The Land of the Living and the Dead (Gael Song)
The Land of the Living and the Dead is the third book in the Gael Song trilogy. I haven’t read the first two books, and wish I had, as the storyline of this finale builds on earlier events. However, Shauna Lawless has helpfully summarised the first two novels on her website.
The book is set in 11th-century Ireland and picks up the story eleven years after the end of the previous novel. Brian Boru is now High King of Ireland, but his hold on power is far from secure. Not only do the mortals, Irish and Viking, Christian and pagan, conspire against him, but two ancient magical races, the Fomorians and the Descendants, also compete for power, old enemies relentlessly seeking each other’s annihilation. As tensions rise, events move inexorably towards the Battle of Clontarf, the bloodiest fight on ancient Irish soil and the culmination of all the political manoeuvres and intrigues.
The setting, with its blend of history, mythology and fantasy, is skilfully evoked, while characters and relationships are sympathetically developed. Each chapter is narrated by a different character which, for me, created strong echoes of Game of Thrones, while the battle for the High Kingship has parallels with the fight for the Iron Throne. However, Lawless’s universe, while undeniably savage and brutal, ultimately suggests a life-affirming optimism that counters George R. R. Martin’s darker nihilism. In her world, love will always be more powerful than ambition, although the balance often feels heart-stoppingly precarious.
There is a strong narrative drive throughout the novel, and the final chapters build up to a well-handled climax of drama and surprise. It is certainly an engaging and absorbing read.
