The Oak and the Eagles: Book 1 of the Calgach Scéla
Calgach is an Irish prince and grandson of Scotland’s ruler, and his life and trials unfold through an aged Calgach’s reminiscing and through Padar the monk, who recounts the words of other people from Calgach’s past. As the tale begins, readers learn the Roman threat is growing. With Boudicca defeated, Rome’s influence is steadily advancing toward Calgach’s homeland.
With a sharp attention to historical details and customs of the first-century Celts, Tooban creates a vivid landscape. The book’s map traces Calgach’s journeys across land and sea, immersing readers in the story’s geography. Calgach is gifted with foresight and has the occasional mystical brush with the supernatural, which affirms to the clans his exceptional abilities and highlights for readers his unique role in the narrative.
The story features a large cast, which at times can make it challenging to follow the unfolding events as various political factions begin to clash. The character list provided at the beginning offers basic details—mainly family ties and house affiliations—without fully clarifying each character’s influence in Calgach’s life. However, Tooban’s principal characters are skillfully developed and colored with varying shades of gray, portraying them as people with complex motivations who are occasionally at odds with our main character’s journey.
Chapters set in the past unfold in first person while the aged Calgach/Monk Padar sections are in third person. Each voice Padar speaks for effectively paints the broader picture to Calgach’s adventures. Calgach’s coming-of-age tale suggests a greater destiny yet to be realized. His experiences throughout the narrative test both his abilities and intellect, setting the stage for what appears to be a forthcoming sequel where he will likely face the looming Roman threat encroaching upon his way of life. This reimagined historical story captivates with its distinct characters and its richly detailed setting.
