Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros

Welcome to Threshing Day, the brutal, high-stakes trial where would-be riders at Basgiath War College fight to earn the bond of a dragon or die trying. 

Amid ruthless competition and dragon fire, these thirteen cadets must survive a battlefield where desperate rivals will do anything to gain an advantage and dragons decide one’s ultimate fate―and where a single choice can forge a rider…or destroy them.

Xaden Riorson, the powerful leader. 

Rhiannon Matthias, the clever friend. 

Dain Aetos, the dutiful rule-follower.

Liam Mairi, the kindhearted protector. 

Ridoc Gamlyn, the jokester. 

Sawyer Henrick, the underdog. 

Garrick Tavis, the dependable aide. 

Imogen Cardulo, the impulsive fighter. 

Bodhi Durran, the second-in-command. 

Mira Sorrengail, the fearless rider. 

Brennan Sorrengail, the brilliant tactician. 

Aaric Graycastle, the restless royal. 

Sloane Mairi, the determined sister.

On Threshing Day, there’s only one rule: don’t die.

Though Threshing Day can be enjoyed as an introduction to the series, due to contained spoilers, it is best read after Onyx Storm

Hardcover, 204 pages

Published September 29, 2026

 by Entangled: Red Tower Books

3.5/5 stars

While we all wait for the fourth Empyrean novel, Rebecca Yarros has given us something to keep us going. Threshing Day isn’t the next chapter, instead it’s a collection of thirteen short stories that all take place on one of the most dangerous days at Basgiath, the day first-years walk into the forest and hope a dragon chooses them.

Before this, the only Threshing Day we really knew was Violet’s and nothing about hers was normal. This time, Yarros hands the story over to a whole range of riders, each facing the same terrifying test in their own way. Some go in confident, some barely holding it together and not everyone comes out the way they expected.

It was interesting to see how different the day could be. I especially enjoyed the stories from the children of the rebellion, the marked ones who carry their parents’ choices on their skin. Getting a glimpse inside their heads gave me a chance to know them a little better, and knowing what they’ve already been through and what’s still ahead of them in the series gave their chapters a little extra weight.

At a fraction of the length of the main novels, it’s a quick read and an easy way to get back into the world of Basgiath. If you’re a fan of the series, it’s a nice way to spend some time with the dragons while we wait for book four.

This book was part of my 2026 Reading OPff My Shelf Challenge - #44

Where Roses Fall by Jennifer Donnelly

Jennifer Donnelly continues her Rose Petals series—novella-length stories set within the world of her beloved Tea Rose saga.

It’s the summer of 1900 in London’s gritty East End. The ruthless, complicated gangster Sid Malone rules the streets of Whitechapel with an iron fist, but cannot rule his own heart.

A forbidden love for India Selwyn Jones, an idealistic young doctor, torments Sid.

He’s certain the violence of his underworld life will only lead to tragedy for a soul whose kindness and decency are like nothing he’s ever known.

When India’s new hospital is robbed in a stealthy nighttime raid, Sid’s worst fears are confirmed. Convinced a powerful rival is closing in, he distances himself from India to keep her safe. But what he doesn’t see is that the one who needs saving might just be himself.

Where Roses Fall is set between parts one and two of The Winter Rose, the second book of The Tea Rose saga.

Audiobook, 5 hours, 53 minutes

Published October 1, 2024

 by Recorded Books

4/5 stars

Jennifer Donnelly is one of my auto-read authors, I quite enjoyed her Tea Rose trilogy and  was happy to see her return to that world with a series of novellas called Rose Petals. Where Roses Fall is the second one, I listened to the audiobook through Scribd.

This one is about Sid Malone, the East End gangster. It’s 1900, and Sid has fallen for India Selwyn Jones, a young doctor who has devoted herself to caring for the poor of Whitechapel. He’s convinced that loving her will only drag her into danger, and when trouble comes to her new hospital, he does what he thinks he must to keep her safe, even if it means breaking both their hearts.

It was nice to slip back into Donnelly’s version of Victorian London with its grimy streets, colourful characters and sharp divide between the rich and the poor. Sid has always been one of the most complicated people in the saga, and getting a closer look at him and India was a treat for anyone who has followed the Finnegan family.

At under six hours, it’s a quick listen, however I do recommend being familiar with this series for everything to fit into place.

My copy of the audio obtained through Spodify.

Miss Gentle and the Case of the Very Flat Monk by Travis Baldree

A peculiar detective takes on a monastic murder mystery in a darkly funny fantasy short story by the author of the Legends & Lattes series.

