This post was last updated on August 23rd, 2024 at 02:45 pm
When I look for good Celtic adventure books, I always seem to find myself hunting around on Amazon forever. Sometimes, the best books get buried under all the other types of fantasy out there! I took some time to pull the really awesome ones together in one place. Here are 8 gems of Celtic fantasy not to be excluded from your list of Kindle favorites.
Three Wells of the Sea by Terry Madden and Digital Fiction
From the blurb:
When Nechtan, warrior king of the Five Quarters is murdered, he leaves his land on the brink of civil war. His closest adviser, the druid Lyleth, has a price on her head and the evidence to condemn the real killer. Seeking to unify the land, she strikes a bargain with her green gods and weaves a forgotten spell to summon her king from the land of the dead.
Hugh Cavendish is torn from his life as a high school English teacher and pitched back into the turmoil of his previous life as king Nechtan. If he and Lyleth fail to regain his throne and prevent civil war, the ice-born reaver known as the Bear waits to snatch up the scraps of the kingdom. As Hugh clings to life in our world, in the other he must face the rebellion as well as the Bear. If he lets go of life in either world he will lose not only his kingdom but the woman he loves.
What readers are saying:
“If you are a fan of Celtic literature, or have fond memories of To Green Angel Tower in particular, pick up Three Wells of the Sea as fast as you can.” —New Myths Magazine
“For fans of the dual worlds of Stephen R. Donaldson’s ‘The Land’ and Stephen King’s ‘The Talisman.’ Let’s welcome Terry Madden’s Five Quarters to the world just outside the one we live in. It has a spark of wonder, indeed.” —Rusty Clark, April 2016
# # # # #
Celtic Adventure: Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut
From the blurb:
Finn (not bleedin’ Finnegan) MacCullen is eager to begin his apprenticeship. He soon discovers the ups and downs of hunting monsters in a suburban neighborhood under the demanding tutelage of the Knight, Gideon Lir. Both master and apprentice are descendants of the Tuatha De Danaan, a magical race of warriors from Ireland. Scattered long ago to the four corners of the world, the De Danaan wage a two thousand-year-old clandestine battle with their ancient enemy, the Amand, a breed of goblin-like creatures. Now, with the beasts concentrating their attacks on Finn, he and his master must race to locate the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy the Amand, all the while hiding his true identity from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, twins whose South African roots may hold a key to Finn’s survival. Armed with a bronze dagger, some ancient Celtic magic, and a hair-trigger temper, Finn is about to show his enemies the true meaning of fighting Irish.
What readers are saying:
Funny, action-packed, wonderful! I loved this! I can’t possibly describe how giddy reading this book made me feel, but I’ll still give it a try! —Lydia Perversius, Amazon Reviewer
Finn Finnegan brings classic adventure into a modern-day setting for a great read. The Celtic lore in the story is fascinating and gives it an extra richness. This will appeal to all those readers (myself included) who love the idea of a hidden and dangerous world within our own sometimes too-ordinary world. —Dee Garretson, author of Wildfire Run and Wolf Storm
# # # # #
The Forged Prince (The Chronicles of Tethera Book 1) by Michael Laird
From the blurb:
For his own part, the boy named Llew intends to show the self-styled Queen of Deceit that even a weapon forged for evil can turn in its maker’s grasp and strike in an unexpected direction—most especially a weapon with a mind of its own.
Forced to venture forth through the wilds, to usurp a throne he does not desire, to save a kingdom he has never seen, Llew at once finds himself pursued by an ever-growing array of deadly enemies. Although he has gone forth to do the impossible, it now seems impossible he will live long enough to even try.
Fortunately, Llew is impossibly optimistic . . . and fairly handy with a sword.
This is the first book in the Chronicles of Tethera. It has been praised by readers as a very well written and gripping tale with compelling characters that each speak in their own voice, plenty of action and adventure, and all of it set in the deeply imagined world of a Prydein that never was.
What readers are saying:
“I really enjoyed reading the story. I read a lot of fantasy and mysteries. I am always looking for a new author and new stories. I like sequels—so I am looking forward to the next installment.” —Amazon Reviewer
“Five Stars. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!” —Rebecca S. Pandas, Amazon Reviewer
# # # # #
The Tales of Tanglewood: The Curse of Satyr Stump by Scott Michael Kessman
From the blurb:
The Tales of Tanglewood fantasy series melds together influences of Celtic and Irish mythology with modern-day folklore. In the second tale, “The Curse of Satyr Stump”, Colin, Blood of the Fey, returns to Tanglewood shortly before Sahwen night, a time when the magic of the ‘wood has a strange effect on all things within it. Things have entered the ‘wood that should not be there, and the pathways are no longer safe. The blackberries have spoiled, a pooka roams the ‘wood, and a strong calling pulls Colin close to Satyr Stump, where Fionn the satyr has been cursed by Grainne, the Grey Lady. Tasked to face the dark druidess and help break the curse upon Fionn, Colin seeks help from the druid Bairtlemead Muffingrow, the ferrish Ailfrid, and the elfin girl Deidre. But it will be the satyr chieftain himself who joins Colin, seeking to help restore another piece of Tanglewood that has been claimed by deiney corruption. But the Grey Lady will not yield so easily, and Colin and Fionn are both nearly powerless in her domain. Colin learns very quickly that during Sahwen, Tanglewood can be a very dangerous place indeed.
