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Savage Her Reply
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A dark, feminist retelling of The Children of Lir told in Sullivan's hypnotic prose. A retelling of the favourite Irish fairytale The Children of Lir. Aife marries Lir, a king with four children by his previous wife. Jealous of his affection for his children, the witch Aife turns them into swans for 900 years. Retold through the voice of Aife, Savage Her Reply is unsettlin
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Astonishingly beautiful and moving. Gorgeously written. Showing tender and fierce regard for all aspects of human experience, for history and what history does to us, for religions and what religions do for and to us. Deirdre Sullivan grows stronger with every book. She is one of the few writers whose work I will take up, knowing nothing about it but the name of the author.
An incredible, moving work of art. I adore this book, everything about it. It's a stunning retelling, it's elaborate and detailed, dark and brutal. Deirdre is an amazing writer and everyone should read this. Aife's voice is raw and powerful, and comes alive with Deirdre's rich and beautiful prose. It's enthralling. I love it. 5 stars are not enough.
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A retelling of the famous Irish legend, The Children of Lir, in which an evil stepmother turns four children into swans to get revenge on their father. Aífe, the central character in Sullivan's version, is much more complex than simply an 'evil stepmother', and suffers torment because of her crimes. Sullivan has experimented before with reworking fairytales in her wonderful collection, Tangleweed and Brine. Each short piece in that collection reads like a prose-poem: exquisitely wrought and care
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Brutal and magnificent. Full review to come.
One of the most intriguing, unique fantasies and beautifully written fantasies I've read in a long time.
Deirdre Sullivan's writing is poetic and brutal, intoxicating and dark. This book felt like it should have been written back in the days when the classic fairytales we know and love were first born (in such a magnificent way). Like, I genuinely feel as though in fifty years time, Disney is going to be animating this as a 'reimagining of Deirdre Sullivan's classic tale' with sweet swan songs a ...more
Deirdre Sullivan's writing is poetic and brutal, intoxicating and dark. This book felt like it should have been written back in the days when the classic fairytales we know and love were first born (in such a magnificent way). Like, I genuinely feel as though in fifty years time, Disney is going to be animating this as a 'reimagining of Deirdre Sullivan's classic tale' with sweet swan songs a ...more
This book took me by surprise in the best possible way. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it at first, but then I found myself falling in love with the author's use of language. The writing is outstanding - lyrical and poetic, each word feels necessary and wields a subtle power. I found myself getting emotional a few times and had to slow down, so I wouldn't finish reading it too quickly. One of the most beautiful myth re-tellings I've ever read.
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I was drawn to read this having never heard of the Irish tale The Children of Lir and I was intrigued by the Gaelic names and words. I'm planning to read Tangleweed and Brine, a collection of shorter retold stories by the same author as well.
I loved the structure of the book, the italicised pages preceding some chapters that narrate a classic version of the tale, followed by the author's chapter which provides greater depth and is told from the point of view of Aife, the middle sister, married o ...more
I loved the structure of the book, the italicised pages preceding some chapters that narrate a classic version of the tale, followed by the author's chapter which provides greater depth and is told from the point of view of Aife, the middle sister, married o ...more
Fierce and wild and lovely - an inspired and passionate retelling of the ancient tale of the Children of Lir.
Not only is the writing superlative, the book is a beautiful object; handsomely bound and beautifully illustrated by Karen Vaughan.
A book to treasure.
Not only is the writing superlative, the book is a beautiful object; handsomely bound and beautifully illustrated by Karen Vaughan.
A book to treasure.
The Children of Lir as you've never heard it before. Dark and beautiful, rich with Irish myth, Ogham calligrams between every chapter, and poetry in the prose. Not one to be rushed.
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OK so this is definitely a slower book, it took me longer to read than normal and I didn't find myself * dying * to pick it back up BUT this is probably one of the best character studies I've ever read. Afie felt like a very complex character and I really felt like the layered emotions really tied into the theme of the book. Also the language was so pretty and I'm a sucker for that.
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there's something about deirdre sullivan's prose/style that makes me really fall short of fully emotionally engaging with her books (I think she's a brilliant writer, this is just a matter of taste that I can't put down to anything other than 'vibes') but this was really beautiful and I wept
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I was sent this review copy for free by Little Island Books / Nina Douglas PR for the purposes of providing an honest review.
Trigger and Content Warnings are under the spoiler tag.
(view spoiler)
Having adored Tangleweed and Brine so much, when I discovered Deirdre Sullivan had written anot ...more
Trigger and Content Warnings are under the spoiler tag.
