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Celtic Blood #1
Celtic Blood
Set in 13th century Scotland. The son of the murdered Earl of Ross, is a fugitive when his family, rival claimants for Scotland's crown, are declared traitors. Influenced by MacBeth and the writting of Nigel Tranter it is a tale of high drama and suspense.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2011
34 people are currently reading
1231 people want to read
About the author
James John Loftus
5 books41 followersThe author has been interested in medieval history since seeing a book with a cover detailing the battle of Agincourt. The book engaged his imagination, and drew him to the period. Unable to read until in grade five some remedial tuition enabled him to commence on the journey from avid book reader to writer. He has four novels to date, two in the Celtic Blood series, and two in The Fool King series and a co-credit as a feature film writer, Underdog's Tale.
He was in the Queensland Police Service for ten years reaching the rank of senior constable. A former Karate instructor he is a past Queensland champion.
He lives in Brisbane with his wife and two children.
He was in the Queensland Police Service for ten years reaching the rank of senior constable. A former Karate instructor he is a past Queensland champion.
He lives in Brisbane with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
September 7, 2012
The story of young thirteen year old Morgund MacAedh and his friend and protector, Seward, starts in Scotland in 1210, where there is much treachery and traitorous villainy afoot. With the murder of Morgund’s father, Kenneth, he must escape before he too is murdered.
On horseback they fled with six men for protection, but after Morgund was betrayed by the very men sent to protect him, it was Seward who saved him, and led him out of Scotland, into England, where he was a fugitive for many, many years. He suffered imprisonment, near death, and extreme hardship, but as he grew to adulthood, he was more and more determined to return to Scotland, and reclaim his heritage.
The history of the MacAedh clan of Scotland, originating with Morgund to be the clan Mackay, is a very interesting one. The intrigue and suspense, along with the horrors of the clan wars kept the pages turning. My only issue with the novel is the lack of editing, which, if done, would turn this into a brilliant historical fiction novel.
I have read and reviewed this novel by request of the author. 3.5 stars.
On horseback they fled with six men for protection, but after Morgund was betrayed by the very men sent to protect him, it was Seward who saved him, and led him out of Scotland, into England, where he was a fugitive for many, many years. He suffered imprisonment, near death, and extreme hardship, but as he grew to adulthood, he was more and more determined to return to Scotland, and reclaim his heritage.
The history of the MacAedh clan of Scotland, originating with Morgund to be the clan Mackay, is a very interesting one. The intrigue and suspense, along with the horrors of the clan wars kept the pages turning. My only issue with the novel is the lack of editing, which, if done, would turn this into a brilliant historical fiction novel.
I have read and reviewed this novel by request of the author. 3.5 stars.
April 9, 2012
Review also posted at The Owl Review
I was asked by the author to review this book and received a print review-copy.
Actual rating, 2.5 stars
This book starts off with introducing a shipwrecked Seward who washes ashore and finds
himself surrounded by strangers. The writing style is very fluid and heavy on descriptives.
Often times though, I found myself wondering why there was so much discussion about certain
aspects of a characters thoughts, because it was stalling the story instead of moving it forward.
I had a very difficult time finishing this book. I did not feel drawn into the lives of the
characters, or as though I truly cared about Morgunds quest for his claim to the throne.
I kept feeling as though I was lost as to what exactly was happening in the story and where
it was going. Sometimes, historical stories are dry and difficult to read because of that, but this was not the case for this book. Each section and paragraph was lacking a cohesive writing that started, drew you into it, and followed a path to lead the reader along the way to the culmination of the tale. I just felt at a loss for where exactly this story was taking me, and what point the author was expressing from section to section. I feel that it really needs a good editing to take all these pieces and put them together in a flowing way that really makes a strong story.
At times, the words themselves are flowing, and the ability of the author to write is there, but tying those words and sentences together in a manner that tells the story is lacking. At other
times, there are fragmented thoughts and sentences, or obvious punctuation errors that jolt
the flow of the story. Some of the paragraphs I was automatically editing in my head as I
read so that they were correct, which was a bit frustrating since that takes me out of the
story.
During reading, I noticed there were big chunks of historical information given in one paragraph. Take for instance, the evolution of a Surname. This also made for a less flowing story line as they read like they just flew out suddenly and then it went back to the story.
Something else that I had trouble with in this story, was a conversation of religion some of
the characters were having. They were discussing ones belief in the god "Wicca" and how they were followers of Wicca. I didn't understand this part since this story is set in the year 1210, and Wicca is a neo-Pagan religion, that was not begun until the 1960's.
Overall, with this story, it wasn't tight, and didn't have good pace. I was eager to read
it based on it being about Scottish history, but found it a slow and difficult read because it didn't keep me interested. Perhaps some good editing would be able to take this authors descriptives and fit them together better. It's definitely great to see some new authors taking interest in history, and namely Scotland.
