Bending The Boyne: A novel of ancient Ireland

by J.S. Dunn

2200 BCE: Marauders invade ancient Eire seeking copper and gold. The astronomer Boann and the enigmatic Cian must use all their wits and courage to save their people, the peaceful starwatchers, from the invaders' long bronze knives and scavenging ways. Tensions between new and old cultures and between Boann, Elcmar, and her son Aengus, ultimately explode. What emerges from the rubble of battle is a fresh take on Ireland's oldest legends.

BENDING THE BOYNE draws on 21st century archaeology to show the lasting impact when early metal mining and trade take hold along north Atlantic coasts. Carved megaliths and stunning gold artifacts, from the Pyrenees up to the Boyne, come to life in this researched historical fiction.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Ireland, Fiction, Historical, Irish Literature, Prehistory

350 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2011

About the author

J. S. Dunn resided in Ireland during the past decade, and from there pursued early Bronze Age culture along the Atlantic coasts of Spain, France, Wales, and Ireland. J. S. has poured a bronze sword in Cornwall and explored a prehistoric mine in Asturias among other adventures! Numerous archaeologists and experts vetted the details of BENDING THE BOYNE. The author wanted all sites and ancient objects to be as accurate as possible.

Ireland's first gold rush at 2200 BCE! BENDING THE BOYNE is a debut novel and won the Next Generation Indie Award for historical fiction, 2011. Finalist, ForeWord Book Of The Year Award (historical fiction, 2012). For its cover, see the FB page: https://www.facebook.com/BendingTheBoyne
A
Author appearances: iBAM! November 2012 (USA); History Festival Of Ireland, June 2013 (Ireland); Historical Novel Society, June 2013 (USA). Contributor to Unusual Historicals blog,
http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com/.

See also GASLIGHT, historical fiction shorts collection from Chamberton Press(October 2012). The author previously has been published in the fields of law and psychology.

A second novel set at 1600 BCE is in progress: STEALING TARA.

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stone Age Ireland C 2200BC which ties in nicely with an online course I’m currently doing about Mesolithic man at Star Carr albeit from an earlier time period of C 11,000BC – Not normally a summer type read & might end up being a little heavy going but we shall see!

Jus couldn’t get into it after a dozen or so pages….. so dropped it for a few books…… BUT
I tried again….. AND some action (an event) occurs right at the beginning of the second chapter which opens up the story.

We have a race of peoples (The stargazers) who seem rich in culture, at harmony with one another, know how to live with the land, always seeking knowledge (from the stars) & then there’s the “invaders” as they become to be known who work (seek) metals, carry long knives, adorn themselves in gold/silver, lack culture & are generally barbarous in nature compared to the Stargazers who are indeed mostly passive & friendly towards the “intruders” – they switch between calling them invaders & intruders where intruders to the stargazer community means they are only “passing through & will soon leave their lands??”

The language of the narrative is at times stilted (broken English even) which seems to work once you get used to it & put it into context of the people of the time. Concepts like time are very different in this book which would have been so for ancient peoples. When they talk of going on a journey, lunar cycles & equinox’s pass us by like a drop of a hat & whole seasons are gone in the blink of an eye as the story moves forward in great chunks of time. Often clunky at times.

Once you get past the flowery first chapter, the characters start to come alive as events between the two peoples begin to unfold along with their differing cultures / aspects of life. The main character though is Boann who is a healer for the Stargazers & it’s her narrative & views that we follow for the first part of the book & it’s through her actions/interactions we get to understand more of the stargazers.

Jus as we are adjusting to life under the stargazers we’re oft to the Invaders, following Cian who is in fact a stargazer having left his encampment to join the intruders camp earlier on & tbh I couldn’t make out what he really is at first (interpreter, spy, fixer, hostage, traitor?? All modern terms I appreciate but he’s somewhere in there) bar perhaps an impressionable young fellah who wants to learn all he can (skills/technology) from the intruders. Through him we get to learn why the invaders are on the “smaller island”, that they are in fact traders & part of a much larger society of peoples.

