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Summary: The history of Erin was waiting for Morgan to tell.
Review: All I can say about Morgan Llywelyn is that she envolves you in the lives of these great men and women of the Celtic tribes. I have read all of her books and the only one I can say didn't grip me was Elementals. Other than that the greatest complent I can pay her is that "I am not a pack rat, but I will never part with her books"
Rating:
Summary: The history of Erin was waiting for Morgan to tell.
Review: All I can say about Morgan Llywelyn is that she envolves you in the lives of these great men and women of the Celtic tribes. I have read all of her books and the only one I can say didn't grip me was Elementals. Other than that the greatest complent I can pay her is that "I am not a pack rat, but I will never part with her books"
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Summary: The Hound of Ulster Rocks!
Review: I absolutely loved this book. Before picking it up I knew absolutely nothing about the story of Cuchulain, the legendary Hound of Ulster. I found myself enthralled by the story, the characters, the myth, and the setting of this novel from page one. This was the second of Ms. Llywelyn's novels that I'd read -- Lion of Ireland being the first -- and I think it's ranks as one of her best. By the end of the novel, even though you know that it cannot end well, you've become invested in the characters and it's sad when it finally ends. The novel has a lot to say about love and war, what motivates men (and women), and a curious historical tie-in to the modern troubles of Ireland. A great read for anyone interested in ancient Ireland's legendary past.
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Summary: Bored, dull life, THEN Read this....
Review: I have not read a book yet that Morgan Llywelyn has not done an outstanding job on, but when it comes to a real bardic piece of literature combined with the legends of the past, Red Branch excels. I have read the stories in other places, such as The Story of the Irish Race by Seumas MacManus, and passed over them as just another piece of literature. When I read the Red Branch it was transformed into a vibrant, living, pulsating story that wrenched emotion after emotion from the core of your being. It took Setanta, as a boy, and gave his passage into manhood a glorious path, that only when young would you feel so invulnerable, all for the sake of a short but long rembered life. Written for her son, I think she far exceeded anything she has done to date, in his honor.
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Summary: Ever wonder why your Irish Wife loves to fight?
Review: I love this book, I read it as a beginning of a diversity search... We have all this diverse cultural stuff thrown at us in the workplace in this age of political correctness, so I read some of Ms. Llywelyn's novels, to see where my family comes from. Boy did I get a better understanding of my wife! All that aside, this is a fascinating telling of one of Celtic Mythologies most exciting tales.
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Summary: The best of Llywelyn's books by far --
Review: I read "Druids" after reading about 6 other of Llywelyn's books,and although I disliked the the way the Romans were portrayed it was my favorite by far. Anyone who would like to read about the same story from the Roman's point of view should read "Caesar" by Colleen McCulluogh (another really great book).
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Summary: Review of the first half
Review: I still haven't finished this one, I tried for a couple months tho. I usually finish a book like this in a week, max. I'm actually a great fan of the Tain and related tales but I just couldn't get into this book.Two stars because it isn't actually BAD, I didn't want to throw it away or anything and I actually would like to finish it, someday. Plodding is the best description I can think of. I did't care about the characters or the plot, I just got bored reading it.
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Summary: The Hound is alive and well!
Review: I wasn't familiar with Morgan Llywelyn prior to reading this book, but I was very pleased afterwards. Llywelyn's treatment of the Ulster Cycle was mesmerizing. From the start, Setanta was a fiery, determined boy who would grow to be the greatest warrior ever, Cuchulain, the Hound of Ulster. It was obvious that Llywelyn did her homework as the story follows the legends well, and in my opinion makes them much more interesting as they are written in such a way as to make the characters more accessible. This story has it all, heartaches, desire, battles, and destiny. The hero of his people, Cuchulain moves toward his fate with certainty and without fear. Not only is this entertaining fiction, but it is also inspiring. The human aspect is revealed as the character's motivations are brought to light, and once-old legends now seem more relevant. If you are a fan of heroic epics, this is definitely a book you will want to read.
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Summary: The Hound of Ulster Fights On Forever
Review: If I asked you to believe that an entire invading army could be held at bay by a single warrior, a fighter of legendary strength, skill, and determination, you might dismiss this as a Hollywood action movie, but in fact, this is the basis of the Irish myth of Cuchulain, retold most convincingly here by Irish authoress Morgan Llywelyn. A young boy named Setanta, living in Eire before the birth of Christ, discovers his royal heritage, and impetuously leaves home to join his uncle, King Conor, in the defense of the Ulster kingdom. Because the boy has been sired by an ancient Celtic god, he has remarkable powers, which manifest themselves in the form of a terrifying battle-frenzy, but his destiny is clouded by the hovering presence of an Irish war-goddess who both fancies and resents the growing hero. Llywelyn writes scenes of graphic violence without flinching, and yet can alternate those with descriptions of unparalleled beauty and subtlety, and her understanding of the ever-shifting politics of male-female relationships is uncannily precise. She modernizes the spelling of ancient Gaelic words and names, and puts many of the actions and motivations for her characters in terms that 21st-century readers can readily accept and understand. This book has a tremendous significance for me---I bought it in London, and finished reading it on a ferryboat, bound for Dublin, my first time to visit my ancestral land, so I have a soft spot in my heart for it. Heroic, heartbreaking, and passionate, "Red Branch" (also known as "On Raven's Wing") is more exciting than any dozen Hollywood blockbusters---and a lot better written, too! Most highly recommended, even if you're not Irish.
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Summary: The Hound of Ulster
Review: If you are a reader who is interested in myth, legends or ancient history, this is a book for you. Morgan Llewelyn combines all three to write what I feel is her best work. You wont be able to put it down. The legend and story of Cuchulain truly come alive in this epic tail. If you liked Lion of Ireland and Pride of Lions then you will love Red Branch.
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