I was asked by the author to review this book and received a print review-copy.
Actual rating, 2.5 stars
This book starts off with introducing a shipwrecked Seward who washes ashore and finds
himself surrounded by strangers. The writing style is very fluid and heavy on descriptives.
Often times though, I found myself wondering why there was so much discussion about certain
aspects of a characters thoughts, because it was stalling the story instead of moving it forward.
I had a very difficult time finishing this book. I did not feel drawn into the lives of the
characters, or as though I truly cared about Morgunds quest for his claim to the throne.
I kept feeling as though I was lost as to what exactly was happening in the story and where
it was going. Sometimes, historical stories are dry and difficult to read because of that, but this was not the case for this book. Each section and paragraph was lacking a cohesive writing that started, drew you into it, and followed a path to lead the reader along the way to the culmination of the tale. I just felt at a loss for where exactly this story was taking me, and what point the author was expressing from section to section. I feel that it really needs a good editing to take all these pieces and put them together in a flowing way that really makes a strong story.
At times, the words themselves are flowing, and the ability of the author to write is there, but tying those words and sentences together in a manner that tells the story is lacking. At other
times, there are fragmented thoughts and sentences, or obvious punctuation errors that jolt
the flow of the story. Some of the paragraphs I was automatically editing in my head as I
read so that they were correct, which was a bit frustrating since that takes me out of the
story.
During reading, I noticed there were big chunks of historical information given in one paragraph. Take for instance, the evolution of a Surname. This also made for a less flowing story line as they read like they just flew out suddenly and then it went back to the story.
Something else that I had trouble with in this story, was a conversation of religion some of
the characters were having. They were discussing ones belief in the god "Wicca" and how they were followers of Wicca. I didn't understand this part since this story is set in the year 1210, and Wicca is a neo-Pagan religion, that was not begun until the 1960's.
Overall, with this story, it wasn't tight, and didn't have good pace. I was eager to read
it based on it being about Scottish history, but found it a slow and difficult read because it didn't keep me interested. Perhaps some good editing would be able to take this authors descriptives and fit them together better. It's definitely great to see some new authors taking interest in history, and namely Scotland.
July 10, 2014
Well WAW I loved this book could not put it down exceptional story this book took you in and made you believe you where there with the characters good strong characters and story lines were excellent and now I would like to know will there be a second book to follow this wonderful adventure so with all that said keep the smiling going and happy reading to all with the love from wee me.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
August 24, 2012
great story. The shipwreck start is magnificent. You can feel yourself struggling in the freezing water, being thrown onto the beach half drowned, exhausted, raising your head to witness a massacre. At every turn the story is exciting. The author’s imagination is intense, the evocation of ancient Scotland poetic and powerful. He’s especially good at battle scenes where the severely injured characters are unsure whether they are alive or dead. The fight scenes have incredible power.
September 14, 2012
A captivating look into the history of Scotland that takes the reader into the highlands with a front row seat. Early on in the story there is an extensive explanation of the Scottish clans and royal line's family tree. This I found very helpful in putting the timeline and story in general into perspective. Dabbling in pagan black magic also brought the story into new heights. Morgund who begins as just a young boy of 13 truly develops into a remarkable character. Along with his companion and sworn protector Seward from Norse descent, the duo battle a great number of trials both on the battlefield and within themselves. They are tested time and time again and just when you begin to think the action will cease the story leads you into yet another amazing situation.
September 9, 2012
my gratitude goes to the author who sent me a hard copy of this book.
The amount of work and research that has gone into this book must have taken a lot of work.
It is very descriptive
One thing about the book, it goes from back story then back to the main story and back again.
This necessarily isn't a bad thing. it just made it even more interesting.
It's like a really interesting history lesson, or lesson in Scottish feuds or something like that.
I really liked the book and was upset it had to end
The amount of work and research that has gone into this book must have taken a lot of work.
It is very descriptive
One thing about the book, it goes from back story then back to the main story and back again.
This necessarily isn't a bad thing. it just made it even more interesting.
It's like a really interesting history lesson, or lesson in Scottish feuds or something like that.
I really liked the book and was upset it had to end
December 21, 2013
“Celtic Blood” is an action-packed tale, telling the story of struggle of the Clan MacAedh as its members fight to stay alive.
Read full review in the 2013 Dec/Jan Holiday issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2013 Dec/Jan Holiday issue of InD’tale Magazine.
January 12, 2013
I found the story to be interesting but it was let down by editing issues which made it hard to read.
March 28, 2014
I Loved this book! Historical novels are my favorite, so this story was my cup of tea. I recommended this book to friends & family. A must read for lovers of Scottish history.
June 14, 2023
This novel was a bit of a struggle for me.