Nobody really liked Brother Gorm, but his untimely and abrupt descent from the abbey’s bell tower has the Order of Venerous the Petulant on edge. Desperate to settle the case before the bishop returns, the abbot enlists the highly unorthodox investigator Miss Gentle. As she clanks through the abbey in a full suit of armor, the cantankerous detective has no problem asking awkward questions—but will she get any answers?

Travis Baldree’s Miss Gentle and the Case of the Very Flat Monk is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.

Kindle Edition, 33 pages

Published July 28, 2026 

by Amazon Original Stories

3/5 stars

This is the first installment in the Magic & Mystery Series, an Amazon Original. It’s made up of seven short mysteries, each penned from a different fantasy author.

Many readers will know Travis Baldree from his cozy fantasy Legends & Lattes, he’s also a well-known audiobook narrator. Here he trades cozy for something a little darker, though the humour is still there.

The setup is quite simple: a monk is dead after a fall from the abbey bell tower and since he wasn’t exactly beloved by his brothers, there’s no shortage of people who might have wanted him gone. The abbot needs answers quickly, so he brings in Miss Gentle. She arrives in a full suit of armour and goes about her investigation in a way the monks are not at all prepared for. 

Miss Gentle is a wonderfully odd character, and the dry, quirky humour is a highlight. At just 33 pages, it’s a quick read, the mystery wraps up neatly in that short space. 

Short stories can be tricky, since there’s only so much room to develop characters and build a world and I found myself wishing there was a little more of both here.

Miss Gentle...  is a fun, quick introduction to this series and a good choice if you’re looking for something light to fill an evening. 

My copy obtain through Amazon Prime

A Labyrinth of Honeybees by Heather Fawcett

New rulers meddle with the whims of the old gods in a lush and twisty short story of devotion, intrigue, and murder by the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series.

At a remote mountain temple, an inquisitor arrives to question a priestess about a pair of murders. The keeper of the sacred garden, its bees, and its ever-changing hedge maze does have her secrets. But what will protecting them cost her as she uncovers layers of conspiracy on both sides?

Heather Fawcett’s A Labyrinth of Honeybees is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.

Kindle Edition, 44 pages

Published July 28, 2026

 by Amazon Original Stories

3.5/5 stars

Book 4 in the Magic & Mystery series brings me to an author I already enjoy. I've just recently reviewed Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, so I was curious to see what she'd do with a story this short, I'm happy to say she didn't disappoint.

Coming in at 44 pages this story takes place in a temple high in the mountains.  A pair of deaths brings an inquisitor knocking. The priestess he's come to question tends a garden full of bees and a maze that seems to have a mind of its own, it quickly becomes clear she's protecting more than just her hives.

What I love about Fawcett is how naturally she builds a world. Just like in Emily Wilde, the setting feels old and a little bit enchanted, she draws on myth and folklore in a way that makes it all feel believable. Even in just 44 pages, the temple, the garden and that shifting maze came to life. The bees added a wonderful touch I haven't come across before.

The mystery itself has a few turns I didn't see coming, and I appreciated that the story was as much about loyalty and the price of keeping secrets as it was about solving a crime.

So far this is my favourite of the collection, a great introduction to Fawcett's writing if you haven't tried her yet. 

This book was part of Amazon Prime Reads in exchange for a honest review

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

Feyre, Rhysand, and their friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly altered world beyond, recovering from the war that changed everything. But Winter Solstice is finally approaching, and with it, the joy of a hard-earned reprieve.

Yet even the festive atmosphere can't keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, her concern for those dearest to her deepens. They have more wounds than she anticipated-scars that will have a far-reaching impact on the future of their court.

Bridging the events of A Court of Wings and Ruin with the later books in the series, A Court of Frost and Starlight explores the far-reaching effects of a devastating war and the fierce love between friends.

Paperback, 272 pages

Published June 2, 2020

 by Bloomsbury Publishing

3/5 stars

I’ve been rereading  A Court of Thorns and Roses series to get ready for the new book. A Court of Frost and Starlight is the little novella - if you want to call a 272 page book a novella, i guess compared to the rest of the series this is a little break.. It sits between the third and fifth books. It’s a quieter visit with Feyre, Rhysand and their friends as they celebrate the Winter Solstice in Velaris and try to settle into a new normal after the war.

