Book Review - The Gatekeepers

The Gatekeepers (The O'Deirg Family Saga #2) by Richard Sutton

What is it about:
A secret, family legacy invites betrayal. Again.

For ten years, Finn has raised a fine flock of sheep and children, but his sister and her family are returning to the farm, lost cousins are on their way from America, and a war of reprisal is raging only miles away. Who can he and Claire trust, when behind every familiar door lurks a new threat? Who can they really call family?

Return to the O'Deirg's green pastures on the rugged Co. Mayo coast, and learn more from within...

What did I think of it:
A more than worthy successor to The Red Gate.

The writing is yet again beautiful and poetic and the story rich and intriguing, although this time there's a different overall mood. Where The Red Gate is a tale of mystery, discovery and finding your place in the world, The Gatekeepers is much more about family, sacrifice, love and hope. I like how Sutton uses the landscape and weather to set the mood for the story, almost as if they were part of the cast of characters.

Speaking of characters: I was happy to see my favourite character Finn return in a leading role and loved to see how he interacted with his family. He might seem to think you're better born lucky than smart, but he's got his own kind of wisdom that makes him a memorable character.

I hope Sutton will continue to add to his O'Deirg Family Saga, or maybe write about the family history of other characters (like Cora) as this book made me hungry for more.

Why should you read it:
If you like historical stories with a hint of the supernatural you really should try this saga.

The Red Gate - Book Review

The Red Gate (The O'Deirg Family Saga #1) by Richard Sutton

What is it about:
An unexplained drowning...
A muddy fall...

... for a small, tradional Irish family, a chain of unexpected events leads them to uncover ancient secrets about theirselves and their place in the greater world. As the greed and ambition of an unfolding plan begins to threaten their very lives, what will become of their home and it's hidden legacy? What will become of their sheep?

The saga of the Red Gate begins...

What did I think of it:

A beautifully written historical fantasy set in the early years of the 20th century.

I think I love the writing in this book even more than the story. It's lyrical and descriptive and that alone made this book a joy to read. That being said: I also loved the story. It's intriguing and suspenseful with very likeable as well as despicable characters. The viewpoint switches from time to time to give you an overall picture of events and I felt myself fuming when seeing things from the viewpoint of one of the characters I didn't like. All in all Sutton managed to get me totally engrossed in the life of the O'Deirg family (especially Finn, my favourite character) and although the book luckily doesn't have a cliffhanger ending, I'm curious what's next for the O'Deirg family and their sheep.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautifully written, intriguing family saga