The sauce that separates a great HISTORICAL novel from a good yarn is the research. In that regard, there are very few that can hold a candle to Morgan Llywelyn. It may be of interest to you, Texas Guest, to know that she spent her childhood being raised six months of the year in Texas and six months of the year in Ireland. She now lives full time in Ireland. The O'Brian of Boru's family figure she captured his family's story as well as it could be done. Llywelen's stories are often, and incorrectly IMO, given short shrift and relegated to the Sci Fi and romance novel areas. I have read every one of her novels from The Wind From Hastings,Red Branch (about Cuchualain) to Finn MacCool (hate the phonetic spelling of the title, loved the story) to Grainne to Last Prince of Ireland to the two novels about Boru and his kin (Lion of Ireland and Pride of Lions), The Horse Goddess (about Epona), to her books on the history of the struggle, beginning with 1916. She did not think well of some of the stuff that was written as they were not historically accurate, and for her that is a must. If she is speculating or creating a conversation, it must be based on the facts. And that is why she is, quite frankly, without equal in the arena of Historical Fiction.

I have read both books of the Dublin Saga, and enjoyed them both very much. I thought they were well researched and presented in a believable way. One could walk away from them knowing the story line was fiction, but understanding the timeline and major events were told in an accurate way.

Great thread.

All the best,

Mick