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Layers of the Otherworld #1
The Druid Stone
Sean never asked to be an O'Hara, and he didn't ask to be cursed by one either.
After inheriting a hexed druid stone from his great-grandfather, Sean starts reliving another man's torture and death...every single night. And only one person can help.
Cormac Kelly runs a paranormal investigation business and doesn't have time to deal with misinformed tourists like Sean. But Sean has real magic in his pocket, and even though Cormac is a descendant of legendary druids, he soon finds himself out of his depth...and not because Sean's the first man he's felt anything for in a long time.
The pair develop an unexpected and intensely sexual bond, but are threatened at every turn when Sean's case attracts the unwelcome attention of the mad sidhe lords of ancient Ireland. When Sean and Cormac are thrust backward in time to Ireland's violent history—and their own dark pasts—they must work together to escape the curse and save their fragile relationship.
Book One of the Layers of the Otherworld series
After inheriting a hexed druid stone from his great-grandfather, Sean starts reliving another man's torture and death...every single night. And only one person can help.
Cormac Kelly runs a paranormal investigation business and doesn't have time to deal with misinformed tourists like Sean. But Sean has real magic in his pocket, and even though Cormac is a descendant of legendary druids, he soon finds himself out of his depth...and not because Sean's the first man he's felt anything for in a long time.
The pair develop an unexpected and intensely sexual bond, but are threatened at every turn when Sean's case attracts the unwelcome attention of the mad sidhe lords of ancient Ireland. When Sean and Cormac are thrust backward in time to Ireland's violent history—and their own dark pasts—they must work together to escape the curse and save their fragile relationship.
Book One of the Layers of the Otherworld series
278 pages, ebook
First published August 6, 2012
About the author
Heidi Belleau
61 books309 followersHeidi Belleau was born and raised in small town New Brunswick, graduated with a degree in history from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, and now lives outside of Edmonton, Alberta, with her tradesman husband and two kids. A proud bisexual woman, her writing reflects everything she loves: diverse casts of queer characters, a sense of history and place, equal parts witty and filthy dialogue, the occasional mythological twist, and most of all, love—in all its weird and wonderful forms. She is the author of the REAR ENTRANCE VIDEO series, and the co-author of THE BURNT TOAST B&B. Her latest novel DEAD RINGER, co-authored with Sam Schooler, is out now from Riptide Publishing. Her work has been reviewed in PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY, LIBRARY JOURNAL, and BOOKLIST.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
November 12, 2016
Well this was a strange read for me. If I could describe it with one picture, this one would be perfect:
The story is about druids (duh, the title) and all the ancient myths and legends about them. Sean is having the same dream over and over again, it's the death of some man from the past. He asks for help, and tries to hire Cormac, a druid from Ireland. Cormac refuses to see him so Sean is forced to travel from America and beg for his help, if nothing else. Cormac still brushes him off, and afterward Sean has a bad encounter with some being/dude/god or something and finally Cormac realises he ISN'T fill of sh*t and decides to help him.
That part of the book was great! My brain could still understand it
and the first sex scene was great too XDXD What I didn't like? Hmm... Well, there was too much of everything in here! I know, it's a pnr and it's supposed to have those sorts of things, but boy! They paced like a million subplots in here, as soon as one is slightly resloved, another comes and messes it all up. The mythology isn't simple at all, even after I read the whole book I still have no idea what the hell I've read about concerning the gods/bad guys/druids/changelings/shifters/whatever beings appeared in here
I just wish the mythology was more focused, instead of encompassing so much. Some scenes were so frantic and all over the place, like when Cormac tries too see Sean's dream. That whole chapter is a big WTF??? Maybe it was supposed to be all mysterious and complicated and sh*t so you couldn't get what was happening, I don't know. I got it in the end, but boy did I spend my puny brain thinking about it XDXDXD Then there was the part at the railroad
going into another dimension, I get it, but it was too chaotic seeing this and that, a graveyard, Michael tortured, a big eel trying to eat them, a spiral of some kind twisting everything, some bad guy trying to kill them, looking into the past and the future and being stranded somewhere, then looking for the other one who's stranded, and the other one being kidnapped by Vikings (all in 1 chapter) it was just too much action and jumping around. And even after the Vikings they got into like 10 battles and it was all too complicated and full of everything
I was just like this the whole time
And then
I'm all for some action and suspense in a book, but damn, it isn't going to help when you pack too much of it, I couldn't concentrate on any threat enough to get me emotionally, as soon as it was half-way resolved, another one pops up and so on and so on. Just got me tired
The three stars go to Sean and Cormac and their great chemistry, they were fun to read, even though Sean sometimes made some shitty decisions, but OK, it's a book, it's supposed to be complicated between them.
November 29, 2012
Amazing....This book is complex, intriguing, fascinating and compelling. It is an epic adventure and reminds me of a dark Indie Fantasy Movie on a high end Hollywood budget. Breathtaking in detail and colour with an underbelly of darkness, murky in it's depth...
This book opens on a nightmare....a nightmare of torture, violent and brutal. It is a curse, laid on Sean by his Grandfather and for the past year he has endured this nightly mental assault on his senses. He feels everything, the pain is unbearable and even a combination of drugs are unable to keep the nightmares at bay.
Sean is of Irish/Cuban descent, his father Irish and Mother Cuban....he has inherited her looks, tall, dark and handsome, with a dark complexion and hazel eyes. She died when he was 10 and left a gaping hole in his heart for the love and beauty she no longer brought to the world. Sean's Father was a drunk and by the age of 15 he had left home and was living on the streets, begging and prostitution his living, heroine his only friend. At this lowest point in his life, he turns to his mothers sister, his aunt for help and with her love and support his life is turned around. That is until he was cursed.....
The only man that can help Sean is Cormac. A Druid, living in Ireland...only he snubs and dismisses him at every contact. Cormac has a preconceived notion that all Irish/Americans are high on the tales bestowed by their Irish ancestors. Cormac is patriotic and comes from a long line of druids, where his knowledge of all things Sidhe and magical are an intristic to the fabric of the land and it people. There are still those who have not yet become sceptics and believe in the old ways and the magic of Ireland.
Sean is desperate and despairing. With his sanity in the balance, he gets on a plane, hoping a face to face with this Druid will convince him Sean needs his help. Help that only Cormac is able to give him. Sean turning up on Cormac's doorstep compounds the notion that he is one of "those" deluded American....Irish wannabe's with ideas of a magical past connection to Ireland. Just another bloody Sidhe chasing tourist!
Their quest to find the cure for the curse is born of desperation for Sean and guilt for Cormac. Guilt for not believing Sean. Guilt for not seeing the depths of despair in Sean's eyes and another level of guilt because somehow Cormac feels this is all his doing. There is an uneasy truce on this journey they take together, neither quite trusting the other, but both resolute in finding the answers no matter the danger and uncertainty involved.....
The combination of these two authors in their writing is something not to be missed. It is not a book that can be skimmed, concentration is a must as missing any part of this descriptive writing would be a travesty. Through their illustrative prose you see the brilliance and splendour of the Irish hills and valleys, the green fields and foliage, blue skies and rainbows, glimmering sunshine and morning dew.....a sheer Kaleidoscope of colour. But this is a magical place with long forgotten languages and folk law, so there is also darkness and the horror, blood and death, evil lords are warring, marauding Norsemen armies pillage and rape and where slaves are tortured and killing is mindless.
Amongst all this action and adventure our two MC's are drawn together, both of them seeing past their initial prejudices to something much deeper and intense.. Cormac with his clear blue eyes and blond wavy hair is all alpha male....as in fan, mister, cold shower, dirty talking HOT alpha male! he is also very charming and funny. Sean is uncertain of his sexuality, as his earlier experiences with men involved prostitution, but he desires Cormac, Cormac is like no other before.
Cormac is drawn to Sean, his easy laugh and resilient sense of humour, he wears his heart on his sleeve and all emotion so expressively displayed on his face. He feels such deep emotion for Sean....but he will wait. Think I might be in love with Cormac!!!
There is also a lot of humour in this book and Cormac's typical Irish family are right in the middle of it.....I particularly liked how they embraced and welcomed Sean, Sean from America!...into the family, as if one of their own. There are a plethora of amazing characters, human and sidhe alike, evil and good. This is not a book to be missed, if you like being transported to another world, long forgotten, full of fantasy and magic of both the good and the bad kind.
There is a novella preceeding this book Cruce de Caminos it gives us an insight to Sean's earlier life on the streets.
Sinfully Sexy Book Blog
This book opens on a nightmare....a nightmare of torture, violent and brutal. It is a curse, laid on Sean by his Grandfather and for the past year he has endured this nightly mental assault on his senses. He feels everything, the pain is unbearable and even a combination of drugs are unable to keep the nightmares at bay.
Sean is of Irish/Cuban descent, his father Irish and Mother Cuban....he has inherited her looks, tall, dark and handsome, with a dark complexion and hazel eyes. She died when he was 10 and left a gaping hole in his heart for the love and beauty she no longer brought to the world. Sean's Father was a drunk and by the age of 15 he had left home and was living on the streets, begging and prostitution his living, heroine his only friend. At this lowest point in his life, he turns to his mothers sister, his aunt for help and with her love and support his life is turned around. That is until he was cursed.....
The only man that can help Sean is Cormac. A Druid, living in Ireland...only he snubs and dismisses him at every contact. Cormac has a preconceived notion that all Irish/Americans are high on the tales bestowed by their Irish ancestors. Cormac is patriotic and comes from a long line of druids, where his knowledge of all things Sidhe and magical are an intristic to the fabric of the land and it people. There are still those who have not yet become sceptics and believe in the old ways and the magic of Ireland.
