hands on it, being Irish myself and a big fantasy lover.
I LOVED the Irish references, the strong grounding in the mythology, and the Gaeilge sprinkled throughout. If you’re interested in Irish mythology and enjoy the bit of Irish language I definitely recommend. A bit more explanation of the Irish myths could be beneficial for people who don’t know a lot about it but a deep knowledge base definitely isn’t needed to follow and thoroughly enjoy the story.
Clíona is a truly enjoyable FMC, fiery and funny, I enjoyed her inner monologues and how she interacted with the world. The first part of the story sets up Clíona and understanding her and the world around her as she goes on an unintentional path of self discovery. The second focuses more on the trials and has a lot more action. The romance was good, maybe a bit rushed but good tension and interactions throughout. I loved the characters we met along the way but I did think some characters and relationships could’ve been a bit more developed. I particularly enjoyed friends made during the trials.
I did NOT see some of the twists coming and it did keep me up late reading one night to see where it was going! The trials were nail biting and fast paced, and the climactic ending left me page turning and reeling, I’m excited to see where the story leads next in book 2!
Will definitely be buying a copy when released, hup na húdair Ghaeilge 🇮🇪
February 22, 2025
🌟ARC Review🌟
I was delighted and honoured to receive an ARC copy of The Light of Lúnasa from the lovely Laura Foley. It combines fantasy, romance, and Irish mythology, so it is, of course, right up my alley!
I really enjoyed this story from beginning to end. I found Clíona as a character to be incredibly enjoyable and easy to love. Her inner monologue is highly amusing, and she had plenty of moments that made me laugh out loud.
Rian and Caolann were also really interesting characters to get to know, although I must admit I have a bigger soft spot for Rian than his brother! The way their story slowly unfolded throughout the book was well paced and compelling, and each chapter and reveal kept me hanging for more.
The whole concept of the Lúnasa competition was brilliant, and the high stakes of each trial had me at the edge of my seat. It was a great way to introduce new characters to the story, and it was hard not to grow fond of each of them individually. Special shout out to Lester. He is an absolute gem.
The twists and turns towards the end of the story each blew my mind. I don't know if it was just me being oblivious or what, but I didn't really see any of them coming! There was one in particular at the very end that totally blew my mind. I'd had my suspicions and theories, but I was miles off.
Overall, this was a really great fantasy novel centred around the fascinating world of Irish mythology, and it's well worth a read if you have any interest in those things. I personally can't wait for The Shadow of Samhain in October this year! I already know it's going to be the perfect read for Halloween!
I was delighted and honoured to receive an ARC copy of The Light of Lúnasa from the lovely Laura Foley. It combines fantasy, romance, and Irish mythology, so it is, of course, right up my alley!
I really enjoyed this story from beginning to end. I found Clíona as a character to be incredibly enjoyable and easy to love. Her inner monologue is highly amusing, and she had plenty of moments that made me laugh out loud.
Rian and Caolann were also really interesting characters to get to know, although I must admit I have a bigger soft spot for Rian than his brother! The way their story slowly unfolded throughout the book was well paced and compelling, and each chapter and reveal kept me hanging for more.
The whole concept of the Lúnasa competition was brilliant, and the high stakes of each trial had me at the edge of my seat. It was a great way to introduce new characters to the story, and it was hard not to grow fond of each of them individually. Special shout out to Lester. He is an absolute gem.
The twists and turns towards the end of the story each blew my mind. I don't know if it was just me being oblivious or what, but I didn't really see any of them coming! There was one in particular at the very end that totally blew my mind. I'd had my suspicions and theories, but I was miles off.
Overall, this was a really great fantasy novel centred around the fascinating world of Irish mythology, and it's well worth a read if you have any interest in those things. I personally can't wait for The Shadow of Samhain in October this year! I already know it's going to be the perfect read for Halloween!
January 3, 2025
Many thanks to the author for an ARC of her debut novel.
The first in a new series by author Laura Foley, The Light of Lúnasa follows FMC Clío as she is transported to ancient Ireland. There, she learns to control a powerful magic, while coming to terms with the wrongs this magic has brought upon her in her life before she arrives.
The story is a multi-faceted fantasy; there are some fairly major dark elements, a decent romantic sub-plot, and the setup for a traditional epic of sorts. At the same time, it feeds from and is inspired by many of the traditional Irish folktales, both well-known and not. The way these in particular are woven in show a great passion from the author, and it brings a refreshing take to the story.
The major plot is Clío's journey to accepting her magic. This book is very big on mental health representation, self empowerment and acceptance, and redemption/forgiveness. Clío has had a hard life due to the ways her powers have manifested, and I spent a lot of the book honestly just wishing she would get a break. Her self-torture and self-loathing are a constant presence, so her acceptance arc is such a relief to see.
The romantic sub-plot is an interesting one. The blurb puts it across as a why-choose, but certainly in this book there is some definite choosing. It's a different take on the two-brothers trope, and I'm looking forward to seeing more as the series progresses.
The story overall is an enjoyable one. It flows well, with some big twists that will catch you. That said, the Lúnasa trials weren't as major within the story as I expected, although they played a large part in Clío's motivations. There was a lot of personal setup and development for her before then, which was a refreshing take on the usual magical discovery story.
This was a great debut, and the series as a whole has a lot of promise based on this; I very much look forward to seeing more.
The first in a new series by author Laura Foley, The Light of Lúnasa follows FMC Clío as she is transported to ancient Ireland. There, she learns to control a powerful magic, while coming to terms with the wrongs this magic has brought upon her in her life before she arrives.
The story is a multi-faceted fantasy; there are some fairly major dark elements, a decent romantic sub-plot, and the setup for a traditional epic of sorts. At the same time, it feeds from and is inspired by many of the traditional Irish folktales, both well-known and not. The way these in particular are woven in show a great passion from the author, and it brings a refreshing take to the story.
The major plot is Clío's journey to accepting her magic. This book is very big on mental health representation, self empowerment and acceptance, and redemption/forgiveness. Clío has had a hard life due to the ways her powers have manifested, and I spent a lot of the book honestly just wishing she would get a break. Her self-torture and self-loathing are a constant presence, so her acceptance arc is such a relief to see.
The romantic sub-plot is an interesting one. The blurb puts it across as a why-choose, but certainly in this book there is some definite choosing. It's a different take on the two-brothers trope, and I'm looking forward to seeing more as the series progresses.
The story overall is an enjoyable one. It flows well, with some big twists that will catch you. That said, the Lúnasa trials weren't as major within the story as I expected, although they played a large part in Clío's motivations. There was a lot of personal setup and development for her before then, which was a refreshing take on the usual magical discovery story.
This was a great debut, and the series as a whole has a lot of promise based on this; I very much look forward to seeing more.
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