Finn and the Fianna

by Daniel Allison

The stories of Finn MacCoul and his warriors were once told at every fireside in Scotland and Ireland. After centuries in obscurity, this collection brings the tales soaring to life again.

Here you will find Diarmuid, whom no woman can help but fall in love with, and Ossian, a warrior-poet raised in the woods by a wild deer. There is Grainne, ancient ancestor of Iseult and Guinevere; and Finn himself, whose name was once a byword for wisdom, generosity, and beauty.

Enter a world of feasting and fighting, battles and poetry, riddles and omens; join Finn and the Fianna in their never-ending quest to drink deeper and deeper of the cup of life.

'A masterpiece... this is Celtic myths and legends at their fantastic best. Your eyes dare not blink for fear of missing a single word. Mythical, flirty, thumpingly violent and divinely nasty!'

Jess Smith, Author of Way of the Wanderers

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 19, 2021

About the author

Daniel Allison is a USA Today bestselling author and oral storyteller from Scotland.

He hosts the House of Legends Podcast and is the author of Irish Mythology: The Children of Danu, Irish Mythology: Fionn & The Fianna, Scottish Myths & Legends Vol. I & II, and the mythic fantasy series The Orkney Cycle. His writing has been optioned for film and television production.

Daniel’s Myth Singers: Celtic Storytelling Apprenticeship provides a unique course of learning for beginning storytellers throughout the world. He leads mythic immersion retreats in the Scottish Highlands and lives in Scotland and Thailand.

Reviews

[Csenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been in love with Fianna stories since I was 13 years old. And I am very, very picky about my favorites. So when I say that this book is awesome, I need you to understand that I mean it.
Daniel Allison is a professional storyteller (meaning he tells stories in spoken word), and it shows on every page of this book. Not just in the language, which is eloquent, descriptive, occasionally poetic, and flows beautifully, but also in the way he treats the stories: with respect, understanding, and pure creative enjoyment. He doesn't try to turn the Fianna legends into one continuous novel, or translate them into literary language. Instead, he preserves their direct way of telling, and keeps them as they are, a cycle of legends strung together by the history of the Fianna, from the birth of Finn Mac Coull all the way to Ossian meeting St. Patrick. In his telling, these stories retain the way they are told: full of excitement, adventure, humor, dark tones, and all-out weirdness.
If you have never encountered the Fianna before, this is a great place to start. They are a group of extraordinary heroes who fight epic battles, go on legendary adventures, and often cross the threshold between the world of mortals and the fae. Some sources refer to them as "green heroes" - they wander the landscape, they hunt, they fight, they laugh, they love, and they enjoy the world around them. Even though they are larger than life, they are also flawed, and that makes them likable. Allison combines Irish and Scottish Fianna legends (since this cycle exists in both places), and selects the best ones to re-tell. He gives voice to characters, describes magical scenes, and delves into the complex emotions that make these stories unforgettable: friendship, love, betrayal, forgiveness, heartbreak. Also, his fight descriptions are amazing.
This book made me fall in love with my favorite stories all over again, and also showed me new ones, or new takes on the ones I didn't really like before. It is an enchanting read, and a great adventure.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

So jam- packed and full of adventure. This book really brought home the reality of fairytales, legends and history. I thoroughly enjoyed this and feel sure re reads will bring even more to every story. It felt very ageless at first, then Finn had age( no spoiler) and we had to think of his mortality and humanity a twist the author drew home.
Absolutely fascinating. I really wish I could find more books about this. I read Tain bo Culloch and didn't appreciate the eye bulging and monstrosity but he was a god. Perhaps the grotesque and Irishness ( see end of book, not my words) was more blood and guts in this book than horrible shape shifting, more clearly definable. I think things were only touched on in both works, meaning it can be explored and creating more intrigue as it progresses and tangents, circulating.
I don't think we are supposed to find anyone "likeable", even when they are, Dairmaid could have been.
I may have to go to a city and find a giant bookstore to find books about Finn.

[Pauly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is so easily read, not my usual genre I must say but thought I would try something a little different & be random.
Firstly the author who is a professional storyteller has penned this book so well I literally feel someone is telling me a wee story. I could imagine all who listened to him totally immersed & gripped by his every word.
I just couldn’t put it down, on one occasion I was minding my baby grand daughter & as she was drifting off to sleep I read a chapter of this book to her, every time I stopped she awoke. I know she probably didn’t really understand what I was reading but it gave me opportunity to read aloud give life to the words rather than reading it into myself.
Great story book on how Finn McCoull grew up & so on & to gave you some insight to Irish mythology. I would consider this a light read, very enjoyable & it was nice to break away from my usual study for the mean time & enter a fantasy world of Irish fokelore, young & not so young alike would enjoy this wonderful book from an amazing author. Will keep you smiling & entertained & away from this current world of madness for a while as Daniel leads you threw Finn & The Fianna’s world.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Finn & The Fianna"
The Fenian Cycle (or Ossianic Cycle, after its narrator Oisín) is a body of prose and verse centring on the exploits of the mythical hero Fionn mac Cumhaill and his warriors the Fianna.

“‘Then you are indeed Finn mac Cumaill,’ said Finnegas.”

Tales of testosterone, alpha-male ambition and easily offended kings, queens and warriors.
Fun to read! ****

{These stories tell of tests accomplished by Finn and the Fianna. It is one of the four major cycles of Irish mythology along with the Mythological Cycle, the Ulster Cycle, and the Historical Cycle. Put in chronological order, the Fenian cycle is the third cycle, between the Ulster and Historical cycles. The cycle also contains stories about other famous Fianna members, including Diarmuid, Caílte, Oisín's son Oscar, and Fionn's enemy Goll mac Morna.}

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finn & The Fianna

Read this book in a coup!e of days & I'm not a good reader, but I Just couldn't put it down! The stories are lovely & flow nicely. Has Irish pronunciation in the index which is helpful. Second book of Daniel's that I've read and can say I'll definitely be reading his others. He has podcasts too which are brilliant. Love falling asleep listening these tales as old as time. One of my favourite reads.

[Jerome Rondeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of those old style stories when people "were larger and lustier in those days!" then this is the book for you. Hunts that go on for days, battles where the opponents fight for an entire day and magic both strange and wonderful. My one complaint is that they are a little short, but there is a great variety here.

[Gemma Gilleard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very glad to have picked this up on a whim in Dumfries. A lover of old tales, myth and legend, this book hit all the right spots. Re-told with finesse and a Gaimen like quality. It starts with a lot of shorter tales but expands and delves into longer exploits of the Fianna, which are exhilarating to read. All feel like they're being told to you in the old ways.

[Paola Dassori · Rating 5 out of 5]

How much I enjoyed this book!
I already knew many of these stories, but Daniel Allison tells them in a way that seems to see them come to life ... poetic, passionate, a book that I recommend to anyone interested in Celtic mythology.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

the last chapter really did it, a conversation between Patrick and Oisín:

"there are no dogs in heaven"
"no hounds? what man would want to go there if there's no dogs!"

[Jaide · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first bit. It was really neat getting some more background on Coull, and some Scottish stories of the Fianna that are rarely told.
However, a lot of the stories had sexual undertones. Then I got into the story of Diarmuid and Grainne, which lasted for more than sixty pages. It was a slog.

Grainne is the most manipulative and narcissistic wench I’ve ever had the displeasure of reading about. I know it was a love spell that made her determined to have Diarmuid, but she didn’t have to be so selfish about it! One would hope that a modern retelling of the story would make attempts at *trying* to make characters actually likable, but overall it just came off as absurdly toxic.

As a Fianna fan, I would rather recommend “Irish Fairy Tales” by James Stephens and “Irish Sagas and Folk Tales” by Eileen O’Faoláin.