I loved the setting, historical Scotland in a time when the clans were warring each other, with only a small thought toward England.
The descriptions in this novel were wonderful. I could see myself on the rolling hills and dark forests.
The characters were also well written, they seemed to be fleshed out well and despite some two dimensional conversations, seemed real enough. The amount of characters and bouncing back and forth between them was a bit confusing, but did lend to a robust story line.
My main issue with this novel was the pace and editing. At times the tale flew by, I was immersed in the writing, the characters, and their struggles. I found myself speeding through, desperate to know what happens next.
Other times however, I found myself bogged down by chunky narrative and strange pacing. Some of the scenes seemed to need some editing, they have the impression of flashes in the dark – disjointed sentences and images cobbled together. The dialogue between characters showed this same disconnect at times as well.
Overall, this is a good book of historical Scotland and the struggles found within.
I received this novel from Kindle Unlimited with recommendation from the author. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
I loved the setting, historical Scotland in a time when the clans were warring each other, with only a small thought toward England.
The descriptions in this novel were wonderful. I could see myself on the rolling hills and dark forests.
The characters were also well written, they seemed to be fleshed out well and despite some two dimensional conversations, seemed real enough. The amount of characters and bouncing back and forth between them was a bit confusing, but did lend to a robust story line.
My main issue with this novel was the pace and editing. At times the tale flew by, I was immersed in the writing, the characters, and their struggles. I found myself speeding through, desperate to know what happens next.
Other times however, I found myself bogged down by chunky narrative and strange pacing. Some of the scenes seemed to need some editing, they have the impression of flashes in the dark – disjointed sentences and images cobbled together. The dialogue between characters showed this same disconnect at times as well.
Overall, this is a good book of historical Scotland and the struggles found within.
I received this novel from Kindle Unlimited with recommendation from the author. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
June 24, 2017
This is a well thought out story of a rarely discussed time in Scotland. Few even fictional stories attempt to tackle this time in history. It was educational with a thought to entertain. Many readers may find the fighting particularly invigorating
April 21, 2012
When reading a book, a lot of factors go in to the overall experience a reader has from it. There is, of course, the story, which is the biggest part. The physical book itself, cover, size, paper type, and font play a part as well, which with the advent of eReaders, that is somewhat taken out of the mix. The last part is to consider is the flow of the sentences and punctuation.
All that being said, when I read Celtic Blood I was immediately drawn into the story. I'm not a fact checker, and if the history seems to make sense, that is good enough for me. So, whether this book is historically accurate, I can't say. The story itself is top notch, and I can tell the author is very passionate about the characters and the telling of their tale. If I were to rate just the story, I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. It kept me very interested and I didn't want to put it down. It's not one of those books where you can't wait to get to the next chapter so you can stop for a while. This is a book you could easily sit down and read all the way through. The tale could readily get bogged down in the warfare, the political jostling, or overly descriptive narrations about the Scottish landscape. Mr. Loftus doesn't succumb to any of these temptations. He stays true to the characters and guides you into and out of their lives in a most comfortable way. There is a little of everything in this book, romance, intrigue, swashbuckling, supernatural, history, and politics, and it all meshes so finely together.
As I stated before, the other factors involved in the reading experience are where this falls short and detracts from the overall enjoyment of this story. Not everyone makes it to the large publishers, even if they should. So with the convenience of print-on-demand, many excellent stories make it to the public. However, proof-reading and editing shouldn't be ignored. There were a lot of punctuation and sentence structure errors in this book which drug down the flow of the story quit a bit for me. Also, the table of contents doesn't match the actual page numbers for the chapters. The story is written with some parts feeling like poetry, some like a screenplay, and some like a novel. When they are all put together, it makes the reader focus on the reading more and not on the mental images that are normally conjured as you read. This book would really benefit from an impartial party to edit and correct the issues listed above. It's hard from an authors perspective to edit your own book, because you are so attached the the story, you can't experience it the way a new reader can.
I look forward to Mr. Loftus' next book, whether he heeds my advice or not, as he has a gift for telling a good tale.
All that being said, when I read Celtic Blood I was immediately drawn into the story. I'm not a fact checker, and if the history seems to make sense, that is good enough for me. So, whether this book is historically accurate, I can't say. The story itself is top notch, and I can tell the author is very passionate about the characters and the telling of their tale. If I were to rate just the story, I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. It kept me very interested and I didn't want to put it down. It's not one of those books where you can't wait to get to the next chapter so you can stop for a while. This is a book you could easily sit down and read all the way through. The tale could readily get bogged down in the warfare, the political jostling, or overly descriptive narrations about the Scottish landscape. Mr. Loftus doesn't succumb to any of these temptations. He stays true to the characters and guides you into and out of their lives in a most comfortable way. There is a little of everything in this book, romance, intrigue, swashbuckling, supernatural, history, and politics, and it all meshes so finely together.
