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Eirlandia #1
In the Region of the Summer Stars
In the Region of the Summer Stars by Stephen R. Lawhead is the start of an epic fantasy adventure series set in a realm rich in imagination and intrigue, and steeped in the wonder of the Celtic Otherworld.
The isle of Eirlandia has been ravaged by the barbarian Scálda, who seek to conquer all. The High King has called for the warring clans and tribes of the Tuatha DeDanann to set aside their feuds and unite to fight to save their nation.
Conor is the first-born son of the Celtic king Ardan mac Orsi. He should have been battlechief, but a birthmark casts him as unclean and that honor has fallen to his younger brother Liam. Conor is resigned to his fate, but wishes he could do something to earn his tribe’s respect.
Sometimes wishes take unexpected turns—when Conor is wrongly accused of theft and cast out of his tribe, he embarks on a dangerous mission to not only prove his innocence but to expose the treachery that led him on this path. He also seeks the ethereal beauty he saw being abducted by the Scálda. Convinced that she is no mortal woman, but one of the faéry, Conor must find and rescue her.
Because he knows that if the Scálda gain the secret of faéry magic, they will conquer his homeland.
The isle of Eirlandia has been ravaged by the barbarian Scálda, who seek to conquer all. The High King has called for the warring clans and tribes of the Tuatha DeDanann to set aside their feuds and unite to fight to save their nation.
Conor is the first-born son of the Celtic king Ardan mac Orsi. He should have been battlechief, but a birthmark casts him as unclean and that honor has fallen to his younger brother Liam. Conor is resigned to his fate, but wishes he could do something to earn his tribe’s respect.
Sometimes wishes take unexpected turns—when Conor is wrongly accused of theft and cast out of his tribe, he embarks on a dangerous mission to not only prove his innocence but to expose the treachery that led him on this path. He also seeks the ethereal beauty he saw being abducted by the Scálda. Convinced that she is no mortal woman, but one of the faéry, Conor must find and rescue her.
Because he knows that if the Scálda gain the secret of faéry magic, they will conquer his homeland.
333 pages, Hardcover
First published May 15, 2018
217 people are currently reading
1858 people want to read
About the author
Stephen R. Lawhead
102 books2,744 followersStephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium, Patrick, and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion.
Also see his fanpage at Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/stephenlawhead...
Stephen was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. Most of his early life was spent in America where he earned a university degree in Fine Arts and attended theological college for two years. His first professional writing was done at Campus Life magazine in Chicago, where he was an editor and staff writer. During his five years at Campus Life he wrote hundreds of articles and several non-fiction books.
After a brief foray into the music business—as president of his own record company—he began full-time freelance writing in 1981. He moved to England in order to research Celtic legend and history. His first novel, In the Hall of the Dragon King, became the first in a series of three books (The Dragon King Trilogy) and was followed by the two-volume Empyrion saga, Dream Thief and then the Pendragon Cycle, now in five volumes: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, and Grail. This was followed by the award-winning Song of Albion series which consists of The Paradise War, The Silver Hand, and The Endless Knot.
He has written nine children's books, many of them originally offered to his two sons, Drake and Ross. He is married to Alice Slaikeu Lawhead, also a writer, with whom he has collaborated on some books and articles. They make their home in Oxford, England.
Stephen's non-fiction, fiction and children's titles have been published in twenty-one foreign languages. All of his novels have remained continuously in print in the United States and Britain since they were first published. He has won numereous industry awards for his novels and children's books, and in 2003 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Nebraska.
also write under the name Steve Lawhead
Also see his fanpage at Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/stephenlawhead...
Stephen was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. Most of his early life was spent in America where he earned a university degree in Fine Arts and attended theological college for two years. His first professional writing was done at Campus Life magazine in Chicago, where he was an editor and staff writer. During his five years at Campus Life he wrote hundreds of articles and several non-fiction books.
After a brief foray into the music business—as president of his own record company—he began full-time freelance writing in 1981. He moved to England in order to research Celtic legend and history. His first novel, In the Hall of the Dragon King, became the first in a series of three books (The Dragon King Trilogy) and was followed by the two-volume Empyrion saga, Dream Thief and then the Pendragon Cycle, now in five volumes: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, and Grail. This was followed by the award-winning Song of Albion series which consists of The Paradise War, The Silver Hand, and The Endless Knot.
He has written nine children's books, many of them originally offered to his two sons, Drake and Ross. He is married to Alice Slaikeu Lawhead, also a writer, with whom he has collaborated on some books and articles. They make their home in Oxford, England.
Stephen's non-fiction, fiction and children's titles have been published in twenty-one foreign languages. All of his novels have remained continuously in print in the United States and Britain since they were first published. He has won numereous industry awards for his novels and children's books, and in 2003 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Nebraska.
also write under the name Steve Lawhead
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
November 2, 2023
(I received an audiobook version of this courtesy of Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.)
Historical fiction writer Stephen R. Lawhead has been on my radar for a little while now, so when I was offered a copy of his latest, I jumped at the chance to read it!
If you like all things Celtic, In the Region of the Summer Stars is the book for you! Druids, faeries, war chiefs, oh my! I studied the Celtics years ago and really enjoy learning about their culture, so this book rolls all over my wheelhouse.
Fast-paced action moves an exciting story that feels like a legend. At a Welsh tribal clan gathering, questions arise over what to do about invading Dane vikings. A hot-blooded young prince of a sort is confused by a lack of concern that a potent enemy upon their doorstep is not being taken more seriously and he goes off to investigate.
Part action, part mystery and a whole heaping helping of history go into In the Region of the Summer Stars. Lawhead has clearly put in tons of research. He layers on the details, occasionally bogging down a scene here and there, but perpetually building depth within his world to a degree reminiscent of Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth. History buffs should enjoy this, while fantasy fans will find the druids and Lawhead's version of faeries earthily intriguing.
The always excellent John Lee was the perfect choice to narrate this. His deep timbre lends gravitas to the story and further strengthens its legendary qualities. The publisher has uploaded a sample from the book on Soundcloud. So, if you're interested in seeing if the narrator works for you or whatever, here's the clip: https://soundcloud.com/macaudio-2/in-...
Historical fiction writer Stephen R. Lawhead has been on my radar for a little while now, so when I was offered a copy of his latest, I jumped at the chance to read it!
If you like all things Celtic, In the Region of the Summer Stars is the book for you! Druids, faeries, war chiefs, oh my! I studied the Celtics years ago and really enjoy learning about their culture, so this book rolls all over my wheelhouse.
Fast-paced action moves an exciting story that feels like a legend. At a Welsh tribal clan gathering, questions arise over what to do about invading Dane vikings. A hot-blooded young prince of a sort is confused by a lack of concern that a potent enemy upon their doorstep is not being taken more seriously and he goes off to investigate.
