This is definitely an example of book 2 being even better than book 1. I started this almost immediately after finishing the first book and stayed up until 3am to finish it. This was such a well crafted story and everything that book one set up absolutely came to fruition here.
I almost wish I hadn’t gotten the ARC cause now I will have to wait an incredibly long time for the next book.

Also I have never been so wrong about so many different characters or what is going to happen in the plot before. This series has continually left me shocked in the best way.

Excellent follow up to the children of Gods and fighting men, continuing the blend of Irish history and fantasy ( I’d forgotten just how rooted in real events this story is - it’s a brilliant melding). With both Fodla and Gormflaith at King Brian’s land for much of the book there’s a real tension in how their personal narratives will overlap, and the impact that will have on the descendant and formerian plotting…
Well structured, immersive and with a vivid sense of place, the continued focus on the perspectives of the two lead characters is well managed, with only essential additional framing characters used. My only critique is a more general one - we need to normalise brief recaps at the start of books in a series! The list of characters is a helpful prompt, but a wee “previously…” couple of pages would save a lot of dredging of memory. With so much going on my memory perhaps isn’t what it was, but I’m a few chapters in before it all started to make sense…!

This is everything I hoped for and more. Just a perfect sequel. If you love fantasy and Irish mythology. Definitely give this series a go. I really really hope there is third installment very soon.

What an amazing book!! Start off the day with a hot brew and the thought of reading a few chapters, to realising it is night time, and no house work has been completed. Simply couldn’t put it down. The story flows expanding further on characters from ‘The Children of Gods and Fighting Men’, integrating mythology into Irish history.

One of my favourite things about the Gael Song series is how well developed the characters are, to the stage where I am physically making faces at a book and being questioned if there is something wrong with me. This expanded to talking to the book itself, as I am that involved I unconsciously say things such as, ‘NOOOO’ or, ‘did that really just happen’. I got kicked out of the living room for being too noisy because of this.

With this following actual historical events, my first thought was, will I be able to read a history book to perhaps decipher what happens next in the story. Of course not, I have no idea how this is going to end, just extremely excited to see how it does. But for me wanting to go to these extremes shows just how magnificent I think this series is. I cannot recommend this enough, and I am extremely excited to see what the next one has in store.

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

Okay, Shauna Lawless has done it AGAIN. I am obsessed with the Gael Song series. Book one was in my top 5 reads of 2022, and book two is somehow even better.

If you love Irish history, mythology, low fantasy, badass women and cut-throat politics, then you must read this series! Lawless took her astounding knowledge of 10th Century Irish history and expertly wove in fantastical elements to create a captivating, tense, and loving story.

I don't want to say too much so that I don't spoil book one, but I have to mention briefly what to me added so much to the story: the slow-burn romance. I don't typically read romance as its own genre, but I do adore romance in my fantasy books. I feel they add so much soul to the tale. Lawless writes this gently and smoothly, creating a natural relationship that surprises the character and prompts them further down the path of self-improvement

What made book two more enjoyable for me? Gormflaith. She was phenomenal, terrifying, and uncontrollable in book one, but I found myself always wishing to be back in Fodla's chapters - not to the fault of Gormflaith, I just adored Fodla so much. In book two, Gormflaith is even more complex and fascinating, so that I was equally captivated by both of the main perspectives.

I just can't believe I have to wait another year (or more???) for book three. Instantly on my way to pre-order a hardback copy of book two!

The key themes: motherhood, letting go, female empowerment, trust, freedom.

Shauna Lawless' second installment of the Gael Song series is a masterpiece. Building off of the incredible world building from the first book in the series, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men, Lawless continues her dramatic historical tale with all the intriguing details I had hoped for.

Not only is Lawless' novel beautifully written, with robust characters who are well-rounded and realistic (albeit magical in some cases), but the historical research into the non-magical aspects of the story is compelling, as is the attention to detail she weaves throughout.

If you're at all interested in Irish history or Celtic folklore, this series was made for you!

The sequel to the Children of Gods and Fighting Men and carries on where the first book finished. I loved the first book but this book was better as we delved into lives of the main characters. A good mix of ancient Irish history well sprinkled with mythology. Wonderful storytelling, very descriptive world building. Loved it and highly recommended. All I need is the last book Now!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc in return for an honest review.