As I stated before, the other factors involved in the reading experience are where this falls short and detracts from the overall enjoyment of this story. Not everyone makes it to the large publishers, even if they should. So with the convenience of print-on-demand, many excellent stories make it to the public. However, proof-reading and editing shouldn't be ignored. There were a lot of punctuation and sentence structure errors in this book which drug down the flow of the story quit a bit for me. Also, the table of contents doesn't match the actual page numbers for the chapters. The story is written with some parts feeling like poetry, some like a screenplay, and some like a novel. When they are all put together, it makes the reader focus on the reading more and not on the mental images that are normally conjured as you read. This book would really benefit from an impartial party to edit and correct the issues listed above. It's hard from an authors perspective to edit your own book, because you are so attached the the story, you can't experience it the way a new reader can.
I look forward to Mr. Loftus' next book, whether he heeds my advice or not, as he has a gift for telling a good tale.
December 20, 2013
Celtic Blood by James Loftus
This is an adventure story from the Dark Ages based on events which passed during the signing of The Magna Carta. A hearty story written by an Australian author, who with the benefit of distance and time, has managed to create the Scottish equivalent of the Bayeaux Tapestry by painting a picture of medieval Scottish history during the time of King John of England. In a constant state of flux the Northern Scotts were always at the mercy of the powerful Norman warlords who treated them all like surfs, if not slaves and butchered them at will. But this is where our Scottish hero’s come into the picture, characters beautifully portrayed by the writer James Loftus. It is a story about tough young men who live on the cusp of Christianity, who still wander into the world of warlocks and witches - the Merlin’s of their day – and somehow survive.
The first of these young men is a boat wrecked Danish lad whose life is spared by the Clan MacAedh led by Kenneth the Earl of Ross and his followers. Called Seward, he is taken in by the Clan and grows into a rather formidable warrior and swordsman. The second young man is Morgund who is the son of Kenneth. He is considered to be somewhat of a mummy’s boy, showing little inclination to become as warlike as his peers might wish, who all quietly harbor contempt for him.
This story is about the rite of passage of both these young characters and how they go innocently out into their small world - on death of Kenneth - in order for the boy Morgund to establish his inheritance as the Earl of Ross and his birthright as the true King of Scotland. Sadly, he does not achieve the latter, but during this epic journey he has to face his father’s murderers, to suffer imprisonment, humiliation but finally he also experiences love. With his ‘minder’ Seward – who gets him out of various scrapes – he learns to use the sword, and to finally kill in battle. Coming home as men who have lived and loved, fought and found new strength, they return to the now depleted remnants of the Clan MacAedh, destined to make it great again.
James Loftus writes rather cleverly in the spirit of the age. These are not sophisticated people but they are strong and determined fighters who are dominated by their landscape and the beauty of Scotland the weather and the seasons, and why would they be otherwise? The story takes the reader through foreign lands and towns full of merriment and kindness, but it also takes the reader into hell with drug crazed crones and wickedness. This story might make a Scotsman shed a small tear, but he would do so whist reaching for his claymore and dirk in order to settle a score!
This is an adventure story from the Dark Ages based on events which passed during the signing of The Magna Carta. A hearty story written by an Australian author, who with the benefit of distance and time, has managed to create the Scottish equivalent of the Bayeaux Tapestry by painting a picture of medieval Scottish history during the time of King John of England. In a constant state of flux the Northern Scotts were always at the mercy of the powerful Norman warlords who treated them all like surfs, if not slaves and butchered them at will. But this is where our Scottish hero’s come into the picture, characters beautifully portrayed by the writer James Loftus. It is a story about tough young men who live on the cusp of Christianity, who still wander into the world of warlocks and witches - the Merlin’s of their day – and somehow survive.
The first of these young men is a boat wrecked Danish lad whose life is spared by the Clan MacAedh led by Kenneth the Earl of Ross and his followers. Called Seward, he is taken in by the Clan and grows into a rather formidable warrior and swordsman. The second young man is Morgund who is the son of Kenneth. He is considered to be somewhat of a mummy’s boy, showing little inclination to become as warlike as his peers might wish, who all quietly harbor contempt for him.
This story is about the rite of passage of both these young characters and how they go innocently out into their small world - on death of Kenneth - in order for the boy Morgund to establish his inheritance as the Earl of Ross and his birthright as the true King of Scotland. Sadly, he does not achieve the latter, but during this epic journey he has to face his father’s murderers, to suffer imprisonment, humiliation but finally he also experiences love. With his ‘minder’ Seward – who gets him out of various scrapes – he learns to use the sword, and to finally kill in battle. Coming home as men who have lived and loved, fought and found new strength, they return to the now depleted remnants of the Clan MacAedh, destined to make it great again.