Sean is desperate and despairing. With his sanity in the balance, he gets on a plane, hoping a face to face with this Druid will convince him Sean needs his help. Help that only Cormac is able to give him. Sean turning up on Cormac's doorstep compounds the notion that he is one of "those" deluded American....Irish wannabe's with ideas of a magical past connection to Ireland. Just another bloody Sidhe chasing tourist!
Their quest to find the cure for the curse is born of desperation for Sean and guilt for Cormac. Guilt for not believing Sean. Guilt for not seeing the depths of despair in Sean's eyes and another level of guilt because somehow Cormac feels this is all his doing. There is an uneasy truce on this journey they take together, neither quite trusting the other, but both resolute in finding the answers no matter the danger and uncertainty involved.....
The combination of these two authors in their writing is something not to be missed. It is not a book that can be skimmed, concentration is a must as missing any part of this descriptive writing would be a travesty. Through their illustrative prose you see the brilliance and splendour of the Irish hills and valleys, the green fields and foliage, blue skies and rainbows, glimmering sunshine and morning dew.....a sheer Kaleidoscope of colour. But this is a magical place with long forgotten languages and folk law, so there is also darkness and the horror, blood and death, evil lords are warring, marauding Norsemen armies pillage and rape and where slaves are tortured and killing is mindless.
Amongst all this action and adventure our two MC's are drawn together, both of them seeing past their initial prejudices to something much deeper and intense.. Cormac with his clear blue eyes and blond wavy hair is all alpha male....as in fan, mister, cold shower, dirty talking HOT alpha male! he is also very charming and funny. Sean is uncertain of his sexuality, as his earlier experiences with men involved prostitution, but he desires Cormac, Cormac is like no other before.
Cormac is drawn to Sean, his easy laugh and resilient sense of humour, he wears his heart on his sleeve and all emotion so expressively displayed on his face. He feels such deep emotion for Sean....but he will wait. Think I might be in love with Cormac!!!
There is also a lot of humour in this book and Cormac's typical Irish family are right in the middle of it.....I particularly liked how they embraced and welcomed Sean, Sean from America!...into the family, as if one of their own. There are a plethora of amazing characters, human and sidhe alike, evil and good. This is not a book to be missed, if you like being transported to another world, long forgotten, full of fantasy and magic of both the good and the bad kind.
There is a novella preceeding this book Cruce de Caminos it gives us an insight to Sean's earlier life on the streets.
Sinfully Sexy Book Blog
May 1, 2018
4.5
My word! The Druid Stone was a super fantastic read, which comes as no surprise because the wonderful authors have yet to disappoint me with their awesome writing skills. I am neither eloquent nor crazy intelligent, but I will try to express why this book is super awesome in a very Pants Off style.
We met Sean back In Cruce de Caminos, where he was a drug addict, and prostituting himself for a little money. When Sean gets into the wrong van (a white van) his life gets thrown into the supernatural, and it’s for that very reason why he is still alive today. Fast forward and he’s now a different man a better man. The downside is, he’s plagued by hellacious nightmares, and only medication can give him a bit of relief. However, he does not want to be a man living and seeing his life through a fog. Seems his nightmares might be stemmed from else where, and his family cursed. Sean must now travel to Ireland in search of a Druid called Cormac Kelly.
Cormac the druid, lives his life investigating the paranormal and solving the problems. So when Sean shows up on his door step talking about curses and nightmares he shows him the exit quick, quick. He has no time for the delusions of American tourists believing in leprechauns and magic. So their first meeting doesn’t exactly go well. When Sean finds himself in the otherworld taking on a Sidhe King, Cormac comes to his rescue. Regretting how he treated Sean, he decides to help him figure out the true nature of his dreams, and the importance of a green stone Sean now has in his possession.
The story then unfolds with all kinds of awesome, and to talk about it would be to write a small novella. Sean and Cormac go on an adventure that is larger than life, and I was kept on the edge of my toes fearing for their safety, sanity, and overall existence. There was just so much awesome going on; it was like a mini movie unfolding (a great movie unfolding).
The characters are excellent and offer so much depth it’s incredible. Sean and Cormac shine, together they are a 100W bulb burning my retinas. Their friendship is a testament to love, because no matter where they ended up or where they were going, they did it together and for each other. Shit made my heart feel super happy. The supporting characters are excellent! I love Finnbheara, his leather pants call to me. I really enjoyed pretty much everyone.
There is a lot of plot, a lot of drama and plenty of angst but there is also humour. I laughed my ass off so many times, and its such humour that kept the book from being so completely depressing. There is also the epic romance, which sets the ground for epic romances. Sean and Cormac broke my heart and then mended it together, just loved them so very much.
The Druid Stone is a sweeping romance, awesome adventure, and one of the best otherworld books I have ever read. The level of storytelling is excellent, and the authors should definitely be on your radar.
My word! The Druid Stone was a super fantastic read, which comes as no surprise because the wonderful authors have yet to disappoint me with their awesome writing skills. I am neither eloquent nor crazy intelligent, but I will try to express why this book is super awesome in a very Pants Off style.
We met Sean back In Cruce de Caminos, where he was a drug addict, and prostituting himself for a little money. When Sean gets into the wrong van (a white van) his life gets thrown into the supernatural, and it’s for that very reason why he is still alive today. Fast forward and he’s now a different man a better man. The downside is, he’s plagued by hellacious nightmares, and only medication can give him a bit of relief. However, he does not want to be a man living and seeing his life through a fog. Seems his nightmares might be stemmed from else where, and his family cursed. Sean must now travel to Ireland in search of a Druid called Cormac Kelly.
Cormac the druid, lives his life investigating the paranormal and solving the problems. So when Sean shows up on his door step talking about curses and nightmares he shows him the exit quick, quick. He has no time for the delusions of American tourists believing in leprechauns and magic. So their first meeting doesn’t exactly go well. When Sean finds himself in the otherworld taking on a Sidhe King, Cormac comes to his rescue. Regretting how he treated Sean, he decides to help him figure out the true nature of his dreams, and the importance of a green stone Sean now has in his possession.
The story then unfolds with all kinds of awesome, and to talk about it would be to write a small novella. Sean and Cormac go on an adventure that is larger than life, and I was kept on the edge of my toes fearing for their safety, sanity, and overall existence. There was just so much awesome going on; it was like a mini movie unfolding (a great movie unfolding).
The characters are excellent and offer so much depth it’s incredible. Sean and Cormac shine, together they are a 100W bulb burning my retinas. Their friendship is a testament to love, because no matter where they ended up or where they were going, they did it together and for each other. Shit made my heart feel super happy. The supporting characters are excellent! I love Finnbheara, his leather pants call to me. I really enjoyed pretty much everyone.
There is a lot of plot, a lot of drama and plenty of angst but there is also humour. I laughed my ass off so many times, and its such humour that kept the book from being so completely depressing. There is also the epic romance, which sets the ground for epic romances. Sean and Cormac broke my heart and then mended it together, just loved them so very much.
The Druid Stone is a sweeping romance, awesome adventure, and one of the best otherworld books I have ever read. The level of storytelling is excellent, and the authors should definitely be on your radar.
October 3, 2015
Wow. Just wow.
This was everything I'm looking for in a book: excitement, danger, fast pace, love, fear, sweetness, near-death peril, twists, complexity, etc. This was a modern fantasy with the M/M romance an equally large component. The book could stand on it's own without the romance, although it wouldn't have been as good. The story is complex, riddled with fae lore, some of it familiar, some a bit new, with a lot of twists and turns. I think Belleau did a ton of research and it shows. I think any of my friends who are fans of Urban Fantasy and who aren't homophobic would love this book.
The characters are complex, too. We learn a little more about Sean throughout the book, bits that explain his behaviors that aren't quite normal. He's damaged and hurting but strong and capable but mostly he is willing to do what he needs to do. He's also kind and good and brave. It isn't the least bit surprising why Cormac falls for him so fast.
Cormac is intriguing and kind in his own way. He is selfless and guilt-ridden but he is willing to put himself out there for someone who needs him. His emotional baggage is killing him but he doesn't stop trying to do what's right. I understand why Sean eventually wants him, too.
But there are more characters who are equally important, including Michael, the love of Cormac's life who disappeared ten years ago. Cormac blames himself and can't get over it. He was meant to be with Michael. So comes the complexity. I wasn't sure until close to the end who Cormac would end up with.
The one thing I really didn't like near was at the end:
I personally don't like books that stray into weird dreamlike places where anything can happen. I think it's too easy because the author can make anything up and we can't fault it because it's not real. We also don't know what is real and what isn't. But I think the authors handled this very well and I was okay with it. I was also relieved that the second foray into fairy land was shorter, although the final battle was a bit short and anti-climactic.
Overall, this book was amazing and I loved it. There were things I really didn't like but the things I did like overshadowed those negative parts, kind of like bad stuff: 3 stars, good stuff: 8 stars. So I'm giving the book 5 stars over all. If you like urban/modern fantasy with the Fae and you like M/M romances, you'll love this book.
This was everything I'm looking for in a book: excitement, danger, fast pace, love, fear, sweetness, near-death peril, twists, complexity, etc. This was a modern fantasy with the M/M romance an equally large component. The book could stand on it's own without the romance, although it wouldn't have been as good. The story is complex, riddled with fae lore, some of it familiar, some a bit new, with a lot of twists and turns. I think Belleau did a ton of research and it shows. I think any of my friends who are fans of Urban Fantasy and who aren't homophobic would love this book.
The characters are complex, too. We learn a little more about Sean throughout the book, bits that explain his behaviors that aren't quite normal. He's damaged and hurting but strong and capable but mostly he is willing to do what he needs to do. He's also kind and good and brave. It isn't the least bit surprising why Cormac falls for him so fast.
Cormac is intriguing and kind in his own way. He is selfless and guilt-ridden but he is willing to put himself out there for someone who needs him. His emotional baggage is killing him but he doesn't stop trying to do what's right. I understand why Sean eventually wants him, too.
