The Children of Llyr

The Children of Llyr is the second novel in Evangeline Walton's fantasy series based on the Welsh Mabinogion. Published in 1971 as part of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series, it retells the Second Branch of the ancient Welsh saga, focusing on the story of Branwen. The tale centers on the royal children of Llyr who rule Britain: the giant king Bran, his sister Branwen, and their brothers. When Branwen marries Matholuch, king of Ireland, their half-brother Evnissyen's actions set off a chain of events that impact both kingdoms. The narrative follows themes of marriage, loyalty, and revenge as tensions build between the British and Irish courts. Political intrigue and Celtic mythology interweave as the story moves between the two island nations. This retelling transforms ancient Welsh mythology into an exploration of power, family bonds, and the consequences of pride. The novel stands as a significant work in the translation of Celtic legend into modern fantasy literature.

Readers describe The Children of Llyr as a faithful adaptation of Welsh mythology that maintains the source material's dark, emotional tone. The book holds a 4.16/5 rating on Goodreads from 652 ratings. Readers highlight: - Rich character development, particularly of Branwen - Atmospheric descriptions of ancient Britain and Ireland - Balance between mythological elements and human drama - Clear explanations of Welsh names and terms Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the first third - Dense prose that requires focused reading - Some find the style overly formal From reviews: "Walton brings these ancient characters to life while preserving their mythic qualities" - Goodreads reviewer "The archaic language takes getting used to but fits the material" - Amazon review Ratings: Goodreads: 4.16/5 (652 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (31 ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (89 ratings)

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• The Mabinogion, which this book adapts, is the earliest prose literature of Britain and was first translated from Welsh to English in 1849 by Lady Charlotte Guest • Evangeline Walton wrote her first novel at age 8 and published The Children of Llyr in 1971, nearly 35 years after her first Mabinogion adaptation • In Celtic mythology, Llyr was a sea god comparable to the Roman Neptune, and his children were said to have supernatural powers • The magical cauldron in the story is believed by scholars to be an early version of the Holy Grail that later appeared in Arthurian legends • The name Branwen means "White Raven" in Welsh, and her story is memorialized by a real burial mound on the banks of the Alaw River in Anglesey, Wales