Realm of Lore and Lies: Fair Ones Book 1

Product Information

Ash is part of the Fianna people, human yet able to see the Fair Ones. She was separated from her clan after an argument with her mother, Cara Breen, ruling matriarch of the Breen Clan. After 7 years, a banshee appears to Ash, signalling death, and Ash finds her mother murdered nearby. By Fianna customs, she is now clan matriarch. She accepts at the insistence of her brother and new friend Tiernan, despite the fact that most of her clan wishes her to relinquish her title. Tiernan wants Ash to continue looking into the caillte, a group of Fianna that went missing years ago, and Ash agrees to help look for them as she suspects her mother was also looking for them. So now she must prove her worthiness as matriarch, find out what happened to her mother, and try to find the caillte. With the help of Maebh, Setanta and Tiernan, Ash has to claim her birthright, find a murderer and win some quest for the High King, nothing could go wrong right? Well, everything could go wrong when magic and ancient forces are involved, so you can figure out that Ash’s journey isn’t easy.

The only issues that I have with the book is the pacing is a bit slow for me and although I was here for the potential romance between Ash & Setanta, it was a bit of a non-starter (here’s to more of it in book 2 😉). Claire goes into detail about the various aspects of Irish myths and legends she’s introducing in the story- this slowed down the pace but I think is necessary for those unfamiliar with this lore to get a handle on. Tiernan was part of a different clan but joined the same one as Aisling a month after she left. His mother is also missing and Aisling’s mother said she was trying to find her. There are romantic subplots in this story that I think are appropriate for the YA genre! I’m interested to see what directions things go in as the plot continues. But that is not the only thing that complicates Ash’s life, she also has to return home and take an active role on her clan, and be part of the Cath, something like a competition on Tír na nÓg AKA the land of youth or the Irish otherworld. Dun dun dun… Here is where things became interesting, that’s means you have enough information to make yourself an idea of what this book is about.While I thought the beginning was a little slow getting to know all the characters, the writing is excellent and it was really enjoyable and easy to read. The murder mystery plot was excellent and we get politics, adventure, and plot twists along the way. Realm of Lore and Lies is phenomenal and I’d definitely recommend it! The third person perspective was refreshing, although I kind of wanted a little more depth to each of the characters. But throughout this book (that I read through in no time - because it’s really captivating!) I love the love stories, found families and the connections between them💖 Bonded by troubled pasts and deadly circumstances, the team of misfits must face damaging truths as they try to stop their worlds from colliding.’

Who can say no to Fair ones, Druids, Will O’Wisps, Púkas and portals to a magical realm ?? Not me that’s for suuure 🧙🏼‍♀️ Maebh McQuillan - the badass who ran from her clan to escape her abusive mother for the opportunity to prove herself in the legendary Cath trials. Basically a bisexual, gender swapped Loki. My favorite thing about this book was the world-building and LORE!!! It might seem obvious that there would be lore in this book, especially in a fantasy book, but I've had my fair share of disappointments in the past. The author does a great job on building on Irish lore and myths. It's noticeable the amount of research that had to be done for this. As someone who has always loved Irish mythology, this fed a deep part of my soul. Very rarely do we get a book so heavily focused on one specific countries mythology and that delves so deeply into it.

Featured Reviews

Based on Irish Mythology, Realm of Lore and Lies follows protagonist Aisling Breen, struggling between the normal life she is attempting to lead, and the complicated one she has left behind. Told through multi-person-pov, all four main character’s perspectives kept me engaged and gripped, and I loved weaving together the information each character was gaining and how it would come to help the others. The characters felt so real to me: they were so well-developed with their motivations, flaws, insecurities and personalities all clear and believable. You truly root for Aisling, Meabh, Setanta and Tiernan. And I loved the storyline. With the Irish legends and lore, romance, and mystery, I was hooked from the first chapter. A realm of Lore and Lies breathes life into Irish Folklore. We follow the points of view of four different characters whose lives are tangled together in mystery and loss. The first 40% of this book introduces us to each of the four protagonists and we are shown the world of the travelling Fianna and what it means to live as one.

I loved all the culture and lore and really found the world building to be so rich and beautifully written. The twists and turns and secrets were perfect and I honestly can’t wait for the next book in the series. Irish Mythology - think mischievous and sometimes scary fae. Quirky lore and an enchanting culture. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a chance to read the arc of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.If I were to put this review in a nutshell, it would go as follows: I simply loved this book and found it so exciti I had never read anything regarding Irish Mythology and I went into this book not knowing much, but what I loved is that you don't feel lost while reading it. The world building is executed perfectly. This is the type of story that will have you on the edge of your seat, constantly wondering if what you think is going on is actually it or just your imagination. So many turns and I loved them all. I can’t wait to read book 2 coming out next year (Claire - you know I need Ash and Set to get together 😉😂😂)

Big thanks to Claire and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read the e-arc for this amazing book! Not every book I read is a hit and I easily fall into book slumps, but this book brought me right out of it! If I were to put this review in a nutshell, it would go as follows: I simply loved this book and found it so exciting, I was practically bouncing in my seat. I cannot wait for the second one! The story takes place in a modern world with a parallel faerie realm, and I liked the modern touches but we still got the elements of a fantasy world. Realm of Lore and Lies follows a band of misfits as they compete in a competition against other clans to become immortal warriors for the king. They are also trying to discover who murdered Aisling’s mom.I immediately fell in love with this book because for one of the first times a book, based in Ireland, with Irish mythos and Irish culture was written by an IRISH PERSON! And it's not cringe-worthy because Claire obviously knows what she's writing about. It’s Clair's debut novel and she has woven this story so perfectly with the detailing of the surrounding that I want to visit Ireland someday and want to see the places mentioned. Justice is done with other characters and I loved everything about the book. I enjoyed reading these lovely fellows, I’m suspicious of Druid Ethne, I hate Emer and how she treats people. A lot is left unsaid and I’m reading to find out in the next book.