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A review by eefera
The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Stories rooted in history about power and the realities faced by those in its sway have always drawn me in like a magnet. <i>Children of Gods and Fighting Men</i> was no different.
The storytelling style has an easy, pleasant current leading us through the intertwined tale of two women, Fodla and Gormflaith. One a naive and fearful healer, one a manipulative and spite-filled queen. Both welders of ancient magic.
I enjoyed both POVs and was intrigued by the layered reveal of betrayal, ambition, and succession, common themes in historical accounts. Oftentimes these historical stories reveal the painful truths faced by women in their time, and just as often I find myself setting them down with an unpleasant aftertaste. With this story, though, Lawless manages to reveal the power and the powerlessness of her characters in a way that really impressed me.
A fantastic opening to a trilogy I thoroughly look forward to continuing!
The storytelling style has an easy, pleasant current leading us through the intertwined tale of two women, Fodla and Gormflaith. One a naive and fearful healer, one a manipulative and spite-filled queen. Both welders of ancient magic.
I enjoyed both POVs and was intrigued by the layered reveal of betrayal, ambition, and succession, common themes in historical accounts. Oftentimes these historical stories reveal the painful truths faced by women in their time, and just as often I find myself setting them down with an unpleasant aftertaste. With this story, though, Lawless manages to reveal the power and the powerlessness of her characters in a way that really impressed me.
A fantastic opening to a trilogy I thoroughly look forward to continuing!