Savage Her Reply
Deirdre Sullivan
Illustrated by Karen Vaughan
Little Island Books, October 2020
Hardback, 256 pages, £13.99
ISBN 9781912417643
Savage Her Reply is a captivating tale that delves deeper into the myth ‘The Children of Lir’. It is a book that not only gives you a completely different perspective on the story but also makes you wonder about the lives and motives behind the characters in other legends and fables.
The book is written from the perspective of Aífe, known as the wicked stepmother in the original myth, who turns the innocent children of Lir into swans for nine hundred years. In the original, she is a very flat character who is a simple, evil antagonist. However, in the book, her character is developed and we see her as a tender human being. Aífe tells us about her life from the very beginning; about her family, how and where she grew up, her tragic and joyful experiences, and how her whole life led up to the very moment she placed a curse upon the four children. We also get to discover what became of her after she did it.
It’s a really interesting take on the myth and I love the concept of adapting an ancient legend and writing it from an unexpected character’s perspective. I also really enjoyed that we got to see the reasoning as to why Aífe did such a terrible thing to the faultless children. She is no longer just the horrible, jealous woman that we all thought she was. We see her as a warrior, a survivor – someone who was driven to madness by her own entrapment and abuse.
I truly relished this read. As an Irish person, I also feel very connected to my roots by the story, as many Irish words are used and many other Irish legends referenced, including some that I had never heard of. This book was a learning experience. Deirdre Sullivan really manages to pull the reader into the enchantment and poignancy of the story. It feels like being read an old tale by a familiar voice.
I would recommend this book to those interested by Irish legends and history, as well as those who enjoy a classic moral tale.
Hanna-Rose Sullivan, teen reviewer
Julie Kagawa has succeeded in creating a textured and tangible world overflowing with culture, tradition and history. Destiny and fate are a major focus in the book, an acceptance and willingness to sacrifice themselves if they were destined to do so. As the team travels across various territories on their perilous and violent quest I could truly connect with each individual character. I also really enjoyed the startling contrast between Tatsumi, who is mistrusted and struggles to co-exist with a savage and bloodthirsty demon and Yumeko, who is a hero in every sense of the word, selfless and good. I would highly recommend this book, a great read with some exciting plot twists.
