Red Branch - Morgan Llywelyn

   1989; 491 pages.  New Author? : No, but it’s been 9 years since I last read one of her novels.  Genre : Ancient Historical Fiction; Fantasy; Irish Legends.  Overall Rating : 8½*/10.

 

    Over the course of his life, he was known by several names.  As a boy growing up, he was called Setanta.  When he learning the skills of a warrior in the “Boy’s Troop” though, they started calling him Cuchulain.  When he became champion of the kingdom, even his foes called him the Hound of Ulster.

 

    His eyes were silver-colored, far different from the eyes of his father, Sualtim.  There were whispers that he was actually sired by someone else, perhaps even a god.  The only one who knows for sure is his mother, Dectara, and she refuses to talk about it.

 

    The druids have lots to say about him, though.  They have prophesied that he will quickly amass a legendary amount of fame and glory, both in battles on behalf of the kingdom of Ulster and in personal duels.  But it will come at a terrible cost – he is fated to die young.

 

    It says something about Cuchulain that he doesn’t see any downside to that prophecy.

 

What’s To Like...

    Morgan Llywelyn drew upon several ancient Irish legends to write Red Branch, in particular The Ulster Cycle and The Cattle Raid on Cooley.  You can read about both of these in Wikipedia; I was impressed by how closely this book stays true to those tales.  The title refers to the king of Ulster’s “personal band of warriors”, and they play a prominent part in the storyline.  But really this is the story of Cuchulain.

 

    The book is divided into two sections, which I’m pretty sure corresponds to the two legends.  Part 1 (pgs. 1-272), details Cuchulain’s early life, rise to fame and the shattering of the Red Branch.  Part 2 (pgs. 273-491) focuses on the rival kingdom of Connaught’s attempt to subjugate Ulster, using the pretext of stealing a prize bull currently residing in Ulster territory.

 

    I liked the balance of “natural vs. supernatural” in the story.  There’s a talking “battle raven” (aka “the Morrigan”) who at times both helps and hinders Cuchulain.  Curses can be cast that last for lifetimes, and magical weapons can be forged, such as the “Gae Bulga”, a spear that our hero acquires that will always hit its intended target.  The mythic “Tuatha de Danann” get blamed for various things here, although they don't actually show up in the storyline; and Cuchulain learns how to do the “Incredible Hulk” routine, which is aptly dubbed “The Rage”.  Still, this is the Age of Humans, the gods can influence but they will never again be numerous enough to outright rule mankind.

 

    There's a lot of neat interplay of mindsets between some of the male and female characters.  Ailell may be king of Connaught, but Maeve is the brains behind its strategic aims.  Cuchulain may be the hero of the book, but his wife usually has the keener insight about current events.  Deirdre may be Naisi’s significant other, but if he had listened to her regarding where to put down roots, he would’ve lived a lot longer.

 

    The ending is bittersweet with a neat little twist to the key prophecy.  It felt somewhat “telegraphed” to me, but I suspect it is constrained by having to conform to the original legend.  The last five pages are an Afterword, where Morgan Llywelyn discusses the “facts versus fiction” aspects of the story; I always like when authors do that.  Red Branch is a standalone story, and although not part of a formal series, it's one of several books by Morgan Llywelyn where she fictionalizes ancient Irish myths and lore.

 

Ratings…
    Amazon:  4.4/5 based on 76 ratings and 38 reviews.

    Goodreads: 4.21/5 based on 1,804 ratings and 75 reviews.

Kewlest New Word ...

Beeves (n., plural) : cows, bulls, or oxen fattened for their meat. (Singular = “beef”)

 

Excerpts...

    “Let me tell you something, my Hound from Ulster.  I am wise in ways beyond your princely education.  From my own experience during a long lifetime.  I have learned that the world you see with your eyes is only the thinnest of skins.  Beyond it lies the Otherworld.  This is a place of fixed forms., that one is a kingdom of fluid fire.  Creatures dwell there who are more aware of us than we are of them, for their vision is different.”  (pg. 152)

 

    “Now who will challenge Cuchulain and kill him for me?” she inquired.

    A man called Fraech mac Fidaig winked at Finavir and stepped forward.  “The champion of Ulster is as good as dead!” he promised.

    Leaving the group behind, he went out alone with all the weapons he could carry and began shouting at the distant hills.  “I challenge the champion to single combat!”

    Maeve collected nine additional warriors and told them to go after him in case he should need assistance; she wanted to be certain Cuchulain was slain.

    Ailell was appalled.  “That’s not the way it’s done, woman!  You dishonor us.  You don’t understand warfare.”

    Her face was set in hard lines.  “I understand winning.”  (loc. 350)

 

Coincidence is the tool the gods use to keep their workings anonymous.  (pg. 336)

    The quibbles are minor.  There is a “Phonetic Glossary” at the beginning, which tells the reader how to pronounce the names of the major characters correctly, but there’s a slew of people (plus a couple of gods) to keep track of, and it would’ve been nice to have a comprehensive Cast of Characters to supplement this.

