Realm of Lore and Lies
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, NA
Claire Wright
⭐️⭐️⭐️

The start of this book is quite slow and I wasn't keem on the writing style. The pacing also seems to be quite slow and even by about 50% I didn't feel like a lot had actually happened.

I did like the found-family trope and the way it was included it this book was heart-warming.

The lore and mythology was interesting but I wish there was just a bit more, sometimes I did find it confusing which POV I was reading despite it being clear at the beginning of each chapter just because some of them seemed to read the same rather than have their own voice

Overall I'm a bit disappointed with this book. The synopsis and the premise itself sounded great and I was really looking forward to reading it but unfortunately it wasn't for me, although I can see how others would enjoy it and I appreciate the amount of research the author did for this book.

*Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers BooksGoSocial for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed this book, especially since it was a fae story set in Ireland, which I had never read before. There was very interesting worldbuilding and I enjoyed all of the different characters' perspectives. The whole clan social hierarchy with a Matriarch and her Second was interesting to learn about too. Overall, I would recommend this book for readers interested in fae lore and books with multiple perspectives. It was fun and heart-wrenching in the best ways.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review *

Somehow, I wanted to like this a lot more than I actually did. I feel like there were too many characters who didn't receive enough depth and the pacing of the story felt all over the place.

Unfortunately this book fell very flat for me which is a shame as I liked the premise:
It follows 4 different POVs throughout, most of which felt unnecessary and didn’t add much to the story. I found the book to drag and the first 50% could’ve been condensed down - in general the pacing dragged. Very little and confusing world building. The characters romantic relationships felt a bit forced for me as well. I did enjoy Maebhs character.

I don’t think I’ll continue with this series.

I love books that are set in Ireland and having Irish heritage myself I can tell you that the folklore and legends surrounding Ireland and the Celts is fascinating and so this book was right up my street. I loved it and devoured it so quickly. A great read and I love the cover.

Oh, this is a beautifully crafted tale of Ireland lore, and Claire Wright, you’re an awesome storyteller.
This book is an intriguing, fast-paced, easy to read, page turner that will keep you up while you follow the story of Ash, Conor, Tiernan, Maebh and Setanta while they search for the Caillte and are summoned to fight in the Cath.
Looking forward to the next installment of the Fair Ones series.

Wow! What a fabulous debut novel for this author! Realm of Lore and Lies is like nothing I've read recently. Filled with Irish lore, it captivates you with the stories of the four main characters.

This is a fantasy novel with with a hint of a murder mystery mixed in. There is very little romance, so if you're looking for that to be one of the main topics this may not be for you (though it does have potential to have some more romance in future books).

You start off in modern day Ireland, but soon realize that there is a parallel world filled with fae. We follow Aesling, Maebh, Setanta, and Tiernan as they attempt to complete a quest against other clans to become immortal warriors for the king.

I had a little bit of trouble getting into this at first, however, the world building is phenomenal. Once you learn the characters, the pages seem to turn themselves. I know for me that multiple POV's can be annoying because I want to mostly hear from one person over the other, but in this book I found myself growing attached to all four characters and was never disappointed when a POV changed.

I will definitely read book two when it comes out!

Some things you can expect when you read:
⦁ Multiple POV
⦁ Irish Mythology/Folklore
⦁ Murder Mystery
⦁ MINIMAL Romance/Spice

Thank you to Claire and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

It is so hard for me to believe that this is Claire Wright’s debut novel! Writing a fantasy book is one thing, but writing a fantasy book that has you gripped from page one is a whole other ball game and Claire Wright hit a grand slam.

This book has it all- you will laugh, you will *probably* cry, but most of all, you will swoon. What a fun read!

Realm of Lore and Lies is about Aisling who is part of the travelling Fianna clans. The Fianna clans are gifted with the ability to see through fae glamour and Aisling has this ability as well as she is part of the Breen clan. At a very young age, Aisling runs away and is taken in by a couple who treat her like their own. Years later, the only contact she has to her old life is through her brother Connor who writes letters to her. When tragedy strikes, Aisling is once again thrust in to the world of her clan that she had left behind. We are then introduced to Maebh Setanta and Tiernan and the story follows them on their journey through a tough competition among the clans to become selected to be immortal warriors for the king.