James Loftus writes rather cleverly in the spirit of the age. These are not sophisticated people but they are strong and determined fighters who are dominated by their landscape and the beauty of Scotland the weather and the seasons, and why would they be otherwise? The story takes the reader through foreign lands and towns full of merriment and kindness, but it also takes the reader into hell with drug crazed crones and wickedness. This story might make a Scotsman shed a small tear, but he would do so whist reaching for his claymore and dirk in order to settle a score!
February 17, 2017
I had finished reading this book a couple of weeks back, yet I kept procrastinating when it came to reviewing this book. There were so many thoughts popping up in my mind that I just had to let things calm down before writing a review. Also, this is a difficult book to review as I do not know how much I can revealing the whole plot of the book.
The story begins with Seward being washed ashore after a shipwreck. He finds himself on the shores of Scotland where he is rescued by Kenneth MacAedh, an Earl. Grateful, Seward vows his loyalty to him with little idea about what he was getting himself into. When an age old feud between the MacAedh Clan and King Alexander claims the life of Kenneth, Seward takes it upon himself to protect Morgund, Kenneth’s son. With no one they can trust, Seward and Morgund must fight on to regain their position and for Morgund to exact revenge of his father’s death.
I had almost no knowledge of Scotland’s history and culture (except for kilts and bagpipes) before picking up this book. So it was interesting for me to get a glance at the Scottish Clans and its Royalty. The book is a treasure cove for those who would like to know more about Scotland’s past. I have not researched any of the information, and so I cannot vouch for its authenticity. But the author sure does make it all fell very real through his narration and storytelling. It was also very interesting to see the characters of Seward and Morgund grow and develop right in front of us. Morgund really surprised me with his growth. Some characters felt a bit unwanted in the story and some characters could have done with some back story to them. The plot of the story keeps the readers engaged and just when you think you have read it all, the author puts a new twist to it and creates another breath taking situation. However, I have to admit the whole experience of reading this book was made difficult due to lack of proper editing. There were some typo errors and stuff that even I could not ignore for long. Also, the cover of the book doesn’t do justice to the story that lies within.
Overall, it was a pleasant experience to learn something new about a country I know very little about.
The story begins with Seward being washed ashore after a shipwreck. He finds himself on the shores of Scotland where he is rescued by Kenneth MacAedh, an Earl. Grateful, Seward vows his loyalty to him with little idea about what he was getting himself into. When an age old feud between the MacAedh Clan and King Alexander claims the life of Kenneth, Seward takes it upon himself to protect Morgund, Kenneth’s son. With no one they can trust, Seward and Morgund must fight on to regain their position and for Morgund to exact revenge of his father’s death.
I had almost no knowledge of Scotland’s history and culture (except for kilts and bagpipes) before picking up this book. So it was interesting for me to get a glance at the Scottish Clans and its Royalty. The book is a treasure cove for those who would like to know more about Scotland’s past. I have not researched any of the information, and so I cannot vouch for its authenticity. But the author sure does make it all fell very real through his narration and storytelling. It was also very interesting to see the characters of Seward and Morgund grow and develop right in front of us. Morgund really surprised me with his growth. Some characters felt a bit unwanted in the story and some characters could have done with some back story to them. The plot of the story keeps the readers engaged and just when you think you have read it all, the author puts a new twist to it and creates another breath taking situation. However, I have to admit the whole experience of reading this book was made difficult due to lack of proper editing. There were some typo errors and stuff that even I could not ignore for long. Also, the cover of the book doesn’t do justice to the story that lies within.
Overall, it was a pleasant experience to learn something new about a country I know very little about.
April 27, 2014
I was contacted by the author via goodreads.com and offered a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I had not been previously acquainted with this author or his writing.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a great story with wonderful characters. Morgund's transformation from meek child to great warrior was really interesting to follow. Seward's loyalty and great frienship showed his depth of character very well. However, as great men and warriors they seemed to be rather clueless as to their affect on the females they encountered. Morgund noticed some, but I don't think he understood the depth of their feelings. Enough about the romantic part of the story.
The book kept me turning pages late into the night. The only reason it took me so long to read is that my personal life has been very busy as of late. I picked up the book any chance I had and read as much as time would allow as often as possible. There is never a dull moment. Lots of action. Some comedy. Quite a bit of sorrow, but that is to be expected when at war.
I almost stopped reading at the "cannibalism" scene. That really bothered me. I am glad that I did not stop. I continued to read and my issue was resolved with later explation of that scene.
The book could use some more editing as sometimes a word was misplaced, but since it was spelled correctly (but not used correctly) it was not noticed and therefore not corrected.