Its also through Cian that we meet a third group of peoples called “seafarers” who hail from distant lands on the continent (I would surmise Brittany & as far down to the Pyrenees) who have similar believes to the stargazers in terms of mysticism but also know how to work metals & exploit the lands, they too are traders & expert (for the time) boat builders who tolerate the Invaders as they trade with them but in all essence guard their knowledge of smelting from them as well as the location of ore.

That’s the characters set, so what’s it all about? Good question!! as it takes quite a while to unfold…… The tale is about a clash of cultures & their main differences which seems to be land management / use of resources along with their spiritualism/religious differences in relation to the stars/astrology/gods. I would liken the stargazers plight to an indigenous tribe encountering Europeans for the first time whilst the invaders have all the traits/customs/familiarity of the Beaker peoples that populated the region of this era. (we are later told this)

It’s a fascinating story, very different in style but an amiable enough read once you get into it even if it fights you along the way as the style is abrasive & jarring at times, not really letting you settle if for a comfortable ride. Sometimes I could read only a dozen pages or so as it grated, other times I could settle in for a nights read with ease. Then once you do (get fully immersed) it all ends very suddenly in the final few chapters where perhaps a little more time could have been taken after putting all the groundwork in? At times the style is close to that of an old Norse Saga but not consistently so.

The historical content is very good & enjoyed learning about the astrology, smelting processes & boat building of the era, all enrich the story.

Then we have an epilogue which puts a different twist on the story & perhaps one that if know at the start could have put a different context on the read? Then right to the back we have some of the mythology & archaeology of the regions(s) involved which gives further clues/context & does better complete the tale.

Overall, I’m glad I stuck with it & would give it a decent 3. Worth a read should you come across it & interested in ancient cultures.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a fascinating read about 2200 BC in Ireland. It talks about how a people who studied astrology and how they discovered scientific truths we still use today, how they became aware of equinoxes and the movement of the skies-sun, moon and stars and, even more interestingly, how they recorded their findings. it makes an interesting story. I have been to Newgrange in Ireland and I wished I had read the book before I went. It would have made the visit come even more alive for me.
I found this book challenged many unknown biases I had. I had thought the people of this more time spent most of their time hunting and gathering and just plain surviving. Yet these people were making complex observations and recording them in a manner that has lasted around 4000 years. It's just amazing if you think of it. I enjoyed the parts of the book that told of the people not just surviving but refining their lives. Boann and Enya enjoyed a breakfast of stirabout with fruit, soft white cheese and hot infusion of mint and blackberry leaves. Really very similar to what we eat now. Taranis enjoyed even more elaborate meals on the Continent.
I highly recommend this book to those who have an interest in the past. It's extremely informative.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

My love for Ireland and her myths is what drew my attention to "Bending the Boyne" by J.S Dunn. "Bending the Boyne" is classed as Historical Fiction, but it does have a bit of a fantasy feel to it. For the story starts and finishes in present day. But for me it was much more than that. It was a tale of people who loved their way of life, who have walked gently on the earth and who are observers of the heavens. Their way of life is threatened as change descends upon them and their only way of survival is to adapt.

This story is told from the view of the Starwatchers, who watch and learn from the heavens above. In this observation their stories and knowledge of the heavens are passed down from generation to generation in the stone carvings and mounds that sprinkle the Boyne Valley. Among the Starwatchers are Boann, daughter of Oghma a sacred stone carver. Boann is also a Starwatcher and healer to her people. Dagda who is the leader and for lack of a better word Shaman to the heavens and the people of the Boyne. The tale begins when tragedy strikes at the hands of the invaders, who search for the "Sun Metal. We see the beginnings stages of the Iron Age and have a front row seat to what it might have been like as the lust for gold,copper and tin swept the Isle of Eire. Boann and her people struggle to keep peace as the two clans unite under Boann's marriage to the "Ard Ri" Elcmar. Even with attempt at peace the struggles continue and the only way for the Starwatchers to survive lies in the fate of Cian. Cian's love for his people sends him deep into the world of the invaders where he must learn their ways and gather knowledge that will help his people deal with the changes to come.