But there are more characters who are equally important, including Michael, the love of Cormac's life who disappeared ten years ago. Cormac blames himself and can't get over it. He was meant to be with Michael. So comes the complexity. I wasn't sure until close to the end who Cormac would end up with.
The one thing I really didn't like near was at the end:
I personally don't like books that stray into weird dreamlike places where anything can happen. I think it's too easy because the author can make anything up and we can't fault it because it's not real. We also don't know what is real and what isn't. But I think the authors handled this very well and I was okay with it. I was also relieved that the second foray into fairy land was shorter, although the final battle was a bit short and anti-climactic.
Overall, this book was amazing and I loved it. There were things I really didn't like but the things I did like overshadowed those negative parts, kind of like bad stuff: 3 stars, good stuff: 8 stars. So I'm giving the book 5 stars over all. If you like urban/modern fantasy with the Fae and you like M/M romances, you'll love this book.
August 23, 2012
This book is an intriguing fantasy, an adventure, a family story and a romance that is sweet and hot and kept me guessing right up to the end. The urban fantasy setting is familiar in its depiction of the fae and yet adds a new twist with the intermediary between humans and Sidhe being a druid main character. The writing was smooth and engaging. Occasionally I got slightly lost in the twists of shifting fantasy worlds, in mirror perhaps to the disorientation of the MC's, but most of the imagery worked very well. I liked both MC's. I appreciated the way Cormac was caught between his unresolved past with Michael and his possible future with Sean, between the demands of his calling and his desire to stop making hard choices, between the hometown he felt bound to and a man who lived an ocean away. Sean was a great character. I always enjoyed his POV, with very real concerns and uncertainties about both the unbelievable adventure he had fallen into and the equally unfamiliar romance he was beginning to become invested in. Cormac's family added warmth and depth to the story. I recommend this for readers who enjoy Urban Fantasy M/M.
August 2, 2012
In modern Ireland, Cormac is a druid. He investigates and solves paranormal problems, fulfilling a role that is still respected in his community. His last important relationship with the mysterious Michael ended abruptly, leaving a void in his life that he’s never been able to fill.
Sean is of mixed Irish and Cuban heritage. His grandfather gave him a hexed stone during a family reunion. From that moment on Sean has been dreaming (and living) the horrendous death of a young a man. He lives on drugs to be able to quench the effects of the dreams, and they’re getting worse. His only hope seems to fly to Ireland and meet Cormac Kelly.
The first meeting doesn’t go well. At the beginning Cormac believes that Sean is one of those Americans looking for a mythical but shallow taste for Ireland. When Sean shows Cormac the stone, the man accuses him of a sort of theft and offends him. Sean storms out of Cormac’s house and walks to a mound, following a battered travel guide, looking for some answer. When he uses the stone to look at the mound, he enters a different dimension, where an ancient sidhe king tries to seduce him. Cormac saves him, finally recognizing that Sean has a real problem and willing to help him. The two men begin a sort of journey which brings them back and forth in time and space in order to unravel the mystery of Sean’s stone and the man of Sean’s dreams.
I think this is the first 20% of the book. I’m not telling more about the plot because you really have to discover all the twists by yourself.
This was for me a very satisfying read. I really like Ireland, so I was enthralled by the setting. Sean is travelling there for the first time and I could really relate to him when he observed how green Ireland was, when he felt the pull of magic in the places he visited. I know it sounds a bit clichéd, but to newcomers with a disposition to being swept away, Ireland will conquer you. I liked very much Cormac’s public figure, his family heritage, the concept that the walls between our world and the other world are sometimes incredibly thin, that layers upon layers of civilization can’t erase the basic and original strength of a place.
There’s a lot of plot in this book. I couldn’t help thinking that this could be a great TV series, because – especially from the first third of the book on ��� every chapter ended with a sort of cliffhanger that made it difficult to put the book down, so I renounced (happily) a few hours of sleep to read forward, because I didn’t want to leave the guys in a lurch.
And this brings me to the characters, that I loved. I think there are two kinds of generosity. Some people are generous because they’re ready to risk their lives for something they believe is just, to spare the life of innocent, even if it’s something that could turn against them, that could ruin their chance to happiness. Sean is like this. Fragile, alone, but brave. He doesn’t have deep roots to keep him grounded: a difficult relationship with his Irish father; the mourning for his Cuban mother, who died when he was only ten; the successful struggle against heroin addiction, which left him with a lot of unresolved issues. He is suspended between two worlds because of his mixed heritage and because these dreams are making him tread between our world and that of magic. Cormac, on the other hand, is generous because he puts his life in danger in the line of duty, so to speak, but he’s particularly generous, in my opinion, when he takes a step back from Sean, to let him make up his mind, to express what he truly needs and feels, with the risk of letting Sean slip away from him.
The relationship between the two men is also complicated because it’s the first time Sean is really attracted to a man. Both Cormac and Sean doubt they are right for each other, but as the story goes on, as they face danger, violence and death, they slowly realize the other man is the one they can surrender all their trouble to. They keep coming back for each other time and again, and every time they get closer, they trust their life into the hands of the other man. They always find each other, they’re each other’s anchor and beacon. It was emotional and heartbreaking and it was wonderfully portrayed in their intimacy. So: great romance on top of everything else.
The secondary characters were also interesting, especially Aoibheann, the young woman who travels between worlds with Cormac and Sean and is instrumental in their journey; the king Finnbheara, with his fickle temperament; Cormac’s family, all carrying a bit of magic with them.
My only remark: I wish the authors had used the British spelling.
If you like plots with twists and turns, a sizzling romance which defeats all adversity, Ireland in all forms (place, mythology, guys), this is the book for you.
P.S. The beginning is pretty violent. Don’t let this scare you. The authors don’t shy away from the harsh reality of certain times.
Galley received via Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher.
Sean is of mixed Irish and Cuban heritage. His grandfather gave him a hexed stone during a family reunion. From that moment on Sean has been dreaming (and living) the horrendous death of a young a man. He lives on drugs to be able to quench the effects of the dreams, and they’re getting worse. His only hope seems to fly to Ireland and meet Cormac Kelly.
The first meeting doesn’t go well. At the beginning Cormac believes that Sean is one of those Americans looking for a mythical but shallow taste for Ireland. When Sean shows Cormac the stone, the man accuses him of a sort of theft and offends him. Sean storms out of Cormac’s house and walks to a mound, following a battered travel guide, looking for some answer. When he uses the stone to look at the mound, he enters a different dimension, where an ancient sidhe king tries to seduce him. Cormac saves him, finally recognizing that Sean has a real problem and willing to help him. The two men begin a sort of journey which brings them back and forth in time and space in order to unravel the mystery of Sean’s stone and the man of Sean’s dreams.
I think this is the first 20% of the book. I’m not telling more about the plot because you really have to discover all the twists by yourself.
This was for me a very satisfying read. I really like Ireland, so I was enthralled by the setting. Sean is travelling there for the first time and I could really relate to him when he observed how green Ireland was, when he felt the pull of magic in the places he visited. I know it sounds a bit clichéd, but to newcomers with a disposition to being swept away, Ireland will conquer you. I liked very much Cormac’s public figure, his family heritage, the concept that the walls between our world and the other world are sometimes incredibly thin, that layers upon layers of civilization can’t erase the basic and original strength of a place.
There’s a lot of plot in this book. I couldn’t help thinking that this could be a great TV series, because – especially from the first third of the book on ��� every chapter ended with a sort of cliffhanger that made it difficult to put the book down, so I renounced (happily) a few hours of sleep to read forward, because I didn’t want to leave the guys in a lurch.
And this brings me to the characters, that I loved. I think there are two kinds of generosity. Some people are generous because they’re ready to risk their lives for something they believe is just, to spare the life of innocent, even if it’s something that could turn against them, that could ruin their chance to happiness. Sean is like this. Fragile, alone, but brave. He doesn’t have deep roots to keep him grounded: a difficult relationship with his Irish father; the mourning for his Cuban mother, who died when he was only ten; the successful struggle against heroin addiction, which left him with a lot of unresolved issues. He is suspended between two worlds because of his mixed heritage and because these dreams are making him tread between our world and that of magic. Cormac, on the other hand, is generous because he puts his life in danger in the line of duty, so to speak, but he’s particularly generous, in my opinion, when he takes a step back from Sean, to let him make up his mind, to express what he truly needs and feels, with the risk of letting Sean slip away from him.
The relationship between the two men is also complicated because it’s the first time Sean is really attracted to a man. Both Cormac and Sean doubt they are right for each other, but as the story goes on, as they face danger, violence and death, they slowly realize the other man is the one they can surrender all their trouble to. They keep coming back for each other time and again, and every time they get closer, they trust their life into the hands of the other man. They always find each other, they’re each other’s anchor and beacon. It was emotional and heartbreaking and it was wonderfully portrayed in their intimacy. So: great romance on top of everything else.
The secondary characters were also interesting, especially Aoibheann, the young woman who travels between worlds with Cormac and Sean and is instrumental in their journey; the king Finnbheara, with his fickle temperament; Cormac’s family, all carrying a bit of magic with them.
My only remark: I wish the authors had used the British spelling.
If you like plots with twists and turns, a sizzling romance which defeats all adversity, Ireland in all forms (place, mythology, guys), this is the book for you.
P.S. The beginning is pretty violent. Don’t let this scare you. The authors don’t shy away from the harsh reality of certain times.
Galley received via Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher.
March 4, 2013
This review can be found at The Armchair Reader.
This story was... hard for me to get into. The world is extremely interesting. If I could rate on just that, I'd give this book five stars but I can't because I struggled with other factors within the story.