This is quite possibly one of the most richly written out worlds in a fantasy book I've read this year. The fae are shown as the deadly creatures they were meant to be and I was fascinated by the Fianna clans and their rich culture and how they dealt with the fae. This does not feel like a debut book honestly. I loved how the fae world and the human world worked like parallel worlds instead of two sepeate ones.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was the Irish mythology woven into it. I have never read a book with Irish mythology before and it was honestly captivating. In addition to seeing the clans in the competition, we also see our main characters trying to solve the mystery of Aisling's mother's death and the case of the disappearances from several years before and it was great to see the pieces of the puzzle falling in place.

There are several questions left unanswered at the end of the book but it makes me all the more excited for the second book. If you love anything fae and mystery with mythology thrown into it, then this is the book for you.

First of all I want to thank the incredible Claire Wright for sending me an advanced copy of her debut novel Realm of Lore and Lies.

I immediately fell in love with this book because for one of the first times a book, based in Ireland, with Irish mythos and Irish culture was written by an IRISH PERSON! And it's not cringe-worthy because Claire obviously knows what she's writing about.

We meet Aisling, who is fending off the Fae world after she chose to leave the Fianna seven years ago. However, when a terrible tragedy occurs she is forced to return home to her brother and her former friends.

In an attempt to learn who is murdering members of the Fianna, she reunites with Maebh, Tiernan and Setanta.

Despite Aisling being our "main" character, I immediately fell in love with Maebh. A woman who is struggling with the pressures her mother has put on her as well as just the struggles of being a young woman navigating love and friendship. She second-guesses herself internally as she projects a bad bitch persona.

Tiernan is tall, dark and brooding, but there is certainly going on behind those beautiful eyes.

Setanta, Maebh's brother, is the golden boy... And I am suspicious haha!

The ending of this book had me literally screeching, I cannot wait to get the second book. And everyone needs to get on this book ASAP!

This is the first book in a series set firmly in Irish Celtic traditions. The book is a perfect read on its own. Only 3 stars for me because it takes a long time for the story really to develop as the characters are introduced. Ash is part of the travelling Fianna folk, and can see through Fae glamour. But she has left the tradition to find a life for herself in the wider world at University. Then she finds her mother murdered. Read the book and follow her journey as she strives to find the killer and protect those she loves in a world she thought she had left behind. Thank you to Leannán Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed all mine, freely given.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read this book ahead of its release, it's honestly one of the best fantasy fiction books you've read in ages.

I totally enjoyed this book from start to finish so five star rating for sure and definitely getting a Physical copy of this book.

Set in Ireland and filled with Fae Lore, monsters, magick, romance and murder, Realm of Lore and Lies follows the story of Ash, Set, Maebh and Tiernan.

It has some of the best characters I've read about in ages. We all need a Set in our lives. This book was impossible to put down. I loved the world building and that the author took the time to build such a strong understanding of each character.

You're totally drawn into their world. I love all four of the main characters and watching the relationships unfold. With plot twists and so much happening throughout, I found it impossible to fault this book.

Can't wait for book two.

If there is one Fae fantasy book you read, it needs to be this one.

I would like to start out by saying that I have been looking forward to this book for a very long time. When I first read the description, I knew that it would become a favorite read for me. What I didn't expect was to absolutely fall in love with everything about it.....This is Claire Wright's debut but it definitely reads like a seasoned author who has many best sellers under her belt!

This story follows Aisling who is from the Breen Clan. At a very young age, she runs away and is taken in by a wonderful couple who treat her like their own. She lives away from her clan for years but has so many regrets and misses her younger brother Conner. The only tie she has to her family are the written letters that she receives from her brother. When tragedy strikes, Aisling must go back and rely on the help of friends and family to participate in the Cath. The only way she will survive is if she relies on the for help. The problem is that there are so many obstacles in her way and she must decipher the truth for fiction. Will she and her friends survive?

