Aisling has been different since she ran away from home 7 years ago. She rediscovers her roots of being a Fianna warrior against the Fair Ones when an unexpected tragedy strikes.

Maebh has always been second fiddle to her twin brother Setana in their mothers eyes. She’s tired of constantly feeling the need to prove herself “just as golden” as Set.

These two become unlikely friends and Allie’s as they have to navigate the ins and outs of clan life.

This is a wonderful debut novel set deep in Irish mythology!

She lived and breathed archaeology

Same Ash, same. And talking about Aisling, welcome to this honest review of Realm of Lore and Lies, a book I had the opportunity to read as an advance copy.

Like I said, this is Ash’s story, a girl who ran from her clan and years after that she is in her last year of her archaeology degree. The only connection she has with her family is through her brother’s letters she receives monthly. One day like any other, she is working on an archaeological site, and she saw a Banshee, a creature that according to Irish folklore is a signal if someone will die soon. Oh surprise, not much time after that, Ash found a body in a tomb, but obviously this is not a skeleton from an ancient group, nope, it’s a person that had been murdered and now, Ash is a suspect.

But that is not the only thing that complicates Ash’s life, she also has to return home and take an active role on her clan, and be part of the Cath, something like a competition on Tír na nÓg AKA the land of youth or the Irish otherworld. Dun dun dun… Here is where things became interesting, that’s means you have enough information to make yourself an idea of what this book is about.

With the help of Maebh, Setanta and Tiernan, Ash has to claim her birthright, find a murderer and win some quest for the High King, nothing could go wrong right? Well, everything could go wrong when magic and ancient forces are involved, so you can figure out that Ash’s journey isn’t easy.

Quick opinion, I loved this book. The world in this book feel so real, magical and it’s so full of myths that this archaeologist and myths lover writing this review fangirled a lot. This book brings to life a lot of Irish folklore and combines this with a murder mystery and a fantasy story, and even with these elements, the book doesn’t feel overwhelming or dense.

Now, what I think is the strongest point of this book, the characters, this story follows multiple points of view, and every single one of them was really good, but my favorite was Ash’s POV. But the four of them were fascinating. I love that every one of the four main characters, Ash, Set, Maebh, and Tier; had their own adventure and space to grow through the story, to feel their fears and to make their own choices.

Talking about the characters I can’t talk about one of them, letting the others behind so, what can I say without spoiling you? That I loved them and I really need them happy and living their best life. Another thing I can say is #leaveMaebhbehappy please, this girl has been through a lot; also I can say that I loved that Ash fangirled with ancient symbols, and I’ve never been so identified with a character, in terms of their love for the past, like I was with Ash. And of course, I can’t forget that Tiernan is so smart, I love how clever he is, and also how cute Setanta is, I mean he could kill me, but I think he is like a big teddy bear ready to kill.

Finally, let’s talk about that final part of the book, it was so good, I love it, the way everything tided up together to make the big revelation of the real evil one was epic. Now I'm patiently waiting for book two on this series because I need to read what will happen to these guys in the trials they’ll have to face in the future.

Sooooo, I gave Realm of Lore and Lies 4.5/5 because even when I loved this book, and it’s such an amazing story full of myths and folklore, it was a little difficult for me to follow every character’s storyline at the beginning, but in my defense, I was more focused on Ash’s story because I just wanted to know, and I am an impatient person :D. But when I did it, I couldn’t stop reading until the end.

An excellent way to start a series! Realm of Lore and Lies is a beautifully woven tale that features some of my favourite elements of fantasy. I loved the characters and adored the Irish lore, which was very well written. You can tell that the author put a lot of love into this book. I highly recommend this book and am unbelievably excited for the sequel!

Big thanks to Claire and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read the e-arc for this amazing book! Not every book I read is a hit and I easily fall into book slumps, but this book brought me right out of it!

Folklore, mythology, and magical creatures are my favorite subjects. I have to read a book whose blurb checks all three boxes. This story follows Ash and a band of misfits from the Fianna Clans. Ash leads a double life in a world where two realms exist and the fae hunt unsuspecting humans for sport. She never imagined she would have to deal with clan life again until she finds her mother's brutally murdered body on Samhain. On top of that, she has to become the matriarch of the clan. When she thinks things couldn't get any worse she has to lead the clan in the Cath. A competition between all the clans filled with dangers she could never imagine.