What I liked is how desperate Sean was to stop reliving Cormac's ex-lovers death. I also liked how shattered Cormac still is about his past. It made for some interesting conflicts between them. I also liked the chemistry they could have had together. Bits and pieces are shown but the full potential there wasn't achieved, IMO. More than anything, I wished their relationship had been more developed because, while they might have had some attraction, I didn't feel like there was any connection between them at all. In fact, I felt like there was always Cormac's ex-lover that Cormac would put before anything else, including Sean, and I didn't think that was fair to Sean, especially after everything he just did for Cormac.
As I said, the world is very interesting. It's intriguing and captivating but I didn't enjoy how it was handled. I was confused most of the time about what was going on. I couldn't understand how Sean and Cormac would get into these situations, and while they were intense and interesting, it didn't really make sense. This made reading the story difficult and I think what made the book also drag for me. I just really struggled with it. More than anything, though, the ending is what frustrates me. Sean and Cormac changed the past but nothing in the present changes?! That made no sense to me at all. Also, while I found the ending very sweet, it came out of left field for me. Sean and Cormac love each other but I'm wondering how that development happened because I didn't see it in the writing. I also really wished we got to see their time in D.C. because I felt like the ending was very abrupt in not showing that.
All in all, amazing world building but everything else I was just confused on. The events they go through and how they end up where they do, didn't add up for me. I was confused on so many things that by the end, I was a bit disappointed by not only the journey they go on but the supposed love they've seemed to have developed off screen. Some people will really enjoy this one but it missed its mark with me.
This story was... hard for me to get into. The world is extremely interesting. If I could rate on just that, I'd give this book five stars but I can't because I struggled with other factors within the story.
What I liked is how desperate Sean was to stop reliving Cormac's ex-lovers death. I also liked how shattered Cormac still is about his past. It made for some interesting conflicts between them. I also liked the chemistry they could have had together. Bits and pieces are shown but the full potential there wasn't achieved, IMO. More than anything, I wished their relationship had been more developed because, while they might have had some attraction, I didn't feel like there was any connection between them at all. In fact, I felt like there was always Cormac's ex-lover that Cormac would put before anything else, including Sean, and I didn't think that was fair to Sean, especially after everything he just did for Cormac.
As I said, the world is very interesting. It's intriguing and captivating but I didn't enjoy how it was handled. I was confused most of the time about what was going on. I couldn't understand how Sean and Cormac would get into these situations, and while they were intense and interesting, it didn't really make sense. This made reading the story difficult and I think what made the book also drag for me. I just really struggled with it. More than anything, though, the ending is what frustrates me. Sean and Cormac changed the past but nothing in the present changes?! That made no sense to me at all. Also, while I found the ending very sweet, it came out of left field for me. Sean and Cormac love each other but I'm wondering how that development happened because I didn't see it in the writing. I also really wished we got to see their time in D.C. because I felt like the ending was very abrupt in not showing that.
All in all, amazing world building but everything else I was just confused on. The events they go through and how they end up where they do, didn't add up for me. I was confused on so many things that by the end, I was a bit disappointed by not only the journey they go on but the supposed love they've seemed to have developed off screen. Some people will really enjoy this one but it missed its mark with me.
March 9, 2014
Sean O'Hara needs help. His nightmares of a young man being killed over and over again are becoming more than a problem. The only person who could help him is Cormac Kelly. They have to fight their way through dreams, other worlds, their own personal problems and, of course, with unavoidable the Tuatha Dé Danann.
I am glad I read Cruce de Caminos so I knew Sean a bit better right from the start. It won't ruin anything if you haven't read it though. He mentions his past here too, so you won't be left in dark.
There are so many things that happen in this book. If you expect this to be mostly romance, you would be disappointed. The nightmares story isn't just a background for sex or romance. I loved these two together. They both have issues, but nothing too suffocating or in the get on with it category.
Unfortunately you don't get a lot of information about druids or Cormac's abilities. I would have liked that. It is still a very good story.
I am glad I read Cruce de Caminos so I knew Sean a bit better right from the start. It won't ruin anything if you haven't read it though. He mentions his past here too, so you won't be left in dark.
There are so many things that happen in this book. If you expect this to be mostly romance, you would be disappointed. The nightmares story isn't just a background for sex or romance. I loved these two together. They both have issues, but nothing too suffocating or in the get on with it category.
Unfortunately you don't get a lot of information about druids or Cormac's abilities. I would have liked that. It is still a very good story.
Shelved as 'dnf'
December 29, 2021DNF 30%
When you find you're only reading a few pages a day and don't really like anyone in the story... it's time to let it go and move on. I can't quite identify why I struggled so much with this book, but I have so many in my queue it just doesn't make sense to spend any more time on it.
When you find you're only reading a few pages a day and don't really like anyone in the story... it's time to let it go and move on. I can't quite identify why I struggled so much with this book, but I have so many in my queue it just doesn't make sense to spend any more time on it.
October 12, 2012
3.5 stars
Boy, wouldn’t I have loved to have been a fly on the wall when Belleau and Vane were pounding out this story together! What a complex swirl of contemporary romance, paranormal horror story, time travel and Celtic mythology. Never a dull derivative moment in this collaboration!
Druid Stone worked best for me when the focus was on Seam and Cormac's developing romantic relationship. The paranormal story within a story was interesting and well written but distracted from the love story. An interesting dilemma since without the druid stone, a cursed nightmare-inducing talisman given to Sean by his grandfather, there would be no story. Or, well, a much less involved one anyway. For it is the stone that brings the two MCs together. Sean, Cuban-Irish American travels to Ireland to seek out help from Cormac, Druid sorcerer. It is the stone and Cormac’s mojo that allows them to travel between different dimensions and times in an attempt to break the curse. The attraction between the two MCs is a bit of a slow burn. Sean is gorgeously exotic with his mixed Cuban and Irish heritage and Cormac is drawn to him. Cormac is sexually cocky and aggressive but waits for a signal from Sean to ‘play for his team.’ This does read as gay-for-you as Sean considers himself hetero despite his rent-boy history. I did say complex, right? I liked that there is no insta-love and the sexual tension runs strong through their early relationship. I like that they have to grow towards each other.
Druid Stone is the sequel to Cruce de Caminos where we first meet Sean living on the streets of New Orleans. I had a bit of work adjusting from that earlier Sean, gay-for-pay-rent-boy, to the cleaned up Sean of Druid; and his seamy past isn’t really discussed in Druid until about the 30% mark. In New Orleans he was in serious need of direction; now he’s a recovering addict working hard to stay clean, solve the mystery of those nightmare/visions, and connect with his Irish heritage. It was never clear in Cruces why he was using drugs but it seems now that he has been trying to diminish the horrendous nightmares he’s been suffering from and he desperately needs help with vanquishing them.
The plusses in Druid lie in the strong writing and imagery evoked. You know you are in the hands of some talented writers. My issue is that certain parts worked better than others for me -- it felt like there was a bit too much going on. This is after all, a romance (much more so than in Cruces) and when the story strayed away from that it lost some luster. Still, the paranormal world aided in bringing Sean and Cormac together and will feature heavily in any future sequels. I never know quite what to expect with Belleau and Vane and that’s a good thing in this genre often given to overworked romance tropes.
Boy, wouldn’t I have loved to have been a fly on the wall when Belleau and Vane were pounding out this story together! What a complex swirl of contemporary romance, paranormal horror story, time travel and Celtic mythology. Never a dull derivative moment in this collaboration!
Druid Stone worked best for me when the focus was on Seam and Cormac's developing romantic relationship. The paranormal story within a story was interesting and well written but distracted from the love story. An interesting dilemma since without the druid stone, a cursed nightmare-inducing talisman given to Sean by his grandfather, there would be no story. Or, well, a much less involved one anyway. For it is the stone that brings the two MCs together. Sean, Cuban-Irish American travels to Ireland to seek out help from Cormac, Druid sorcerer. It is the stone and Cormac’s mojo that allows them to travel between different dimensions and times in an attempt to break the curse. The attraction between the two MCs is a bit of a slow burn. Sean is gorgeously exotic with his mixed Cuban and Irish heritage and Cormac is drawn to him. Cormac is sexually cocky and aggressive but waits for a signal from Sean to ‘play for his team.’ This does read as gay-for-you as Sean considers himself hetero despite his rent-boy history. I did say complex, right? I liked that there is no insta-love and the sexual tension runs strong through their early relationship. I like that they have to grow towards each other.
Druid Stone is the sequel to Cruce de Caminos where we first meet Sean living on the streets of New Orleans. I had a bit of work adjusting from that earlier Sean, gay-for-pay-rent-boy, to the cleaned up Sean of Druid; and his seamy past isn’t really discussed in Druid until about the 30% mark. In New Orleans he was in serious need of direction; now he’s a recovering addict working hard to stay clean, solve the mystery of those nightmare/visions, and connect with his Irish heritage. It was never clear in Cruces why he was using drugs but it seems now that he has been trying to diminish the horrendous nightmares he’s been suffering from and he desperately needs help with vanquishing them.
The plusses in Druid lie in the strong writing and imagery evoked. You know you are in the hands of some talented writers. My issue is that certain parts worked better than others for me -- it felt like there was a bit too much going on. This is after all, a romance (much more so than in Cruces) and when the story strayed away from that it lost some luster. Still, the paranormal world aided in bringing Sean and Cormac together and will feature heavily in any future sequels. I never know quite what to expect with Belleau and Vane and that’s a good thing in this genre often given to overworked romance tropes.
May 4, 2022
The author uses a mix of Celtic mythology, magic, history, time travel, and romance create this epic story. I found the characters to be interesting and there was definitely a lot of complexity. The only issue I had was how confusing the plot became at times, and I had a hard time following along without having to do some re-reading. I heard Scottish and Irish spoken all my life, so I didn't have any problem understanding the story, but I think anyone that was unfamiliar with some of the terminology might have some minor difficulty with it. The main difficulty that I had was in telling if the point of view being expressed was Connor's or Sean's as there was not enough difference in the voices. The print addition may be easier to differentiate. There are a lot of supporting characters, including creatures, animals, a wonderfully accepting family, really good friends and former lovers. I do wish there had been a bit more romance between Connor and Sean but overall, it was a really good story with some outstanding creepy bits.
