The Last Days of Magic: A Novel

A bit long at some points with the epilogue being way too short. This novel casts a wide net of characters with perhaps too many getting lost in the shuffle. The blend of history with fantasy was well done.

This is a sort of blend of historical fiction and fantasy that creates a fully realized and rather epic version of history that makes magic and myth real. It is an intriguing story that feels both well-researched and fully imagined. I like how Tompkins brings together Celts, Romans, English, gods, goddesses, faeries, and still makes the landscape and setting feel so realistic. And while this is a satisfying read on its own, the level of detail present here would make a good foundation for more stories set in this same version of the world. The characters are well-developed here as well, so it would be nice to see more of many of them as well! It's a beautifully told story and one that I really enjoyed reading!

I am so glad Mr. Tompkins wrote this book. I have been waiting for years for a book like this to be written. It was enchanting and sometimes dark. Liam was my favorite character.
I received this book for free from LoP group on Goodreads.

This book is highly entertaining - great story! Memorable characters. Great review in the Washington Post for Feb. 29, 2016. The writer pulls you in, and he interweaves the history of his narrative well with his characters. I really enjoyed the blend of history and action. This writer is a great story-teller. You will love this book.

A great story that mixes Celtic, Jewish, and Christian Mythologies with history and fantasy. I've always been a sucker for stories that utilize Celtic Myth, but I really enjoyed the way Tompkins wove all these mythologies together in a cohesive way that made the world much broader. Aisling's story broke my heart as she tried to find her way through life as half of herself. And while I rooted for great Irish victory, alas the historical roots of the tale thwarted my will, but I enjoyed the seeds of hope for the future that Tompkins left us for the return of the Morrigna; the Last Days of Magic have not faded away yet! If you enjoy tales that play with history and myth in way that allows you to step into those worlds and believe, this is a book for you.

Finished reading Mark Tompkins book The Last Days of Magic last evening and what a read! If you are a fan of Ireland and believe in all the magic the land there holds, you'll love this book. Based on much history of the Church and Ireland alike, Tompkins delivers a love story of fantasy, war and history combined. I'm not elegant in my words, but this was a read that kept my attention, raised my blood pressure and crushed my heart while still allowing me to maintain hope & belief that good will prevail. A definite keeper in my library!

I will concede that this novel isn't for everyone, and the few people with negative reviews just weren't the right readers for a book like this. I grew up on the Alanna series and really enjoyed A Discovery of Witches and Diana Gabaldon's work, etc. and I loved it! So much history, magic, specific mythologies blending in a really complex way... I took off a star because now and then I do think it feels like he did a lot of research and wanted to stick all the fascinating material in the story, which can feel overmuch, but it didn't get in the way of the story! The pages kept turning!

I love this book. The action is fast, the biblical references are intriguing, and it's written in a contemporary manner. There is subtle humor.
The way magical beings are intertwined with historical facts is interesting. It will be interesting to find out the degree to which people of those times believed in magic and magical beings.

The premise of this book is excellent and there are some great ideas nested in the execution but the story itself is horribly hampered by the backstory. Over and over there is the seed of a great idea or a moment of action and then the author stops the plot to introduce way too much "history" with too many seemingly irrelevant details and characters. Rather than focusing on scenes and letting us discover the world through the character's eyes we have to suffer through text that reads like a high school (alternate history) history lesson. I nearly never give up on books but after 70 pages it is clear that this book is not fun. I wish that there was a second author on this because the author has great ideas.

Rating: 1.5

I have not finished reading this book, but seeing as I've been trying for two month and have only made it 150 or so pages in, it's not working for me. The author clearly spent a lot of time researching, but that research may have led to him sacrificing the actual story. It felt like I was reading a vivid history book. That's not to say this book is boring, some elements of the story are intriguing, but there is so much going on that it takes a sincere want to learn about the entire culture and history of the people within the story world. I prefer more linear, follow one story line, easy to read fiction whereas this is for diehard magical realism/low fantasy readers. I chose to read this book to force myself out of my comfort zone, but I've pushed and pushed, and I think it's time to move on. Will this book be a permanent DNF? I don't know. The story is interesting enough that I sort of want to read it, and the writing itself is good, but I just don't have the passion to right now.

If you are a lover of speculative history with fantastical elements, this book is perfect for you. Otherwise, I suggest reading something a bit lighter--and shorter!