Part action, part mystery and a whole heaping helping of history go into In the Region of the Summer Stars. Lawhead has clearly put in tons of research. He layers on the details, occasionally bogging down a scene here and there, but perpetually building depth within his world to a degree reminiscent of Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth. History buffs should enjoy this, while fantasy fans will find the druids and Lawhead's version of faeries earthily intriguing.
The always excellent John Lee was the perfect choice to narrate this. His deep timbre lends gravitas to the story and further strengthens its legendary qualities. The publisher has uploaded a sample from the book on Soundcloud. So, if you're interested in seeing if the narrator works for you or whatever, here's the clip: https://soundcloud.com/macaudio-2/in-...
June 14, 2018
LAWHEAD IS BACK.
I was a tad disappointed in Bright Empires (enjoyable, but not as epic as Pendragon or Albion), so when I saw a new series coming out I was hopeful - and I did well to put my hope in this book! It feels like a mixture of everything I love about Lawhead. It may not be AS legendary as Merlin, but it's just as exciting to read as Taliesin. I think Conor is a great hero to follow. It is unpredictable (I had a couple - wait, what?- moments) and the imagery is stunning as always.
Looking forward to finishing this series! I'm also NOT looking forward to finishing this series - lol! Both feelings are GOOD things.
Yay! Lawhead is back!
I was a tad disappointed in Bright Empires (enjoyable, but not as epic as Pendragon or Albion), so when I saw a new series coming out I was hopeful - and I did well to put my hope in this book! It feels like a mixture of everything I love about Lawhead. It may not be AS legendary as Merlin, but it's just as exciting to read as Taliesin. I think Conor is a great hero to follow. It is unpredictable (I had a couple - wait, what?- moments) and the imagery is stunning as always.
Looking forward to finishing this series! I'm also NOT looking forward to finishing this series - lol! Both feelings are GOOD things.
Yay! Lawhead is back!
February 1, 2019
A delightful mixture of Irish myth and legend involving a young man, Conon, wrongly exiled for theft. Along with a druid he and two stalwart friend from his tribe investigate whether a tribal king, Brecan of the Brigantes, has ambitions of becoming the High King. But Conor, after infiltrating his stronghold finds out there is more to Brecan's ambition than that. They also fight the villains, members of a people similar to Vikings or Saxons. When two of the three are badly injured they are taken by faeries [both male and female] to the faeries' homeland, the "Region of the Summer Stars", different Otherworld locations of Irish myth: e.g., Tir na nOg; Avalon, to be healed.
I've read others of the author's Celtic fantasy and have enjoyed all the novels I read, although fantasy per se is not my favorite genre. [Dragons and other fantastic creatures leave me cold.] His writing reminds me very much of another author I like very much, Guy Gavriel Kay, in that his worlds are thinly disguised real places: Eirlandia=Ireland, in this case. The faeries were all 2-dimensional and the Scalda completely evil. Conor and his friends were intrepid and loyal to each other, which I admired. This is the first volume of a new series; I want to follow their further adventures. My copy had a "teaser" of an excerpt from the next volume.
Highly recommended.
I've read others of the author's Celtic fantasy and have enjoyed all the novels I read, although fantasy per se is not my favorite genre. [Dragons and other fantastic creatures leave me cold.] His writing reminds me very much of another author I like very much, Guy Gavriel Kay, in that his worlds are thinly disguised real places: Eirlandia=Ireland, in this case. The faeries were all 2-dimensional and the Scalda completely evil. Conor and his friends were intrepid and loyal to each other, which I admired. This is the first volume of a new series; I want to follow their further adventures. My copy had a "teaser" of an excerpt from the next volume.
Highly recommended.
July 1, 2018
A new book series by Stephen Lawhead - one of my most favourite authors. Been looking forward to this book for a while, got it for Fathers Day - had to wait a few days before I could find time to start it - but then I had to be disciplined about putting it down - from very early on hooked by the characters and the developing story reminding me very much of the historical retellings of stories that Lawhead does so well. The only drawback - I got to the end too quickly and was left wanting the next in the series immediately! There were twists and turns in the story, interspersed with short chapters telling the story from the individual character's perspective - filling in background detail whilst simultaneously giving insight into the players in the story. As always the descriptions of the scenes, the culture, the practicalities lend depth and substance to the feel and when Lawhead paints his pictures of a better place, a better world - you want it, you want to be there, you know that there must be somewhere like this and that it is the place to be, forever.
January 10, 2023
This first book in Stephen Lawhead's Eirlandia series was epic! As you read it, you can tell that he has studied, in great depth, much about the ancient world, Celtic mythology, ancient history in the British Isles, and he is a very gifted fantasy writer, influenced by George MacDonald, C. S. Lewis, and J R. R. Tolkien. His faith in Christ also comes out in his books in a very honest and universal way for people of all worldviews.
Conor mac Ardan, descended from the Tuatha Dé Danann, is a great hero archetype that overcomes betrayal, insurmountable odds, has a great love for his people, is intelligent, compassionate, has a great love for his wife Aiofe, and is humble. I can certainly see the influence of J. R. R. Tolkien's Aragorn on the great hero.
Lawhead's description of the Faery folk, the mentioning of different ancient Celtic deities, and his beautiful description of the mystical isle of Tír na nÓg, conveyed that mystical sehnsucht joy to me, that Lewis encountered when he read George MacDonald's Phantastes. I am quite excited about reading the second and third books in the series. Please do yourself a favor and read this series!
Conor mac Ardan, descended from the Tuatha Dé Danann, is a great hero archetype that overcomes betrayal, insurmountable odds, has a great love for his people, is intelligent, compassionate, has a great love for his wife Aiofe, and is humble. I can certainly see the influence of J. R. R. Tolkien's Aragorn on the great hero.
Lawhead's description of the Faery folk, the mentioning of different ancient Celtic deities, and his beautiful description of the mystical isle of Tír na nÓg, conveyed that mystical sehnsucht joy to me, that Lewis encountered when he read George MacDonald's Phantastes. I am quite excited about reading the second and third books in the series. Please do yourself a favor and read this series!
June 10, 2018
I am a big Lawhead fan, so whatever bias might come from that I am perfectly okay with acknowledging up front. That said, while there are some really great moments and some genuine potential, In the Region of the Summer Stars is not his best work.
The concept itself I think is really good. The problem is the way he choses to structure the story. For example, for a good portion of the book we are expected to buy into the fact that Connor is a fierce and mighty warrior without knowing how or why he became the warrior that he is. And even when we are given some back story we only get glimpses of what actually motivates him to make hte decisions that he does (the sibling rivalry, a rogue spirit, a partner in love and friendship, always feeling like an outcast).
