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Irish Magic
Welcome to an enchanted world of mist and legend... of age-old dreams and ageless desires... where trees have souls, and swords and stones can speak.
In Morgan Llwelyn's Galway Bay , a modern American woman journeys to the mystical land of her ancestors to escape the pain of love's betrayal. There she meets a man who is not of any world she knows.
Susan Wiggs's The Trysting Hour takes us to ancient Tara, where the betrothed Princess Aideen awakens from a fevered vision...only to see her dream lover appear before her.
In Roberta Gellis's Rarer Than A White Crow , the beautiful warrior Caer finds a lover to cherish and to fear when she meets the blue-eyed Prince Angus Og.
Dierdre is The Harper's Daughter in acclaimed author Barbara Samuel's tale of a woman whose beauty enchants a king. But en route to his royal court, she meets a handsome stranger whose coat is scarlet, whose hair is raven-black and whose passion is magnificent and wild.
In Morgan Llwelyn's Galway Bay , a modern American woman journeys to the mystical land of her ancestors to escape the pain of love's betrayal. There she meets a man who is not of any world she knows.
Susan Wiggs's The Trysting Hour takes us to ancient Tara, where the betrothed Princess Aideen awakens from a fevered vision...only to see her dream lover appear before her.
In Roberta Gellis's Rarer Than A White Crow , the beautiful warrior Caer finds a lover to cherish and to fear when she meets the blue-eyed Prince Angus Og.
Dierdre is The Harper's Daughter in acclaimed author Barbara Samuel's tale of a woman whose beauty enchants a king. But en route to his royal court, she meets a handsome stranger whose coat is scarlet, whose hair is raven-black and whose passion is magnificent and wild.
342 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1995
8 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Llywelyn
77 books997 followersMorgan Llywelyn (born 1937) is an American-born Irish author best known for her historical fantasy, historical fiction, and historical non-fiction. Her fiction has received several awards and has sold more than 40 million copies, and she herself is recipient of the 1999 Exceptional Celtic Woman of the Year Award from Celtic Women International.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 3, 2017
Found this collection of stories on the sale shelves at the library in AZ. I bought it mainly for the selection Galway Bay by Morgan Llywelyn, the only author of the four here that I was familiar with.
That story was my favorite, but the others were good also, especially The Harper's Daughter by Barbara Samuel and The Trysting Hour by Susan Wiggs.
Magic, romance, wizard's gifts, selkies, immortals, and Ireland all stirred into an entertaining book.
That story was my favorite, but the others were good also, especially The Harper's Daughter by Barbara Samuel and The Trysting Hour by Susan Wiggs.
Magic, romance, wizard's gifts, selkies, immortals, and Ireland all stirred into an entertaining book.
April 11, 2021
I was expecting better, more engaging stories from the authors listed on the cover. It was an okay vacation read, but I was a little disappointed by some of the stories.
September 10, 2017
i have to remember I'm not a big fan of short stories...unless they're add-ons to something I've already enjoyed. these were okay, but ended very abruptly...and too easily. worth skipping the first one if you need something fast to read. i read this book between library holds for other books.
March 16, 2020
The stories were interesting, but not enthralling. The Harpers Daughter by Barbara Samuel was my favorite and reminded me of Arthurian legend and The Trysting Hour by Susan Wiggs was my least favorite.
October 5, 2023
Meh. It's an easy read of short stories. I picked it up because I wished for easy. And it does that sufficiently. Something to pick up if you want comfort and cozy not something complex to toil over.
July 15, 2018
Three good stories set in Ireland, one in modern times and two historical involving the Sidhe, the Tuatha de Danaan, fairy princes and bards.
March 17, 2019
It was nice to get some happier endings to tragic tales of traditional Irish storytelling!
February 2, 2022
When you're in the mood for some short escapist romantic stories in a celtic setting, pick up this one. Good for a rainy sunday afternoon.
December 21, 2016
-2016 Popsugar Challenge: A book recommended to me by a family member
This book is composed of 4 short stories. I liked The Harper's Daughter and Rarer Than A White Crow the best.
