Ireland is no promised land in 1846. It is wracked by a crippling potato blight, and people are dying. But Valentia McDowell doesn’t know that.
From her father’s prosperous farm in Ohio, young Valentia is haunted by tales of an abandoned family and a lost heirloom. She travels to her grandmother’s homeland with her brother, Conor, and two servants, to find both. Her delight in the exciting … exciting journey on one of the first steam ships to cross the Atlantic is shattered by a horrible tragedy.
What she encounters upon her arrival in Ireland is both more and less than she had hoped. Valentia finds both enemies and allies, amid horrors and delights, and a small bit of magic. She finds a richer heritage than she had ever imagined, but it comes with a price.
When she finally reaches her goal, a terrible price is demanded. She must pay or forfeit, and both decisions have strong consequences for her and her friends.
more
Really enjoyed this unique and compelling, historical story set the U.S. and Ireland.
An enjoyable read I’d recommend to historical fiction fans and readers interested in Irish history and geography.
Relying on the cover the book I was expecting more of a paranormal read but I was pleasantly surprised by the read I discovered. A wealthy American woman, Valentia is drawn to Ireland, the country her grandparents fled. She travels with a small group of people she comes to look upon as friends across the country looking for remaining members of her family and a brooch her grandmother talked about.
The author weaves ancient tales and a touch of the paranormal with an intriguing story that doesn’t flinch away from the hardships and horrors of a starving population due to the potatoe famine, the class structure and womens’ limited role in society and politics at the time.
The strength of the read for me was the artful way old legends were used in the main story line and the vivid descriptions of the scenery. I felt the characters, although distinctive weren’t always as believeable as they could have been.
Overall, a well-researched, very enjoyable and intriguing read.
Legacy of Hunger by Christy Nicholas is the first book in her new series, Druid’s Brooch and what a great historical fiction book. This book has a bit of everything in it, guaranteed to have something for just about every reader from adventure, drama, fantasy, romance, intrigue and even some magic. Following the story of Valentina McDowell, and her searching for answers about her ancestors around the time of the great potato famine that plagued Ireland in the early 1800’s. Valentina doesn’t really know what to expect when she starts on this journey to find her roots, only that she is looking for the brooch that her ancestors had, but the happenstance that occurs along the way gives Valentina the destiny that she wasn’t sure she needed. The deeper that Valentina digs into her families past the more that she learns about who she is as a person and how her life has all been leading up to her finding this brooch. All of the characters that Valentina meets along the way add to her journey in interesting and unique ways, making for a fantastic read filled with depth and fullness that was easy to fall into. The detail of this story was very much appreciated, as it made the story come to life in front of my eyes, and added a whole other element to the story that I wasn’t expected. Nicholas is a new to me author, but I am so glad that I took a chance on this book. This definitely took me out of my usual reading comfort zone, but in the best way possible. Her unique voice was only overshadowed by her ability to bring the reader into her world effortlessly while keeping the story at a strong pace from beginning to end. The research that she did for this book was definitely intense but it didn’t weigh the book down too much either. If you are looking for a great new author, with a series that I can’t wait to finish than this is one that you need to add to your reading list now! I can’t wait to see where this series and future works by Nicholas goes.
Legacy of Hunger by Christy Nicholas
Four Stars
This is my first book by this author. I have to say I enjoyed every part. Valentia should be settling down since its 1846 young girls have little else to do. She has a well off family. Her grandmother use to tell her stories about Ireland and a brooch. This gives her a need to travel and find this heirloom. She has a high cost to pay for all this. The author puts a lot of time in the Irish myths and lore. The story is packed with adventure and history. I love historical stories they make you feel like your in that time period. Valentia is very courageous for stepping out and going on this journey. I don’t see many girls in this time period doing something like this. She is taught to do what’s right and she follows this through the whole book. The history and Celtic aspect is so interesting and it made me want to visit the country even more. The characters made this a even better story.
An excellent story, to say the least, as it weaves the tragic past of the Hunger of Ireland into the narrative. The story revolves around Valentia, a girl of high status in Ohio, decides to embark on a quest to learn more about her family heritage, locate any of her grandmother’s kin, and find out if the mysterious brooch, that appears to be calling to her, is real. Her journey is filled with heartbreak, loss, attacks, betrayal, and eventually self discovery as to what her true path. It’s a beautifully written story that will keep you turning the pages just to see what happens next. I highly recommend this one.
I came into the Druid’s Brooch series later on and I’ve enjoyed ALL the books I’ve read, they’ve stood well on their own. So, in reading this book, I was going back to the beginning.
