This gorgeous fantasy starts out fast and quick-paced; a heist like any other. Our lead Ben, has accompanied thieves to steal from the noblemen of the north. Fearsome warriors and they don't come back unscathed.

This spans throughout the continent of Innisfail and throws in a noblewoman trying to escape a band of mercenaries.

If epic fantasy with heists and an expansive world is your type of thing, then The sons of mil is right up your alley.

Thanks to netgalley for the arc

This was such an interesting book. There was clearly so much back-end work done on the worldbuilding such that it feels like an incredibly fleshed-out universe. There was a reasonable balance of people understanding enough about elements of the world/politics that could be passed on to the audience, and people that didn't care enough about global politics to be able to offer any insight. The reader is hit with a lot of different names for people places and societal roles that can be difficult to grapple with at first, but once you read further you get the hang of it.

I enjoyed the different relationships between the characters based on their history with one another, though sometimes people rehashing their dislike of Ben again and again got tiring. I will say though, this is the first book in the series so I understand the need to withhold some relationship building for further books.

I will definitely be looking for the next book in this series to see where it goes from here!

Thank you to NetGalley and L.M. Riviere for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for this review.

I love fantasy and this book is one of the most enthralling stories I have ever read, including the classics. Intense, Celtic mythology, action and mythological creatures wrapped into a complex intense adventure. Suspense, relationships…what is not to love. Highly rated. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Definitely an interesting interpretation of Celtic and Irish mythology. This book was complex and hard to follow at times, with a lot of it written in dialect. A good book and series to get into if you like George R.R. Martin or Juliet Marrillier.

This was an epic fantasy story with elves, battles, and mythology.

I found that you really have to take the time to immerse yourself in this story. There are a lot of characters, so the POV switches and you have to keep track of who is who. I liked that there were strong females in this story, something that will always draw me to an author’s works.

There’s action and adventure, but some parts did feel a bit dry. I totally understand that the author was creating this world for the reader. The last half picked up and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Lights Out Ink for a copy!

PS, I love the cover art! It really draws the eye.

🌪️ "She raged at the night sky,
the wind tearing through the trees,
the hardening loam beneath her feet,
and the very air she breathed."

I'm obsessed with the sparkling cover! ✨ The narration was highly intriguing and I was on my toes to see what happens next. Hands down one of the best series in 2023. The pacing, the relationship dynamics, the world building - everything was chef's kiss 🥹 Recommended!

This book was a high fantasy that offered great characters and villains that feel like true villains. The action is a big part of the novel and gives the perfect amount of romance. The first half of this book took time to get into since the start off slow, but it gets better.

ARC Review: Received for free via NetGalley for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you to L. M. Riviere for the opportunity.

I fell for the title and description, though the gorgeous cover didn’t hurt. I’m a huge fan of Celtic, Irish, and Nordic mythology, so it seemed like worth a try. Still, it’s been awhile, since I’ve read books that didn’t scream “quick unedited teen-writing for KindleUnlimited”, so I kept my expectations low.

Sons of Mil surprised me. While there were some issues (see below), the story was nicely written. I especially loved the language and the extended vocabulary (as sadly as it sounds, the rarity nowadays), and the nuances it highlighted. Even the dialect sounded natural and weren’t annoying as they usually go.

I liked the plot, the world-building, and the mythology behind it. I especially liked the non-perfect main male character, though the same cannot truly be said about the main female lead. The only issues I had with the story were a bot confusing, and therefore less interesting, jumps to characters that were scantly introduced in the story and were frankly not quite exciting to read about. Quite soon I found myself skipping lines in some of these subplots, knowing I won’t miss much. That was a pity. At the same time I wished the build-up between the leads would be described more. Though executed well, the romantic subplot felt rushed.

Despite those minor issues, I greatly enjoyed the book and already buried myself in the second one. As it goes, Sons of Mil deserves 5 stars from me for the utter pleasure of reading it.

I received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A hidden gem of adult epic fantasy!

Ben Maeden is a lost existence, a man without a goal. That is until he accidentally saves a girl that is at the center of an emerging nationwide conflict and becomes her unwilling bodyguard.

I can't believe this book has so few ratings. This is a well-written book and if someone told me it was a best-seller, I would have believed them.

Innisfail is a rich world based on Irish mythology. Humans and Sidhe live in fragile peace. Besides the obvious magic of the Sidhe, there also exist some in the human population that wield power, which generally grows stronger in women. This magic was not yet fully explored or explained, but it had a certain scientific base to it that I found refreshing.

The story mostly follows the companion on the run while here and there we get a POV from one of the parties that chases them. I appreciated these side POVs as they made the enemies humans with goals rather than just "evil people".

Ben and Una made for very interesting main characters. We slowly learn about their past as the story progresses and find out about their secrets. They have a very "unwilling companions" energy and I enjoyed their banter.

I am giving this book 4,5 because I had some small issues. We get a lot of hints about what is happening through the various POVs that eventually build the whole picture, but I felt like I was still missing some parts, although no major ones. Especially one past event was really bugging me, as knowing what actually happened might completely change how I think about Ben. Other than that, the characters' abilities seemed a bit inconsistent, depending on what the story needed.

The first book was already full of story, discoveries, and interesting characters but I have a feeling there is much more to come in the sequels.

Good fantasy writing entails creating a believable world and a system of magic that makes sense. Characters that are three dimensional and consistent within their individual philosophies, with realistic interactions between them, are also required. Throw in some necessary likable secondary characters and a good plot and voila - a good novel.

Riviere has provided all of the above with book one of the Innisfail Cycle. There was action aplenty and the pacing was excellent. I liked most of the characters, baddies included, though even the ones I didn’t like were more than caricatures - they just weren’t likable.

Five stars for “The Sons of Mil.” This novel has tropes sure to satisfy most readers, action to keep you turning pages well past bed time, and a plot that will keep you wondering what’s next. My thanks to the author via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are strictly my own and offered without recompense.

#TheSonsofMil #TheInnisfailCycle #NetGalley #IfCatsCouldRead #RescuedIsMyFavoriteBreed #Bookstagram #Catstagram #BooksAndCats #CatsAndBooks #KindlesAllTheWayDown

I received an arc from Net Galley to read. So, thank you to Net Galley and to Episodic!

I swear to God, this book snuck up on me. First off, yes, this is a pretty stereotypical High Fantasy/Epic Fantasy novel. There were times in the beginning where I felt the plot lulled but after the halfway mark, I understood all of what I had just read was had built up to the action of the second half of story, which was fantastic. I have to say, I'm a fan of the setting, especially with the backdrop of the Red City, Bethany, (especially) Rosweal, there were a lot of places that I got to see and I liked the vast majority of them.

Second off, the characters. Besides the large amounts of (perhaps unnecessary) attempted rapes, I generally liked our small cast of heroes. I despised the villains with great vitriol, as one should with villains, and I really don't know why but I LOVED the Sluagh. Need more. Let the next book a Halloween book too. Give me more beasties. In any case, despite his ruthlessness, I found myself really liking Ben and the dynamic he had with Una and Rian. I did feel like the romance in the story came a little out of nowhere, but apparently it was the right amount of buildup for me because I was gnashing my teeth, thinking of said romance, when I got to the ending.

All of that being said, third off. The reason why I said this book snuck up on me is because the plot really looped me in after I became more used to the settings and started loving the characters. Damn you, Riviere, I really started caring about each main/side character's wellbeing and when damnit, there was a death, I literally screamed and caused my roommates to panic. When a book makes me ask, "How could you?!?!?!?", that's when it's in my good graces.

I will be purchasing this book on my own to include in my collection. Would recommend to readers of High Fantasy/Epic Fantasy if they want a fun romp that borders "Game of Thrones" violence that turns satisfying (after a hot sec). Trigger warning for attempted rape (I am not a fan of this but most of the guys get wonderfully doled out justice). Additionally, "Sons of Mil" has HUGE references to Irish mythology and ancient history, which I found I well appreciated but also happen to lack knowledge in. Give this book a shot!

This book was so thoroughly detailed and fantastically plotted. It weaved multiple storylines together seamlessly and while I found this a bit overwhelming at first, it really paid off in the end. Ben, Una, and Rian had a great dynamic to play off each other. The world was flushed out really well and you could really tell the author has a love for the old mythology. If you like detailed fantasy novels steeped in lore, this one’s for you.

L.M. Riviere creates a world in Eire full of family drama, political intrigue and elves. The story has all the makings to be a truly epic fantasy-- morally ambiguous characters, oncoming war, scheming politicians, and all the innocent and not so innocent people caught in between.

The world building is epic but can also be dry and dense at times. It does feel like we get breadcrumbs and then huge dry info dumps. The characters are well developed and it is very refreshing to see many strong and capable female characters. The POV changes were a great way to see the inner workings of each character, but there were a lot of characters we followed and it did get hard to keep them straight at times. There is a glossary in the back which was great, but is cumbersome for e-readers.

I would say the first 75% of the book is world building and character development and the last 25% is the main action and where things start to really pick up. The story does end on a cliffhanger, so be prepared, but I am definitely looking forward to finishing Ben and Una (and Rian!)'s story.

I wish I had more of an opportunity with this earlier on. A very broad world with a lot going for it, I was a little overwhelmed at times. I look forward to getting a better chance at the full title, and I wish there were a physical copy I could promote.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for a chance with this title.

As someone who has been deeply invested in reading anything regarding mythology, the second I saw the words "old gods", I was hooked. It's so exciting and refreshing to read a book based so heavily in Irish Folklore, and done so incredibly well.

The world building was absolutely phenomenal. No detail was spared, and that carried over into such an incredible reading experience. Ben and Una were such full and complete characters, which is so refreshing to see in a debut novel. Ben is a sort of antihero that you can't help but root for, and Una is such a STRONG female lead that felt so empowering to read about.

There are trigger warnings for this book, and with good reason. It's deeply gory and violent, but it's raw and anguished in a way that not many books in this genre have really achieved. The suspense and the stakes felt real and high, and you can't help but find yourself experiencing these moments of tragedy, terror, and triumph along with them.

I hope Sons of Mil gets the attention that it truly deserves and I can't wait to see where this series goes.

Wow, what a debut! I could really see the influence of George R.R. Martin in Riviere's world building, combined with the slow-burn character development and mythological inspiration of Naomi Novik.

Innisfail is a fully-formed world, inspired by Celtic lore, with complex plot lines that span genres: it's a political thriller, family drama, and high fantasy epic all rolled into one. With careful pacing and atmospheric writing, readers are introduced to the continent and its human and immortal inhabitants. The trilogy's two heroes, Ben and Una, are interesting foils for each other; their similarities and contradictions create an amusing dynamic that pushes the plot forward.

Ultimately, there's something for everyone here: a matriarchal parliament (!!!), burgeoning religious fanaticism, ZOMBIES, sword fights, timely revelations of parentage, and a band of smugglers with hearts of gold. If any of this sounds intriguing, you should give the Innisfail Cycle a try. Also, don't sleep on the back-of-the-book Glossary and Reference content like I did for most of my read! I don't want to give anything away, but the ending was very satisfying. Riviere has the stage set for an even more impactful conflict to come.