The Last Days of Magic

A Novel

By: Mark Tompkins

Narrated by: Sile Bermingham

Length: 14 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

“Fantastic...an honest, beautifully detailed book and an entertaining read.” (Diana Gabaldon, The Washington Post)

"A fantastical treat." (People)

What became of magic in the world? Who needed to do away with it, and for what reasons? Drawing on myth, legend, fairy tales, and biblical mysteries, The Last Days of Magic brilliantly imagines answers to these questions, sweeping us back to a world where humans and magical beings coexist as they had for centuries.

Aisling, a goddess in human form, was born to rule both domains and - with her twin, Anya - unite the Celts with the powerful faeries of the Middle Kingdom. But within medieval Ireland, interests are divided, and far from its shores greater forces are mustering. Both England and Rome have a stake in driving magic from the Emerald Isle. Jordan, the Vatican commander tasked with vanquishing the remnants of otherworldly creatures from a disenchanted Europe, has built a career on such plots. But increasingly he finds himself torn between duty and his desire to understand the magic that has been forbidden.

As kings prepare, exorcists gather, and divisions widen between the warring clans of Ireland, Aisling and Jordan must come to terms with powers given and withheld, while a world that can still foster magic hangs in the balance. Loyalties are tested, betrayals sown, and the coming war will have repercussions that ripple centuries later, in today's world - and in particular for a young graduate student named Sara Hill.

The Last Days of Magic introduces us to unforgettable characters who grapple with quests for power, human frailty, and the longing for knowledge that has been made taboo. Mark Tompkins has crafted a remarkable tale - a feat of world-building that poses astonishing and resonant answers to epic questions.

©2016 Mark Tompkins (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A heady brew of Celtic and Biblical mythology with late medieval political intrigue and warfare.... Tompkins combines deft characterization with treachery, battle, magic, and hints of Dan Brown.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Simultaneously sweeping and intricate, reaching all the way back to the Dead Sea Scrolls and all the way forward to now, Tompkins’s amazing debut novel conjures an epic battle for the soul of Ireland. Filled with papal machination and royal intrigue, magic and mayhem, faeries, Vikings, legates, kings and queens, angels and goddesses, this is one wild and breathless ride.” (Karen Joy Fowler)

“Plundering the treasure chest of human myths, from mysterious biblical giants to ferocious Celtic faeries, Tompkins has created a fantasy adventure with the shifting perspectives of dreamscape. A novel rich and strange.” (Geraldine Brooks)

Great fun

Great fun to spend a few evenings in the faerie world that Tompkins has created so masterfully. I was especially intrigued with the way he weaves his story into actual history. I look forward to learning more about the era. And I can't wait for the sequel! Ms. Bermingham read wonderfully.

I'm confused

Was I missing chapters? It seemed as if there was only 2-3 chapters set in the modern world, almost like the book was originally just set in the past and as an afterthought, the first and last chapters were added. I couldn't really enjoy the story, because it felt like something major was missing, I'm sad to say. The narrator was good, but the story felt disjointed and as I said the first and last two chapters felt like a definite afterthought

Interesting book!

Brilliantly read, I would not have been able to pronounced many of the names and clans in this book.

A delicious escape

This book is the delicious escape filled with mysticism and a connection to the past It was the perfect summer read over the holiday. I'd recommend it to anybody. Tompkins did a lovely job of using history and stories of battles and passion to create a tale full of interesting characters and engaging subterfuges. I look forward to his next installment in the series!

Authentic

Wonderful perspective on magic and those who would kill it. Hated and loved the characters. Worthy read.

fairies. kings. and witches oh my

I got the book just by title and cover didn't read blurbs or anything.
wasn't at all what I thought it would be but it's got a whole lot of information and history mixed in with story.

Great listen. Imaginative, fun, beautifully woven with historical theology.

Love the reader's voice! She does a great job with both make and female roles. She does read a bit fast, but it's in pace with exciting events in the book. I love how steeped in historical accuracies and dripping with conspiracy and theology the author brings it all together synergistically in a beautifully woven enchanted tale for adults! I also love the sexual liberation in the mind set of the people of this time.

Interesting, fun, throughly entertaining!

Great read

This is one of the best magical fantasy books I have read in a very long time. I really hope Mark Tompkins writes a sequel. It’s very well done! Loved the story
and the narrator was fabulous!

I wanted to love this book, I really tried

It was a good premise, but there were too many flashbacks and further flash backs. Thus made it different to connect with any of the characters and it was confusing. I had trouble keeping the point of the story straight. I knew that some tragic even happened, but the writer kept delving back and back without revealing the point of where we were headed. I really tried to love this book, but I was lost.

An excellent read

I really enjoyed this book it pulled on ancient documents and we've to story through centuries that was intriguing and inspired me to do more research about the dead Sea Scrolls