Circle and the Cross

This is an excellent historical fantasy from an underexplored period. Mor is an engaging writer who really knows his Celtic legends, and integrates them perfectly into a fantastic story. It makes you wish it really did happen this way.

Whenever you read a celtic fantasy you expect a certain prose style and plot - namely Tuathans, Danaans, earth mythology and ancient stones and trees. It all abounds here.There is a nice tendency these days for those writing of the early Dark Ages to begin with the waning influence of the Romans. In this case, it's a little later with the attempts of the Church in Rome to bring the pagan Irish underheel.As with most plots the relevant 'missonaries' turn out to be opportunistic zealots making use of the Cross to justify more barbarity than the supposed pagans themselves can demonstrate. It is a common theme, the apparent civiliser being more savage than the savage, but it works well in celtic fantasy.The story is simple enough, narrated by Mawn, the first of this trilogy deals with his callng by Gobann to become a wanderer - a celtic druid master - very Merlin - and his subsequent involvement in a war between the usurper (forgotten his name!) -who is driven by the evil Palladius - and the legitimate ArdRigh Leoghaire. Throw in a beautiful celtic druidess - Caitlin and her prince Murrough, make sure they are abducted by a bunch of truly barbaric Saxons led by Thegn Hanaar and a lackey evil Roman Seginus, have a glorious battle for a hill fort and the death of the great Rowen Tree and you have all the makings of a great celtic fantasy. There's the celtic 'magic' - usual dream wanderings filled with Ravens - and it all comes nicely together in a well crafted, well-plotted, well-characterised opening novel. I look forward to the next two.