Miserere by Caren J Werlinger
First published, 2012
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The story follows Irish sisters, Orla and Catríona, who are sold into human bondage by their father in exchange for land, and sent to a plantation in Virginia, shortly after the Irish potato famine.
Meanwhile, young Connemara is growing up in 1968. When her father goes MIA in Vietnam, Conn, her brother and mother, up stakes to go to the old family homestead in West Virginia. As the story unfolds, Conn becomes more and more connected to her ancestor, Catríona Ní Faolain, and the curse that has haunted the family for a couple of hundred years.
This is, without a doubt, my favourite book I’ve read this year. An absolute joy from start to finish. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. That’s right, I swooned. Beautifully written with wonderful characters and a satisfying ending. I felt it completely, and can’t wait to read more from this author.
A must read.
Petrina Binney - Author 