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Eirlandia #3
In the Kingdom of All Tomorrows
Stephen R. Lawhead, the critically-acclaimed author of the Pendragon Cycle, concludes his Eirlandia Celtic fantasy series with In the Kingdom of All Tomorrows.
Conor mac Ardan is now clan chief of the Darini.
Tara’s Hill has become a haven and refuge for all those who were made homeless by the barbarian Scálda.
A large fleet of the Scalda’s Black Ships has now arrived and Conor joins Eirlandia’s lords to defeat the monsters. He finds treachery in their midst…and a betrayal that is blood deep.
And so begins a final battle to win the soul of a nation.
In the Kingdom of All TomorrowsAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2020
88 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Stephen R. Lawhead
103 books2,774 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 61 reviews
April 10, 2023
This conclusion to Stephen Lawhead's Eirlandia Celtic Mythology series was beautiful, brilliant, and epic. I highly recommend the trilogy.
Re-reading the series has given me great artistic inspiration to finish my fantasy novella Celtic Dawn which will be published this summer.
Re-reading the series has given me great artistic inspiration to finish my fantasy novella Celtic Dawn which will be published this summer.
July 23, 2020
To be immersed in a new Lawhead novel is a rare treat. This third Eirlandia stands as a fitting end to yet another excellent trilogy.
December 3, 2022
“I think it is . . .” Conor hesitated, choosing the right word and settling on “magnificent.” And so it is, at that, if it’s this magnificent trilogy we’re talking of, to be sure!
REVIEW
(Note: This is a review for the second and third Eirlandia novels)
This series set in ancient Ireland has been a massive homecoming for me, and when I say these books mean a lot to me, that’s quite an understatement. Mr. Lawhead’s writing, characters, and world together form a magnificent tale across three novels, and I wanted to LIVE in these books. After reading each one, and ever since, they echo in my mind—“We’re your home,” they say. Each of these wondrous Celtic fantasy books has made it onto my top-favorite-books-of-the-year lists for the last few years. I simply adore Conor mac Ardan’s adventures in this green and magical land my heart aches for.
The setting of Eirlandia made me feel SO AT HOME. I want to live there. The green hills, the raths, the noble characters… The Irish language, the names, the words… The writing sings across the page and drew me fully into this land of wonders and that indescribable feeling of being home at last. *hugs it*
And then the people who inhabit Eirlandia and nearby shores! I love their hospitality and how there are good-hearted people—a breath of fresh air in fiction these days. (And the comeuppance of certain devious characters… OH YES.) The De Danann—just loved them. I loved the bards and druids and wise councilors. So much. I loved the faery people and their mysterious feel—perfectly Fae and Elven (in a Tolkien way) and Welsh and I loved how they feel a perfect part of the land.
I adore Conor mac Ardan and his friends so much! I also love how noble and heroic they are, despite their struggles and the war they find themselves entangled in. Conor is a hero I’d follow to the end and I love how much he’s grown from the first book, all the way to…well, no spoilers. ;) But he’s magnificent! Also, the dialogue and the HUMOR of the banter between certain characters—it makes me so happy! It’s dry and Irish humor and I’m HERE for it. *grin* I have to mention Fergal, Donal, and Aoife specifically, because they’re all fabulous.
This is mostly a general review of the last two books as a whole, but I have a couple of specific things to mention for each of them.
BOOK 2: IN THE LAND OF THE EVERLIVING. I loved seeing more of the faery people! They were fabulous. I already touched on that, but had to mention it again. The other most favorite thing in book two…has to be the lightning scene. OH MY WORD. It was the most epic thing. :D *beaming* I won’t say more because spoilers, but I just had to comment on it because it was absolutely awesome.
BOOK 3: IN THE KINGDOM OF ALL TOMORROWS. Firstly, there are a couple of ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT legal proceedings which . . . sounds boring . . . but Y’ALL. It was so good! So, so good. Especially the second one which absolutely made my day. *grinning so hard* The other thing that especially stood out to me about book three was the ending. The epilogue, the final chapter before that, and the last couple of paragraphs of the chapter before that…they were incredible, and gave me feels (in the case of the final chapter, which I don’t want to say much about for fear of spoilers but it was a timely chapter for me when I read it), and there’s so much intriguing about especially the epilogue that I probably need to re-read to unpack properly, but...anyway, I loved all of it so much. I’m not saying all readers will feel the same way I did, but those last few chapters meant a lot to me. I absolutely adored them.