J.S Dunn is a master storyteller, as we see this story and archaeological fact merge together in such a beautiful way. The depth to which this book was researched truly shows the author's love and passion for Ancient Ireland and her people. The storyline drew me in as much as the detail that was given to the surrounding landscapes of the Boyne. I have visited the sacred sites and there were many times in I was caught up in the feeling of Deja vu, as I found myself along side Boann deep in the central chamber of Newgrange waiting for the Solstice sun to rise, or walking along side of her as she visited the surrounding area of Loughcrew. Through J.S Dunn's writing I was seeing these sites through ancient eyes.

All the characters in this novel were so well developed that I was emotionally invested with each one. There were so many times where I was so caught up in the emotion of the story that my heart stopped, for there were twist and turns that I did not see coming. Within the story the ancient myths of Ireland were woven into the plot in such a cleaver way. This book is so well written and the story line moved at just the right pace and kept me interested to the point that I was getting up in the middle of the night to read. I could not put my kindle down!

This book is not an easy read, however if you are looking for a book that engages all of your senses and your intellect then this book is for you. Reading this book was such an enjoyable experience and with that said I give it 5 Stars.

5 Stars!
Reviewed for DarkissReads. www.darkissreads.com

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

2200 B.C. This novel tells of several tribes: in Ireland [the 'Starwatchers': peace-loving astronomers in the River Boyne area]; the 'Invaders' whose origin is 'the Continent' [Europe?], interested only in conquering and in finding precious metals--gold, copper, and tin--and trade; the 'Seafarers', who live on what we would call the Iberian Peninsula today and who are willing to engage in hunting for metal and in trading, and Basques. These groups interact among each other. Boann, the astronomer, and the mysterious Cian, try to save their people from the encroachment of the invaders. The author has taken mythological or legendary names from long ago, made them into non-mythic characters for his fictional recreation of the evolution of the Bronze Age. Originating in the mists of time, his characters have eventually become deities and heroes in Irish legend. He used recent archeological evidence as a basis for his story. Archaeologists call the 'Invaders' the Beaker Culture. The name has been taken from the shape of their pottery.


Usually, prehistoric stories leave me cold, but I enjoyed this one and learned a great deal. The story became confusing at times and sometimes I wondered at the author's choices of expression. I didn't feel there was that much personality to each figure; I thought each was used only to advance the author's fictional speculation. There was a good deal of explanation of the 'standing stones', stone circles and ancient astronomy. I also liked the details of copper smelting done by Creidhne [later that name was used for the ancient god of goldsmithing.] The only note of fantasy I could see was the startling very last line of the novel. All extra material was fascinating, especially "Pronunciation of characters' names, mythic origins, and role in Bending the Boyne: A Novel of Ancient Ireland. On the author's website besides bibliography, there are links to various artifacts mentioned in the novel:

http://jsdunnbooks.com/links_artifact...

