By Julie McLaughlin
Castlewellan author Shauna Lawless has just released her seventh book — Daughter of the Otherworld — which hit shelves last Thursday. The historical fantasy novel is her fourth hardback, published under Bloomsbury Publishing’s Head of Zeus imprint, and marks the beginning of a brand-new series titled Gael Song: Era II.
According to the publisher, Daughter of the Otherworld is “an epic new historical fantasy set in the tumultuous, magical world of medieval Ireland during the time of the Norman invasion.” The story follows Isolde, a teenager “born to the family of a famous Irish king and a powerful immortal,” who mysteriously reappears a hundred years after she went missing.
The novel is set more than a century after Shauna’s original Gael Song series, which centered around the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. That series included three full-length novels and three e-book novellas that served as prequels. While Daughter of the Otherworld introduces a fresh cast of characters, Shauna says a few familiar faces from the original trilogy do make appearances.
“This one is the first book of a new era and revolves around the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland,” Shauna explained. She believes that while her books weave in elements of fantasy and Irish mythology, they will also appeal to fans of historical fiction. “These are two very interesting periods in history,” she said. “My books follow the specific timelines of eras in Ireland.”
Before writing, Shauna studied the history and culture of medieval Ireland in depth, adding her own storytelling flair to bring the era to life. “I’ve infused it with Irish mythology,” she added, noting that the new book also explores themes such as the role of women and how Irish customs at the time differed from those across Europe.
Daughter of the Otherworld is currently available in hardback and e-book formats from most chain and independent bookstores, as well as online. A paperback edition is scheduled for release in May 2026.
To celebrate the book’s launch, several events were held last week. These included a special ticketed event at Chapters Bookstore in Dublin on Wednesday night, a free public event at Waterstones in Belfast on Thursday, and another ticketed launch on Saturday at The Secret Bookshelf in Carrickfergus. “They were very well attended, which was lovely,” Shauna said. “It’s lovely to have your friends and family support you too.”
Shauna is a past pupil of St Mary’s Primary School in Newcastle and Assumption Grammar School in Ballynahinch. She holds a degree in Accountancy from Ulster University and lives in Castlewellan with her husband Gerard Lawless and their family.
Despite the recent release, Shauna remains busy. “I’m writing on other projects that I can’t reveal yet,” she said. She has also been active on the literary circuit, attending various book events and conferences this year. Most recently, she was a panellist at the World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon) in Seattle in August and will be a special guest at Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention, in Dublin this October.
Readers can keep up with Shauna’s latest releases and updates by subscribing to her email newsletter via her website, shaunalawless.com, or by following her on Instagram at @shauna_lawless_author
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