Scions of the Otherworld [Historical Fantasy/Adventure]

Self-Published

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Description

Book 1: The Blighted Treasure (Complete) A supernatural fight for the fate of 15th Century Ireland might be decided by a pair of farmers. Their parents’ passing leaves brothers Donal and Finn with little more than a failing farm. Finn sets aside his ambitions to save their family’s land and help Donal deal with a disorder that torments his mind. Donal is forced to fend for himself after his older brother is kidnapped by a creature known only through folk tales – a headless rider. As Donal sets out to save his brother, he learns the truth about his family. Their mythical heroes, the Tuatha Dé, are real, and the brothers are among their descendants. Ancient villains known as the Fomori are bent on unleashing a supernatural blight upon the land. Other local descendants of the Tuatha Dé take Donal on a journey across medieval Donegal. He’ll learn about ancient magic hiding in plain sight. He’ll stand toe-to-toe with mythical creatures, fight off sorcerers’ spells and cross spears with brutes twice his size. Can Donal and his people catch the Fomori in time to save their home? Book 2: Lost in the Otherworld (Complete!) To save his home, Donal MacLaughlin has to get help from the person who ripped his family apart. Fomori continue their fight to invade 15th Century Tyrconnell. Donal and the other Sílrad must find the two remaining Treasures of the Tuatha Dé, the Sword of Light and the Spear of Victory, if they are to repel the invasion.Unfortunately for them,both weapons are hidden in the Otherworlds, a one-way journey for all mortals.An old acquaintance awaits on the other side to help them find both the weapons of their salvation and the means of returning home. Countless creatures of myth, untold hazards and miles of perilous travel lie between the Sílrad and their contact. Donal, Finn, Siobhan and Maeve must reach out to old friends and unwilling allies across northern Ireland to increase their slim chances of success. Book 3: Due Fall 2026 NOTE: This series only appears onRoyal Roadand myPatreon. If you are reading this from another site, it is a pirated copy.RESEARCHED AND WRITTENWITHOUT ANY AI. Concept art contains some AI elements as placeholders until I can afford to hire someone.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: M_Gorman

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 373
Views: 71,834

What readers say about Scions of the Otherworld [Historical Fantasy/Adventure]

“This story unfolds with a natural, steady confidence that makes it easy to sink into from the very first chapters. The early focus on the two brothers is especially strong, their clashing personality traits and simmering frustrations with one another create…”
JohnLakeRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Scions of Tuatha Dé has the kind of elegant prose I often find myself jealous of. Typically, I don't mention prose first in a review, but here I think it's appropriate for a couple of reasons. First, it really is that damn good. And second, it's working ove…”
AceGreenRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

JohnLakeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story unfolds with a natural, steady confidence that makes it easy to sink into from the very first chapters. The early focus on the two brothers is especially strong, their clashing personality traits and simmering frustrations with one another create an immediate tension that feels authentic and lived-in. It’s a dynamic that grounds the narrative, and it pays off quickly when Donal, the brother often perceived as giving “less effort,” is suddenly pushed to take initiative in the story’s first major event. His development begins immediately, adding an engaging emotional thread to the opening arc.
The back-and-forth dialogue is easy to follow, allowing information to be shared in a way that feels natural, almost as if the reader is standing among the characters themselves. Details and emotions are woven throughout each exchange, giving conversations weight without slowing the pace.
Once the plot shifts into action, the pacing stays controlled and deliberate. The intensity builds in measured steps, never overwhelming the reader but gradually tightening the atmosphere. Each new character enters the narrative with purpose, offering a balanced response while naturally expanding the story through the information they bring. The writing style is smooth and polished, and the historical fantasy angle along with the clever use of folklore and mythos fits seamlessly into the narrative. Altogether, it’s a compelling and highly promising start.
AceGreenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Scions of Tuatha Dé has the kind of elegant prose I often find myself jealous of. Typically, I don't mention prose first in a review, but here I think it's appropriate for a couple of reasons. First, it really is that damn good. And second, it's working overtime to convey the detail of the world.
The research for this novel must have been laborious, because the result is rather effortless. A phrase I like to use is "effort makes effortless," and that's certainly apt here. Conversational prose seems simple because it's so often rather matter-of-fact. But there were almost certainly a hundred ways to phrase and order a passage that is in principle simple, and yet hard to imagine. Chapter 12, where I left off, is a good case in point. The progression of description for the smithy seems so natural that the signs of Maeve's crush and Donal's jealousy sneak in like they're part of the landscape.
The novel's landscapes deserve special mention, because the descriptions are particularly evocative, and sometimes quite gorgeous. Lots of times I found myself idly wishing I was on a carriage ride through Ireland.
Of course, the grammar and technical stuff is on point.
As for the story, the feature that jumps out first is of course the background of Irish folklore. It's a set of myths and hero cycles I'm largely unfamiliar with, and yet phrases like portal tomb that I must have read in history class cross my memory sometimes. Just the concept of it is satisfying. It's cool when a historical thing becomes a fantasy thing, and the author has done the requisite research.
But Scions goes a lot further than the basic concept. On top of the rich physical world, it doesn't shy away from a whole-hearted exploration of the myths and folklore. It's intriguing, and maybe more than that fun. I haven't read Percy Jackson, but I can't help but make the comparison, because there's a very pleasant feeling I get when real myth and folklore slots right in, like it belonged to a young adult novel t
AlexanderScottRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Scions of the Tuatha De is a fantastic and enjoyable Irish folk story—that starts with a seemingly simple premise: The MacLaughlin brothers are losing their farm in 15th century Ireland, after both their parents pass away, and they want to do everything to keep it. Simple enough, right?
Not so much. When supernatural forces begin to mess with the brothers, everything starts to change. First, Finn is kidnapped by a headless mythological creature, and Donal gets helps from his landlord's daughter, someone they didn't think would be friendly to their mission to keep the farm.
It turns out the brothers are descendants of the Tuatha Dé, ancient heroes. However, the descendants of the ancient enemies of their ancestors are still walking the earth as well—and such, a grand battle is set up.
The writing is strong, the characters are well drawn, and I'm excited to see where this story ends up. Recommended! : )
Celt ComstockRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story takes us on an adventure through north-western Ireland in the Middle Ages. Two brothers have to leave their farm to deal with the implications, including the immediate dangers, of their magical heritage.
The plot moves quickly, with a lot of action and an adventure that starts from early on. It is really good fun.
But the action doesn’t get in the way of immersive world-building, as the villages and lifestyle of medieval Ireland are shown to the reader. The places are real places, and indeed fully feel like real places. The characters’ lives are accurately portrayed for the period and setting.
The way that Gorman writes dialogue deserves a special note: The dialogues throughout the book are wonderful. The conversations are very realistic and natural, giving a feel of real people talking. Yet the dialogue does not slow down the action, but instead often goes along with the action as additional color commentary.
The magic system and its philosophical basis are particularly well and satisfyingly described. It is a coherent and fully-developed system that ties in with the mythological basis of the book. The reader gets a good sense of its uses, possibilities, and dangers.
Style: The direct style of the writing moves the action along quickly, but it still makes enough time for world-building. It is exactly what you need for a historical adventure story like this.
Story: It is a coming-of-age story, coupled with intricate world building based in Irish mythology. There is a lot of action and constant danger for the characters, travelling through a world in which the Irish gods, and their immortal enemies, existed.
Grammar: Well-written and clearly well-edited at a high professional level.
Characters: There is a full cast of well-developed characters. They all have distinct voices and full backstories. Their interactions are realistic, and their fears and the tensions between the characters come understandably from the stress that the emerging dange
D.N. NewynRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Scions of the Tuatha Dé is a delightful read, with a vividly imagined world that does justice to the Irish mythology. It is an expertly crafted adventure fantasy with familial drama and mythological intrigue woven in, and I find myself immersed in the local folklore right away.The characters are a strong aspect of the book. The brothers, Donal and Finn, are well-developed, with distinct personalities and relatable conflicts. Donal's impulsive nature and Finn’s level-headedness play off each other well, and although they don't always get along, they care for each other deeply and know when to back down. Murrough and Siobhan are lovely characters, but my personal favorite has to be Maeve, who's resourceful, capable, and independent.The style of writing really helps bring out the atmosphere, the harshness of the natural landscape, and most of all, the mythology and and ancient creatures that I will not spoil here. One of the best parts of the book is the encounter with a certain entity who I will not name early on, which also serves as a point of introduction to the mystery of the book. My only critique is that the book occasionally suffers from pacing issues. There are moments where the story lingers on exposition or dialogue, but the author promises lots of excitement in the later chapters, and the world-building woven into the exposition is more than exciting enough.All and all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I'd recommend it to anyone who's a fan of richly-built worlds and ancient myths. It's been a pleasant read with little distractions for me so far, and I can't wait to see what else is in store.
