Champions of the Sidhe

Sidhe Legends #2

by Kenneth C. Flint, Don Maitz (Illustrator)

The evil lord Balor and his dark Druid Mathgen send the traitorous Bres with an inhuman army to recapture the isle of Eire. But the young hero Lugh and his band of champions join together to defend their homeland. As the de Danann warriors seek Queen Danu's cauldron on the mystic isle of Manannan Mac Lir, Lugh and his beloved Aine host the Silver Riders to rouse the people for a final battle for the throne of the High Kings of Tara.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Mythology, Science Fiction Fantasy, Ireland, Fairies

277 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Kenneth C. Flint, who has also written under the pseudonym Casey Flynn, is an American fantasy novelist. A resident of Omaha, Nebraska, Flint has now published 18 books, in both print and eBook format. A majority of his works are either based on Irish myths and legends, or else are original stories involving concepts, and sometimes characters, from Irish mythology. His best known works center around three of the most important characters of Irish legend: Lugh, Cúchulainn, and Finn MacCumhal. He has also published short fiction, including a pair of Star Wars stories, a historical fiction novel, On Earth's Remotest Bounds: Year One: Blood and Water, the first of a planned series, and a historical book about Fort Atkinson, Nebraska. Flints books, including both his previous novels and new works, are now being published as eBooks available for all eReader formats like Kindle and Nook.

Reviews

[P.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it - made my Irish genes ready to march out to defeat Balor!

[Frederick Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s the sequel to Riders of the Sidhe, that fantasy novel that I gave a surprisingly rave review for yesterday. Pretty much all the praise I gave for the earlier novel applies to this one, so I’ll only make a note of a few things.

Now that Lugh has accepted his destiny as a national liberator, he has to travel around Eire rousing the oppressed Tuath De Danaan to rise against the Fomor. Meanwhile, his friends must travel to Manannan’s island to retrieve a magical cauldron that can revitalize even the most demoralized soldier. And towards the end, Balor manages to invade that paradise…

Flint has added new elaborations to the old myth that I personally found satisfying. At one point Lugh is almost sacrificed by a Firbolg clan, who were essentially the indigenous people of Ireland before they were displaced by the Danaan invaders. Soon after that, he encounters a Pooka. Now you may remember a Pooka as being something like a giant invisible rabbit that follows James Stewart around, and I as a preternaturally fast horse, but Flint’s vision of a Pooka more resembles the cat-bus from My Neighbour Totoro. There’s always a thrill of recognition when such familiar things appear expectantly.

We also get to see a Fomor army tank, because why the hell not.

I’m enjoying these books a lot more than I expected, but this means that I now have to get my hands on Masters of the Sidhe. While it might float into my orbit, I’ll probably have to end up buying it on Amazon… If you can get your hands on this series, I suggest you do so.

[James]

The evil lord Balor and his dark Druid Mathgen send the traitorous Bres with an inhuman army to recapture the isle of Eire. But the young hero Lugh and his band of champions join together to defend their homeland. As the de Danann warriors seek Queen Danu's cauldron on the mystic isle of Manannan Mac Lir, Lugh and his beloved Aine host the Silver Riders to rouse the people for a final battle for the throne of the High Kings of Tara.

[W.D. III · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first time I remember coming across the word "Sidhe" (pronounced SHEE). The word alone attracted my attention. Then I saw that it was a novel about Celtic mythology in Ireland, and I was set. I enjoyed the story, young Lugh the Longarm epitomizing the the classic hero. I was unfamiliar with the myth at the time, and kept feeling like I was missing something. (I later learned that it was actually the second book in the series.) All the same, I've since read the myth it's based on, and it gave me a greater appreciation for Flint's work. Characters are depicted as people, very relatable and human, even when they're gods. Recommended!

[Ronmorris2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Still no Tolkien, but it leaves you hanging so you have to read the next one.

[Asa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The fairy folk are back—and this time, they’ve brought swords, grudges, and an unhealthy addiction to epic monologues.