December 10, 2020
3.5 Stars
Review:
This was one of those books that I'm not sure why it didn't grip me more. To be fair, it might've if I hadn't listened to the audiobook and if I hadn't been so distracted by real life stress. I did enjoy it though!
It was an interesting mix of faery magic and time travel. The fae and time travel stuff could be confusing but was also really cool and interesting. It was one of those takes in which the fae and their lands are beautiful but powerful and scary. I'm not sure if all the time travel stuff made sense, but I just didn't think too hard about it. It made for an interesting and fairly unique story though with a lot of complexity in the plot and a lot of intense and unsettling moments.
There were a handful of times when I thought I missed something and was confused, so I'd rewind, only to find I didn't miss anything. It was just written in a confusing way, and then the explanation came later. But everything did make sense by the end.
The characters seemed realistic enough. I'm not sure I have strong feelings about the romance, to be honest. Also I don't know why the description mentions an "intensely sexual bond" because that makes it sound like a smutfest when it really wasn't (which I was glad for). But anyway, what I loved about the few sex scenes that were in the book were Sean's tentativeness and uncertainty (since he wasn't experienced with men) and Cormac's honesty and encouragement.
Unfortunately I didn't love the audiobook narrator, Ian Ruane. It should've been easy to tell the characters apart, since one was Irish and one was American, except sometimes Sean just sounded Irish too. And the American accent he did just reminded me of the MovieFone voice. It was such a standard, voiceover type American accent, which I didn't feel like suited Sean, since he was half-Cuban and, I believe, grew up in South Florida. I also felt like the narrator didn't really voice act all the proper emotion in some scenes. But it wasn't a terrible performance. The narration parts and the dialogue of Irish characters were fine.
According to Goodreads this is the first in a series, but this was published eight years ago as of the time of this review, and I see no mention of more books. This has a solid ending that wraps up all the threads and works just fine as a standalone, so you don't need to worry about that.
Overall, I enjoyed this book with its believable characters and its unique fae and time travel combo!
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes m/m romance, beautiful but scary fae, time travel, complex plots, Ireland, and magic.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
This was one of those books that I'm not sure why it didn't grip me more. To be fair, it might've if I hadn't listened to the audiobook and if I hadn't been so distracted by real life stress. I did enjoy it though!
It was an interesting mix of faery magic and time travel. The fae and time travel stuff could be confusing but was also really cool and interesting. It was one of those takes in which the fae and their lands are beautiful but powerful and scary. I'm not sure if all the time travel stuff made sense, but I just didn't think too hard about it. It made for an interesting and fairly unique story though with a lot of complexity in the plot and a lot of intense and unsettling moments.
There were a handful of times when I thought I missed something and was confused, so I'd rewind, only to find I didn't miss anything. It was just written in a confusing way, and then the explanation came later. But everything did make sense by the end.
The characters seemed realistic enough. I'm not sure I have strong feelings about the romance, to be honest. Also I don't know why the description mentions an "intensely sexual bond" because that makes it sound like a smutfest when it really wasn't (which I was glad for). But anyway, what I loved about the few sex scenes that were in the book were Sean's tentativeness and uncertainty (since he wasn't experienced with men) and Cormac's honesty and encouragement.
Unfortunately I didn't love the audiobook narrator, Ian Ruane. It should've been easy to tell the characters apart, since one was Irish and one was American, except sometimes Sean just sounded Irish too. And the American accent he did just reminded me of the MovieFone voice. It was such a standard, voiceover type American accent, which I didn't feel like suited Sean, since he was half-Cuban and, I believe, grew up in South Florida. I also felt like the narrator didn't really voice act all the proper emotion in some scenes. But it wasn't a terrible performance. The narration parts and the dialogue of Irish characters were fine.
According to Goodreads this is the first in a series, but this was published eight years ago as of the time of this review, and I see no mention of more books. This has a solid ending that wraps up all the threads and works just fine as a standalone, so you don't need to worry about that.
Overall, I enjoyed this book with its believable characters and its unique fae and time travel combo!
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes m/m romance, beautiful but scary fae, time travel, complex plots, Ireland, and magic.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
February 8, 2024
This was a thick Harlequin novel. I usually am left wanting more. Wishing it wasn't a short standalone novel. Not here! This was a robust one. Fill of twist and turns.
One trend I've noticed. Being that this is the second year of my foray into the LGBT plus genre. The Bi-awaking! A person not knowing they like the same as they are.... Not considering themselves apart of a same sex relationship. That's a better explanation.
As soon as everyone gets on board with sexuality being on a spectrum. Gender is fluid. Even though gender was invented by communist. Side note! The more boxes they can put you in. The more they can keep you away from funding. Even though there are people who prefer the what you see between your legs. Is how I'll address you, camp. While a few say that DNA is the road map for all behaviors.
So many voices causes headaches. So you put the reading material down and touch grass. Get that 30 minutes of vitamin D. While you are distracted. The fae king has run off with your Bae!
One trend I've noticed. Being that this is the second year of my foray into the LGBT plus genre. The Bi-awaking! A person not knowing they like the same as they are.... Not considering themselves apart of a same sex relationship. That's a better explanation.
As soon as everyone gets on board with sexuality being on a spectrum. Gender is fluid. Even though gender was invented by communist. Side note! The more boxes they can put you in. The more they can keep you away from funding. Even though there are people who prefer the what you see between your legs. Is how I'll address you, camp. While a few say that DNA is the road map for all behaviors.
So many voices causes headaches. So you put the reading material down and touch grass. Get that 30 minutes of vitamin D. While you are distracted. The fae king has run off with your Bae!
December 29, 2014
A nicely done urban fantasy and romance. I loved how well both aspects were meshed, and I never felt like the urban fantasy was sacrificed in favor of the romance. The world building was well done, and I love how the author stayed true to the darker, and more traditional idea of the fae. The romance was nicely done, and I liked that even though the attraction was there from the beginning there was no instant love, or destined lovers themes. Sean, and Cormac have to learn to understand, and trust each other, and I liked that very much. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series, and I hope to find out more about what's happening to Michael.
August 9, 2012
That was not a roller coaster, that was an avalanche. I'm still working on getting my breath back. Mind-blowingly sensual, and the action never stops. If you're prone to nailbiting, wear falconers gloves or something. Whoa! Seriously.
January 18, 2013
An interesting and somewhat convoluted story, with more than a few unexpected twists in the plot that I certainly didn't see coming. Perhaps not a recommended read for those needing something light and fluffy, but if you love a plot you can really sink your teeth in, then this should be considered.
September 30, 2012
This book is a trip. AN AWESOME AWESOME TRIP. And it has EVERYTHING--romance, adventure, paranormal, sexual tension, fantasy, action, sexy times, mythology, time travel--EVERYTHING. And I couldn’t believe how much I dug this story that totally goes in crazy town directions, directions I never saw coming, but I LOVED IT.
The story--Sean O’Hara is a Cuban/Irish American, mostly estranged from his very Irish Boston family, and plagued nightly by horrible nightmares about a single murder from long ago. He travels to Ireland to seek out the guidance of one Cormac Kelly who investigates paranormal mysteries (due to his Druid ancestry and powers.) Cormac scoffs at Sean, thinking he’s some yank off the boat that’s high on the idea of Irish magic and lucky charms, but quickly realizes that Sean’s tied in to something much deeper, darker, and more connected to Cormac’s past than he would have ever expected.
What I loved:
The characters--so good! Loved the MCs. They’re so sympathetic, and interesting, and the developing chemistry and heat between Cormac and Sean is OFF THE CHARTS. But even besides the hot sexy times, the romance and relationship growing between them is intense and enthralling, to the point where you have these gasp-worthy scenes where they’re clutching at each other, Cormac saying so fiercely that no matter what happens in this CRAZY STORY, he will find Sean. Super intense and fully engaging, and boy was I rooting for them. (And yes, the ending is sooooooooooooo satisfying.)
The story—By 30% in, I was a happy camper, following along. Around the 40-45% mark, the story starts to veer in these new unexpected directions. And basically every 10% mark after that, things just keep going down this rabbit hole that I never would have dreamed of from the start. Druid magic, Irish gods, potty-mouthed gnome creatures, time travel, A GIANT EEL, changelings, old flames, ETC, ETC, ETC. And that’s just a tease! There is so much more, and YOU SHOULD BE SURPRISED. Or at least as surprised as I was. At 75%, I was all, “This cannot get any more crazy,” but then, “...OMG. IT DID!”
It’s also deliciously long. It doesn’t feel long in a bad way, and Amazon tells me this is around 280 pages, but so much happens in this story that I felt like I came up from a much longer work. It’s kind of amazing how much is crammed in there, but overall, I didn’t feel that the pacing was rushed, and the authors did a good job of wrapping everything up.
The writing--very smooth and readable. Really well done. And there are a lot of Irish mythology references in here that mostly go unexplained. Personally, I preferred it this way rather than having a lot of exposition and info dumping. It meant that the pacing was overall very tight, and moved along quickly. I never felt a drag, which I think was one of the reasons why the story felt so intense.
As a heads-up, the first scene is very violent. (It’s Sean’s nightmare. Totally understand his sleepless nights.) If you’re squeamish about violence, I recommend just pushing through. There’s violence in other parts of the book, but I think this scene has the most intensity and immediacy.
