Book Review: Into the Storm by Cecelia Ahern
A storm lies ahead of her. Freedom lies beyond it.
It is a wild night in the middle of December, and GP Enya is crouched over a teenage boy, performing CPR in the freezing rain. She found him on a mountain road near Dublin, the victim of a hit-and-run.
The boy survives, but Enya goes to pieces. She leaves her husband, her son, and everything she knows to start a new life in remote rural Ireland.
But even in the quiet of Abbeydooley, beneath the boughs of an ancient tree, Enya is still haunted by that night in the rain. Can the stories of strangers and a land steeped in legend lay the ghosts of her past to rest? Or will the storm she’s outrunning finally catch up with her?
Published by HarperCollins Publishers Australia
Released 10 October 2024
My Thoughts:Cecelia Ahern’s Into the Storm is a raw and emotional exploration of trauma, resilience, and the transformative power of nature. Enya, a GP, finds herself at the epicentre of a life-altering event when she saves the life of a teenage boy on a stormy night. This harrowing experience becomes a catalyst for her to break free from her unhappy marriage, seeking solace in the remote Irish countryside as a rural GP.
Cecelia Ahern masterfully weaves a tapestry of grief, guilt, and the search for meaning. From the beginning, it is apparent that Enya is hiding something, perhaps even more than one thing. She’s emotionally fraught, her reactions to the accident and the injured young man, whilst understandable, were also extreme. Her distress over what has happened and the subsequent move away from her family lead her to a prickly start in her new home, a tiny rural Irish village. I enjoyed this aspect of the story though, everything to do with the village and its inhabitants was so quaintly and wryly Irish, it was good reading and very entertaining.
The exploration of Irish folklore and mythology through the rag tree added and element of depth and intrigue, Enya’s initial rage at the tree giving way to an understanding of its deeper meaning, and in turn, an inner discovery of self and getting down to the bones of the grief she was carrying for her mother and its intertwining with her fears for her own mortality. I felt that Enya was an incredibly complex character and the unhinged and extreme volatility of her emotions and actions all slid into place as the novel progressed and I was left feeling an immense sense of compassion and understanding for her.
While the novel delves into profound themes, it never loses sight of its characters’ humanity. Enya’s vulnerability is both relatable and inspiring, making her a compelling protagonist. The supporting cast, though limited, is well-developed and contributes to the overall richness of the story.
Into the Storm is a poignant exploration of healing and rebirth. Cecelia Ahern’s evocative storytelling and richly drawn characters create a compelling narrative that lingers long after the final page.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