Valentia McDowell is a young woman in America, circa 1846. Her father has a prosperous farm in Ohio, but Valentia has always been fascinated by stories of her grandmother’s homeland and a mystical brooch her grandmother had. She longs desperately to travel to Ireland.
The story begins in Pittsburgh, with a fire. Valentia proves herself resourceful in caring for her mother and leading their servants to safety, while her father and brother are away seeing to some other business. The author portrays the fear of a fire in an early city where a mass of people are hemmed in with wooden construction very well.
Valentia is a well-to-do young woman of the time, very aware of her station but also kindhearted. I would say downright arrogant at times, but “pride goeth before a fall” and she is definitely humbled, time and again. However, she pitches in to help care for patients who were caught up in the fire and suffer from burns and smoke inhalation.
Finally, Valentia’s mother convinces her father to capitulate and Valentia sets off for Ireland with her brother and servant, Maggie. She can’t wait to begin her grand adventure, but reality of the harshest kind soon sets in. It is a long sea voyage and illness overtakes them. The brother and sister do not make the crossing unscathed.
The book is filled with charming details that set the scene beautifully, “There were tinges of marsh grass and mud, and the faint tang of cow manure on the breeze. The scent was clean, bright, and she relished it.” And sometimes not so lovely details, as when Valentia visits a work house in Ireland, as the potato blight is ongoing.
Valentia makes some good friends in Ireland, who help her on her way, and also meets some people who seem to want to help her, but for their own purposes. Her friends also help open Valentia’s eyes to the hardships the people of Ireland are enduring and entreat her to help as best she can. Though she has lived a fairly sheltered life, Valentia is swift to take up the cause wherever and however she can, as she pursues her own goals. Finding her family in Ireland is not a simple process, and Valentia has many adventures on her journey.
I really enjoyed this book, it was moving and compelling. An excellent historical summer read with just a touch of fantasy. It is full of wonderful imagery,
adventure, a bit of romance, and a few tears too. I highly recommend it, and you’ll just be starting the journey as there are many more books in the series.
1846 Ireland was more than an adventure!
Enthralled by her Irish grandmothers’ stories of family and faeries, and the ornate drawing of a lost brooch, Valentia McDowell has always wanted to visit Ireland find the brooch and meet the family that was left behind when her grandmother immigrated to America. She finally has a chance to make the journey, accompanied by her younger brother Coran, and they board a steamship for the ocean voyage accompanied by their servant Maggie and Brendan. The journey is much different than she had envisioned and Valentia encounters storms, illness, death, and the Irish Potato Famine in her quest.
“Legacy of Hunger” was the first book I’ve read by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had everything I like in historical novels; some mystery, a little magic, romance, danger, and action. Christy Nicholas weaves it all together in an excellent tale that grabbed my attention from the first page right through to the ending. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series to see where the author takes the magical aspect.
Okay, i confess, i don’t read many romance stories. The idea of some sort of adventure was hinted so decided to give it a try. 🙂
Valentia and her brother set out on a quest to locate a family heirloom. We learn a lot about the travels in those early days. Our author does appear to know Ireland and a history of the great potato famine.
Note, this is not an adventure story. There are times of peril but no narratives of heroic battles, just interesting places and roads with charming and not so charming villages.
If I read it, it was excellent !!!!! I READ IT. JAK,jr.
I’m no expert on Ireland or its history, but the author writes with such vivid descriptions of the land and its story that I assume she is! Beautifully crafted character development, with hardship, angst, grief romance all in the mix.
Definitely grab yourself a copy.
Legacy of Hunger is historical fiction with a hint of celtic mysticism, and a great read. The story is told from the viewpoint of America upper-class lady Valentia who has a strong urge to return to the childhood home of her grandmother in Ireland. Her journey across the Atlantic brings her unexpected challenges and leads her to question many assumptions.
As an Irish reader, depictions of Ireland in fiction can sometimes be cringe-worthy, but Legacy of Hunger manages to give a really good sense of the social history and the political climate of the time, as well as a great sense of place. Valentia travels to Ireland in the midst of the great famine and, despite her wealth and status, is not spared from some of the consequences.
The setting does not overtake the story, and I found myself rooting for these characters. Plus an extra hats off to the author for bringing the Irish language into her story.
What an intrepid woman for the time period!
I was intrigued by the premise for this book. The dialogue and narrative were well done; the author did a good job depicting the historical language. The main character, Valentia, had some amazing introspection that went far beyond her youthful years.
She was an intrepid woman for the time period. To set out on such a journey to a new land had to be downright frightening and she dealt with the adversity in a mature manner.
I did think some of the story moved slowly. There was an extraordinary amount of time spent on the ship crossing the ocean. Once in Ireland, things picked up a bit, and the author did a great job through the character, of showing the details and setting.
