Title: Entente: The Irish Clans – Book Two in the Series
Author: Stephen Finlay Archer
Publisher: Manzanita Writers Press
ISBN: 978-0-9908019-5-5
Pages: 422
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Jason Lulos
Hollywood Book Reviews
Given current growing awareness of global politics via social media and technology, there is a resurgence of interest in World Wars I and II. There is much history there and plenty of lessons to be learned. At the time, World War I was touted as the “war to end all wars.” Wishful thinking and we’ve clearly not learned all the mistakes of the past. Hence, we necessarily revisit these conflicts. While there is that moral imperative, it is also right and fitting to remember the sacrifices made, and without putting too much romanticization on it, the heroic and dramatic tales of individuals that arose during those times. This is precisely what we have with Entente: The Irish Clans. As author Stephen Finlay Archer puts it in his dedicatory poem to start the novel, “Brave millions dead, we mourn them still/ . . . Governments knowing, / Arms merchants growing.” This is a fascinating and epic story of two individuals caught between the global struggle of World War I and the ongoing struggle for Irish independence.
Entente begins at sea. After their ship goes down, Morgan and her Irish rebel lover, Tadgh, find themselves being saved and stowed in a German submarine. Still recovering from partial amnesia (a survivor of the Lusitania), Morgan has only vague recollections of her own past. But she does recall her nursing skills, giving her the ability to save Tadgh and the German U-boat captain from their respective wounds. These skills earn the confidence of their German captors which leads to their eventual escape. Although Germany is the enemy of the UK and the Allies, Tadgh sees an alliance with Germany, while Britain is distracted with the war, as a means to help the Irish cause. An alliance I certainly missed in my history classes.
Morgan and Tadgh are as formidable a team as they are passionate for each other. They are survivors and excel at making allies and fast friends. They have common goals but slightly different priorities. For Morgan, it is surviving the war and rediscovering her mysterious past. For Tadgh, it is Irish Home Rule and protecting Morgan. But even their differences strengthen their bond. This duality mirrors another: the Irish civil unrest amidst the larger scope of World War I. A third duality features a parallel story: a family in Canada with ties to Irish history and perhaps Morgan and Tadgh themselves. These parallel dualities are nicely intertwined and further the intrigue of this compelling tale.
Entente is a fascinating read. The author has an incredibly strong grasp of history, seamlessly mixing historical and fictional events and people. It has it all – war, action, romance, political intrigue, and mystery. The author thoughtfully includes historical references, diagrams, and anecdotes at the front and back ends of the novel. These supplement what the reader intuitively gets from anecdotes in the plot itself. The war, the ongoing love story, and the mystery of Morgan’s past provide plenty of intrigue amidst the sweeping context of the war to keep you turning the pages. Entente is book two of a series. Given how captivating you will find this book (especially the cliffhanger), you will definitely want to dive into the other books in the series.