Finn Mac Cool is a man who became a legend, whose life story grew beyond the realm of history and into myth itself. Finn has been described as “the mightiest of all Irish heroes.” He was born as one of the lowest members of ancient Irish society, raised by foster parents and apprenticed to a local poet. He grew to become the legendary leader of the first army of Ireland – and much more.For fans of Historical Fiction, Morgan Llywelyn’s books are must reads. Her works span much of Ireland’s rich history and heritage, with many early novels focusing on ancient times, kings and heroes, while some of her later ones deal with the 20th Century. I’m a big fan of the former, and her story of mythic warrior poet Finn Mac Cuhuil.Alongside plenty of action with Finn leading the Fianna (army) throughout the country dealing with roaming bandits, there are family struggles and a touch of the magical as well. At one point Finn offends the Sidhe (people of the hills, a.k.a. faeries) and his wife and son are taken away from him. Finn succumbs to madness for a while, but eventually regains his senses and falls in love with the High King’s daughter, Grania, who elopes with the handsome Diarmait. But the happy couple won’t be happy for long, and neither will Goll Mac Morna, the man who slew Finn’s father, when revenge is sought by our hero.When I first discovered Morgan Llywelyn’s writing, I devoured just about everything she had written, even special ordering several titles which were not readily stocked on the bookstore shelves. Previously, I had read mostly Sci-Fi & Fantasy, so Llywelyn was one of my first encounters with Historical Fiction (along with James Michener, who focuses on places rather than people). It may not be St. Patrick’s Day anytime soon, but this throughly researched novel is sure to transport you back to ancient Ireland.If you enjoy this book, you’ll also like Llywelyn’s Bard: the Odyssey of the Irish, and Lion of Ireland. Llywelyn’s forthcoming novel (February 2010) Brendan, is about Brendan of Clonfert, one of Ireland’s most beloved saints. Two other authors you may enjoy are Stephen R. Lawhead and Edward Rutherfurd.
I'd give this 3.5 stars if I could. Finn MacCool starts very slowly for me. It took me a while to get into the story proper. I found the book to have a lot of filler that was a little ridiculous and unnecessary; overall it was very hit and miss. The core myths relating to Fionn MacCumhaill are what make this more than a decent work of fiction. The stories are (for anyone who knows them) captivating and awe-inspiring. Llywelyn captures the magic of the tales and presents them well. This book is a good yarn overall despite odd additions such as Fionn's "sexual troubles" and the anglicisation of all the characters names.
What do You think about Finn Mac Cool (1995)?
I really want to read a good retelling of Irish legend, but this book wasn't it. There were sparks of humor, sparks of good characterization, sparks of mystery and the thrill you get in your bones when an old old tale is retold well--in other words, sparks of what I am looking for--but they were just sparks. As a whole, I was left flat. I also must confess that the author note on the jacket--pointing out the author's lofty IQ and membership in Mensa--may have biased me against the book from the beginning. So I'm still on the hunt. If anyone out there has a good Irish-flavored tale for me, let me know!
—Terzah
While I am a huge fan of Llewelyn's - and very into the mythologies related to the Celts, I was initially disappointed with this novel. Through the first 100 to 150 pages - I found the story wandering a great deal with no strong focus. However, once the story gets rolling -- it definitely gets rolling, and I was sucked straight in. The last two-thirds of the book were very difficult to put down - and I found myself with a great deal of empathy for the main character throughout. The detail of the story is wonderful and the character development is absolutely wonderful - as I have come to expect from a Llewelyn novel.
—Tommy /|\
In this novel, Morgan Llywelyn takes Irish folk hero Finn Mac Cool and puts him in a historical context, explaining how he grew to be a larger-than-life figure in folklore. I read this book in a week, which is incredibly fast for me; Llywelyn has a quick and smooth writing style that immediately draws you in and doesn't relent until the final page. All of the characters felt real and tangible, and Llywelyn does an excellent job of portraying many of her characters - even the minor ones - in such a way that readers can understand and sympathize with them almost immediately. Readers who know nothing about Finn Mac Cool can enjoy this novel just as much as those who are familiar with Finn's story and the lore behind him, since Llyweyln essentially strips the layers of myth from her hero. The story follows Finn as he joins the fianna (army) and then becomes Rigfennid Fianna (leader of the army). As Rigfennid, Finn transforms the fianna from a ragtag group of soldiers at the bottom of society, raising them up to become extremely well-respected and well-looked upon. Over the years, the fianna unites many areas of the country and brings peace to the land, but it comes at a cost to Finn's personal life when his wife and young son are taken from him. I enjoyed every second of this book, and teared up a little when I reached the final page - partly because of the way that it ends, and partly because I was sad to lose Finn Mac Cool as a companion.
—Hannah
