I received a review copy (eARC) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I also recommend the summaries of book 1 and book 2 on the author's website (let's pretend my comment in my review of book 2 made a difference, ha).

This is the third installment of in the Irish historical fantasy "Gael Song" series, but I would not say final because I understand that the author plans to continue with the series in the future.

In any event, to cut to the chase: the political machinations, the historical intrigue, the emotional pull on the heart...this story has it all. I cannot recommend this series enough.

5/5

Oh wow…. Now that’s how you end a trilogy.. Book 3 of The Gael Song series exceeded my expectations in every way. Shauna brings historical fiction, mythology & fantasy together in this series and the final instalment is everything that you want to bring closure to a story.

I won’t go into the plot because I don’t want to spoil anything if you haven’t read the first two books (go read them!) but if you enjoy books with multiple POVs, political intrigue and vicious double crosses, savage battles between the Irish and the Vikings, morally grey (and frankly fairly twisted and cruel) protagonists, all culminating in one of Ireland’s most brutal battles, pick up The Land of the Living and the Dead.

Shauna’s ability to create some of the fiercest and strongest female protagonists is one of my favourite aspects of this series. Gormflaith and Fódla are two of the best written characters I’ve come across in a long while and their stories will stay with me.

The ending made me bawl but I’m glad Shauna chose the ending she did for the characters and she’s left the door open for the next generation of characters to carry the mantle of their elders.

Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the arc. The Land of the Living and the Dead is out now. 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved every single second of this and can’t wait to have a physical copy to add to my library. Quite possibly my favorite series of the year!

What a great and suitable conclusion to this series this book was. It was a very emotional journey reading the Gael Song series and the ending of the third book, The Land of the Living and the Dead was and will be unforgettable.

This series is about the inner strength, the struggles, the love, the family, the justice and injustice and always about the hope that never dies. Shaune Lawless has written a story that will always remain in my heart. I can't wait to read more from her.

I definitely recommend this trilogy, the Gael Song, I strongly believe it should be in every bookshelf and library!

PAIN. I feel pain, but hope after reading the newest entry in the Gael Song series from Shauna Lawless "The Land of the Living and the Dead."

Ireland 1011 AD, 11 years after the last book and Fódla is in hiding with her nephew and cousin from the other Descendants. Gormflaith is still queen of King Brian and waiting for her moment. But it is time for Broccan to return to the world, the wind says and so they act. This puts our characters back onto the game board and and let's people draw connections for good and ill. Combining history with mythology it is going to put you through it. I don't want to spoil a second of this read, but I hope you are up to date on the novellas.

(Had to include a little cheeky foreshadowing myself though)

Reasons to read:
-3 books and 2 novellas deep, not stopping now
-A significant escalation in the conflict with the Fomorians
-Repaid kindness
-Good moments with people I wasn't expecting to see on the page again
-I am mess after finishing it

Cons:
-Everything is mostly happy if you stop reading around 30% if you want to leave most everything unresolved to protect yourself from PAIN.

An incredible conclusion to the Gael Song trilogy. I highly recommend the entire series to anyone who loves mythology, history, and fantasy. Battles and scheming. Compelling and loveable characters mixed with characters you love to hate. Irish factions and invasions set in medieval times. Religious conflicts. And a lil, adorable love story! I was swooning. I also loved the prophecy of a female hero. I mean! I could just go on and on. Plz read so I can fangirl with someone else!

Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC of The Land of the Living and the Dead in exchange for an honest review! Spoiler-free.

This is the third book in the Gael song series; and arguably, my favourite. The world-building and character development in the first two novels made this a rich, thrilling conclusion to the first era of the Fomorian/Descendants' history. Lawless does not shy away from heavy topics, the role of women in a traditionally male-dominated society, slavery and motherhood in all its forms. While this book is more of a slow burn, that ending had me on the edge of my seat. Tears were shed.

And yet it felt like a perfect ending for the characters we’ve come to love whilst leaving room to explore the next generation of magic wielders and Irish kings.

Overall, it gets a 4/5 from me!

I have loved reading the Gael Song trilogy. Shauna Lawless has taken aspects of Irish mythology and folklore and crafted them into a living, breathing tale that harness its inspirations while creating something new, vibrant and bold.

The main and side characters have been developed excellently throughout the series and there’s no exception in this instalment. Character growth is organic and true to the individual and the path they’ve taken.

Ending an excellent series is always a challenge and leaves scope for decisions that readers questions and debate but I think Land of the Living and the Dead closes the trilogy in a way that’s true to the series.

Shauna is a great author and has channelled something truly entertaining and special with this book (and the series). Cannot wait to read more from her in the future.

Not just recommending, probably buying copies of the series for family and friends this Christmas.

A truly fantastic end to this wonderful trilogy.

I was hesitant to pick this book up early as I didn't know whether I was ready for the trauma I knew Shauna Lawless was going to inflict on me, but I'm so glad I did. I have been thinking about this book every day since I finished it

We pick back up with Fodla and Gormflaith a decade after The Words of Kings and Prophets and hurtle towards one of the most devastating, but beautiful endings. It's obvious how much Lawless loves Irish mythology and how much care goes into the research of Irish history as well.

I'm excited to read more from Lawless in the future and would encourage anybody to pick up this trilogy in a heartbeat

The first two books and 75% of book 3 in this series are phenomenal, deep, compelling characters, gripping pacing, good history. The last 25% of The Land of the Living and the Dead I’m unsure on, some things felt too convenient, some things felt rushed, some things felt out of character and the ending wasn’t overly satisfying. I had a great time with this series and found it super easy to read, I’m excited to see what Shauna does next!

The third book in the Gael Song series opens in 1011 AD. Ireland faces a conflict between the mortal kingdoms and the Fomorians and Descendants, who both seek dominion over the mortal world. Gormflaith, the queen of King Brian, plans to establish control over Ireland and destroy the Descendants, but she cannot do it alone. The Descendants are divided, and Fódla, a former member of King Brian's inner circle, must use this division to thwart treacherous plots. With lives on the line, Fódla must reveal the evil in time. As secret schemes come to fruition, the only possible outcome is war, and the clash will change the course of history forever.

With Ireland united under a single monarch, the book begins with Ireland enjoying peace. Together with her brother Murchad, Queen Gormflaith watches and plots to shape events to her own advantage, with the added edge of now possessing the witch power of a descendant to augment her own Fomorian fire magic.

Fódla and Gormflaith continue to shine in the Gael song series, and adding different viewpoints from other characters, such as Murchad and Colmon, adds to a more complex and compelling story. The Land of the Living Dead allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the mythology of Ireland while creating a more character-driven, perfectly paced story, making it impossible to put the book down until you finish it.

Ending a series is no easy feat, and while Lawless delivers in almost every way possible, the ending of The Land of the Living Dead felt somewhat rushed. The rest of The Land of the Living Dead was perfectly paced, but the ending felt like there wasn’t enough time to fully digest the events of the book, from the loss of certain characters to the victories. Some plot points were left to have an ambiguous ending, and while it does work, it will leave readers a little frustrated, but perhaps that is because Lawless has plans to continue the series in some way. Either way, it’s a fantastic read that will have you wanting more of the world that Lawless creates.

A book can only be as good as the characters, and Lawless creates fantastic, intricate characters that allow you to be fully enthralled in the series while learning about history in a way that doesn’t feel like a lesson. Murchad, Broccan, and Tairdelbach are characters that could have done with a little more time on the page, purely because these were fantastic characters to read. Lawless sets up the scene for the next generation of characters, and if her next piece of work is anything like The Land of the Living Dead, it will be an excellent read.

Ending the Gael song trilogy with The Land of the Living Dead offers a near-perfect end with complex, exciting storylines with Irish mythologies as its backdrop. Lawless creates an engrossing, twisting story that dramatically weaves in history, culminating in an unexpected ending, making it a perfect choice for readers who enjoy myth and history.

I've thought about this book and the characters every day since I finished it!

The Land of the Living and the Dead picks up ten years after The Words of Kings and Prophets. However, Shauna has created such a well developed world and characters that you feel like you haven't missed anything.

Before reading, I wasn't sure I was emotionally prepared for what might happen to the characters l've come to love. I felt all of the emotions while reading - happiness, anxiety, anger, heartache, joy and sadness. There were so many twists and turns and it was difficult to put down.

The ending was simultaneously heartbreaking and beautiful - I loved it! I cannot wait to see what Shauna writes next and I will definitely be reading whatever it is.

If you love books with realistic and flawed characters, well developed settings, politics and strategy, The Gael Song series is absolutely for you!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Wow what a book. Picking up around a decade after book 2, The Land of the Living and the Dead is another triumph by Shauna Lawless. I am constantly on the hunt for well-written, nuanced FMCs that range from a little twisted to morally black, and Gormflaith classes up there among my favourites with her cunning.

The POV characterisations in general have been so incredible throughout this entire trilogy, and this book continued this to make the ending pack a PUNCH; I was fighting for my life tearing up 😅

There are a few aspects to the ending that I think would’ve made it even stronger if they had been expanded on/hinted at just a little more (no spoilers but specifically about Donnchad), but all in all, this series was delightful and I’ll be looking to continue the journey in this world with her next series!

Oof this series was amazing in every way. I never got an arc for a series I'm so invested in . I dropped everything and read it. This series got me im a chokehold. Sad it ended but , thank you so much for allowing me to have this arc.

I don’t know how Shauna Lawless to balance character driven and plot driven writing, yet she’s done it again. After two books and two novellas, the third and final book of the “Gael Song” series dances between the two concepts like she would dance an Irish jig. She makes it look easy from the outside but it is actually a very complicated goal to achieve. In a way, it is like trying to untangle a Celtic knot.

I recognize that I was a bit afraid of this book before reading it, mainly because I am deeply emotionally involved in these characters and their development. Knowing that Irish legends, myths, and songs almost always have a gloomy or tragic feel beneath the words and the melodies I was prepared for something great in terms of storytelling but I had no hope of a happy ending (which isn’t a bad thing per se). A few months prior to reading this book Shauna herself without unveiling anything plot-wise, had warned me that I would probably cry. And she was right. But you know, there are tears of sadness and rage and there are tears of joy as well, what kind of tears I shed I won’t tell so don’t take anything for granted before the end of this book.

The only certainty is that Fódla’s and some other characters’ stories end here. Forgive me for keeping the plot of this third book a secret, but I believe that these secrets and tribulations are for you to unveil, just know that it’s so worth the while. I can guarantee that the “Gael Song” books leave a tattoo in your heart and your soul, that’s all you need to know. As for the end of the series, well, it is an end. Some doors are closing here but also some others are opening, there’s hope for the future and some of the characters’ paths are only beginning. Something new, as fearsome and as hopeful as the day that Fódla started her own journey, is being born. Ancient legends and myths never end, they just become other people’s stories, tangled with other stories in the unfihished tale that is History, combined with folklore, magic, and fantasy. After all, this is how legends are born. How lucky we are that we have a master storyteller to guide us through the darkness into the light.

This is not over. YET.

Really interesting read with a good mix between historical and fantasy, my Irish history is shockingly bad so I wasn't aware that the bones of the story were real until the epilogue- I did feel like this book was setting up for book 2 a bit too much

I tried so hard to get into this. I read the first two books to prepare to read this arc. I truly just don’t think it is for me. I had to DNF. I didn’t even want to finish the first 2 books, but I don’t think it’s a case of this was a bad book, I think it’s a personal thing. I even think that it may just be the right book, wrong time kinda thing too. I might come back to this series and end up loving it. But right now, I wasn’t enjoying it.

Read The Dreams of Fire and The Land of the Living and the Dead one after the other. It was a wild ride into myth, an experience that kept turning pages.
Great world building and excellent storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Mesmerizing read that masterfully blends history with haunting elements. I was captivated by the rich historical detail and the way Lawless brought the setting to life, making it feel almost like a character in its own right. The characters were well drawn, with complex motivations that kept me invested in their journeys.
However, there were moments when the pacing dragged a bit, and I found myself wanting to move through some slower sections more quickly. Despite that, the evocative storytelling and emotional depth make this a compelling book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

THE LAND OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD completes this sage of Irish history and magic with epic battles and lots of betrayal.

This is an epic instalment, as you'd expect for a finale that brings together a history full of family squabbles and battles with magic and mythology. There is a giant battle and lots of bickering (not all of it fermented by Gormflaith, but a lot is as she cannot stop stirring the pot.) There is also the most magic used in this book, and I loved seeing it unleashed and used in a variety of ways.

There is a large cost to this book, so many characters dying and the ones who don't, often paying heavy prices for survival - except those who fall into the category of "life/those around them drops things into their laps and take it as their due." It was certainly a wrench when some of my favourites died to further the aims of those I didn't like as much.

Murchad is a narrator in this book! I was so excited when I saw his first chapter (he is a minor POV like Ronnat and Colman). He's been so important to events through the books, so to finally get a glimpse into his thoughts was great. Plus his perspective let the book sit in the thick of the battles and all their chaos.

While this closes off the main part of the series, there is a novella to come later on, which is excited - a bit more time left in this world!