 

    I don’t recall any cusswords in the text, but there were several fairly explicit rolls-in-the-hay, as well as references to parts of the male genitalia and things that can be done with them.

 

    Finally, and sadly, the dog dies.  Then the pig dies.  Then another dog dies, this time at the hands of our hero.  Then the horse dies.  Lassie and Timmy would be crying.

 

    But I pick at nits.  For me, Red Branch was yet another enlightening and enjoyable story by Morgan Llywelyn; this is my fourth book by her, and I’ve yet to be disappointed in anything she’s written.  Now I need to hit the used-book stores and see if I can find another one of her highly-regarded novels, Grania.

 

    8½ Stars.  One last thing.  The game of chess crops up several times in the story, and Cuchulain is said to be quite good at it.  I’m a lifelong chess player, so this resonated with me, but I have to wonder how accurate it is to have it being played in, say, the first century AD in isolated Ireland.  Chess is generally believed to have originated in Asia, and not reaching western Europe until the 9^th century AD or so.  Just saying.

Finn Mac Cool - Morgan Llywelyn

   1994; 528 pages.  New Author? : No.    Genre : Historical Fiction.  Overall Rating : 10*/10.

   Finn Mac Cool is a mythical warrior in pre-Christian Ireland. You can read the Wikipedia article about him here.  Legendary he may be, but stories such as his often arise from historical events and real people.

    But how do they “grow” into larger-than-life characters?  In Finn Mac Cool, Morgan Llywelyn weaves a fascinating hypothesis about how just such a thing might have come about.

What’s To Like...

     As always, Morgan Llywelyn’s writing is breathtaking and the characters are all richly three-dimensional, “gray”, and continue to develop as the story progresses.  There are unexpected plot twists, despite the author having to stay within the confines of the established legends.  There is Romance, Action, Drama, History, and perhaps even a bit of Magic courtesy of the Tuatha de Danann.  So no matter what genre you’re in the mood for, you’ll likely to find it here.

The book explores numerous themes, some of which are :

    How history can evolve into legends.

    Heroes grow old, and so do kings.

    Compensation (think ‘karma’) can be brutal.

    A caste system can be brutal as well.

    Oaths and duty are sacred obligations.

    The ending is both logical and surprising, and I found myself constantly changing my guess as to how Finn’s relationships with Goll, Cormac, and Oisin would be resolved.  Celtic Ireland is beautifully portrayed, and my only quibble is with the mention of chess.  Sorry, Ms. Llywelyn; chess came out of ancient Persia, and would not have spread this far by Finn’s time.

Kewlest New Word. . .

Coibche (n.)  :   the bride-price a man had to pay to a woman for the right to marry her.

Excerpts...

    The thudding sound was not so muffled now.  Accompanied by a curious hiss and slap, it echoed along the waterway.

    “Did you ever hear anything like that before?” Finn asked Goll.

    “Never.  Be ready; it could be danger.”

    Finn grinned.  “Is that a promise?”  (pg. 64)

    “His are splendid tales for telling around a campfire, but I cannot vouch for their accuracy, and our children’s children might not be well served if the more outrageous stories were made part of our history.”

    The chief historian,  a thin-legged, round-bellied man with a prodigious memory, found this an astonishing conversation.  “Are you telling me Finn Mac Cool would lie about the achievements of himself and the Fianna?”

    “He would not lie, I think.  But he . . . adds colour.  A great deal of colour.”  (pg. 342)

 “Finn doesn’t know how to talk to a woman.  His mother was a deer.”  (pg. 102)

    As a piece of historical fiction, Finn Mac Cool is superb   There are a couple 'adult situations', but that’s in keeping with the times.  Finn and his band of warriors are mighty and brave, and the women here are strong as well.

    This is my third Morgan Llywelyn novel.  The other two are reviewed here and here.  Each one has been a literary delight, and Red Branch is sitting on my TBR shelf.

    10 Stars.  Add 1 star if . . . well, 10 Stars is as high as we go here.  Highly Recommended.

The Greener Shore - Morgan Llywelyn

2007; 301 pages.  New Author? : No.  Sequel to "Druids", reviewed here.  Genre  :  Historical Fantasy.  Overall Rating : 9½*/10.

    Thoroughly defeated by Julius Caesar's Roman legions, the druid Ainvar flees Gaul with the pitiful remnant of his tribe - about 20 people total.  Albion (England) is out of the question; Caesar has conquered it as well.  But Hibernia (Ireland) is ideal - there are Celts and Druids there.  And no Romans.

    But these are not the same Celts as were in Gaul.  Nor the same Druids.  Will Ainvar and his band survive?  Will they fit in?  Should they retain their lore?  Their customs?  And will the Romans come one day to subjugate Hibernia?

What's To Like...
    First and foremost, The Greener Shore is historical fiction.  There really were Celts in Ireland in Roman times.  And since we know almost nothing about Druids (and what little we do know comes from the Romans, who hated them), Morgan Llywelyn is given free rein to weave a marvelous-yet-believable Gaelic world in Hibernia.

    But TGS is also a personal saga.  The Roman victory in Gaul has left Ainvar bitter, full of hatred towards Caesar, and with no faith in Druidism anymore.  Not surprisingly, he finds he has lost his powers as a result.

