This was a fantastic historical fantasy set in Ireland circa 990, following the points of view of two women who possess different magics and occupy opposing positions within society. I haven’t read ,Cush from this era of history, so reading the authors notes and seeing how much was drawn from Irish history was a fun surprise.

The historical setting is fascinating, particularly with the depictions of the settled vikings versus the rise of Christianity at this time, with the conflict between these two religions being felt between characters and their beliefs.

This is very much a clever story about how the people in power manoeuvre the political dance with one another, all vying to be kings of different regions, or in the case of one character, to wipe out his enemies killed almost all of his race. The standout in this aspect of the story is Gormflaith, the queen of Dublin who is the puppet master behind a lot of the big players in the political game. Her cunning and planning was amazing to read about, and her drive to see her people avenged and her son in power made her a great character to follow, and a dangerous adversary to those that oppose her. I really liked this villainous character, and found her chapters to be very tense, as you aren’t sure whether he plans will work, who’s going to betray who next, and her own position often coming under scrutiny as she tries to hide her immortality from those around her.

Our other main character is Fódla, a magical healer who has been sent to spy on one of the provincial kings with her young nephew, as a descendant of magic, she too is immortal, and has been told all her life that mortal men are villainous and not to be trusted, and her only task is to report back to her leaders. But she goes on this incredible journey discussing food and evil, and the ability of ordinary men to be both, and seeing the greyness in the men she meets, whilst also questioning her own beliefs. I do enjoy watching characters form their own decisions and choose to believe something new and radical, so her journey was great to follow too.

Fantastic writing, a really easy book to read and the Celtic and Viking vibes are felt well throughout this book, it definitely lives up to its amazing cover!! Would recommend this to anyone who likes well written characters and interesting historical stories with lots of political games.

Video review to come

A great blend of Irish history and mythology .
Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this book just as much as those you like epic fantasy.

Whoah.... This is such a page Turner!!!!
This is my first time reading Irish Myth and I think I want to read more about it.
Totally action packed and it's hard to stop reading this book when you start reading it.

This book is a magical blend of Irish history and mythology. Set in 981AD the story follows two female POV’s. Fódla is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a magical race that most people think no longer exists, with a healing gift. She is sent by her people to spy on one of the Irish Kings as a war is looming between the different nobles in the country. We also follow Gormflaith who is one of the last remaining Fomorians; an immortal and a right piece of work honestly. She also bears fire magic. She is in a position of power, seeks to win the throne of Dublin for her son Sitric, and gave me lots of Cersei Lannister vibes. We follow these two women and their stories against the political backdrop of the looming war for the throne.

I found it so easy to get sucked into this world and this story. Despite knowing little to nothing about Irish history everything was easy to follow and the exposition was spot on. Never too much or too little.

I loved both of the main characters we follow. Fódla’s story was really engaging and my favourite overall. From her grief about the past and her relationships, to watching her struggle to remain impartial and distant from the new people she meets I was itching to see what happened. The scheming and viscous nature of Gormflaith was equally as fun to follow. I loved how the author made it really easy to understand her POV and avoided her becoming a stock standard villian type character. A hard line to walk but it’s so well done here.

I loved the world building in this story so much. The author’s note at the end shows how much care has been taken to blend all the elements of this story together and it shows. I found myself just wanting to fall into 996 Ireland; despite all the axe-wielding Vikings and the harsh landscape. It all felt magical and real.

The pacing was spot on, and when the action is low there are so many emotional moments that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I’d recommend this book to everyone. I can’t wait for what comes next.

