Customer Reviews

Daughter of Ireland

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While searching through the romance novel section at the Book Store, I came across a book that made me say, "Oooh...". Daughter of Ireland first caught my attention because of the pretty cover (Yes, I'm one of those people who firmly disagrees with the statement, "You can't judge a book by its cover.") Then, I noticed the title had the word "Ireland" in it, which prompted me to read the back cover of the book. After doing so, I just had to buy it. However, was it all I was hoping it to be? Not quite.
Set in about 250 AD, when Cormac Mac Art ruled as high king of Ireland and the country was protected the Fianna, the fierce and legendary army of Ireland led by Fionn Mac Cumhail, the plot of the story is of the intertwining fates of Aislinn ni Sorar and Eoghan Mac Aiden and the forces of darkness that could tear them apart. Aislinn is a druid priestess, loved and well respected throughout all of Eire; Eoghan is a warrior-poet of the Ard-ri (high king) and also a member of the Fianna. Eoghan's father killed Aislinn's father in a battle game when she was but five years old. Her mother took a death-fast, meaning that she was entombed alive with her dead husband and eventually starved to death. However, before she took her death-fast, she sent for Eoghan, who was seventeen at the time, and told him to take Aislinn to the druid Aodhfin the Wise to keep her safe from Banbh, a dark druid who pledged his allegiance to Morigu, the goddess of battle, death, and war. Aodhfin trained Aislinn in the druii ways, then sent her on a journey with only a cryptic chant to guide her: "From the place of darkness will come a child to light your journey. To the place of fire will come a man bearing fire for the body and the mind. Between darkness and light, you are the still point." Aislinn must figure out the meaning behind Aodhfin's riddle in order to become completely safe from the darkness and have true happiness.
Confusing? Maybe a little. The book is wonderful until about three-fourths of the way through, when the story begins to jump ahead six months to five years at a time. To me, it appears as though Juilene Osbourne-McKnight tired of writing and just wanted to end the book quickly.
However, Osborne-McKnight didn't just make up characters and a story off the top of her head. The story is remarkably believable, for it is very evident she did her research on ancient Ireland before writing this book. She used real people as her characters and real events to shape the plot of the book. Her descriptions of druii rituals and observations of their holidays are absolutely splendid. She took the time to conquer the tideous tasks of translating old Gaelic words and phrases into English and finding the pronunciation of nearly every name that appeared in the book. There is even a glossary at the end of the book for reference, as well as the bibliography of books she used for research.
The character descriptions are excellent, right down to the tiniest detail. Osborne-McKnight made it seem as though I had jumped into one of the character's heads; I could almost feel what they were thinking. The physical descriptions were wonderful, too. The way they wore their hair, the druii robes and clothing, the colors each clan wore...positively wonderful. It really made me wish I had been alive at that period in history, for I know I would have loved it.
Do you like historical romance novels? Are you interested in the Old ways and the religion of the Others? Are you enthralled by the constant battle between good and evil, light and dark? If so, then you definitely need to read this book.

Very vivid plot and description, I FELT as if I was there! For anyone who loves magick, Ireland, Druids, etc you will LOVE this book! I can't wait to find more from the author!

I just finished reading this book and I loved it! Ancient Ireland is not a setting which is found in a lot of books and I found the tale very interesting. I really felt like I could picture virtually every aspect of the story while I was reading it.

The female version of the legacy of St. Patrick who drove the snakes out of Ireland ... and converted pagan celts into Christians. The spirit of the one true God heralds itself on the Emerald Isle and one woman's role in lighting the way.

Although this is a decent book, I was disappointed after reading Osborne-McKnight's I Am Of Irelaunde and Bright Sword of Ireland. The characters in her other books are less stereotyped, and I loved her work with the stories of the Hound of Ulster and St. Patrick. This book fits more into the romance category, while the others had real depth and innovation.