[Evy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this book. I do however feel that with a bit more polish and editing it would be a significantly better book. I am a medieval historian and a linguist with a strong interest in this time period so I came to this book with high expectations. Initially I almost stopped reading the book as the beginning was a bit slow and confusing. I really did enjoy the way that the author tied in myth, literature and history to try and recreate life in this period. The ending seemed a bit rushed and I had to reread sections because I felt that I had missed something, I hadn't it was just confusing. That being said I did have a hard time putting it down once I got into it and I would recommend it to people interested in this time period or the spiritual aspect of early Ireland.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Eire, Boann lives happily spending her days following in the steps of her astronomer father and healer mother. Her people, the Starwatchers, aren't the only ones inhabiting Eire. They face hostility from the Invaders with their long swords and horses. The Invaders seem to only want metals, which puts them at odds with the Starwatchers' peaceful and earth friendly culture. To cement a peace agreement, Starwatchers agree to Boann's marriage to the new ard ri, Elcmar. Boann bares Aengus, a fine son. But the new heir doesn't produce the peace that was hoped for. Cian, Boann's Starwatcher childhood love, lives the Invader Camp to learn their ways to bring them down, but he is sickened by the marriage and the Invaders in general. Boann tries to maintain a semblance of peace, but with Elcmar's stubbornness, she feels she is failing.Cian leaves Eire and travels to the continent to learn about metals and smelting and to free his heart. While his life is a commercial success, he longs for Boann and the Eire. Who holds the future of Eire in their hands; Elcmar, Boann, Aengus or Cian? Whose culture will prevail?
I had never heard of JS Dunn, but was excited to read a book about Ancient Ireland. I began to read and was immediately drawn to the emerald Eire. I loved gathering herbs with Boann, and living the peaceful earth loving ways of the Starwatchers. Like Cian, I hated the Invaders. A filthy people who took life and resources without a second thought.
However, the Invaders taught new concepts. Debt, Credit and trading and innovation of metals. These are hard concepts to grasp, and it is difficult to see how they are important., especially when they aren't used by your culture.
For all the Invader innovations, there are a multitude of Starwatcher values that are awesome. Architecture and astronomy go hand in hand with the building of mounds and the celebrations of the changing sky. Healing and herbal medicine are strongly valued in the Starwatcher culture, as is being a sustainable community. These details are vivid. I am sure that in this book you would have all the details to build your own mound, if the thought possessed you.

[Lisa (Bookworm Lisa)]

I am very impressed with the work that went into this book. It is about ancient inhabitants of Ireland. This group of people were starwatchers and studied the heavens. They carved the cycles of the solar system and season into rock and temples. They were a peaceful people,


They must deal with Invaders from the sea who come to plunder the metal resources and leave destruction in their quest for precious metals. The Invaders take natural resources from the starwatchers without a care to trade or whether or not it takes the food that they needed for the winter season. The detail that J.S. Dunn explains the process of the early miners and the refining process of copper is very interesting. You can tell that he did meticulous research on the Bronze Age. In his Biography at the back of the book it states that he has a keen interest in the early Bronze Age Culture. It also indicates that he researched and made friends in the fields of "archaeology, geology, and Bronze Age tool-making."


Boann is learning of the heavens from her father, his apprentice, Cian, has left the community to dwell with the invaders. She is planning on taking her father's place when he passes and carving the history of the stars into stone. It is a very meticulous and exact trade. She is placed in a position to keep peace between her people and the Invaders by marrying their chief.


Cian watches and learns from them. He then is placed into a position where he can help his people by learning from the enemy and knowing how they work.


This historical fiction novel is well thought out and very interesting. I personally love to find out about ancient cultures. I was unfamiliar with the people of the Boyne. They have left amazing mounds as a tribute to their culture that predated Stonehenge. If you love historic fiction and ancient civilizations then I highly recommend this book to you.

[Kathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have visited the sites of Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth several times, and of Loughcrew once. I found the story fascinating and loved the way I could match my memories to the scenes in the book. It definitely deepened my appreciation of the tale and, at the same time, the story added depth to my recollections.

The author’s style is a bit clunky, for lack of a better term—maybe reflecting the fact that a supposed museum docent is relating the tale. Yet one cannot help but admire and appreciate the research and meticulous attention to detail with a story that matches the archeological record.

Makes me want to revisit Brú na Bóinne. (Sigh)

[Mark Patton · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.S. Dunn’s Bending the Boyne weaves together historical fiction (based, essentially, on archaeological evidence) with Irish myth to create an engaging human story set in 2000 BC. At its heart is a conflict between two groups of people: the native Irish “Starwatchers,” a peace-loving Stone Age culture led by astronomer-priests, both male and female; and an invading group of copper/bronze using people with a strongly developed warrior culture, an insatiable demand for copper & gold, and a well-established network of trade routes extending the full length of Europe’s Atlantic coast. It is told, very much, from the point of view of the “Starwatchers,” with two characters in particular taking centre stage: Boann, a young woman in training to be an astronomer priestess, and Cian, the young man who loves her, and is loved by her. They are torn apart when Cian takes the decision to live, for a time, with the invaders, and falls under suspicion: is he a traitor to his own people, or is he really spying for them? He undertakes a long voyage of discovery, taking him to Brittany, the Loire Valley and the Basque country. It is certainly a page-turner and is, in many respects, meticulously researched (the description of Copper/Bronze Age mining activities, in particular, is based very closely on archaeological evidence from sites such as Mount Gabriel, in Co.Cork).

