A more than worthy successor to The Red Gate.
The writing is yet again beautiful and poetic and the story rich and intriguing, although this time there's a different overall mood. Where The Red Gate is a tale of mystery, discovery and finding your place in the world, The Gatekeepers is much more about family, sacrifice, love and hope. I like how Sutton uses the landscape and weather to set the mood for the story, almost as if they were part of the cast of characters.
Speaking of characters: I was happy to see my favourite character Finn return in a leading role and loved to see how he interacted with his family. He might seem to think you're better born lucky than smart, but he's got his own kind of wisdom that makes him a memorable character.
I hope Sutton will continue to add to his O'Deirg Family Saga, or maybe write about the family history of other characters (like Cora) as this book made me hungry for more.
Why should you read it:
If you like historical stories with a hint of the supernatural you really should try this saga.
The story of the O'Deirg secret continues, 10 years later (Volume 1) by Richard Sutton chronicles the lives of an Irish family who must protect an ancient secret. Tragedy unravels everything for them, and their simple traditional life is turned upside-down.
"Gatekeepers" is filled with adventure, mystery, tragedy, love, emotion and human conscience. A historical novel rarely has the ability to make me understand things about my own awareness, and yet, Gatekeepers simply did. I was unable to lay this book aside; I was totally enraptured by the spellbinding story. I felt as if I were standing in the places he described.
The character development is beyond any novel I have recently read. Richard Sutton has a true gift for understanding the human condition. He is skilled at translating emotions for the rest of us to comprehend.
I truly enjoyed this book of Irish fiction. If you are worried that the plot seems to be a bit too "Irish" for you, don't be concerned; give this series a try. While certain aspects may be extraordinary, the reality is, this novel has so much truth to it you will be highly entertained.
"Gatekeepers" is well written, well-crafted, intriguing and enjoyable. Each character comes to life. I also recommend Richard Sutton's previous novel "The Red Gate."
C.J. Good