*I received a free copy of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was obviously supposed to be a sprawling epic adventure. Well, it is sprawling, covering a multitude of characters and individual issues. All in all, it reads more like a psuedo-history than a novel. Myth is liberally mixed up with history. There are lots of references to the Dead Sea Scrolls that try to support the existence of magical beings.

I'm sorry to be so blunt, but what is supposed to be a mix of history and myth turns out to be a mess. Reading through this was, for me, a major labor and no fun at all.

If the basic outline and concept appeal to you at all, I recommend this without reservation. (If you're the sort of person who wouldn't touch fantasy with a ten foot pole, well, I can't help you. Your life is dull.)

Good atmosphere and take on "historical fantasy." The way the book layers fantastic elements on actual historical events works out well here. The setting is particularly immersive - Irish history is familiar enough in our culture to give people something to start from but feels fresher than the 800th retelling of King Arthur.

Strong characters and motivations and the atmosphere is right up my alley. Most of the characters carve new ground vs being standard archetypes from central casting so the book will keep you guessing in a good way.

This is a hard review to write. The author has obviously done some exhaustive research into Gaelic and Celtic legends, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. And he has written some very interesting characters. But, unfortunately, he included so much of this research in his book that the story became clogged and the characters took a backseat too many times. For example, when a character arrived at a building for a rendezvous, instead of the writer describing the building with one or two descriptive sentences or exposition, the reader is treated to everything known about that building: who lived there, who used it, who died in it, how long ago, etc. I eventually forgot who was at the building and why. This happened too many times, it was overkill and detracted from the story.

Like I said, there are some very interesting characters but they almost played second fiddle to the numerous legends the author included in his scenes. At one point, due to so much backstory, I forgot the characters involved in the scene. I kept confusing them with the backstory characters.

This is a hard review to write because this is a debut novel and I hate to write anything negative but, I have to say it, this was not an easy book to read. An editor with steely resolve is needed in cases like this to carve away all the fluff and fat and extraneous tidbits and leave, instead, a great story with even better characters for the readers to enjoy.

This book had so much potential that was compromised by a really messy timeline that I found confusing and rather distracting. As the characters change, often the timeline would go back and repeat prior events focusing on a different character's perspective or knowledge. I really did not like this and felt it did a good deal of harm to an other wise good story.

The writing was fairly good, and the story elaborate and interesting. Some of the mythology was explained repetitively ad nauseum, as if the reader might be totally new to the concepts, such as that of of the Goddess Morrigan, described as having 3 parts, one in the other world, and a warrior and sage in the form of twins females in this one. After about 6 explanations of this in the book, I lost count.

The magic was also lackluster. It was present, but never well described, often coming across as mundane, and never amazing. There's also some disturbing violence in this book - such as stabbing infants, but it's not described in detail, and loses its impact. It was presented as nonchalantly as if they were merely performing a blood test on the babies.

I did like the ending. I was starting to feel there would be no resolution for some major plot points, but they finally arrived. I felt the ending was satisfying. Fans of Irish mythology might enjoy it.

Boring. I had such high expectations for this book that I have cleared an evening for it. It was boring to death. If you want to see how a story of magic tied to the Old Testament and history of faeries and religion can be as exciting as reading a telephone directory, try this one. All characters were simply flat. Book has tons of action and no depth whatsoever. Someone is always doing something, but it is not clear why and how these actions are connected to the main plot. The characters are like marionettes that are being tracked by the author who is equally surprised at their actions as the reader. If you want to know how the magic died in our world: it happened in this book, out of boredom.

What it's all about...

This book is about fairies and legends and myths. It's about characters whose names and purposes are so complicated that it was almost impossible to keep their mission straight. This book is about twins...who change and who must be protected. It's about quests and angels and nephilim. I also think it's about a complicated battle about good and evil.

My thoughts after reading this book...

I literally was exhausted after reading this book. I hated being in the 1300's. I wasn't crazy about the stories. I wasn't fond of the characters, either, except for Liam in the beginning. And...where was the magic?

What I loved best...

To be really honest I loved the beginning of this book because it took place in this century and I loved Sara Hill and her grandmother and the hidden stories in her childhood books. I loved the ending...but I won't tell you why...but it involves Sara Hill, too.

What potential readers might want to know...

I wanted to LOVE this book. I wanted it to carry me away. But...it sort of left me feeling flat and disconnected. What I would tell potential readers is to read a few of this book's reviews on Goodreads and the store...read an excerpt and then decide. This was not a good choice for me. I am not saying that this author does not write a beautiful story...but...it wasn't for me.

