The Last Days of Magic is a quasi-historical fantasy set in Ireland. Drawn from the legends of Ireland and from (believe it or not!) the Dead Sea Scrolls, The Last Days of Magic tells the story of the Nephilim, the hybrid offspring of angels and humans, and the Sidhe (“shee”), the Irish faeries of whom much has been written.

The Last Days of Magic

“Fantastic . . . an honest, beautifully detailed book and an entertaining read.” -DIANA GABALDON, THE WASHINGTON POST”A fantastical treat.” -PEOPLE”Simultaneously sweeping and intricate . . . Tompkins’s amazing debut novel conjures an epic battle for the soul of Ireland.

I wanted to like this book. No, I wanted to love it. As someone with a lifelong interest in Druids, Faeries, and books like The King of Elfland’s Daughter, The Mabinogion and Thomas the Rhymer, I was looking forward to a magical tale of otherworldly beings. And this book tries so hard. The erudition of Mark Tompkins is beyond question, and his passion and love of this subject matter is evident on every page. Faeries, Nephilim, Sidhe, Gnomes, Brownies, Sluaghs, Pixies, Fire Sprites, Leprechauns, Dryads, Woodwoses, and other creatures drip from the pages.

That’s kind of the problem. Every time the story works up a bit of momentum, we stop for a diversion into another creature, another king, another tribe, another history, and by the time that’s done, you’ve forgotten what was happening. I’m surprised an editor didn’t rein this in.

If you are deeply interested in the history and lore of faeries, you will find this book interesting and informative. If you’re just looking for a good historical fantasy with Druids and Faeries, there are easier ways to get it.

(I received a free Advance Reader Copy from Edelweiss in return for an honest review).