Although Ash is the main character, there are other characters who I grew to love, and although I thought the different POVs would be confusing, I actually became attached to each and every one. There is so much world-building, character-building, and mystery around every corner that I could not put this book down. Despite the lack of spice, I think this book is still worth reading. There is so much depth and complexity to the storyline that a lack of romance does not matter. Not to say there isn't a sprinkle of romance, it is there lol just not the main focus.

You will love this book if you enjoy mystery, action, and edge-of-your-seat books that will emotionally damage you. During some parts of the story, I felt as if I were there with all its magic and intrigue. This was a page-turner and worth the gray hairs I may have gotten from reading it.

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

Do you like magical quests? How about magical quests in Ireland? How about magical quests in Ireland with found family and not one, but two slow burn romances? If yes then this book is for you.

This book was wonderful. Filled with mystery, beautiful setting descriptions and interesting, yet complex characters, I would highly recommend this book to any fantasy fan.

What have I just read?? I’m awestruck, CLAIRE when can I get book two? The Cliffhanger, the suspense of what will happen next is killing me. I’m astounded by the story, it has bowled me clean sweep. The detailing here is impeccable and that makes the World Building more strong and more relatable to me. I could picture all the things and scenarios happening with precision. Multiple POVs made the perspective of the story more defined for me.

The four main characters “Ash, Tier, Set, Mae”, have four different traits, with minds of their own, making the experience of the story mind-blowing. Having to deal with their own struggles in life at a young age, has made them the way they are strong, confident, and full of self-doubts and the need which they think can never be fulfilled. When this group of misfits comes together on a journey, they experience and realize many things they were missing.

It’s Clair's debut novel and she has woven this story so perfectly with the detailing of the surrounding that I want to visit Ireland someday and want to see the places mentioned. Justice is done with other characters and I loved everything about the book. I enjoyed reading these lovely fellows, I’m suspicious of Druid Ethne, I hate Emer and how she treats people. A lot is left unsaid and I’m reading to find out in the next book.

It’s a 4.5⭐️ for me.

Okay so maybe I am a bit Biased, as an Ashe, with a book character named Ash. But this Debut Novel by Claire Wright, blew me away in a way, I honestly don't always expect with a debut novel. Thanks sooo much to @netgalley for this ARC. I love reading a fantasy set in Ireland with Fae, quests, banter and warrior clans. Sexy males, badass females, murder mystery, surprise endings…oof. I think I may have ran the gambit of emotions. Laughing out loud, crying a little bit, ready to throw my fucking kindle. it was kind of a roller coaster lol But I saw Irish lore and knew I needed it yesterday!

In a land that harbours two realms, magical creatures and dangerous games are a way of life and death for the travelling Fianna clans. It is an honour to visit Tír na nÓg, even if the price is pretending Fair Ones don’t hunt humans for sport.
Ireland native Aisling never imagined she’d be alone, living a double life. But when your family shares the ability to see through Fae glamour, keeping secrets isn’t something you do for fun. You do it to stay alive..

This is Ash’s story, a girl who ran from her clan and years after that she is in her last year of her archaeology degree. The only connection she has with her family is through her brother’s letters she receives monthly. One day she is working on an archaeological site, and she sees a Banshee, a creature that according to Irish folklore is a signal if someone will die soon. Oh surprise, not much time after that, Ash found a body in a tomb, but obviously this is not a skeleton from an ancient group, nope, it’s a person that had been murdered and now, Ash is a suspect.

DUN DUN DUN!!!!

One of the best parts of this book is the strength of the characters. This story follows many points of views. The four of them were both really good, but of course Ash's was my favourite , But they each had their own space to grow, and their own adventure throughout the story, so that the reader is able to feel their fears, and having space to make their own choices.

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.
I loved all the culture and lore and really found the world building to be so rich and beautifully written. The twists and turns and secrets were perfect and I honestly can’t wait for the next book in the series.

This book tied up so nicely, and I was not disappointed by the way it wrapped up at the end. I love it, the way everything tided up together to make the big revelation of the real evil one was epic. Now I'm patiently waiting for book two on this series because I need to read what will happen to these guys in the trials they’ll have to face in the future.

I absolutely LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

The world building was incredible, easy to follow and FULL of Irish folklore! I felt myself being so drawn in and wanted to learn even more about Irish folklore and mythology after finishing the book. ROLAL is definitely a standout fantasy novel for me.

