THE PIRATE QUEEN

by Ariel Lawhon

As devoted readers of L&L may know, I became a true Hibernophile after my trip to Ireland one year ago.  (Don’t worry, I had to google it too. It means someone who loves all things Irish.) So, when I saw that Ariel Lawhon, author of The Frozen River (read review here), had written a new novel about Grace O’Malley, the pirate queen of Ireland, I couldn’t wait to read it. And it did not disappoint.

As Lawhon reveals in the author notes (not to be read until finishing the novel), there doesn’t exist much documented history about the legendary O’Malley.  So, armed with research she was able to accumulate, Lawhon wrote this amazing novel of historical fiction.  Set in 16th century Ireland, O’Malley wants nothing more than to be a sea captain like her father.  As a female, though, she cannot expect to be chieftain of a powerful clan like her father. She must enter a marriage that will strengthen the clan, stay home and raise children.

Through her childhood and adolescence, Grace follows her father’s wishes, even though all she wants is to be on the sea. And despite marrying and producing children and helping to strengthen her brutal husband’s power, he casts her aside.  It is this act that enables her to take to the sea and to start to build and lead the O’Malley clan’s fleet of ships.

The Pirate Queen abounds with battles at sea, intrigue and betrayal, passion and cold-blooded murder.  To be honest: It is not an “easy” read. Lawhon introduces three extensive Irish clans with many characters to follow over several generations. But she provides genealogic trees and a list of characters as aids.  But, best of all, she tells Grace O’Malley’s story in three distinct narratives: Grace as a Maiden; as a Mother; and as a Matriarch.  The Pirate Queen is like no other book I’ve ever read.  And if it took me longer than usual to finish, it was worth every minute. (Liz)