First things first, the formatting on this e-arc was HORRENDOUS. Luckily I persevered because I loved this. Wonderfully written, fun and adventurous. I can't wait til my niece is a little bit older because I know she will adore this!

I really enjoyed this story about a teenage girl facing a lonely time at school and bullying. Suddenly she is faced with a giant who gives her a stone. As the story progresses she will have links to the old magic of folklore and be given a quest to save The Silver Road and the world from the evil Balor and his witch wife. Helped by a magical Irish Elk and hammer and aided by Queen Maeve, a demi god, and an army of wolves amongst others Rosa and her nemesis must over come the darkness risk everything and trust each other in order to survive.
Another great tale from Sinead O'Hart with a glimmer of the Susan Coopers about it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

I really enjoyed this book and overall I would give it a solid 3.5 stars!

A sweet story about believe and friendship and Irish Folklore with a really strong message of conserving nature. I really enjoyed this book. I liked Rose a lot, the only problem I had was that she didn't really do much. For most of the book we were waiting for the action to start and then in the final battle at the end, she mostly just sat on the side-lines and watched except for a things.

Other than that, I don't really have a bad word to say about this book. I loved the Irish folklore and the emphasis on sharing and telling the old folklore. I loved the Not- Cat with it's little fern ears and the stag that came in a the end. I think there's a lot in this that kids would be interested in.

Read for Irish culture, a strong environmental message and cute animals.

An intriguing story of courage, magic and friendship. The Silver Road is a modern tale which introduces the reader to the myths and legends of Irish fokelore, as we follow a young girl literally trying to save the world!

A lovely story for young and older readers alike.

This was a really enjoyable middle grade fantasy - it tends to the darker end of things in terms of dealing with mythology and bullying in a contemporary setting, but it's full of wonder and hope and a real feeling of Irishness. I liked main character Rose, and thought the whole thing felt very classic in tone, in a similar (but younger) vein to The Dark is Rising, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, or The Power of Three.

I fell in love with the cover and then with the plot. It fascinated me, kept me hooked and entertained.
Wonderful world building, well plotted and great characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Another banger of a book! I docked half a star cause it takes a little while to get going but the set up is still great and the second half is all action! I love a fairytale or myth retelling and this is a new one to me, though I recognise parts from other stories I’ve come across which is cool. The way the myth folds into the story worked really well, especially as Rose is largely learning about it with us.

I loved Rose, and could feel her isolation with friends at a different school and a busy family. And Emer getting affected was so nicely done too :)

Definitely a good addition to all my fave retellings and one I will come back to. 4.5 stars.

I’m a fan of myths, and this is my first time reading an Irish myth. I’ll say that this book live to my expectations! There’s magic, bravery, kindness and friendship.
The story is about a girl, who suddenly trusted with a great weapon to defeat Balor & Cethleen, the old gods & his wife. Her new friends, Nellie & Gracie turns out to be a guardian for the magic that flows over their country. When the magic weakens, Rose knows she has to do something to save everything she loves.
I think the author did a great job in teling the story, detailing some of my fave places like Nellie’s kitchen! And also Catshee! There wasn’t any boring scenes for me, and it’s quite full of adventures and battles. I think the young readers will find this book fascinating.
There’s an exchange between Emer & Rose that I really like,
‘But why you, though? What makes you special?’ (Emer)
‘Maybe nothing does. I’m not any more special than you are, right? But that doesn’t mean we’re not important.’ (Rose)

Well, from the blurb of this I expected a story that would shunt traditional Irish myth into the modern age – or the other way round. The author certainly succeeds. We start with Rose, newly in a grammar school and getting bullied by Ms Popular for having been brought up on the wrong side of town, and going to an inferior feeder school. Only there by scholarship, her lessons include Irish language and history, of course – but a lot of that will come to most vivid life when a barrage of freak hail leads to a snow giant forming in her back garden, who promptly hands her a special stone. I would suspect that any potential reader of this will either not mind what stone this is, or have a good guess at where it's from and why in the first place. All we really need to know is, the battles for existence between frost giants, witches and similar hugely elemental characters, are all about to get a sequel…