This is my least favourite in the series, part of that may simply be the length. After the big, sweeping books that come before it, this feels more like a short break in this series. There’s not a lot of plot and much of it is the characters shopping, gathering and exchanging gifts. Pleasant enough, but I missed the stakes, the tension that drew me into the series in the first place.

That said, it does have some interesting bits, especially the parts that hint at what’s coming next. Not everyone has come out of the war in one piece and there are seeds planted here, particularly around Nesta and Cassian, that lead straight into the fifth book. I’m reading that one now and I’m glad I didn’t skip this little bridge.

If you’re making your way through the series, don’t pass this one by, but go in expecting a cozy intermission rather than an adventure.

This book is part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge - #36

Wilderness Hacks by Joslin Brorsen

Hatchet meets Survivor in this high-action, humor-filled middle grade adventure about two kids stranded in the wilderness, whose annoyance with each other rivals the roaring rapids and ferocious predators they must face.

12-year-old Sadie Hahn didn’t plan to eat grubs on camera to win a contest. And she definitely didn’t plan to win first prize—a guest appearance on a Youtube show hosted by America’s favorite 13-year-old survivalist Radley Shaw. But she’ll do anything to cheer up her little brother Silas, who’s too young to qualify.

Rad has millions of followers and exactly zero real-life friends, so the contest is a great chance for him to hang out with kids his own age. But it’s hate-at-first-sight when Silas throws a wrench in his plan and Sadie decides Rad is just a clueless poser who doesn’t know the first thing about survival.

Disaster strikes when their scripted rafting trip turns into a real fight for survival. Lost in the mountains, Rad and Sadie must find shelter, build a fire, forage for food and try not to become food for a hungry predator. But can they stop bickering long enough to hack it in the wilderness? And will that be enough to keep them alive?

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published March 31, 2026

 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

4/5 stars

The cover drew me to Wilderness Hacks, I love a great outdoorsy middle grade adventure story. Plus this is the author's debut.

This adventure starts off as pure fun. Sadie is so determined to cheer up her little brother that she’ll happily munch on grubs for the camera if that’s what it takes and her prize is a chance to film with Radley Shaw, a teenage YouTube survival star with millions of fans. The trouble is that Sadie and Rad rub each other the wrong way from the moment they meet and she’s pretty sure his survival skills are more for show than for real.

Then disaster strikes and the story takes a serious turn. Suddenly the cameras don’t matter,  two kids who can barely stand each other have to rely on one another to get out of the wilderness alive.

I enjoyed Brorsen’s writing style. The story moves along at a good clip, switching between Sadie and Rad so you get to know both sides, there’s still humour sprinkled in even when things get tense. The characters are likeable and I liked watching how they changed along the way. Their journey isn’t just about finding their way home, it’s also about learning to trust each other and seeing past first impressions.

This would be a great pick for young readers who love survival stories, it’s an impressive debut. I’ll be keeping an eye out for the second book, coming in 2027.

This book is part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge - #35

Finding My Way by Malala Yousafzai

How do you rebuild yourself when your whole world changes overnight?

Thrust onto the public stage at fifteen years old after the Taliban’s brutal attack on her life, Malala Yousafzai quickly became an international icon known for bravery and resilience. But away from the cameras and crowds, she spent years struggling to find her place in an unfamiliar world. Now, for the first time ever, Malala takes us beyond the headlines in Finding My Way—a vulnerable, surprising memoir that buzzes with authenticity, sharp humor, and tenderness.

Finding My Way is a story of friendship and first love, of anxiety and self-discovery, of trying to stay true to yourself when everyone wants to tell you who you are. In it, Malala traces her path from high school loner to reckless college student to a young woman at peace with her past. Through candid, often messy moments like nearly failing exams, getting ghosted and meeting the love of her life, Malala reminds us that real role models aren’t perfect—they’re human.

In this astonishing memoir, Malala reintroduces herself to the world, sharing how she navigated life as someone whose darkest moments threatened to define her—while seeking the freedom to find out who she truly is. Finding My Way is an intimate look at the life of a young woman taking charge of her destiny—and a deeply personal testament to the strength it takes to be unapologetically yourself.

Audible Audio, 8 hours, 57 minutes

Published October 21, 2025

 by Simon & Schuster Audio

3.5/5 stars

Like so many people, I first got to know Malala through I Am Malala, the story of the schoolgirl who stood up to the Taliban and survived being shot for it. So when I heard she had written a new memoir about what came next, I was curious to see where life had taken her.

I listened to this one on Audible, the fact that Malala narrates it herself makes all the difference. It felt like she was sitting across from me, just talking about her life. You can hear the warmth and humour in her voice, it made the more personal moments feel that much closer.

