Yellow Sun

by Stiofán Ó Nualláin

Ireland 4,000 years ago. Traditional life in a tiny farming community is irrevocably transformed by the arrival of a stranger with the magic of turning stone into metal. Not everyone is happy. Many are fearful.

“We have no need of this magic,” they protest. “We have always welcomed change, but this knowledge holds a danger far beyond our understanding.”

So, two men from the village, Callan and Lodartha, are instructed to set on a journey to neighbouring clans to seek advice. It’s a journey that brings horror and violence, a journey and an adventure that changes lives forever. Nothing will ever be the same.

A riveting, thought provoking and revealing read, YELLOW SUN is the debut novel from Stiofán Ó Nualláin who worked as a volunteer in a refugee camp during the war in Yugoslavia before returning to Northern Ireland to finish a PhD in Linguistics. For the last twenty years he has been working in the Irish labour movement.

216 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2017

Reviews

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating, immersive, brutal. A thoroughly enjoyable read from cover to cover.

[Ciara Melinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book from start to finish, not least because the compelling protagonist is a fierce young woman! Never having read historical fiction before, it was a wonderful experience to learn about a time so far removed from our own. The author paid such careful attention to detail in every description of landscape, tradition, food and relationships, that you felt you were present with the characters as they journeyed throughout the land. The terrain itself is reflected in the character of Buan; wild, constant and occasionally brutal. The loss of a culture of solidarity is one that rings true even today; as the characters lament the disintegration of their society from greed and the rise of the individual over the collective, we can draw some poignant comparisons with our own society.

This is a truly captivating story of adventure, solidarity, love, loss and triumph.

[Patricia Rooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended, not my usual genre but a really enjoyable page turner; loved the characters, a fast moving plot, surprisingly emotional in parts and looking forward to more from this author.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic debut novel, not something I would normally read but kept me captivated and fascinated. Historical novel with a great storyline. Bought via kindle unlimited but since then have purchased the paperback. Will definitely read this author again.

[Paul O’Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes you on a thought provoking journey back in time to Ireland, 4,000 years ago. A fascinating and tense plot with riveting portrayals of life in stone age Irish landscapes and village settlements, amid a time of major change and confusion for the characters. An adventure that captivates you right from the start and keeps you hooked! Definitely recommend and look forward to more from this author.