Reviewed by Dan

TITLE:  Morgen Song

SERIES:  Deep Magic – Book 3

AUTHOR:     Gillian St. Kevern

PUBLISHER:    Self-Published

LENGTH:     257 pages

RELEASE DATE:   December 29, 2016

BLURB:

Does an underwater king have a future on land?

A wave of near drownings along the Welsh coast can only mean one thing: the morgenau, Welsh sirens, have returned to the Llŷn Peninsula. Myrhydion seizes the chance to prove himself as future king. Instead, he falls under the spell of a cunning underwater sorcerer. Myrhydion fights to free himself, while keeping up the fiction of his human identity. As he loses more and more of his power to the sorceror, Myrhydion risks more than the crown. He could lose the life he’s created on land with Olly.

As Myrhydion and Olly struggle to protect the people of the Llŷn, Myrhydion faces an impossible choice. Surrender the magical powers that are his only defense against the machinations of the former king, his evil grandfather, or risk the lives of everyone he cares about. Rapidly running out of magic, options and friends, Myrhydion knows that only a king can win this battle–and Myrhydion is prince of nothing.

Morgen Song rejoins the cast of Deep Magic eight months after the events of the first novel. Welsh folklore meets modern sensibilities as Olly and Myrhydion fight for their happily-ever-after, facing foes that range from an ancient and bitter king to mothers-in-law and AirBNB guests–as well as some new foes familiar to readers of Morgen Curse. Morgen Song is a modern fantasy perfect for readers of gay romance who like their happy endings with a touch of mythology! It blends elements of Welsh mythology and folklore with the Gothic atmosphere of North Wales for a unique spin on the mermen genre of paranormal romance.

REVIEW:

I was afraid when I began this one that it might have been too long since I read the first two books in the series. I remembered that the two books were only tangentially connected. They were both about the Welsh myths of the Morgen of the Llŷn Peninsula, but they didn’t really come together as one story, instead being two vastly different tales. I also remembered a lot of Welsh words that I stumbled over reading.

Well, the Welsh words are still there. But again, as in the other books, there is almost always an English translation or reference so that you get what is being discussed. I’m happy to say that the two preceding storylines come together in this installment. We have the characters from both books showing up, and the blurb says it is about eight months after the events in the first novel. Truthfully, it read like a continuing story, and I fell right back into the storyline very easily.

Myrhydion, or Rhys as he is known to the humans of the small town he lives in, is now living with Olly, who we met in the first book, and they are battling some sort of unknown magic that has stolen Myrhydion’s powers. The theft has something to do with the deposed King of the Morgen, Myrhydion’s grandfather. The bad guys are the good guys from book two, so it confused me for a time, but all was revealed as the story proceeded.

I liked this one. I liked the locale and the characters. I would be remiss though if I didn’t caution that it should not be read as a standalone. You must read the first two books, in my opinion, before you read this one, and then the story in this one will flow smoothly.

There is obviously more to come in this continuing tale. We still haven’t resolved the search for a missing man we met in book two, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens next. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a tale based on mythological beings. Or are they? Ms. St. Kevern makes you feel they might be there, just under the water…

RATING:

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