The four main characters (Ash, Tier, Set and Mae) were all unique, strong and well rounded which made the story all the more engaging, and I thoroughly enjoyed following the story from all four of their POVs.

Claire created so much mystery and suspense and I honestly had no idea what was coming next so I was SHOOOOOOOOK by the ending. I need the second book already!!!

I received an ARC for an honest review.

Realm of Lore and Lies is based in modern Ireland and the main characters are Fiannan, who are a travelling community who have a connection with the fae. It focusses around Ash and her peers.

In general, I enjoyed the book. The characterisation was decent and the plot moved briskly but the chapter focus changed from character to character, which I never really like. I did get a little confused on occasion as there were a couple of times key scenes happened and it wasn’t obvious what had happened but it was all explained by the end. Though an easy enough read I did feel like there was something missing. I wasn’t invested and maybe that’s because of the changing viewpoints or something else, I don’t know.

It was definitely left open for another book though as there were some questions and things waiting to happen, though there was no major cliffhanger.

The fantasy novel I didn’t know I needed! This mesmerizing debut novel is steeped in Irish folklore and mythology. I fell in love with Ash, Set, Maebh, and Tiernan! Each added a unique voice to this beautiful story about found family, slow-burn romance, coming home/into your own, plot twisters, and fighting inner monsters. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for book two!

Thank you to NetGalley, Claire Wright, and BooksGoSocial for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Was a good book. Was a it confusing at first when all the characters were introduced but I got really intrigued with the concept of the book and the parallel worlds. It was like acotar but less action but also had its own flare with the use of the mystery. Was a great read and I really enjoyed it would recommend if you are a fan of mystery and acotar vibes.

If you enjoy fast-paced fantasy novels featuring new adult characters trying to find their way in the world than Realm of Lore and Lies by Claire Wright may be the book you have been waiting for.

Alternating between the limited omniscient perspectives of Aisling (Ash), Tiernan, Setana, and Maebh, the novel tells the story of the Fianna, a group of traveling clans living in 21st century Ireland who have inherited Faerie Sight which allows them to see through the glamour of the Fair Ones. The novel opens with Ash, a young woman who was destined to be the matriarch of her clan before leaving her people to pursue a degree in archaeology. When Ash finds the dead body of her mother in an ancient tomb, she is forced back to the world of the Fianna to complete her mother’s quest and solve her murder.

The tone and style of the novel is designed to appeal to new adults, and it does fulfill this objective. The focus rotates quickly between the misfit characters, the language is casual, and plot is emphasized over characterization. The novel is the first in a series, so the conclusion prepares readers for more rather than bringing full closure to the narrative.

My favorite part about the book is the use of Irish history, spirituality, and lore. Readers will learn about Puca, Changelings, Will O’ The Wisps, Banshees, the Tuatha De Danann, and Tir na nOg. The lore was more interesting to me than the plot, but overall, the book is a fun read that will leave you contemplating the way you define your family, your clan, and your home.

Realm of Lore and Lies is a captivating debut filled with Irish mythology, a murder mystery, and amazing friendships.

Fantasy books with murder mystery is one of my favorite types of books so that was an aspect of this book that I was really looking forward to and I enjoyed it immensely!

The story takes place in a modern world with a parallel faerie realm, and I liked the modern touches but we still got the elements of a fantasy world. Realm of Lore and Lies follows a band of misfits as they compete in a competition against other clans to become immortal warriors for the king. They are also trying to discover who murdered Aisling’s mom.

The world building was so realistic and well written, I feel like I could travel to the faerie realm if I were in Ireland. And the Irish mythology was magical! I loved the clan politics, it’s so different than anything I’ve read before.

Claire Wright wrote a delightful cast of characters, each with their own different vibrant personalities that I loved. We get the 4 POVs of the main characters and I liked all of POVs. I didn’t find myself wanting one characters over the others which sometimes happens when I read books with more than two POVs. Aisling discovers so many secrets and this book really kept me on my toes while reading!

While I thought the beginning was a little slow getting to know all the characters, the writing is excellent and it was really enjoyable and easy to read. The murder mystery plot was excellent and we get politics, adventure, and plot twists along the way. Realm of Lore and Lies is phenomenal and I’d definitely recommend it!

