Age of Saints (Druid’s Brooch Series #7) by Christy Nicholas – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

Age of Saints by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Age of Saints is the seventh book in Christy Nicholas’ Druid’s Brooch Series. The series consists of stories following the same family at different points in history, and a magical heirloom which plays a significant role in each of their stories. The books are not chronological, jumping between different centuries, and can be read as standalones or as part of the series.
What I really like about this series is the extent to which it is grounded in history and traditional folklore. Nicholas paints a vivid picture of every time and place we encounter, and doesn’t miss an opportunity to teach us a bit about life at the time. Age of Saints is no different – I swear I could smell the smoke and mud in the roundhouses!
Age of Saints follows Conall, who inherited the brooch from his father, and his sister Lainn. They are on the run from their abusive stepfather, desperate to find safety and reluctant to trust anyone. There’s a good dynamic between Conall and Lainn – they are protective and caring towards each other but with a healthy amount of teasing when safety allows for it.
I particularly enjoyed the animal characters. Lainn is able to communicate with them, and so they play a significant part in the story. Barnabus the bee is probably my favourite…
For me, this is a five star book. I love the rich, magical world Nicholas describes. I enjoy learning bits of Irish Gaelic and Irish history and how the fantasy elements draw on folklore and tradition. I’d recommend the series to fans of historical fantasy, particularly with an interest in Celtic settings.

Reviewed by @translunartumshie

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