shortlisted for Book of the Month selection
Fictional Saga / Fantasy
19th Century / 1846
Ireland
Druid’s Brooch Series Book 1
Legacy of Hunger:
Druid’s Brooch Series Book 1 takes readers on
an unforgettable quest from the shores of 1846 America to the distressed Irish
countryside of Valentina McDowell’s ancestors. Driven by her mother’s legends and a desire to find an old family
brooch, Valentina finds early on in her quest that she will discover friendship
and come to realize the betrayal of enemies. She will see beauty and face
tragedy. Guided by her mystical visions,
Valentina’s journey is filled with joy and sorrow as each step of the quest
prepares her for what awaits at the end.
Nicholas does an excellent job developing the story by
painting detailed descriptions of the characters themselves, their past, and their
present. Readers also feel the intensity
of the characters’ personalities through the descriptive images of the ship’s
voyage across the sea and of the Irish villages and countryside. Nicholas stays
true to the history of 19th century Ireland. She uses this history,
as well as the legends from the ancients to provide readers with a real-world
sense of Valentina’s adventures.
As I experienced Valentina’s journey to find the
answers to the mysteries that haunted her from childhood, I thought of a time
when my own father told me the story of his grandmother who came to America as
an indentured servant during the An Gorta Mór – The Great Hunger. He told the
story of how she met my great-grandfather while working off her servitude in a
well-known Colorado bar. As I read
Nicholas’ story, I realized that the legacy of hunger is a legacy that affects
generations of people even into the 21st century.
Although Nicholas provides closure in the last chapter
and epilogue, the happily or not so happily ever after resolutions of the
individual character stories left me with deeper questions. It is my hope to see future novels that
develop some of these characters' journeys.
Legacy of Hunger is the story of the Irish people who suffered during
the Great Hunger. It is the story of how
Valentina McDowell journeys to find her strength, courage, and inner soul by
overcoming the challenges to complete a quest that reveals her destiny.
© Cathy Smith
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