OH MY.......This book is so good. Its hard to even describe how much I LOVE THIS STORY! Claire weaves a tale so entrenched in lore and mythology that you find yourself drawn in and not wanting it to end. The characters become your friends and their travels become your journey into their world. They are a group of misfits that work. There is Tiernan who is the dedicated friend and computer genius but more like another brother to Aisling. Maebh (pronounced Maeve) who is the best friend that Aisling didn't know she needed. And let me tell you, Maebh is snarky and funny as hell! Set is the handsome twin brother to Maebh. He's the sexy love interest but he doesn't know it. Poor Set has secrets and demons he is fighting all the time. and you have Connor. Aisling's brother who has his own demons to high. Together, this rag tag group of misfits will laugh, cry and fight together to form a family who will stick together through it all. Claires love for her homeland is woven through this book and is amazing to see it through her eyes. The writing is flawless and the story a tale I will never forget. I promise that you will love it as much as me and I hope you give it a try. If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would!

☘️ BOOK REVIEW ☘️

Title: Realm of Lore and Lies
Author: Claire Wright
Genre: Fantasy

Rating: /5
1.5
This book is based on Irish lore and follows a group of Fianna as they go on the Cath to join the Kings guard.

Okay, so this book was not for me. I did not really enjoy the writing style and there are a few issues I will highlight about this book that I feel should have been addressed in earlier drafts. The actual idea of the book is actually really interesting to me. My family is Irish but I do not know much about Irish lore and it was interesting to look up as I was reading and learning little pieces of it.

The first issue I had with this book was the pacing. It started off super slowly, they don't even begin to go on the main 'quest' of the book until around 50% of the way in, before that it felt like a lot of fluff added in that did not need to be there. The ending then also felt rushed as so much didn't happen in the beginning so the pacing just did not feel right. For example, they found what they were looking for immediately when it would have been more fun for them to have had longer to look and for them to take longer to work it out.

The next issue I had with the book is that some bits were really hard to follow, or just did not make sense. It felt like some bits had been missed during editing and it took me out of the story. For example a sentence might name two female characters and then go on to say 'she' without it being obvious which one of the two is being spoken about. This meant I was getting annoyed as I was reading as I was not exactly sure what was happening.

Another issue was a random 'spice' scene thrown in at a random time, with random characters who seemed to have no real chemistry. It did not feel like it fitted into the timeline very well and I found myself laughing at the scene when it was not there for comic effect. This could also be because the character building fell a bit flat at times, so I did not particularly care for any of them so I did not see the point in the scene.

A final issue was that we did not learn too much about the actual 'fantasy' of the world, and the bits we did know did not come up often. For example, they were in a realm with apparently dangerous creatures, and it would have been nice to have a few encounters along their quest so that we could find out more about the realm they were in.

I also felt like the lesbian couple was thrown in for diversity and their whole personalities were that they were a female couple, as someone in the LGBTQIA+ community I found it a bit disrespectful as it felt they were thrown in for the diversity factor.

The actual plot of the book was interesting, and I feel that with some adjustments to the plot pacing and a bit more world building it would be a really great fantasy book. The author is also clearly good at researching her writing and creating an interesting world.

I do think that this would be a good read for younger audiences, or people new to fantasy but if you enjoy a complex and exciting fantasy book it might not be for you.

"Blood spilt on Samhain is an invitation for all manner of evil to befall you."

We are huge fans of contemporary fantasy and feisty fairies, so it was a real treat to get an early peek at this new magical series set in the Emerald Isle 💚🍀✨

Realm of Lore and Lies is a little coming-of-age, a little murder mystery and a very cool take on some familiar Irish lore. Deadly fae, a closed matriarchal society of traveling performers, and badass warrior women with unusual abilities - oh yeah!

There are some interesting spins on a few of the myths and customs that shape the story's main quest, and the druid character was a delightfully dark take on the trope.

All in all it was a most excellent weekend read for lovers of fantasy adventure with an Irish vibe. ✨Scheduled for release on October 3rd 2022✨

📻Soundtrack - Flogging Molly
🥮Munchies - Barmbrack

Finally a fantasy novel steeped in Irish mythology!