First, I was enjoying this until we saw the mystical reality behind two older people that have befriended Rose – them being so powered behind the scenes if you like was a bit too clunky. And in a sense this is a decade or more too late – I thought the issue with Ireland these days, since the crunch, was that it could not develop anything, and here there is an eco lesson of development and its interference with the Silver Road, a kind of ley-line styled safety net of magic keeping the place protected. Digging up everything, including what forms our prehistoric myth, is a bad thing, it seems.

Another potential hindrance was the number of Irish-language names and terms – they aren't on every page, but they did seem to be in too much use to begin with, and while we were told we could look them up at the back that still means flicking through more than one addendum to see which one they're in. So this sounds like a sniffy review, finding fault everywhere, right?

Well there is more than enough to counter those flaws – even the one I cannot mention for spoilers. This is vivid stuff, taking us from the classroom and the dining table at home to the heart of these myths, where we see and feel opponents clashing, the elements at play, the earth itself rending. It's a book wanting to bring the drama and viscerality of these stories to life, and it achieves that hands down. It's a praise of thanks to the stories that have gone before, but it certainly doesn't ignore the fact it's got to be a story for the 2020s as well, showing real life kids stumbling their way through the violence and soil and blood stains of Eire of old.

All told it might be a touch awkward for some – those Irish terms and pronunciations again. But the eager reader will be well rewarded, for many books try to match the mundane with the fantastical and seldom get it as rich as here. Just think how many lead characters in these books find themselves stuck with a legendary mission to undertake because of some random bit of inheritance or other McGuffin. Here Rose is part of her mission because, in Ireland and other similarly lucky places, facing the glorious past is inevitable. A strong four stars.

Well, it's finally happened. The Eye of the North has been replaced as my favourite book.
I always knew it would take something really quite special to win that place in my heart, and The Silver Road is the one. It's an extraordinary story full of magic and wonder and heart.

Now, before we continue, I'd like to take a moment to clear up some debate that was on Twitter X this morning. It doesn't matter what Rachel Delahaye says, I'm Sinéad's biggest fan. And as soon as I heard about The Silver Road, there was something about it that just sounded special, but my high expectations were still absolutely blown away by what I read when I got a review copy.

So what makes it so special? This story has the feel of a story that has been waiting for the right time for it to be told, by the right storyteller. Yes, I absolutely adore Sinéad's debut novel, The Eye of the North, but this isn't a story that a debut novelist could have told. There's such richness, complexity and depth here that it needed to wait until Sinéad had a few novels under her belt, it had to wait while she learnt her craft, developing magical worlds with The Eye of the North and The Star-Spun Web, weaving in comtemporary settings with The Time Tider, and then bringing all of that experience together to create The Silver Road.

I can feel so many of the influences Sinéad has talked about on her Storyshaped Podcast. (If you haven't heard her waxing lyrical about Alan Garner's Elidor, please go check that episode out, and then all of the others!) Alan Garner's influence runs deep here, as, like Elidor, The Silver Road is a story about magic from another world seeping into ours. It's not really a portal to another, magical world story so much as a Garneresque barriers breaking down story. Pat O'Shea, who's The Hounds of the Morrigan was a blend of the domestic and the ancient Celtic magic, feels like another significant building block.

This isn't to say that it isn't original, because it is, there's a new, powerful story in here, but one that knows and loves the older tales. Because that's the magic of stories. We take what came before and we look at it in new ways and we tell the tales of old in our own voices. And that's exactly what The Silver Road does. It even adds new Celtic heroes into the mix, with the Mac Tire fitting in perfectly alongside longer established figures like Cethlenn and Balor. And that's the thing about the oral tradition, that's what it was, people shaping stories, realigning them, adding new parts that fit and taking parts out that no longer worked.