I was very excited when coming to the last chapters as I was sure there would be a sequal to fill in all that was yet to happen. Then the ending felt very rushed. It wrapped up quickly with a bare minimum of explanation as to how the story ended. I felt there should have been more chapters to give full details as to how it all worked out. But that's just my opinion. I hope it does not stop you from reading this great story for yourself. If you like action with honor, I recommend this book to you. I'm certain you will enjoy it. I consider it a very, very good read.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a great story with wonderful characters. Morgund's transformation from meek child to great warrior was really interesting to follow. Seward's loyalty and great frienship showed his depth of character very well. However, as great men and warriors they seemed to be rather clueless as to their affect on the females they encountered. Morgund noticed some, but I don't think he understood the depth of their feelings. Enough about the romantic part of the story.
The book kept me turning pages late into the night. The only reason it took me so long to read is that my personal life has been very busy as of late. I picked up the book any chance I had and read as much as time would allow as often as possible. There is never a dull moment. Lots of action. Some comedy. Quite a bit of sorrow, but that is to be expected when at war.
I almost stopped reading at the "cannibalism" scene. That really bothered me. I am glad that I did not stop. I continued to read and my issue was resolved with later explation of that scene.
The book could use some more editing as sometimes a word was misplaced, but since it was spelled correctly (but not used correctly) it was not noticed and therefore not corrected.
I was very excited when coming to the last chapters as I was sure there would be a sequal to fill in all that was yet to happen. Then the ending felt very rushed. It wrapped up quickly with a bare minimum of explanation as to how the story ended. I felt there should have been more chapters to give full details as to how it all worked out. But that's just my opinion. I hope it does not stop you from reading this great story for yourself. If you like action with honor, I recommend this book to you. I'm certain you will enjoy it. I consider it a very, very good read.
February 19, 2017
***SPOILER FREE***
I was kindly sent a physical copy of this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review. Before I get into the novel itself, I must say that the layout is wonderfully set. Every page is clear, easy to read and well-presented.
Celtic Blood is about a young man by the name of Morgund MacAedhand his side-kick Seward. Set in 13th century Scotland where violence and treachery is rampant, the story starts with a horrible shipwreck. During the struggle to survive the freezing waters, you as the reader experience the same terror as the poor unfortunate character.
Good aspects: Loftus' descriptions of the characters and their behavioral traits provided much detail into their lives. As a sucker for well-written characters, this is a massive plus for me. It must be said that the amount of research that the author did for this novel astounds me. Anyone with a love for history will find this novel intriguing. One big thing for me was also the descriptions of action. It wasn't difficult to imagine what was happening and the author invites the reader to bring their own opinions to the table while reading this novel. This novel also has a nice arching plot throughout.
What could be worked on: While the descriptions provided great detail, I would get lost in translation somewhere along the way. Because there was so much information Loftus had to add, there was a few instances of “info-dumping”. The paragraphs tended to feel a bit rigid rather than flow into one another.
That being said, with some professional editing, this novel will be sure to rise up above many others.
I must also thank the author for his patience with my horrible memory. This review is absolutely long overdue!
I recommend this novel to anyone who has a love for history, Shakespeare's works or just a general interest in reading. The author is a very kind person who will answer any questions/queries you may have!
I was kindly sent a physical copy of this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review. Before I get into the novel itself, I must say that the layout is wonderfully set. Every page is clear, easy to read and well-presented.
Celtic Blood is about a young man by the name of Morgund MacAedhand his side-kick Seward. Set in 13th century Scotland where violence and treachery is rampant, the story starts with a horrible shipwreck. During the struggle to survive the freezing waters, you as the reader experience the same terror as the poor unfortunate character.
Good aspects: Loftus' descriptions of the characters and their behavioral traits provided much detail into their lives. As a sucker for well-written characters, this is a massive plus for me. It must be said that the amount of research that the author did for this novel astounds me. Anyone with a love for history will find this novel intriguing. One big thing for me was also the descriptions of action. It wasn't difficult to imagine what was happening and the author invites the reader to bring their own opinions to the table while reading this novel. This novel also has a nice arching plot throughout.
What could be worked on: While the descriptions provided great detail, I would get lost in translation somewhere along the way. Because there was so much information Loftus had to add, there was a few instances of “info-dumping”. The paragraphs tended to feel a bit rigid rather than flow into one another.
That being said, with some professional editing, this novel will be sure to rise up above many others.
I must also thank the author for his patience with my horrible memory. This review is absolutely long overdue!
I recommend this novel to anyone who has a love for history, Shakespeare's works or just a general interest in reading. The author is a very kind person who will answer any questions/queries you may have!
April 14, 2012
Brought to you by OBS staff member Dawn
Beware of Spoilers
I have always loved stories that combine history with a flawed character..It makes the story come alive.
