M. Maureen O'Callaghan

I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

I was captivated from the beginning. I was not expecting everything to be factual so I had no problem with not being certain which parts were true and which not. I can remember as a child listening to relatives from Ireland. I grew up being afraid that I would hear the cry of a banshee. I knew who she was and what her cry meant. I heard other tales, too. I was constantly on the look out for fairy folk and knew that leprechauns were hiding whenever I saw a rainbow. I have grown older but still believe with the heart of a child. Perhaps this is the reason that I was able to fall completely under the spell of the author. I had no trouble following the storytelling. I found everyone believable, especially when you look through the lens of yesteryear. I think if you try to understand Constanza’s parents, and their reaction to a certain event, by holding to standards of today, you may believe they are falsely portrayed. It is important to remember what time period the story takes place in. Even today, though, when a person feels they failed to protect someone, sometimes you will find they shift the blame to the victim. For me, the story worked. The author did a great job transporting me to 19 century Ireland. I did not want to put the book down and when the end came, I wished for more. I know this is a book I will read again.… (altro)