Knockabeg: A Famine Tale

Mary Lyons crafts an enjoyable fantasy, rather unlike any I've read before, mixing history and fantasy in a manner that's very appealing, especially to the Celtophile. Knockabeg is suffering a terrible blight on the potatoes - but this is not caused by a disease or insect, but a curse by the Nuckelavees. Soon after, the queen of the fairies known as the "Trooping Ones" declares war on the Nuckelavees, and the fate of the little Irish village lies in the outcome. The only one not fighting is Sticky. Sticky is a rather eccentric fairy, a member of the Council and now is assigned a young human boy named Eamon. But Sticky defies orders for reasons not yet known to the reader. Secrets and lessons are revealed as the book reaches the climactic battle between the faeries and the Nuckelavees. I've always been a sucker for Celtic-themed fantasies like "Hounds of the Morrigan," "The Stones Are Hatching," "Hero's Song," and "Riddle of Roses," and this one fits neatly into the same kind of niche. We are given a plausible place for a curse: potato famines, and an excellent portrayal of life during those famines. Sticky (despite the name) is a a good character with depth and mystery, though I found her less sympathetic than Eamon. Eamon is a really delightful hero, who captures the sympathy and does not let it go; the scene in the fairy world where he encounters a group of very special people was touching and beautiful to think of. The fairy world itself is one that I liked reading about, three dimensional and populated with interesting details that will probably get the attention of the reader. The prose is a little spare in parts, but overall a nice read. If you're into Celtic fantasy, be sure to pick up this book...