A fantastic sequel, The Words of Kings and Prophets dives straight in where the prequel left it. The characters continue to develop and the tension and twists increase. I'd love to see more magic in the next book and exploration of the wider world. I think this is a good second book but it's definitely needing a bit more punch in book 3. Overall 3.75/5 stars.

Love love love this Irish mythology/historical fiction by Shauna Lawless!

Can't believe I got my hands on this Arc! Thank you so much NetGalley!

This was a great sequal after only recently finishing the first- The children of gods and fighting men.

THE WORDS OF KINGS AND PROPHETS continues this brilliant historical fantasy where real events are woven with magic and Irish mythology and folklore. It is absolutely my favourite type of fiction, and this book lived up to my expectations.

Once again there are battles and murders as the Irish and Viking kings vie to be High King of Ireland, even though they are supposedly at peace. However, this is the backdrop to a tale of two women engaged in their own battle between two magical races - and their personal battle with the role they've been told to play and the strictures laid on them.

Gormflaith is harder, more cunning in this book. She's taking power directly for herself this time, rather than continuing to trust in the selfish ambition of the men of her family who are using her. She was angry and betrayed last time, but this time she's not sitting and stewing in that, but rather forging her own path and starting to use them as pawns rather than letting herself be used. I am always here for cunning, manipulative women in fiction.

Fódla is in a battle between the rules of her life (don't feel for humans, don't put them first) and her heart. Humans are not the black-and-white villains that she's always been told, and why shouldn't she use her magic to help them? I really liked the way the struggle wasn't between her deciding what was right, but between fear and courage to do what is forbidden.

There is a new narrator, Colmon, who has a few chapters (but it is still very much the women's book). His role is really to give a sense of what is happening politically within the Tuatha Dé Danann and establish the depth and danger of Tomas' plans. It really helped flesh him out as a threat, as he's not physically with Gormflaith or Fódla for much of the book, and Colmon's perspective is that of a disaffected friend seeing through the lies for the first time.

The ending involves the two women taking irrevocable decisions to change their paths - and that of Ireland - and I cannot wait to see how that will play out in the next book.

I finally got my thoughts and feelings in order after finishing this stunning sequel yesterday. Shauna Lawless has done it again, and holy moly was my heart in my throat for the last 15% of the book! 😰

I’m going to try my best to not spoil anything in this review, but all I want to do is gush about it.💙

I LOVED the character development that Fódla and Gormflaith went through. Both women have come into their own throughout the various events that take place, and it was an absolute treat to witness. 🔥🌿

I loved how confident and brave Fódla becomes through the love of her nephew and the friendships and love she has with the people of Munster. Broccan’s interactions with her towards the end of the book was so beautifully endearing that even I was tearing up for both of them. It was definitely something that she needed in order to build her confidence and life after the manipulation Tomas has wreaked on her throughout their relationship. Also, what a total sleaze ball he is! Any time he was present for a scene I was seething with secondhand resentment.😡

Gormflaith’s continued quest for power was both incredible as well as a little scary to see. This is a woman who has been wronged by basically everyone she knows, and while it is totally understandable why she is going the route that she does, her drive will definitely be something to behold in the next book. Definitely rooting for her despite the small part of my brain that is horrified to see what she will accomplish next.😬

All in all, I loved the development of the court politics, the relationships, and the inclusion of more tales about the Tuatha Dé Dananan and the Fomorians. I’m already desperate for third book and in denial that I have to wait potentially for another year, so I’m going to go drink a cup of Thai tea for now and hope that staring at a wall will help fill that hole for a bit.🥹

Thank you to NetGalleyand Head of Zeus for sending me an eARC of this phenomenal book for an honest review, and to Shauna for writing such an incredible sequel! I’ll be desperately and (attempting to) patiently waiting for the third book.💚

Overall: 5!!!!/5 ⭐️

I was excited to jump back into this world and rediscover the characters I’d become invested in when reading the first book of the series. I can say Gormflaith still isn’t likeable but I can’t help but admire her scheming and her cunning. Nothing is going to stop that woman from getting the power she so desperately wants, but it was interesting to see a different side of her, lonely and sad, away from everyone she knows and surrounded by people who are certainly not warm towards her. It looks like things might be turning around for her by the end of the book but it remains to be seen whether she’ll get what she so desperately wants - or be happy if she does!

Fódla definitely remains easier to relate to. Her kind nature, big heart as well as her torment make her more endearing than her fellow narrator. I was also desperate to see whether anything would progress between her and dashing prince Murchad. Fódla’s life hasn’t been easy and the road continues to be bumpy here, with secrets emerging and threats being made but as always, she remains calm and I enjoyed seeing her growing determination to do what she wants despite the fear of Tomas hanging over her.

This series is pretty slow paced and the books are long so it was a bit of a slog to push through when there wasn’t necessarily a whole lot going on, and it’s not always easy to keep track with the sheer number of characters mentioned throughout but it remains an interesting read with magic and mythology buried deep in the heart of Ireland.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Great book for anyone who is a fan of Game of Thrones/Irish history/Kingship type books. The main characters show a unique and engaging evolution over the course of the second book in the series and enhance the story with their unique perspectives. The story is paced well, keeping the world of Gael Song exciting and full of suspense. The drawing of knowledge from Irish folklore and mythology enriches the experience and creates a unique world for the plot to play out.

I just love this series. An all-round brilliant novel that expands Lawless as an author. The roots that are developed here is such an easy read and I'm excited to see more to come.

One of the best books I have read so far. The first book this year I have stayed up late to read! My only issue with the first book was I found the pacing to be little slower than I prefer however, book 2 does not have the same issues. I had whiplash from about 60% of the way through and did not want to put it down

This, like the first book in the Gael Song series, was deeply immersive and generally enjoyable, weaving together Irish history and mythology to present a fantasy series with a suitably mythic, epic feeling.

Unless you have a far better memory than me, I would recommend rereading the first book in the series before diving into this one. Indeed, had I not received this as a digital ARC with an attached reading deadline, I likely would have put this aside until I had time to reread book one. For me, having read 'The Children of Gods and Fighting Men' almost a year ago, this one suffered a little for the fact that I had forgotten so many details from the first book. I remember thoroughly enjoying '... Gods and Fighting Men', but many of the specific plot and character details took me a while to recall. (Which should not be taken as a criticism - I have a terrible memory and read a lot so am bound to get confused or lost occasionally!) Given how intricately the lives of the numerous characters intertwine, I feel like one will best appreciate this book having just read the first volume and thereby having all of those intricate details fresh in one's memory.

The reading experience for this one reminded me somewhat of 'The Assassin's Apprentice', in that it was enjoyable, although initially quite slow, and it had a dramatic and compelling conclusion that left me wanting to know where the story goes next. Ultimately, if you liked the first book in the Gael Song series then you will surely enjoy this one also!

Thank-you very much to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a proof copy of the book!

The second book picks up right where the first one left off, and carries with it all of the magic and wonder that made the first book so special. You truly jump back into it all without skipping a beat. It’s not often that a sequel lives up to it’s predecessor, but here it’s been accomplished and then some. We continue to watch from the point of view of the two, very contrasting, women of the first book, Gormflaith and Fódla, but also with an unexpected but pleasant point of view added in. We witness their paths continue to cross, unaware of one another, all while tensions continue to build and with the world we knew expanding. Overall a fantasist read and can’t wait for the next one.

As always, thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book and the opportunity to write this review.

Fantastic sequel. I just love this series. It's fresh and original. Now the long wait for book 3. This series is seriously worth your time if you enjoy historical fantasy featuring Irish mythology. Highly recommended the series and can't wait for the next chapter.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

I love this series!

Where so often the second book in a trilogy falls flat this book continued the excellence of the first, and I cannot wait for the final book.

The MCs in this book are just *chefs kiss. Fodla is interesting and strong in her way, and I am loving seeing her come into her own and out of the abusive relationship she is in. Gormflaith is giving me Lady MacBeth and I am here for it-also finally coming into own in this book and I can’t wait to see what these two women do next.

Highly recommended-one of the best books I have read this year.

I'm so happy I decided to continue with this series. This installment was fantastic and exceeded the first book in all aspects. Since the world, characters, and magic have been established it made it so much easier to follow the story.
I instantly was sucked into the world and found myself enraptured by the characters. The two female MC have me in a CHOKEHOLD! They may be polar opposites in personalities but I can't help but love them just the same. Trust me when I say there is a character and drama for everyone. By the end of the book I found myself with a handful of favorite characters I must know how their stories end.
The author has really taken her time to set up both Irish mythology and Irish history to work seamlessly. I love how she has taken real historical figures and events and thrown them into the mix with all the elements of fantasy. The Irish culture is beautifully represented and has me now looking for other books with Irish representation.
There's no doubt I'll be continuing on with this series and this author.