Some things you can expect from this book:
✨Murder mystery
✨Irish mythology
✨Found family
✨Clan politics
✨Multiple pov

Realm of Lore and Lies- Book Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have recently fell in love with romance books that have murder mystery, and now I found a fantasy book with murder mystery? Safe to say I was hooked!

Realm of Lore and Lies was an amazing debut murder mystery, mythology, and found family-ish.

This story takes place in a small town in Ireland where the faerie and human lands run parallel, but humans don’t know they exist. Insert the finnian warriors/clans who help to make sure that is how it stays. Throughout the story we get to follow two clans as they compete against one another for a spot in the kings immortal army. All while also trying to solve the FMC mothers murder, who she hasn’t spoken to in 7 years.

Claire had AMAZING world building, I felt like I could truly picture the setting. Also first book in awhile that the fae weren’t “good”, which I haven’t read in awhile. The cast of characters were amazing and each so unique, I loved that we got to hear from all their POVs.

This book was a little slow towards the beginning/middle BUT it picked up so much at the end that it had me screaming that I needed more, and that epilogue!!!!!

I cannot wait for the second book! Thank you to Claire and Netgallery for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The realm of lore and lies is a slow burner that slowly hooks you and leaves you unable to turn away from the pages.

Perfect for young adults looking for a feel-good easy read. With Romance, fantasy, and murder mystery what more could you ask for?

Whilst I enjoyed this book I couldn’t give it 5 stars as I found all of the different narratives used at the start of the book to be a bit confusing. The further I got into the book and the more I got used to the characters the easier it got.
I also wish there had been more time to delve deeper into the characters and to see more character development and development of relationships between the characters. That’s what the next book in the series is for though!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Summary: Aisling left her family behind 7 years ago, taken in by the only two people who might have a chance of understanding her, she starts her life anew with her two sweet foster parents. Her only connection to her past are the letters she receives from her brother, Conor, and the occasional Fair One trying to steal an infant from unsuspecting humans in the cafe she works in. Aisling has The Sight; she comes from a long line of warriors who balance the two sides of the veil in order to keep peace with the Fair Ones. It’s her senior year of college, everything seems to be going well, until she’s met by a heralding call and discovers something that will undoubtedly change everything.

This was such a refreshing read! This took me back to middle school reading YA Fantasy like The Iron Fey that took more of a traditional folklore approach to the world building and I loved it so much!! An incredible balance between deep roots and well utilized traditional Irish folklore based in the Tír na nÓg, the Tuatha Dé Danann, and history and historic sites such as The Hill of Tara and Newgrange, and the Fianna while also including the modern world in a realistic way!

The characters are well developed and relatable! I found myself cheering Maebh on and my heart hurting for her simultaneously! Aisling is so complex and I can’t wait for us to continue to get to know her character and dive deeper into her complex relationships with her heritage and commitments and her perspectives after spending 7 years among modern society. I need to know more of Conor’s story. My heart breaks for him and his journey and experiences.

There are romantic subplots in this story that I think are appropriate for the YA genre! I’m interested to see what directions things go in as the plot continues.

I just LOVED the lore! I feel like fantasy has been steering away from truly sticking with traditional lore in world building lately, but I think this is just so CLASSIC while still being original and I just adored it!

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC of this book!

Realm of Lore and Lies is an expertly written debut New Adult Fantasy novel! Mystery, well-written characters, and Irish Folklore? What's not to enjoy!? Add in a dash of emotional damage and an ending that will leave you wanting more and you have the makings of a perfect start to a series! I will be awaiting the next installment in this at the edge of seat!

I absolutely LOVED that this was set in Ireland! Lots of fun lore and world building in this story! I look forward to reading book 2!

Growing up on stories of Irish folklore and history, this fantasy book filled such a special place in my heart, and that's on top of it being an absolutely amazing story that kept me reading chapter after chapter. I loved each of the characters, how their histories were interwoven and their general badassary - ooh and that ending made my heart hurt. I can't wait to see if there will be more books!

I was pleasantly surprised by how good this book was. I didn‘t really have any expectations going in, I just new that it‘s a fantasy book. I loved the story playing in Ireland, it‘s a story with some romance, family stories, murder and mystery. I wanted more depth into the characters but that might be something that will get explored in the second one of this series, we‘ll see. I‘m excited to see how this will continue.