Obsessed! Tell me why I want to go back to Ireland in 996 where I would most likely die instantly in a Viking raid and why I am crying over fictional characters loosely based on people who died over a thousand years ago! Regardless I am and I am obsessed with this! Shauna Lawless and the Gael Song series are now must-read books for me. A lot is going on in this book so it was a little confusing but now I am firmly invested. My favorite plot line is that of Fodla her and Murchad they are without a doubt my favorite characters. I completely adore their friendship despite the lies, omission, and politics they have a very cute and pure friendship that I am obsessed with, and I really need book two given the ending of that plot line! Gormflaith also has an interesting and intense plotline and I love that it does shy away from the harsh reality of the times and the way women were and are treated the constant threat and brutality of both the Irish and Vikings. The intensity of Gormflaith’s plotline and desire to help her son and free herself along with Fodla’s relationship with her own people especially her husband Tomas is why I like Murchad and Fodla’s relationship so much. Murchard and Fodla are super precious and I need to see more of them I am super excited for the rest of this series and will definitely be rereading this and purchasing my own copy. Overall 10/10 and I will not stop recommending it

Thank you net galley for the ebook!
I am very pleasantly surprised and happy about this story! When I first saw the cover and the blurb I was expecting a very standard adult fantasy novel but this is so above and beyond. The history and mythology are so well done and complex throughout the story. You can tell a lot of thought and work was put in to creating the best world possible. Not only that but it has amazing female characters when a lot of fantasy books portray women very one dimensionally. I am so happy to have received this book and I cannot wait to see more.

I really got sucked into this one very early on and it became one of those reads I had trouble putting down and when I did I couldn't wait to pick it back up. The world and time period just really clicked with me. I mean what's not to like with fantasy elements (magic) with Irish and Viking cultures battling for control of lands in Ireland!?

World Building 5/5
Pacing 4/5
Character Development 5/5

It didn't take long to become attached some several of the characters as they were introduced and begin to get fleshed out. We also end up finding some truly annoying characters here as well. The world building was nicely done to make me feel I was truly seeing the time and geographical locations being described. The pacing was really smooth and only seemed to ease a few times but that didn't last very long at all.

All of this with a sprinkle of magic and the presence of gods among us just created such a great story.

We definitely find some heartache and loss of characters, as well as betrayal. But as I mentioned to the author one of my favorite aspects of the story is the fact as it progresses you begin to see the hypocrisies of those that continually point out the evil of their enemies when they are the deceitful ones themselves.

A really nice touch at the end of the book was the author taking a moment to explain why she didn't end up making this purely a Historical Fiction or Fantasy Fiction. I'm so glad she didn't go one extreme or the other because what she's put together just truly clicked for me and I can't wait to see what happens from here with the series!

I have always been fascinated with mythology, whatever origin, and there is such a close connection between Norse and Celtic mythology because of the Viking invasion on these shores that at points it was difficult to separate the two - but that’s not a bad thing.

This book was incredibly well written, with Lawless’ own fascination for the subject matter undeniable on the page. Entwined with a battle for power that is terribly Machiavellian is a story that could be made into a TV show.

There’s magic, myth, prejudice, acceptance and the struggle of women to fight against the restrictions placed on them at birth.

4.5 stars. rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Children of Gods and Fighting Men</i> is a historical fantasy set in late 10th Century Ireland. It combines Irish mythology with real Irish history to create a rich yet vicious tale.

'Death had a finality that sleep could only imitate.'

As someone with limited knowledge on Irish history, this book was easy to follow. Lawless presents everything in an accessible and clean way so that you do not need any prior knowledge to understand the events of this book, as can sometimes be the case with historical fantasy. Moreover, Lawless provides a character guide with name pronunciations, making it easy for readers to refer back to should they get lost!

'Pride, as always with men, was the cause of their stupidity.'

The book consists of two female POVs; the Fomorian Gormflaith, and the Descendent Fódla. Both are long-lived, both possess some form of magic, and both are fighting to make their way in a male dominated world. Lawless' clever and intricate writing shows Gormflaith to be calculating, and always acting a role. Her physical actions and spoken words are often done to hide her inner-monologue of constant scheming. Though, sometimes that act falls. She plans so much that she can't help but overthink until she literally pulls her hair out in worry. Fódla is similarly intelligent, though less cunning. She's empathetic, and tends to let her emotion decide how she acts, though she doesn't necessarily always know why. However, she struggles to trust people, especially mortal men, causing her to be closed-off and guarded. Both of these women provide unique perspectives to each side of the story that make the alternating POVs captivating to switch between.