Overall, these books meant so much to me, and the writing, Irishness, epicness, and characters all combined to absolutely steal my heart and make me feel completely at home. I felt seen. It’s a very “me” series. I connected with it so hard. I will love it forever! I, for one, found it to be incredibly enjoyable and meaningful all at once.
I 100% recommend this series! It’s just really good! Go read it! (I also highly recommend the audiobooks.)
REVIEW
(Note: This is a review for the second and third Eirlandia novels)
This series set in ancient Ireland has been a massive homecoming for me, and when I say these books mean a lot to me, that’s quite an understatement. Mr. Lawhead’s writing, characters, and world together form a magnificent tale across three novels, and I wanted to LIVE in these books. After reading each one, and ever since, they echo in my mind—“We’re your home,” they say. Each of these wondrous Celtic fantasy books has made it onto my top-favorite-books-of-the-year lists for the last few years. I simply adore Conor mac Ardan’s adventures in this green and magical land my heart aches for.
The setting of Eirlandia made me feel SO AT HOME. I want to live there. The green hills, the raths, the noble characters… The Irish language, the names, the words… The writing sings across the page and drew me fully into this land of wonders and that indescribable feeling of being home at last. *hugs it*
And then the people who inhabit Eirlandia and nearby shores! I love their hospitality and how there are good-hearted people—a breath of fresh air in fiction these days. (And the comeuppance of certain devious characters… OH YES.) The De Danann—just loved them. I loved the bards and druids and wise councilors. So much. I loved the faery people and their mysterious feel—perfectly Fae and Elven (in a Tolkien way) and Welsh and I loved how they feel a perfect part of the land.
I adore Conor mac Ardan and his friends so much! I also love how noble and heroic they are, despite their struggles and the war they find themselves entangled in. Conor is a hero I’d follow to the end and I love how much he’s grown from the first book, all the way to…well, no spoilers. ;) But he’s magnificent! Also, the dialogue and the HUMOR of the banter between certain characters—it makes me so happy! It’s dry and Irish humor and I’m HERE for it. *grin* I have to mention Fergal, Donal, and Aoife specifically, because they’re all fabulous.
This is mostly a general review of the last two books as a whole, but I have a couple of specific things to mention for each of them.
BOOK 2: IN THE LAND OF THE EVERLIVING. I loved seeing more of the faery people! They were fabulous. I already touched on that, but had to mention it again. The other most favorite thing in book two…has to be the lightning scene. OH MY WORD. It was the most epic thing. :D *beaming* I won’t say more because spoilers, but I just had to comment on it because it was absolutely awesome.
BOOK 3: IN THE KINGDOM OF ALL TOMORROWS. Firstly, there are a couple of ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT legal proceedings which . . . sounds boring . . . but Y’ALL. It was so good! So, so good. Especially the second one which absolutely made my day. *grinning so hard* The other thing that especially stood out to me about book three was the ending. The epilogue, the final chapter before that, and the last couple of paragraphs of the chapter before that…they were incredible, and gave me feels (in the case of the final chapter, which I don’t want to say much about for fear of spoilers but it was a timely chapter for me when I read it), and there’s so much intriguing about especially the epilogue that I probably need to re-read to unpack properly, but...anyway, I loved all of it so much. I’m not saying all readers will feel the same way I did, but those last few chapters meant a lot to me. I absolutely adored them.
Overall, these books meant so much to me, and the writing, Irishness, epicness, and characters all combined to absolutely steal my heart and make me feel completely at home. I felt seen. It’s a very “me” series. I connected with it so hard. I will love it forever! I, for one, found it to be incredibly enjoyable and meaningful all at once.
I 100% recommend this series! It’s just really good! Go read it! (I also highly recommend the audiobooks.)
August 6, 2020
For some reason, this series never quite captured my imagination as much as others. However, since it is Lawhead, it is still required reading.
In this age of COVID, I actually listened to the audio boot, since that was the quickest way to get it from our library. The last Lawhead audio book I listened to was The Skin Map which was nothing special as an audio book. They have changed readers for this series, and for me it was the best thing about the whole experience. In fact, I have to say it’s THE BEST FICTION AUDIO BOOK I’ve EVER listened to! John Lee does a masterful job not only with the different voices of the characters, but also giving them geographically appropriate accents as well. For instance, the Northern Kings actually sound like they’re from Ulster!
