Sisters squabble. Queens go to war.
Resolution
The Dog Roses Book 2
by David H. Millar
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Sisters squabble. Queens go to war.
Ten summers ago, victory brought peace and prosperity to Southern Ériu. Danu and Brighid were celebrated as heroes and saviours. The queens scaled the heights, and there was only one way to go.
One twin became overbearing, the other resentful. Pride dug a pit filled with blackthorns between them. They became tyrants, and the kingdom was sundered. The people were left bitter, divided and afraid, and the lush farmlands fell barren. Stripped of their powers, the Dog Roses were no more. Each blamed the other, and neither took responsibility.
Angry parents gave the twins’ brothers an army and tasked them to bring law to the kingdom. An embittered veteran and a beautiful assassin accompany them. Whose gold is in the assassin’s pouch, and what are her orders?
In the Halls of the Aes Sídhe, Draighean is chastised and commanded to return to her wards. “Guide them, support them, or kill them. Just finish what you started.”
An evil philosophy grows, and another army gathers. Can the sisters be reconciled? The people need the Dog Roses, but can they forgive them? Yet, do Danu and Brighid want the responsibility? Do they want their powers returned? Being normal is very tempting.
The Dog Roses: Resolution contains scenes of sex, violence, and language appropriate to the historical period (400 B.C.) and locations in which the story is set. It is not recommended for those under 14 without parental consent.
5-Star Editorial Review (Literary Titan)
The Dog Roses: Resolution is a bold, blood-soaked dive into a myth-soaked world of ancient Ériu, dripping with power struggles, family betrayals, and queens who rule with both sword and seduction. It’s the second book in Millar’s Dog Roses series, and it doesn’t pull any punches. At the heart of it are two sisters, Brighid and Danu, daughters of legendary rulers who were meant to lead with wisdom but fell into tyranny and chaos. When their father sends their brothers to clean up the mess, all hell breaks loose. You’ve got ancient gods, cunning assassins, ruthless politics, and enough battle scenes to make a Roman general blush.
If you’re into Celtic fantasy that doesn’t tiptoe around darkness, The Dog Roses: Resolution will grip you and not let go. I’d recommend it to fans of Bernard Cornwell, lovers of Irish mythology, or anyone craving epic family drama with bite.
— Literary Titan
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The Dog Roses: Resolution
5/5 ★★★★★
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Editorial Review by Literary Titan (2025)
The Dog Roses: Resolution is a bold, blood-soaked dive into a myth-soaked world of ancient Ériu, dripping with power struggles, family betrayals, and queens who rule with both sword and seduction. It’s the second book in Millar’s Dog Roses series, and it doesn’t pull any punches. At the heart of it are two sisters, Brighid and Danu, daughters of legendary rulers who were meant to lead with wisdom but fell into tyranny and chaos. When their father sends their brothers to clean up the mess, all hell breaks loose. You’ve got ancient gods, cunning assassins, ruthless politics, and enough battle scenes to make a Roman general blush.
Millar’s writing punches hard right out of the gate. Chapter 1 left a powerful impression. Aoife storms into the Great Hall, a spear in hand with a child’s severed head mounted on its tip, demanding accountability. It’s a harrowing and unforgettable entrance, one that immediately grips the reader and sets the tone for the intensity that follows. It was brutal, but there was a righteous fury there, too. Aoife doesn’t come off as just a warrior; she’s grief incarnate. Millar writes these women not just as strong, but deeply human. They rage, they love, they crumble. Even when I didn’t agree with what they were doing, I understood why.
Then there’s the slow unraveling of power between Brighid and Danu. That sibling dynamic is pure gold. It’s petty, painful, political, and believable. Their kingdom starts off strong, but the infighting is like a slow poison. When Brighid retreats to Caher Conri and Danu digs in at Ráth Na Conall, you know the gods are rolling their eyes. But still, there’s a vulnerability there. Danu breaking down in front of her children reminded me that even tyrants can be broken mothers. And Brighid’s slow descent, especially when Báine pulls away, is just tragic. She’s not evil, she’s just… lost. And Millar gives her that space to unravel.