Likewise we are expected to see the Scalda Warriors as the great enemy of the story but we never actually see the full potential of their dark power and might in context. We eventually get a picture of the dead lands in which they have laid conquered and laid to waste. But we remain somewhat removed from seeing who these people actually are for most if not all of the story. Which means the weight and urgency of Connor's concern is never fully felt
Given that both of these things lower the stakes and confuse any question of motivation, I actually think there was an easy solution to the problem
1. Open with a grand battle from the past involving the Scalda army. Give us the context for why people fear them by putting us as the reader in the centre of what they have done. Likewise, spend some time in the opening chapters showing and developing the sibling rivalry instead of tacking it on as a piece of information via exposition. Take us back to Connor's birth and let us feel the impact of that birthmark and the curse and the way it isolates him as he grows older. I think spending a little bit time establishing the context upfront would have gone a long ways in giving life to what feels like the key themes Lawhead ultimately wants to flesh out (themes of family, loyalty, bravery, love, integrity and mysticism).
Or another example I could cite is the where we first meet the faery people. The extent to which the sight of them (or her) stops Connor in his tracks in the early chapters assumes that these people mean something important to him and to others. They aren't surprised by their existence just awestruck by their appearance. But we don't really find out who these people are until much later on, and again we only ever really scratch the surface. In fact they appear and then vanish for a good deal of time, which is odd for a people that feel so important the story itself.
And again, a solution to this could have been maybe working the faery people into a past conquest by the Scalda people (as mentioned previous). The the way the book develops the diversity of the faery people offered a window to explore this history upfront, and we could easily imagine one group experiencing the oppression of this conquest while others grow in fear of the Scalda because of this.
Lawhead also carries over an issue I had with the Bright Empire series, a series that enthralled me but also left me a bit frustrated. And that is his decision to keep the more interesting characters on the periphery while focusing in on the least interesting (or least developed) one. I would have loved for him to give us much more of the faery people. They add a whole layer to the world building he does here, and for my money the moments where were he was at his strongest and most interesting are the portions where we get glimpses of who they are. I also would have loved more of Madoc and even Fergal and Donal and Aoife. I thought all of them were really strong characters that ended up overshadowed by Connor, someone who never quite sheds his jerkish demeanour and who seems distracted by every beautiful woman who crosses his path despite supposedly being a loyal partner. And because we never really get to see who Connor is in relationship to the others around him, the time we do spend with Connor ends up feeling less than developed.
Most of the conversation here is written with far too quick of a resolve, especially when it comes to the interpersonal conflict, or even the inner conflict with Connor himself. It would have been great to really explore the potential for Connor to really go rogue and to paint him as a somewhat ambiguous and troubled character who never really knows which side he is on or who the good and bad guys are.
With all that said, I do admit that I was incredibly excited to pick this one up and I still did have a hard time putting it down. I think Lawhead's skill for conceptualized story telling is on display here, and the last two chapters I felt were really strong. Unfortunately it ends just when it finds its stride, but thankfully there is another one on the way. The boat scene and a few of the battle scenes are worth mention as well, and while I wish he had done more of it, I really liked how he shifts from different perspectives using the same, interweaving time line. It's a neat effect that comes to full display in the final chapters. Hopefully we get more of that in future instalments. And there is little doubt I will still be first in line to purchase book 2.
The concept itself I think is really good. The problem is the way he choses to structure the story. For example, for a good portion of the book we are expected to buy into the fact that Connor is a fierce and mighty warrior without knowing how or why he became the warrior that he is. And even when we are given some back story we only get glimpses of what actually motivates him to make hte decisions that he does (the sibling rivalry, a rogue spirit, a partner in love and friendship, always feeling like an outcast).
Likewise we are expected to see the Scalda Warriors as the great enemy of the story but we never actually see the full potential of their dark power and might in context. We eventually get a picture of the dead lands in which they have laid conquered and laid to waste. But we remain somewhat removed from seeing who these people actually are for most if not all of the story. Which means the weight and urgency of Connor's concern is never fully felt
Given that both of these things lower the stakes and confuse any question of motivation, I actually think there was an easy solution to the problem
1. Open with a grand battle from the past involving the Scalda army. Give us the context for why people fear them by putting us as the reader in the centre of what they have done. Likewise, spend some time in the opening chapters showing and developing the sibling rivalry instead of tacking it on as a piece of information via exposition. Take us back to Connor's birth and let us feel the impact of that birthmark and the curse and the way it isolates him as he grows older. I think spending a little bit time establishing the context upfront would have gone a long ways in giving life to what feels like the key themes Lawhead ultimately wants to flesh out (themes of family, loyalty, bravery, love, integrity and mysticism).
Or another example I could cite is the where we first meet the faery people. The extent to which the sight of them (or her) stops Connor in his tracks in the early chapters assumes that these people mean something important to him and to others. They aren't surprised by their existence just awestruck by their appearance. But we don't really find out who these people are until much later on, and again we only ever really scratch the surface. In fact they appear and then vanish for a good deal of time, which is odd for a people that feel so important the story itself.
And again, a solution to this could have been maybe working the faery people into a past conquest by the Scalda people (as mentioned previous). The the way the book develops the diversity of the faery people offered a window to explore this history upfront, and we could easily imagine one group experiencing the oppression of this conquest while others grow in fear of the Scalda because of this.
Lawhead also carries over an issue I had with the Bright Empire series, a series that enthralled me but also left me a bit frustrated. And that is his decision to keep the more interesting characters on the periphery while focusing in on the least interesting (or least developed) one. I would have loved for him to give us much more of the faery people. They add a whole layer to the world building he does here, and for my money the moments where were he was at his strongest and most interesting are the portions where we get glimpses of who they are. I also would have loved more of Madoc and even Fergal and Donal and Aoife. I thought all of them were really strong characters that ended up overshadowed by Connor, someone who never quite sheds his jerkish demeanour and who seems distracted by every beautiful woman who crosses his path despite supposedly being a loyal partner. And because we never really get to see who Connor is in relationship to the others around him, the time we do spend with Connor ends up feeling less than developed.
Most of the conversation here is written with far too quick of a resolve, especially when it comes to the interpersonal conflict, or even the inner conflict with Connor himself. It would have been great to really explore the potential for Connor to really go rogue and to paint him as a somewhat ambiguous and troubled character who never really knows which side he is on or who the good and bad guys are.