The character development is wonderful. I most related to Morgund because his life changed in an instant and he was really young. Initially it seems that Morgund would cower behind others. But just as I was getting annoyed with him, he took control of his destiny. At Morgund’s request, Seward becomes his teacher. Seward, with such high moral standards, was perfect for teaching Morgund. Seward definitely shapes the man Morgund becomes.
Morgund and Seward meet quite a few interesting people on their journey. And there’s a bit of the supernatural weaved into the story. They come across a mage and an evil witch. The evil witch bitch was off the charts nasty and manipulative.
The plot is layered, but clearly laid out. There are multiple story lines going on but it’s not confusing.
The setting is very vividly described. I feel like I was on the journey with Morgund and Seward. What they saw, I saw through their eyes.
The only drawback, you could easily get lost in the descriptiveness. That’s not a bad thing for readers that are history buffs.
I recommend this book, especially for husbands/boyfriends on your next vacation.
Beware of Spoilers
I have always loved stories that combine history with a flawed character..It makes the story come alive.
The character development is wonderful. I most related to Morgund because his life changed in an instant and he was really young. Initially it seems that Morgund would cower behind others. But just as I was getting annoyed with him, he took control of his destiny. At Morgund’s request, Seward becomes his teacher. Seward, with such high moral standards, was perfect for teaching Morgund. Seward definitely shapes the man Morgund becomes.
Morgund and Seward meet quite a few interesting people on their journey. And there’s a bit of the supernatural weaved into the story. They come across a mage and an evil witch. The evil witch bitch was off the charts nasty and manipulative.
The plot is layered, but clearly laid out. There are multiple story lines going on but it’s not confusing.
The setting is very vividly described. I feel like I was on the journey with Morgund and Seward. What they saw, I saw through their eyes.
The only drawback, you could easily get lost in the descriptiveness. That’s not a bad thing for readers that are history buffs.
I recommend this book, especially for husbands/boyfriends on your next vacation.
October 21, 2012
Celtic Blood by James John Loftus.
This is a historical novel in the time of Scotland 1210. A boy Morgund loses his father ( they are royal in their village) to enemy men driven to battle due to no knowledge of whom to trust . Then, Morgund's safety is questioned. He needs to leave his childhood village, but luckily with a man of trust and strength, Seward. Seward, a man who had washed a shore ( a ship wreck survivor) when he was a young boy himself. Seward was taken into the village as if he were their own. He was taught to be a great warrior and swordsman. The two partook in a great long journey through forests, mountains, and surreal weather conditions. In the end, both survive to return home. Both are now men with much to tell of their journey. There is so much description in this book that you can see the world through their eyes. A piece of supernatural lays between the pages, too. I felt many emotions: love, sadness, fear, and some hate just to name a few. Lovely book of well researched history.
Thank you, James, for the honor of receiving your gift of the book. I will treasure it always.
As usual, forgive me for any missed typos.
Keep reading!
February 14, 2015
Historical fiction at its best. The scene begins in the rolling highlands of Scotland and the year is 1210. The main characters, a teenager named Morgund MacAedh and his faithful guardian warrior protector, 'Seaward'. When Morgund's father is slain, he, Seaward, and his small flock of protectors flee, but when each one betrays him, he and Seaward sets off on a journey to new lands where they must face the harsh elements of weather conditions and fight off warlocks and witches and survive epic battles of hardships (no spoilers)
There is a few explicit scenes like that of the act of Canabolism - And treacherous conspirators on there trail, the villains in pursuit on a murderous quest to find them.
An extremely poetic read with a strong flavor of attitude that flows along the dialect. All the characters are centered around scenic but violent past dwellings. - 'Celtic Blood' - An emotional roller-coaster of endurance, and suffer they must, before returning back home to Scotland for Morgund to reclaim his rightful seat to his kingdom.
I was given a paperback copy for evaluation and an unbiased review.
There is a few explicit scenes like that of the act of Canabolism - And treacherous conspirators on there trail, the villains in pursuit on a murderous quest to find them.
An extremely poetic read with a strong flavor of attitude that flows along the dialect. All the characters are centered around scenic but violent past dwellings. - 'Celtic Blood' - An emotional roller-coaster of endurance, and suffer they must, before returning back home to Scotland for Morgund to reclaim his rightful seat to his kingdom.
I was given a paperback copy for evaluation and an unbiased review.
Want to read
November 14, 2012 Well, I GOT MY FIRST GIVEAWAY BOOK!!!
Thank you, James John Loftus!
I can't wait to read it. From the description, it looks really interesting, like a novel I might enjoy.
I'll update this review as soon as I get (and read) Celtic Blood!!!
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Thank you, James John Loftus!
I can't wait to read it. From the description, it looks really interesting, like a novel I might enjoy.
I'll update this review as soon as I get (and read) Celtic Blood!!!
