This book takes up six years after the end of the previous book, Throne of Darkness.  Molly, Neiman, Hob and Jack, along with Hob and Nemain’s daughter Macha Redmane, decide it is finally time to return to Ireland to reclaim the family lands. We begin with a rousing pirate attack on the ship carrying our group to Erin and Hob earns his prophesied  name- “Robert the Englishman” - with the ferocity of his defense of the ship and his family.  Once in Ireland we learn how Maeve (Molly) and Nemain came to be exiles so long ago. We also learn about the enemies they will face: three evil sisters who used black magic along with a clan of Viking/Scots known as Norse Gaels who killed Nemain’s parents along with dozens of their clansmen and either drove the remaining members of the clans from their lands or enslaved them.  Joined by the allies they made in the previous three books Molly gathers her clansmen and goes forth to reclaim her land and heritage.

I cannot tell a lie, this has been on my to-read pile for a bit over a year. I love this series and its blend of historical adventure mixed with magic and a touch of fantasy but, with the death of author Douglas Nicholas I feared this would leave us hanging as to the ultimate fates of the characters we have come to love, not just Molly and her human family, but also Mavourneen the ass, Tapaigh the mare and especially gentle Milo the ox and loyal Sweetlove the terrier, I should not have feared - this is a wonderful conclusion to an epic series. We have thrilling action, incredibly magic and throughly human and believable characters.  While I would have loved to know more and more of the little family and how their lives continued this was a fitting and believable conclusion to the adventure and quest that was built throughout the course of the series. Highly recommended. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon

For reviews of other books in the series click here