Shauna Lawless

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 Dé Danann, a race of warriors who are sworn to kill Fomorians. Fódla is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann with the gift of healing. Her kind dwell hidden in a fortress, forbidden to live amongst the mortals. Fódla 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...

The sequel to the critically acclaimed The Children of Gods and Fighting Men, The Words of Kings and Prophets is the powerful new historical fantasy novel by Shauna Lawless. Ireland, 1000 AD. Gormflaith is unhappily married to Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, and although a queen she struggles with her limited position. As an immortal Fomorian with the secret gift of magic, Gormflaith has a burning desire: to find and destroy the hidden fortress of her sworn enemies, the Descendants, who seek to kill her kind at all costs. She begins to use her magical powers, and discovers she is more skilled than she ever realised... but can she control what she will become? Meanwhile Fódla, the Descendants' healer, mourns her banished sister but clings to life as the guardian of her young nephew. She seeks a place of safety for them both, but he has secrets of his own that could threaten everything – and Fódla must do all in her power to keep him hidden away from those who would use him for evil. When a mysterious man comes to King Brian's court, his presence could spell disaster or deliverance for both Gormflaith and Fódla – and for Ireland herself. For he is Tomas, an ambitious immortal with few scruples – and he will do anything to see his plans become reality. Soon, mortals and immortals alike are drawn towards a bitter conflict that could decide the future of Ireland and all her people.

The old world will die in flames…Ireland, 1011 AD. Brian Boru is now High King of Ireland. His queen, Gormflaith, instructs their young son in his heritage - but only on his mother's side. For Gormflaith, an immortal Fomorian skilled in fire-magic, intends to finally defeat the Fomorians' hated foes, the Descendants, and establish control over Ireland. And if King Brian stands in her way, so much the worse for him…Fódla, the Descendants' spy in King Brian's camp, treads a wary path. She must protect her magically powerful young nephew from their leader, Tomas, who will do anything to achieve his aim of the Descendants returning to the mortal world and ruling Ireland. And Fódla is on dangerous ground, for she has broken one of the sacred rules of the she has fallen in love with a mortal.As the schemes of Gormflaith and Tomas come to fruition, the only possible outcome is war. Ireland has bled red and often… but the coming clash will be a battle for the ages. Strange alliances will form, old defences will fail, and the land will never be the same again.Reviewers on Shauna Lawless' Gael Song series'Lawless blends fantasy with historical fiction to great effect.' SFX'Lawless's writing is absolutely luminous.' Irish Independent'Swept me along and refused to be put down.' H.M. Long

A tale of magic, power and heartbreak set in the tumultuous world of medieval Ireland, Dreams of Sorrow is the powerful second novella in Shauna Lawless's Gael Song series.Senna is fifteen and deeply in love. When a traumatic event leads to her unleashing powers she never knew she had, she learns her true her grandmother was a witch and a Descendant of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the legendary former rulers of Ireland. But such gifts are hard to control, and Senna's abilities mean that she might forever lose her place in the mortal world.When she encounters other Descendants with similar powers, things start to look brighter. Anaile, old and wise, can help guide her path. Tomas, deeply ambitious, reveals the truth behind many strange mysteries. And Gobnat, a vivacious young witch, shows Senna how to control her magic.But torn between a mortal existence and a magical one, Senna must make a decision that will shape her life... in more ways than she could ever expect.

The immortals of Ireland renew their ancient warfare as the new generations come to terms with their place in the world. Part of Shauna Lawless's critically acclaimed Gael Song series, Dreams of Fire introduces medieval Ireland as it was a century before The Children of Gods and Fighting Men. Rónnat and Fódla are Descendants of the Tuatha Dé Danann. They live a peaceful life with their aged warrior father in the north of Ireland. The Fomorians – age-old enemies of their kind – are thought to be battle-vanquished, for no conflict has been fought between their immortal races for generations. But rumours of war and endless shifting allegiances mean that the Descendants' position is not secure in the mortal world. There are powerful voices among the Descendants who want their kind to dwell permanently in strongholds hidden from mortals – threatening Rónnat's love of freedom. And the Fomorians, though greatly reduced in number, are far from vanquished. Led by their mighty prince, Balorach, the remaining Fomorians, with their gift of fire-magic, seek to destroy the Descendants. The Descendants have the advantage of their own magical powers, and mighty warriors defend them... but if they cannot be beaten, why do the voices Rónnat hears on the wind speak of death and destruction?

A young Irish prince must forge his own path in a land of war and magic. Part of Shauna Lawless's critically acclaimed Gael Song fantasy series set in medieval Ireland. Murchad is born into one of the royal families of Munster. His uncle is king, and his father is the mighty warrior Brian Boru, who is often away fighting to keep their borders safe. When he is still a boy, Murchad's world is torn apart when Viking raiders assail his homeland. Having witnessed the carnage, Murchad grows up in a whirl of conflict, as thoughts of vengeance and rage mingle with his desire for peace. In an Ireland where strength of arms or weight of gold convey the ultimate power, can Murchad tread his own path, or will he be destroyed by the weight of expectations in a world caught between a legendary past and a dangerous future?Reviews for the Gael Song series'Lawless blends fantasy with historical fiction to great effect' SFX'Lawless's writing is absolutely luminous' Irish Independent'Swept me along and refused to be put down' H.M. Long'A Celtic Last Kingdom with wild magic and fierce heroines' Anna Smith Spark'An excellent read' Mark Lawrence