Sydney Acorn is a romantasy author who weaves tales in which love and magic intertwine in worlds of enchantment and wonder. Known for her lyrical prose and immersive storytelling, she creates characters who balance strength and vulnerability. Drawing inspiration from nature’s beauty and Celtic folklore, Sydney’s work features lush landscapes and tender, slow-burn relationships that linger long after the final page. A successful author of multiple books translated into several languages, Sydney enjoys writing uplifting stories of triumph against adversity.
She chooses to use a pen-name to keep her writing life separate from her personal one.
Inspirations:
Sydney was raised on Celtic songs, music and folklore. She visited Ireland and was inspired by the people, the scenery and the sense of magic. At the top of the Cliffs of Moher, overlooking the wild ocean, an old man in a tweed flat-cap, (who resembled a leprechaun) was playing a haunting air on a tin whistle. Sydney was inspired. The result? The Madigan’s Leap trilogy, a wholesome romantasy set in an alternative version of Ireland.
Books by Sydney
The King’s Shilling
A Celtic Romantasy
Madigan’s Leap Book 1: The King’s Shilling
Magic, folklore, and history entwine in this wholesome fantasy romance of love, loss, and destiny-an enchanting romantasy rooted in Celtic folklore, perfect for young adult readers.
In the late 18th century, the Delacey family-once prosperous landowners-live on the rugged coast of a mythic Ireland, in the village of Allanwell. Tragedy strikes, and they are plunged into poverty.
Amidst the turmoil, Rose, the youngest of the four Delacey daughters, is haunted by dreams of a marvellously handsome hero. Desperate to know whether he truly exists, Rose seeks the help of a local wise woman steeped in druidic lore, who casts a spell to uncover the truth. But ancient magic is never without risk-will Rose live to encounter the man from her visions, or is it all illusion? Will she find true love-and if so, how long may happiness last?
For a Royal Navy press-gang is raiding up and down the coast, seizing young men to fight in the war against France. No able-bodied fellow is safe. What will this mean for the villagers of Allanwell, for the Delaceys, and for Rose and the dream-bound warrior whose face she knows by heart?
As rumours of war grow louder, Rose must decide whether to hold on to hope-or forge a new path through enchanted landscapes and the pull of fate.
The Cloven Ring
A Celtic Romantasy
Madigan’s Leap Book 2: The Cloven Ring
Blending romance, adventure, fantasy and alternative history, this gripping sequel invites readers to follow a tale of resilience and passion in the face of adversity.
Seven years have passed since Rose Delacey’s beloved, Keane O’Connell, was torn from her by a Royal Navy press-gang. Believing him lost forever, Rose is subjected to the persistent advances of Edwin Westbourne, a wealthy young squire who convinces her that Keane is dead. Reluctantly, she agrees to marry him, though her heart remains true to the love she can never forget.
But what has happened to Keane? He and his brother were abducted and forced to serve upon a battleship of the Royal Navy, where strict rules and brutal punishments reign. As the fleet sails across stormy seas, the haunts of mermaids and selkies, can the young Irishmen survive? What of Britain’s war against France?
Ireland is changing. In the village of Allanwell, the lives of the Delaceys are unsettled by war, poverty and a new threat – the influential Lord Leighton.
With Rose poised to wed a man she loathes and the country teetering on the brink of upheaval, has every chance of happiness vanished . . . or could there still be hope?
Words of Power
A Celtic Romantasy
Madigan’s Leap Book 3: Words of Power
A gripping blend of historical intrigue and heartrending romance, perfect for young adult readers.
In Ireland, Rose waits on Madigan’s Leap, a haunted cliff-top battered by wind and legend. She scans the horizon for Keane’s return, knowing the sails of the approaching ship will reveal his fate-white if he lives, black if he does not.
In this poignant tale of love, loss, magic and destiny, the question lingers: will Rose and Keane’s love triumph, or has fate finally torn them apart?
Contact Sydney
You can contact Sydney via Sky Literary Management
Note: This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.