Where to begin other than I loved this book? This follows four points of view- Ash, Maebh, Set and Tiernan as they all try to come to terms with the lost members of the main clans. I loved how they each had the same amount of weight within the book, providing a varied account of the issues they face as well as the quest they are forced to partake in. Wright’s world-building is effortless and we experience not only a modern day world in which the Fianna clans try to survive, but also the mythological lands of the Tara Court- all in stark clarity. The plot feels refreshing- it’s more about solving mysteries rather than blood, guts and war- and allows the four main characters to develop in way which makes it a pleasure to experience. The connections between them feels realistic and never once left me wondering how they could develop such close kinships in so short amount of time.

If I were to put this review in a nutshell, it would go as follows: I simply loved this book and found it so exciting, I was practically bouncing in my seat. I cannot wait for the second one!

I would highly recommend any fantasy lover to crack open this book and explore a world of intoxicating Irish folklore.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Realm of Lore and Lies.

High Fantasy is my all-time favourite literary genre, and I have read so many series that fit into this category. I requested RoLaL based on the beautiful cover and the synopsis piquing my interest, and was pleasantly surprised when it quickly became one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in a long time, along with one of my top five reads of this year.

Based on Irish Mythology, Realm of Lore and Lies follows protagonist Aisling Breen, struggling between the normal life she is attempting to lead, and the complicated one she has left behind. Told through multi-person-pov, all four main character’s perspectives kept me engaged and gripped, and I loved weaving together the information each character was gaining and how it would come to help the others. The characters felt so real to me: they were so well-developed with their motivations, flaws, insecurities and personalities all clear and believable. You truly root for Aisling, Meabh, Setanta and Tiernan.

This book ticks so many boxes for me: likeable and developed characters, interesting magic systems, incredible romantic tension and moments, genuinely funny humour, female friendship, heart-breakingly sad moments, mystery, and PLOT TWISTS. Towards the end I had to hold my kindle one-handed as I needed the other hand to cover my open mouth. When a character title-dropped, I had to put it down and go for a walk.

Realm of Lore and Lies was so well-written. I highlighted so many excerpts of this book that just had the most beautiful descriptions: it was so vivid I really felt like I was seeing it myself. I could not believe when I read in the acknowledgements that this is Claire Wright’s debut novel - I have already followed her on Goodreads so I don’t miss any updates as I need to read anything she writes. I will 100% be buying a physical copy of RoLaL when it comes out in October and will be forcing everyone I know to read it, as well as recommend it over on my BookTok account. I eagerly - read: impatiently - book 2 of this series.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of Realm of Lore and Lies in exchange for an honest review.

This book really draws you in, making it near impossible to put down. The Irish folklore was fascinating to read about, and the world building was really great. The writing is really excellent, and I can’t wait to read the next book!

Some key elements of this book:

-Found family trope
-Irish folklore
-Clan politics
-Mystery
-Multiple POV’s

I was super excited to read this book based off the description and the comparison to SJM books, and even though it wasn't exactly what I expected, I absolutely adored it. The characters are incredibly well written and their friendships and relationships are well developed - they feel like a true team, not just a random selection of characters mashed together. Even though their shared histories and pasts are directly explained in the prose, I felt like I could really see and understand who they were to one another just based off of their actions and the way they interact.

On top of that, the plot was super compelling and captivating. I felt like I never quite new what was coming next, and even now I'm not entirely sure what to expect for the next book!

I'm rating it 4 stars instead of 5 for two main reasons: the first is that based off of the comparison to SJM and Holly Black I expected it to be more of a romance novel, and even though there was some romance (and one spicy scene) it was very much a sub-plot as opposed to the main storyline. I would compare it the most to the first Throne of Glass book, but even less romance than that. Not that that's a problem - just not what I was expecting! The second reason is simply that it was a little slow-paced for my taste. I think the pacing worked really well for the novel but personally I find my mind can wander a bit with slow paced books.

Overall, the book was incredible, and I cannot wait for the sequel!

I loved this book it was great. The writing style was fast-paced and engaging, the characters had great arcs and the world-building was brilliant.