Author(s): Carlo Gebler

Young Adult Fiction

This violent, dark, and disturbing tale pulls no punches. GÃÂébler has taken an epic Irish poem, Cattle Raid of Cooley, and expanded it significantly. He frames the story as a tale within a tale, having nearly passed from memory, but magically retrieved to be passed on again through the generations. The hero is Cuchulainn, born half-mortal, half-immortal. From a very early age, he demonstrates superhuman powers. He is the only male who is able to escape a curse on the men of Ulster, who are crippled during the winter season with the pains a woman feels when giving birth. The Bull Raid of the title is initiated by Queen Maeve of Connacht, who uses the curse to her advantage as she tries to obtain Ulster's famous Brown Bull. Initially, Cuchulainn is able to go up against the queen's armies single-handed and dispatches even the finest warriors sent to do battle with him one on one. But ultimately, he cannot escape the tragedy that has followed him from birth. While this sprawling saga takes perhaps a bit long to get started and only really gets going in the final third, the language throughout, while formal, is often breathtaking and occasionally horrific. A book for readers who have a strong interest in fantasy, myth, and legend.