Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1535753
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 MAY 2025 3 CULTURE & BOOKS is review was written by artist, Paul Mer- cieca. AODHÁN is a mesmerizing collision of dark fantasy, cosmic horror, and divine my- thology that announces the arrival of a bold and distinctive voice in speculative fiction. Adrian Buckle weaves a mythopoetic nar- rative that is both intimate and apocalyptic, inviting readers into a world where gods have fallen, angels conspire, and the fate of exist- ence may lie in the hands of a childlike Eldar with unfathomable power. Atmosphere & World-Building From the haunting woods of Rashford to the divine ruins of Olympus and the storm- slicked streets beneath celestial warfare, Buckle conjures a universe steeped in decay- ing divinity and encroaching dread. His world is vividly layered—realms overlap, gods live among mortals, and long-lost cosmic laws are being rewritten in blood and thunder. It's a setting that feels simultaneously mythic and immediate, grounded in emotional stakes while teetering on the edge of apocalyptic revelation. Themes & Genre-Bending At its heart, AODHÁN grapples with pro- found questions: What becomes of gods when no one believes in them? What hap- pens when the innocence of a child becomes the axis upon which fate turns? e book boldly explores identity, grief, trauma, trans- formation, and the burden of legacy—both divine and mortal. It seamlessly blends gen- res, merging the grandiosity of myth with the visceral intimacy of horror. Fans of Neil Gaiman's American Gods, Clive Barker's Im- ajica, and the dread-soaked mythos of Love- craft will find themselves at home. Prose & Style Buckle's prose is evocative and lyrical, al- most incantatory. His command of tone is masterful—whether evoking the terror of cosmic forces or the raw ache of a mother's grief. Descriptions are cinematic, lush with sensory detail: blood rains from the heavens, ravens weep with eldritch intelligence, and gods bleed poetry. ere is a mythic cadence to the writing, but it remains accessible and emotionally grounded. Characters & Emotional Core Aodhán, the enigmatic boy who emerges from the ancient oak, is a compelling blend of innocence and terrifying potential. His in- teractions with Meredith—a grieving mother who projects her loss onto this strange child— provide a deeply moving emotional anchor. e fallen Olympians, especially Apollo, Athena, and Aphrodite, are portrayed with aching humanity, their grandeur faded but their internal struggles vivid. Even gods are broken here, and Buckle doesn't flinch from showing the cracks. Narrative Complexity e story is expansive, juggling multiple divine factions (Olympians, Semitic angels, Norse tricksters) with philosophical depth and emotional nuance. Yet it never feels over- stuffed. e interwoven plots, shifting perspectives, and flashes of eroticism, prophecy, and ex- istential dread create a narrative that is both intimate and epic. is is storytelling on a cos- mic scale, but never at the expense of charac- ter. Content Note e book features moments of explicit erot- icism and dark, sometimes visceral horror, including themes of death, spiritual violence, and cursed intimacy. ese moments are never gratuitous, serving instead to deepen the book's thematic explorations of desire, power, and damnation. Final Verdict: 5/5 AODHÁN is a darkly luminous debut that dares to ask what it means to be divine in a dy- ing world. Adrian Buckle delivers a narrative that is as intellectually rich as it is emotionally resonant, filled with dread, beauty, and aching humanity. For lovers of myth, horror, and the in-be- tween spaces where gods walk among mor- tals, AODHÁN is an unmissable entry into a bold new saga. Book Review AODHÁN by Adrian Buckle HORIZONS Pub- lishers, in collab- oration with the National Literacy Agency (nla.gov. mt/mt/), have just published L-Ifirsa tal-Mej- da t-Tonda (The Knights of the Round Table) by Norman C. Borg. is is a col- lection of legends dating back to pre-unified England, in the period between the depar- ture of the Roman legions and the Saxon invasions. It was an age precariously balanced between history and myth, paganism and religion, mag- ic and reality. In this edition, Norman C. Borg retells these episodes in simple Maltese language, suitable for read- ers aged ten years and above. As the author ex- plains, "since Sir omas Malory col- lected and p u b l i s h e d these legends in the 13th century, they have kept in- spiring young and adult read- ers alike with their celebration of honour, justice and hon- esty, values still yearned for nowadays." e book can be ordered from the Horizons website (http s ://hor i zons .com.mt/ p r o d u c t / l - i f i r s a - t a l - m e j - da-t-tonda/), and is also avail- able in leading bookshops around Malta and Gozo. Heroes, wizards and dragons: Mythology retold in Maltese A Midsummer Dream – A Resounds Concert at Mdina's St Paul's Cathedral THIS June, the historic St Paul's Cathedral in Mdina will host A Midsummer Dream, a new clas- sical concert event presented by Udjenza as part of the launch of the Mdina Resounds Concert Se- ries. Set against the backdrop of the Silent City's iconic cathedral, A Midsummer Dream will bring together the romantic beauty of classical music with the evoca- tive power of spoken word. The concert to be held on the 25th of June, features works by compos- ers Mozart, Rachmaninov, Debussy and Vivaldi, performed by Cordia String Quartet under the musical direction of Jacob Portelli, and featuring Miriam Cauchi - one of Malta's finest so- pranos. As Malta welcomes the warmth and richness of summer, the pro- gramme offers a seasonal cele- bration of abundance, light, and creativity brought to life by a uniquely curated programme of song and spoken word. Adding a literary dimension to the perfor- mance, renowned actorMikhail Basmadjian will deliver powerful recitations of poetry by Shake- speare, William Blake, and Rużar Briffa, offering a dynamic inter- play between language and music within the cathedral's awe-inspir- ing setting. A Midsummer Dream forms part of the Resounds Concert Series and builds on the success of the Valletta Resounds Concert Series which is now in its third year. Renewed year after year the Resounds series is now ex- panding beyond the capital city of Valletta, bringing high-calibre- classical performances to some of Malta's most atmospheric and historic settings. For more information and tickets visit www.udjenza.com This event is proudly support- ed by St Paul's Cathedral, Visit Malta, Xara Collection, and Alistair Floral Design. A Midsummer Dream Concert by Udjenza (Photo: Mitchell Camilleri)