In this age of COVID, I actually listened to the audio boot, since that was the quickest way to get it from our library. The last Lawhead audio book I listened to was The Skin Map which was nothing special as an audio book. They have changed readers for this series, and for me it was the best thing about the whole experience. In fact, I have to say it’s THE BEST FICTION AUDIO BOOK I’ve EVER listened to! John Lee does a masterful job not only with the different voices of the characters, but also giving them geographically appropriate accents as well. For instance, the Northern Kings actually sound like they’re from Ulster!
December 12, 2020
Finally got the chance to read the last book in Stephen R. Lawhead's recent Celtic series on nation building in Ireland. I always enjoy the escapist reading in the worlds that Lawhead creates. In the Kingdom of all Tomorrows, we come to a satisfying end of the adventures of Conor mac Ardan, a hothead of a leader who nevertheless finds his way to being the hero of his beloved Eirlandia... with a little help from his friends.
My complaint with the book has been a common refrain for me: Lawhead builds up his characters and story lines well in all of his writings, but I find that the stories often end rather abruptly, almost like the endings are rushed. It's almost as if there are too many climaxes throughout the stories leading up to the finale that when we finally reach the end, things like final battles or final confrontations makes the reader feel like they've "been there and done that." Exceptions to this would be his King Raven series or even a very early series of his, the Empyrion Saga. Of course this critique is very minor; I still buy up every Lawhead book that I can find. His writing for me is a warm blanket on a cold day.
My complaint with the book has been a common refrain for me: Lawhead builds up his characters and story lines well in all of his writings, but I find that the stories often end rather abruptly, almost like the endings are rushed. It's almost as if there are too many climaxes throughout the stories leading up to the finale that when we finally reach the end, things like final battles or final confrontations makes the reader feel like they've "been there and done that." Exceptions to this would be his King Raven series or even a very early series of his, the Empyrion Saga. Of course this critique is very minor; I still buy up every Lawhead book that I can find. His writing for me is a warm blanket on a cold day.
November 18, 2023
I’ve really enjoyed the two trilogies I’ve read written by Lawhead. The other being his King Raven trilogy. I enjoy his character work. The loyal friendship between Conor, Fergal, and Donal was fun to follow.
October 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this series! Lawhead is a compelling story teller. I plan to read more.
July 18, 2020
This is classic Stephen Lawhead.
I liked the fact that he wrote Historical Fiction with a fantasy edge -- and it wasn't "Christianized" as some of his other series are.
The epilogue with St. Patrick is fantastic.
My only real complaint is John Lee's Irish accent in the audio version. It did get better as the series moved along (practice makes perfect?) -- but the audio was a little annoying at times.
(He's a great narrator in other places, though. I just struggled with Irish accent sounding forced.)
Love this story.
Lawhead is still one of my favorite writers.
And I really want to visit Tara Hill in Ireland now. That's been added to my list.
I liked the fact that he wrote Historical Fiction with a fantasy edge -- and it wasn't "Christianized" as some of his other series are.
The epilogue with St. Patrick is fantastic.
My only real complaint is John Lee's Irish accent in the audio version. It did get better as the series moved along (practice makes perfect?) -- but the audio was a little annoying at times.
(He's a great narrator in other places, though. I just struggled with Irish accent sounding forced.)
Love this story.
Lawhead is still one of my favorite writers.
And I really want to visit Tara Hill in Ireland now. That's been added to my list.
July 26, 2020
Exhilarating and imaginative
As always, Stephen knows how to keep the story fresh and exciting. The return of old friends and the introduction of new ones makes the story both familiar and fresh. Each chapter brings new excitement. A must read.
As always, Stephen knows how to keep the story fresh and exciting. The return of old friends and the introduction of new ones makes the story both familiar and fresh. Each chapter brings new excitement. A must read.
July 19, 2020
No one wants a great series to end! However, if it must have an end which, I suppose, all good things must, this is the right way to end it, in my opinion. Yes, there is some trouble and sorrow, because life has those things... But, it is so good! There are definitely some unexpected happenings in this story. Well, I could go on and on, but then you wouldn't have to buy the book and read it yourself, so I won't. 😁
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance e-book! This review is my own opinion. My hardcover copy came this past week, and it looks great!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance e-book! This review is my own opinion. My hardcover copy came this past week, and it looks great!!
April 17, 2024
Excellent. Classic Lawhead.
August 13, 2020
Let me say right off the bat, the Epilogue was probably my favorite part of this third and final book in Lawhead's most recent series. It completely caught me off guard and was quite a thrill (as much as seeing the tie-ins to my favorite Lawhead Series, The Song of Albion).
