- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Forge books (Mar 4 1996)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0312857004
- ISBN-13: 978-0312857004
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 16 x 3.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 658 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #732,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
The perils of royal succession and a choice between love and glory form the dominant themes of Llywelyn's lively sequel to Lion of Ireland (1979). That novel described the rise of High King Brian Boru, who became known as the "Charlemagne of Ireland" after he managed to briefly unite the tribes of the Emerald Isle at the end of the 10th century. Here it's Brian's 15-year-old son, Donough, who aspires to the throne, made ambitious by a brief initial success in battle against the Vikings at Contarf, where Brian has met his death. But Donough's brother Teigue also claims the crown, and when Teigue drives Donough from the family fortress, their father's carefully crafted alliances begin to crumble. Journeying north to the Scottish kingdom of Alba, Donough seeks his own political ties, through an arranged marriage that binds him to the King of England; also traveling with him is his treacherous, manipulative mother, who hopes to use him to regain the power she lost upon Brian's death. When Donough returns, he must reconcile his inability to reunite Ireland and the failure of his marriage with lush memories of a passionate affair with a Druid girl. Llywelyn tells a strong story distinguished by its psychological depth and by his knowledge of ancient Irish history.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
A canard current among historical novelists holds that it's impossible for a book set in Ireland to succeed because that country's past is so oppressively gloomy. Among the few exceptions is Llywelyn's Lion of Ireland (1980), the story of the heroic High King Brian Boru. But Brian was a victor, forming something like a nation in an island of squabbling tribes. None of his sons had the charisma or strength of their father or even of their mother, the scheming Gormlaith, which proves, perhaps, that sequels are hard even for high kings. The most compelling part of this diffuse novel is the tension between the ambition of its hero, Brian's son Donough, to assume his father's position, and his desire for a pagan woman, Cera, whom newly Christian Ireland considers an unacceptable mate for a king. Expect demand from Llywelyn fans. Patricia Monaghan
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First Sentence
The road to Rome is very long, they say. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
The road to Rome is very long, they say. Read the first page
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
minority report,
By lordhoot "lordhoot" (Anchorage, Alaska USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Pride of Lions (Mass Market Paperback)
I guess I am in the minority here since I didn't think this book was anywhere close to Lion of Ireland. While Pride of Lions proves to be very readable and somewhat interesting book, I thought it was pretty lightweight material and it really wasn't that exciting as Lion of Ireland. I supposed there were few good spots but overall, the book slogs through the story. I think the weakness lies in the length. My paperback version got only 395 pages. This story needs more. But what this story really need was a character, interesting, heroic and true and to be honest, the lead character Donough really don't fit the mode. While I enjoyed Lion of Ireland, this follow-up book falls short. This doesn't mean you shouldn't read it if you enjoyed the first book. Just be prepared that maybe it won't taste good as it smell.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great beginning, falls flat,
By
This review is from: Pride of Lions (Mass Market Paperback)
In her follow-up to the wonderful "Lion of Ireland," Morgan Llywelyn picks up where she left off, spinning the tale of Donough, Brian Boru's eldest surviving son. Her vivid style and talent with words continues the legend she brought back to life with her previous novel. The battle in which Donough, his troops battle-ravaged and starving, face their enemies as hundreds of CuChullains will bring chills to your spine as you read. However, although the novel starts off with the potential to live up to her previous triumph, the book comes to an all to quick and unsatisfying ending.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great followup to the Lion of Ireland,
By
This review is from: Pride of Lions (Mass Market Paperback)
Morgan Llywelyn does it again.Another great book in her collection of historical fiction. We follow the happening of the sons of Brian Boru and all the other luminaries that created the political scene in the age of the viking, irelands awakening and the rethinking of kings and kingdoms. Though it does have some conjecture and uses items that have very little basis in history or have been proven it is still a great book. Enjoyable reading with a lot of reality and lifelikeness. Buy this together with Lion of Ireland and have a great time following the story of The O'brain clan.
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