It's a quintessentially Irish book too. It's a book about old Ireland and it's a book about new Ireland, and it's a book about how they can sometimes clash, how they can have their differences, but also about how intricately woven together the two still are. Ireland is a land where the magic and the mythology is still just below the surface, never forgotten though occasionally built over. Alan Garner couldn't have written this. Sinéad O’Hart did, and I'm glad. it's so uniquely hers, so steeped in the magic of Ireland, and the charm of its people and its language and its mythology.

It's full of magic and mythology, but one of the things I loved most about The Silver Road were actually the more grounded, domestic scenes. There's one where Rose, the central character, this young girl who chooses to be a chosen one, is sitting at the dinner table. She's in trouble with her mam and waiting for her dad to get home. Her twin brothers are grizzling away and she's anxiously waiting for this telling off that she knows has been coming for days. It really captures the real life struggles that Rose is going through and contrasts them beautifully with the wonder and awe of the magic now entering her life.

And there's Gracie and Nellie, the mysterious, comforting heart of the story. Their kitchen is one of those places I just wish was real, and that I could sit there for an hour and listen to them.

The Silver Road. I's exceptional. A masterpiece. It feels like this is the story Sinéad has been waiting I don't know how long to tell. It feels like a story only she could tell. It feels like my new favourite story.

THE SILVER ROAD is an engaging Middle Grade weaving Irish mythology into the modern world in a tale of good against evil.

There has been increased interest in mythology-filled books for children in the last ten years, where instead of retelling the tales set in their original time periods, the magic and monsters are brought into the modern day, and the children have to be the heroes. THE SILVER ROAD does this with Irish mythology.

It's a short book but it brings so many myths to life, weaving them into the story. I loved how these references that might only appear for a few pages really helped give an impression of just how large the body of Irish mythology is - one that's given far less prominence than, say, that of the Ancient Greeks. It's a great way to get kids aware of it and interested to learn more. The glossary/myth crib sheet at the end is also another great way to start kids off on that journey too.

It's also a story of friendship as two girls who do not get on learn to trust and rely on one another after discovering what makes them similar. The intense magical events works as a nice catalyst to speed up what would, in real life, likely be a much longer process, allowing for a more intense emotional arc between the girls.

Sinead O'Hart is a great writer of this type of book. Echoes of Neil Gaiman but also entirely her own. Definately one to add to our bookcase.

Firstly - the formatting for this galley was very difficult to read with breaks in paragraphs at random intervals. This absolutely affected my engagement with the book and I ended up skimming and rereading sections because it was so tough to follow. I did email and request a revision but no response so unsure - hopefully final copy will be fine!

Secondly - the story itself. The tale is well told, mixing Irish mythology with the story of a young girl, struggling with bullying and her worries about her own family and stability, entrusted with safeguarding something straight out of legend. On the way she meets new friends, confronts her own fears and family, and learns to trust herself. It leans heavily into fantasy with night time adventures, time stopping, creatures straight out of myth, and mysterious guardians but this is juxtaposed with very real life concerns: school, stability, relationships.

The narrative is compelling, with a strong environmentalist heart, and I loved the Irish mythology-details at the back for anyone not familiar. Also, extra points for an adorable animal companion!

This is a fast paced magical adventure that draws extensively on Irish folklore. For many of us, who aren't familiar with these myths, the book provides a wonderful opportunity to learn more about them. And it is the Silver Road that weaves the mythical stories together.

It all starts when 13 year old Rose is given an enchanted stone by a Frost Giant and entrusted with the task of thwarting the plans of the evil god Balor. This, on top of the fact that Rose already has to deal with being a scholarship student at school where she doesn't really fit in, and has parents who are kept busy with work and looking after her twin baby brothers.

Not that that's the only challenge that Rose is dealing with - she also has to avoid reacting to the machinations of Emer, a girl whose father very inconveniently happens to be in an influential position wrt Rose's family.

The battle scenes in the book are epic, and the story features an excellent ensemble cast, who do a great job of supporting Rose in her various adventures. Gracie and Nellie (and ultimately, even Emer), along with Rose's other magical allies, play in their part well in this thrilling story. All in all, worth a read.

I found this book a bit slowly paced at the start but overall it is quite exciting and a good introduction to Irish mythology. I thought the invented character of Mac Tire was very well suited to the Irish canon.

I would say that family and school life are well depicted in the book and the bullying actions by Emer ring all too true although I think her character and motives could have been fleshed out a bit.. There are hints of Emer having a less happy home life than Rose and I would have liked a bit more detail about that.

Rose is the character with the greatest depth - a likeable and resilient youngster and I enjoyed her adventures. I think a lot of readers would wish to have friends like Nellie and Gracie and I would think that these characters might encourage readers to find out a bit more about the black cauldron, the shaping and the Dagda etc.

I like the description of the silver road and the flowers the light touch warnings about the destruction of the natural environment. I was surprised to find out what the "not cat" actually was - I have seen the skeletons of these animals (no spoilers) and they are indeed magnificent.

I quite enjoyed the book but somehow it lacked a little magic for me. I would not read it again and would not read any sequels.

Based on Irish folklore, this is a tale of magic and adventure. When Rose is given a powerful stone by a Frost Giant, she must make sure that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands and work out how to use it to save The Silver Road - a magical road that runs throughout Ireland, holding everything together. But when the school bully gets her hands on the stone, how will Rose get it back and defeat the bad magic that is on its way?

This was a lovely read, introducing the reader to a wealth of Irish folklore. The descriptions of the magical beings and the world that they inhabit, mixed with the modern world, draw the reader in to the heart of the story.

A great read for upper key stage 2.

Rose Darke has recently started a new school on a scholarship, resulting in her being bullied, but her mum and dad both work long hours, and she has twin baby brothers!  So, when the most amazing thing happens to her resulting in something she can't quite believe there isn't anyone she can tell.

Taking the long way to school has made Rose two unusual friends and she finds they are very good listeners! As she discovers the magic hidden throughout Ireland and her town’s importance in what she thought was a world of legend, Rose is joined by a most unexpected ally as they fight to restore both good and evil to their rightful place.

Author Sinéad O'Hart has painted a magical landscape where real life runs alongside a magical existence with guardians in place to keep everything running smoothly. In addition to the fantasy, environmental concerns, the strains of everyday life, and the pressure children are under to conform, are all included, but not in a preachy way and instead are dealt with, sympathetically and, for the most part, realistically.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bonnier Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is an enjoyable middle-grade book with a strong message.

The Silver Road is a beautifully written tale of young Rose and her adventure involving Celtic mythology.
The story is really well written, drawing you in quickly and making you fall in love with Rose. The characters feel life-like and there is a real sense of who they are.
Great book for children, probably ages 10+. Some of the Irish words are difficult to pronounce but there's a really helpful guide at the back to help with pronunciation and meaning which I thought was great and really helped me out!
Great read!

Sinéad O’Hart has already written a number of highly enjoyable MG books. However I am a sucker for stories that combine contemporary characters with traditional mythology, so this one has to be my absolute favourite. This is the sort of book that Alan Garner might have written if he had been Irish, and it is a real stunner. Although this is a formula that has been repeated many times over the years, there is most certainly room on the shelves for another, when it is of this quality. Its strong Irish heritage, which is a little less common in children’s books over here, is an added bonus, It has both contemporary themes, sensitively handled, and an underlying implication that the ‘old magic’ is still buried somewhere deep beneath us, in the depths of our landscape, but also in our very selves. I also learned a great deal of fascinating stuff about Irish life and legend that I know less well that other traditions/mythologies. I must find out and read more, All this is not to mention the story being an engrossing, hyper-exciting read. This book is a glorious, indulgent triumph. I loved it,

I will hope to write a much fuller review/appreciation on my children’s book blog magicfictionsincepotter.blogspot.com when the book comes out in September and I can enjoy it all over again on paper.