Dunn’s inclusion, in the book, of flesh-and-blood characters who later go on to be regarded, in Irish myth, as superhuman heroes, even as gods, challenges us to question just how far back in time the oral traditions that gave rise to later myth might go. She writes in a specifically Irish tradition of storytelling reminiscent of Lady Gregory, W.B. Yeats and, in our own time, Frank Delaney.

If I have a criticism, from a historical point of view, it is the same criticism I have of Bernard Cornwell’s Stonehenge. The novel is ostensibly set in 2000 BC, but the society described (large numbers of “invaders” with a warrior culture, industrial-scale mining, sea-crossings directly from Ireland to Brittany) seems more like that of 1800 or 1700 BC. That, however, need not mar anyone’s enjoyment of the book as a work of fiction.

[Juli Rahel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story centers around Boann and how her life changes when Invaders land on Eire's shores and threaten her village. I found the beginning of this book fascinating. Dunn went into a lot of detail when describing the Starwatcher's culture and tradition, really showcasing his research. After reading the book you really feel you have developed an understanding of the importance of starwatching to these cultures. The threat posed by the Invaders is very well descrived, especially the conflict between how two different cultures clash and how the gape between the two seem impossible to overcome.

Boann is a goddess in Irish mythology, the Goddess of the river Boyne. Elcmar, her husband, and Aengus, her son, are also part of this mythology. After having read the book I looked into a number of myths concerning Boann, Brighid, Aengus and Elcmar and it is remarable how many of the storylines have been woven into the book by Dunn. As it happened, I have also been reading 'The Winged Destiny: Studies in the Spiritual History of the Gael' by Fiona Macleod / Wiliam Sharp in which there is a tale titled 'The Awakening of Aengus Og' and it seems it concerns the same Aengus. I personally love these intertextualities because they add so much more depth to a book.

What is captivating is the way Dunn has incorporated the process of trade, of creating bronze and mining copper and gold into the story. Although the chapters concerning Cian and his travels in Continental Europe can at times take long to read they are always worth your time. They truly add to the story of the book and allow Cian's character to grow beyond the stereotype. I myself do not know that much about mining, but Dunn has incoporated it in such a way that it is not only interesting to read but also entertaining.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Bending the Boyne. It takes place in Ireland in 2200 BCE and follows the story of two "tribes." This is the first time that I've ever read anything about this time period in Ireland. I love when a book can take me someplace that I've never been before. I've been trying to read more about ancient history because I just don't feel like I read enough about times prior to about the 1300s or 1400s, which is pretty recent in the whole scheme of things.

I loved how much research the author must have done into this subject matter. In the book blurb, it states that the book covers a lot of things that were learned from the archaeology of where Boann, the main character, and the other members of the Starwatcher tribe once lived. Because there was such a focus on place and so much research on what life was like then, the writing is really realistic. You really feel like you are living through the things that both tribes are feeling and going through. I also really enjoyed reading the Author's Note. I'm always super interested in how authors, especially those that write historical fiction, make their stories genuine and realistic. Dunn does a really fabulous job of pulling the reader into a very interesting story about the people of Ancient Ireland.

Bottom line: Historical fiction lovers who love good detail will love this one.

[Penelope Bartotto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bending the Boyne is a mind-bending tale that is as spectacular as the night sky which plays a very prominent role in the story. I will admit going into this story I truly had no idea what I was getting myself into, was I reading something that was going to trip into the paranormal fantastic or follow or more realistic route. Reality is the direction I feel this delightful story follows, and it leads the reader on a journey that spans many lands, times, peoples, and traditions.
The story told here is incredibly well researched and thus written superbly, you cannot help but see the attention to detail that Dunn has put in the writing of a fantastic tale. The key characters are solidly developed and fit well into the story line that has been created, even with the twists and turns that make the story such an adventure. The plot is easily identified and carried out with a great design format that keeps the reader hooked like a fish in the river running near the Boyne mounds. There is a great amount of historical features that could have easily been swallowed by the fictional aspects of the story, but Dunn magically blends the facts with the fiction. As someone who loves history, is highly interested in Celtic Mythology, and just loves to read... this book will hold a cherished spot on my bookshelf.

[Ayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was shared to me from a read and review group, thanks to the author for sharing it to our group.

Very well told tale of ancient Eire and its people. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Starwatchers and the accounts of their turning of the sky wheel. Boann is a quite one who is cleverer than what Elcmar would believe, while Cian her true soulmate goes above and beyond in his love for his people, country, Boann and her son Aengus . AS the protagonists, the invaders are fierce with their weapons but overwhelmed by their ignorance and superstitions, they actually believe that the starwatchers are hiding gold in their mounds. The Dagda tries to explain to their shaman Ith but he is too close minded and steadfast in his own beliefs to see the truth and wisdom offered by the elder Wiseman. The story is filled with details of the mounds , star watching,coppicing of forests, sea journeys, gold, the smelting of copper,travel to foreign lands, animals, and so much more! I would recommend it to those who love the ancient ways and who are of kindred souls.










.

[Nan Hawthorne · Rating 2 out of 5]

When a novel set in prehistoric ireland has in it the line "She and the Dagda worked to save their people from cultural annihilation" you know you have less of a story than a lecture. Sadly what could have been a fascinating look at pre-Celtic Ireland fell too much into this category. We learn that the recentnly arrived Celts of Eire were nasty, raping, environment destrouctive, greedy people bent on divesting the Starwatchers, who were peaceful, Earth centered,. and matriarchal, of their admirable livelihoods. The Cian story is at least interesting, with his travels in Europe, but he is bent on aping the rapine of the Celts which rather ruins the point of the book. The book lacks a satisfying resolution and rushes to a non sequitor ending. It was a good effort that needed a lot more focus. J. S. Dunn has potential but he needs more guidance from an editor.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bending the Boyne is the story of Boann and Cian who both try to find their own way of dealing with the invaders who threaten the way of life their people have known for ages.[return][return]Bending the Boyne does a good job of combining archaeological fact, Irish Myths and imagination into a compelling story and opens a window into Bronze Age Ireland and the way people might have lived during those times.[return][return]Reading Bending the Boyne I just had one major problem. While I understood why the author chose to let the invaders speak modern Dublin dialect, I found it very distracting and it seemed out of place to me. This might have been due to my inner linguist who knows a lot about Irish English and its history, so this issue might be one of personal taste.

[Heather Domin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel takes figures from Irish myth and places them in a realistic historical setting; familar names from Celtic mythology are given real lives and historical contexts for their legendary actions. Every page is packed with information, and plenty of back matter is provided for explanation and further reading. I personally would have wished for a little more emotional connection to the characters, but the author's passion for the topics and narrative is evident throughout the novel. I'll be posting a slightly longer review in my blog.

[Cheryl]

Added this because of the description:

BENDING THE BOYNE draws on 21st century archaeology to show the lasting impact when early metal mining and trade take hold along north Atlantic coasts. Carved megaliths and stunning gold artifacts, from the Pyrenees up to the Boyne, come to life in this researched historical fiction.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need two ratings for this book.
I gave four stars for the story itself which delivers a lot of information packed in story full of emotions and partial action.
But when it comes to my reading pleasuremy rting drops to 2.5 stars.

That means I think this is a good book by it did not hit my reading taste.

[Tom Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! The best historical novel of pre-historical Irish civilization I have ever come across. Lovers of Ireland, history, & just good stories; this is a must read.

