Misfortune of Vision by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great read about journeys. Orlagh is a Seer to a Hibernian chief who refuses to listen to her Visions. When she sees a Vision of a terrible battle, the chief dismisses it as nothing worth concern. But this vision prompts a series of events that leads Orlagh on a quest across Ireland for an heir. On her way, she finds family and deals with Fae and Norman soldiers alike. Can she find an heir to pass the brooch to and stop the Normans aswell?
A great read. Well developed plot with twists and turns that I just couldn’t put down. Well developed characters like Orlagh standing up for herself but kind underneath or Declan on a run of bad luck but still trying his best. A great cast of supporting characters like the shy Clodagh or Cu-Uladh stubborn but kind and funny or the annoying Bishop Malachi or the kind Gunnar.
I loved the visual detail throughout the novel like with the halls of Strangfyorthe with its colourful shields and dragons on the roof beautifully carved for a sense of awe and wonder. Or with Orlagh’s quarters for its homely feel and full of fresh herbs with their vivid colours and smells it was as if you were actually there. or the landscape with its cold winters and icy caves and snow and ice giving the reader a feel of this harsh but beautiful island. And loved the use of the senses with the sights of the vision and also sound with Declan and his songs wonderfully written.
the switch of narratives between Orlagh and Declan worked well to display both storylines and was easy to follow with the names in the chapters. The use of an elderly woman as the heroine was a brilliant idea as something different in this genre and was perfectly written, with Orlagh given the respect and humour she deserves. I also loved the sense of equality, especially in the army camp scenes, where everyone is welcomed no matter which culture you came from, be it Norman or Gaelic or Osstman and all these heritages were given the respect and love they deserve in songs and language used throughout the novel. Once again, the list of pronunciations was a lovely touch and added to the feel of the ancient world. Overall, a wonderful read and I would give it five stars.

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