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC*. I loved this book a lot! The characters where really amazing I was in love with Set from his first chapter. The plot and story were very interesting and kept you engaged the whole time. The setting of Ireland is beautiful. Overall very enjoyable read!

I very much enjoyed this book!

The writing was great - it was easy to follow yet not overly simplified, even though there were a lot of names and terms that were new to me.

I thought the author struck the right balance between explaining the world and letting the reader get as in depth as desired. I found myself looking up places and people and terms. They were explained in the book, but I love knowing the details. And this book did such a great job of intertwining fiction and modern day Ireland with its rich history and folklore.

And I loved the storyline. With the Irish legends and lore, romance, and mystery, I was hooked from the first chapter.

I love that the story is told from multiple POVs. Early on I was interested in each of the characters, and by the end I was completely invested.

My only criticism is that the voices for the different character chapters weren’t overly distinct. There were a couple times I had to remind myself who’s POV I was reading. But I think I just needed a bit more depth from the characters. And by the end of the book I was starting to see it. So I hope we get even more character arcs in the next book. Which I will definitely be reading!

Beautiful representation of Irish mythology with captivating characters, this is a unique and magical read that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy!

I throughly throughly loved this debut from Claire Wright. There were sprinkles of romance, fantasy, murder, and a whole load of mysterious circumstances to figure out. I fell in love with all four of the main protagonists, as we see all the action through their eyes and get to understand their backstory in this world. The characters I believe are all around 23 (I will have to double-check), so I enjoyed having their ages close to mine.

I sometimes find fantasy books a struggle when there are huge info dumps, but I found it easy to follow along with the plot, remember past characters, and get a sense of the general direction the story was heading. I would argue that the story in the first 30% is a little bit slow, but the pace picks up soon after. I read this book digitally, but I believe the chapters in a paperback would probably be quite short, which is something I really love too.

All in all, this was a great debut and after that finale, I will sell my soul for next year to come quickly so I can get my hands on it. >Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review<

Irish mythology at its best.
Though the pace was quite slow this fantasy book was also part thriller / mystery which I enjoyed more than I expected to.
Thanks to netgalley for the book

I would like to start out by saying that I have been looking forward to this book for ages! When I first read the description, I knew that it would become a favourite read for me. What I didn't expect was to fall in love with everything about it. This is Claire Wright's debut but it definitely reads like it's not!

Realm of Lore and Lies, a book weaving Irish folklore with a fantastic story. I enjoyed reading this and can not wait until the sequel is out. I need to know how the Author ends all of this.

This book is complex in the sense that you are given a lot of information on Irish stories and lore which relates to the Characters and the situations they are in. Once you get started you can not stop. However you do need to pay attention because even the smallest details can be revealed to be very significant as the story continues.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book and give my opinion.

This book was very interesting and refreshing. I loved the way Claire Wright told this story, as she set it up beautifully. I loved how although the book was written in third person, each chapter focused primarily on a different character and their thoughts. Books written like that are so refreshing and such a joy to read. I found Ash's story to be the most interesting and entertaining because she was the easiest one for me to relate to. The other characters, however, are still interesting. One thing to note about this book is that it is relatively on the lengthy side and does move a bit slow during some parts. It didn't bother me much because the plot was still overall interesting, but keep that in mind while reading this one. I would still recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this free arc in exchange for my honest review.

First, a sincere thank you to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

The story takes place in a modern world with a parallel faerie realm, which is reminiscent of Holly Black's work. Realm of Lore and Lies follows a band of outcasts as they compete in a competition against other clans to become immortal warriors for the king. Features a murder mystery plot trying to solve the murder of main character Aisling's mother. I found the world building to be very well written without coming across as too heavily involved that it hinders the plot and character development. A fantastic read for fans of fantasy and Irish mythology.

I honestly didn’t know what this book was for at least the first third of it. I was drawn in by the mythology but couldn’t tell of it was going to be thriller, fantasy, or some amalgamation of both. I like that the characters are flawed and so human, fae sight or no, and that we get to see how “fair” the fair folk really are. But for a series named after the fair ones, we see precious few of them. For all the series romanticizing the fae as of late, I love that Realm of Lore and Lies holds them apart as an other that is hard to be knowable. Despite the legends and lore, they aren’t to be understood. But even more so, I like the fact that despite their otherness, the Tuatha Dé are not the antagonists, at least as far as we know. This has rambled on, but I have to say that I’m hooked and will certainly be picking up the sequel as soon as may be. And as Maebh and Tiernan immortalized, “Níl sé ach ina thús.”