Galway Bay by Morgan Llywelyn
I found this story a little abrupt and a little creepy. The main character is an American woman taking a vacation in Ireland. The other point of view is a man who is in love with her? Or just finds her the perfect person so break the spell/curse? Both? But he sort of stalks her and it's a little creepy. Plus we have no clue about anything about him. 2/5 stars
The Harper's Daughter by Barbara Samuel
This is one of my favorites of the book! Its a retelling of Deirdre of the Sorrows, where the most beautiful girl in Ireland is born and her beauty is prophesied to start wars and shed blood. She is promised to the king, but falls in love with another man, and he with her. In the original story, it is a romantic tragedy, resulting in his and his brothers deaths and she commits suicide. In this telling, it puts a feminist spin on it without compromising the style of old myth/legend/fairy tale writing and genre. I liked the original story, but I LOVE this version. Deirdre and her knight end up both living, his brothers too, and a war averted. And the solution is presented by a woman. 5/5 stars
The Trysting Hour by Susan Wiggs
This one dragged a bit for my taste. Its about a young human (or so she seems) woman as she's being married off to the high king. Yet it turns out that this other person she's been dreaming about is her soul mate, an eternal being, and so is she, but cursed to live a mortal life and not remember him. The story is about him trying to win her back, and her resisting until her human husband gives her up (thanks for being faithful to a man you don't love I guess?). They end up together. As you can see, I didn't think much of this one either way. 2.5-3/5 stars
Rarer Than A White Crow by Roberta Gellis
Another one of my favorites! I appreciated the gender role reversal in the story, with the woman being the warrior and the man being a man of peace. I also loved how the orchestrater, the goddess of mischief gets to troll (to put it modernly) the two main characters. Angus, our main character man, is a peaceful, honest, good, and slightly foolish man (he is clever too, and skilled, but these are not traits he is known for). He gets cursed with death if he cannot get Caer, the warrior woman, to love and marry him. She is told that her future daughter has a role to play in the goddesses plans, and refuses to admit to Angus her love. Thus the book is them falling in love, not admitting it, side-stepping around each other to protect each other, and even ending on opposing sides in a battle. However, they both figure it out in the end. 5/5 stars
This book is composed of 4 short stories. I liked The Harper's Daughter and Rarer Than A White Crow the best.
Galway Bay by Morgan Llywelyn
I found this story a little abrupt and a little creepy. The main character is an American woman taking a vacation in Ireland. The other point of view is a man who is in love with her? Or just finds her the perfect person so break the spell/curse? Both? But he sort of stalks her and it's a little creepy. Plus we have no clue about anything about him. 2/5 stars
The Harper's Daughter by Barbara Samuel
This is one of my favorites of the book! Its a retelling of Deirdre of the Sorrows, where the most beautiful girl in Ireland is born and her beauty is prophesied to start wars and shed blood. She is promised to the king, but falls in love with another man, and he with her. In the original story, it is a romantic tragedy, resulting in his and his brothers deaths and she commits suicide. In this telling, it puts a feminist spin on it without compromising the style of old myth/legend/fairy tale writing and genre. I liked the original story, but I LOVE this version. Deirdre and her knight end up both living, his brothers too, and a war averted. And the solution is presented by a woman. 5/5 stars
The Trysting Hour by Susan Wiggs
This one dragged a bit for my taste. Its about a young human (or so she seems) woman as she's being married off to the high king. Yet it turns out that this other person she's been dreaming about is her soul mate, an eternal being, and so is she, but cursed to live a mortal life and not remember him. The story is about him trying to win her back, and her resisting until her human husband gives her up (thanks for being faithful to a man you don't love I guess?). They end up together. As you can see, I didn't think much of this one either way. 2.5-3/5 stars
Rarer Than A White Crow by Roberta Gellis
Another one of my favorites! I appreciated the gender role reversal in the story, with the woman being the warrior and the man being a man of peace. I also loved how the orchestrater, the goddess of mischief gets to troll (to put it modernly) the two main characters. Angus, our main character man, is a peaceful, honest, good, and slightly foolish man (he is clever too, and skilled, but these are not traits he is known for). He gets cursed with death if he cannot get Caer, the warrior woman, to love and marry him. She is told that her future daughter has a role to play in the goddesses plans, and refuses to admit to Angus her love. Thus the book is them falling in love, not admitting it, side-stepping around each other to protect each other, and even ending on opposing sides in a battle. However, they both figure it out in the end. 5/5 stars
April 24, 2009
Finally, my first review for the Once Upon a Time III Challenge. I’ve chosen this anthology because Gellis is one of my favourite authors and I’ve long wanted to read Morgan Llywelyn, who is perhaps better known for her historical fiction titles. I wasn’t equally impressed with the stories but as a whole, it was a pleasant read.