[Samantha Tew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book! It has been a long while since I've read something that makes me feel apart of it :-)

[Marie Carmean · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were things I really liked about this book and a few things that were not as satisfying. I loved the amount of research the author did. Having researched this subject myself at great length I know the details are right on track. The characters were interesting, all based loosely on actual mythical personages from the time. I loved the way the book began in the present with a docent from the museum, and ended with the same. It was delightful moving into the world of prehistory with the characters. Somehow, though, the narrative left me a little unfulfilled...it read more like a scholarly paper than a novel. The writing was a bit flat. Still, I would recommend it.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted so badly to like this, and there were times that I did. But there were too many characters and plot threads that went nowhere and after a while I got sick of how wonderful the Starwatchers were.

[Kat Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like a YA book but it was interesting and an easy read.

[Todd McFarland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.

[Joe Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting story by taking archaelogical facts and spinning a story of what might have been the lives of men and women around the turn from the stone age to the iron age.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on ancient mythology, this is quite an interesting novel of ancient Ireland and early astronomy. I have read a lot of history, and the brutality of the time never ceases to shock me. ( I wish we would learn from history!) I found the characters noble and quite fascinating.

[Michelle]

In 2000 BCE, the world was rapidly changing. On a remote island near the North Sea, an entire culture of astronomers, or Starwatchers as they call themselves, will have their entire lifestyle threatened by a group of invaders from across the big seas. These invaders, in their searches for copper, tin, and gold, bring with them foreign ideas such as land ownership, power struggles, and violence. As the two cultures fight for control of Ireland, two people attempt to do everything in their power to bring peace and cooperation between the two societies. Bending the Boyne is their story.

Bending the Boyne is a great reminder of what societies can learn from each other when they are not too busy trying to enslave or destroy each other. It brings to mind what conquered societies must have felt about the confusing strangers who refuse to understand their ways and who insist that their foreign ways are better than anything previously established in the area. The use of fear tactics, foreign instruments, and in this case long knives made of metal, horses, and the like were powerful weapons against a peaceful society. Dunn has an amazing ability to create sympathy for the Starwatchers as they struggle to maintain their beliefs and rituals against a constantly changing world.

The details are where Bending the Boyne shines brightest. The descriptions of smelting, copper mining, ocean travel, and other aspects of this ancient era are extremely realistic. A reader experiences Cian’s wonder at the advancement he sees on his travels, while simultaneously empathizing with Boann’s confusion at the harshness and ignorance of her adopted people. As for the Invaders, one can all too easily understand their ruthlessness as they are driven to find more copper or gold in an effort to gain more riches. This era comes to life under Dunn’s careful research and comprehensive descriptions.

While one has no doubt that Dunn was extremely thorough in his research and in his descriptive passages, the very nature of some of the rituals and celestial movements create certain verbose and difficult-to-understand scenes. A reader would be advised to have a star chart handy when reading to ensure that s/he understands exactly which stars and their movements are being discussed at any point in time. Thankfully, these descriptions do not detract from the overall story too much, but understanding them is vital to understanding the crux of the clash between the Starwatchers and the Invaders.

Bending the Boyne is an absolute fascinating look at Bronze Age Ireland. The cultural clashes that occur between the natives and the Invaders set the tone for later invasions both on Ireland and throughout the world over the years. Dunn’s research is meticulous and in such detail that the reader does not need to visit the sacred sites in order to feel completely awed by the knowledge garnered by the Starwatchers and all of humanity at such a primitive time. In fact, one can go on Dunn’s website and see images of the actual artifacts used by Boann, Cian, and the rest of the cast of characters. This realism built into the descriptions makes this one story that is less fiction and more historical. In spite of some of clunky passages, Bending the Boyne is a captivating picture of a bygone era about a culture that has long been considered mysterious and which has provided some of the more memorable artifacts on the Emerald Isle. Dunn has successfully created a book that allows readers to step back in time to experience the Bronze Age for themselves.

Acknowledgements: Thank you to Christina Montero from Seriously Good Books for my review copy!

[Jenny Q · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. J.S. Dunn has spent a decade studying the Bronze Age culture in Ireland and has crafted a mystical story drawn from early Irish folklore and from the objects, carvings, and symbols discovered in the ancient mounds on Ireland and nearby islands. The Starwatchers living at the Boyne in 2200 BC study the night sky in an effort to understand the secrets of the universe. Theirs is a culture based on seasons, cycles, and ceremonies. But their peace-loving society is at a turning point.

