The Well of Yearning

Wellspring Trilogy #1

by Caiseal Mór

Guy d'Alville had been a Knight of the Hospital before he was expelled from the prestigious military order. His fortunes had waned dramatically since then. All because of one man, a Templar knight from Ireland named Robert FitzWilliam. So Guy determined this man would pay with his life. Upon arrival in Ireland he discovers ancient forces at work. Recognising a shadowed soul when She sees one, the Queen of the Night offers Guy an opportunity to regain rank and title in the world. But in the first days of his conquest, Guy unwittingly unleashes the frightening fury of the Nathairai, whom some call the Watchers. And this is just the start of all the trouble that will beset the luckless Guy ...

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction

528 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Ariana Deralte · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book hoping for your typical fantasy story, and was largely disappointed. Never mind that the back of the book for some reason focuses on the villain of the story, what really ruins this book is the author's choice to write it as if you're listening to a storyteller. Even this might have been bearable if the chosen storyteller weren't a person who insults the reader, wanders off topic in the middle of half the sections, and somehow knew far more than a person who is later introduced as a character in the story, should know. It pulled your right out of the story time and again. Had I been talking to this person in real life, I'd have walked away. As it is, I only finished the book because I wanted some recompense for having spent money on it.

Plotwise, the story moved along at a snail's pace due to all the information dumps from the storyteller, most of which were pretty boring. The book is basically a few groups of people all heading towards the same place, and you expect something to happen when they get there. A few small things do, but there was no real climax to the story before the narrator tells you to bugger off (and I guess, buy the next book). The villain was very evil, and the monk guy was very nice. Meanwhile, the villainess was extremely boring, and I'm confused as to why no one noticed that beheading killed immortals (when this kills almost every single supernatural being in existence). I did like the more otherworldly than usual portrayal of immortals, and that the book operated on a much longer span of history because of it.

I also really hated the introduction of 'frighteners and... whatever they were called, because once those were introduced the author lazily started saying things like, "His frightener was awake." to tell us someone was scared or worried. That moved the novel from 'just passable' into the 'unbearable' category.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book you're either going to love or hate. It's written as though being verbally told by an Irish storyteller. Not a style you see very often.

The story is a little slow, but it is the first part of a trilogy, so I sort of expect the first book to be a little slow as it introduces characters and sets scenes.

The storyline is pure Irish mythology in style. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and that was difficult at times.

A 3.5 star read rounded up to 4 on the basis of the author describing farts as "unbridled bowel vapours". Felicity of style is what it's about.

[Anthony Zappia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Norman Ireland, this trilogy ties in together the characters and stories of Caiseal Mor's previous 2 trilogies - the Wanderers and the Watchers - as well as The Tilecutter's Penny. So in a sense there are 3 stories threading into one, spanning some 1800 years
You have immortals beings, rival orders of the Catholic Church, Knights Templars and Hospitallers in the mix. You have some great and unlikely heroes, and some pretty horrible villains.
This for me is story-telling at its best. And after reading the first book in this trilogy, I have no inkling as to how the series will end. I look forward to the second part.

[Emy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this one up on a whim from a library display. It's not an easy read, but worth the effort. I liked the world and the stories, although I'm not sure where the story was going or if it got there, but that fits the fallible narrator style. I plan to read the next one although I'll probably wait for summer holidays or a long train journey as it's a style that needs time to delve into, not a quick read in any sense.

[Cara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure exactly what was going on story/plot-wise and didn’t like how it was told from the perspective of a storyteller who is actually part of the story.

[Ed Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read, as always with Caiseal, but I had issues with this book which I didn't have with previous books. I don't mind the character telling me that there were aspects of the previous stories that were incorrect or inaccurate, but repeatedly throughout the book and changing key details - some of which were changed without explanation - was literary sacrilege. This book felt laborious, both in the writer's crafting and in the reading. I haven't yet been successful in locating the second and third in the series but, to be honest, I don't feel I'm missing much. I much prefer the tone, humour and 'innocence' of the previous trilogies, as well as the stand-alone novels. Sorry, Caiseal, but this book promised much yet failed to deliver for me.

[Jolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I read the series, it gripped me, and it hasn't been able to let me go ever since. The world that is sketched just speaks to my imagination so much! Love it. My favourite 'unknown' trilogy.

[Karina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope. This is not for me. I feel no attachment to the story or the actual book. It's going to have to make room for something I do love. I think it's the narrator I dislike. Or the priest character. Can't quite put my finger on it.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has too many threads that have to be woven together into a story and it gets confusing.
There are some interessting thought in there though.

[Swiftsea]

All the critiques in regards to this book deterred me from continuing any further.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

colourful fantasy charector driven
quite a page turneer

[Su]

As with other Mor trilogies - buy all three books - you won't want to wait to go from one to the other.