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A review by narratricenessa
The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Shauna Lawless' debut novel The Children of Gods and Fighting Men was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022. Presented as a "new historical fantasy series that intertwines Irish mythology with real-life history" it sounded like a much-needed breath of fresh air in a market that is (in my opinion) oversaturated with historical fiction inspired by English medieval history, Arthurian legends and Greek mythology. FYI I have nothing against books inspired by the aforementioned things, but sometimes you just crave something new.
As much as I was excited about reading The Children of Gods and Fighting Men I was also nervous about it. I'm not familiar with Irish mythology and my knowledge of Irish history (medieval or otherwise) is scarce. I was worried that my lack of knowledge would make reading difficult, that I would miss layers of meaning or significant information that someone more familiar with Irish mythology and history wouldn't. However, my worries were unfounded, and reading The Children of Gods and Fighting Men as a part of the Fantasy Fellowship December Book Club was an absolute delight.
The story of Children of Gods and Fighting Men is captivating and compels you to read almost without pausing. At the same time experiencing the events through Gormflaith's and Fódla's eyes gave the story a more intimate feel, highlighting the characters and their development. The characters are vivid, intelligent and well-written. However, none of the characters are perfect, all are flawed in some way; they overreach and make mistakes. Simultaneously they feel very medieval (in a way that their motivations and drive are sometimes not easy to grasp for the modern reader) and yet are very relatable.
The Children of Gods and Fighting Men is a fantastic and captivating read! The political manoeuvring and frequent reminders of how connected Ireland was to Europe by trade, religion and politics gave the story a grand and epic feel. At the same time seeing the story unfold through the eyes of two women brings an unexpected intimacy and depth.
As much as I was excited about reading The Children of Gods and Fighting Men I was also nervous about it. I'm not familiar with Irish mythology and my knowledge of Irish history (medieval or otherwise) is scarce. I was worried that my lack of knowledge would make reading difficult, that I would miss layers of meaning or significant information that someone more familiar with Irish mythology and history wouldn't. However, my worries were unfounded, and reading The Children of Gods and Fighting Men as a part of the Fantasy Fellowship December Book Club was an absolute delight.
The story of Children of Gods and Fighting Men is captivating and compels you to read almost without pausing. At the same time experiencing the events through Gormflaith's and Fódla's eyes gave the story a more intimate feel, highlighting the characters and their development. The characters are vivid, intelligent and well-written. However, none of the characters are perfect, all are flawed in some way; they overreach and make mistakes. Simultaneously they feel very medieval (in a way that their motivations and drive are sometimes not easy to grasp for the modern reader) and yet are very relatable.
The Children of Gods and Fighting Men is a fantastic and captivating read! The political manoeuvring and frequent reminders of how connected Ireland was to Europe by trade, religion and politics gave the story a grand and epic feel. At the same time seeing the story unfold through the eyes of two women brings an unexpected intimacy and depth.