Celtic high fantasy at it's best! Great storytelling and world building, cannot wait for the next stories
Due to health issues cannot not but will write a proper review at a later time
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thanks to NetGalley and Lights Out Ink for the ARC.

My god, this was good. It scratched such a deep itch for some heavily magical, action-packed epic fantasy. The author is very good at creating a rich world based on Celtic mythology. The narration is heavily descriptive, especially in moments of combat. The story bounced between many different characters, all of them well-rounded, complex characters. My one complaint is that as a main character, Una doesn't have a lot of agency, and it's hard to get a sense of what her motivations are, even when we're in her perspective. Other than that, I had a great time with this, and I can't wait to read the next book.

3.5 ⭐️s rounded up
A very interesting and lengthy read. Admittingly, I was not prepared. It took me waaay too long to get into this tale, read, and finish it. The Sons of Mil was well written yet nothing really grabbed me plot wise and I believe thats more of a "me problem" than anything to do with the writing.
There were multiple POVs and plenty of world building and action, much of which picked up towards the last third.
Im thankful ther was glossary for Irish Gaelic names, phrases, and terms. Incredibly helpful yet I probably still butchered pronunciation. I think the audiobook would've worked better for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lights Out Ink for the eARC!

It honestly took me an embarrassing amount of time to recall what this story was about. This isn't because it was particularly bad, it just was confusing in ways, predictable in others, really slow to get to the actual story at the beginning and then very packed at the end.

I do remember liking the dynamic between the two main characters (annoyed with each other at first and then learning to trust each other out of necessity then out of choice) and the fantasy/historical backstory.

Without too many spoilers, there are two worlds if you will in this story. A human side and a gods/supernatural side that are at a truce with each other. This part of the story in this book happens in the human side and I think I kept hoping we would crossover as that would have brought more magical elements and more story about the MMC. My hope is that book 2 does go to the other side and we get to meet magical creatures, a more developed magic system, and continues to raise the stakes of the story.

This book was a fun and engaging read. I think that the series has so much potential and can really become a YA staple. Loved it!

This book was not exactly as good as it seemed, but in all honesty, I quite admired the author's decision to proceed with it. This book was not for me but I had a fun time regardless

Where is the Tik-Tok hype over this book?

A man without a mission, without a goal, simply adrift in life suddenly drawn into the middle of conflict - in other words a seemingly unwilling hero. A girl in trouble needing a hero. Ummm... yep sign me up.

The world building is great! The characters are more than relatable and enjoyable. The story line is action packed and fun! There is so much about this book that I am in awe that there is not more hype around it.

An amazing epic fantasy that I'm glad I was able to get my hands on. There was so much going on in this book that it was hard to keep it all straight at first, but overall, it kept me highly entertained the entire way through. The story was so complex (maybe a little too complicated at times and there were times where information was added, when it really was not needed, dragging the story out even more) and there are a lot of characters involved, and the book does switch back and forth between their POVs, which was my main issue. Now, once you get passed all of the introductions of the characters and their stories, and figuring out who everyone is (not going to lie, it took me a while to get through this part), the book really picks up. People are dying left and right, there's basically nonstop action, and so many twists and turns.

Excellent book, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

The characters are vibrant and well-drawn, each carrying their own burdens and dreams, making it easy to get invested in their journeys. From fierce warriors to ethereal fairies, everyone has a unique role in this magical landscape. But be warned: the Irish names and terminology can be a bit tricky for those unfamiliar with them. 📖💡 Don’t forget to use the glossary at the back—it’s a lifesaver! While this slowed the pace at times, it’s well worth the effort for fantasy lovers who want to immerse themselves fully in an authentic folklore experience.

If you’re craving an epic with depth, heart, and Irish lore at every turn, give The Sons of Mil a go! Just be ready to consult the glossary—your adventure will be much smoother.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Una, future queen to be, is on the run from her scheming family when she runs into Ben. Banished from his home for manyyy years, he might have just found his ticket back, he just has to keep them alive long enough to do it! This was a bit slow to start while Riviere found her footing, but then it shot off and I got super into it! Ben's growth and character development was definitely the best but Una had her moments and recognizes she has a lot more to do which is nice. This is a bloody, funny, adventurous, action filled fantasy! It's nothing crazy groundbreaking but it's simplicity is very effective!

Sons of Mil follows multiple POVs with multiple goals all tied to one character, Una. Una is a princess of sorts who is an heir to multiple kingdoms. Una is kidnapped with the intent to be found unharmed but the plan goes awry for her kidnappers. In comes Ben. A prince in his own right, to the fae from the north. Ben and Una come from warring families and are enemies but Ben can’t help but assist Una as it seems everyone is out to get her.

