The last 50 pages get a 3-star rating: read on to see what I mean. The majority of this book gets a 5-star rating from me. Look deeper and you'll see a resemblance to a lot of heroic folklore. There are in many ways more than a few passing resemblances to the 'hero who arrives from nowhere and rides away (or dies) after he does what is needed'. There is a lot of the culture shown here that made it's way to our side of the Atlantic back when the nation was coming into being. If you care to think about it (it seems to me) you'll see more than a passing resemblance to some of America's western folklore here.

The story may not be the neatest construction ever put together but it is a story with a kind of working logical progression. This book does a fine job of taking many figures from folklore (Maeve of Connaugt, Deirdre, Skye.Cuchullain himself) the stories themselves, placing them into a sort of magically influenced historical fiction and making the entire thing work. The ones who are actually 'heroic', clay feet not withstanding. As I think I've mentioned before, I like heroes. Again, folklore and history get badly entwined here along with the mythology. If you're interested look up the cattle raid of Cooley. Cuchulain victim of his own vow, killer of his own son and (at times) a berserk(er) warrior.

Son of prophecy he will defend in single handed battle.and die young. The legend of Cuchulain has come down through time, history and folklore as tale of courage and tragedy.

One day they will call him the hound of Ulster, born to glory, brushed by the raven's wing.The small boy who arrives at the ancient royal fortress of Emain Macha has only one desire - to join the legendary Red Branch, a mighty order of warriors pledged to defend the standing stones and river-strewn hills of Ireland.Setanta has always longed to follow in his father's footsteps as a knight, but he could never have prepared for the fatal beauty of Deirdre, the brutal jealousy of King Conor or the blistering fires of Queen Maeve's vengeance.From the shapeshifters of the Otherworld and their goddess of war to the mythical spear of Gae Bulga, Setanta's adventures set him on a path to finally claim his long-foretold destiny as Cuchulain, the fabled hero of Celtic lore.An epic historical tragedy seething with magic and mayhem, this will be utterly adored by fans of Bernard Cornwell and Robin Hobb.Published in North America as The Red Branch.Praise for On Raven's Wing'A panoramic sweep of love and jealousy and war' Barbara Erskine, bestselling historical romance author'History and legend, gods and men intertwine irresistibly, and the gates of the otherworld are always hidden but tantalisingly close' The Sunday Times Book Review'Powerful' The New York Times Book Review'The reader remains captivated from first page to last' Jean M.Cuchulain, another sad, brave figure (Irish history and folklore are full of them).

Morgan llywelyn red branch