'"There is good and bad in everyone, Fódla. There is bad in our kind, and there is good in mortals."'

It took me a little while to get into this book. As I got use to the characters and the tale I read slower, taking in the new information that was being fed to me. It must be said, Lawless' exposition was clear and faultless. Never did it feel clunky or confusing as she laid down the lore of the setting and the mythology. It was clean and expertly introduced. The final 50% of this book I read in one sitting, thoroughly hooked and unable to put it down. And, I finished just in time for it to be placed at number five in my top reads of the first six months of 2022!

'Not so long ago, the lands beyond the walls were wild. The grasslands were covered in gorse and wildflowers, and the forest to the south was so thick that no invading army ever dared stray in there for fear of never finding their way out. The old people, those who first landed here from Norway, said that ghosts lived there, ghosts and wolves, and long forgotten curses.'

The Children of Gods and Fighting Men blends Irish history and mythology into a high-stakes, groundbreaking fantasy. Besides the obviously well executed characterisation, the novel also featured women in power grounding on the throats of greasy ass men and well, you know how much I enjoy unhinged psychotic women. I loved that this novel did not stray away from accurate Irish representation and chose to keep all the events as accurate as possible (aside from a few minor changes). With that being said, the writing style was gritty and kept me on the edge of my toes. I've never wished to be in a fantasy novel so much before!

4.5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley for this review copy. This novel is a superb re-imagining of a 10th century Ireland when Brian Boru and his fight against the Vikings looms large and the descendants of gods are still walking the lands, hiding their identities and magic gifts. The story centres around Fódla, a Tuatha de Danann and Gormflaith, a Fomorian, whose peoples, like in the myths, are deadly enemies. Though the two are separated initially by distance and circumstances, it’s inevitable that the two will meet. Fódla, gifted with healing is still grieving the loss of her daughter, one who didn’t possess the godlike long life. She is tasked by the leader, Tomas, the father of her dead daughter, to infiltrate Brian Boru’s holding and report on his activities. The Tuatha de Danann are concerned about his threat to the peace of the land, and their consequent safety, hidden on the island off of Ireland. To prevent any unwanted attention she has a glamour cast over her that renders her ugly and unappealing. In return she is allowed to look after her sister’s illegitimate son until she finds a home for him among the mortals.

Gormflaith is the newly widowed queen of Dublin and finds her position and her grown son’s precarious in the face of her stepson’s dislike. Gormflaith will do anything to make her son, Sitric king of Dublin, beating out his half brothers. Through her scheming she manages to move her plans forward, not bargaining for her son’s independent actions or other events that hold her at their mercy.

Both Gormflaith and Fódla must struggle against the power and influence of a male dominated world were women are bargaining chips or objects of pleasure. Fódla is also forced to test her assumption that all human men are evil, while Gormflaith must confront the reality of her relationship with her son. They meet these challenges with determination and steel that make for a fascinating and gripping tale well researched, not only for the myth but for the history as well. Her resources reflect well on her research, something with which I have great familiarity having spent a significant time researching my own bestselling novel, In Praise of the Bees, set in 6th century Ireland and a recent fantasy series with the Irish gods in a modern Irish setting. Highly recommended.

The Children of Gods and Fighting Men
by Shauna Lawless
Pub Date: 01 Sep 2022
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5’Star Book

The first in a gripping new historical fantasy series that intertwines Irish mythology with real-life history, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men is the thrilling debut novel by Shauna Lawless.
They think they've killed the last of us...

981 AD. The Viking King of Dublin is dead. His young widow, Gormflaith, has ambitions for her son – and herself – but Ireland is a dangerous place and kings tend not to stay kings for long. Gormflaith also has a secret. She is one of the Fomorians, an immortal race who can do fire-magic. She has kept her powers hidden at all costs, for there are other immortals in this world – like the Tuatha Dé Danann, a race of warriors who are sworn to kill Fomorians.

Fódla is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann with the gift of healing. Her kind dwell hidden in a fortress, forbidden to live amongst the mortals. Fódla agrees to help her kin by going to spy on Brian Boru, a powerful man who aims to be High King of Ireland. She finds a land on the brink of war – a war she is desperate to stop. However, preventing the loss of mortal lives is not easy with Ireland in turmoil and the Fomorians now on the rise...

Reviewers on The Children of Gods and Fighting Men:
'Rife with atmosphere and armies, magic and compelling characters, it swept me along and refused to be put down' H.M. Long
'Highlander meets The Last Kingdom in this assured and captivating debut... I was hooked from page one' Anthony Ryan
'Gripping and beautiful. A Celtic Last Kingdom with wild magic and fierce heroines' Anna Smith Spark
'I really enjoyed the book. It's an excellent read' Mark Lawrence
'A beguiling blend of fantasy, history, and politics. A gripping start to this series' D.K. Fields
'A vividly written story that makes the ancient past feel contemporary' Joseph O'Connor
'An epic historical fantasy that weaves myth and history into a sprawling tale of magic, intrigue, and war. Absorbing and richly detailed' Ian Green
'With all the complex political machinations of A Song of Ice and Fire and the bloody battles of The Warlord Chronicles, it's ideal for fans of both' Stephen Aryan
'An atmospheric journey into a thrilling historical fantasy world' R.J. Barker

I was initially intrigued by the description of this book because I rarely ever see fantasy books based on Irish mythology, despite it being such a rich world to dive in and build upon. Because I love Ireland and its myths and am also interested in Irish history especially during and around the Viking Age I just HAD to read this. Obviously it was written for me, personally, and I thank Shauna Lawless for that.

"The Children of Gods and Fighting Men" is amazing. The world is beautiful and much of it reads more like historical fiction, but the added bonus of the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Formorians just provides that special extra to make this one memorable. The fantastical aspects are never the biggest focus of the book, but they add to it in a beautiful and intriguing way. The writing is stunning and drew me in from the very first page. I generally had a hard time putting this story down. There pacing is perfect, the plot exciting but still taking its time to allow us, as readers, to explore this world and get to know the characters. There ist political intrigue, there is history in the making, there are personal tragedies and grand scale wars. It's simply an expertedly crafted novel.

I absolutely adored the characters in it, too. The book focuses primarly on two very different women: Gormflaith, a Formorian and the widow of the king of Dublin, and Fódla, one of the Descendants, the last remaining link to the Tuatha dé Danann. Both of them have magic, which they use rarely but is still important for their characters, and both have very different goals in life. Fódla is my favourite, I absolute adore her inherently gentle nature and growing love for humans, while Gormflaith is a colder, less likeable but absolutely fascinating character. Both their points of view are written in first person, giving us an insight into their very souls. Both of their stories are exciting in different ways, and I couldn't wait for them to finally meet - especially because their kinds, Formorians and Descendants, are not the bestest of friends.

So do I have any criticism at all? Honestly - no. I was a bit taken aback sometimes by Gormflaith's thoughts on and treatment of other women, especially because she herself laments a woman's place often enough and demands betterment for herself, yet doesn't care for other women at all. But this is her as a character, and I do hope there will be more development in the future - so far, Fódla has more character development as a whole.

Lawless is an amazing new voice in the genre, and as I happen to really love historical fiction with perfectly weaved in fantastical aspects I will definitely read more of her. I cannot wait to see how this particular story unfolds. 5 stars.

Where do I even begin. First thing I knew I'd be intrigued with this book based on the premise of Irish Mythology/history. I have a minor obsession with it so this book seemed right up my alley. What I didn't expect was how gripping this novel would end up being.
I still can't formulate into words what I thought about this book but what I know for sure is that whilst reading you get the sense that this is the start of an epic saga. The sheer capacity of this story to be continued and to create a massive universe that appeals to persons of all genres is indescribable. Especially those partial to fantasy and historical fiction.
The writing of the book is very immersive. It's so immersive it almost takes your breath away how caught up you get. The differing POV keeps you engaged in that you get to witness how the conflict arises from both sides. We get their reasoning and perspectives.
The characters, though many, are so well developed. I particularly respected Gormflaith and her dedication to her son, so much that she is willing to do whatever it takes to have him sit on the throne. I admire characters like that.
The author stands out in a very inundated genre. A statement I don't make lightly as there are some spectacular mythological and fantasy writers out there. But I fully believe Lawless has made an explosive debut that will absolutely knock everyone off their feet.