This book follows her into young adulthood, mostly during her years at Oxford. There’s the usual university stuff, like making friends, keeping up with schoolwork and figuring out her relationship with her parents. The difference is that Malala couldn’t do any of it in private. Everything she did was watched and often shared with the world, from what she wore to her love life to her grades and every misstep came with consequences most students never have to think about.

I was also surprised to learn how much she helped support her family financially. That’s a lot of responsibility for anyone, let alone a student trying to get through Oxford under that kind of spotlight. She’s also open about her anxiety and the challenge of figuring out who she is beyond the girl in the headlines.

I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I Am Malala. That first book has a gripping, life-or-death story at its heart and this one is quieter and more personal by nature. I also found parts of it a bit repetitive. Still, it was interesting to see the direction her life took after the shooting and to get to know the young woman behind the famous name.

If you read I Am Malala and have ever wondered what came next, this is well worth a listen.

My copy obtained through my Audible subscription.

Hurricane Summer by Asha Ashanti Bromfield

Tilla has spent her entire life trying to make her father love her. But every six months, he leaves their family and returns to his true home: the island of Jamaica.

When Tilla’s mother tells her she’ll be spending the summer on the island, Tilla dreads the idea of seeing him again, but longs to discover what life in Jamaica has always held for him.

In an unexpected turn of events, Tilla is forced to face the storm that unravels in her own life as she learns about the dark secrets that lie beyond the veil of paradise—all in the midst of an impending hurricane.

Hurricane Summer is a powerful coming of age story that deals with colorism, classism, young love, the father-daughter dynamic—and what it means to discover your own voice in the center of complete destruction.

Hardcover, 400 pages

Published May 4, 2021

 by Wednesday Books

4/5 stars

This one has been on my shelf since 2021, I was pleasantly surprised to see the author is from Toronto, love discovering Canadian authors.

Tilla’s father has always been half in and half out of her life. He splits his time between Toronto and Jamaica and Tilla has never stopped hoping he’ll choose them. So when she and her little sister Mia are sent to stay with him on the island for the summer, she doesn’t quite know what to expect. What she finds is a side of her father and his family she never knew. Along with secrets that come to the surface just as a hurricane heads their way.

Hurricane Summer is a well written story, Bromfield is fantastic on the emotional side of things. I felt every bit of Tilla’s hurt and longing. As a coming-of-age story it’s very well done, I was rooting for her as she began to find her own voice. Bromfield also brings Jamaican culture to life, with an island that feels vivid and real.

But boy, does Tilla have a tough time there. Some of the people she meets are just plain mean and the book doesn’t shy away from heavy subjects, like how people are judged by the shade of their skin, how much money they have and amounts of clothing one has. At times I found it hard to read, I found myself wishing Tilla could catch even a small break. That’s probably the point, but it made for an emotionally draining summer for both of us.

If you enjoy YA coming-of-age stories with real depth, this one is worth your time. Just be ready for more storm than sunshine.

This book is part of my Reading Off My Shelf Challenge -  #43

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

Isabelle should be blissfully happy – she’s about to win the handsome prince. Except Isabelle isn’t the beautiful girl who lost the glass slipper and captured the prince’s heart. She’s the ugly stepsister who’s cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella’s shoe ... which is now filling with blood.

When the prince discovers Isabelle’s deception, she is turned away in shame. It’s no more than she deserves: she is a plain girl in a world that values beauty; a feisty girl in a world that wants her to be pliant.

Isabelle has tried to fit in. To live up to her mother’s expectations. To be like her stepsister. To be sweet. To be pretty. One by one, she has cut away pieces of herself in order to survive a world that doesn’t appreciate a girl like her. And that has made her mean, jealous, and hollow.

Until she gets a chance to alter her destiny and prove what ugly stepsisters have always known: it takes more than heartache to break a girl.

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published May 14, 2019

 by Scholastic Press

4/5 stars

Jennifer Donnelly is one of my auto-read authors. She writes both YA and adult fiction. Stepsister has been waiting patiently on my shelf and I’m so glad I finally got to it.

We all know how Cinderella ends: the glass slipper fits, the prince gets his bride and everyone lives happily ever after. Everyone except the stepsisters, that is. Donnelly picks up where the fairy tale leaves off and follows Isabelle, the 'ugly' stepsister who has to live with what she did to try to win the prince. With her family’s reputation in tatters, she has to figure out who she is when everyone has already decided she’s the villain. Meanwhile, Fate and Chance are watching, each betting on how her story will turn out.