    Finally, there is a fantasy elment to TGS.  There is the mystical relationship between the Druids and Mother Earth.  And there are also the "little people", who were living in Ireland before the Celts arrived.  The Celts call them the Tuatha de Danann, and they are forgotten now.  But are they really gone?

Kewlest New Word...
Murmuration : The "group" term for starlings.  Like a gaggle of geese, a pod of whales, a school of fish, a sneak of weasels, etc.

Excerpts...
    "What else does the chief druid do?"
    Fiachu gave me a blank look.  "What else is there?"
    "Well, what are the functions of your other druids?"
    "They interpret omens."
    "Is that all?"
    What else is there?" he repeated.
    What else indeed.
    My thoughts ran back to Gaul.  Druids whispering to seeds in the frozen earth so they would burst forth in the springing time.  Druids lighting the fires that called back the sun from the kingdoms of ice.  Druids recalling the past and foreseeing the future  Druids supervising birth and burial.  Druids keeping the dead and the living in harmony with each other, with the Earth, with the Otherworld.  The whole complex structure of druidry that had been so elaborately interwoven to cherish the creation of the Source.
    Gone.  (pg. 71)

    "You seem genuinely fond of Labraid," I remarked to the Roman.  "I'm glad for his sake, yet puzzled, too.  He's not a very likable man."
    Probus chuckled.  "I was born old and Labraid will never grow up.  The symmetry appeals to me."  (pg. 287)

"Druidry is inclusion, not exclusion.  To be druid means to be part of, not apart from."  (pg. 118)
    If you don't care about history in general and druids in particular, you might find The Greener Shore a bit slow.  Unlike the first book, Druids, there isn't any fighting to be found here.  Also, this isn't a stand-alone novel.

    But for me, this book was a thorough delight.  Morgan Llywelyn is a superb writer; the storyline and ending are skillfully crafted; and the subject material is something that interests me greatly.  The author has written a slew of other novels about historical Ireland, and I look forward to reading more of them.  9½ Stars.

Druids - Morgan Llywelyn

1991; 400 pages.  Genre : Historical Fiction; Historical Fantasy.  New Author? : Yes.  Overall Rating : 9*/10.

    Life is good for our hero, Ainvar.  He is the Chief Druid for all of Gaul.  He has the most talent for magic seen in many generations.  Kings and warriors listen carefully to his counsel.  He is the soul-brother of the famed Vercingetorix.  And he gets to practice sex magic with all sorts of women.

    But there is a black cloud on the horizon.  It wears a red cloak and is named Gaius Julius Caesar.  It doesn't take a ballista-scientist to divine his aims.  To subjugate all the Gallic tribes.  And exterminate the Druids.

What's To Like...
    The characters are well-developed.  The women characters are just as strong as the men.  Indeed, some even join the front ranks of the battles.  The historical portions (Vercingetorix's struggles against the Romans) are accurately detailed.

   Historically, very little is known about the Druids themselves, and most of it comes from the biased Romans.  So Morgan Llwelyn has free rein to develop a believable druidic system.  She's creatively superb at that, and it's when she's detailing the spells, propheecies, out-of-body erperiences, etc. that the fantasy part of the novel arises.  That's okay though, cuz New Age (so-called) Druids will eat it up.

    The magic is potent, but not all-powerful.  I'll put up with the sex magic, although the idea of a promiscuous priesthood seems a bit far-fetched.  And I'm okay with the uneven subject treatment (the Gauls wear the white hats; the Romans wear the black ones).  If you want to cheer for the Romans, go read Caesar's Gallic Commentaries.

Kewlest New Word...
Vates : Soothsayers; bards; prophets; poets.  Usually refers to Celtic practitioners of these arts.

Excerpts...
    If I could only reach the grove I thought, in my panic, that I would be safe.  The grove was sacred, everyone knew that.  Even the animals of the forest were said to revere it; surely the wolves would not kill me there.
    Surely.
    At fifteen, one believes any amount of nonsense.  (pg. 8)

    The chief druid never made an awkward gesture, even when he scratched himself.  Every movement was fluid, celebrating the ability to move.
    I was so impressed, I even believed he farted musically.  (pg. 23)

    "Don't waste your effort on smoke and sacrifice, Ainvar," he said harshly.  "We're winning through our own strength, not because of some dubious druid magic."
    Winners, my head observed, believe they succeed on their own merit.  It is only losers who require gods to blame.   (pgs. 341-42)

Death is a cobweb we brush through; not the last thing but the least thing.  (pg. 153)
    Druids is a nice blend of history and fantasy.  It is to Morgan Llywelyn's credit that neither overwhelms the other.  The writing is well-done and the pacing is good.  But this is also a tragic tale. 
The outcome is inevitable.  "Veni, vidi, vici."

    The ending is therefore sad, but not maudlin.  The Romans win; the Gauls are conquered; the Druids are scattered; and Ainvar is forced to flee for his life.  That may seem like a major downer, but be of good cheer.  There is a sequel.  9 Stars.