I am not sure what I was expecting, but really this was fantastic. A gorgeous mix of history and myth and magic. And that cover! But really, this story was just so intricate and real. The details were spot on and the way the story of the Sidhe fit seemlessly into the "real" history of the time period was perfection. The role of the church, the witch hunts, the control of history/literacy, the expansion of England the fight for power/land/the throne, and the cameos by famous characters like Chaucer and "Patrick" anchored the story in the history we all know. And then the dimension addition of the Sidhe groups, their magic, the Coven in France, the Middle Kingdom and the goddess Morrigan. It all came together to create a most compelling picture of Medieval Ireland and the mythology of the past. It created a world that I would have loved to experienced - before the invasion of the English -to feel that Ardor running through the land, to know what that felt like, to have experienced magic. It was a reality brought tangible by the writing. Beautiful and full. One thing that I really loved was the relationships that were developed, mostly the romantic ones (Aisling and Conor, Liam and Brigid and Rhoswen, Jordan and Naija), but others, through pact, truce and self discovery, as well. Also, though difficult and heartbreaking to read, the tragedy of the story, the last days of the open reign of magic, the loss of Ireland's heritage and the lives connected therein (Anya, Conor, Brigid, Patrick, Aisling and Uaine) combined with the hope kept alive by Liam and Rhoswne's son and the line of the Morrigan even to the present day - the hope that Ardor would return to the land - was emotionally spot on, though draining. My only critique was the beginning and end, with present day...it was important for the scope of the story, but seemed slightly rushed. Otherwise, a magnificent telling.