Galway Bay – Morgan Llywelyn
A contemporary story about an American looking for what’s missing in her life. She travels to Ireland and learns more about Irish folklore and traditions. She is particularly drawn to the story of the Ron, while in the bay someone is waiting for the right time to act. While I found it enjoyable I also thought that the story was very one sided. I would have liked to know a lot more about the Ron and Irish folklore. Grade: 3.5/5
The Harper’s Daughter – Barbara Samuel
This one was more in the style of a traditional romance with some fantasy elements. A beautiful woman, promised to a king, finds she loves another but fears her love will bring about an old prophecy of blood and violence. The star-crossed lovers will be helped by a powerful warrior woman in trying to avoid the blood bath. Grade: 3.5/5
The Trysting Hour – Susan Wiggs
Again another fantasy story. A powerful spell has separated two immortal lovers in the past. To save his beloved the hero turned into a mortal with the hope that one day they may meet again and she will remember him and her love. Unfortunately she is being promised to a king and can’t seem to remember who she was. While I liked the characters, I felt the ending was a bit too neatly wrapped up. Grade: 3.5/5
Rarer Than a White Crow – Roberta Gellis
My favourite story, with fleshed out characters and an interesting plot. Angus is put under a spell to look for a woman he will love for the rest of his days. Said woman has to fulfill a promise made by her mother to the same witch to have a daughter from a certain man. When Angus and Caer, the warrior woman, meet he is determined to woo and win her and she, after knowing him better, is determined to send him away because she believes the witch wants to harm him. Not only we are kept interested in Angus plan but Gellis even manages to end with hints to a sequel. I wonder if there is one. Grade: 5/5
Anthology grade: 4/5
Galway Bay – Morgan Llywelyn
A contemporary story about an American looking for what’s missing in her life. She travels to Ireland and learns more about Irish folklore and traditions. She is particularly drawn to the story of the Ron, while in the bay someone is waiting for the right time to act. While I found it enjoyable I also thought that the story was very one sided. I would have liked to know a lot more about the Ron and Irish folklore. Grade: 3.5/5
The Harper’s Daughter – Barbara Samuel
This one was more in the style of a traditional romance with some fantasy elements. A beautiful woman, promised to a king, finds she loves another but fears her love will bring about an old prophecy of blood and violence. The star-crossed lovers will be helped by a powerful warrior woman in trying to avoid the blood bath. Grade: 3.5/5
The Trysting Hour – Susan Wiggs
Again another fantasy story. A powerful spell has separated two immortal lovers in the past. To save his beloved the hero turned into a mortal with the hope that one day they may meet again and she will remember him and her love. Unfortunately she is being promised to a king and can’t seem to remember who she was. While I liked the characters, I felt the ending was a bit too neatly wrapped up. Grade: 3.5/5
Rarer Than a White Crow – Roberta Gellis
My favourite story, with fleshed out characters and an interesting plot. Angus is put under a spell to look for a woman he will love for the rest of his days. Said woman has to fulfill a promise made by her mother to the same witch to have a daughter from a certain man. When Angus and Caer, the warrior woman, meet he is determined to woo and win her and she, after knowing him better, is determined to send him away because she believes the witch wants to harm him. Not only we are kept interested in Angus plan but Gellis even manages to end with hints to a sequel. I wonder if there is one. Grade: 5/5
Anthology grade: 4/5
March 3, 2015
I was kinda disappointment with this anthology collection. I don't usually like anthologies because there isn't enough meat to the stories. Just when you start to like a character, the short story is over. Oh well.
Galway Bay by Morgan Llywelyn
Started out great with the promise of a selkie man taking an interest in American Eileen Costello. Told of her time in Ireland but totally left you hanging on the romance between "him" (he has no name) and Eileen. This is supposed to be a romantic collection but no romance here. :(
The Harper's Daughter by Barbara Samuel
This is a terrific romance with a wonderful hero and a beautiful heroine showing the enormous power of true love. Barbara Samuel writes wonderfully romantic tales.
The Trysting Hour by Susan Wiggs
Short but sweet. The Prince of the Sidhe knows what he wants and schemes to get it.
