by Ariel Lawhon
First published 2026
Grace O'Malley grows up learning the ways of the sea from her father, chief of clan O'Malley, but her noble birth demands a different path. When her father arranges her marriage to Donhal, a neighboring chief, Grace finds herself trapped in a union that pulls her from the waters she loves. She bears children and supports her volatile husband's battles against rival clans, never abandoning her maritime dreams. After Donhal's death leaves her exiled from his lands, Grace returns home and embraces piracy fully. She claims new territories and discovers deeper love, building a fleet and reputation that spreads across the Irish coast. But English forces push into Ireland, targeting Grace's operations and threatening her family's safety. As the Elizabethan regime tightens its grip, Grace must choose between her growing power and the people she's sworn to protect. Lawhon captures both the wild beauty of sixteenth-century Ireland and the violence of an era when survival meant fighting for every advantage.
Genres: romance, historical, historical-fiction, adventure
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Ireland, Irish Coast
Period: 16th Century, Elizabethan Era
528 pages · Hardcover · Doubleday
Content warnings: violence