C R Dempsey – författare

Ireland, 1594. Blood binds him. Betrayal shapes him. War will decide what he becomes. He survived the fall. But survival was never freedom. Cast out into a country tearing itself apart under English assault and Gaelic clan rivalry, Eunan emerges to find that nothing he believed about his past, or his place in the Maguire clan, can be taken for granted. The truth has not freed him. It has marked him. Because Seamus MacSheehy is still out there. And whether by design or by chance, Eunan's survival has placed him exactly where power is about to shift. As factions rise and fall across Fermanagh, Eunan is forced to act, to claim land, allegiance, and authority before others do it in his name. But every move he makes echoes with the influence of the man who shaped him, and the legacy he cannot escape. Was he saved… or was he made? While the English press harder and betrayal spreads through the clans, Eunan must decide what kind of leader he will become, before the truth of his blood, and the reach of Seamus, decide it for him. Because in this war, it is not enough to survive. You must take control of your fate, or discover it was never yours to begin with. Uprising is the second book in the Exiles series, continuing Eunan's rise through a fractured Ireland where rebellion burns, loyalties collapse, and the line between destiny and manipulation grows ever thinner.

Ireland, late 1590s. Blood made him. Betrayal forged him. Now they will fear him. Eunan Maguire survived the fall of Enniskillen, but not by chance. Cast into the river by the very man he swore to kill, he begins to understand a far more dangerous truth: his path has been shaped from the start. Now moving through a land torn apart by war, Eunan finds himself at the centre of a fragile rebellion against the English crown. Clans shift allegiance without warning, spies trade secrets for survival, and every victory comes at a cost. To reclaim his family's legacy, Eunan must play a deeper game—one where strength alone will not save him. But the closer he comes to power, the more the past tightens its grip. The truth about his blood, his family, and the man who made him refuses to stay buried. And as whispers spread and trust fractures, Eunan is forced into an impossible position: To unite his people, he may have to become the very thing they fear. As enemies close in from all sides and betrayal festers within, Eunan must decide what kind of leader he will be—and how much of himself he is willing to lose. Because in a war where loyalty is bought with blood…the greatest threat may be the man they call their own. Traitor Maguire is the third book in the Exiles series, a dark and gripping work of Irish historical fiction set during the Elizabethan wars. Perfect for readers who enjoy brutal clan politics, shifting loyalties, and a hero whose rise to power may cost him everything.

Ireland, late 1590s. Power has been taken—but holding it may prove far more dangerous. Eunan Maguire has everything he once fought for: command in the rebel army, control of his family lands, and a marriage that binds him to the heart of Maguire power. But victory brings its own burdens, and its own enemies. Now bound by expectation as much as ambition, Eunan must prove himself worthy of the position he has claimed. His new alliance demands strength. His followers demand success. And failure would not just cost him his title. It would destroy everything he has built. As war surges once more across Ireland, Eunan finds himself fighting on multiple fronts. The ruthless Sheriff of Sligo moves against him with calculated intent, turning politics into a weapon and vengeance into strategy. Within his own ranks, ambition and greed threaten to fracture the fragile unity he depends on. And at the centre of it all stands Seamus MacSheehy. Once mentor, once enemy, and something far more complicated besides, Seamus is drawn back into Eunan's orbit as the war intensifies. Old loyalties resurface, but so do old betrayals, and neither man can ignore the past that binds them. Surrounded by enemies, burdened by power, and no longer certain where control truly lies, Eunan must face a final truth: It is one thing to rise through blood and betrayal. It is another to survive what comes after. Breach of the Peace is the fourth book in the Exiles series, a dark and gripping work of Irish historical fiction set during the Elizabethan wars. Perfect for readers who enjoy brutal clan politics, shifting loyalties, and a hero whose greatest battle is no longer for power—but to keep it.

Ireland, 1590s. Loyalty is bought with blood. Betrayal runs in the family. Eunan Maguire was never meant to live. Despised by his parents, taken hostage to secure his father's loyalty, and raised among mercenary killers, he survives by enduring what should have destroyed him. When English soldiers raze his village and leave his family dead, Eunan escapes. But guilt follows him. So does the past. He is taken in by Seamus MacSheehy, a hardened Galloglass captain who offers him more than protection. He offers him a future. A claim to his father's title. A path into the violent struggle tearing the Maguire clan apart. But power in Fermanagh is not taken. It is granted, shaped, and controlled. As Eunan is drawn deeper into clan politics, shifting alliances, and quiet betrayals, he begins to realise that every step forward has already been set in motion. Seamus is not simply guiding him, he is positioning him. And the truth behind Eunan's birth, his family, and his survival is far more dangerous than any English army. By the time Eunan understands what he is becoming, it may already be too late to choose otherwise. Because in a land ruled by blood, the past does not stay buried. It decides who lives, who rules… and who is sacrificed next. Bad Blood is the first book in the Exiles series—a brutal and character-driven work of Irish historical fiction set during the Elizabethan wars, where loyalty is fragile, power is inherited through violence, and every victory carries a cost that has yet to be paid.