I picked this book up because I thought the cover was beautiful. The story is fairly well done but it feels like I’m just being dumped into the middle of a world with zero context and it took the first 100 pages to orient myself. I am still not understanding the full concept of the plot and all of the characters. I just have to put this down. DNF at 43%. Thank you to NetGalley and Episodic for providing me with this ARC!

This was a really interesting one. With a well built world of fantasy we see Ben grapple with his past and present as he works toward his future.

Dark epic fantasy at its absolute best!
So many novels claim to be epic or dark fantasy and rarely reach the level that most authors hope for.
Riviere has accomplished that with this novel and cements a spot in the epic fantasy hall of flame.
This novel had me floored from page one. It had everything I look for in both epic fantasy and dark fantasy stories and Riviere's writing style is superb.
Based in Celtic mythology, which outside of Fairies, doesn't really get the praise it deserves, the world building here is amazingly rich and real. What truly stood out for me though were the characters. I swear that they were living and breathing in my mind. Each of them were complex and multifaceted.
The stand out accomplishment here is Riviere's ability to masterfully write both scenes of political intrigue and action packed battle. It is so rare to find an author that is able to captivate a reader in both styles. Usually authors are either really good at writing action and less deft at the political scope or vice versa. But the political writing is its own form of action. This is something on the level of George R. R. Martin!

I am so happy this is part of a series and all three novels are published. I can't wait for the next!

This was interesting retro-futuristic take on Irish mythology. Set in a post-acopalyptic re-imagined Celtic landscape, comprising Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall, the old tales of the Tuatha De Danaan come to life in this first book of a new series. The worldbuilding is what really helped to sell it.

I'm usually highly sceptical of anything that purports to be Irish, has Irish in it, set in Ireland, or has the fair folk. I normally wouldn't even bother reading it because I would just get annoyed. However, I decided to give this one a try. It was actually really well done. Are there mistakes? Yes. But it was so cleverly done that I was able to push past it to enjoy a re-imagined continent and the story set therein.

My bigger complaint with the book was actually that the politics are quite conviluted and not always well explained and easy to follow. Several of the characters have more than one name, and they are all betraying each other. It's sometimes hard to keep track of who's who and who's on which side. Having the political factions made more clear would definitely clear this up.

The characters were great, and I really enjoyed getting to know them, especially Ben and Una. Ben's development over the book, whilst maintaining his original personality was excellent. I also enjoyed Una's independence whilst also needing help.

Can't wait to read what happens next!

This fantasy book offers a rich and immersive world filled with intriguing characters and a plot that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The author has crafted a story that balances action, adventure, and moments of deep introspection. While it follows some familiar fantasy tropes, there are enough unique elements to keep it fresh and interesting. The pacing is steady, and the descriptive language helps bring the world to life.

There is nothing I love so much as a good, meaty, chunky fantasy novel to get lost in. The Sons of Mil more than delivered on that front, and I absolutely loved it! I don't think this is a book for everyone, but I do think it's quite the hidden gem for fans of high fantasy.
As high fantasy, this one definitely requires some patience and some careful reading, but I found the glossary and the character list to both be immensely helpful. The effort it takes to truly delve into this world is so worth it. The politics are intricately woven, and all of the various relationships between characters are elaborately drawn, but to me, that really brought this story to life and kept me turning pages.
L. M. Riviere writes absolutely beautifully. Her prose is so lush and atmospheric, I was able to truly sink into this story. The witty dialogue was so entertaining that by the end, I was left feeling so attached to our main characters that I can't wait to continue this series. I also found it very impressive that this book didn't "feel long" as I was reading, given that it's over 500 pages long.
All in all, I could keep rambling on about how much I enjoyed this read, but suffice it to say that I'm planning on immediately adding this trilogy to my shelves so that they can live with my other high fantasy favorites.

This book was hard to keep up with for me. Just not my usual reading material. I ended up not finishing so I feel I cannot rate

This novel was rounded up from 3.5 stars for me.

The first half of the book for difficult for me to get into. I think throwing in all of the characters, places, statuses, political games etc was a lot to remember.

Yet once I got use to everyone and the dialogue opened up between characters instead of just focusing on the world building it was a great read.

There was fun banter that I didn’t expect from the main Character “Ben”, who through the first 50% I believed to only be a dry brooding ex-militant. This made the rest of his story more believable, especially when it came to his relationships with friends and even his desires for Una.

The ending left you wanting to go pick up the second book to continue the story since it did leave on a bit of a cliff hanger. So it looks like I’ll be into the next!

Overall great high fantasy book!

The author’s attention to detail and ability to seamlessly integrate historical and mythological elements make it a compelling read that not only entertains but also invites readers to ponder the enduring impact of myth on contemporary life.