To start, I love the map provided at the beginning. The detail is really nice.

I liked how it got right into the story and a lot of world building wasnt thrown at us right at the beginning. It was added as it was relevent.

I was not fully sure, I was going to like this book. I have been in a bit of a fantasy reading slump lately. But, this book helped me out of it. The story was very engaging and all of the characters were interesting in their own way.

I really like that this book has multiple POVs. Getting to see both characters POV always helps me get into the story and like the characters more. I was worried with the multiple POV's that it would be hard to distinguish the characters, but Claire made sure to give them all their own voices.

This is an incredibly magical story with lush prose and incredible characters, both main and supporting. The author is so incredibly transportive to this magical world..

Aisling is a Fianna, or a people that have The Sight and protect the human world from the Fair Ones, or fae. She is suddenly thrust into the position of matriarch of her clan after the shocking murder of her mother. It follows three other characters as well. Maebh, a young woman hell bent on finding her missing father and proving her worth to her over bearing mother. Maeve’s twin, Setanta, fighting against an affliction that turns him into a monster. And Tiernan, a Fianna skeptic who is searching for his missing mother.
The mystery and suspense was unreal. I had no idea what to expect from one moment to the next. This is not a book you can easily anticipate.
And oh my gosh. This book was so good. Realm of Lore and Lies is definitely a slow build, so if you’re hoping to jump straight into the action with a clear idea of what’s happening, you don’t. But, with the slowness you get INCREDIBLE world building. Honestly, few books have the depth and intricacies of a magic world while keeping the story interesting and moving forward. I was absolutely captivated. I already cannot wait until the second book comes out!

Side note: the pronunciation guide at the end is necessary and a lifesaver. You need it. Irish Gaelic is very confusing to my brain!!!

I loved this book so much! Definitely in my favorites of 2022 so far. I cannot believe this is the author's debut release! This book is character-driven with multiple POVs. It has been quite a while since I was interested in every character's storyline individually. In this book I was. Switching between perspectives didn't feel distracting. I was completely invested in what happened to each of ghte characters in this story.

This story also includes little known and rarely discussed mythological creatures/entitles from Celtic Mythology and Lore. .The modern clan systems being part of the main story line was really entertaining. I'm really happy I had the opportunity to read this book and I will continue with the series as future books come out. Fans of Sarah J. Maas will probably enjoy this book. Is it time for the second book to come out yet???!!!!

*Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

4.5 ⭐️

I really loved the setup of this book, the Irish folklore and the world Claire Wright created 🪄

The third person perspective was refreshing, although I kind of wanted a little more depth to each of the characters. But throughout this book (that I read through in no time - because it’s really captivating!) I love the love stories, found families and the connections between them💖

The book has some slow spots, but I think the overall plot makes it worth it and would definitely recommend for the folklore /fantasy lovers out there!
Who can say no to Fair ones, Druids, Will O’Wisps, Púkas and portals to a magical realm ?? Not me that’s for suuure 🧙🏼‍♀️

Aisling is probably my favorite character in here, she’s totally badass but also has her doubts and cringy selfish thoughts throughout the book. Which I think is relatable to most people 🌸 And my heart really breaks for her several times throughout the book.


I reeeeally want to read the next one now, because that ending left me on my toes with teary eyes 👀

4.25/5*

What a book!

A very slow beginning to this book though. I’m not sure if it’s because all the Irish names, pronunciations and lore was extremely hard to get straight for someone who hasn’t read this genre before or if it was just a lot of details thrown at me really quick. I had to look up references in the back of the book frequently, so reading was slow. I almost gave up around the 20% mark but I am SO happy that I didn’t. Starting a quarter way through, the characters become more established and the plot gets really good. It was a fantastic glimpse into Irish folklore and culture with wonderful world building.

I really liked Ash and Maebh. They are two awesome FMCs who aren’t flakey or afraid to take charge, which is exactly what I like to see in a novel. Set and Tiernan are also amazing supporting characters. The plot takes the reader on a thrilling ride through worlds, murders, plots, schemes, lies and lore, exactly as this book promises. There were a couple moments in which I was a little confused as to where the novel going because there seemed to be so many plots layered on top of each other, that was hard to focus. I would have liked to see a bit more direction and closure of some conflicts before this book ended with a huge cliffhanger.

