Llywelyn, Morgan Books

The Greener Shore: A Novel of the Druids of Hibernia

Morgan Llywelyn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

At last, the haunting sequel to Morgan Llywelyn’s phenomenal epic Druids. The Greener Shore unfurls the story of a brave and mystical people who learned to manipulate the forces of nature–in order to control magic.

As druids in Celtic Gaul, they had been the harmonious soul of their tribe, the Carnutes. But when Julius Caesar and his army invaded and conquered their homeland, the great druid Ainvar and his clan fled for their lives, taking with them the ancient knowledge. Guided by a strange destiny, they found themselves drawn to a green island at the very rim of the world: Hibernia, home of the Gael.

Here they would depend for survival on an embittered man who had lost his faith–and a remarkable woman who would find hers. Burning with hatred of the Romans, Ainvar can no longer command his magic. But his mantle falls on unexpected shoulders. In a beautiful, war-torn land of numerous kingdoms and belligerent tribes, Ainvar and his beloved wife, Briga, struggle toward an uncertain future. Their companions include the volatile Onuava, widow of their fallen chieftain; Lakutu, Ainvar’s dark and mysterious second wife; Ainvar’s son, Dara, who seems more drawn to poetry than to combat; and the “Red Wolf,” the young warrior who is as close as kin and is determined to find Ainvar’s missing daughter.

Other forces are at work in Hibernia as well–the spirits that haunt the island, forces older than even the magic of the druids. Through them Ainvar seeks his redemption . . . as Briga seeks her rendezvous with history.

Filled with the deep feeling, stunning detail, and rich characters that made Druids a masterwork, The Greener Shore is a superb saga of an amazing world and its wondrous ways–a much-awaited novel that will delight all the devotees of this admired author.


From the Hardcover edition.

Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish (Celtic World of Morgan Llywelyn)

Morgan Llywelyn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Beautiful well told story 5 out of 5 stars.
13 of 16 people found this review helpful.

As one with distant Celtic heritage, that did not grow up with any of the wonderful stories that Llewelyn tells, I am grateful for for insights into the make up of my families psychology. Bard, Red Branch, Lion Of Ireland ect. Help me to both understand where we get some of our predelictions and temperments. So blah, blah, blah, to reviewers who want to show thier scholarly prowess by proving her inacurate.They are stories based on myths and legends, that are most likely based on some exagerated truth. I loved this story.

A fine job of evoking the past 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful.

It's hard to truly say what happened back in the swirly mists of time, especially going as far back as when the mythical Milesians arrived, accompanied by the legendary bard, Amergin. However, this book does a fine job of evoking that past as it might have been. I read Llywelyn many years ago, before I had even begun reading Celtic history, and I was surprised by the wealth of authentic detail as found in this book. One item that particularly sticks out in my mind is the description of the burial of Mil. Llywelyn used such precise detail, even down to the couch he lay on, that I could remember seeing a pictures and drawings of just such a burial, all the way down to its intricate wheels. So, relax and enjoy this book, confident that the author put as much true history into her tale as possible, yet creates an astounding epic.

Editorial Review:

This is the tale of the coming of the Irish to Ireland, and of the men and women who made that emerald isle their own.

Red Branch

Morgan Llywelyn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Hound of Ulster Rocks! 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I absolutely loved this book. Before picking it up I knew absolutely nothing about the story of Cuchulain, the legendary Hound of Ulster. I found myself enthralled by the story, the characters, the myth, and the setting of this novel from page one. This was the second of Ms. Llywelyn's novels that I'd read -- Lion of Ireland being the first -- and I think it's ranks as one of her best. By the end of the novel, even though you know that it cannot end well, you've become invested in the characters and it's sad when it finally ends. The novel has a lot to say about love and war, what motivates men (and women), and a curious historical tie-in to the modern troubles of Ireland. A great read for anyone interested in ancient Ireland's legendary past.