The arrival of marauders violently intent on making the land their own as they search for copper and gold threatens their peaceful way of life. And the elders and the younger generation are at odds over how to assess this threat. Boann, the young sweetheart of the Boyne village, has chosen to forgo her training as a healer to study the stars. Her lover Cian, a talented symbol carver, disappoints the village by choosing to live with the newcomers, studying their way of life. What the Starwatcher elders can't understand is that Cian is not embracing the marauding lifestyle, but trying to figure out how his people can coexist with these barbarous and greedy newcomers. His quest to discover the secrets of precious metals and to determine how his people can profit from them takes him far from home, and exposes him to the Seafarers' way of life. Meanwhile Boann valiantly attempts to create a bridge between the two divergent societies, but ultimately has to watch as more and more marauders arrive, chipping away at the Starwatchers' authority and reshaping the future of the island.

It's very interesting subject matter, and my eyes were opened to the plight of the indigenous population, and I was amazed at the advanced understanding the Starwatchers were able to achieve with such primitive methods and instruments. But there was a lot of repetitive description, and long and frequent passages discussing astronomical observances and ore mining procedures at length, and I think the story suffered for it. It slowed the forward motion down, and didn't leave enough room for relationships to be fully developed, for characters to be fleshed out, and for me it didn't have enough emotional impact. It's a fairly primitive society and the style of writing reinforces that; the sentences are shorter and choppy, the language is a little backwards, and at times I thought it made the characters seem simple. Then again, at other times it lent a poetic quality to the prose. Overall, I liked it, and I think it's a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the dawning of the Bronze Age in the British Isles. I admire the author's dedication, meticulous research, and desire to bring this little-known chapter of history to life.

[Evangeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first skimmed through Bending the Boyne, I wasn't impressed by what I read. There seemed to be many facts about astronomy and I assumed that reading the novel would be a slow and daunting task. I was wrong about that. The story is entertaining to say the least. True, there were many facts about the study of astronomy and Irish mythology during the Bronze Age, but the characters based on mythology and their lives make an intriguing study.

I learned so many interesting facts about Bronze Age astronomy and life in Ireland during 2200 BCE. The book cover of Bending the Boyne depicts the entrance stone of Newgrange with its megalithic art. The story expounds on the idea and belief that the art is symbols used by astronomers of ancient Ireland to mark the course of the heavens. Throughout the book, we read about star-watching sessions held during equinoxes and other special times of the year. If these sessions and stargazing did indeed occur then, Bronze Age people must be wiser than we think they are.

As I mentioned earlier, the characters and their life stories are captivating. There is a doomed love story, a tyrannic and greedy character, civilizations, exploration, uncouthness, and brutality. All this woven together along with the historical facts produce a novel fans of Bronze Age life and Irish mythology cannot ignore. While some might find the historical information boring, I was enthralled by it. There were some parts where I wondered if it was a fruit of the author's imagination or a fact, but for most of the book, the line between fact and fiction is quite clear.

I only have two complains about Bending the Boyne. Firstly, the phrase "your man" was used way too frequently. Most times, I had no idea who "your man" was referring to. Was it referring to the character thinking those words or was it referring to some other character? Secondly, the last part of the last chapter in the novel was terribly ambiguous. How can Boann be "badly wounded" when she wasn't involved in the battle? What had transpired to cause her to be "badly wounded"? I dislike it when such questions are left in the air at the end of the novel, especially when it involves a main character and protagonist.

[Heather Turiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been in my Audible library for years and I finally picked it up. I love reading Dark Ages history and this Irish bronze-age historical fiction is a great way to experience what life might have been for the indigenous inhabitants of Eire as more nomadic/sea-faring peoples began to expand settlements, search for precious metals and institute trade. The Dark Ages are called dark for a reason, they were very violent and we have no written documentation to assemble what it was really like to live at this time. J.S Dunn does a good job outlining what it was like at this point in history. If you liked Bernard Cornwell's Stonehenge, you will like Bending the Boyne.