The Children of Gods and Fighting Men Audiobook By Shauna Lawless cover art

The Children of Gods and Fighting Men

Gael Song, Book 1

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The Children of Gods and Fighting Men

By: Shauna Lawless
Narrated by: Aoife McMahon
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The first in a gripping new historical fantasy series that intertwines Irish mythology with real-life history, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men is the thrilling debut novel by Shauna Lawless.

They think they've killed the last of us...

981 AD. The Viking King of Dublin is dead. His young widow, Gormflaith, has ambitions for her son – and herself – but Ireland is a dangerous place and kings tend not to stay kings for long. Gormflaith also has a secret. She is one of the Fomorians, an immortal race who can do fire-magic. She has kept her powers hidden at all costs, for there are other immortals in this world – like the Tuatha DE Danann, a race of warriors who are sworn to kill Fomorians.

FOdla is one of the Tuatha DE Danann with the gift of healing. Her kind dwell hidden in a fortress, forbidden to live amongst the mortals. FOdla agrees to help her kin by going to spy on Brian Boru, a powerful man who aims to be High King of Ireland. She finds a land on the brink of war – a war she is desperate to stop. However, preventing the loss of mortal lives is not easy with Ireland in turmoil and the Fomorians now on the rise...

'Highlander meets The Last Kingdom in this assured and captivating debut... I was hooked from page one.' Anthony Ryan

'Gripping and beautiful. A Celtic Last Kingdom with wild magic and fierce heroines.' Anna Smith Spark

'I really enjoyed the book. It's an excellent read.' Mark Lawrence

'A beguiling blend of fantasy, history, and politics. A gripping start to this series.' D.K. Fields

'A vividly written story that makes the ancient past feel contemporary.' Joseph O'Connor

'Rife with atmosphere and armies, magic and compelling characters, it swept me along and refused to be put down.' H.M. Long

'An epic historical fantasy that weaves myth and history into a sprawling tale of magic, intrigue, and war. Absorbing and richly detailed.' Ian Green

'With all the complex political machinations of A Song of Ice and Fire and the bloody battles of The Warlord Chronicles, it's ideal for fans of both.' Stephen Aryan

'An atmospheric journey into a thrilling historical fantasy world.' R.J. Barker

©2022 Shauna Lawless (P)2022 Head of Zeus Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Metaphysical & Visionary Royalty World Literature Warrior War Magic Suspenseful
Engaging Political Intrigue • Immersive Worldbuilding • Clear Annunciation • Beautiful Character Development
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Honestly, I bought this for my favorite narrator, but the story was really intriguing. I am glad I chose to listen instead of reading so I could hear the proper pronunciation of names and places. Well done! can't wait for the next.

Such a great listen!

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I loved it so much, it captivated me from the beginning. The story was gripping, world-building is immersive. This if my first time reading about Irish folklore and I absolutely love it. l'm excited to dive into the rest of the series! Great narration!!

What a great book, don't think twice!

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Great performance, subtlety crafted world, and deeply complex and sympathetic characters. Looking forward to the sequel.

A celtic knot of deception, ambition and survival.

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I found this book through a recommendation by one of my favorite authors and am so glad I bought it.
A wonderfully woven tale with beautiful character development and a well-paced story.
Warriors and kings, magic and lore, all wrapped up with surprising plot twists in warm, beautiful narration that took you straight to Ireland.

I just finished book two and am even more in love with this series.

Fantastic storyline and well written book

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The character development and storyline are wonderful. I can't say anything about historical accuracy or mythology-as a complete layman I found this book incredible and can't wait to start the next one.

So good!

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It was very well told, I’ve never read this type of story, I’m not sure if it’s for me, but altgough it was a complicated story I didn’t loose track of everything that was happening, a profesional performance from the narrators, if you like politics and this type of stories you will love this audio book

A good story

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It took a little bit ti get into but I enjoyed an Irish history tale spun into fantasy. Especially one told through the eyes of women. Will listen to the next one.

Good start to Irish series

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Aoife McMahon really did this wonderful book justice! I can’t wait for the next in the series!!

Incredible Performance

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Will listen again and can’t wait for the next installment would recommend to anyone who enjoys mythology and an excellent story with a narrator that knows the importance of clear and precise annunciation and clearly enjoys the story

Exceptional!

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This is going right to the top of my favorite books of 2025 without question! I have never read a book that I honestly wanted to root for everyone. At points I was questioning my own sanity "Am I rooting for the bad guy??". The characters and world felt so real. The author just drops you into the world and builds the world and character dynamics along the way. You follow two main POVs, both mature women, both mothers, and definitely not damsels in distress. The world building is flushed out, but not overdone, you can see the world without being bogged down by wordy descriptions. The actions of main characters are very clear to follow, while some side characters remain mysterious (I'm sure as intended). Ultimately, the first book lays out a world that asks: How far will a mother/woman go to protect her child, those she loves and their legacy and her secrets??

I will absolutely be continuing this series and the novellas and cannot wait until my order arrives with them in a couple weeks.

Reading Method: Immersion read, audio narration + physical book - Audio narration was infinity stars
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Narrative Style: First person, dual POV (Gormflaith and Fodla)
Pacing: Fast paced, and consistent, no slumps half-way.
Setting: Ireland 981-999 AD
Lore/World: Irish and Norse lore with Christianity
Political intrigue: Yes, Kingdom politics
Series: Yes, Book 1 of Trilogy

Favorite book and narration of 2025

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