On a technical front, my back and forth relationship to this series continues, both in a positive and negative sense (although take the negative in stride, as this is still Lawhead and any times he writes it is a world worth entering and getting lost within). I found the first to be a little bit undisciplined in its structure, which gave questions of motivation and context the short end of the stick. And yet it built a solid foundation for some interesting characters and a rich world to explore, particularly with the faery people, and the final two chapters show the potential for the story moving forward, something the second book picks up on and runs with, tightening up the series focus (in its emphasis on Connor), giving us a little bit more of the most interesting characters (the faery), and filling in some of the gaps regarding context and motivation. We are now far along in this world and the story for the context to be less concerned with history and more concerned with the present.
The third book is arguably the tightest and most focused of the three. If Connor was elevated to the forefront in book 2, he commands the entire story here. Which is good in terms of telling the story it wants to tell, but a little bit frustrating since I wasn't completely enamored with him as a central character.
It also doesn't help that Lawhead chooses to break up two of the more expansive sections on Connor as parallel threads. First we get a whole section where Connor is called to a meeting and accused by the other leaders in an attempt to disparage his name (a familiar thread from books 1 and 2... it seems he is constantly under fire). Later we essentially get this whole series of accusations repeated in a trial which is basically just repeating the same conversations, which feels redundant when he could have used those pages for something more interesting. This is especially true since the way the Trial plays doesn't have a ton of tension given we already know the truth of the story.
A couple of notes though to the positive. The final quarter of the book is thrilling and filled with memorable action, and one of the criticisms that I had of the second book, that the female characters were not given much in the way of agency, is addressed here in the stronger female characters given more of a presence, and more of a nuanced presence at that. I'm still disappointed that we didn't get more of the faery, but we do return to them here and they play a central role, so that was definitely satisfying.
And above all, the heart of the trilogy is given a real pay off here in the idea of the Kingdom of All Tomorrows. There is some emotional weight that carries through some of the final chapters, and much of it results in some beautiful imagery and beautiful moments regarding hope, faith and meaning (or purpose). Here my criticisms of Connor as a one note character were able to be left behind, if for a moment, in favor of the larger story.
Overall this was a fairly satisfying finish to a series that has returned Lawhead to some familiar territory. I wasn't quite as taken with it as some others (even his previous series, a bit of a diversion from his typical fare, holds a much greater place in my heart), but it has also been a thrill and a treat to have been able to spent more time in his imaginative worlds and interests.
On a technical front, my back and forth relationship to this series continues, both in a positive and negative sense (although take the negative in stride, as this is still Lawhead and any times he writes it is a world worth entering and getting lost within). I found the first to be a little bit undisciplined in its structure, which gave questions of motivation and context the short end of the stick. And yet it built a solid foundation for some interesting characters and a rich world to explore, particularly with the faery people, and the final two chapters show the potential for the story moving forward, something the second book picks up on and runs with, tightening up the series focus (in its emphasis on Connor), giving us a little bit more of the most interesting characters (the faery), and filling in some of the gaps regarding context and motivation. We are now far along in this world and the story for the context to be less concerned with history and more concerned with the present.
The third book is arguably the tightest and most focused of the three. If Connor was elevated to the forefront in book 2, he commands the entire story here. Which is good in terms of telling the story it wants to tell, but a little bit frustrating since I wasn't completely enamored with him as a central character.
It also doesn't help that Lawhead chooses to break up two of the more expansive sections on Connor as parallel threads. First we get a whole section where Connor is called to a meeting and accused by the other leaders in an attempt to disparage his name (a familiar thread from books 1 and 2... it seems he is constantly under fire). Later we essentially get this whole series of accusations repeated in a trial which is basically just repeating the same conversations, which feels redundant when he could have used those pages for something more interesting. This is especially true since the way the Trial plays doesn't have a ton of tension given we already know the truth of the story.
A couple of notes though to the positive. The final quarter of the book is thrilling and filled with memorable action, and one of the criticisms that I had of the second book, that the female characters were not given much in the way of agency, is addressed here in the stronger female characters given more of a presence, and more of a nuanced presence at that. I'm still disappointed that we didn't get more of the faery, but we do return to them here and they play a central role, so that was definitely satisfying.
And above all, the heart of the trilogy is given a real pay off here in the idea of the Kingdom of All Tomorrows. There is some emotional weight that carries through some of the final chapters, and much of it results in some beautiful imagery and beautiful moments regarding hope, faith and meaning (or purpose). Here my criticisms of Connor as a one note character were able to be left behind, if for a moment, in favor of the larger story.
