The Children of Gods and Fighting Men

Gael Song, Book 1

De: Shauna Lawless

Narrado por: 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

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.

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!!

A celtic knot of deception, ambition and survival.

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

Fantastic storyline and well written book

I found this book through a recommendation by one of my favorite authors and am so glad I bought it.
A wonderfully woven tale with beautiful character development and a well-paced story.
Warriors and kings, magic and lore, all wrapped up with surprising plot twists in warm, beautiful narration that took you straight to Ireland.

I just finished book two and am even more in love with this series.

Mood Reading FTW!

This was truly a perfect March audio listen.

I wasn’t sure I was ready for Irish-historic-anything (because my bookish heart is deeply invested in the Exit Unicorn saga… which I *highly* recommend also), but Lawless was able to hook my attention quickly with sibling love. Oh, and what solid villain/grey character work at play here too- I’m nervous to see how they progress in this series.

I already pre-ordered book two, due out September 2023- because my curiosity is bursting at the seams to see what happens to Fódla and Murchad! Maybe a new favorite fictional couple on the horizon? *fingers crossed* (Oh, and I’m excited to see what happens to sweet Broccan, too!

Recommend to fans of Juliet Marillier, Genevieve Gornichec and Amy Harmon.

A good story

It was very well told, I’ve never read this type of story, I’m not sure if it’s for me, but altgough it was a complicated story I didn’t loose track of everything that was happening, a profesional performance from the narrators, if you like politics and this type of stories you will love this audio book

Incredible Performance

Aoife McMahon really did this wonderful book justice! I can’t wait for the next in the series!!

Exceptional!

Will listen again and can’t wait for the next installment would recommend to anyone who enjoys mythology and an excellent story with a narrator that knows the importance of clear and precise annunciation and clearly enjoys the story

Favorite book and narration of 2025

This is going right to the top of my favorite books of 2025 without question! I have never read a book that I honestly wanted to root for everyone. At points I was questioning my own sanity "Am I rooting for the bad guy??". The characters and world felt so real. The author just drops you into the world and builds the world and character dynamics along the way. You follow two main POVs, both mature women, both mothers, and definitely not damsels in distress. The world building is flushed out, but not overdone, you can see the world without being bogged down by wordy descriptions. The actions of main characters are very clear to follow, while some side characters remain mysterious (I'm sure as intended). Ultimately, the first book lays out a world that asks: How far will a mother/woman go to protect her child, those she loves and their legacy and her secrets??

I will absolutely be continuing this series and the novellas and cannot wait until my order arrives with them in a couple weeks.

Reading Method: Immersion read, audio narration + physical book - Audio narration was infinity stars
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Narrative Style: First person, dual POV (Gormflaith and Fodla)
Pacing: Fast paced, and consistent, no slumps half-way.
Setting: Ireland 981-999 AD
Lore/World: Irish and Norse lore with Christianity
Political intrigue: Yes, Kingdom politics
Series: Yes, Book 1 of Trilogy

Never boring

There was no point in the storyline where I was bored and could not wait for them to finish completing the buildup. It kept me guessing the entire time. Truly loved this book. I did not realize that it was a series until more than halfway through the book. Now I can’t wait to read the other three.