(view spoiler)
Having adored Tangleweed and Brine so much, when I discovered Deirdre Sullivan had written anot ...more
Written in exquisite, flowing prose, this is not so much a retelling as it is a re-feeling of the pivotal Irish legend. All the original elements are there, but turned inside out and given a new voice that both cements the story firmly in the past while bringing it into the here and now as part of the fibre of who we are now. Enchanted into a new comprehension as if the very words of the text are a spell in and of themselves, we must stay with the myth. It cuts away any previous caricature of pa
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I only finished this book this morning, and it's the kind of book I want to write and read essays about, so I can't promise this review will be the most coherent. I'm tempted to compare Savage Her Reply to recent popular mythological retellings, like Circe, but there's so many things I think are unique and special about this book.
The writing is some of the most beautiful I've ever read - it's accessible but epic and poetic and creates such an intense atmosphere it's easy to be sucked into the a ...more
The writing is some of the most beautiful I've ever read - it's accessible but epic and poetic and creates such an intense atmosphere it's easy to be sucked into the a ...more
So good, that I stayed up past 1am on a school night to finish it!
As always, Deirdre's lyrical style just draws you in. Having a vague familiarity with the other stories we come by, but the same feelings of doubt or injustice that the narrator feels is not only vindicating, but serves to lessen the hurt of the curse that must be suffered. We've been here before. It's not fair, and no one necessarily EARNED it, but we can fight back in our own ways, come to terms with old enemies, and they might ...more
As always, Deirdre's lyrical style just draws you in. Having a vague familiarity with the other stories we come by, but the same feelings of doubt or injustice that the narrator feels is not only vindicating, but serves to lessen the hurt of the curse that must be suffered. We've been here before. It's not fair, and no one necessarily EARNED it, but we can fight back in our own ways, come to terms with old enemies, and they might ...more
(view spoiler)
The writing style reminds me a bit of keeping a journal.
The whole story is told through Aife's eyes, however using the knowledge and emotions that she discovered in the end of the story. This, however, made me pass the whole book searching for a reason why she is telling this story. I found no purpose but only in the very end and I don't believe this justifies the long narrations , void ...more
The writing style reminds me a bit of keeping a journal.
The whole story is told through Aife's eyes, however using the knowledge and emotions that she discovered in the end of the story. This, however, made me pass the whole book searching for a reason why she is telling this story. I found no purpose but only in the very end and I don't believe this justifies the long narrations , void ...more
Perfect for fans of Circe and Song of Achilles (especially Song of Achilles, it’s not for the faint hearted) this is an absolutely stunning book. The writing throughout is beautiful, the characters are so complex and I loved the way Sullivan approached myth and the Irish language. It was as fascinating as it was gorgeous. It’s also one of the few (perhaps the only!) books I’ve ever read that have pulled themselves up to a 5* from a 4* in only the last chapters. This book will stay with you a lon
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The poetry and prose in this book are nothing short of masterpieces. Sullivan paints a searing portrait of a legendary evil stepmother figure that is complex and provokes sympathy, but never softens, defends or equivocates. If you’re going to read any contemporary retelling of Irish mythology, let it be this.
A solid 3.5, with beautiful prose and poetry - but too much monologue and not enough meaty scenes for me. Especially near the beginning, it describes psychological drama instead of letting the reader actually witness it. Describes it beautifully, but still.
I would try to write a review but I’m also crying right now
Brilliant. A great retelling on the children of Lir.
dnf'd
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4.5 stars
Amazing and poetic retelling of a classic Irish myth, Sullivan has a way with words for sure.
I am very much at home for the work of Deirdre Sullivan – quite frankly she could write a shopping list and I would absorb it – so it is a privilege to read Savage Her Reply, a book that was two years in the making.
This retelling of The Children of Lir is told from Aife’s point of view – traditionally she has been the villain of the piece – and reframes it as the story of a young woman in pain. Not being very familiar with The Children of Lir, I read a summary of the tale after reading this book ...more
This retelling of The Children of Lir is told from Aife’s point of view – traditionally she has been the villain of the piece – and reframes it as the story of a young woman in pain. Not being very familiar with The Children of Lir, I read a summary of the tale after reading this book ...more
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“Perhaps I am a dark, unpleasant creature. But I am my own creature. I am mine, my feet on the earth and the water in my soul and fire in my heart. And when all is taken from me I will still have my anger and my pain and they will feed me.”
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