Overall this was a fairly satisfying finish to a series that has returned Lawhead to some familiar territory. I wasn't quite as taken with it as some others (even his previous series, a bit of a diversion from his typical fare, holds a much greater place in my heart), but it has also been a thrill and a treat to have been able to spent more time in his imaginative worlds and interests.
August 11, 2020
First, you should know that this book does not stand alone. It is essential to the understanding of the story that you read books 1 and 2.
Stephen Lawhead is a well established author with a large collection of historical fiction works set in the ancient isles of Britain. He has also written fantasy and science fiction. This series incorporates the mythology of fantasy, drawing upon historical belief systems, and the realities of life in ancient Ireland. I personally think that the most challenging aspect of this book series was incorporating actual characters that were fairies and ancients gods/goddesses into the reality of a historically envisioned tale. I love fantasy, but this book often seemed to blur the lines between fantasy and history. Taking the entire tale as ancient myth and a certain way of seeing the world is what made it work for me.
As to the historical setting, the druids are perhaps a bit less dark in character in these novels than history informs us, but clan life and the war against the invaders was portrayed with all the violent historical aspects of reality.
The characters were well developed and their motivations believable. The books were complex, descriptive and difficult to put down. The bonds of friendship, the curiosity of seeking out truth and the honor of doing what is best for the sake of others are all strong themes within the work. I enjoyed the series from start to finish.
There was, however, a concluding section that I wish had been left out. Once the story is complete the author skips forward to St. Patrick and the coming of Christianity. What follows is a rather complicated pronouncement of prophesies. In reflecting upon this section it is clear that the author, through Patrick, is trying to explain that the Ireland that came before Christianity was part of the shaping of the people and that all that has brought us to the present moment can be honored as part of the greater story. And yet, I mentioned the lines between history and fantasy in this series seemed to blur at times. And Christianity is reality. The salvation of Jesus Christ isn’t built upon myths of the past. (Not to say that there isn’t some truth in mythology, you can read C.S. Lewis for more on that topic, but that the gospel is an entirely different way of seeing the world. It requires the re-ordering of our belief systems.) So I found this passage incongruous to the story as a whole and I wish the book would have ended without trying to justify the story within the context of Christianity.
That said, it is still an excellent story for lovers of history and fantasy alike.
Stephen Lawhead is a well established author with a large collection of historical fiction works set in the ancient isles of Britain. He has also written fantasy and science fiction. This series incorporates the mythology of fantasy, drawing upon historical belief systems, and the realities of life in ancient Ireland. I personally think that the most challenging aspect of this book series was incorporating actual characters that were fairies and ancients gods/goddesses into the reality of a historically envisioned tale. I love fantasy, but this book often seemed to blur the lines between fantasy and history. Taking the entire tale as ancient myth and a certain way of seeing the world is what made it work for me.
As to the historical setting, the druids are perhaps a bit less dark in character in these novels than history informs us, but clan life and the war against the invaders was portrayed with all the violent historical aspects of reality.
The characters were well developed and their motivations believable. The books were complex, descriptive and difficult to put down. The bonds of friendship, the curiosity of seeking out truth and the honor of doing what is best for the sake of others are all strong themes within the work. I enjoyed the series from start to finish.
There was, however, a concluding section that I wish had been left out. Once the story is complete the author skips forward to St. Patrick and the coming of Christianity. What follows is a rather complicated pronouncement of prophesies. In reflecting upon this section it is clear that the author, through Patrick, is trying to explain that the Ireland that came before Christianity was part of the shaping of the people and that all that has brought us to the present moment can be honored as part of the greater story. And yet, I mentioned the lines between history and fantasy in this series seemed to blur at times. And Christianity is reality. The salvation of Jesus Christ isn’t built upon myths of the past. (Not to say that there isn’t some truth in mythology, you can read C.S. Lewis for more on that topic, but that the gospel is an entirely different way of seeing the world. It requires the re-ordering of our belief systems.) So I found this passage incongruous to the story as a whole and I wish the book would have ended without trying to justify the story within the context of Christianity.
That said, it is still an excellent story for lovers of history and fantasy alike.
