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sashapasha 's review for:
The Children of Gods and Fighting Men
by Shauna Lawless
3.75 stars.
Definitely recommend for fans of grey characters and bloody scheming—Game of Thrones peeps take note.
The narrators Gormflaith (gorm-la) and Fódla (foe-la) were both interesting, though I understandably liked and was rooting for Fódla more. The differences between them were fascinating. Gormflaith was a manipulator, Fódla was being manipulated. Both were protective mothers, though Gormflaith's love was selfish and conditional on being loved, while Fódla had more actual care and concern for others.
I found it a little slow at first, but then the story got going and it drew me in. I liked how the mythological elements were incorporated into historical Ireland and found the long-lived/immortal Tuatha Dé Danann's dilemma regarding their interactions with mortals particularly interesting and well-handled. It's not something I see explored frequently, despite the prevalence of faeries/elves/other long-lived species in fantasy. In particular, the conundrum of inevitably being drawn into mortals' lives and wars and then ending up on opposing sides and killing each other, and the resulting imperfect solution of imposing strict no-interaction policies that were impossible to follow and created ethical dilemmas, was so perfectly placed against the backdrop of the plethora of warring Irish clans.
I'm not sure I would've been so interested if there hadn't been characters I liked and rooted for embroiled in the mess, though. The tentative friendship that formed between Fódla and Murchad was so enjoyable to watch and I'm excited to see how their relationship progresses in the sequels.
Sidenote, Tomas -- a snake of the highest order. Absolutely hated him.
Definitely recommend for fans of grey characters and bloody scheming—Game of Thrones peeps take note.
The narrators Gormflaith (gorm-la) and Fódla (foe-la) were both interesting, though I understandably liked and was rooting for Fódla more. The differences between them were fascinating. Gormflaith was a manipulator, Fódla was being manipulated. Both were protective mothers, though Gormflaith's love was selfish and conditional on being loved, while Fódla had more actual care and concern for others.
I found it a little slow at first, but then the story got going and it drew me in. I liked how the mythological elements were incorporated into historical Ireland and found the long-lived/immortal Tuatha Dé Danann's dilemma regarding their interactions with mortals particularly interesting and well-handled. It's not something I see explored frequently, despite the prevalence of faeries/elves/other long-lived species in fantasy. In particular, the conundrum of inevitably being drawn into mortals' lives and wars and then ending up on opposing sides and killing each other, and the resulting imperfect solution of imposing strict no-interaction policies that were impossible to follow and created ethical dilemmas, was so perfectly placed against the backdrop of the plethora of warring Irish clans.
I'm not sure I would've been so interested if there hadn't been characters I liked and rooted for embroiled in the mess, though. The tentative friendship that formed between Fódla and Murchad was so enjoyable to watch and I'm excited to see how their relationship progresses in the sequels.
Sidenote, Tomas -- a snake of the highest order. Absolutely hated him.