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March 24, 2014
This author did his homework to ensure you were transported to historic Scotland in this riveting story about a boy who looses his farther due to a battle gone wrong.
Only Positive things to say:
-I enjoyed the descriptions of infamous Scottish clans.
-grabs your attention from the first chapter.
-great character description.
-good mix of action, comedy, and romance.
Only Positive things to say:
-I enjoyed the descriptions of infamous Scottish clans.
-grabs your attention from the first chapter.
-great character description.
-good mix of action, comedy, and romance.
February 11, 2018
Hard to read, needed better editing
This book could do with the services of a competent editor and proofreader. The story was hard to follow because of the fragmented sentence structure and punctuation errors.
This book could do with the services of a competent editor and proofreader. The story was hard to follow because of the fragmented sentence structure and punctuation errors.
September 6, 2014
Enjoyed the story but really struggled with the lack of editing. Words missing & words & punctuation in the wrong spots.:(
February 6, 2014
This book was sent to me by the very kind author. It was a very good book. I really liked it. I felt that it finished abruptly, but it was well worth a read! So glad I got the chance.
May 1, 2022
As a Irish and Scottish Historian, i was intrigued when the author asked me to read his book, I'm not a regular reader of historical fiction as sometimes authors understandably have to bend the facts to keep a story on a certain path,
I must say i did enjoy this and anyone who loves Medieval Scottish history will find themselves reading about locations and characters that they have either come across before or relatable to many of the characters in history.
I must admit sometimes i felt his attention to point out historical bits of information of which there are plenty distracted from the story, I still enjoyed them all the same,
I believe there is room for improvement in editing but honestly since i feel my love for Scottish history was pleasantly sated during my reading it would just be nit picking of me to point these minor issues out.
I must say i did enjoy this and anyone who loves Medieval Scottish history will find themselves reading about locations and characters that they have either come across before or relatable to many of the characters in history.
I must admit sometimes i felt his attention to point out historical bits of information of which there are plenty distracted from the story, I still enjoyed them all the same,
I believe there is room for improvement in editing but honestly since i feel my love for Scottish history was pleasantly sated during my reading it would just be nit picking of me to point these minor issues out.
February 7, 2022
An historical setting mixed with the challenges facing a clan with ambitions on becoming the next Scottish King. The treacherous, yet compelling landscape and lives described in Celtic Blood mirror the bloodthirsty and tumultuous history of the Clans of Scotland.
The suspense of whether our heroes Morgund MacAedh & Seward survive the hunt for them across the Isles and realise the dream of laying claim to the throne is upheld until the very last chapters.
A thrilling tale of friendship and fate.
The suspense of whether our heroes Morgund MacAedh & Seward survive the hunt for them across the Isles and realise the dream of laying claim to the throne is upheld until the very last chapters.
A thrilling tale of friendship and fate.
July 12, 2017
This story for me just didn't captivate me. I found the characters to be unrelateable, bland and I couldn't commit to their journey. Athough the story has beautiful imagery, I didn't care for the characters and where they were going.
The story was well-written, and James Loftus can evoke the images of the voyage in your head, but I didn't want to stay with this one.
The story was well-written, and James Loftus can evoke the images of the voyage in your head, but I didn't want to stay with this one.
November 29, 2017
I've recently read this book and loved it.
Very atmospheric. I love history and especially history from the British Isles. It is alien to my culture but the whole, knights, tartan clad clansman and that whole thing interests me.
This book took me there in a way that was very immediate and impressive.
Best book I've read in a long time.
Very atmospheric. I love history and especially history from the British Isles. It is alien to my culture but the whole, knights, tartan clad clansman and that whole thing interests me.
This book took me there in a way that was very immediate and impressive.
Best book I've read in a long time.
July 28, 2021
Celtic Blood follows two friends Seward (From Denmark and ship wrecked in Scotland) and Morgund MacAedh (MacKay) from Scotland as they travel to England and back to Scotland on a quest which entails fighting foe's and encountering adventures.
I enjoyed the story line but some of the sentence structure confused me and there was a small bit of needed editing.
I enjoyed the story line but some of the sentence structure confused me and there was a small bit of needed editing.
August 2, 2022
Celtic Blood
I had high hopes for this book. I could read around all of the grammatical errors and the fragmented, disjointed sentences. Just thought a decent editor was needed. But around 70% into the book, it went downhill with disgusting vulgarity, the black arts, Satanism, etc. I stopped at 73%. Glad that I did not pay anything for this book.
I had high hopes for this book. I could read around all of the grammatical errors and the fragmented, disjointed sentences. Just thought a decent editor was needed. But around 70% into the book, it went downhill with disgusting vulgarity, the black arts, Satanism, etc. I stopped at 73%. Glad that I did not pay anything for this book.
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