The Sons of Mil was a fantastic book and a great setup for the series as a whole. It was difficult to get into The Sons of Mil at the start due to the large amount of characters and descriptions, but that is found in nearly any High Fantasy so it was not much of a deterrent. Especially considering the fact that there is a glossary at the end of the book! I also struggled throughout the first half due to the use of Gaelic spelling throughout the book, I eventually got used to it and could read it smoothly. Though it may be more difficult for readers who haven't seen Gaelic spellings before or who aren't used to the English language as a whole. The Sons of Mil does include graphic descriptions of violence, so it is not for the feint of heart in that regard. As for the story as a whole! The plot was deeply complex, including multiple points of views each with their own scheming that unraveled throughout the story. The main perspective, with Ben Maeden, was easily my favorite as I loved the characters and their growth throughout the story. I also loved the romance in this book. It is definitely a slow burn, the most well-done, natural feeling slow burn I have ever read, in fact. The Sons of Mil took me longer to read than I am used to, but it was such a good read. I can't wait to continue the story with the second book!

This review is also posted to Goodreads, Storygraph, and Instagram @Dellasbookshelf and will eventually be posted to X and Threads @Dellasbookshelf

This was a great book. L.M. Riviere's world-building and imagery are fantastic and fully brought me into the world that was created. The characters are dynamic and keep me entertained throughout it. Riviere has a perfect mix of world-building and character development so that both are building off of one another as the story progresses. It was a great story and it was a wild rollercoaster of events that is going to make a lot of readers fall in love with Riviere as an author

Shew. The nouns were difficult for me to get past in this one. I am thankful for the glossary, but I found myself flipping there more than anything...I actually took notes lol Beautiful story, strong character and world building. I know the intent of authenticity is there with the naming, so I can appreciate that. But I would strongly urge the reader to take notes.

this was cool in a mythology kinda vibe! I enjoyed the characters, especially Ben and Una. it was really fun and fantastical in a great way! i wish there was a bit romance but it wouldn't have affected much of the story

4.5 Stars

The Sons of Mil is a great epic fantasy book. It has the feel of Game of Thrones, with so many political powers in play, scheming to secure their rule of Innisfail. But, we also get magic and an assortment of folk and High Elves.

Ben Maeden is not who he claims to be, among the people of Rosweal and an encounter with a much sought after girl, leads him right into the political turmoil he has no interest in being a part of.

I was really hooked on this book from the very beginning. Ben and Una are both interesting characters and I loved seeing their secrets revealed throughout the story and the relationship that develops between the two of them. The book has a great pace, because there is a lot of action throughout the story. There are multiple POVs, which I enjoyed, because it gives you the opportunity to get to know the other characters in first person and see their motives first hand.

There is Scottish/Irish folklore mixed into to the book, and I always love fantasy that brings together a human world with fairy/Fae and in this case, the Sidhe. We mostly see a mix of the different folk near the end of the book, and even get some walking dead feels with the Sluagh.

I did find that even with the length of this book and all of the information that is given, there are still some things left unanswered. And there are a lot of characters, which can make it hard to keep up with all of them, but the author does have a Glossary and character list at the end of the book, which is very helpful. I also wish there had been a more in-depth look at the different religions that come into play, just to get a better understanding of each one.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series, and would highly recommend The Sons of Mil to anyone who loves or is interested in a fantasy series that is filled with great world building, complex characters, political power plays, betrayals, and Scottish/Irish folklore.

Really excellent, enjoyable character building. I absolutely loved how she described the characters and allowed us to get to know them. Love a strong, independent fierce female and a male that matches her! I thought the territory was well laid out

4/5 stars because the romance goes from "hes frustrating but dang hes gorgeous!" To "I love him there is no other for me" without even a kiss or more than a touch of tension. It goes from a slow burn to "when did this happen?"

There are also a few characters and things that are a bit vaguely explained.

Definitely looking forward to the next book!

An epic fantasy set in the fae realm of Innisfil.

Charming portrayal of power struggles to rule a land through force or marriage. The romance took almost the whole book to blossom, which is great for slow-burn lovers.
A lot of Irish-Gaelic names and words may make some readers wary, but fantasy lovers are used to sussing out the meaning of new words in their reading journeys.

I would recommend to all my fantasy loving family and friends.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Much appreciated L.M Riviere for the privilege to review your book.

The Sons of Mil is a gripping fantasy novel that weaves together Celtic mythology and historical fiction into a rich tapestry of adventure and intrigue. Set in ancient Ireland, the story follows the journey of the Sons of Mil as they seek to conquer the land and fulfill their destiny.

Riviere's storytelling is masterful, drawing readers into a world of magic and conflict. The characters are complex and well-developed, each with their own motivations and struggles. The author's vivid descriptions bring the ancient landscape to life, evoking a sense of wonder and mystery.

One of the novel's strengths is its exploration of themes such as power, loyalty, and the nature of destiny. Through the eyes of the characters, readers are given insight into the complexities of human nature and the choices we make.
The Sons of Mil is a captivating read that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and fantasy alike. Riviere's ability to blend history and mythology into a compelling narrative makes this book a must-read for anyone looking for an epic adventure.

This was an epic “epic” fantasy! I highly enjoyed and recommend this book. From the complex plot to the richly-layered characters, it was easy to be immersed in this dangerous and exciting world the author created.