This book is loaded with action and not just sword fights. The tension hums constantly. Whether it’s Tisiphone gliding through a hall like a ghost with knives in her hair or Lonán calling kings cowards to their faces with that glorious, gruff “I’m too old for this” attitude, there’s never a dull moment. Daráine shaving her head and quietly outwitting men twice her age was one of my favorite low-key power moves. Every scene at the council table crackled with unspoken threats and old grudges. It felt like reading Game of Thrones but set in mythic Ireland, and it worked.
This book is not for the faint of heart. It’s violent, earthy, and unrelenting. But if you’re into Celtic fantasy that doesn’t tiptoe around darkness, The Dog Roses: Resolution will grip you and not let go. I’d recommend it to fans of Bernard Cornwell, lovers of Irish mythology, or anyone craving epic family drama with bite.
Na Feirdhriseacha
The Dog Roses Book 1
You have no weapons, striapach.”
“I am the weapon, tuilí.”
It is 400 B.C. The mist clears, and three triremes glide into the calm waters of the bay in Southern Ériu. On a grass-topped dune, a young girl dances gleefully at the Goddess’s gift.
The warrior princesses, Brighid and Danu, leap over the vessels’ sides into the cold waters and look north towards their ancestral home—the fort of Ráth Na Conall. The clash of weapons is not a good omen.
From his throne in Caher Conri, the depraved Uallachán rages at the sight of the red shield embellished with a swooping black raven and the memories it provokes. He swears vengeance on the daughters of his old adversary.
Draighean, a demi-goddess of the mystical Aes Sídhe, stands alone on the mountain peak. She bites full maroon lips, unhappy at her mission. Yet, does she have a choice? Evil must be confronted and defeated.
Uallachán’s idea of peace is to crush all dissent, but is he no more than a puppet of the powerful kings of the Connachta?
The twins know they must defeat the invasion and stop the enslavement of their people. Still, even with the help of Draighean, the odds are daunting.
The Dog Roses contains scenes of sex and violence and uses language appropriate to the period it is set in, i.e., 400 B.C. It is not recommended for those under 14 without parental consent.
5- Star Editorial Review & Gold Book Award (Literary Titan)
David H. Millar’s The Dog Roses: Na Feirdhriseacha is an exhilarating historical fantasy that plunges the reader into a world of ancient Gaelic warfare, mysticism, and political intrigue. The novel follows the twin sisters, Brighid and Danu, as they navigate their birthright, destiny, and the brutal conflicts that define their world. From the stormy shores of Ériu to the blood-soaked battlegrounds of their homeland, the sisters must harness their strength, wit, and the mystical bond of the feirdhriseacha—the dog roses—imprinted on their chests. Their journey is one of leadership, betrayal, and resilience, all set against the backdrop of Celtic mythology and the harsh realities of Iron Age survival.
The Dog Roses: Na Feirdhriseacha is a gripping read that will appeal to fans of historical fantasy, especially those with an interest in Celtic mythology and ancient warrior cultures. The depth of world-building, the complexity of the characters, and the sheer intensity of the storytelling make this a novel worth savoring. If you enjoy books like The Mists of Avalon or The Last Kingdom, this one should be on your list.