Anyways, still kind of stunned. Totally loved this crazy book, and would pick up a sequel in a second if one comes out. If you are fine with fantastical elements in your m/m romance, and can handle a story that’s a little intense (I’m a stressed-out reader so had to step away at a few moments to chill out), then you might really dig this book. Highly recommended.
The story--Sean O’Hara is a Cuban/Irish American, mostly estranged from his very Irish Boston family, and plagued nightly by horrible nightmares about a single murder from long ago. He travels to Ireland to seek out the guidance of one Cormac Kelly who investigates paranormal mysteries (due to his Druid ancestry and powers.) Cormac scoffs at Sean, thinking he’s some yank off the boat that’s high on the idea of Irish magic and lucky charms, but quickly realizes that Sean’s tied in to something much deeper, darker, and more connected to Cormac’s past than he would have ever expected.
What I loved:
The characters--so good! Loved the MCs. They’re so sympathetic, and interesting, and the developing chemistry and heat between Cormac and Sean is OFF THE CHARTS. But even besides the hot sexy times, the romance and relationship growing between them is intense and enthralling, to the point where you have these gasp-worthy scenes where they’re clutching at each other, Cormac saying so fiercely that no matter what happens in this CRAZY STORY, he will find Sean. Super intense and fully engaging, and boy was I rooting for them. (And yes, the ending is sooooooooooooo satisfying.)
The story—By 30% in, I was a happy camper, following along. Around the 40-45% mark, the story starts to veer in these new unexpected directions. And basically every 10% mark after that, things just keep going down this rabbit hole that I never would have dreamed of from the start. Druid magic, Irish gods, potty-mouthed gnome creatures, time travel, A GIANT EEL, changelings, old flames, ETC, ETC, ETC. And that’s just a tease! There is so much more, and YOU SHOULD BE SURPRISED. Or at least as surprised as I was. At 75%, I was all, “This cannot get any more crazy,” but then, “...OMG. IT DID!”
It’s also deliciously long. It doesn’t feel long in a bad way, and Amazon tells me this is around 280 pages, but so much happens in this story that I felt like I came up from a much longer work. It’s kind of amazing how much is crammed in there, but overall, I didn’t feel that the pacing was rushed, and the authors did a good job of wrapping everything up.
The writing--very smooth and readable. Really well done. And there are a lot of Irish mythology references in here that mostly go unexplained. Personally, I preferred it this way rather than having a lot of exposition and info dumping. It meant that the pacing was overall very tight, and moved along quickly. I never felt a drag, which I think was one of the reasons why the story felt so intense.
As a heads-up, the first scene is very violent. (It’s Sean’s nightmare. Totally understand his sleepless nights.) If you’re squeamish about violence, I recommend just pushing through. There’s violence in other parts of the book, but I think this scene has the most intensity and immediacy.
Anyways, still kind of stunned. Totally loved this crazy book, and would pick up a sequel in a second if one comes out. If you are fine with fantastical elements in your m/m romance, and can handle a story that’s a little intense (I’m a stressed-out reader so had to step away at a few moments to chill out), then you might really dig this book. Highly recommended.
December 15, 2014
ARC received from Carina Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
4.5 stars Wow, I expected this to be good, but I have to say it took me completely by surprise. I thought it was going to be a contemporary romance with a paranormal/supernatural twist, but really it's an urban fantasy that just happens to have a love story. Loved it.
The first third was what I expected and I loved every second. Sean trying to find the cause of his nightmares, Cormac living his life, Sean getting help from Cormac, sexual tension, etc. Then the shit hits the fan. I was not prepared for the amount of druid-y magick-ness time-travel-y goodness, but that took up the middle third of the book.
Don't want to give any spoilers but it was much more intense and involved than I had anticipated. I though I would blow through this but when I felt like I had read almost a whole book already, and looked down to see I had only read 100 pages! Damn. But in a good way. It is a dense and full story that doesn't waste a single syllable.
I loved the first bit a bit more than the second because I'm more of a character driven girl, and once we got the sidhe involved it was a little more plot-driven IMO. I liked these parts, but I definitely felt a few times "their going in again?!?! But I think that more my wanting the ordeal over for the characters I loved versus a critique on the writing. Maybe one less life or death experience would have cleaned it up a bit?
We met some great side characters that caught me totally by surprise , and they were a great addition. I read a free short, The War at the End of the World, by this author for the Love is Always Write event, and it was amazing (and steeped in history) as well, so this is definitely an author to check out!
September 2012 group read for M/M Romance Group
4.5 stars Wow, I expected this to be good, but I have to say it took me completely by surprise. I thought it was going to be a contemporary romance with a paranormal/supernatural twist, but really it's an urban fantasy that just happens to have a love story. Loved it.
The first third was what I expected and I loved every second. Sean trying to find the cause of his nightmares, Cormac living his life, Sean getting help from Cormac, sexual tension, etc. Then the shit hits the fan. I was not prepared for the amount of druid-y magick-ness time-travel-y goodness, but that took up the middle third of the book.
Don't want to give any spoilers but it was much more intense and involved than I had anticipated. I though I would blow through this but when I felt like I had read almost a whole book already, and looked down to see I had only read 100 pages! Damn. But in a good way. It is a dense and full story that doesn't waste a single syllable.
I loved the first bit a bit more than the second because I'm more of a character driven girl, and once we got the sidhe involved it was a little more plot-driven IMO. I liked these parts, but I definitely felt a few times "their going in again?!?! But I think that more my wanting the ordeal over for the characters I loved versus a critique on the writing. Maybe one less life or death experience would have cleaned it up a bit?
We met some great side characters that caught me totally by surprise , and they were a great addition. I read a free short, The War at the End of the World, by this author for the Love is Always Write event, and it was amazing (and steeped in history) as well, so this is definitely an author to check out!
September 2012 group read for M/M Romance Group
September 5, 2012
Right, well then. For starters, I have this problem with any title that has the word "druid" in it (or "faerie," or "emerald," or references to the moon esp. if full, etc. -- you get the idea). Much like main character Cormac's problem with the American romantic notion of Ireland! My expectations immediately take a turn for the worse on exposure to the key words. I think I had already passed over this one once before I read Cruce de Caminos and got curious enough about Sean's continuing adventures to overcome my bias.
Also much like Cormac, I'm glad I did.
This is a gorgeous novel. The romance and the magic are beautifully balanced, neither feeling like a crutch for the other. The Good Folk are wild and dangerous, alluring and terrible in the same measure. The history of Ireland is a vivid and crucial part of the story, from the Troubles all the way back to the mythic age and the Tuatha de fighting the Fir Bolg. Despite this being Sean's first serious gay relationship, his hesitation stems less from "oh no sexual identity crisis" and more from "hang on, we've only just met and we've been in severely stressful situations; how much of this is coming from circumstances?" And something that always delights me -- when I figured out a key twist in the plot, it was revealed in the narrative in the next chapter, which is the perfect pacing for dropping hints to the reader and then confirming them.
I had the occasional problem with the stumbling blocks in the relationship development, but they were brief; nothing that bothered me ever became a major issue. Mostly, I just found myself breathlessly turning pages to see where it would go from here. Loved it, will definitely read again.
Also much like Cormac, I'm glad I did.
This is a gorgeous novel. The romance and the magic are beautifully balanced, neither feeling like a crutch for the other. The Good Folk are wild and dangerous, alluring and terrible in the same measure. The history of Ireland is a vivid and crucial part of the story, from the Troubles all the way back to the mythic age and the Tuatha de fighting the Fir Bolg. Despite this being Sean's first serious gay relationship, his hesitation stems less from "oh no sexual identity crisis" and more from "hang on, we've only just met and we've been in severely stressful situations; how much of this is coming from circumstances?" And something that always delights me -- when I figured out a key twist in the plot, it was revealed in the narrative in the next chapter, which is the perfect pacing for dropping hints to the reader and then confirming them.
I had the occasional problem with the stumbling blocks in the relationship development, but they were brief; nothing that bothered me ever became a major issue. Mostly, I just found myself breathlessly turning pages to see where it would go from here. Loved it, will definitely read again.
July 25, 2012
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a plot in a book.
The Druid Stone is an interesting read, with a lot of plot twists and unexpected moments.
It has a strong feel of place, namely Ireland. The authors create a story with, Irish myth and history woven into the our modern world but in Ireland, following Cormac and Sean the veil between our world and the one of magic and sidth seems very thin. As a reader one feels a bit like Alice when reading this book, one falls down the fairy mound and travels to the past and to the fairy world together with the protagonists, while discovering that time and place is not as linear as one assumed.
The book is well written and a lot of thought went into the story, there is a lot of good sexual tension between Cormac and Sean, who have a rough start. Truly it's a good story, though it's not always easy to follow, because one keeps falling further, when the plot thickens and becomes more interwoven and complex.
The Druid Stone is an interesting read, with a lot of plot twists and unexpected moments.
It has a strong feel of place, namely Ireland. The authors create a story with, Irish myth and history woven into the our modern world but in Ireland, following Cormac and Sean the veil between our world and the one of magic and sidth seems very thin. As a reader one feels a bit like Alice when reading this book, one falls down the fairy mound and travels to the past and to the fairy world together with the protagonists, while discovering that time and place is not as linear as one assumed.
The book is well written and a lot of thought went into the story, there is a lot of good sexual tension between Cormac and Sean, who have a rough start. Truly it's a good story, though it's not always easy to follow, because one keeps falling further, when the plot thickens and becomes more interwoven and complex.
February 3, 2013
The depth and scope of the imagination of some of our m/m authors never ceases to amaze me. This saga was of epic proportions imagination-wise! It was like time travel on hormones. Yikes, the roller coaster ride of emotions was dizzying.
The tale of Cormac and Sean was amazing and memorable. Both the MC's and the secondary characters were so important to the story and so well drawn that I felt like I was with them all as they jumped back and forth into, and out of, the frying pan and the fire of history.