Thank you so much Head of Zeus and Netgalley for an advanced review copy of The Children of Gods and Fighting Men.

Oh I just loved this book! Being Irish there was hardly any books about our culture and mythology on shelves growing up. While this certainly isn't a children's book, I adored the fact I can revel in this now.

Shauna really smashed it out of the park with this glorious, sprawling epic tale of Irish mythology, beliefs, Catholicism and the Vikings. Our history is so interesting, how has it not been taken advantage of?

I am obsessed with all the beautiful Irish names in this novel, it really made me fall even more in love with this book.

The way this book was written really hooked me and the interesting political landscape was so intriguing.

If you love Irish mythology, Irish history or just want to read more about it then this book

“Marry, breed, move on.” This is the mantra that Gormflaith has grown up with and is now determined to resist in Shauna Lawless’s historical fantasy debut. Gormflaith is one of the last remaining Fomorian, an immortal race, that has been almost wiped out by their rivals Tuatha Dé Danann. The Children of Gods and Fighting Men is told from the viewpoints of the recently widowed Gormflaith who’s determined to make her son, Sitric, King of Dublin, and Fódla, one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, charged with spying on King Brian Boru. This is no slight to Fódla, whose journey really resonated with me throughout, but I absolutely loved Gormflaith’s character. I have to applaud the author for how she wrote Gormflaith’s character who manages to retain my sympathy even while being unapologetically self-serving and ruthless. I loved the Game of Thrones-esque political manoeuvrings and betrayals, along with the realistic portrayal of the lengths women needed to go to protect themselves and the people they loved in this bloody period of history. I’ve never read a book set in 10th century Ireland before, so I really appreciated the historical details which felt very vivid and fresh. The author struck a perfect balance between the historical and fantasy elements, and I also really appreciated the character list at the beginning, along with the pronunciation guide. Overall, I was swept along by this great read and I'm really excited to read more of Gormflaith's schemes in what promises to be an epic sequel.

Full review closer to publication date!

I'd like to thank the publisher, Head of Zeus and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Children of God and Fighting Men is dense and interesting read based on Irish mythology. If you are interested in myths, history, and fantasy genres I would recommend this novel! 4 stars

Loved the first third or so, but the story became repetitive and the characters didn’t develop in any intriguing direction. Nonetheless it is a period of history/ mythology entirely new to me which was refreshing. And should the story crack ahead in the sequel (Clearly this is the first in a series, it doesn’t work as a stand-alone) and the characters begin to act unexpectedly it will be well worth sticking with the series. Will

I went into this book with pretty high hopes. It seemed to have a lot of elements that I typically enjoy - a fantasy story based on real-world mythology and history, and narrated by strong female characters. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.

The book alternates between two narrators. I had trouble empathizing with either of them, and their personalities were mostly told rather than shown. Their narrative voices sounded exactly the same. If the chapters weren’t labeled, I wouldn’t be able to tell you who was speaking.

The pacing was also an issue for me. The first third of book is spent entirely on set-up, and consists of a lot of separate events happening between large time jumps in order to put things in place for the later portion of the book. The two narrators have very little to do with each other, and their plotlines only vaguely intersect right at the end. This book is clearly setting up for a longer series, but I wish it could have gotten into the real plot sooner instead of spending so much time laying the groundwork.

All that said, I think readers who already have some familiarity with Irish mythology and Irish history going into this book might enjoy it more. It covers a lot of ground and the glossary of names at the beginning was very helpful for keeping track of the large amount of characters.

Thank you very much to the publishers for providing this ARC via NetGalley in return for my honest review!