Editorial Review:

"Powerful . . . A lusty, poetic and legendary world based on Ireland's mythical warrior-hero Cuchulain." The New York Times Book Review

In a land ruled by war and love and strange enchantments, Cuchulain -- torn between gentleness and violence, haunted by the croakings of a sinister raven -- fights for his honor and his homeland and discovers too late the trap that the gods have set for him in the fatal beauty of Deirdre and the brutal jealousy of King Conor.

The Last Prince of Ireland (Celtic World of Morgan Llywelyn)

Morgan Llywelyn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Story of Courage and Patriotism 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

This book ranks in the top three of my favorites by Llywelyn -- Lion of Ireland and Red Branch being the other two. Llywelyn recounts in detail the journey of Donal Cam O'Sullivan and a rag-tag group of survivors as they move across Ireland to the safety of the north and Hugh O'Neill. Over a thousand men, women, and children set out on this journey and through treachery and death only 34 make it to the north. Above all this is a story of courage and patriotism. How a small group, encouraged by a strong leader, refuses to subject themselves to an invading and unwanted monarch out to rein in control of her stolen lands. This book is very much pro-Irish, so take that into consideration, but the author has history and a long bibliography to back her up.

Editorial Review:

The history of Ireland is studded with tragedies, but none is more poignant, or more decisive, that the battle of Kinsale. There the Gaelic nobility who held sway over Ireland for two thousand years were finally and resolutely crushed by the English invaders. There would follow four hundred years of English domination.

The Last Prince is Donal Cam O'Sullivan, still determined after the battle not to surrender his homeland. He flees with his clan toward an inland stronghold, as the Gaelic nation is ripped apart not only by war but by the seed of betrayal planted by the English, whose powerful bribes turn brother against brother. The awesome saga of Donal Cam and his clan's winter journey is a powerful vision of honor and betrayal, pride and desperation. Morgan Llywelyn captures the heart of the Irish struggle to survive.

Druids

Morgan Llywelyn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 58 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Otherwhen 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This is a strong historical novel about a little-known episode. Ainvar, Chief Druid of a tribe in Gaul, comes of age during the era when the Celtic peoples of Gaul were being wiped out by Julius Caesar. Of special interest is Ainvar's friend Vercingetorix, who was a real historical personage and is reconstructed here as a valiant freedom fighter, in a doomed struggle to save his people and their way of life, rather than as a simple barbarian guerilla fighter, as in the Roman version of history. (The place names and tribal names here are authentic too.) Ainvar and Vercingetorix are two fascinating characters with great chemistry, and both are defined by a hopeless struggle against overwhelming power. Morgan Llywelyn does a great job exploring the mysterious culture of the ancient Celts, plus the religious beliefs and supposed magical powers of the Druids (who were not an ethnic group as is sometimes believed). Another advantage of this novel is that Llywelyn makes strong points about imperialism and war, with Caesar's use of fractious politics and false promises of freedom and progress in the drive to create empire, which have been used to destroy less powerful peoples ever since.

Unfortunately, there are several underlying problems that keep this novel from total greatness. Ainvar achieves the office of Chief Druid at a miraculously young age, but has little trouble assuming authority and utilizing his powers. Most of the subplots concerning Ainvar's personal life are messily constructed and of little usefulness, either for the plot or the development of his character. Ainvar also has a book-long grudge against a personal enemy, which is left hanging and unresolved. Meanwhile, the final quarter of the book becomes tedious and overblown, as Llywelyn bites off way more than she can chew in the final war for the freedom of Gaul. Huge armies travel immense distances in very little time and engage in one bombastic battle after another. Fans of battle fiction will probably find the depictions here to be highly implausible. A potentially interesting character, Caesar, has almost no definition whatsoever, and the Romans and Germans, as the enemies of Gaul, are depicted as soulless machines of slaughter, as opposed to the virtuous Celts. Still, this is a generally compelling historical novel, but just not quite a classic. [~doomsdayer520~]

Editorial Review:

“Mine was the vast dark sky and the spaces between the stars that called out to me; mine was the promise of magic.”