With all that said, I do admit that I was incredibly excited to pick this one up and I still did have a hard time putting it down. I think Lawhead's skill for conceptualized story telling is on display here, and the last two chapters I felt were really strong. Unfortunately it ends just when it finds its stride, but thankfully there is another one on the way. The boat scene and a few of the battle scenes are worth mention as well, and while I wish he had done more of it, I really liked how he shifts from different perspectives using the same, interweaving time line. It's a neat effect that comes to full display in the final chapters. Hopefully we get more of that in future instalments. And there is little doubt I will still be first in line to purchase book 2.
November 3, 2019
Lawhead’s Celtic mythology/history is always a pleasure.
August 11, 2019
Lawhead takes us on a wild ride through old Ireland, as seen through the eyes of Conor, a marked young man who must overcome misunderstandings, banishment, and his own impetuous ways. There are battles and warriors and faeries. It's a deeply rooted, yet fantastical look at bygone days. And I loved every page of it.
July 2, 2018
Fall into the ancient lands of Erin (Eirlandia) and become engrossed in Celtic myth and legend. Lawhead has a soothing, steady-paced voice which makes reading his stories a LONG TIME not noticed (until the book falls from your hand because you've gone to sleep in the early hours!)
This is the story of Conor, eldest son of a local King; not expected to take over because he has a facial mark which casts him as unworthy. However, he is a good warrior, and always tries his best; but at a meeting of all the Kings of Erin, he is accused of theft and lying. (Untrue) He is thrown out as an outlaw, and thus his adventures begin as he tries to prove his innocence. Travelling over most of the land he manages to rescue some "fae" from the Scalda (nasty people) and the Formori (real historical people who invaded Ireland in the Dark Ages)
The mix of History, Myth and Legend works beautifully (as usual) and the next book is well anticipated.
This is the story of Conor, eldest son of a local King; not expected to take over because he has a facial mark which casts him as unworthy. However, he is a good warrior, and always tries his best; but at a meeting of all the Kings of Erin, he is accused of theft and lying. (Untrue) He is thrown out as an outlaw, and thus his adventures begin as he tries to prove his innocence. Travelling over most of the land he manages to rescue some "fae" from the Scalda (nasty people) and the Formori (real historical people who invaded Ireland in the Dark Ages)
The mix of History, Myth and Legend works beautifully (as usual) and the next book is well anticipated.
March 15, 2020
Another deftly woven tale by master storyteller Stephen R. Lawhead, this book is sure to enchant fans new and old alike. It certainly delighted me! It felt like coming home. A new favorite! There are usually a handful of books each year that I want to award six out of five stars, and this is one of them.
Lawhead’s Bright Empires books are some of my favorites ever, so I was extremely excited to finally dive into Eirlandia. And book one has so lived up to my hopes! I love it so much and I can’t wait to read the second one soon to prep for the final book in the trilogy, releasing this summer. (Aaahh!)
I loved disappearing between the pages in this utterly absorbing tale, full of adventure and rich detail and characters who spring to life in this green land of wonders and warriors and words. I lived and breathed it, completely captivated. I love Celtic things, and this is a splendid Celtic Fantasy. I need more books like this!
A few things I loved:
THE SETTING + FEEL
From the first page I just felt so at home reading In the Region of the Summer Stars. The feel of this book touched my Irish soul and makes me think back on memories of the tales of old Ireland that I grew up listening to and reading about. Stepping through the page into Eirlandia made me so happy to just be there.
Welcome to a skillfully woven tale of warriors and druids and faery. Travel the rolling hills and secret forests and cliffs by the sea. Join these various clans and feel the strong themes of brothers-in-arms, honor, loyalty, and fierce bravery, but with dashes of good-natured humor. I didn’t know quite what I expected, but it was everything I wanted. ^_^
The way the characters talk is also great—I love how it has an Irish lilt to it just with the way they say things. It makes me happy. (And their lighthearted Irish sense of humor which is the best.) I also loved the familiar words and names, the rich history and lore they’re drawn from, and even the sounds of them. Brehons, Tuatha de Danann, Lughnasadh, Tylwyth Teg, Tir nan Og. Oenach, Aoife, Eamon, Brigantes. Harps and pipes and bodhran drums, checked cloaks and spears and brooches and torcs. Just all of it. ^_^ The sound and feel of it makes me happy like nothing else does aside from J. R. R. Tolkien’s world of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings. (And yes, I do have an idea of how to pronounce most of those, I promise. XD)
THE PLAYERS
Then there’s Conor. Conor mac Ardan has this marvelous way of being clever and stubborn and loyal and thick-headed and chaotically reckless all in turn. He’s my favorite! I loved following him through the book on his journey. The way he comes up with the most outlandish plans that are sheer crazy and yet somehow he charges in and pulls them off—mostly. It’s the best! And yet he’s super smart, too, sometimes, and a really skilled warrior (honestly, though. So. Epic.), and you won’t meet a more loyal or honorable friend, either. Occasionally Madoc or Donal and Fergal have to smack some sense into him, but that just makes him all the more human. ;) Conor is the best, okay! My new favorite hero.
I love the other inhabitants of this tale as well! Conor’s brothers-in-arms Donal and Fergal are fabulous. I love their camaraderie with Conor and each other, and their loyalty and joking around! It’s like the best kind of brother/buddy tale and I love it. Madoc is a marvelous mentor-type character—I loved him and his dryness and wisdom, and how he makes Conor work at figuring things out instead of just telling him things. :P Rhiannon is fascinating but I won’t spoil info about her. And so many other people. They’re all so real and I just loved reading about them! Oh, and the bits between some of the chapters, from the points of view of other characters than Conor, were fabulous and enlightening. So neat.
I loved seeing some good and wise druids (yesss) and bards, and the faery were magnificent. I was quite pleased with how they were written and hope to see more of them! They felt just right. Another thing I appreciated was the horses and how central they were to the story, and how the warriors cared for them. They were like characters themselves instead of just transportation that gets forgotten about like in some fantasy books. XD The attention to details like that was delightful.
THE STORY + ENDING
While it’s not non-stop action (though there is a bunch of that!), the story definitely kept me absorbed and on the edge of my seat the entire time, full of devious plots and intrigue and mysteries, which were fascinating to follow along as Conor and company attempted to untangle the threads to see the pattern lurking behind all the guile. Threats and invaders, cunning kings and betrayal, secrets and hidden schemes . . . it was all there!
(Just a heads-up that there were one or two scenes that were a tad dark or gruesome etc., so a brief caution to younger readers or those who prefer to avoid it. Other than a couple of parts, though, I wouldn’t have minded reading it in my teen years in the not-so-distant-past.)
There were some marvelous twists at the end that had me going WHAAAAT! :O That ending, though! It was sooo good. So many things going down. O_O I stayed up late and finished around midnight and WOW. It ended on a wee bit of a cliffhanger, so it did. ;) I need to get my hands on a copy of In the Land of the Everliving as soon as I can, or sooner!