Superb is the only word I can think of for the complexity of this story. Highly recommend to all.
The tale of Cormac and Sean was amazing and memorable. Both the MC's and the secondary characters were so important to the story and so well drawn that I felt like I was with them all as they jumped back and forth into, and out of, the frying pan and the fire of history.
Superb is the only word I can think of for the complexity of this story. Highly recommend to all.
August 1, 2012
I won an ARC from the authors in a competition based on their Cruce De Caminos short story which introduces Sean and the experiences that have shaped him. Sean is one of the leads in The Druid Stone. You don't need to have read Cruce De Caminos but it does make reading The Druid Stone richer.
I have read four stories by these authors now which possibly makes me a fangrrl. I enjoy their voices and the way their stories have an edge of gothic horror to them even when that isn't an explicitly upfront part of their books. I have been thinking about this and feel that for me, this gothicness makes the risks that the characters are exposed too very real.
Everything is at stake for Cormac and Sean in the Druid Stone, their relationship, their lives, people they care about, the world as we know it. Sean is cursed and in desperation seeks out Cormac one of the last Druids in Ireland. Cormac is burnt out and sad, he has lost someone he loved. Nowadays he works hard, helps in his sister's shop and has lots of great but non-commital sex. When Sean comes to him, Cormac is at first reluctant to help or connect with him. There is humour between Cormac and Sean and in the face of events. The story is not grim even though it is violent. I think Sean saves Cormac from that grimmness. In Cormac's role as Druid, terrible and hard choices have to be made and they are a cumulative burden to his psyche. Sean is a nice guy, he is honourable. I was glad to read this about him because in the Cruce De Caminos short story he had been thrown away by his family and society. Despite what had been done to him he had not lost himself.
Cormac has a tattoo of a triskelion on his forearm. I ended up feeling that this three legged spiral was also a metaphor for the story structure. Events forced both Sean and Cormac to spiral over old and painful past wounds, their own and others. They moved backwards and forwards through time and the parallel Sidhe worlds. The ugly past history of Ireland's war for independence and the consequent civil war entwine with the mythic past to create the present situation. I thought the story wears all this background and history lightly although it does make for a complex plot and interesting relationships. This is a story to be read attentively and it does justice to the viscious hard edged creatures of Irelands mythos. there is nothing twee in this story.
The Druid Stone is a paranormal romance and Sean and Cormac's coming together as a couple is of equal importance to the resolving of the curse. I really liked that sorting out the curse and surviving the dangers they faced didn't automatically mean that the relationship was signed off. Our guys had to make things work with their real lives spread over one continent and an island with an ocean between them. To me this meant they really chose to be together not that events forced them into coupledom. That distinction is important for me in trusting the HEA.
I have read four stories by these authors now which possibly makes me a fangrrl. I enjoy their voices and the way their stories have an edge of gothic horror to them even when that isn't an explicitly upfront part of their books. I have been thinking about this and feel that for me, this gothicness makes the risks that the characters are exposed too very real.
Everything is at stake for Cormac and Sean in the Druid Stone, their relationship, their lives, people they care about, the world as we know it. Sean is cursed and in desperation seeks out Cormac one of the last Druids in Ireland. Cormac is burnt out and sad, he has lost someone he loved. Nowadays he works hard, helps in his sister's shop and has lots of great but non-commital sex. When Sean comes to him, Cormac is at first reluctant to help or connect with him. There is humour between Cormac and Sean and in the face of events. The story is not grim even though it is violent. I think Sean saves Cormac from that grimmness. In Cormac's role as Druid, terrible and hard choices have to be made and they are a cumulative burden to his psyche. Sean is a nice guy, he is honourable. I was glad to read this about him because in the Cruce De Caminos short story he had been thrown away by his family and society. Despite what had been done to him he had not lost himself.
Cormac has a tattoo of a triskelion on his forearm. I ended up feeling that this three legged spiral was also a metaphor for the story structure. Events forced both Sean and Cormac to spiral over old and painful past wounds, their own and others. They moved backwards and forwards through time and the parallel Sidhe worlds. The ugly past history of Ireland's war for independence and the consequent civil war entwine with the mythic past to create the present situation. I thought the story wears all this background and history lightly although it does make for a complex plot and interesting relationships. This is a story to be read attentively and it does justice to the viscious hard edged creatures of Irelands mythos. there is nothing twee in this story.
The Druid Stone is a paranormal romance and Sean and Cormac's coming together as a couple is of equal importance to the resolving of the curse. I really liked that sorting out the curse and surviving the dangers they faced didn't automatically mean that the relationship was signed off. Our guys had to make things work with their real lives spread over one continent and an island with an ocean between them. To me this meant they really chose to be together not that events forced them into coupledom. That distinction is important for me in trusting the HEA.
August 10, 2012
Ever since his great-grandfather gave him a strange stone, Sean O'Hara has been having the same nightmare every night. He relives again and again the torture and death of someone in the distant past. His sleep disturbed, his days getting more and more surreal as he tries to survive on little sleep and an array of pills, he's at his wits' end. Psychiatrists are no help but he thinks he might have found the solution: Cormac Kelly, an Irish druid.
Unfortunately, Cormac wants nothing to do with him. Emails and letters go unanswered. With nothing left to lose, Sean leaves Boston for Ireland to seek out the one man who is sure can help him. Cormac is reluctant to believe Sean at first, convinced he is one of those "plastic paddies", as he calls them, who think every hill holds a leprechaun or two, everyone drinks Guinness and there really is gold at the end of the rainbow.
But it's when Sean attracts the attention of a sidhe king, Finnbheara, that Cormac realises that perhaps Sean is really cursed after all.
Now, I'm not normally a fan of urban fantasy, but when I read the blurb for this one, I was drawn in with the references to Irish mythology. Being Irish myself, how could I resist? I'm glad I gave it a go, it was a wonderful tale.
Both Sean and Cormac have tortured pasts, which might have come off a bit of a cliché but there was nothing clichéd about this story, it was evocative and imaginative. It was very well-written and I couldn't tell which author wrote which part, it flowed so well.
Sometimes the romance between Cormac and Sean took a back-seat to the plot, which didn't bother me, I like a good bit of plot with my romance. This is certainly a roller-coaster ride of a plot. The book had a bit of everything: romance, adventure, ancient and mythical beings, magic and suspense. It was moving, romantic, funny and heart-wrenching in parts, everything a good novel should be.
I loved the characters, Sean and Cormac's pasts were just part of who they were, it didn't seem to be used as an excuse for cheap drama.
The book was great, I'm glad I read it, but there were a few little niggles that took me out of the story when I first read them. In a few scenes form Cormac's point of view, him being Irish, he referred to being "blocks from home" and walking on a sidewalk. I've never heard any Irish person refer to blocks, it should probably have been street or road. And no sidewalks either, it would have been pavement or footpath.
All in all an excellent read, especially if you like a good bit of plot with your romance.
Unfortunately, Cormac wants nothing to do with him. Emails and letters go unanswered. With nothing left to lose, Sean leaves Boston for Ireland to seek out the one man who is sure can help him. Cormac is reluctant to believe Sean at first, convinced he is one of those "plastic paddies", as he calls them, who think every hill holds a leprechaun or two, everyone drinks Guinness and there really is gold at the end of the rainbow.
But it's when Sean attracts the attention of a sidhe king, Finnbheara, that Cormac realises that perhaps Sean is really cursed after all.
Now, I'm not normally a fan of urban fantasy, but when I read the blurb for this one, I was drawn in with the references to Irish mythology. Being Irish myself, how could I resist? I'm glad I gave it a go, it was a wonderful tale.
Both Sean and Cormac have tortured pasts, which might have come off a bit of a cliché but there was nothing clichéd about this story, it was evocative and imaginative. It was very well-written and I couldn't tell which author wrote which part, it flowed so well.
Sometimes the romance between Cormac and Sean took a back-seat to the plot, which didn't bother me, I like a good bit of plot with my romance. This is certainly a roller-coaster ride of a plot. The book had a bit of everything: romance, adventure, ancient and mythical beings, magic and suspense. It was moving, romantic, funny and heart-wrenching in parts, everything a good novel should be.
I loved the characters, Sean and Cormac's pasts were just part of who they were, it didn't seem to be used as an excuse for cheap drama.
The book was great, I'm glad I read it, but there were a few little niggles that took me out of the story when I first read them. In a few scenes form Cormac's point of view, him being Irish, he referred to being "blocks from home" and walking on a sidewalk. I've never heard any Irish person refer to blocks, it should probably have been street or road. And no sidewalks either, it would have been pavement or footpath.
All in all an excellent read, especially if you like a good bit of plot with your romance.
August 23, 2015
I enjoyed this one immensely. Powerfully written, and the fay were wonderfully scary/capricious/attractive in an authentically otherworldly way that I value highly and scarcely ever see.
August 14, 2013
Main Characters: Sean O'Hara & Cormac Kelly
Key Themes: Time Travel, Using Magic, GFY, Irish Mythology
Location: Ireland & Boston
An urban-fantasy MM romance interwoven with Irish history & mythology.
This is a long and complex story - particularly the time travel scenes…heck, even the characters had a hard time keeping up!
Sean is half-latino and half-Irish. Not only has he been shunned by the Irish side of his family, for not being full Irish…..to add insult to injury, he was given a cursed stone by his Irish grandfather. Desperate to rid himself of the curse, he cashes in his life-savings and travels to Ireland to seek out Cormac, a druid. Turns out Cormac is a promiscuous, gay Druid, and on their first meeting, Sean decides that Cormac is the
"Worst. Druid. Ever"
Not unexpectedly, Cormac quickly falls for Sean, I actually thought that was super cute. As Cormac and Sean spend time getting to know each other, mythical creatures turn up to add spark to the story, and the MCs start looking for ways to lift the curse. At this point, I am still able to keep up.
