The stories of Fionn mac Cumhaill (later Anglicized as Finn McCool), mighty hunter and warrior, are one of the cornerstones of Irish mythology, and comprise the epic Fenian Cycle. While Finn the half-Great, the first novel from Toronto author Theo Caldwell, takes its inspiration from those tales, the book is less a reinterpretation than a wholesale recreation of that character and his world.

Finn, who is called Demne by his family, is a half-giant – his father is a pureblood giant, his mother one of the fey folk. Following a youthful (and renowned) act of bravery and violence, in which Finn slays the King of the Frost Giants in revenge for the murder of his father, the half-giant settles into a long and placid life with his wife Oonagh and his faithful hounds. He is jarred from his complacency, however, when a marauding army under the direction of Jack of the Green kidnaps his wife and destroys his home. Finn embarks on a quest to unite the remaining giants in order to rescue his wife and defeat Jack.

Finn the half-Great is a delightful read, retaining enough of the traditional stories to orient neophyte readers and to serve as a reminder to those more familiar with the works, while simultaneously incorporating contemporary sensibilities and narrative elements. In keeping with the traditional approach, characterization is largely rudimentary, but this is clearly a stylistic device and not a failing.

The novel is a quest fantasy with moments of humour and high emotion, epic battles and daring deeds. The Irish names may blur together for younger readers (or anyone not paying close enough attention), and the novel is perhaps a shade longer than it needs to be, but overall, it is a rewarding reading experience.