This is one of those books that makes you feel as if it comes together as a perfect whole – like when you’re watching a period drama on TV and all the details collaborate to create an overall seamless impression of that particular time. From the language to the speech to the descriptions of the surroundings and the people, I felt as if this book really takes you from the US to Victorian age Ireland. The book has a nice and easy plot that pulls in just enough intrigue to keep you riveted, not only to the quest for the elusive family brooch but also to the development of the characters. Overall, there is perhaps just a tad too much chasing around at one bit and I wonder at some of the characters’ actions at times, but overall this is a great read for those looking for folklore intertwined with myth where the focus is not on romance but rather lies with the story of the characters.
This historical novel is well researched and the author is able to bring to life the real hardships of the time. I was originally drawn to the story because of the magical element and was a little disappointed that this wasn’t as prominent as I’d hoped. But as an historical romance, gently paced, with meticulous descriptions and well researched events, this is a good read
A beautiful story that whisks you straight into history and the green hills of Ireland. The plot pacing was spot on and the characters were fully developed and relatable, even though based in a time long ago. I am a sucker for historical fiction and this fell into my lap at a wonderful time. I loved this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended.
4 Stars
Legacy of Hunger is the first book in the Druid’s Brooch Series by Christy Nicholas. This is a historical fiction story that has adventure, drama, fantasy, romance, magic, friendship, and intrigue. I loved how the author wove the story around the actual potato famine that plagued Ireland in the 1800’s. The story a is really well written and polished piece of work that also appears to have been thoroughly researched, with meticulous attention to detail.
I loved watching Valentina develop and grow as the story unfolded, who we meet at the beginning of the book is entirely different from the person we’re following at the end. All the characters are really well developed and interesting- I enjoyed meeting all the secondary characters who really added to the whole story .
I felt that the story was a little slow to get going, and it took me a while to ‘get into it’- but once the pace picked up I found that I was pulled into the story more and started to really enjoy the journey.
An interesting Tale!
Thank you, Ms. Nicholas!
Legacy of Hunger is the first in the Druid’s Brooch Series by Christy Nicholas. The title caught my eye as I have always been interested in the Druid’s, it’s a big part of the history where I live. This book took me on a different journey as the book focuses on the magical Druid’s of Ireland which is something I have never really looked into and it makes me want to read so much more. This book is an amazing start to a series, straight away you are captivated. Even though the era is over 100 years ago the author somehow makes it relatable to now.
Valentina McDowell is such a lovable character, she has this yearning she cannot explain, this need to travel and discover her heritage. Valentina has plans to go on a discovery of her family’s past in Ireland, just before the family are due to depart a fire erupts and destroys Valentina’s plans. Unable to shake this urge she does not give up hope on getting there.
I would highly recommend this book!!
Legacy of Hunger: Druid’s Brooch Series by Christy Nicholas is an awesome 5-Star period book.
I love period books and also books that tell background and history to the country they are set in. All of the mythical stories told in the book about Ireland drew me in and there was so much happening I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
I liked Valentina’s character so much, she is rich and naive but also compassionate and determined. As she is on this journey to find a family heirloom and meet other family members, she learns many different things about the real world, the world is not as she thought, it is beautiful but can be very ugly at the same time.
I absolutely loved this author’s writing style and story telling abilities. This is my first book by her and I can’t wait to read more. I loved the magic and the feel of the old world. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes period style stories.
Legacy of Hunger: Druid’s Brooch Series: #1 by Christy Nicholas is a historical novel with a tiny dash of fantasy. I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more of a magical element. Christy has set the scene well and you could see and feel the devastation of Ireland and it’s people in the midst of the potato famine in one of the most turbulent historical periods in time. Whilst I found the story interesting I felt it lacked something, what that something is for me, I am unsure, perhaps it was the lack of more, more celtic and fantasy elements? It could just be that I am not really a historical lover. Having said that it was well written and I truly felt for these people and what they went through. Christy is a good writer and I am sure there are many that will love this story.
4 Star
Legacy of Hunger : Druid’s Brooch Series #1 By Christy Nichols is the first book her Druid’s Brooch series. This is my first Book by this author and I am looking forward to reading more from her.I enjoyed this story of Valentia and the journey she goes on in search of her heritage Which she never expected. She finds herself going to Ireland in search for a heirloom and stories that are haunted by her family.
What she finds is not what she expected. At what price will she pay to find answers shes looking for?Valentia is a strong woman .who’sset out on a journey .She definitely overcame a lot from the beginning to the end. I recommend this Book especially if you want to know what happens.