Chronicling the legendary exploits of Cuchulain, a boy of mysterious, magical parentage, a fosterling of King Conor, Llywelyn conveys the rage and strength that earn him the sobriquet "The Wolfhound of Cullen"Cuchulain. In recreating the life and times of Cuchulain, legendary warrior of the bardic era, Llywelyn works a massive canvas, peopling it with larger-than-life characters, yet shaping them with intimate insights, as she did so effectively in the earlier book on Brian Boru, Erin's first ruler. What's more, it's perfect if forced marches are your thing.The rich trove of the Red Branch literature, the heroic Irish tales known as the Ulster Cycle, is mined creatively by the author of the bestseller Lion of Ireland. All this and harquebuses, not to mention Gaelophilia. The chieftain's antique aunt and uncle snip at each other lovingly a cavalry man who's had to give up his horse turns traitor a young couple falls in love while keeping warm under a hide and we learn exactly why Donal Cam joined the revolt against the English-apparently, his bastard son got skewered by an enemy soldier.
His famished, ragtag group of a thousand refugees, camp followers, clansmen, and soldiers diminishes to almost nothing by the time they reach safe harbor at O'Rourke Castle, and along the way there are dribbles of soap opera as well, just to keep the human interest going. In fact, the jig is already up by the time the story here begins, since it follows Donal Cam's disastrous flight across Munster, Connacht, and Leitrim after the British victory.
But this novel is a paean to the last chieftain, Donal Cam, The O'Sullivan, who tried to stand up to the British under Elizabeth I. As Llywelyn makes clear, the Gaelic people of Ireland spent (and, some would say, are still spending) centuries in combat with aggressors like the Vikings and Normans.
And a cruel winter it is, following the sad defeat of Gaelic nationals at the Battle of Kinsale. The latest historical by Irish bard Llywelyn (Red Branch, Druids, etc.) kicks off in the winter of 1602-03.
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