Rarer than a White Crow by Roberta Gellis
A female warrior with no use for a man is ordered by the Goddess to bear a child with Angus Og. The push and pull between Caer and Angus is vastly entertaining.
Galway Bay by Morgan Llywelyn
Started out great with the promise of a selkie man taking an interest in American Eileen Costello. Told of her time in Ireland but totally left you hanging on the romance between "him" (he has no name) and Eileen. This is supposed to be a romantic collection but no romance here. :(
The Harper's Daughter by Barbara Samuel
This is a terrific romance with a wonderful hero and a beautiful heroine showing the enormous power of true love. Barbara Samuel writes wonderfully romantic tales.
The Trysting Hour by Susan Wiggs
Short but sweet. The Prince of the Sidhe knows what he wants and schemes to get it.
Rarer than a White Crow by Roberta Gellis
A female warrior with no use for a man is ordered by the Goddess to bear a child with Angus Og. The push and pull between Caer and Angus is vastly entertaining.
May 8, 2013
In Morgan Llwelyn's Galway Bay , a modern American woman journeys to the mystical land of her ancestors to escape the pain of love's betrayal. There she meets a man who is not of any world she knows.
Susan Wiggs's The Trysting Hourtakes us to ancient Tara, where the betrothed Princess Aideen awakens from a fevered vision...only to see her dream lover appear before her.
In Roberta Gellis's Rarer Than A White Crow, the beautiful warrior Caer finds a lover to cherish and to fear when she meets the blue-eyed Prince Angus Og.
Dierdre is The Harper's Daughterin acclaimed author Barbara Samuel's tale of a woman whose beauty enchants a king. But en route to his royal court, she meets a handsome stranger whose coat is scarlet, whose hair is raven-black and whose passion is magnificent and wild.
Enter a land of myths and magic in these tales of romance, adventure, and timeless love... IRISH MAGIC
Susan Wiggs's The Trysting Hourtakes us to ancient Tara, where the betrothed Princess Aideen awakens from a fevered vision...only to see her dream lover appear before her.
In Roberta Gellis's Rarer Than A White Crow, the beautiful warrior Caer finds a lover to cherish and to fear when she meets the blue-eyed Prince Angus Og.
Dierdre is The Harper's Daughterin acclaimed author Barbara Samuel's tale of a woman whose beauty enchants a king. But en route to his royal court, she meets a handsome stranger whose coat is scarlet, whose hair is raven-black and whose passion is magnificent and wild.
Enter a land of myths and magic in these tales of romance, adventure, and timeless love... IRISH MAGIC
July 10, 2014
The short stories in this book are certainly 'flights of the imagination'. Galway Bay for me was odd and disturbing. I understand about the seal-people myth but author made me feel like the female character was being stalked instead of wooed by the male. The Harper's Daughter is a cursed by beauty and what fate holds storyline. It was enjoyable but a bit dry. The Trysting Hour is about a love lost and the lover is trying to reunite with his love but there's a rift between the real and unreal worlds and the love does not remember her lover. This storyline moved a little better than the other two but still I felt there was something missing. Rarer Than a White Crow is probably the best of these storylines. At least there's more explanation about being cursed and finding a resolution to the remove the curse. The characters are stronger in this tale and the storyline moves quite nicely.
October 10, 2008
This book features 4 short stories, all with an Irish myth and magic.
1. Galway Bay - An American woman takes her dream vacation to find herself being stalked by one of the Ron (Seal People) right out of legend.
2. The Harper's Daughter - Deirdre's legendary beauty will cause much bloodshed unless she can find someone who will love her for herself.
3. The Trysting Place - Aideen is set to marry, but the problem is - she already has a Fairy Prince for a husband. She just can't remember him.
4. Rarer Then A White Crow - The God of Love falls for a Warrior Princess, the only woman in the Wold who won't have him.
1. Galway Bay - An American woman takes her dream vacation to find herself being stalked by one of the Ron (Seal People) right out of legend.
2. The Harper's Daughter - Deirdre's legendary beauty will cause much bloodshed unless she can find someone who will love her for herself.
3. The Trysting Place - Aideen is set to marry, but the problem is - she already has a Fairy Prince for a husband. She just can't remember him.
