Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this historical fiction book by Maria Tureaud. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!
County Clare, 1848: In the scant few years since the potato blight first cast its foul shadow over Ireland, Maggie O’Shaughnessy has lost everything—her entire family and the man she trusted with her heart. She's slaving in a workhouse when the mysterious Lady Catherine arrives to whisk her away to an old mansion in the stark limestone landscape of the Burren. Lady Catherine wants Maggie to impersonate her late daughter, Wilhelmina, so that solicitors will release her widow pension which will allow Lady Catherine to continue to provide for the villagers in her care. Maggie will receive freedom from the workhouse, and land of her own, as well as living to spite them all. But the house is awakening terrible memories in Maggie.
This was historical fiction at its finest - you will learn the real-life horrors of The Great Potato Famine in Ireland as well as be entertained with a spooky ghost story and revenge plot as well. I never realized the extent of the fact that the famine was a genocide by the British people, covered up as just a crop blight. Each chapter starts with a quote showing the sentiment and despicable events of the time. Be sure the read the author's note to learn more about the real horrors that ensued. I loved the supernatural element here as well, and the story plays out in dual timelines. The characters are realistically imperfect, and your heart will break over and over. But there's hope and resilience on every page as well. This is a must read!
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