I am very proud to have been a part of Siobhan Macgowan’s book tour for her debut novel, The Trial of Lotta Rae which I loved and once again I get the pleasure of hosting her new book here at Lizzieslittlebooknook. Thanks to Siobhan and Welbeck for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
When it comes to books, if you tell me that it is set in Ireland and is either historical or based on historical events, I will jump straight on it. Having a strong Irish heritage, I greatly enjoy broadening my knowledge of the country’s dark and often troubled past, which often affected my ancestors. The Graces is one such book.
Set in Dublin in the early 20th century, it is the story of a woman’s confession and of how her story has changed the lives of so many. Rosaleen Moore, also known as The Rose, is a seer and a healer. Admired and loved by so many, her secrets are revealed as her deathbed confession tells a different story, which could change the course of many people’s lives.
Not everything in nature is benign.
One aspect of Siobhan’s previous novel I loved was her writing style. It wasn’t a fast-paced, action novel, but the way she wrote engaged me and made me want to keep reading. From the tension building to the events that unspool as the book progresses, The Graces did exactly the same thing for me.
I particularly enjoyed the writing style. As you may know, by now, I love multi narrative novels. But, whereas most books break up the narratives by chapters, we often had two different narratives within the same chapter, and it was superb how the narratives were so well interwined whilst not becoming muddled or confusing.
Each character of the novel had their own unique personalities and their own spark, which made them all stand out in their own way. From the stern yet loyal Noreen to the sweet and innocent, Connor… Each character had an important part to play, and they each added that extra layer to the story.
This is a story of confessions, of the damage which confessions can bring. It is about belief, not only in religion and God but also in nature, science, and medicine. In part, it is the ultimate science/medicine over belief, but at the same time, it also portrays the positive side of religion, the empathy, the kindness, and the respect from the church. It is about so much that you would need to write an essay. But narrowed down, it is one woman’s story during turbulent times in Dublin, a story of her life and the mistakes she made and the consequences she and others bore because of it.
I won’t deny there were several parts which made me cry and many more, which made me stop and think about what just happened. Just like life itself, this book is full of twists and turns and is a turbulent ride of emotions, and I loved every minute of it.
If you are looking for an emotional character driven read set in a difficult time in Dublin, I would highly recommend this book. The way Siobhan sets the scene and describes some of the shocking and troubling events going on during that time really brings the world to life and puts you right there amongst them all.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – a beautifully written, emotional read that is sure to touch anyone’s heart. A story of love, life, loss, and of one woman’s confession who has experienced it all!!
Much love ❤️
Lizzieslittlebooknook 