The Children of Gods and Fighting Men

Gael Song, Book 1

By: Shauna Lawless

Narrated by: Aoife McMahon

The first in a gripping new historical fantasy series that intertwines Irish mythology with real-life history, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men is the thrilling debut novel by Shauna Lawless.

They think they've killed the last of us...

981 AD. The Viking King of Dublin is dead. His young widow, Gormflaith, has ambitions for her son – and herself – but Ireland is a dangerous place and kings tend not to stay kings for long. Gormflaith also has a secret. She is one of the Fomorians, an immortal race who can do fire-magic. She has kept her powers hidden at all costs, for there are other immortals in this world – like the Tuatha DE Danann, a race of warriors who are sworn to kill Fomorians.

FOdla is one of the Tuatha DE Danann with the gift of healing. Her kind dwell hidden in a fortress, forbidden to live amongst the mortals. FOdla agrees to help her kin by going to spy on Brian Boru, a powerful man who aims to be High King of Ireland. She finds a land on the brink of war – a war she is desperate to stop. However, preventing the loss of mortal lives is not easy with Ireland in turmoil and the Fomorians now on the rise...

'Highlander meets The Last Kingdom in this assured and captivating debut... I was hooked from page one.' Anthony Ryan

'Gripping and beautiful. A Celtic Last Kingdom with wild magic and fierce heroines.' Anna Smith Spark

'I really enjoyed the book. It's an excellent read.' Mark Lawrence

'A beguiling blend of fantasy, history, and politics. A gripping start to this series.' D.K. Fields

'A vividly written story that makes the ancient past feel contemporary.' Joseph O'Connor

'Rife with atmosphere and armies, magic and compelling characters, it swept me along and refused to be put down.' H.M. Long

'An epic historical fantasy that weaves myth and history into a sprawling tale of magic, intrigue, and war. Absorbing and richly detailed.' Ian Green

'With all the complex political machinations of A Song of Ice and Fire and the bloody battles of The Warlord Chronicles, it's ideal for fans of both.' Stephen Aryan

'An atmospheric journey into a thrilling historical fantasy world.' R.J. Barker

©2022 Shauna Lawless (P)2022 Head of Zeus

What a great book, don't think twice!

I loved it so much, it captivated me from the beginning. The story was gripping, world-building is immersive. This if my first time reading about Irish folklore and I absolutely love it. l'm excited to dive into the rest of the series! Great narration!!

Such a great listen!

Honestly, I bought this for my favorite narrator, but the story was really intriguing. I am glad I chose to listen instead of reading so I could hear the proper pronunciation of names and places. Well done! can't wait for the next.

A celtic knot of deception, ambition and survival.

Great performance, subtlety crafted world, and deeply complex and sympathetic characters. Looking forward to the sequel.

Aiofe McMahon’s Narration Elevates the Extraordinary Story

The emotionality and clarity that Aiofe adds to this story is a force to be reckoned with. This story is already incredible, keeping you gripped with each twist and turn and Aiofe’s performance perfectly encapsulates the story (and allows for old Irish and Viking name pronunciation to be accessible).

Great character development and voice acting!

This was so good and the voice acting was top notch! Excited for the next book in the series!