December 20, 2022
Really 2.5 stars for me - of the three books this was probably the worst - though they were all well below Stephen Lawhead’s typical writing standards. What can I say about this one - well, for starters I thought I was trapped in some kind of ancient court martial for 2/3 of the book. That is literally what the meat of the book consisted of. You had a betrayal on the battlefield and the guys who did the betraying are all called to task for it. And it just went on and on and on…
Our boy Connor comes into his own in this book which was nice to finally see happen - but the whole darn story seemed rushed to me - from book 1 one onward.
As was the case in the other two books the characters were extremely likable and well written - which is what caused me to hang in there for the whole series. In fact if he continued on with this series I’d probably keep reading - so that should tell you something of how conflicted I am over this story.
One final word about the Epilogue - In my opinion it was stupid and unnecessary. I loved Lawhead’s book “Patrick” - and really wish he would have left him out of this one…. And come on Steve - just because you seem to changing your tune on Christianity doesn’t mean Ireland’s patron saint Patrick did…. He would never in a million years put Jesus on the same level as ancient pagan gods… Nope not buying that….
Our boy Connor comes into his own in this book which was nice to finally see happen - but the whole darn story seemed rushed to me - from book 1 one onward.
As was the case in the other two books the characters were extremely likable and well written - which is what caused me to hang in there for the whole series. In fact if he continued on with this series I’d probably keep reading - so that should tell you something of how conflicted I am over this story.
One final word about the Epilogue - In my opinion it was stupid and unnecessary. I loved Lawhead’s book “Patrick” - and really wish he would have left him out of this one…. And come on Steve - just because you seem to changing your tune on Christianity doesn’t mean Ireland’s patron saint Patrick did…. He would never in a million years put Jesus on the same level as ancient pagan gods… Nope not buying that….
December 9, 2025
Conor is back and ready to become High King and save Eirlandia from the Scalda.
I really wanted to like this book. Topic wise, it is right up my alley.
I have tried to understand warfare from a historical perspective but my eyes glaze over. This book had several battle scenes that just did not make sense to me. (Really could just be me and not the book.) All I kept thinking was, why do the Scalda have chariots? Why don't Conor's people have arrows?
Then there was the problem with the two very different trials. Yes, the first trial was supposed to be rigged for political gain but for there to be more than momentary gain, the trial would have to have the appearance of legitimacy. We know from the first book that druids can disagree so why doesn't Vainche have his own druid to help him out? When so many things left out of the "legal process" why would anyone want to be a part of it if just to cover their own ass?
The faery make a guest appearance. The Skalda and finally their leader make a guest appearance. I almost wish these characters had been less developed if they weren't going to be more developed.
I really wanted to like this book. Topic wise, it is right up my alley.
I have tried to understand warfare from a historical perspective but my eyes glaze over. This book had several battle scenes that just did not make sense to me. (Really could just be me and not the book.) All I kept thinking was, why do the Scalda have chariots? Why don't Conor's people have arrows?
Then there was the problem with the two very different trials. Yes, the first trial was supposed to be rigged for political gain but for there to be more than momentary gain, the trial would have to have the appearance of legitimacy. We know from the first book that druids can disagree so why doesn't Vainche have his own druid to help him out? When so many things left out of the "legal process" why would anyone want to be a part of it if just to cover their own ass?
The faery make a guest appearance. The Skalda and finally their leader make a guest appearance. I almost wish these characters had been less developed if they weren't going to be more developed.
August 20, 2021
I love when an author I admire has another series/duology/trilogy that I really enjoy. So much so that I listen to each book in the series/duology/trilogy one after another, something I rarely if ever do.
That's what I did with this Eirlandia trilogy. I was happy to find the first one on Audible, downloaded it, immediately listened to it. Proceeded to do the same with the second one and then this one, the last in the trilogy. It is a well-told story, with excellent characters and setting. Epic Celtic fantasy at its finest.
The tale has come full circle with Conor and his people working to make Tara and the surrounding area their home. Once again, there are many who are not happy with actions taken by Conor and he has to answer for accusations flung his way. Along with epic battle scenes, a foe that must be fought and hopefully vanquished from their land, love, friendship, change.
It's wonderful and I am sad it is at an end. And glad I have it in my Audible library to listen to again.
I can absolutely recommend this book, this trilogy and this author.
That's what I did with this Eirlandia trilogy. I was happy to find the first one on Audible, downloaded it, immediately listened to it. Proceeded to do the same with the second one and then this one, the last in the trilogy. It is a well-told story, with excellent characters and setting. Epic Celtic fantasy at its finest.