For fans of George R. R. Martin, Samantha Shannon’s Roots of Chaos, and Celtic/Irish mythology folklore, The Sons of Mil will definitely capture your interest!

Riviere is a talented writer that methodically plans and executes all of her ideas very carefully and with immense detail. Usually, I find that authors tend to write choices and plot twists on a whim to “keep the story fresh” and “keep the audience on their toes.” This usually results in questionable aspects that leave the reader confused and turned off from continuing any further. Well, not Riviere. They are able to leave your jaw dropped and have you thinking upon a single chapter days later.

From the world that gradually develops, the politics that unfold into chaos, and the magic system that layers upon layers, the first volume of The Innisfail cycle is the epitome of an epic fantasy. However, that isn’t always a good thing when it’s been done numerous times. There were a plentiful amount of connects, twisted plot points, and paragraphs that would sometimes cover half of an entire page or more. The dialogue would continuously run leaving me confused and lost. I really had to focus on what I was reading which began to feel more like a tiresome chore than a pleasant escape.

If the editor could take Reverie’s masterful storytelling abilities and carve it into a perfect concise narrative where every line points to a thematic purpose or additional reason, then I would have rated this higher. Luckily, the index is a lifesaver for us newcomers onto the series who are still—hundreds of pages in—trying to grasp everything.

Even so, I would like to point out that our characters are strong and thrive with definition and internal drives all for different reasons. There aren’t many stories anymore that center a conflict and arrange all the different perspectives and turn those perspectives into the characters. When I see a story like The Sons of Mil not only utilizing that method of storytelling but consistently putting it into affect, that takes a lot of talent as a writer and I truly enjoyed being taken along the journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy). Best of luck to your writing in the future!

So so so good! Loved every second of this book. So good. Lovely plot and storyline. Lovely characters. 4 stars from me.

The story as a whole was great, but there needed to be more revision. Punctuation was all over the place, and some sections of the book didn't flow the way they should have. Other than the grammatical errors, this book was incredibly immersive and fun to read

This book Did not really grip my attention unfortunately, I had to dnf about halfway through the story.

3/5 stars, this was interesting with the mythology!

Thank you to Lights Out Ink for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

I don't remember a ton about this book, which reminds me that it was quite forgettable. However, I do remember that I was very intrigued by the mythology behind this story. I have not read anything that has been based on Irish mythology before, so I definitely want to try to find more books like that in the future. However, a lot of the rest of this book was forgettable and I wish that I remembered more, but unfortunately that does happen from time to time.

[TW: violence, death of a friend, war themes, blood and gore]

There is a lot going on in this book, you have to be invested in reading this or you will get very lost. Not every chapter jumps around to another person in another place but when it does at first I got really confused because my mind was still in the setting in the chapter that just ended. This book does have action in it and that keeps you engaged and not bored reading like a text book. However there are some parts that I struggled through because it was just a lot going on in a chapter. However with every chapter it all comes together and becomes easier to read. At first there is a lot of mystery of who people are and why they are doing what they are doing. It makes you want to read more to figure things out. Overall this book is a good action book. Like I have said before there is a lot going on with all the characters.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

3.75 stars only because it was a little slow to start for me and it definitely felt like i had to pay attention and remind myself who was who/what was what but that's to be expected in the first book of a series. still a fun read especially if you're a fan of celtic mythology like me! so well written and totally immersive

3.75-4 stars!

This book feels like a sleeper hit to me. The writing is good, the atmosphere, tone, imagery, and plot are all interesting, and the POV switches actually kept me more engaged instead of removing my interest in the story. I will say, as this is a dark-themed story, there are some triggers involved such as attempted assault and violence.

BUT? CELTIC MYTHOLOGY? Always a win for me.

I will say that there were parts that were like anti-drops for me. I almost felt like I was missing something as I was reading, which is why I couldn't give this full marks. As it is the first book in a series of some kind, I expect some of this missed-step feeling might be fixed when the story is wrapped up and all loose ends have been tied.

This is also a GREAT example of a book having some awful characters and yet, I still loved getting to know them and getting to be a part of this journey. We are also treated to some great character development. This is always so good to see, although I will admit that I wonder if there is more evolving to come in future installments. Excited to see if there is!

NOOOO THE STABLE BOY AND VIXEN NOOOOOOOOOO im crying why would u do this to me

this was really good but really long and the cover art is really pretty but i feel like it could've used so more editing and the worldbuilding/politics is a LOT so i just didn't catch some of it and i didn't understand the plot until like a third of the way through lol

In the misty past, where old gods rule, magic exists, and races brush against one another uneasily. This is epic fantasy of politics, religion, the politics of religion, war, love, and finding purpose. And, of course, lots of action. Ben Maeden, haunted by his past, is allowing himself to fall into drunken forgetfulness until in an act of unusual conscience he helps a young noblewoman pursued by a band of mercenaries. Together they run, trying to outrace the enemies following them and to stop a war, if they can.

Based on Irish folklore, this is a rich world with well developed characters, governments, social mores, and uneasy peace between races and countries. There are a number of people which can be a little difficult to keep track of, particularly in the beginning but there is an appendix that helps. The pov switches between a number of characters, including the people chasing after Ben and Una, so these are not one dimensional "bad" guys. I like it when people are nuanced and even the "good" people aren't always "good."

Definitely a book to pick up and get lost in if you like fae, magic and epic fantasy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.