I read a variety of genres and am not a fantasy buff per se. I read the other reviews and I just feel The Last Days of Magic was a great read. I liked the mix of history and fantasy. The book went one step beyond just fairies and gore and added a historical element that made it bit more real than just the average fantasy novel. Thus, it kept me engaged because it was like reading a TV series - you have to describe things in detail and narrate well in order to create that kind of visual. So I loved it!

I really loved this book. Set in medieval Ireland, half-goddess Aisling, the Celts, and Sidhe faeries battle against Vatican forces and England’s King Richard II. At stake is the very existence of magic. The story is rich and complex, crafted as a sort of pseudo-history that asks: what if the stories of witches, spells, and demons once were true? The world in this novel felt wholly alive—it’s clear the author has done immense research and it shows on every page. Not only was the story engrossing, but I also felt that I learned a lot about medieval history and Irish folklore, which is exactly what I look for in a read. Definitely one for history buffs and fantasy fans alike!

The stakes are big here, and the world vast, but Tompkins manages to balance substantial themes and epic sweep with the more intimate events and concerns of his characters in a way that is truly compelling. Comfortably grounded both in familiar history and well-loved legend the story unfolds through vital characters we care about right from the start. So fresh and filled with unexpected surprises this one is a worthy edition to one’s bookshelf to be nestled between Gaiman, Gabaldon and Harkness.

Though I was absolutely sold on the description of this novel - the history and intersection of myth, magic, fairy tales and faith - I struggled to get through it. There is a lot (a LOT) of dense history and backstory, some of it interesting, almost all of it a chore to read. I appreciate the author's vast knowledge of Catholic history and Celtic lore, but he is not great at translating that into story. It reads as if he felt obliged to cram in every morsel of information he had, storytelling (and editing) be damned. There's a lot of potential in the material, but what the author delivers is convoluted, clumsy and cluttered. I just couldn't get into the story at all. I hate to be so negative about a debut effort, but I honestly cannot recommend this to anyone.

Frankly I'm a Travis McGee/Jack Reacher kind of guy. But I really enjoyed this book. The grounding provided by the historical perspective set the tone for a great fantasy. A great and entertaining escape into a different world for me. Well done...

Truth can indeed be stranger than fiction … and fiction can open doors to truths that have been swallowed by the vagaries and manipulations of history. "The Last Days of Magic" is a wild ride of a tale that will leave you wondering about all the beauty and mystery that has been lost in what has been handed down to us. Mark Tompkins has created an imagined world with one foot in well-researched ancient, if buried, Celtic and Christian traditions and the other foot in pure artistic conjuring. I fell in love with his characters and his playful, if at times violent, imagination. Despite its (ironic?) title, Tompkins’ impressive debut novel is evidence that as long as art lives, magic can never die.

I love all things magical and mystical, so I was really excited to be getting this book to review. Unfortunately, this book fell short for me. I think one of the main reasons is because the author isn't quite sure what genre he wants to write in and threw a bit of everything in there. Fantasy, Historical, Romance? I don't know. I was expecting magical creatures doing magical things, but there is actually rather little magic in this book. It feels like the author was more worried about getting everything he could into one book than he was about the plot and the writing style. There are so many things going on, many of them got lost in the shuffle and had very little character development and there wasn't much world building.

I hate to give a bad review for books. Especially debut novels. I know how much time and effort goes into writing a book and I hope that the author takes this review as constructive criticism and grows from it. There is no need to cram as much stuff in a book as possible. Take a few characters and work on really developing them rather than having many characters without much of a personality. Work on your world building skills. Show me, don't tell me.

I have to admit that I didn't make it completely through the book. I found myself daydreaming and thinking of other things instead of being engrossed in the story. I finally had to give up on it. I'm sorry.

I enjoyed every page of this novel. Tompkins' rich character development created empathy and connection with each character while teaching a bit of history, myth and legend. I cheered for the "good guys" and the "bad guys". Great stuff.

Like the Book of Kells, The Last Days of Magic evokes an adjacent world of half-animal, half-god, half-human creatures wrestling with their place in a medieval Europe shrouded in desire, complexity and mystery. Mark Tompkins has imagined an intricate story of savagery and beauty connected to real world ancient texts and scripture. Reading the book is like a vivid dream, which after waking, one longs to return.

I enjoyed every page of this novel. Tompkins' rich character development created empathy and connection with each character while teaching a bit of history, myth and legend. I cheered for the "good guys" and the "bad guys". Great stuff.

Like the Book of Kells, The Last Days of Magic evokes an adjacent world of half-animal, half-god, half-human creatures wrestling with their place in a medieval Europe shrouded in desire, complexity and mystery. Mark Tompkins has imagined an intricate story of savagery and beauty connected to real world ancient texts and scripture. Reading the book is like a vivid dream, which after waking, one longs to return.

This is the second magic-based fantasy book I've read lately, and it really makes me want to give the other one a better review - in that one I felt that more could have been done with the magic, but wow, now I feel the other author showed a wonderful sense of restraint. In The Last Days of Magic... well, to be quite honest, I feel as if I've been bludgeoned by an overwhelming sense of things - this book is just trying too hard. Which is a shame, you can tell the author was really trying here, he had some good ideas and did his research, it just comes across as all thrown into the book as if you're trying to clean out the fridge and just dump whatever's still good into the pot on the stove without a care for how it'll taste. You have your Sidhe (fairies), you have your half-Sidhe, you have your Nephilim, your demons, your druids, your Church, your medieval kings and your Vikings... yeah, you have a lot going on here, and most of the time it comes across as rather info-dumpy at that - and a dry, historical book type of info-dump. You also have time jumps, things going back and forth in time perspectives, which doesn't help.
All of this might have been more bearable if I liked the characters, but all of that jumping around and the huge cast doesn't help to build much of a connection with them, and there's not much of an emotional depth to many of them, too. Perhaps it's the writing style, perhaps it's all the background information getting in the way, but I didn't connect to any of them.
So, there's some interesting twists on history and mythology here in this book, it's just burdened with too much plot and exposition in my opinion. If the story is continued, I truly hope the author is reined in and streamlines the plot while adding a bit more emotional depth to the characters (and no, that doesn't mean giving them more bland sex lives - among the rather graphic details of how brutal life could be in the medieval ages, there are scenes of rape in this book, albeit not very detailed, along with questionable coercion).

I just about squeaked when I saw this title, the cover, the descriptions. Let me at it! But it turns out to be too much of too little. No, not too little, there is a lot here, and some of the mythic connections Tompkins makes are quite thought provoking. The alternate history mixed up with the fey folk in Ireland and the possible origin story for all of them sounds fascinating, but it all just clunks and lumbers along without a whit of magic. I have been thinking about this book for so long I am overdue in my Vine review, but now that I'm doing it, I still have little to suggest in the way of what this book needs to be saved. I wish the back story could've been inserted into the narrative with a lighter touch. I wish a lot for this book, because it might've been a lot more than it is, and maybe does need to be two books, but not just more of this one. Ultimately, for me it was a ponderous disappointment.

THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC will bring you into a mystical world of faeries and enchantments that you will be hard-pressed to leave. This ride through Celtic history — amidst goddesses, Celts, and Vikings — is a story rich in love, family, and history.

A great read. Loved every minute of it and couldn't put it down. A good story and really cool characters that was well written and clear. It kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. I am a fan of history and all things Ireland, so it was great to have a fun story for a change.

I tried to get into this book, but the characters didn't grab me. Part of the issue is that the author jumped around a lot and didn't flesh the characters out enough to get them to a point where they really grab you and make you want to continue reading. The story is ok, but there's a never point where I feel hooked enough to really care or want to read the next book.

I read the entire book and I am rather sorry I did. The book is confusing, there is too much that is left unexplained, the world building is poor.
Threads of the story are dropped then inexplicably resumed much later, It is a very frustrating book to read and one that I would never
recommend. Although the author seems to have a great grasp on Irish folklore, he fails to impart that to the reader in any shape or fashion, leaving
the reader still clueless at the end of the book.

Not recommended

Yikes. I don't usually post less than 4 stars, but this book was ... not good. Initially I was excited. It looks awesome, has a terrific blurb and cover, and then...... pffffff. Fizzle. The Sarah parts were good, but all of the in-between was long and complicated and tedious. Maybe the author was trying to cram too much into this one story, I don't know. But it just did not work.

Lots of potential here, but not told in the best way. The world is an amazing one, but it just wasn't introduced in very reader-friendly way. The current story was constantly interrupted to catch the reader up on the past or some sort of world building concept.

I guess I had hopes that were higher than they should be, because this was a massive disappointment. I am a huge fan of folklore, and having some Irish ancestors, I am always looking to find out more about Irish folk tales, magical thinking and the like. A lot happens here, but it's so disjointed and fragmented that I rapidly lost interest. The characters are many, but none of them really stand out......flat and one dimensional, this just did nothing for me.