4. Rarer Then A White Crow - The God of Love falls for a Warrior Princess, the only woman in the Wold who won't have him.
July 5, 2011
"Galway Bay" by Morgan Llywelyn. An American tourist, Eileen meets a member of the Ron - mythical people who turn into seals or humans - unusual story.
"The Harper's Daughter" by Barbara Samuael - A girl, Diedre is cursed with beauty that betrays her and causes bloodshed between men until she meets her true love.
"The Trysting Hour" by Susan Wiggs - Aideen's love is a member of the fey.
"Rarer Than a White Crow" by Roberta Gellis - I couldn't get into this one at all.
I was disappointed with each of these stories.
"The Harper's Daughter" by Barbara Samuael - A girl, Diedre is cursed with beauty that betrays her and causes bloodshed between men until she meets her true love.
"The Trysting Hour" by Susan Wiggs - Aideen's love is a member of the fey.
"Rarer Than a White Crow" by Roberta Gellis - I couldn't get into this one at all.
I was disappointed with each of these stories.
April 1, 2016
I don't usually just pick up an anthology. If I'm reading an anthology, it's for one particular author and story. And because I have it in my hand, I figure I might as well read a few more... and hopefully catch a new author I'll love.
But I don't usually just grab one off the shelf and read it. But I was craving some Ireland based stories, saw this at a used book store... and yeah.
So I gave all of the stories a chance, and read them.... but, nope. I really didn't like the first one, and the other two just didn't hold my interest.
But I don't usually just grab one off the shelf and read it. But I was craving some Ireland based stories, saw this at a used book store... and yeah.
So I gave all of the stories a chance, and read them.... but, nope. I really didn't like the first one, and the other two just didn't hold my interest.
March 19, 2011
I liked the story " Galway Bay " best. In fact, I loved it ! It was such a touching romance, the slightly cynical American woman who really, deep inside, wants to believe AND the lonely, handsome man who is actually under the selkie's curse. I read this book around the time of Saint Patrick's Day.
July 27, 2012
I loved the second story, The Harper's Daughter about Deirdre but I was disappointed in the others, especially Galway Bay by Morgan Llywelyn - perhaps because it was a modern story and i love her historical stories, i didn't enjoy it. Because of that, I'd say try to get this in the library as only one of the four stories is really compelling - then again, it's worth it just for that.
March 12, 2009
This one took me forever to read - didn't like it very much. It might have helped if the glossary was in the front of the book - or at least tell the reader that one existed at the end of the book. Still don't think I would have lied it any better.
April 22, 2013
After three years of dusting off dust on my bookshelf, I finally opened this book. Four enchanting stories, easy read, and all rated PG-13 (mostly touching). Sorry to say, however, I will not be keeping this as part of my library as I do not plan to re-read these stories.
October 3, 2013
I gave this book a 3-Star rating because of the first three stories - the fourth on was hard to get through - I didn't care about the characters - in other words, the characters didn't come to life for me - flat as the page they were on!!
February 25, 2015
These were well-written and full of all of the elements that I love: Tuatha de Danaan, warrior women, selkies, long-awaited lover's, Irish countrysides and, of course, magic. I will be reading more from these women because of their higher level of mythical tales!
January 16, 2008
Irish Magic - Ok
Roberta Gellis, Barbara Samuel, Susan Wiggs, and Morgan Llywelyn
Not my favorite anthology.
Roberta Gellis, Barbara Samuel, Susan Wiggs, and Morgan Llywelyn
Not my favorite anthology.
July 12, 2016
It was okay. Took awhile for me to get into it.
May 19, 2008
Short Stories, Totally enjoyed the first two stories, light and easy to read so far. Good lunch hour book, looking forward to finish.
December 19, 2015
Galway Bay - B-
Harper's Daughter - B
Trysting Hour - C
Rarer than a White Crow - F
Harper's Daughter - B
Trysting Hour - C
Rarer than a White Crow - F
Want to read
June 23, 2012just now starting seems good so far :)
September 14, 2012
got through the first two stories -- hate to not finish a book, but really couldn't get into it and others waiting that I am looking forward to!
June 6, 2013
Not terrible, not great. The stories are ok. It's from 1995 since its mostly historical it doesn't seem dated. If you like Irish folklore it may resonate with you
July 17, 2013
LW~3*; Couldn't get into othr stories. Try rdg later
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews