Setanta and the Hungry Ones by JM Lane

✨️4.5✨️

"Before churches and kings, before ink and iron, a war tore Ireland." Sheesh, what an opening line.

Very theatrical story telling in the opening. It feels like it's meant to immerse you and make you feel as though you're being told a story and it really really works.

Good pacing for a novella.

My overall thoughts? The boy can't catch a break. Poor kid.

There were a lot of working elements that I think came together really well. Leaning on Irish mythos allows a lot more time story telling and less world building which allows for a good balance in a novella. I loved the elements of horror (despite the baby making my heart hurt). All in all, I think it all worked really well.

My one gripe, I was moderately confused about his mom's storyline, but it mostly worked itself out in my mind and may have just been me missing something along the way.

Side note, I know it's YA and this isn't truly a complaint or qualm, more an observation than anything else... Why is it always up to the children? 13, almost 14 is a CHILD.