Grá mo Chroí: Love Stories from Irish Myth

by Ali Isaac

Long ago in a green island surrounded by protective mists, a people lived among the relics of a bygone age of which they knew nothing, not being archaeologists, but around whom they created a mythology. They were a volatile people, easily moved to love or war, and motivated by a strict sense of honour. They had women warriors and handsome lovers, wicked queens and cruel kings, precious heroines and flawed heroes. Magic was in the air, beneath the ground, and in the waves of the sea, and hyperbole was the stuff of stories. They were the Irish, and these are a few retellings of some of their beautiful stories.

88 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 11, 2015

About the author

Author living in beautiful rural Ireland. Represented by the Soho Agency. My first book is currently out on submission. In 2021, I was awarded a Literature Bursary from the Arts Council of Ireland for my current WIP, a creative non–fiction project. In 2020, I was selected for the the Penguin Write Now 2020 mentorship programme, and was awarded a writing mentorship by Words Ireland and the Arts Council of Ireland, in which I worked under the guidance of author Sara Baume. My writing has been published in The Stinging Fly, Sonder, Paper Lanterns, and Catatonic Daughters.

Reviews

[Amy Reade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting and ephemeral

This was a beautiful book of Irish myth, retold by two women who are obviously steeped in Irish history and legend. I was not surprised by the brutality and sadness of these tales--even without knowing many of the legends of Eire, I had a feeling that grief and longing entwine to produce feelings of deep loss and even deeper love against the emerald backdrop of Ireland.

[Bodicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ended up reading this before bedtime last night after opening it up for a quick peek and then reading it to the end. I do like this sort of medieval story; the romance, the heroes and heroines and the style of the writing. This is a short collection and I would have loved more of it.

Jane Dougherty and Ali Issac have created the perfect Valentine read here as they transport us to a place before the internet where stories were told of great deeds and passionate love around the fire after a meal. Men were brave heroes and their women loved them enough to do anything for them, even die. Women unleashed their swords of words or metal and stood beside their men, their beauty enough to stop enemies in their path. Add to that the mystic seas and the charms of the Sidhe and you have tales to tantalise the imagination and spur on young warriors who sought to make their mark in society and have stories told in their honour too. When marriages of the time were often of convenience to join clans or kingdoms, this was a time when true love mattered and was celebrated in the myths of Ireland. Jane and Ali give us a taste of those tales with their retelling of the stories of these Irish myths and with their different, but complimentary, styles of writing make this little book a pleasure to read.

[Chris The Story Reading Ape · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of short stories and poetry, by two very talented authors who specialise in Celtic themes, is a must for lovers of Irish Celtic Mythology.

They bring new life and understanding to the old tales while keeping true to the style of the old storytellers.

An added bonus are taster extracts from their own popular books.

Highly recommended.

See my review also at:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grá-Chroí-Lov...

http://www.amazon.com/Grá-Chroí-Love-...

http://www.amazon.ca/product-reviews/...

http://www.amazon.com.au/product-revi...

[Ronovan Hester · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of short stories linked together by the common theme of love and in some cases by the some characters, even if not actually part of the story.

What I enjoyed about the book was how the language pulled you in and made you become lost in the story and the world of the people involved. This, to me was not about love and tragedies between people but about the love a culture had for its homeland and the struggles they had throughout history.

Having the stories retold in a way we can understand is a great gift we've been given. I'm taking the feeling the writing gives and will be using it in my own writing, or attempting to recapture that feel.

Highly recommended. The only reason for a rating of 4 is due to some initial pauses caused by needing to grow accustomed to the style. As far as enjoyment and the enrichment one receives this is a top notch book

[Lorinda Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection includes three tales by Ali Isaac and two tales and a poem by Jane Dougherty, all of which retell Irish mythical love stories. The retelling of myths is one of my favorite themes in fiction, and these tales do not disappoint. I haven’t read the source materials that the authors draw upon, so I can’t verify their accuracy to the original, but I found them to be a moving blend of the dreamy atmosphere of fantasy and the harsh realities of lost loves. In places I was reminded of the style of one of my favorite authors, Evangeline Walton, in her wonderful adaptations of Welsh myth. Also, I found Jane Dougherty’s poem “Deirdre Wishes for Death” to be excellent, and I’m very fussy about the quality of poetry. I recommend this collection as a satisfying quick read for anyone.

[Beth Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a fondness for all things Irish so I was excited to find this book. As soon as I began the first story, I was transported to a far-away time and place where love could be overshadowed by tragedy and people know the mystical existed. I experienced the joy and heartbreak, the pride and desperation of every character. I enjoyed this book and hope another will follow.

[C.S. Boyack · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book

I love short reads, and pick one up when I can't dedicate time to a whole novel. These stories are wonderful diversions from the more common fantasy stories. Each story can be completed in one sitting, and there are enough of them to enjoy coming back again and again.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Celtic mythology (real or imagined) so when I came across this collection of Irish love stories, I knew I had to read it. Beautifully woven tales drew me in and I was immediately captivated. The stories are well researched and have a clear message of love. Highly recommend!

My Rating: 5 stars