— Literary Titan
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5/5 ★★★★★
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Editorial Review & Gold Book Award by Literary Titan (2025)
David H. Millar’s The Dog Roses: Na Feirdhriseacha is an exhilarating historical fantasy that plunges the reader into a world of ancient Gaelic warfare, mysticism, and political intrigue. The novel follows the twin sisters, Brighid and Danu, as they navigate their birthright, destiny, and the brutal conflicts that define their world. From the stormy shores of Ériu to the blood-soaked battlegrounds of their homeland, the sisters must harness their strength, wit, and the mystical bond of the feirdhriseacha—the dog roses—imprinted on their chests. Their journey is one of leadership, betrayal, and resilience, all set against the backdrop of Celtic mythology and the harsh realities of Iron Age survival.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its ability to immerse readers in a richly detailed and authentic world. Millar’s grasp of ancient Gaelic culture, from its warrior code to the complexities of clan politics, is impressive. The descriptions of battle are visceral, and the political maneuvering is sharp and unforgiving. The scene where Danu and Brighid are confronted with the weight of leadership at Ráth Na Conall is particularly compelling. The tension between personal desires and duty is palpable. The author builds an entire realm that feels as real as the history it is inspired by.
The dynamic between the twin protagonists is another element I liked. Their relationship is raw and full of conflict. Brighid’s impulsiveness and fiery spirit contrast beautifully with Danu’s calculated and strategic mind. Their clash in the Great Hall, where Draighean, their Sídhe mentor, berates them for their discord, is one of the novel’s most powerful moments. This moment, more than any other, encapsulates the novel’s emotional depth.
Millar’s writing style is both poetic and brutal, a balance that suits the novel’s tone perfectly. The action scenes are unflinchingly graphic, bringing the horrors of war to life in a way that is both mesmerizing and unsettling. The passage where Maolán faces off against the alpha wolf, Silverback, is a perfect example—nature and man, predator and prey, all locked in a desperate fight for survival. At times, the descriptions of violence and suffering push the boundaries of comfort, but they also serve a purpose, reinforcing the novel’s themes of endurance and the unrelenting nature of conflict.
The Dog Roses: Na Feirdhriseacha is a gripping read that will appeal to fans of historical fantasy, especially those with an interest in Celtic mythology and ancient warrior cultures. The depth of world-building, the complexity of the characters, and the sheer intensity of the storytelling make this a novel worth savoring. If you enjoy books like The Mists of Avalon or The Last Kingdom, this one should be on your list.
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, internationally published and award-winning author David H. Millar is the founder, owner, and author-in-residence of A Wee Publishing Company—a business formed to promote Celtic authors and literature.
David is the author of the five-volume, ancient Celtic-based Conall series and the spin-offs The Dog Roses, The Dog Roses: Resolution, The Blood Queen and Brianag: A Blood Queen Novel.
David resides in Houston, Texas, with his family and two recent family members, tuxedos Beau and Stiletto.
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Thank you for the chance to win, the story lines sounds great.
Looks like a good read
Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a really interesting story.
What a great cover.. love it…
Dod roses- unusual name! Is there an actual flower called a dog rose?
This so sounds like a great read and one that will keep me interested for sure!
What inspired you to become a writer?
Sounds like a great series.
Interesting book details.
Interesting cover.
great cover, the excerpt sounds interesting
It looks like a good read.
The book sounds fantastic. I love the beautiful cover.
Looks like a really good read.
The cover and title are so good.
Congrats on your tour!
Sounds like a very good series.
This sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.
Loving the cover
Sounds like a great series.
Looks very exciting Do you write in a daily journal?
Hope it does awesome!
Congratulations on your book!
Sounds like a good book.
Do you have any advice for new writers?
Great cover!
I enjoyed the excerpt
Some may like this
I enjoyed reading this well done excerpt!
Thank you for sharing.
Interesting cover and a good read.
I enjoyed the excerpts. Thanks for sharing them.
interesting book
Historical Fantasy is an interesting genre and I like the excerpt.
I loved the excerpt and simply love the cover. Good work
This sounds like a great Historical Fantasy read. I like the cover.
I’m looking forward to reading Dog Roses. Thank you for the giveaway!
Sounds intriguing with the themes of Gaelic warfare and mysticism.
A historical fantasy book is perfection for me and I canto wait to chekc out this book! I adore the cover art so much too!
i like that its about twins and family!
I look forward to reading.
It’s a captivating title and interesting cover.
This looks like a good one!
I like the cover.