Vengeance drives them. Blood will decide who remains. The triumph over the English should have secured the rebellion's future. Instead, it leaves Eunan Maguire and Seamus MacSheehy facing a loss that cuts deeper than any battlefield wound. Grief does not break them. It hardens them. With the war far from over, both men turn toward vengeance. Each driven by what has been taken from them, and each willing to risk everything to reclaim it. For Seamus, that path leads south into Munster, back to the land where his family was destroyed. There, among old enemies and older scars, he seeks not just victory, but retribution for a lifetime of loss. For Eunan, the war becomes something more personal still. As enemies close in and alliances strain under pressure, he is forced to confront the limits of the power he fought so hard to claim. To save the woman he loves, he must face the same forces that have shaped his life, and decide how far he is willing to go to defy them. But revenge is a dangerous cause. As the rebellion fractures and the war intensifies, Eunan and Seamus are drawn ever closer to a final reckoning, one that will test not only their strength, but the bond that has defined them both. Because in a land forged by blood and betrayal…some debts can only be paid in full. Curse of Black Mountain is the fifth book in the Exiles series, a dark and gripping work of Irish historical fiction set during the Elizabethan wars. Perfect for readers who enjoy brutal clan warfare, vengeance-driven conflict, and a long-brewing confrontation where nothing is left untouched.

Ireland, 1590s. A land divided by war—where loyalty is bought with blood, and betrayal is never far behind. The Exiles series follows Eunan Maguire, a boy marked for death who rises through the brutal world of warring clans, shifting allegiances, and the advancing power of the English crown. Hated by his own family and forged in violence, Eunan fights first to survive—then to belong. But as rebellion spreads across Ireland, survival is no longer enough. Every choice draws him deeper into a conflict where truth is obscured, trust is a weapon, and power comes at a cost few can endure. As the war intensifies, Eunan begins to uncover a darker reality: his path has not been his own. Shaped by forces he barely understands, he must decide whether to break free—or embrace the role he has been driven toward. Because in a land where blood defines loyalty… a man can rise from nothing—only to become something far more dangerous. Perfect for readers of gritty historical fiction, the Exiles series delivers brutal action, clan politics, and a character-driven journey from survival to power, where every victory leaves a scar—and every truth comes too late.

★★★★ "e;Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Armada in 1588, the book offers a stirring tale of resilience and the enduring power of family and duty…. Devil's Island is a must read for Elizabethan history buffs,"e; - Reedsy Discovery For King, for country, for family. Stranded on the unforgiving shores of Ireland, Francisco Butero, a captain of the once-mighty Spanish Armada, must summon all his strength and wits to stay alive. The land is divided between English occupation and bloody inter-clan warfare and there is a large price on the heads of survivors of the Armada. As he fights to survive against the unrelenting pursuit of the cunning English soldiers, he must also navigate the treacherous landscape of rival clans all vying for power. Despite the unforgiving environment and the constant danger posed by his enemies, Francisco remains resolute in his mission to reunite with his family in Spain. Every step is a battle for survival against nature and his foes, but his determination may not be enough to overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles ahead. He must confront his deepest fears and doubts as he struggles to find a way back home. Devil's Island is a sort of prequel to the epic Irish historical fiction Exiles series. It is set against the backdrop of the Elizabethan wars in Ireland and the Spanish Armada in 1588. A world of Irish clans and their politics, where the price on the head of a Spanish captain is enough for most rebels to turn him over to the English crown. If you love fast-paced action and adventure orientated historical fiction then you will love this book.

Ireland is burning. The Vikings are coming. 🔥 Finn's father is dead. His name is in ruins. And someone wants him to stay that way.When a reckless rivalry with the king's son spirals out of control, Finn is forced into a deadly mission against Viking raiders. It's a chance to restore his honour—or lose everything that remains.But war is only the beginning.Haunted by his father's mysterious death, Finn is pulled into a web of betrayal, shifting loyalties, and brutal conflict where no one can be trusted, and every mistake is paid for in blood.As Ireland fractures under Viking invasion, Finn must decide who he is… and what he's willing to become.Because one choice will change everything.Blood will be spilt. Loyalties will shatter. And the war for Ireland has only just begun. ⚔️ Perfect for fans of fast-paced historical fiction and relentless action. ⚔️

He broke his oath. Now everyone wants him dead. Finn's choices have cost him everything.Hunted by Vikings. Hated by his own people. His name is worth silver, and his death would settle more than one score.The war he helped unleash is tearing Ireland apart.His family is scattered. His allies are gone. The enemy he betrayed is closing in.Now Finn moves through shadow and forest, a fugitive with one last chance at redemption: reach the kings of Ireland… and finish what he started.But trust is a weapon, and Finn has already proven he can break it.With Viking blades at his back and vengeance ahead, he must decide how far he's willing to go.Because this time, survival is not enough.He needs to make it right. Or die trying. 🔥 The war escalates. The cost gets personal. There are no second chances. 🔥

Ireland, 1590s. A land divided by war—where loyalty is bought with blood, and betrayal is never far behind. The Exiles series follows Eunan Maguire, a boy marked for death who rises through the brutal world of warring clans, shifting allegiances, and the advancing power of the English crown. Hated by his own family and forged in violence, Eunan fights first to survive—then to belong. But as rebellion spreads across Ireland, survival is no longer enough. Every choice draws him deeper into a conflict where truth is obscured, trust is a weapon, and power comes at a cost few can endure. As the war intensifies, Eunan begins to uncover a darker reality: his path has not been his own. Shaped by forces he barely understands, he must decide whether to break free—or embrace the role he has been driven toward. Because in a land where blood defines loyalty… a man can rise from nothing—only to become something far more dangerous. Perfect for readers of gritty historical fiction, the Exiles series delivers brutal action, clan politics, and a character-driven journey from survival to power, where every victory leaves a scar—and every truth comes too late. This is the full six-book collection of the Exiles series.