The tale has come full circle with Conor and his people working to make Tara and the surrounding area their home. Once again, there are many who are not happy with actions taken by Conor and he has to answer for accusations flung his way. Along with epic battle scenes, a foe that must be fought and hopefully vanquished from their land, love, friendship, change.
It's wonderful and I am sad it is at an end. And glad I have it in my Audible library to listen to again.
I can absolutely recommend this book, this trilogy and this author.
February 20, 2021
This was a surprising book by Stephen Lawhead, and an enjoyable end to the trilogy. Before I say why it was surprising, I must provide a spoiler warning. OK, back to the review (with spoilers). The author did not kill off all the characters, like I am accustomed to. There was an actual happy ending, which was entirely unexpected. I read this third volume constantly in suspense, expecting everything to go wrong. He set up the story, such that there were multiple possibilities for this to happen, but it never did.
The book was written based on Ireland, and I have a few comments that are for interest only. The Ireland pictured in the book was a fraction of the size of the actual island. The speed at which people could cover territory was faster on foot, than I am able to do speeding on a highway. This of course down no harm to the story but is curious. Finally, and unfortunately, the ending was a bit of a let-down; essentially a miracle happened. That being said, I still enjoyed it.
The book was written based on Ireland, and I have a few comments that are for interest only. The Ireland pictured in the book was a fraction of the size of the actual island. The speed at which people could cover territory was faster on foot, than I am able to do speeding on a highway. This of course down no harm to the story but is curious. Finally, and unfortunately, the ending was a bit of a let-down; essentially a miracle happened. That being said, I still enjoyed it.
July 28, 2020
It has been some years since I read a Stephen Lawhead novel., so I was excited to receive a free e-ARC to read this one (thanks Netgalley). Since this is the third book in a series, I read (skimmed) the first two for context. That turned out to be absolutely necessary. Standing alone, this book would probably leave the reader quite confused.
While I certainly enjoyed the story (mostly) and was curious about how the series ended, some of the battle descriptions were just too dense for me. I also found one of the big crises solved in this book to be a little odd/overblown (trying not to spoil too much). Finally, some of the ending seemed a little unnecessarily sad and grim to me.
But, for lovers of Ireland, this book would probably be quite enjoyable.
While I certainly enjoyed the story (mostly) and was curious about how the series ended, some of the battle descriptions were just too dense for me. I also found one of the big crises solved in this book to be a little odd/overblown (trying not to spoil too much). Finally, some of the ending seemed a little unnecessarily sad and grim to me.
But, for lovers of Ireland, this book would probably be quite enjoyable.
October 10, 2020
A reasonably enjoyable read, but the whole series is one of Lawhead's weaker ones. I have read and own all of his books and love the immersive worlds he creates, but was rather underwhelmed by this one.
I liked the scenes with the faéry - but they seemed to be brought in to solve problems and then dissappear again rather than being integral to the development of the plot.
Between various characters, lifetimes of emnity seem to be able to turn immediately into friendship with little questioning.
The epilogue is quite weird and I really need to go back to it and try and make sense of it. I liked how he dealt with St Patrick in "Patrick" (whether accurate or not), but I'm less convinced here.
I liked the scenes with the faéry - but they seemed to be brought in to solve problems and then dissappear again rather than being integral to the development of the plot.
Between various characters, lifetimes of emnity seem to be able to turn immediately into friendship with little questioning.
The epilogue is quite weird and I really need to go back to it and try and make sense of it. I liked how he dealt with St Patrick in "Patrick" (whether accurate or not), but I'm less convinced here.
April 4, 2021
Stephen R. Lawhead once again finishes strong with this last book in the Eirlandia (Ireland) trilogy. In this final book, Conor mac Ardan, leads the final battle against the invading barbaric Scalda. As progress is made in making Tara’s Hill a home and refuge for all Eirlandians, Conor’s dreams of a United Eirlandia come to fruition. He also enlists the help of the other Eirlandian lords, as well as the Faery folk of the land to finally rid Eirlandia of the brutal Scalda invasion. A betrayal in battle cripples the efforts made to rid the land of the Scalda. But justice is served by the Druids and Conor’s leadership becomes even stronger. After much pain and perseverance, Conor’s dream of a new Eirlandia has become reality.
December 8, 2020
This was my favorite book in the series. Lawhead blends Celtic myth with a historians understanding of reality. He's able to create a world that is magical and also believable for the time period. The battle sequences were action packed and easy to visualize. The characters didn't have the depth of some of the modern, epic fantasies. The bad guys are really bad. The good guys are honorable. That's Ok though. I enjoyed rooting for Conor, and jeering Liam's childish jealousy. It's almost a relief to know where everyone stands.
