A new young adult novel set in Belfast addresses the lasting effects of the Troubles through supernatural visions experienced by its 17-year-old protagonist.

In Stephen Daly's debut, The Last Death Poet, teenager Michael returns to Ireland with his mother after his parents had left the country. He begins seeing visions of soldiers, abandoned babies, and the Titanic, which fade unless he photographs them.

His friend Meg explains aspects of the pre-ceasefire era, noting that the older generation grew up before the ceasefire and carries deep trauma passed down through generations. She also references Irish mythology, including the Tuatha Dé Danann as ancient gods and the Morrigan as a goddess of death and war.

The story portrays Belfast as haunted by its violent past. Michael learns about 'death poets,' a group with a duty to tell invisible stories rising from the earth as a way to make sense of the world.

Supernatural elements appear alongside skepticism, with Meg questioning if Michael's camera is enchanted or stolen from mythical sources. The narrative includes Michael's internal conflict over developing feelings for Meg.