If you enjoy fast-paced fantasy novels featuring new adult characters trying to find their way in the world, then Realm of Lore and Lies by Claire Wright may be the book you have been waiting for.
Alternating between the limited omniscient perspectives of Aisling (Ash), Tiernan, Setana, and Maebh, the novel tells the story of the Fianna, a group of traveling clans living in 21st century Ireland who have inherited Faerie Sight which allows them to see through the glamour of the Fair Ones. The novel opens with Ash, a young woman who was destined to be the matriarch of her clan before leaving her people to pursue a degree in archaeology. When Ash finds the dead body of her mother in an ancient tomb, she is forced back to the world of the Fianna to complete her mother’s quest and solve her murder.
The tone and style of the novel is designed to appeal to new adults, and it does fulfill this objective. The focus rotates quickly between the misfit characters, the language is casual, and plot is emphasized over characterization. The novel is the first in a series, so the conclusion prepares readers for more rather than bringing full closure to the narrative.
My favorite part about the book is the use of Irish history, spirituality, and lore. Readers will learn about Puca, Changelings, Will O’ The Wisps, Banshees, the Tuatha De Danann, and Tir na nOg. The lore was more interesting to me than the plot, but overall, the book is a fun read that will leave you contemplating the way you define your family, your clan, and your home.
You can purchase the book HERE.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Kelly Jarvis teaches classes in literature, writing, and fairy tale at Central Connecticut State University, The University of Connecticut, and Tunxis Community College. She lives, happily ever after, with her husband and three sons in a house filled with fairy tale books. She is also The Fairy Tale Magazine's special project’s writer.
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