Review: Celtic Mist by C.L. Nightjar

An epic and erotic journey of youthful adventure, Celtic Mist by C.L. Nightjar is an immersive experience that will thrill historical fiction, romance, and fantasy lovers alike. Driven by honor and desperation, this is a deeply moving tale of loss, grief, redemption, and revenge, all set among a stunning depiction of Ireland’s rough-hewn beauty.

Declan is a charmingly naive protagonist, at least at the beginning of the novel, but readers see him mature quickly into a rugged hero. An unexpected promotion to the Captain’s Crusaders gives him the sudden pride of belonging, perhaps for the first time in his life. However, this good fortune is followed by a brutal revelation of power and cruelty within the ranks.

What begins as a spontaneous burst of compassion for a young victim turns into a daring escape and a dangerous flight. His unforgivable betrayal of the brotherhood he hoped would be his family means being alone again in the world, save for the fiery-haired captive fleeing at his side. Once simply “daydreaming about the lassies” turns into a passionate battle of will and desire on the tense and dangerous road, Declan’s tumble into love feels inevitable, but where his passions will land seems unclear.

Declan shows himself to be more than an innocent young boy, as Nightjar describes him with a perpetually saucy pen, but he can’t shake the memory of the young maiden… perhaps because she remains closer to him than he realizes. Despite Aoife’s grief and trauma, she too is an innocent in the ways of love, yet watching the pair explore their connection is deeply satisfying and authentic, even if it takes more than half the book for the payoff. That said, there are erotic interludes aplenty, squeezed in between expositional history lessons, gritty fight scenes, and the tense scheming of life on the run.

This narrative criss-crosses a fair bit of Ireland, from the anonymity of Dublin’s bawdy streets to the passionate ranks of rebel fighters preparing for imminent revolution. The lyrical prose is also magnificent, painting scenes with rich descriptions that transport readers back two centuries with ease. As a whole, this is a patient masterclass in storytelling, as Nightjar develops characters with subtle and stunning bits of insight: “…his reserve did him no disservice–he was well liked by all his comrades. Indeed, sensing their respect and mutual brotherly regard, Declan experienced the unfamiliar, but rewarding, sense of belonging to a family.”

Summoning shades of Morgan Llywelyn and Marion Zimmer Bradley, this novel is one of myth and legend, of noble causes and broken lands, but most importantly, it is about growing wiser in the midst of chaos. Wrestling with complex emotions from the very start, Nightjar does an excellent job of introducing conflicts and suggesting deeper meaning, then letting these hints organically develop within each character arc.

The heavily colloquial nature of the dialogue is consistent throughout much of the book, but at times it wavers in the narration, disappearing for a time before popping back into place with a “was,” “moved not,” or other forced idiomatic phrase. This can also feel at odds with high-level language immediately following it, i.e., “‘Twas a panoply.” Additionally, there are numerous instances when self-referential questions during internal monologue feel overused, as though the author is spoon-feeding readers how, when, and why they should have a particular reaction.

Otherwise, on a purely technical level, the writing is lean and meticulously edited, with few errors to speak of, and while certain scenes can be tangential, everything in the story seems to happen for a reason. Draftsmanship of this level is essential for such a long and tangled tale, and rather than being frustrated by the length or complexity of the plot, Nightjar ensures a smooth, unpredictable, and titillating read.

Though undertaking such a hefty read can be intimidating, nothing about this story disappoints, and every chapter draws one deeper into an enchanting epic in the Emerald Isle.