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A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas
4.6
The Words of Kings and Prophets: an epic fantasy novel based on Irish history, myth and legend (Gael Song)
by Shauna Lawless
Published Sep 14, 2023
About this book
In the war-torn landscape of medieval Ireland, the fates of mortals and immortals collide as ancient power struggles threaten to reshape the kingdom. Gormflaith, a Fomorian queen trapped in a political marriage to King Brian Boru, navigates a treacherous court while harboring a secret, burgeoning magic that promises both liberation and destruction. Her singular focus on eradicating her enemies, the Descendants, leads her down a path of perilous ambition.
Meanwhile, the healer Fódla lives in the shadows, desperate to shield her young nephew from those who would exploit his hidden nature. As she maneuvers through the mortal realm, the arrival of Tomas, a cunning and ruthless immortal, threatens to unravel the delicate balance of power. His arrival at court acts as a catalyst, pulling Gormflaith and Fódla toward an inevitable confrontation.
Against a backdrop of shifting loyalties and historical upheaval, the lines between legend and reality blur. With the survival of their people—and the future of Ireland—at stake, Gormflaith and Fódla must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice for power, protection, and the dangerous truth behind the words of kings and prophets.
Available Formats
Paperback: $16.99 Kindle: $8.99
What readers are saying
MainerGreat book in a wonderful series!
"The second book in the Gael Song series is even better than the first. The Children of Gods and Fighting Men has been lauded, justly so, in my opinion. I devoured the sequel, immersed in the troubles of the Tuatha de Danann, the Fomorians, and the Irish kings. The book is told from several points of view, and each character has conflicting agendas with the others. The author has done an excellent job weaving in plenty of fantasy and folklore with Irish history. Almost all the characters come from Irish history, whether Irish or Viking, or from Celtic myths. The Fomorians and Tuatha de Danann have been at war for centuries. The Tuatha de Danann, or Descendants, chose to retreat from the world of men to an island fortress and only occasionally intermix. The Fomorians are hidden in plain sight, ruling as kings and queens. The various Irish kings ally and fight with each other, but the central king is Brian Boru and his family. Schemes and politics abound as each faction tries to win supremacy with magic and warfare. The old religions vie with Christianity. Characters have conflicting loyalties that sometimes change in an instant. Knowing the history, I cannot wait for the last book of the series and see how the author resolves all this. I'm rooting for my favorite characters, but anything could happen. ["
September 17, 2023 Verified Purchase
openmypagesThe Words of Kings and Prophets
"Thanks to the Head of Zeus for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own. This is book two in the epic series of Ireland in the days of Brian Boru and it tells us about the impact of the magical Fomorians who are dying off but trying to bring the country to peace and a place where their people can thrive. Book 1 was fabulous weaving together real history and mythology. In this story, Fodla and her nephew are trying to find a place of safety while Gormflaith is still with the King. Each is trying to survive and influence. Enter Tomas trying to reunite the magical relics of his people to claim power. I loved the depth of the character exploration as the powers become consolidated. There are no major battles in this one but there is building to challenge the Vikings and perhaps fight one another. Can't wait for Book 3! If you're a fan of Follett's Kingsbirdge series and can tolerate a little magic, check this series out! ["
December 4, 2024
Faythe GlennA Fantastic Read
"This is a historical fiction fantasy novel, the second in the Gael Song Series. As I stated in my review of the first novel in the series, fantasy is not a genre that I frequently read. However, I did enjoy this novel. This second novel explained some of the things that I did not understand in the first novel. Ms. Lawless skillfully weaves historical facts with fiction/fantasy. Unforgettable characters and a compelling storyline pull you into the story. I was completely engrossed in this novel. Kudos to Lawless. This is a fantastic read. Now, I am on to the third in the series. Happy Reading! ["
July 28, 2025 Verified Purchase
NitaGreat story
"I love the Irish history interwoven with magical elements. This was a great continuation of the series. ["
November 8, 2023