I really enjoyed this one. It’s a clever twist on a story I thought I knew and it made me look at the 'wicked' stepsister in a whole new light. Isabelle isn’t easy to like at first, but I found myself cheering her on as she started questioning everything she’d been told about beauty and what a girl is supposed to be. Having Fate and Chance squabbling in the background added a fun, almost mythical layer to it all.

Stepsister is a story of family, change and courage. If you enjoy fairy tale retellings or you’ve ever wondered what happened to the stepsisters after the ball, this one is well worth picking up.

This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge - #42

The Grandmother's Tale by Alison Weir

The Grandmother's Tale is an e-short and companion piece to Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession, the second novel in the Six Tudor Queens series.

I see her from time to time, and I wish I didn't, but I don't say that. Nor do I tell my guests of my awful gift, or of how I kept seeing a sword over her head . . . Thomas once called me a witch. But witches practise their craft willingly. My visions come unbidden, and I have never been able to control them.

As Anne Boleyn's grandmother mourns the death of her granddaughter, she also mourns the loss of Hever as she once knew it - filled with the joy and happiness of her family.

With Anne's ghost still walking the halls, Margaret remembers her life in this grand house and the mysteries and rumours that line its walls. But with everything changed for ever, how long will Hever remain her home?

Features the first chapter of Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession and Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen.

SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.

Kindle Edition, 57 pages

Published March 8, 2018

 by Review

3.5/5 stars

I’ve read a lot about Anne Boleyn and her family over the years, but can't remember a time hearing about her grandmother. So this little e-short was a welcome change of point of view.

The story belongs to Margaret Butler Boleyn, mother of Thomas Boleyn and grandmother to Anne. Now elderly and living out her final years at Hever Castle, she looks back over her life: the family she watched grow up there, the visions that have troubled her and the loneliness that has settled in now that so much has been lost.

It’s a quiet, reflective story rather than a dramatic one and that suits it. Seeing the Boleyns through the eyes of the family matriarch, someone usually left out of the story, gave me a fresh angle on people I thought I knew well. Weir is a historian first, her feel for the period comes through even in so few pages.

Being so short, it only skims the surface. I’d have happily spent more time with Margaret. Still, if you’re a Tudor fan looking for a different perspective on the Boleyns, it’s a worthwhile quick read.

My copy obtained through Amazon UK.

The Chateau of Briis: A Lesson in Love by Alison Weir

The Chateau of Briis: A Lesson in Love  is an e-short and companion piece to Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession, the second novel in the series about Henry VIII's queens.

'May I have the pleasure of your hand in the dance, mademoiselle?'

1515 - Dressed in wine-coloured satin, with her dark hair worn loose, a young Anne Boleyn attends a great ball at the French court. The palace is exquisitely decorated for the occasion, and the hall is full with lords and ladies - the dancing has begun. Anne adores watching the game of courtly love play out before her eyes, though she is not expecting to be thrown into it herself. But moments later, a charming young man named Philippe du Moulin approaches to ask for her hand in the dance. And before she can resist, so begins Anne's first lesson in love.

Includes the first chapters of Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession and Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen, the third novel in the Six Tudor Queens series.

Kindle Edition, 79 pages

Published January 11, 2018

 by Review

3.5/5 stars

I’ve read a lot about Anne Boleyn over the years, so when I found out Alison Weir had written a handful of short story's to go along with her Six Tudor Queens series, I jumped in. They’re not easy to find from this side of the Atlantic, so I picked these up for my Kindle through Amazon UK. 

It’s 1515, a teenage Anne is at the French court where she has been learning the manners and polish expected of a young lady. She loves watching the elaborate game of courtly love play out among the lords and ladies around her. Then a charming young Frenchman named Philippe du Moulin catches her eye.

It was interesting to meet Anne long before Henry VIII, when she was young, a bit naive and still figuring out the world around her. Knowing where her life is headed gives this little story some extra weight. It’s very short, more of a glimpse than a full tale, but it’s a nice addition for anyone who enjoys Weir’s take on the Tudors.

My copy obtained via Amazon UK - though they are available in print form 

It's Not Her by Mary Kubica

A scream shatters the silence…

Courtney Gray’s peaceful vacation turns into a nightmare when she discovers her brother and sister-in-law dead in their lakeside cottage. Her niece Reese is missing. Her nephew Wyatt is asleep upstairs—unharmed.

