'Aodhán'
Author: Adrian Buckle
Publisher: Amazon
In an age when fantasy fiction often treads familiar paths, Adrian Buckle's Aodhán crashes through convention like a thunderclap. This opening salvo in the Deos Iræ series is an audacious, haunting, and beautifully written novel that blends mythology, horror, grief, and prophecy into a story both intimate and apocalyptic. It is a book that dares to look into the abyss of divinity - and doesn't blink.
The story begins with a storm - literally and thematically. A supernatural tempest splits the skies above the sleepy town of Rashford, heralding the arrival of a pale, unnamed boy born from a cursed tree. This mysterious figure, later named Aodhán, emerges not only as a harbinger of strange events but as a character whose origins are steeped in ancient power. What follows is a rich and emotionally charged tale that ripples outward, affecting mortals and immortals alike.
Buckle's mastery lies in the way he marries cosmic scope with deeply human stakes. The grieving Meredith Caldwell, mourning the death of her soldier son, finds herself inexplicably drawn to Aodhán - a connection that echoes with maternal longing and divine fate. Their fragile bond anchors the story in emotional truth, even as gods and archangels loom in the shadows.
What sets Aodhán apart is its remarkable world-building. The Olympian gods live among mortals, their powers faded, their glory tarnished. Apollo, once radiant, is now a haunted, fragmented figure, consumed by grief, fractured loyalties and forbidden love. His romance with the archangel Micha-El is rendered with aching vulnerability, raising the stakes not just for the cosmos but for the soul.
The fallen gods are beautifully reimagined. Athena simmers with fury and philosophical despair. Hermes, ever the trickster, is both comic relief and cunning investigator. Aphrodite, cursed to destroy those she touches, is a tragic siren whose scenes shift between eroticism and horror with alarming fluidity. Buckle is unafraid to show these gods at their most flawed and most luminous, capturing the terrible beauty of immortality in decline.
If Aodhán revels in myth, it also excels in horror. Scenes set by the cursed lake are deeply unsettling, featuring siren seductions, flesh-crumbling deaths, and blood raining from the sky. Readers are never far from a creeping dread, as Rashford becomes the epicentre of a supernatural storm. One moment evokes a quiet cup of tea; the next, a vision of apocalypse. The prose shifts with the story's tone - lyrical, violent, and darkly poetic.
But this is not merely a horror-fantasy novel. It is a book steeped in themes of identity, sacrifice, and the haunting cost of love. Aodhán's silence, his hunger for belonging, and his terrifying potential power make him one of the most compelling young figures in recent fantasy literature. There's an almost messianic tension in his character - will he be the world's saviour or destroyer? Buckle doesn't offer easy answers.
The writing style is atmospheric and evocative, with a richness that will appeal to readers of Neil Gaiman, Madeleine Miller or Clive Barker. Buckle's descriptions are sensuous and tactile; his dialogue crackles with tension and intelligence. And perhaps most impressively, he balances ensemble storytelling with grace - no small feat given the number of divine and mortal characters vying for attention.
One of the novel's greatest achievements is its tonal dexterity. It is often tragic and philosophical, yet never humourless. Hermes' Tinder misadventures and internal commentary offer welcome levity. There's a self-awareness in the writing that never undermines its emotional weight. Whether confronting an archangel's trauma or a goddess's curse, Aodhán remains confident in its strange, genre-defying identity.
There are passages that read like prose poems. There are chapters that descend into chaos. There are visions that unsettle, and prophecies that ignite. In short, Aodhán is an ambitious, genre-bending work that refuses to play it safe - and is all the better for it.
Some readers may find the density of lore and the lyrical style a challenge. This is not a quick read; it's a novel that demands (and rewards) attention. But for those willing to enter Buckle's divine theatre of light and shadow, the journey is unforgettable.
Final Verdict: 9.5/10
Aodhán is a dazzling debut - a mythic tale of gods and grief, sex and sacrifice, destiny and despair. Buckle's voice is fierce, fearless and visionary. If you read one fantasy novel this year, make it this one.