The Children of Gods and Fighting Men: A review

 

    

     

Nice that book reviewers you follow on Twitter and BookTube liked this debut novel enough for me to pre-order. I enjoyed it too. An Irish inspired tale, Shauna Lawless has taken the reader to the Early Medieval and Viking era of Ireland.  A period where Irish and Norse beliefs systems were being challenged by the Christian belief system. The book has two POVs, both ageless and part of two opposing gods. The book opens up on Gormflaith, wife of the dead King. She scrambles to protect her son Sitric, and avoids being placed in a funeral pyre. She is also a Fomorian and can control fire, the fantasy element of the story. Floda is a healer and part of the Druid group Tuatha De Danann who hunt the Fomorians. Floda must hide her abilities or be burned at the stake by you know who for being a witch. Lawless writing style made it easy to keep all the characters straight, most who are actual historical figures. A fabulous blend of Historical Fiction and Fantasy. Hopefully this book and author will get some Hugo votes for Best New Writer, Best Novel and Best Debut Novel for 2022. It is well deserved if it happens. If you enjoy Historical Fiction or are a fan of Fantasy novels where the two main protagonists are females and fighting the system that restricts them, this novel is for you. If you like the character Cerci Lannister from the fabulous Song of Ice & Fire Series, you will relish the character Gormflaith, as she does everything she can to ensure her son inherits what is his by birthrights.