A town full of secrets…
As police swarm the quiet resort, dark truths about Courtney’s family—and the town itself—begin to surface. Is Reese a victim… or the killer?

A truth no one saw coming…
With everyone hiding something, Courtney races to uncover the terrible mystery. But the closer she gets, the harder it is to know who—or what—to trust.

Paperback, 352 pages

Published February 3, 2026

 by Park Row Books

3.5/5 stars

Mary Kubica is a bit of a hit-and-miss author for me. When she’s on, she’s really on. Local Woman Missing is still one of my favourites, I’ve been chasing that feeling with her books ever since. 

Courtney Gray is spending a week at a lakeside resort with her husband, daughter and her brother’s family. One night everything falls apart, with the morning revealing a horrific chain of events having taken place. Her brother and sister-in-law are dead, their teenage daughter Reese is missing and the teen son Wyatt somehow slept through the whole thing.

The story moves between two voices. Courtney is the first, which I struggled with.  Then there is Reese's chapters, it tells of the days since arriving, leading up to that fateful night. There were times I found this story long winded, especially the opening chapters.  Reese's talks about being seventeen, lonely and making questionable decisions for a bit of excitement.

What I wasn’t quite ready for was just how dysfunctional this family really was. Behind the cozy cottage vacation there’s resentment, secrets and the drama gets heavy at times. That made for a lot of suspects, I changed my mind more than once. But it also meant I honestly couldn’t find a single character I liked. Everyone was hiding something or behaving badly, with no one to root for I felt a little more distant from the story than I wanted to be.

Then there’s the ending. I won’t say a word about it, except that I did not see it coming at all. Just when I thought everything had been wrapped up, Kubica pulled the rug out one more time, it was easily the best part of the book for me. It’s the kind of twist that had me wanting to flip back through earlier chapters to see what I missed.

Not quite Local Woman Missing territory for me, the twist won it for me.

This book is part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge - #33

The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon

 A sweeping historical adventure inspired by the life of Grace O’Malley, the legendary Irish folk heroine who risked everything to defend her people. 

Grace O’Malley was born to be a sea captain. But despite her natural skill on the water, Grace learns early that her dreams of a life at the helm are not compatible with the expectations of her noble family. As the only daughter of a powerful chieftain, her role is to secure a strong alliance and bear children. But when she’s sent to foster with a nearby clan, Grace falls for a clever and open-minded second son—a man she cannot have.

Married off against her will to a brutal warrior, Grace performs her duty, all the while gathering followers loyal to her, and consolidating her husband’s power, only to be ousted from his lands. But this betrayal offers Grace the opportunity to return to sea, finally leading clan O’Malley’s mighty fleet. Just as she finds true independence, Queen Elizabeth’s incursions into Ireland grow bolder and Grace must fight to defend her land, her ships, and the people she loves most against the cruel and power-hungry English deputies, who will stop at nothing to check her influence.

Keenly observed and fiercely written, Ariel Lawhon's new action-packed novel channels the untamed beauty and harsh realities of sixteenth-century Ireland, as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine who rightly became “the Pirate Queen of Ireland.”

Hardcover, 528 pages

Published September 8, 2026

 by Doubleday

4.5/5 stars

Ariel Lawhon is an auto-read author for me. This time she takes us much further back in history than I’m used to from her, to 16th-century Ireland, a world of clan chieftains, rival families and ships that were as much about power as they were about trade.

At the centre is Grace O’Malley, a real woman who became a legend. As the daughter of a chieftain she was expected to marry well and keep the family alliances strong, but Grace’s heart was always on the water. Lawhon follows her as she pushes against every expectation placed on her, eventually taking command of her clan’s fleet and standing her ground against the English as Queen Elizabeth tightens her grip on Ireland.

Lawhon has a unique way of telling a story - I learned that in I Am Anastasia. Rather than moving straight from beginning to end, the book shifts between three stages of Grace’s life: her childhood, her younger adult years and her later life. It’s a unique approach, I got to see how the girl became the woman, with each timeline shedding light on the others.

That said, the structure did ask a lot. I really had to pay attention to when and where we were in Grace’s life, especially early on and honestly this isn’t a quick read at over 500 pages. There were times it felt long and I could see how some readers might find the jumps between timelines a challenge.

Still, Grace is a heroine worth spending time with. The author brought both the beauty and the brutality of that era to life. Her research was evident. 

If you love historical fiction about fierce women who refused to stay in their place, this one is worth the commitment. 

This book is part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge - #40