Ciara is the Princess of Mide, in the land of Eirinn, a land plagued by the attacks of Northmen—men who plague her lands by pillaging and plundering the lands of Eirinn, but she’s able to keep them at bay using her dark powers: she can control the minds of others. However, she’s being visited by a crow and hearing whispers of something more sinister lying in wait. Unfortunately for Ciara, her thoughts and worries are dismissed as pagan nonsense, as her people practice Christianity. The crow leads her to an unlikely ally, Leif Olafsson, a Northman leader who has been seeing the same crow. Together, they will have to gather an army in order to save both their worlds, if they don’t wind up dead along the way. Spirits, monsters, and otherworldly being are waiting in the shadows, but Ciara and Leif will do their utmost to ensure the safety of their worlds.
This story… It was so good. It built up suspense, tension, and fear. It was one of the darker fantasies that I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a while, and it was amazing. The imagery is so vivid that it draws you into the world of Eirinn and the battle against the Northmen. This story will tease all of your senses, and it’s got quite a bit of action going on. Ciara and Leif are facing quite the onslaught of enemies, includinig their own people, the creatures lurking in the woods, and the even greater threat that might destroy them all. I feel that the character development is strong for Ciara in this story, and potentially a little less so for Leif, but that’s potentially because he’s “older” and understands a little more. It was also enjoyable that the focus was on the story, and the romance was a little more on the sidelines.
Jessica Leake also did an excellent job weaving the Celtic and Norse mythologies, especially the addition of the Morrigan and Odin in the story. It gives both Leif and Ciara added depth and insight into their cultures, and a bridge for them to be able to work together. More than that, we also get to see how Christianity has affected the pagan gods. Going from almighty beings, to essentially beginning to fade from the human realm was an interesting area of story that I enjoyed. Especially how the Gods are forced to take more of their animal forms and aren’t able to materialise in other ways for humans. It was also very interesting to see how the Gods were tied to their lands. It gave the mythology more depth and firmly entrenched cultural beliefs from a more historical standpoint.
Something that was really wonderful about this story is Leake’s ability to show the reader how someone could be both feared and needed at the same time, especially in Ciara’s case. It’s amazing to see a character that’s ostracised, but revered for her power, and it’s even more riveting for the reader to see the relationships between Ciara and her family. What her power has done to her romantic relationships, and how her power affects the relationships between her family members. Overcoming and accepting differences is something that was very satisfying to watch in Ciara’s character.
With that said, be prepared for a lot of violence in this novel. It’s very bloody, which might be off-putting for some. There’s also triggers for rape and assault, which could make this a difficult read for some. Leake’s descriptions are a little more on the vivid side, which is amazing when she’s setting a scene or a mood, but that can be difficult for those who might have issues reading scenes that are a little on the hard-core side. It’s also a little slow at the beginning, which might make readers hesitate, or not want to continue, but give this book a chance. Once you’re in to the second chapter, things start taking off, and become intense.
Now, I said that the romance was a sideline part of the story, but I felt like it could have used a little more development. I also felt like Ciara’s relationship and interactions with the Morrigan could have been a little more developed as well…or rather, I guess I would have liked to see even more of her. The scenes featuring the Morrigan are arguably some of the best, giving the readers a glimpse into the mysticism of the land of Eirinn. Except, these scenes feel very spread out, although there is the idea that the Morrigan is always watching. The same can be said of Odin toward the end of the story. The Morrigan and Odin are key players in the story, so a little more background would have been good for the reader, although how to accomplish that without making the book even longer is an unreasonable complaint from a reader who ultimately left the story feeling satisfied at the end.
With an excellent dose of mythology and historical fiction, this story deserves an 8/10. It’s a great read for those who are looking for stand-alone fantasy novels, as well as those looking to expand add some more Celtic and Norse mythology features into their collection.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
The ancient land of Éirinn is mired in war. Ciara, Princess of Mide, has never known a time when Éirinn’s kingdoms were not battling for power, or Northmen were not plundering their shores.
The people of Mide have thankfully always been safe because of Ciara’s unearthly ability to control her enemies’ minds and actions. But lately, a mysterious crow has been appearing to Ciara, whispering warnings of an even darker threat. Although her clansmen dismiss her visions as pagan nonsense, Ciara fears this coming evil will destroy not just Éirinn, but the entire world.
Then the crow leads Ciara to Leif, a young Northman leader. Leif should be Ciara’s enemy, but when Ciara discovers that he, too, shares her prophetic visions, she knows he’s something more. Leif is mounting an impressive army, and with Ciara’s strength in battle the two might have a chance to save their world.
With evil rising around them, they’ll do what it takes to defend the land they love…even if it means making the greatest sacrifice of all.