CONCLUSION
Ancient Ireland + warrior brothers-in-arms + mystery/adventure + faery + druids + delightful characters + masterful writing = what’s not to love? IT’S JUST SO GOOD. I love it so much!
In the Region of the Summer Stars was magnificent and blew me away. I’m thrilled to have stepped into Eirlandia in this tale, and I can’t wait to go back. <3
Review originally posted here: https://wp.me/p4FNfq-13V
Lawhead’s Bright Empires books are some of my favorites ever, so I was extremely excited to finally dive into Eirlandia. And book one has so lived up to my hopes! I love it so much and I can’t wait to read the second one soon to prep for the final book in the trilogy, releasing this summer. (Aaahh!)
I loved disappearing between the pages in this utterly absorbing tale, full of adventure and rich detail and characters who spring to life in this green land of wonders and warriors and words. I lived and breathed it, completely captivated. I love Celtic things, and this is a splendid Celtic Fantasy. I need more books like this!
A few things I loved:
THE SETTING + FEEL
From the first page I just felt so at home reading In the Region of the Summer Stars. The feel of this book touched my Irish soul and makes me think back on memories of the tales of old Ireland that I grew up listening to and reading about. Stepping through the page into Eirlandia made me so happy to just be there.
Welcome to a skillfully woven tale of warriors and druids and faery. Travel the rolling hills and secret forests and cliffs by the sea. Join these various clans and feel the strong themes of brothers-in-arms, honor, loyalty, and fierce bravery, but with dashes of good-natured humor. I didn’t know quite what I expected, but it was everything I wanted. ^_^
The way the characters talk is also great—I love how it has an Irish lilt to it just with the way they say things. It makes me happy. (And their lighthearted Irish sense of humor which is the best.) I also loved the familiar words and names, the rich history and lore they’re drawn from, and even the sounds of them. Brehons, Tuatha de Danann, Lughnasadh, Tylwyth Teg, Tir nan Og. Oenach, Aoife, Eamon, Brigantes. Harps and pipes and bodhran drums, checked cloaks and spears and brooches and torcs. Just all of it. ^_^ The sound and feel of it makes me happy like nothing else does aside from J. R. R. Tolkien’s world of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings. (And yes, I do have an idea of how to pronounce most of those, I promise. XD)
THE PLAYERS
Then there’s Conor. Conor mac Ardan has this marvelous way of being clever and stubborn and loyal and thick-headed and chaotically reckless all in turn. He’s my favorite! I loved following him through the book on his journey. The way he comes up with the most outlandish plans that are sheer crazy and yet somehow he charges in and pulls them off—mostly. It’s the best! And yet he’s super smart, too, sometimes, and a really skilled warrior (honestly, though. So. Epic.), and you won’t meet a more loyal or honorable friend, either. Occasionally Madoc or Donal and Fergal have to smack some sense into him, but that just makes him all the more human. ;) Conor is the best, okay! My new favorite hero.
I love the other inhabitants of this tale as well! Conor’s brothers-in-arms Donal and Fergal are fabulous. I love their camaraderie with Conor and each other, and their loyalty and joking around! It’s like the best kind of brother/buddy tale and I love it. Madoc is a marvelous mentor-type character—I loved him and his dryness and wisdom, and how he makes Conor work at figuring things out instead of just telling him things. :P Rhiannon is fascinating but I won’t spoil info about her. And so many other people. They’re all so real and I just loved reading about them! Oh, and the bits between some of the chapters, from the points of view of other characters than Conor, were fabulous and enlightening. So neat.
I loved seeing some good and wise druids (yesss) and bards, and the faery were magnificent. I was quite pleased with how they were written and hope to see more of them! They felt just right. Another thing I appreciated was the horses and how central they were to the story, and how the warriors cared for them. They were like characters themselves instead of just transportation that gets forgotten about like in some fantasy books. XD The attention to details like that was delightful.
THE STORY + ENDING
While it’s not non-stop action (though there is a bunch of that!), the story definitely kept me absorbed and on the edge of my seat the entire time, full of devious plots and intrigue and mysteries, which were fascinating to follow along as Conor and company attempted to untangle the threads to see the pattern lurking behind all the guile. Threats and invaders, cunning kings and betrayal, secrets and hidden schemes . . . it was all there!
(Just a heads-up that there were one or two scenes that were a tad dark or gruesome etc., so a brief caution to younger readers or those who prefer to avoid it. Other than a couple of parts, though, I wouldn’t have minded reading it in my teen years in the not-so-distant-past.)
There were some marvelous twists at the end that had me going WHAAAAT! :O That ending, though! It was sooo good. So many things going down. O_O I stayed up late and finished around midnight and WOW. It ended on a wee bit of a cliffhanger, so it did. ;) I need to get my hands on a copy of In the Land of the Everliving as soon as I can, or sooner!
CONCLUSION
Ancient Ireland + warrior brothers-in-arms + mystery/adventure + faery + druids + delightful characters + masterful writing = what’s not to love? IT’S JUST SO GOOD. I love it so much!
In the Region of the Summer Stars was magnificent and blew me away. I’m thrilled to have stepped into Eirlandia in this tale, and I can’t wait to go back. <3
Review originally posted here: https://wp.me/p4FNfq-13V
August 6, 2019
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. Lawhead spins another wonderfully entertaining tale in this first book of a new series. Definitely moving on to the second book in the series and hoping for many more books to come.
August 19, 2018
The first time I read a novel by Stephen Lawhead was during a six-week hospital stay in 1992. A friend, knowing I needed an escape from the ache and despair that follows a head-on collision, sent me THE SONG OF ALBION trilogy. In a state of anguish I cracked open book one, The Paradise War, wondering if I even had the will to read. Within the first few paragraphs I found myself transported across time and space, landing firmly in the Celtic Otherworld; a world that captivated my spirit, baptized my imagination, and laid the foundation for my Lawhead mega-fan status. Since that time I have voraciously read all twenty-nine of his novels, many of them repeatedly. So when I heard about his newest series, the EIRLANDIA trilogy, I was ecstatic. In the Region of the Summer Stars was the Lawhead novel I didn’t know I had been waiting two decades for.
In the Region of the Summer Stars transports us to pre-Christian Ireland, during one of the five great Eire invasions where myth, magic, and the edge of a sword are intricate to the fabric of life. I’ve lead pilgrimages to Ireland almost as long as I’ve read Lawhead books so this particular setting felt like a homecoming. There is an “Irishness” to the story that echoes true. Conor, the story’s hero, draws you into his adventure, his heartache, his courageousness, and his despair. The narrative’s emotional depth keeps you longing for more.
