5 Irish-Inspired Reads for St. Patrick’s Day

The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater
Stiefvater’s fantasy thriller series The Raven Cycle takes place in the very American state of Virginia, but its mythological roots lie across the ocean and back in time. The story of a close-knit group of friends on a quest to find and awaken a sleeping Welsh king has strong parallels to the Irish legend of Finn MacCoul, and its mystical theories about star-crossed love and otherworldly “ley lines” speak to ancient Celtic ideas about the existence of earthly magic. (And on April 26, fans will finally get to read the fourth and final chapter in the saga, The Raven King.)

Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer
The first in Eoin Colfer’s series of novels about a pubescent criminal mastermind is clearly inspired by traditional Irish leprechaun lore, in which capturing one of the country’s wily fairies can earn you a hefty monetary reward. However, there’s no whimsical slide down a rainbow into a pot o’ gold when the ruthless Artemis Fowl kidnaps fairy Captain Holly Short, and sparks an all-out tech war between the Irish criminal underworld and a well-funded army of wily sprites.

The Brides of Rollrock Island, by Margo Lanagan
Instead of mermaids, Celtic folklore has selkies—seals who take human form, and become captive subservient wives to the men daring (and rude) enough to steal their sealskins. Selkie stories have spawned enough YA novels to keep you reading for months, but Lanagan’s lyrical, yearning novel might be the best of the bunch. Gorgeous prose tells a dark and heartbreaking story of love, witchcraft, and human hungers, set on the stark and wild coast of the North Sea.

The Hounds of the Morrigan, by Pat O’Shea
Pat O’Shea dove deep into the realm of Irish folklore and mythology to create this sweeping adventure story, which takes place in a fantasy world as intricate and vivid as any Narnia or Middle Earth. The Hounds of the Morrigan tells the story of 10-year-old Pidge, who releases an ancient evil from within the pages of a used book, and must fight to keep its power out of the hands of a cruel Celtic goddess and her terrifying hounds—while also keeping a close eye on his daft, ditzy little sister.

Green, by Laura Peyton Roberts
It’s tough to find actual, literal leprechauns in the world of teen lit, but this middle-grade book delivers three of them to its heroine’s doorstep in its first act. Whimsical adventures ensue as Lily Green struggles with her destiny, her heritage, and a serious crush. (Bonus: Green is such lightweight fun you can read it in about the time it takes to down a Shamrock Shake.)