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anxious_undertaker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, and War
dogearedbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, War, Misogyny, Violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Slavery
Moderate: Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Suicide
ayoung720's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: War, Sexual violence, and Slavery
szuum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, and Death
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide and Slavery
indyjg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
These two rival groups are sworn enemies, determined to destroy each other. Lawless beautifully describes the political manoeuvring and intrigue between the Fomorians and the Tuatha Dé Danann and the changing religious landscape between the Norse and Christian communities at the time. However, my favourite aspect of this book is how morality is woven throughout the story; there are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ factions, merely morally grey characters with compelling and nuanced perspectives. I also thoroughly enjoyed how both Gormflaith and Fódla were fleshed-out, captivating and strong female characters. They were given due time to understand and relate to their motivations while still being morally grey, so many books fall short of this. Lawless’s prose read like a Madeline Miller or Natalie Haynes book, and needless to say, I am keenly anticipating the sequel, so Children of Gods and Fighting Men gets five stars from me!
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Suicide, Sexism, and Slavery
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Child death
valpuri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism, War, Murder, Ableism, Abandonment, Animal death, Sexual content, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Child death, and Suicide
Minor: Incest and Gaslighting
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Medical content, and War
bettysbookishworld's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, Murder, Violence, Grief, War, and Misogyny
Moderate: Suicide, Torture, Sexism, and Slavery
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, and Child death
kamreadsandrecs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What I liked most about this novel, though, is that it is a story about women, and specifically about mothers. These themes are clearest in Gormflaith’s storyline - both for good and for ill. Between her and Fódla I think Gormflaith’s the most layered, but that’s mostly because of the situation she finds herself in throughout the novel. Fódla’s interesting too, don’t get me wrong, but in terms of characterization I think it’s clear that Gormflaith got the lion’s share of that in this book. Still: that’s not to say Fódla’s a bad character; as I said, this is just the first book in the series, so I’m willing to bet that things will get interesting for her in the subsequent books.
So: definitely a good book to read if you’re interested in Ireland’s legends and history, and/or are looking for a fantasy novel that’s along the lines of ASoIaF but aren’t too keen on how those books handle the portrayal of women. This book (and maybe this series) is pretty gritty and objectionable things still happen to people, but at least it’s not as egregious as in some other fantasy novels out there.
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Suicide and Slavery
underage marriages