In July I hiked the 70-mile Borders Abbeys Way in Scotland. In preparation for hours of hillwalking, I downloaded the audiobook and lost myself in the story while soaking in the hills and vales of the Scottish borderlands. The experience was an aesthetic wonder. I drank in the words and natural surroundings like sudsy draughts of ale from an age long past.
I await book number two eager to find where the story will transport me next. If you’ve never picked up a Lawhead novel I implore you to join the journey, especially if you are a fan of fantasy, historical fiction, and magical new worlds.
In the Region of the Summer Stars will lead you down the slippery slope of Lawhead magic and, once enchanted, you’ll never want to come back to the real world.
In the Region of the Summer Stars transports us to pre-Christian Ireland, during one of the five great Eire invasions where myth, magic, and the edge of a sword are intricate to the fabric of life. I’ve lead pilgrimages to Ireland almost as long as I’ve read Lawhead books so this particular setting felt like a homecoming. There is an “Irishness” to the story that echoes true. Conor, the story’s hero, draws you into his adventure, his heartache, his courageousness, and his despair. The narrative’s emotional depth keeps you longing for more.
In July I hiked the 70-mile Borders Abbeys Way in Scotland. In preparation for hours of hillwalking, I downloaded the audiobook and lost myself in the story while soaking in the hills and vales of the Scottish borderlands. The experience was an aesthetic wonder. I drank in the words and natural surroundings like sudsy draughts of ale from an age long past.
I await book number two eager to find where the story will transport me next. If you’ve never picked up a Lawhead novel I implore you to join the journey, especially if you are a fan of fantasy, historical fiction, and magical new worlds.
In the Region of the Summer Stars will lead you down the slippery slope of Lawhead magic and, once enchanted, you’ll never want to come back to the real world.
October 4, 2018
I think the thing I love the most about Lawhead's books is that in every book I read he transports me back (or forward) and until I put the book down I am right there with the character. He does the same It is the same in this book. The thing that really impressed me about this one was that there some elements to this book that are different than his others. He takes the reader down some different paths that in the past he hasn't necessarily avoided but just not used. I was surprised at how short it was but it didn't take away from the story at all and in fact, may be prepping for book two. As in his other books, he makes it a point to develop his characters so that as you read the book you find yourself getting to know each character more intimately, almost as if you are growing up with them At times reading their thoughts and feeling what they're feeling. Well worth the read and I am hoping that book two comes out soon as I am ready and waiting for it!
August 3, 2018
The Scálda are attacking the Irish.
Add two stars if you like the High Fantasy style of writing.
Connor's younger brother is jealous of him, and one of the Irish kings is colluding with the Scálda. The two circumstances run into each other and Connor is exiled. The Druids are also divided, is there anything they can do to save Ireland, and should they even be doing anything? What about the fairys, why are the Scálda kidnapping them - aside from the 'kidnap beautiful women' idea?
I realized by page 100 that this story is taking twice as long as it had to, and started skipping pages.
The short chapters by alternate points of view are interesting, don't skip those.
I really loved Lawhead's book Sherwood, though.
Add two stars if you like the High Fantasy style of writing.
Connor's younger brother is jealous of him, and one of the Irish kings is colluding with the Scálda. The two circumstances run into each other and Connor is exiled. The Druids are also divided, is there anything they can do to save Ireland, and should they even be doing anything? What about the fairys, why are the Scálda kidnapping them - aside from the 'kidnap beautiful women' idea?
I realized by page 100 that this story is taking twice as long as it had to, and started skipping pages.
The short chapters by alternate points of view are interesting, don't skip those.
I really loved Lawhead's book Sherwood, though.
did-not-finish
January 23, 2021DNF'd at 38%. I usually love Lawhead's stories, characters, and prose. I just couldn't get into this book. The pacing was wonky. The prose bland, and most of the characters reminded me far to much of what would happen if you threw Anakin, Loki, Achilles, and Odysseus in a blender. I wasn't enjoying the read, and I see no need to torture myself. The book was far to juvenile in feel and sound from how emotions and reactions were written for an adult best seller, and yet the prose was so academic sounding. I felt Like I was reading a lengthy treatment for a book or a first draft, not a polished story. I do believe this book is set during one of the eras found in The Book of Invasions. That part was interesting. I didn't enjoy the execution of it.
May 31, 2018
I have enjoyed readng all of Stephen Lawhead's books and I enjoyed reading this one as well. Some of the character personalities were reminiscent of characters in Lord of the Rings. I would have given this book 5 stars but there were quite a few words that I didn't know. I didn't know if they were made up or actual archaic Irish / English words that I couldn't find a definition for. I did my best to put them in the context of the sentence. All-in-all it it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to its sequel
July 9, 2018
Well written, I love a good Celtic story. I look forward to the next in the series.
June 19, 2018
I managed to get through the first chapter or two of this book. It wasn't great. It needed better writing and a better editor. For example, the prologue has this one guy show up to a crappy village, and somehow that one village is also a kingdom?
So, this guy shows up, and he has nice clothes, a weird hair style, and a really nice horse. Connor, the main character and currently 10 years old in the prologue, is reeeeeeally taken by this horse. Some village boy next to the main character boy somehow knows this guy is a druid from the weird hairstyle, and we're told that druids are a big deal, but not why. So, the druid presents himself to the king (for some unknown reason), he doesn't like his level of hospitality, and curses the kingdom/town.
This guy takes like half an hour to do this, and the entire time he's surrounded by townsfolk that are only described as 'warriors'. So all of these armed warriors just watch this dingbat walk around, point at things, and slowly draw in the dirt, doing nothing, and finally he speaks in a dark tongue and curses the heck out of them. A spear in the back would have done nicely, jerks. You evidently just allowed this guy to curse your kingdom 5 generations down the line!
So then the druid states that his curse cannot be undone, and turns to leave. That's when Connor's father begs him to undo it. Uh, weren't you listening! But, he abases himself, blah blah blah, and the druid says he'll say something true, says some nice, prophecy type things about the guys three kids, then steals Connor's youngest brother.
That's when it gets weird. In the space of a page, the druid starts alternating calling himself a druid and a bard. The heck? This is just weird.
The prologue ends by saying that after the curse, they cast the old king out, then some kind of pirates showed up and 'blackened the land' or some such with their numbers, ruining everything!
The first actual chapter jumps forward 10 years, and all we get is that the locals are doing just fine against the pirates, thank-you-very-much, and Connor still wants a nice horse. They ambush a bunch of pirates, kill them all... but Connor lets one dude get away with a faerie lady. Just like before, he just watches as they ride away.
Whatever! The book failed to hook me.
So, this guy shows up, and he has nice clothes, a weird hair style, and a really nice horse. Connor, the main character and currently 10 years old in the prologue, is reeeeeeally taken by this horse. Some village boy next to the main character boy somehow knows this guy is a druid from the weird hairstyle, and we're told that druids are a big deal, but not why. So, the druid presents himself to the king (for some unknown reason), he doesn't like his level of hospitality, and curses the kingdom/town.
This guy takes like half an hour to do this, and the entire time he's surrounded by townsfolk that are only described as 'warriors'. So all of these armed warriors just watch this dingbat walk around, point at things, and slowly draw in the dirt, doing nothing, and finally he speaks in a dark tongue and curses the heck out of them. A spear in the back would have done nicely, jerks. You evidently just allowed this guy to curse your kingdom 5 generations down the line!
So then the druid states that his curse cannot be undone, and turns to leave. That's when Connor's father begs him to undo it. Uh, weren't you listening! But, he abases himself, blah blah blah, and the druid says he'll say something true, says some nice, prophecy type things about the guys three kids, then steals Connor's youngest brother.
That's when it gets weird. In the space of a page, the druid starts alternating calling himself a druid and a bard. The heck? This is just weird.
The prologue ends by saying that after the curse, they cast the old king out, then some kind of pirates showed up and 'blackened the land' or some such with their numbers, ruining everything!
The first actual chapter jumps forward 10 years, and all we get is that the locals are doing just fine against the pirates, thank-you-very-much, and Connor still wants a nice horse. They ambush a bunch of pirates, kill them all... but Connor lets one dude get away with a faerie lady. Just like before, he just watches as they ride away.
Whatever! The book failed to hook me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2020
‘Do you trust me?’ ‘I trust you as much as I trust any man.’ ‘Hmph! There speaks a suspicious man—a wary and skeptical man.’ ‘If so, perhaps I have earned my suspicions.’
Lawhead doing what he does best: light epic fantasy. A fun read with the right mix of protagonist stupidity and nobleness to hook epic fantasy fans. Fast paced and readable. Loosely based on the geography and history of Ireland.
‘Our lives may be forfeit, but Brecan must be stripped of power or he will become invincible—and all Eirlandia will pay the price.’ ‘Put like that, a fella would have to be a fool to accept.’ ‘Aye. And you, my son, are the very fool for this chore.’
Like most Lawhead works, male centric. The women characters seem to exist solely to define the men. Not necessarily bad, but noticeable. Even the men (good, bad, and other) tend toward the stereotypic.
“Thus, the world is changed—not with a sword, but with a word.”
Lawhead doing what he does best: light epic fantasy. A fun read with the right mix of protagonist stupidity and nobleness to hook epic fantasy fans. Fast paced and readable. Loosely based on the geography and history of Ireland.
‘Our lives may be forfeit, but Brecan must be stripped of power or he will become invincible—and all Eirlandia will pay the price.’ ‘Put like that, a fella would have to be a fool to accept.’ ‘Aye. And you, my son, are the very fool for this chore.’
Like most Lawhead works, male centric. The women characters seem to exist solely to define the men. Not necessarily bad, but noticeable. Even the men (good, bad, and other) tend toward the stereotypic.
“Thus, the world is changed—not with a sword, but with a word.”
June 27, 2020
Stephen Lawhead is a master at blowing fresh wind into the sails of classic fantasy adventures. This one had such a strong sense of place and time as it explored Eirlandia, a land of warring Celtic clans and faéry magic.
I loved our hero, Conor: headstrong, brave, snarky, and at times a little stupid. His best friends, Donal and Fergal, were hilarious and loyal to a fault. And then there's Madoc, the grouchy druid who's perhaps my favorite character.
Together, with several others they pick up along the way, they form an eclectic squad and set out to prove the deception of the overreaching High King—and save their homeland from the barbarian Scálda warriors.
Swords, horseback riding, courageous stealth missions, ships, chase scenes, druids, kings, tribal warfare and mysterious faéries fill these pages, and it all comes to a satisfactory (yet not) conclusion! This book is clearly a setup for the rest of the trilogy, which I don't mind. I'm curious what will become of Eirlandia's people, especially Conor's younger brother, Ronan.
While I liked Lawhead's Bright Empires series better, this still gets 4 stars from me!
I loved our hero, Conor: headstrong, brave, snarky, and at times a little stupid. His best friends, Donal and Fergal, were hilarious and loyal to a fault. And then there's Madoc, the grouchy druid who's perhaps my favorite character.
Together, with several others they pick up along the way, they form an eclectic squad and set out to prove the deception of the overreaching High King—and save their homeland from the barbarian Scálda warriors.
Swords, horseback riding, courageous stealth missions, ships, chase scenes, druids, kings, tribal warfare and mysterious faéries fill these pages, and it all comes to a satisfactory (yet not) conclusion! This book is clearly a setup for the rest of the trilogy, which I don't mind. I'm curious what will become of Eirlandia's people, especially Conor's younger brother, Ronan.
While I liked Lawhead's Bright Empires series better, this still gets 4 stars from me!
June 30, 2018
4.5 Stars A very good story... A much better series than his last one. Really enjoying the story of Conor and his friends...
July 23, 2018
Not sure of the classification, but a pretty good story,: well-written, interesting plot, realistic characters. Will be looking for the sequels.
March 26, 2020
I guess I just don't like Lawhead. 🤷♀️
July 11, 2018
This was a good one. Took me a bit of time to get into but now I am looking forward to what comes next in the series.
August 8, 2020
I am a huge fan of Lawhead's prior work (LOVED the Celtic Crusade trilogy) and was eager to read something new by him. This one left me massively disappointed.
For me, the distance and spacing of this world are wayyy off and drove me crazy, making it impossible to enjoy the rest
1) The Scalda have been a threat for years? What caused the invasion to pause where it did and what keeps them apart? They are apparently a day or two apart yet no battles? He hasn't seen his brother in a decade but he's only a day's strong travel away? If the main tension in the world is a king trying to bring Eirlandia together to stop the invading Scalda I'd like to get a sense of how Eirlandia is currently resisting (and why it's insufficient) and why the Scalda were stopped where they were. This doesn't feel like two civilizations clashing... it's 10 guys with this king versus 10 guys with that king, seeming all living peacefully for the last several years. What's going on??? Oh wait, they are making lots of hoops, that's a mystery. Huh??? They are at a stalemate with the Scalda hoping chariots will break the deadlock?? They are separated by a day or two travel..what's preventing either side from gaining an advantage. Again, the entire novel is centered around the threat that one Eirlandia king is trying to consolidate power. So all these tiny kings not currently coordinating very well have held the Scalda off for years??? Failing to define the tension between the two of them means I never truly understand Conors motivations. The Scalda are going to help Brecan take power how?? If this is the entire conspiracy plot the book is centered on it should be credible.
