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Irish Woman Warrior #.5
Liath Luachra: The Great Wild
Ireland 1st Century:
In the deep, green depths of the Great Wild, a girl awakes in a forest clearing.
With no belongings – bar a cloak and a bloody knife – and no memory to guide her, she must adapt and survive in an unfamiliar world.
Filled with every possible kind of danger.
In the deep, green depths of the Great Wild, a girl awakes in a forest clearing.
With no belongings – bar a cloak and a bloody knife – and no memory to guide her, she must adapt and survive in an unfamiliar world.
Filled with every possible kind of danger.
173 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2023
215 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Brian O'Sullivan
31 books110 followersBrian O'Sullivan was born in county Cork, Ireland. On completing a degree at University College Cork, he went on to travel extensively. He is now based in New Zealand with his family but returns to Ireland on a regular basis.
Brian writes fiction that incorporates strong elements of Irish culture, language, history and mythology. These include literary short stories (The Irish Muse collection), mystery thrillers (The Beara Trilogy) and contemporary versions of the Fionn mac Cumhaill/ Fenian legends (The Fionn mac Cumhaill Series and the Irish Woman Warrior Series).
Although he writes predominantly for an Irish audience, Brian's unique style and humour has meant that his books have become firm favorites of readers all around the world.
The sixth book in the the Fionn mac Cumhaill Series (Fionn: The Betrayal) was released in April 2025.
The author is currently working on the next book in the Beara Series.
Brian writes fiction that incorporates strong elements of Irish culture, language, history and mythology. These include literary short stories (The Irish Muse collection), mystery thrillers (The Beara Trilogy) and contemporary versions of the Fionn mac Cumhaill/ Fenian legends (The Fionn mac Cumhaill Series and the Irish Woman Warrior Series).
Although he writes predominantly for an Irish audience, Brian's unique style and humour has meant that his books have become firm favorites of readers all around the world.
The sixth book in the the Fionn mac Cumhaill Series (Fionn: The Betrayal) was released in April 2025.
The author is currently working on the next book in the Beara Series.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 11, 2024
So continues our journey with one of the most compelling characters I've ever come across - Liath Luachra. Yet in this book, Brian O'Sullivan takes us back to LL's beginnings. We witness a period of time that is part of what makes her the fierce, brave and sometimes merciless woman she becomes. O'Sullivan is growing our understanding of LL and, for me at least, an awareness of The Great Wild.
I remember one of the LOTR actors (maybe Viggo Mortensen) saying that Middle Earth is as much a character as any of the Fellowship. Here too the Great Wild is a character. In fact, it is the only other character apart from LL for much of the book. And what a contradictory character it is! Vast and pitiless, yet protective and providing. The Great Wild throws savage wolves and harsh weather at Liath Luachra, but also gives her what she needs to survive.
Overall, I'd say this is a deep dive into the world of Liath Luachra and as such will be welcomed by those who have already read O'Sullivan's other LL books and his Fionn series. Although chronologically first, I think newcomers would be better served coming to The Great Wild later.
I'm so happy the author is giving us more LL and more Fionn. This is deeply atmospheric writing that takes you into the heart of the wild and brings to life characters flawed yet incredible.
I remember one of the LOTR actors (maybe Viggo Mortensen) saying that Middle Earth is as much a character as any of the Fellowship. Here too the Great Wild is a character. In fact, it is the only other character apart from LL for much of the book. And what a contradictory character it is! Vast and pitiless, yet protective and providing. The Great Wild throws savage wolves and harsh weather at Liath Luachra, but also gives her what she needs to survive.
Overall, I'd say this is a deep dive into the world of Liath Luachra and as such will be welcomed by those who have already read O'Sullivan's other LL books and his Fionn series. Although chronologically first, I think newcomers would be better served coming to The Great Wild later.
I'm so happy the author is giving us more LL and more Fionn. This is deeply atmospheric writing that takes you into the heart of the wild and brings to life characters flawed yet incredible.
June 12, 2023
A unique merging of beauty and action, O'Sullivan does an interesting take on fantasy with this prequel to his Liath Luachra series.
Waking alone in the wilderness of ancient Ireland, a young Liath Luachra is symbolically 'birthed' into being. Isolated and alone and with no memory of how she got there, she has no-one to talk to, to help her resolve the mystery of her appearance theree. As a result, much of the sparse dialogue, by necessity, takes place with a mysterious voice in her head. This approach leads to a story that's unexpecteldy introspective but also quite beautiful at times and the expanded personification of nature - previously hinted at in other books, makes far more sense here.
Over the first part of the book, the young Liath Luachra has to come to terms with her lack of an identity, a situation that obliges her to adapt (or align) far more closely to her environment that one might expect. That comes in very useful in the second and more action-based part of the book.
Ironically, although it's a prequel, I felt that it was a story I got far more from by being familiar with the character.
Waking alone in the wilderness of ancient Ireland, a young Liath Luachra is symbolically 'birthed' into being. Isolated and alone and with no memory of how she got there, she has no-one to talk to, to help her resolve the mystery of her appearance theree. As a result, much of the sparse dialogue, by necessity, takes place with a mysterious voice in her head. This approach leads to a story that's unexpecteldy introspective but also quite beautiful at times and the expanded personification of nature - previously hinted at in other books, makes far more sense here.
Over the first part of the book, the young Liath Luachra has to come to terms with her lack of an identity, a situation that obliges her to adapt (or align) far more closely to her environment that one might expect. That comes in very useful in the second and more action-based part of the book.
Ironically, although it's a prequel, I felt that it was a story I got far more from by being familiar with the character.
March 5, 2024
For a character and series I love, its taken me a while to get around to this prequel to Liath Luachra's adventures and, wow, was that a mistake.
First up, the novel is very different to the other books in the series, but it provides new context and insight to the character (a much younger Liath Luachra) that very much enriches the later books. It's also quite different in that it reduces the focus of the story almost exclusively to the protagonist for the first half of the book. This could have been a disaster but in O'Sulivan's hands, it works effectively as a kind of 'Ancient Irish Robin Crusoe', all the while setting up a scenario that allows a clever series of twists as the story comes to a close.
Brilliantly structured, exciting, and touching, this is the most realistic Irish mythology series you'll ever read. Five stars!
First up, the novel is very different to the other books in the series, but it provides new context and insight to the character (a much younger Liath Luachra) that very much enriches the later books. It's also quite different in that it reduces the focus of the story almost exclusively to the protagonist for the first half of the book. This could have been a disaster but in O'Sulivan's hands, it works effectively as a kind of 'Ancient Irish Robin Crusoe', all the while setting up a scenario that allows a clever series of twists as the story comes to a close.
Brilliantly structured, exciting, and touching, this is the most realistic Irish mythology series you'll ever read. Five stars!
October 23, 2023
"Liath Luachra: The Great Wild" is the highly anticipated backstory to the enigmatic Irish woman warrior, Liath Luachra. I found the book to be highly satisfying and a worthy addition to the Woman Warrior series of novels. The novel details how a frightened, traumatized, partially amnesic young girl was left to her own devices to survive in the Great Wild, not knowing how or why she came to be in that situation. This book, like all of the author's works, is absolutely riveting and reeks of authenticity. It is a fabulous read and stands on its own, as well as being a worthy prequel to the series. Five stars!
December 8, 2023
I loved this book. Having read the other books in the Liath Luachra series, I enjoyed the different pace of this one - slower, more measured, more descriptive. We knew that Liath had a dark history, but this prequel helps fill in some of the blanks of her earlier life and how she became the woman warrior of legend. Still, many details remain (as yet) untold. I can’t wait to read more.
August 15, 2023
I've really enjoyed all of O'Sullivans books to date but this is a Celtic adventure like nothing I've ever read before! Very different and yet strangely similar to all his other books. To say anything would probably give too much away.
Great stuff!
Great stuff!
January 6, 2024
It was interesting, but maybe I needed to have read the main bulk of the series before reading the prologue.
February 8, 2025
Hard to finish
This book was not for me. I feel the lack of characters made it boring to me and made it hard to finish.
This book was not for me. I feel the lack of characters made it boring to me and made it hard to finish.
October 3, 2023
Wow what a book, if I could give it more than five stars I would.
It is so different from anything I have read before, but held me in it's grip until the final pages and then left me wanting more.
This book features just one person, until the final couple of chapters, there is no dialogue until then either.
It is 1st Century Ireland, and The Girl (she has no name) wakes up in a wilderness, naked, except for a heavy cloak and with a knife lying beside her. She doesn't know who she is or where she is, she notices the knife as a streak of dried blood on it. She checks herself, it is not her blood as she has no injuries.
She notices a forest of the edge of the area she is in, thinking that it would offer her shelter and maybe some answers she starts to head toward it. However a strong feeling of dread overcomes her and a mysterious mist rushes out at her. She turns and runs in the opposite direction.
From thereon she has to work out how to survive, hunt, make tools, find shelter etc. She has no help, no one to talk to only a mysterious voice in her head.
She is alone in the wilderness, with packs of wolves roaming and hunting her, will she survive, this young girl with a cloak and a knife?
It is so different from anything I have read before, but held me in it's grip until the final pages and then left me wanting more.
This book features just one person, until the final couple of chapters, there is no dialogue until then either.
It is 1st Century Ireland, and The Girl (she has no name) wakes up in a wilderness, naked, except for a heavy cloak and with a knife lying beside her. She doesn't know who she is or where she is, she notices the knife as a streak of dried blood on it. She checks herself, it is not her blood as she has no injuries.
She notices a forest of the edge of the area she is in, thinking that it would offer her shelter and maybe some answers she starts to head toward it. However a strong feeling of dread overcomes her and a mysterious mist rushes out at her. She turns and runs in the opposite direction.
From thereon she has to work out how to survive, hunt, make tools, find shelter etc. She has no help, no one to talk to only a mysterious voice in her head.
She is alone in the wilderness, with packs of wolves roaming and hunting her, will she survive, this young girl with a cloak and a knife?
August 21, 2024
Only thing missing was more
Following the launch of the latest 'Fionn' book, I came back to this and reread it again this summer, finding myself devouring it as eagerly as the first time - very satisfying! I decided to read the 2 series (Liath Luachra & Fionn) in order of their timelines, not their creation this time. I'm finding it very edifying! Despite O'Sullivan having written these books from the POV of LL/ Fionn, I'm constantly amazed at the complexity of their characters and how, despite that inner insight to their thinking, I still find LL illusive and surprising - thoroughly satisfying except for wanting more!
Great to finally get this backstop, but still a lot of unknowns so I'm hoping there will be a follow up reveal, explaining what happened not just alluding to it. Great to find out how she honed her skills to become such a great warrior. I particularly loved how the chase was brought to a close, linking earlier details - I never guessed what was coming, but it was very satisfying!
Following the launch of the latest 'Fionn' book, I came back to this and reread it again this summer, finding myself devouring it as eagerly as the first time - very satisfying! I decided to read the 2 series (Liath Luachra & Fionn) in order of their timelines, not their creation this time. I'm finding it very edifying! Despite O'Sullivan having written these books from the POV of LL/ Fionn, I'm constantly amazed at the complexity of their characters and how, despite that inner insight to their thinking, I still find LL illusive and surprising - thoroughly satisfying except for wanting more!
Great to finally get this backstop, but still a lot of unknowns so I'm hoping there will be a follow up reveal, explaining what happened not just alluding to it. Great to find out how she honed her skills to become such a great warrior. I particularly loved how the chase was brought to a close, linking earlier details - I never guessed what was coming, but it was very satisfying!
June 15, 2023
I know i always say and think this once i`ve finished one of Brian`s books but this is the best. A great origin story for a great character. Most of the story is her by herself in the wilderness and it`s great. Different to the other tales because of that. When she does meet her enemies once again she shows that though she`s not as strong her cunning and will to live wins through. Highly recommended. Stopped me drinking my whiskey!
August 4, 2023
A great read for a winter's afternoon.
There's very little dialogue in the book, but tons of vivid description - of the land, the events and Liath's state of mind. Brian takes us on a well described journey from Liath's initial terror through her growing skills at living in the wilderness and her conclusion that she needs to face those terrors. It's great to understand some of her journey to becoming the woman warrior.
There's very little dialogue in the book, but tons of vivid description - of the land, the events and Liath's state of mind. Brian takes us on a well described journey from Liath's initial terror through her growing skills at living in the wilderness and her conclusion that she needs to face those terrors. It's great to understand some of her journey to becoming the woman warrior.
August 3, 2023
Superb back story to Liath Luachra.
Anybody who is a reader of Brian O'Sullivan's excellent books will be excited by this exciting addition. There are chases, anxieties, difficulties and adventures ... and all well researched and told.
Anybody who is a reader of Brian O'Sullivan's excellent books will be excited by this exciting addition. There are chases, anxieties, difficulties and adventures ... and all well researched and told.
January 13, 2024
Not much of a plot
Nothing much happens for about 80% of the book- that is when the first interaction happens with the main character and other humans.
Nothing much happens for about 80% of the book- that is when the first interaction happens with the main character and other humans.
November 11, 2025
Liath prequel showing how the ordeals of the child force her to become the hardened cold warrior of Irish mythology before she becomes Finn's stepmother.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews