I am not a fan or regular reader of historical fantasy (or fantasy generally) but was intrigued by the setting of this novel in Ireland in 1011 AD and the theme of the Kings of Ireland (my late husband believing he was related to them and ancestors were buried at the Clonmacnoise near Offaly) So I was interested to read about Brian Boru and the battles that took place across the island.
The book starts however with a 'huge' list of characters -and even named animals- which did slightly put me off but it was soon clear how the 'real' characters were immersed in the fantasy characters - the witchgifts and descendants particularly. The female characters were very strong eg Gormflaith and the family ties and 'true sons' undercurrents explored well.
The locations were often beautifully described - hard not to thinking still of Ireland- and the rivers, sea and mountains particularly evoked the mystical and historical past.
As with most fantasy you had to suspend belief in some area of 'really would they be able to do that'! but overall I thoroughly enjoyed the escape and can see it being very popular for both readers of this genre or someone wanting to broaden knowledge about that era of Irish history.

The Land of the Living and the Dead by Shauna Lawless is the epic conclusion of the first cycle of her Gael Song series and what a finale it is. Full of plotting and intrigue, drama and tension and with an ending that is both heart breaking and yet incredibly satisfying , this is an incredible book that fans of the series will no doubt adore. As someone who was superficially familiar with the historical context of the books, I love the attention to detail and the amount of research that has clearly gone into the series is incredibly impressive. The skill with which the author blends history and mythology is second to none. Over the course of this series I have loved and hated characters, rooted for and been repelled by them and that is because of how well they have been crafted and then brought to life on the page. The author never resorts to having characters that are morally black or white, they are much more nuanced on all sides of the conflict. I am just happy that while this cycle may be over, the song continues and I can't wait to read more.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

"The Land of the Living and the Dead" is a captivating and immersive journey into a world where the boundaries between life and death blur. V. E. Schwab's masterful storytelling, evocative writing, and complex characters make this a must-read for fans of historical fantasy and anyone seeking an epic adventure steeped in Irish mythology.

While the intricate plot and multiple perspectives may require some attention, the rewards are plentiful. If you're looking for a tale of war, power, sacrifice, and the enduring power of hope, I highly recommend this book.

The Gael Song trilogy has come to an end with The Land of the Living and the Dead by Shauna Lawless. How happy are we with the conclusion? Tune in!

YouTube:
https://youtu.be/hmoPgwW1kkk
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/317-the-land-of-the-living-and-the-dead/id1489097985?i=1000669820344&ls=1
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Texyvwwc0dID5P588w9uq?si=OAdeJZD9R86YoQ2UCgotGA

***Spoiler-free***
It’s the end of an era for the Gael Song Trilogy, and I feel like a part of my heart is missing, but in a good way?

If you like history and mythology, this is 100% the trilogy for you. Shauna Lawless is so smart and intentional in the way she builds her stories and characters, and cares about the accuracies vs the artistic liberty. Beyond that, her characters are so believable and true to themselves. A week after finishing this book I can still sit here and think about characters as individuals with separate motivations and values - I want that in every book I read.

I know that this book is right up my alley for what I enjoy, but I cannot express how much I have loved this trilogy, to include the novellas that have been coming out. I’ll read anything that Shauna Lawless writes, and I’m so happy to have been here as Gael Song has been published. There is one more novella coming out that lines up with this trilogy, so catch up while you can. If you have any questions on the best reading order, please ask, but Shauna Lawless has also posted guides on her website and social medias.

The Land of the Living and the Dead is the gripping and heart-stoping finale to the historical fantasy trilogy Gael Song, written by Shauna Lawless, and published by Ad Astra. Gormflaith plans to finally end with the Descendants, and establish the Fomorian control over Ireland with the help of her son; meanwhile, the Descendants are divided over controlling humans, with Tomas scheming in order to finally make the Descendants return and rule over Ireland. Flames of war are on the horizon.

After two ambitious novels in the trilogy, this third instalment doesn't disappoint, raising the stakes to a whole new level; you can feel how Gormflaith has become much more ambitious and power focused once she's near to discover the location of the fortress, but sometimes ambition comes with a prize. Fodla is trying to reach the fortress and finally break that firm control Tomas exerts over the Descendants; but only she manages to not get caught before by his spies.

With the excellent writing style that characterizes Lawless, we still have space for exploring the difficult equilibrium between Irish and Vikings, and how our two groups involved won't doubt to play with the humans if that pushes them towards their final goal. But if something marks this book, is the weight of consequences. All the actions brought us to this point, and even with all in mind, we will be surprised by how the plot develops.

As in the previous two books, how mythology and fantasy are brought together around a relatively unknown historical moment makes this an excellent story, as it does a great work balancing both aspects while being accurate to those small aspects that transports the reader to 11th century Ireland. The pacing is excellent, allowing you to devour this book while being a bit sad that this means the ending of an era.

The Land of the Living and the Dead is the conclusion Gael Song deserved; Lawless raises the level once more to write a memorable story to close a series that is perfect if you are looking for fantasy rooted in history, and a healthy dose of Vikings. Shauna Lawless is an auto-buy author for me, and this series is the reason for it.

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.