What readers are saying:
“Can’t wait for the next one! An excellent series that keeps the reader guessing and waiting for more. The plot keeps on going and the characters become more interesting as the series progresses.” —No, Amazon Reviewer
“Good read (or listen). I really enjoyed listening to the first two stories in the series. If you want to read about a child that discovers the magical world of the fey, this is a good read or listen. I listen to books while I work and want to thank the author for an enjoyable story!” —Marc in Texas, Amazon Reviewer
# # # # #
Celtic Forest (The Farnir Chronicles Book 1) by Vivette Hauser
From the blurb:
Between slavery and freedom…
…lies hope and the faith to cast off your shackles.
Cut adrift by his sister’s death, the young warrior Lugus races to warn the Council of the Wise: the leaves in Celtic Forest are about to fall, exposing Lugus and his people to the threat of slavery under the Noxen rule. Thrown together with a maiden with no memory, he has to fight his own disillusionment to rally the Celts before they destroy themselves.
And as they fall to your feet…
…look at the world crumbling around you.
Change is upon more than just Celtic Forest. A slave boy breaks his bonds to stumble upon a pocket of resistance hidden in the mists of Farnir. As the Celts stir, the Noxen kingdom itself is crumbling from within. Winding through a finely spun net of intrigues the slave lords, military and senate are moving to seize the power of the complacent royal family for themselves.
The players are assuming their positions…
…where will they stand when Celtic Forest crumbles?
# # # # #
The Second Battle by Jennifer L. Gadd
From the blurb:
According to the prophecy, Lugh is destined to kill his own grandfather. Determined to escape his fate, he runs the risk of drawing all of Ireland into war.
The story of Cath Maige Tuired has enthralled readers since the 9th Century. With this fictionalized retelling, the exciting story of the Battle for Ireland between the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Fomori reaches a new generation of young adult readers.
What readers are saying:
“A Compelling Retelling of Celtic Myth. It is no easy feat to create a modern narrative encompassing a series of Celtic myths, but Ms. Gadd sure pulls it off.” —Justine Manzano, Amazon Reviewer
“This was terrific! The author has an easy and captivating writing style that keeps you engaged throughout her work. The story is compelling, and despite the challenges of working with Celtic source material, Ms. Gadd has created a full myth cycle with beautiful continuity. Very well done. Highly recommend!” —Melissa S. Ashton, Amazon Reviewer
# # # # #
Myfanwy: First Book of the Myfanwy’s People Series by Joseph Liaigh
From the blurb:
Tom is dragged unhappily from the Australian surf to go to London in the middle of an English winter. His unhappiness increases when a mysterious figure magically appears on Westminster Bridge and tries to kill him. Tom is soon fighting bullies, being hunted by a psychotic magic user and kidnapped by a secret government agency. At school, he meets Myfanwy, and discovers that she can do magic, just as she discovers that he is immune to all forms of magic power. Their initial fear and distrust soon turns to friendship and Tom discovers a whole world of magic, beauty—and danger. This very friendship, however, threatens to upset the delicate power balance in the magic realm.
Tom and Myfanwy must get together to save the world, perhaps even the universe. But how can they, when the whole magic community is trying to keep them apart?
What readers are saying:
“Myfanwy is a charming book in every sense. It explores the magic of reality and the reality of magic. It uses great humour and suspense. It is fantasy of the best kind, the kind that sheds light on your own life as it keeps you turning the pages.” —Michael McGirr, Best selling author of The Things You Get For Free and The Lost Art of Sleep.
“A refreshingly unique story, Myfanwy invites the reader to explore intriguing characters embroiled in age-old conflicts between good and evil in an exciting and modern setting. I am looking forward to my children reading Myfanwy and growing to love it’s carefully created, layered world, while developing their own faith and exploring fundamental questions of right and wrong.” —Riny Davis, Librarian and mother of four.
# # # # #
Celtic Adventure: Fae Horse: A Faerie Tale by Anthea Sharp
From the blurb:
Accused as a witch, Eileen must flee for her life, leaving her village and true love behind. With her pursuers closing in, she chances across a strange black horse—but does she dare to pay the price of escape?
Fae Horse is a short story of 5k words (about 25 pages) in the traditional dark faerie tale style.
What readers are saying:
“It was so BEAUTIFULLY written.” —Taunya L. Clark, Amazon Reviewer
“This is a lovely short story based on an Irish legend or fairy tale. The imagery of the night and the wild ride on the horse was fantastic.” —Diana Vincent, Amazon Reviewer
Leave a Reply