But once Cormac starts the quest and Sean inadvertently ends up joining him, I completely lose the plot!! I am not even going to attempt to summarize what happened from then on. Suffice to say that the time travel was nonlinear and that at one point the MCs travelled over 1000 years into Ireland's past, to witness the Viking invasions.
For me, Sean was overshadowed by Cormac, maybe because Sean was the most conflicted of the two. Of the mythical characters, the clurichaun was my favorite. I laughed out loud at every scene he was in and was disappointed that he was nowhere to be found in the latter part of the story.
I wonder if the clurichaun could get his own story! He had the most memorable lines in the book -
"Fuck Notre Dame, whoever she is! Fuck her like I fucked Finnbheara's wife! She had a fanny like a trout's mouth and a face like a fanny, the dirty hoor!.
I envied the MCs their time travel (despite the horror), and whilst this was by no means an easy book to read, it was definitely worth the effort!
Key Themes: Time Travel, Using Magic, GFY, Irish Mythology
Location: Ireland & Boston
An urban-fantasy MM romance interwoven with Irish history & mythology.
This is a long and complex story - particularly the time travel scenes…heck, even the characters had a hard time keeping up!
Sean is half-latino and half-Irish. Not only has he been shunned by the Irish side of his family, for not being full Irish…..to add insult to injury, he was given a cursed stone by his Irish grandfather. Desperate to rid himself of the curse, he cashes in his life-savings and travels to Ireland to seek out Cormac, a druid. Turns out Cormac is a promiscuous, gay Druid, and on their first meeting, Sean decides that Cormac is the
"Worst. Druid. Ever"
Not unexpectedly, Cormac quickly falls for Sean, I actually thought that was super cute. As Cormac and Sean spend time getting to know each other, mythical creatures turn up to add spark to the story, and the MCs start looking for ways to lift the curse. At this point, I am still able to keep up.
But once Cormac starts the quest and Sean inadvertently ends up joining him, I completely lose the plot!! I am not even going to attempt to summarize what happened from then on. Suffice to say that the time travel was nonlinear and that at one point the MCs travelled over 1000 years into Ireland's past, to witness the Viking invasions.
For me, Sean was overshadowed by Cormac, maybe because Sean was the most conflicted of the two. Of the mythical characters, the clurichaun was my favorite. I laughed out loud at every scene he was in and was disappointed that he was nowhere to be found in the latter part of the story.
I wonder if the clurichaun could get his own story! He had the most memorable lines in the book -
"Fuck Notre Dame, whoever she is! Fuck her like I fucked Finnbheara's wife! She had a fanny like a trout's mouth and a face like a fanny, the dirty hoor!.
I envied the MCs their time travel (despite the horror), and whilst this was by no means an easy book to read, it was definitely worth the effort!
August 31, 2012
This book is much more literary and literate than the vast majority of mm romance stories out there. If all you're looking for is simple-minded sexcapades, don't even bother looking here. But if you're looking for a richly told and layered urban fantasy romance, you've come to the right place.
Both of these authors have a lot of knowledge pertaining to their subjects (both Irish and hispanic culture, history, and mythology), and it shows in their writing. Their backgrounds allow for a depth of story-telling that is rarely seen in romance novels.
I liked that there was a lot more world-buiding going on here than in many other mm books. Yup, at times that world could get a bit confusing -- but, in part, that's because it was also confusing for the characters themselves.
Also, I'm not a big fan of time travel -- but, interestingly, the characters themselves consider some of the problems that time travel can engender. Unfortunately, even though they do consider these thoughts, they still fall prey to one of them. Specifically: .
Also, it was especially difficult for me to "believe in" the climactic sequence, in the sense of suspending my disbelief. Specifically,
Overall, though, this was a very enjoyable read. I definitely intend to check out more works by these authors.
Both of these authors have a lot of knowledge pertaining to their subjects (both Irish and hispanic culture, history, and mythology), and it shows in their writing. Their backgrounds allow for a depth of story-telling that is rarely seen in romance novels.
I liked that there was a lot more world-buiding going on here than in many other mm books. Yup, at times that world could get a bit confusing -- but, in part, that's because it was also confusing for the characters themselves.
Also, I'm not a big fan of time travel -- but, interestingly, the characters themselves consider some of the problems that time travel can engender. Unfortunately, even though they do consider these thoughts, they still fall prey to one of them. Specifically: .
Also, it was especially difficult for me to "believe in" the climactic sequence, in the sense of suspending my disbelief. Specifically,
Overall, though, this was a very enjoyable read. I definitely intend to check out more works by these authors.
March 17, 2013
What an amazing journey! I quite enjoyed the story! I wondered at first what could make the story so long and was pleasantly surprised by the complexity and diversity of the plot.
I'm glad I read this story. It had depth, great characters and a most (un)believable journey for the MC!
I'm glad I read this story. It had depth, great characters and a most (un)believable journey for the MC!
November 16, 2014
An emotionally intense love story wrapped in a twisted Celtic package with a healthy dose of time-travel. The main characters, Sean and Cormac were fully developed, believable individuals, both having their share of good and bad points. Sean is an almost GFY character, although his past is ambiguous enough that he can just as easily be considered someone who was bi but shied away from same sex encounters due to the negative associations of his past. He certainly doesn't spend much time worrying over his attraction to Cormac. Cormac is arrogant but it often comes across as if he is poking fun at himself.
The first half of the story details their quest to discover a solution to the curse that causes Sean to relive nightly the horror of being tortured and murdered. The second half of the story, is down the rabbit's hole, or to be more precise the fairymound as their journey through space and time. Perhaps it is because I have read my share of Irish inspired fantasy, that I had no trouble following the narrative no matter how fantastical it got. There are several clever twists and both the overarching plot and the romance resolved in a satisfying way.
This is a very long book. It is somewhere around 450 "real pages". It probably could have done with some editing to tighten things up, but it didn't drag. The short story "Cruce de Caminos" provided a richer back story for Sean, but isn't required reading.
The first half of the story details their quest to discover a solution to the curse that causes Sean to relive nightly the horror of being tortured and murdered. The second half of the story, is down the rabbit's hole, or to be more precise the fairymound as their journey through space and time. Perhaps it is because I have read my share of Irish inspired fantasy, that I had no trouble following the narrative no matter how fantastical it got. There are several clever twists and both the overarching plot and the romance resolved in a satisfying way.
This is a very long book. It is somewhere around 450 "real pages". It probably could have done with some editing to tighten things up, but it didn't drag. The short story "Cruce de Caminos" provided a richer back story for Sean, but isn't required reading.
February 16, 2015
A gripping read! I would probably put at 4.75 but it definitely gets the hike up to a 5 here.
This is a story about hauntings and druids, set in current times but dealing with the sins of the past, all based in Ireland (OK, some very small visits to Boston!)
I had read rave reviews about the book but I was put off inially by the druid aspects. However, I won a copy on PantsonFire Reviews (including the follow up short) and boy am I glad I did!
Its enough set contemporary for me as I'm not a big paranormal fan and this is more Irish folklore (including mention of a shared mythological god, Mannanan) so a lot of it was not entirely foreign. The sections covering the druid work by Cormac got a bit confusing at times, and these elements required more careful reading (no skimming here!).. There are also time travel elements back to darker, more gruesome times, which were well written, if not always nice to read.
The romance element is provided by Sean and Cormac, though this is slow to build and not the main focus of the book . The book is also funny at times - sean's meeting with Yanto-with-a-Y.
So, I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good, involved tale, just dont expect lots of steamy sex scenes
This is a story about hauntings and druids, set in current times but dealing with the sins of the past, all based in Ireland (OK, some very small visits to Boston!)
I had read rave reviews about the book but I was put off inially by the druid aspects. However, I won a copy on PantsonFire Reviews (including the follow up short) and boy am I glad I did!
Its enough set contemporary for me as I'm not a big paranormal fan and this is more Irish folklore (including mention of a shared mythological god, Mannanan) so a lot of it was not entirely foreign. The sections covering the druid work by Cormac got a bit confusing at times, and these elements required more careful reading (no skimming here!).. There are also time travel elements back to darker, more gruesome times, which were well written, if not always nice to read.
The romance element is provided by Sean and Cormac, though this is slow to build and not the main focus of the book . The book is also funny at times - sean's meeting with Yanto-with-a-Y.
So, I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good, involved tale, just dont expect lots of steamy sex scenes
June 23, 2015
3.5 STARS Audiobbok Version
The Druid Stone was a great book, with an excellent UF/Fantasy mixed theme. Everything was solid from the MC's, plot's etc. . ..BUT...
I would have given this book 5 stars except for the writing, which could have been easily avoided. The massive problem for me was relentless shifting in the POV from characters to then being in the narrative neutral. Sometimes it worked but sometimes it did not and you only realised when it said they.
There were other occasions where I was at the end of a sentence only to realise I didn't know who was saying what to who because the POV had switched again and sometimes I had no idea who's POV it even was. This was happening up to 4-5 times in a single paragraph on occasion, it's not constant so you really have to concentrate. I was even watching the text scroll by as it was being read for most of the book to see if that helped and it didn't.
The Druid Stone was a great book, with an excellent UF/Fantasy mixed theme. Everything was solid from the MC's, plot's etc. . ..BUT...
I would have given this book 5 stars except for the writing, which could have been easily avoided. The massive problem for me was relentless shifting in the POV from characters to then being in the narrative neutral. Sometimes it worked but sometimes it did not and you only realised when it said they.
There were other occasions where I was at the end of a sentence only to realise I didn't know who was saying what to who because the POV had switched again and sometimes I had no idea who's POV it even was. This was happening up to 4-5 times in a single paragraph on occasion, it's not constant so you really have to concentrate. I was even watching the text scroll by as it was being read for most of the book to see if that helped and it didn't.
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