2) Distance and tracking are bizarre. Numerous times Conor flees confrontations with an enemy and bizarrely is never followed. One minute they are fleeing pursuers on horseback, but the next minute they gain the woods and that's the last pursuers are heard of. He can rescue a faery but quickly gain safety in a nearby cave, even returning to look at the rath again that same night and is NEVER followed or seen? Yet on another occasion Conor can leave a full day later than a party he's intending to follow and despite having no idea where they are headed and them having a days head start, a paragraph later he's on a bluff overlooking their camp? What? If you're in the middle of a skirmish against a brutal enemy warlord, he's probably going to follow and be able to track you when he's 50ft away from you on horseback.
The most infuriating and bizarre for me was when he was sailing a Scalda ship and being pursued by a Scalda ship IMMEDIATELY behind them. They crash into rocks, and literally minutes later the pursuing ship crashes into the exact same rocks and ship... yet Conor and crew struggle to shore, AND THE PURSUERS ARE NEVER SEEN OR MENTIONED AGAIN??? Like the dude literally spends time combing the beach, AND SWIMS BACK OUT INTO THE WATER TRYING TO RECOVER A LOST COMPANION and there is nothing mentioned of the pursuers?? Did they vanish into thin air? He covers bizarre distances quickly and the enemy NEVER follows or discovers him.
Trying to get a sense of the space and distance of this world combined with the ease at which Conor covered spaces without enemy pursuit drove me crazy. For me it made the entire thing seem like incredibly poor transitions between little set-piece writing scenes.
For me, the distance and spacing of this world are wayyy off and drove me crazy, making it impossible to enjoy the rest
1) The Scalda have been a threat for years? What caused the invasion to pause where it did and what keeps them apart? They are apparently a day or two apart yet no battles? He hasn't seen his brother in a decade but he's only a day's strong travel away? If the main tension in the world is a king trying to bring Eirlandia together to stop the invading Scalda I'd like to get a sense of how Eirlandia is currently resisting (and why it's insufficient) and why the Scalda were stopped where they were. This doesn't feel like two civilizations clashing... it's 10 guys with this king versus 10 guys with that king, seeming all living peacefully for the last several years. What's going on??? Oh wait, they are making lots of hoops, that's a mystery. Huh??? They are at a stalemate with the Scalda hoping chariots will break the deadlock?? They are separated by a day or two travel..what's preventing either side from gaining an advantage. Again, the entire novel is centered around the threat that one Eirlandia king is trying to consolidate power. So all these tiny kings not currently coordinating very well have held the Scalda off for years??? Failing to define the tension between the two of them means I never truly understand Conors motivations. The Scalda are going to help Brecan take power how?? If this is the entire conspiracy plot the book is centered on it should be credible.
2) Distance and tracking are bizarre. Numerous times Conor flees confrontations with an enemy and bizarrely is never followed. One minute they are fleeing pursuers on horseback, but the next minute they gain the woods and that's the last pursuers are heard of. He can rescue a faery but quickly gain safety in a nearby cave, even returning to look at the rath again that same night and is NEVER followed or seen? Yet on another occasion Conor can leave a full day later than a party he's intending to follow and despite having no idea where they are headed and them having a days head start, a paragraph later he's on a bluff overlooking their camp? What? If you're in the middle of a skirmish against a brutal enemy warlord, he's probably going to follow and be able to track you when he's 50ft away from you on horseback.
The most infuriating and bizarre for me was when he was sailing a Scalda ship and being pursued by a Scalda ship IMMEDIATELY behind them. They crash into rocks, and literally minutes later the pursuing ship crashes into the exact same rocks and ship... yet Conor and crew struggle to shore, AND THE PURSUERS ARE NEVER SEEN OR MENTIONED AGAIN??? Like the dude literally spends time combing the beach, AND SWIMS BACK OUT INTO THE WATER TRYING TO RECOVER A LOST COMPANION and there is nothing mentioned of the pursuers?? Did they vanish into thin air? He covers bizarre distances quickly and the enemy NEVER follows or discovers him.
Trying to get a sense of the space and distance of this world combined with the ease at which Conor covered spaces without enemy pursuit drove me crazy. For me it made the entire thing seem like incredibly poor transitions between little set-piece writing scenes.
June 24, 2018
True to form, Steven Lawhead weaves a tale of fantasy and adventure worth reading. Set in Eirlandia, he mixes historical fiction with legend to make a story that grabs you from the beginning. His characters are rich, the settings picturesque. He knows the history and legends well from the Celts. The only sadness is I must now wait til his 2nd book in the series releases.
June 22, 2018
Great book! I can't wait for the next in the series ❤❤❤
June 13, 2018
This is the first Lawhead book I have picked up in years, and I can say that I’m glad I did. The story (early Ireland this time) is well paced and interesting, with just enough research for the historically interested, but with some of the fantastical as well. The story begins with a druidic curse and is mainly the story of one family clan and their reactions to the invasions from across the sea. This is the first in a new series and I will be interested to see where he takes it.
May 29, 2018
I loved going to Eirlandia, and also back to Avalon, with Stephen Lawhead! (I've read all of his fiction books except for a few of the children's.) I really enjoyed the characters and the story, even if it does leave you hanging a bit at the end -I hope there will be a next one!! There are some surprising twists near/at the end, which I rather liked! :) I loved Conor, and also Rhiannon, though I wasn't sure how I'd feel about her at the beginning.
On the negative side, there is one really gruesome scene just before the middle of the book, which, I am sure, is something that may have happened in some barbaric tribes, etc. However, if you are bothered by such things, this may not be a story for you... There was also a scene or two that I thought would be rather impossible, which I thought was unusual for a Stephen Lawhead book!
Overall, I really like this story. Thanks, Mr. Lawhead!!
On the negative side, there is one really gruesome scene just before the middle of the book, which, I am sure, is something that may have happened in some barbaric tribes, etc. However, if you are bothered by such things, this may not be a story for you... There was also a scene or two that I thought would be rather impossible, which I thought was unusual for a Stephen Lawhead book!
Overall, I really like this story. Thanks, Mr. Lawhead!!
June 9, 2018
Exceptional and exciting
Steven has outdone himself yet again. Never a dull moment. Brilliant and lovable characters. The plot is memorizing. I am waiting anxiously for the next installment.
Steven has outdone himself yet again. Never a dull moment. Brilliant and lovable characters. The plot is memorizing. I am waiting anxiously for the next installment.
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