He’s a King, a Rascal, and Tommy’s father
Meet King Finvarra, Fairy King and ruler of Sídh Cnoc Meadha
If you’ve read the books in my ‘Of Gods and Monsters’ series, you know that King Finvarra is Tommy Kennedy’s father. King Finvarra is the king of the fairies, including the fae and the Tuatha Dé Danann, who left Ireland for the Otherworld after their defeat by the Milesians.
King Finvarra and his wife, Queen Una, reside beneath the soil of Ireland in Sídh Cnoc Meadha, now known as Knockma. Knockma Hill is located about five miles from the small town of Tuam in County Galway and is topped by rocky cairns. The Irish goddess, Queen Maeve, a warrior queen from the Connacht region of Ireland, is reputed to be buried at the top of Knockma Hill. The royal Otherworld city where Finvarra and Una live is beneath Knockma, and in my books their grand city is reached by magical means via the hill.
King Finvarra is a bit of a rascal and is known for his love and attention to beautiful women other than is wife, even though the queen is reported to be the most beautiful woman in the land.
Tommy and his father have a rocky relationship, and neither of them understands exactly how the other one operates or thinks. Tommy is the oldest of the seventeen sons of King Finvarra and Queen Una. That alone creates a difficult situation for Tommy, who is meant to emulate his kingly father. Tommy cannot abide his father’s dalliances and Tommy is more sensible and steadfast than his father.
The two do share a connection through physical sports. The king loves competitive games and so does Tommy, who is strong, physical, and enjoys rough-and-tumble games with his sixteen brothers.
In The Otherworld Prince, the prequel to The Dreammasters, King Finvarra sends Tommy into Ireland after the escape of a dangerous Fomorian monster from the Underworld, the realm of the monsters. Tommy does as his father requests. What Tommy doesn’t expect is he’ll be in Ireland for at least forty-six years searching for this monster.
In book one, The Dreammasters, and book two, The Fae, you get to know a little bit more about Tommy and his father when they are captured at the top of Knockma Hill by their enemies. At first, they’re not sure who their enemies are, but when they’re attacked the truth becomes clear.
Below, you will find a snippet from one of the final scenes in The Dreammasters when Tommy and his father arrive at Knockma Hill and realize they have been tricked and are trapped.
At the rocky top of the hill, Tommy paused, looking around him. The world was still shrouded in darkness, obscuring the spectacular view of County Galway he knew spread beneath where he stood. Sunrise wasn’t for almost an hour. Still, the peace of the spot soothed him, and he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The energy of his homeland called to him, flowing from his feet into the rest of his body. The warm wind of the Otherworld circled him, carrying with it the fragrance of his land—a mixture of rose and honeysuckle blended with salty ocean breezes and sprinkled with magic.
He opened his mouth, about to speak the words that would open the realm to him and allow him to enter, when he sensed a presence settling next to him.
“You woke me, my son.”’ King Finvarra’s baritone voice spilled into the dark of early morning, rumbling over the land like a gentle roll of thunder. He snapped his fingers, and a pool of light shone down upon them. ‘“What brings you to your home so early? Is there a problem?”
The sense of urgency twisted into a squeezing hand of dread tugging at Tommy’s gut. “I received your missive. This morning. At my bedside.” He turned to stare into the deep brown of his father’s large expressive eyes.
“I sent no note to you, my son.” The confusion on his father’s face told Tommy he spoke the truth.
***
“If it wasn’t you, we have a problem.” Tommy glanced at his watch. A quarter past seven. “Few could send a message sealed with your wax symbol and locked with your magic.”
“I will investigate.” The king’s voice shook. “I will not tolerate a spy.”
Without warning, Aisling’s face flashed into Tommy’s head, and the increasing need to get home pressed upon him. He had to move. Get back to the car. “This is wrong. Someone’s tricked us. I have to get back.”
“I would agree.” The king reached out and gripped his son’s arm. “It has been a pleasure to see you, Tommy.” He paused. “We miss you at home. Your mother in particular.” The king cleared his throat. “A visit wouldn’t be amiss when you can find the time.”
“Of course, Father. I’ll plan a trip soon.” Tommy patted his father’s shoulder. “And we’ll stay in touch.”
Tommy turned to go, his quick steps taking him to the edge of the hill—and straight into a solid barrier, rough like a brick wall and just as unmovable. He stumbled backward, rubbing his forehead where he’d knocked into the wall.
“What in the hell is going on?”
“What happened?” His father joined him.
“I don’t know. It’s as if a spell has been placed around the hill.”
A depiction of Tommy and his father, King Finvarra, trapped on Knockma Hill
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning a bit more about King Finvarra and Tommy —my literary creation and personal favorite the seventeen sons. To discover more, grab your copy of the books.
Until next time,
Kelley