D.U.ARoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I rarely read Irish fantasy, but this was a treat. You forget how much inspiration is drawn from specific sources until someone hones in on a singular source to reveal it as the origin of many aspects of your favorite genre.
Which brings me to the author’s aim for authenticity. If this was music, they play the song meant to be played. No jazz. No straying. This is an Irish fantasy.
The way the story is written is clean cut. Fat is trimmed. Your time is not wasted.
My favorite part is the nostalgic feeling it gives like I was a kid again, reading in a library. This story comes off as an actual book. This could be adapted to Netflix easily (which would help their fantasy section because Lord knows they need it).
Characters are immensely relatable. No lofty egos or edgy personalities. Their struggle feels authentic and real. The brothers, Finn and Donal, have—again—an authentic feel to their personalities and sibling relationship.
The antagonist breaches the brothers’ ordinary world and you think they’re the main threat at first, but there’s a promise of a larger threat. Not only the threat, Finn and Donal are way more involved than they realize.
There are familiar tropes but none of it feels at all derivative. This is music with no off-key notes.
If you’ve ever wondered what a real Irish myth feels like start reading this story.
De Oppresso LiberRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
As the title says, it is about the descendent of the Tuath De. A topic I am interested in, as my family descends from the O'Doherty's of County Donegal. I was even pleased to find a minor character with the name O'Doherty. The author is true to the Irish folklore. Every time a name or place was mentioned, I would look it up to see how accurate they were being described. I was very pleased with it. Great storytelling, character development and action sequences. Highly recommend.
Brian HemingRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a story for those who are steeped in Gaelic mythos or want to be, of times long past and powers ancient, handed down in the bloodlines deriving from the Tuatha De. It's also a story of brothers--loving brothers who struggle, yet continue to love each other despite their many personal foibles. We end up with slowburn character development and overcoming personal and interpersonal challenges interspersed with our heroes being slowly dropped into a world of folklore, magic, and danger.
The characters are deep, gruff, and detailed. No cardboard supermen here: all are flawed and conflicted in some way, and regret some poor decisions they have made. The writing is very high quality, with excellent grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and slants to dialogue-heavy exposition aimed at revealing character details in tandem with the background of the world and its magic.
The story, at least for the first 17 chapters, is largely focused on worldbuilding and character development after the first inciting action sequence brings the characters from a mundane setting into one where they must acknowledge that magic is real, and the myths are true.
Read this if you enjoyed the myths and backstories of the Dresden Files, but wanted more worldbuilding and character development and less blowing things up with fireballs.
FalstaffRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I should preface this by saying that I'm about halfway through the first book, Scions of the Tuatha-De. So while I believe I can write a fair and constructive review, there's still plenty of story I can't comment on yet.
But I'm enjoying myself, and I'm excited to read more.
I will admit it took me a while to fall into the story. My tastes veer much more minimalistic, and this story takes a while before it hits the gas. The first couple chapters are spent getting to know the brothers Finn and Donal. The inciting incident is gripping enough to leave an impression and got me asking questions, but then it took a while for those questions to be forthcoming, and when they finally arrived, it felt like a deluge of answers to questions I didn't even ask.
I perceived the story finding its stride around Chapter 16. Then I started picking up some more traditional fantasy beats and forward momentum.
But I've read a lot of fantasy novels, and it's conventional for the first 50 pages or so to be mostly scene setting and character establishment. So even though I chafe at the slow start, it's a matter of taste, not quality. This is traditional, conventional prose--dialog-heavy, but that's a stylistic choice, and I respect stylistic choices.
I do take issue with some of the dialog tags and their placement relative to the dialog. I don't always know who is speaking or to whom. It's not an issue so egregious as to diminish my enjoyment, but more clarity would be appreciated.
On the subject of potential, or rather potential sequels, it seems to me you've got all the trappings for an excellent portal fantasy. I don't know how you square the circle of modern technology, but I think the potential is worth the trouble. With a distinctly Irish setting, you could do to portal fantasy what JK Rowling did to magic schools (She didn't invent the genre. All she did was give her school a distinctly British vibe, and the world outside England ate it up like exotic fruits).
Grammar is solid. Fun d
Kleo EriliRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this lovely historical fantasy-adventure about the two brothers Donal and Finn. The story is packed full of old Irish myths and legends, be it the Tuathe Dé Dannan already mentioned in the title, Dullahans, the Fomori and many other bits and pieces.
The story has a large and great roster of characters who are all clearly written with much love and an eye for details and with Siobhan and Maeve there are two wonderful female characters that both manage to feel truly agentic without falling out of the time or being to on the nose.
Style and atmosphere reminded me a bit of Guy Gavriel Kay (which is definitely a good thing!) and also about a probably rather obscure and in the english-speaking world basically unknown old German portal fantasy novel from Wolfgang Hohlbein called Drachenfeuer (Dragonfire) from 1988, that incorporates much of the same legends and myths and has a somewhat similar vibe – although I'd definitely prefer Scions of the Tuathe Dé between those two.
Grammar is impeccable, nothing to complain whatsoever.
Scions of the Tuathe Dé is a timeless fantasy adventure with a good historical grounding that is clearly written with much love and well crafted throughout. I greatly enjoyed reading it and can't wait to read the rest of it.