July 30, 2020
After a somewhat lackluster 2nd book in the trilogy (I hadn't read the first), this title was much more satisfying. The ending was somewhat predictable, but the journey to get there was enjoyable. The connection with St. Patrick introduced at the end seemed tacked on; perhaps it would have made more sense if I'd read the first book. Primarily recommended for Lawhead fans, it will also appeal to fans of Celtic mythology.
July 30, 2020
Fantastic ending to another great trilogy
It is always bitter sweet to reach the end of an amazing story.... where the storyteller pulls you in, allows you to be there, know the characters, and experience it. I feel the same now as I did when I finished my first Lawhead trilogy, King Raven. Engrossed during the entire series... but sad when it was over. Thanks, Stephen Lawhead, for returning to storytelling of Gaelic lore. It’s been a real treat.
It is always bitter sweet to reach the end of an amazing story.... where the storyteller pulls you in, allows you to be there, know the characters, and experience it. I feel the same now as I did when I finished my first Lawhead trilogy, King Raven. Engrossed during the entire series... but sad when it was over. Thanks, Stephen Lawhead, for returning to storytelling of Gaelic lore. It’s been a real treat.
August 7, 2020
I first encountered Lawheads work through 'The Paradise War' many years ago. I found a world of 'everyday' tinged with magic, of a style and content just to make it perfectly believable. This is what I love about Lawheads worlds. And so, this latest offering, quite difficult to get hold of apparently, set in ancient Eirlandia, a wonderful 'everyday' struggle for survival, again, subtly edged with magic, just enough to make it perfectly believable. Lawheads fans eagerly await his next offering.
December 25, 2020
Lawhead always takes us on a journey of discovery with his characters. Conor will do anything to save as many people as he can even when everything is against him he never gives up. The story is full of twists & turns. We see through their eyes their struggles & triumphs and we go along on a wonderful journey of discovery. A great end to the series. I was lucky enough to receive a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
May 5, 2022
3.5/5
This final book in the trilogy wasn't as exciting and gripping as the first two but I'm still glad I read it. The ending seemed rushed and I wanted the fairies to be in it more. It was also a bit slow at times since much of the book was the author describing Conors new settlement or there was some kind of long winded meeting going on. I was glad to see Liam finally come around! The ending was cool too. This series is fun and worth reading.
This final book in the trilogy wasn't as exciting and gripping as the first two but I'm still glad I read it. The ending seemed rushed and I wanted the fairies to be in it more. It was also a bit slow at times since much of the book was the author describing Conors new settlement or there was some kind of long winded meeting going on. I was glad to see Liam finally come around! The ending was cool too. This series is fun and worth reading.
October 17, 2022
So...Conor is Clan chief, planning to marry Aoife at Lughnasadh, with all his supporters helping to rebuild Tara into a main stronghold; holding a summit with all those other Clan chiefs, and realising how they ALL need to work together to defeat the invaders.
Lawhead relates knowledgeably on the ancient Irish clans, their laws, deeds, battles, how they fight, etc but it really doesn't help when one figures out the way this story is going...
Brilliant, but sad.
Lawhead relates knowledgeably on the ancient Irish clans, their laws, deeds, battles, how they fight, etc but it really doesn't help when one figures out the way this story is going...
Brilliant, but sad.
September 25, 2020
I know that the books in this series have been relatively short (and certainly not all fantasy has to be "EPIC" and 800 pages long), but this felt rushed and glossed over a lot of plot points in a superficial manner that is extremely uncharacteristic of this author; it felt really like this needed to be a four book series.
Hopefully, he returns to from in his next series.
Hopefully, he returns to from in his next series.
December 8, 2020
The conclusion to the never ending war with the Scalda. I thoroughly enjoyed this book while also learning a bit of traditional Irish folklore. A great read with some familiar historical areas, based off the Hill of Tara. This book had the right amount of myth, tradition, war and love! A great read-and I certainly wouldn't mind if Lawhead did a few more boos based on this tale!
July 11, 2022
p. 275 "May all of these who were known to us in life, remain alive forever in our hearts. One day, each of us here will find a resting place...As we mourn today, so we will be mourned in the day of our passing by those who loved us. We do not know when that day will arrive, so in the time that is left to us, may we who mark this day live lives worthy of remembrance."
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