So spoke the young Celt Ainvar, centuries before the enchanted age of Arthur and Merlin. An orphan taken in by the chief druid of the Carnutes in Gaul, Ainvar possessed talents that would lead him to master the druid mysteries of thought, healing, magic, and battle— talents that would make him a soul friend to the Prince Vercingetorix . . . though the two youths were as different as fire and ice.

Yet Ainvar’s destiny lay with Vercingetorix, the sun-bright warrior-king. Together they traveled through bitter winters and starlit summers in Gaul, rallying the splintered Celtic tribes against the encroaching might of Julius Caesar and the soulless legions of Rome. . . .


From the Paperback edition.

The Elementals

Morgan Llywelyn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

solid cautionary ýanthologyý 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

"Water". The melting of the ice caps leads to the great flood destroying Atlantis. Few survive the calamity, but Kesair leads the small band in a desperate search for land that takes them to Emerald Isle in hopes of starting over

"Fire". If you can make it in the palaces of Crete, you can make it anywhere thinks talented musician Meriones. When the volcano erupts, spewing fire everywhere, Meriones struggles not just to survive, but to rethink his philosophy of life. He now understands that man proposes, nature disposes.

"Earth". Good old Earth allegedly has no feelings as mankind goes about destroying it. Tell New England housewife Annie Murphy that Earth lacks compassion as she is the demanded sacrifice or else the planet has nasty plans for mankind.

"Air". Several millenniums have passed since Kesair survived the sinking of Atlantis. The Earth has seen what man has done and become. George Burningfeather leads the final battle of survival though it seems obvious that mankind's reign is done.

This is a cautionary "anthology" consisting of four warning novellas that if humanity does not change and take care of the planet, the Earth will react. The first two tales are incredibly powerful ancient historical stories that adhere to the warning theme inside an exciting narrative. The "Earth" story seems a bit flat compared to the previous duo while the "Air' contribution will leave readers breathless. Superb admonitory ecological allegory that not so gaily asks, "What's Going On" while forewarning that "in the Year 2525..."

Harriet Klausner

Editorial Review:

Morgan Llywelyn, internationally acclaimed author of such historical masterpieces as Lion of Ireland and the Irish Century series, is also a brilliant author of fantasy. In The Elementals she crafts a unique environmental fantasy from the legends of our ancestors and the fears of our children. It sweeps from the dawn of history to our own near future. It is the story of Earth and her elements, and of the men and women whose fate lies in her hands, from lost Atlantis and ancient Crete to 19th century New England and the day just after tomorrow. The Elementals is the epic, ongoing tale of humanity's turbulent relationship with the Earth-as only Morgan Llywelyn could tell it.

Pride of Lions (Celtic World of Morgan Llywelyn)

Morgan Llywelyn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Lion of Ireland was the breathtaking chronicle of Brian Boru, the Great King who led the bickering chiefs of Ireland to unity under his reign. He overthrew traditions, reformed society, and became the Irish Charlemagne. The Ireland of 1014 was a dream Brian Boru had dreamed and brought into being.

Now, with all the fire and brilliance for which her writing is known, Morgan Llywelyn takes us there, to the battlefield where Brian died, and to Brian's fifteen-year-old son, Donough, whose mother is the voluptuous and treacherous Gormlaith, with her lust for life and power undiminished by age: Donough, the son who is determined to make the High Kingship of Brian Boru's Ireland his own.

"I know he's too young, but he's all we have left," says Fergal, and thus the boy takes his first command, on the bloody ground of Clontarf. From there he must move to establish his right to rule in Kincora and to make the kings of Ireland accept him as their High King.

Yet Donough is torn--torn by his hatred for his mother and by his all-consuming passion for the beautiful pagan girl Cera, who remains beyond his reach, for the High King must have a Christian consort....

Strongbow: The Story of Richard And Aoife (Celtic World of Morgan Llywelyn)

Morgan Llywelyn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

An interesting book, although not one of her best. 3 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I'm a huge fan of Llywelyn, and have read most of her books. This one isn't one of her best, although it does have some interesting information about 12th century Ireland. The book is historical fiction based on Richard "Strongbow" and his Irish wife, Aoife.

The book is written in the first person, alternating between Strongbow and Aoife narrating a chapter. This can be a bit hard to follow at times.

The reading is relatively easy even with the first person writings. Unless you are an avid Llywelyn fan buy one of her other fantastic books.

A quick, disappointing read 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This was not the best Llywelyn book I've read. The novel, if you can call it that, was brief (more of a novella). She did not develop the main characters at all. It was like reading a biographical sketch of Richard de Clare and Aoife. Each of them tells a little of the story every other chapter. This style would work for a well developed story, but here it seems as though the characters have never met and they are supposed to be in love! The ending comes quickly and is not satisfying. A happy ending is not necessary, but with so little story it was a big disappointment. However, this book would be a good read for a young adult (7th-8th grade) and an introduction to Llywelyn and historical fiction. The back drop of the story was authentic and Llywelyn is an eminent historian. Still, if you are an adult, avoid this one and read another LLywelyn book such as Lion of Ireland or Red Branch.

Editorial Review:

A story based on true events of twelfth-century Ireland follows the adventure of Richard de Clare, a great Norman knight, and Aoife, a free-spirited princess who is sworn to protect her people. Reprint. AB. K.

Brian Boru: Emperor of the Irish (Celtic World of Morgan Llywelyn)

Morgan Llywelyn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

children's book 4 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

this is the children's version of "Lion of Ireland" which it is a good preview of, it is still a good book but leaves out a lot of details. If you liked this book but you want a more complete story read "Lion of Ireland"

Editorial Review:

On thousand years ago, during the Viking Age, an extraordinary young man was born in Ireland. His people, plagued by warfare, were weary not only from the Vikings' brutal raids along the coast, but also from the continuous warring among local chieftains. The Irish had become a drowntrodden race.

But a real-life hero changed the destiny of Ireland. This is the story of Brian Boru, who as a young man took it upon himself to revolutionize tenth-century Ireland, striving to create a peaceful land where his fellow Irish men and women cold be safe from harm. And succeed he did. Brian, crowned High King, restored peace and fostered prosperity in the country that was his home--and his heart. Brian Boru: Emperor of the Irish is a beautiful and compelling true story of Irish history.

Irish Magic: Four Tales of Romance and Enchantment from Four Acclaimed Authors

Roberta Gellis, Morgan Llywelyn, Barbara Samuel, Susan Wiggs

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 1.0 of 5

Morgan Llywelyn's Story Galway Bay ONLY 1 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book started out so well, but it fizzled fast. The scenery of Ireland shined, which is the ONLY reason this story deserved 1 star, but the girl, Eileen Costello, who was vacationing there, had little personality and it was hard to get to know her because the author gave us no physical description, no hair or eye color, etc, only a slightly tempermental New Yorker whose ex-boyfriend turned out to be married.
Eileen's love interest in Ireland is called "Mrs. Daly's son."

*He has no name.*

And it was never made clear what it was Mrs. Daly's son saw in Eileen to make her 'the one.' He didn't know anything about her!
When we first meet Mrs. Daly's son at the restaurant, he made a wonderful impression and it seemed the story would be great, but after that initial encounter, Eileen doesn't see him again until the end of the book. And I do mean the end. The very last sentence, to be exact.

Editorial Review:

A collection of four enchanting Irish myths by bestselling authors--Morgan Llywelyn, Susan Wiggs, Roberta Gellis, and Barbara Samuel--includes magical stories of warrior women, sorcery, lightning storms, and transcendent love from the oldest surviving prose in English literature. Original.