What a fabulous book. I have read many of the author’s books but this one is by far the best. Telling Grace’s story in 3 stages from childhood, through motherhood and towards the end of her life. The writing is beautiful and I couldn’t wait to catch up with Grace every time I was free to read. I’m not afraid to say I had a lump in my throat at the end. Highly recommended.

Completely different to 'A Frozen River' except for the strong female matriarch.

Adventurous and fun! Shifts around in time but easily puzzled together to create a detailed description of Grace O Malley's life.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I really loved this book. The writing was so good and made the history, time period, characters, and legend come to life. The triple timeline made it a little hard to follow at times, but came together in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Readers copy of a The Pirate Queen!

Alice Lawhon has a way of bringing history to life that never feels like you’re being taught a lesson - you’re completely immersed in it. Grace O’Malley was such a compelling woman to read about, and I found myself constantly wanting to know what she would do next.

I know the non-linear timeline won’t be for everyone, but I actually thought it added to the mystery. Rather than laying everything out in order, the story slowly pieces itself together, making every new revelation feel that bit more satisfying.

The amount of research behind this book is obvious, but it never overshadows the story. The historical detail enriches every chapter without slowing the pace, and I finished feeling like I’d experienced a remarkable life rather than simply read about it.

This is thoughtful, layered, and asks you to pay attention - but it gives so much back in return. The characters feel authentic, the setting is vivid, and the emotional moments hit surprisingly hard.

As an Irish person I should have known more about Grace O’Malley, but other than her name and a vague idea of who she was I really didn’t know very much at all. This book was captivating from the first pages where we meet Grace as a child. I was immediately drawn into her story. The author made me care about the character and her fate, as all great writers do. I devoured this book in a matter of days and highly recommend it to anyone who likes strong female characters, historical fiction or Irish stories! Thank you Swift Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this fantastic novel!

Inspired by the life of the legendary Grace O'Malley, this is an engaging blend of historical fiction and adventure that brings sixteenth-century Ireland vividly to life.

Grace was a fascinating protagonist. From her childhood fascination with the sea to her rise as one of Ireland's most formidable leaders, I loved following her journey through every stage of her life. She is courageous, fiercely independent and deeply devoted to both her family and her people, making her easy to admire without ever feeling unrealistically perfect. I especially appreciated that the novel explored not only her reputation as the infamous Pirate Queen, but also the personal sacrifices and difficult choices that shaped her along the way.

The historical setting was one of the book's greatest strengths. The political tensions between Ireland and England, the clan rivalries and the importance of the sea all created a rich backdrop that felt incredibly immersive. It's clear that a tremendous amount of research went into the novel, but it never felt overwhelming. Instead, the historical details blended naturally into the story and made Grace's world feel authentic and alive.

One aspect that took a little time to adjust to was the non-linear timeline. The story moves between different periods of Grace's life, gradually revealing how the pieces fit together. While I enjoyed seeing her story unfold in this way, it did require my full attention, especially with the large cast of characters. Once I settled into the structure, though, I found it rewarding and appreciated how each timeline added new depth to Grace's character.

The supporting cast also added a lot to the story, with friendships, family relationships and loyal companions making Grace's journey feel even more compelling. Their presence brought both warmth and emotional weight to the larger historical events unfolding around them.

Overall, The Pirate Queen is a beautifully researched and compelling historical novel about an extraordinary woman whose legacy deserves to be remembered. With its rich historical atmosphere, memorable heroine and engaging storytelling, it's an excellent choice for readers who enjoy character-driven historical fiction inspired by real lives.

The Pirate Queen is a richly researched and utterly captivating piece of historical fiction that brings one of history's most extraordinary women vividly to life.

Ariel Lawhon has a real talent for blending meticulous historical detail with compelling storytelling, and Grace O'Malley emerges as a fierce, intelligent and deeply human protagonist. The novel is packed with political intrigue, adventure and moments of quiet resilience, making it feel both epic in scope and emotionally intimate.

I especially appreciated how immersive the setting was. The windswept Irish coastline and the turbulent political landscape felt incredibly vivid, and it was clear how much care had gone into the research without ever overwhelming the narrative.

The pacing occasionally slowed in the middle, but the powerful final act more than made up for it.

A beautifully written, empowering historical novel that will delight fans of strong female protagonists and immersive historical fiction. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this. Grace/Grainne is such a fascinating character. This novel splits her life story into three parts - Maiden (childhood and youth) to Mother (from age twenty) to Matriarch (from her mid-fifties to her death). It is third person narration and while much of it is from Grace's/Grainne's POV, we also get to see other characters' perspectives showing what the people around her - friends and foes - thought of her. We always get one chapter from each timeline before circling back around. This way of telling the story worked perfectly. Telling her entire life story in one 500-page novel meant it had to be somewhat episodic and anecdotal, skipping over certain events - sometimes entire years - between the chapters in each timeline. But visiting the two other timelines in between made that skipping feel less jarring. I do kind of want to reread it in chronological order - all the Maiden chapters, then all the Mother chapters, then all the Matriarch chapters. Maybe I will do so once release day comes and I can get my very own final copy of the book.
It is a little confusing at first that so many characters have the same names - but they are historical figures and it can't be helped that that is what they were called. The family tree in the front was really helpful for that, and I did go back to that to get the characters straight in my head once they'd all been introduced after a few chapters.

Thank you to the publisher, Swift Press, for providing a review copy via NetGalley. This review reflects my honest opinion.