Gritty Urban Fantasy with a Mythological Twist
Fallen angels. Ancient gods. Forgotten relics.
Mike Straus writes fantasy where mythology collides with the modern world.
Featured Books
From Celtic relics to fallen angels, Mike Straus writes dark, cinematic fantasy inspired by mythology, theology, and the hidden horrors lurking beneath ordinary life.
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The Staff of the Dagda
The old gods are at war—and Liam O’Kean is about to be drafted.
When creatures from Celtic mythology begin hunting twenty-one-year-old underground fighter Liam O’Kean, he discovers a hidden world of gods, monsters, and ancient magic—and powers of his own that he doesn't understand.His search for the legendary Staff of the Dagda will drag him into a war between the Tuatha Dé Danann and the monstrous Fomorians, where choosing the right side may be harder than surviving the fight.
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The Spear of Lugh
The Staff was only the beginning.
The war between the old gods is far from over.
As new threats emerge and ancient powers stir, Liam O’Kean is drawn deeper into a conflict that stretches beyond Annwyn—and toward another legendary weapon capable of changing the course of the war.
But the deeper Liam ventures into the world of gods and monsters, the harder it becomes to know who can be trusted.
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Halo & Gunpowder
Heaven cast him out. Hell sees potential.
After breaking the sacred law that binds all angels, Malach is exiled to Earth and left to die on the streets of Detroit.
But when a nurse named Tessa saves his life, Malach discovers a hidden supernatural war centred around an ancient weapon buried beneath the city. Hunted by supernatural enemies and stripped of much of his former power, he must navigate forgotten myths, divine conspiracies, and escalating violence before Detroit becomes the first battlefield in a war between angels and demons.
Book One of the Halo & Gunpowder series
ENTER THE WORLD OF CELTIC MYTHOLOGY
Gods. Monsters. Heroes. Legends.
The mythology behind The Staff of the Dagda is thousands of years older than Liam O’Kean—and considerably stranger.
Download the Celtic Mythology Field Guide, a free introduction to the gods, creatures, legends, and ancient lore that inspired The Albean Chronicles.
Whether you've already entered Liam's world or you're simply curious about the mythology behind the story, consider this your guide to the legends lurking beneath the surface.
GET THE FREE FIELD GUIDE
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THE CELTIC MYTHOLOGY FIELD GUIDE
Gods, Monsters & Magical Artifacts From the Legends That Inspired The Staff of the Dagda
FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
Ancient gods. Legendary weapons. Supernatural wars. Otherworldly monsters.
Irish mythology has all the ingredients of an epic fantasy story—and some of its strangest legends helped inspire the world of The Staff of the Dagda.
The Celtic Mythology Field Guide is a free, beautifully designed introduction to the gods, creatures, magical artifacts, and ancient stories behind the novel.
Inside, you'll discover:
☘️ The Tuatha Dé Danann — The supernatural people at the heart of some of Ireland's greatest mythological stories.
⚔️ The Dagda, Lugh, Nuada & the Morrígan — Meet four fascinating figures from Irish mythology.
🏺 The Four Treasures — Discover the Stone of Fál, Spear of Lugh, Sword of Nuada, and Cauldron of the Dagda.
👁️ The Fomorians & Balor of the Evil Eye — Meet some of the Tuatha Dé Danann's most formidable supernatural adversaries.
🌫️ The Otherworld — Explore the strange supernatural realm lurking just beyond the boundaries of the ordinary world.
🗡️ Which Celtic Treasure Would Choose You? — Take a highly scientific* personality test to discover which legendary artifact belongs in your inventory.
*It is not remotely scientific.
Whether you're already fascinated by Celtic mythology or you're discovering these legends for the first time, this quick field guide offers an entertaining introduction to the ancient stories that helped inspire The Staff of the Dagda.
Format: PDF
Price: FREE
Author: Mike Straus
THE OLD MYTHS AREN'T DEAD.
They're just waiting.
What Readers Are Saying
“Excellent storytelling and an incredibly easy book to keep reading. Building an entire magical world with this kind of continuity is no small feat—I was thoroughly impressed overall.”
Dan D., beta reader, The Staff of the Dagda“A fast-moving fantasy full of action, with Irish culture and mythology at its heart. Liam’s progression from street fighter to someone fighting for his community felt genuine and satisfying.”
Tim O., beta reader, The Staff of the Dagda“The writing itself was polished, and I loved the idea of bringing Celtic mythology into everyday life. The mythology gives the story an interesting foundation for its fantasy world.”
Brianne G., beta reader, The Staff of the Dagda
“The Celtic mythology creates a rich and fascinating world, and the story finds clever ways to introduce it. The action works too, with some genuinely strong fight scenes. Mike built a rich world and it's fascinating learning about it (especially since it's based on real mythology).”
Patrick I., beta reader, The Staff of the Dagda
About
Mike Straus is a Canadian author, copywriter, and lifelong fantasy nerd based in Kelowna, British Columbia.
A professional writer since 2012, Mike spent years writing for businesses and magazines before deciding it was probably time to unleash the gods, monsters, fallen angels, and other questionable characters living in his head.
His fiction draws on mythology, folklore, and the supernatural, dropping ancient legends into modern worlds where the gods aren't gone—they've just gotten better at hiding.