Overall, a fantastic debut novel with no lack of details and exciting plot twists. I look forward to see how this world develops in the next book.


**I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. **

I don’t know where to begin…
One: I don’t know if it’s my imagination but this book seemed to be longer than the other ARCs I got from NetGalley. And I loved this! Thick books are my favourite.
Two: Fairy tales for grown ups. Again, love it! While retellings of Grimms tales are a nice way of making those more mature, I really enjoyed that this story was aimed at an older group. I didn’t know much about Irish more (except for Tir Na Nog, thanks to the series mystic knights) but the author made it so easy to follow and dive into the world.
Three: The four main characters. Their reasonings were a bit cryptic at times which I’m not a fan of but I get that it’s part of the story Progression and therefore necessary. Nevertheless the characters were very different from each other and nicely fleshed out. No spoilers but I hope that one character returns and I’m rooting for a HEA for all four of them!

Can’t wait for the next book in this trilogy and wow, what a read this one was!

soooooo
This book was good
Like really really good.

I loved the story building, the magic used and the supernatural aspects. Gorgeous book

Would recommend.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an arc copy.

Claire Wrights book Realm of Lore and Lies is an incredible story.

The story follows Ash, an archeologist, who comes from a clan of travelers. After the murder of the clan leader, her mother, Ash must face her past. Ash is persuaded to take on the role of Clan leader while finding the killer, but that is easier said than done once you've made the decision leave the clan behind seven years ago.

It's a mix of fantasy, mystery, romance with some Irish history. The beginning of the story took some time to get into/past, but once that happened, I found myself become fully invested in the story and characters. I was intrigued by the Irish lore and how detailed the Author took the story. My only issue with the story is the number of characters that are thrown at us, it almost felt a little too much at times.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This book was fantastic. It has fantasy mixed with a murder mystery, a real setting of Ireland plus two romance sub-plots. It is jam packed with fae lore, monsters, strong characters and a found family.

I think this might actually be one of my favourite (if not the favourite) fae book I've ever read. The murder mystery element to it really draws you in. There aren't heavy lore dumps as it's really worked into the story.

And that ending!! I can't wait for the next book to continue reading this fantastic story.

A fantasy novel surrounding Irish Mythology? I’ll read it.

I was pleasantly surprised by this page-turner. While the first few chapters read a bit slow, as the world and characters were being established, it was quick to pick up. Definitely a read that won’t let you stop till 3am, so make sure you can sleep in the next day.

I typically do not like multi-POV books, as it is nearly impossible to make each character equally compelling. Claire Wright proved me wrong. I was heavily invested in each of the four leads and did not feel annoyed when flipping the page over to find another character’s chapter. That said, Tiernan definitely was my favorite character. As a computer science major, I am a sucker for a tech genius.

Action-packed, incredible world building and lovable characters. I would totally recommend Realm of Lore and Lies to a friend. Especially if visiting Ireland is on your bucket list.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is incredibly enjoyable. I didn’t have any expectations going in. I only knew it was a fantasy set in Ireland.

I really loved the blend of murder mystery, fantasy, mythology and romance in this book. I don’t know much about Irish history or mythology, but despite this I never felt lost or confused about what was happening. After things fell into place at the beginning I really got invested in the story quite quickly, and stayed intrigued all the way through.

The characters in this one were also really captivating. I loved Tiernan, Maebh and Set the most. One of my improvements would be that I did find the main character, Ash, a bit bland to start with. I enjoyed her POV’s in the second half of the book a lot more when she started standing her ground and finding her strength. Perhaps this was due to me finding my feet in the story at the beginning, but I always felt myself more drawn to the side characters. All the side characters were really unique and had compelling stories of their own, and great dynamics with the each other.

I enjoyed the humour and all the small characters moments thrown in, such as the tattoo scene and the under the stars scene. There was a good balance between character and plot.

I enjoyed the slow burn romances in this one a lot too. They are very slow, but I’m so keen to see where things go.

All in all, I really loved this read. I did find Ash wasn’t my favourite character but that’s not to see I didn’t like her growth and where her character got to by the end. Overall this was a pretty minor gripe I had, and otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I need book two… asap!

Realm of Lore & Lies had me hooked. I love the multiple POVs, the world building, and the depth of the characters. My only complaint is that I want more!