Orchid Child a Historical Irish Fiction Book Review

Orchid Child ‘An Irish American Family Saga’ by Victoria Costello is a captivating story that explores the power of family, heritage, and neurodiversity. Through its main character Kate, readers are invited to embark on an emotional journey as she grapples with personal struggles and ancestral ties. Author Victoria Costello expertly navigates through the depth and complexity of psychological resilience, neurodiversity and ancient Celtic wisdom to create a story that is both gripping and thought-provoking.

With vivid descriptions of life in both Ireland and America, Costello paints a beautiful picture of how one’s identity can be intertwined with their past. The novel not only provides an insightful look into psychological resilience but also serves as inspiration for readers to draw upon their inner strength during difficult times.  This book offers a unique perspective on the complexity of familial bonds, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking for an engaging read full of insight and compassion. Ultimately, ‘An Irish American Family Saga’ is a captivating tale that will leave readers with a newfound appreciation for the power of family and heritage.

The protagonist is an orchid child who carries the weight of his family’s suffering on his shoulders. He discovers that he possesses not only extraordinary intelligence but also an affinity for nature and spirituality. By reconnecting with his ancestral roots, as well as engaging in self-reflection and healing, he is able to break free from the cycle of intergenerational trauma and find his own unique path.

The novel is an engaging read, with vivid descriptions of life in both Ireland and America. Costello does a beautiful job of highlighting the importance of connection to one’s heritage as well as the power of neurodiversity. All in all, this book is a compelling look into both the strength and fragility of family ties. It will leave readers with a sense not only of hope but also insight into how to draw upon one’s inner resources during difficult times. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an absorbing journey through history and culture. Buy Now on Amazon

 

Orchid Child is an enchanted family saga that charts the hardships and losses borne by three generations of an Irish American family but with a twist, brought about by the youngest family member, its orchid child, Teague, a voice-hearing teenager who halts the chain of suffering that came before him by tapping his neurodiversity and the ancient wisdom of his Celtic ancestors.

To depict such a reversal of fortune over a single century takes equal parts history, neuroscience, and Celtic folklore. The science part of the story is embodied by the character of Kate, Teague’s aunt and legal guardian, whose rising star in neuroscience has crashed in the wake of a sex scandal. To salvage her career, Kate goes to West Ireland to conduct an epigenetic study of one rural county’s historically high rate of mental illness, bringing her nephew along.

But Kate’s study meets stiff resistance from the townspeople who want nothing to do with this painful part of their history, while Teague is given a warm welcome by the local Druid fellowship, who identify the boy’s strange perceptions as the gift of second sight. This sets up a conflict with Kate who views her nephew’s differences as a medical problem to be solved. It also brings the family story full circle as Kate learns she’s come to the place her grandparents fled eighty years earlier, accused of betraying the Republican cause in the 1920 Irish Rebellion. It soon becomes clear to Kate that not only is she in the awkward position of studying her own genes, but she’s stumbled on the first of a series of dark secrets in her family’s past. Buy Now on Amazon

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