BOOK TOUR | THE WORDS OF KINGS AND PROPHETS | SHAUNA LAWLESS

Another book tour for you this morning. This time it's The Words of Kings and Prophets by Shauna Lawless. I have to say thank you to Jade Gwilliam from Head of Zeus for inviting me on this tour.

The Words of Kings and Prophets is the much anticipated sequel in the Gael Song Trilogy

The sequel to the critically acclaimed The Children of Gods and Fighting Men, The Words of Kings and Prophets is the powerful new historical fantasy novel by Shauna Lawless.

Power fades but fire endures...

Ireland, 1000 AD. Clouds of war gather for mortals and immortals alike as the Irish kingdoms strive for supremacy.

Gormflaith, unhappy queen of Brian Boru, schemes to destroy the Descendants, sworn enemies of her Fomorian kind. As her plans take an unexpected turn, Gormflaith discovers her magic is more powerful than she ever realised - but at what cost?

Descendant healer Fódla dwells disguised in the mortal world, seeking to protect her young nephew - but the boy has secrets of his own. Fódla must do all in her power to keep him hidden from those who would use him for evil.

When a mysterious man comes to King Brian's court, his presence could spell disaster for both Gormflaith and Fódla - and for Ireland herself. For he is Tomas, an ambitious immortal - and he will do anything to see his plans become reality.

So, here we are with the second book in Shauna Lawless’s Gael Song Series. 

Using Irish history as its backdrop, the two books in the Gael Song trilogy tells the story of the Irish kings and the plight to unify the differing tribes and factions, but more importantly it's the tale of two women, Gormflaith (a member of a mystical race, The Fomorians, who is imbued with the mystical fires of her near extinct race) and Fodla (from the opposing Tuatha de Danaan, who also happens to be a healer).

The story picks up where The Children of Gods and Fighting Men left off. Gormflaith is now married to Brian Boru, High King of England. And similarly to the last book, her ambitions are her focus. For one, as a woman, she is not taken seriously and is expected to take her rightful place as a woman of the king. Except this is exactly the problem, because Gormflaith feels that she is destined for more in this world and she has to fight for every small victory that she makes, using whatever she thinks is useful, including her powers as a Fomorian and a woman. 

Fodla, on the other hand is continuing to discover the secrets of the leader of Tuatha de Danaan and her people. Attempting to find a safe place for her nephew to live she discovers that the truths that she has always been told are not as they seem. And discovering that the things she has always been told were a threat, are not as they seem. Whilst the people of Ireland may indeed have their faults, they are not as evil as she has been told. Obviously this causes her conflict.

So, as with The Children of Gods and Fighting, Shauna Lawless continues to immerse the reader in the politics, history and mythology of Ireland to tell an engrossing story of two women fighting against the confines of expectations to find their own path. 

I loved the two characters of Gormflaith and Fodla. However, for me, it is always Gormflatih that I like the best. Yes I know she’s not entirely the nicest of people, but I enjoy seeing her kicking against the structures that are imposed on her. She uses ruthlessness and cunning to get what she wants, and in this book, she is much harder. Much more willing to take power for herself and not trust what the fates decree for her. 

However Fodla is equally as strong, railing against the teachings of her people and trying to find her own world. She definitely has more confidence in this book and she seems to throw off the past and is carving out her own way. 

Besides the great characterisations of the two women, there is the added benefit of having all the other stuff which is really fascinating. There is an obvious love of the history and the mythology which shines through the narrative, which for me as a reader was equally as infectious and made me want to get a more in depth knowledge of the background on the history and mythology that are the building blocks of the story. 

I felt that whilst The Word of Kings and Prophets really expanded on the initial story, it also showed a growing confidence in Shauna Lawless’s abilities as a writer, and I really enjoyed The Words of Kings and Prophets, and found that it actually exceeded the first book with its synergy of history and fantasy.

About the Author

Shauna Lawless is an avid reader of Irish mythology and folklore. As an Irish woman, she loves that Irish mythology has inspired so many stories over the years, however, she wanted to explore the history and mythology of Ireland in a more authentic way. She lives in Northern Ireland with her family. Follow Shauna on twitter @shaunaLwrites, or on her blog at www.shaunalawless.com

The Words of Kings & Prophets is on sale now, published by

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