Review of The Peacock's Legacy
Posted: 26 Mar 2025, 01:37
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Peacock's Legacy" by Sasha M Stevens.]
Brigid is of Irish descent, born in 1829 in Ballyconstór County Wicklow, Ireland. Brigid suffered poverty and neglect along with her mom and siblings at the hands of her father, who refused to provide for his family but instead spent his money frequenting the shebeen and was always seen drunk in Ballyconstór, soiling his family's reputation, and not just that; he was always seen with Maura Flanagan, an adulteress rumoured to have a husband in another county, setting the wagging tails of the gossip mongers. Due to neglect from their father, Brigid and her family suffered from starvation, lack of proper clothing, and poor housing. This hardship ultimately led to her mother’s demise and also many losses that left her devastated. When Brigid was forced into an arranged marriage with a man old enough to be her father, she decided to take charge of her destiny. Follow Brigid in her journey for survival in this captivating historical fiction.
Sasha M Stevens, The Peacock's Legacy, was a heartwarming story that took me on an emotional journey as I followed the world of Brigid. This was an interesting story set in the 80s that portrayed the life of that era. An era where the Irish were fighting for independence by forming a Fenian organisation known as the Saor-Eire. This organisation became the start of Brigid’s journey, as the book depicted the many twists and turns she faced. The era also depicted a period where women struggled for their voices to be heard in a society that was dominated by men. A society that saw a woman's education as a waste of time and believed a woman's place was only in her home. The book really showed the hardships and poverty the Irish went through during this time, from severe hunger to a deadly fever that took many lives. This made some be forced to migrate to America in search of a better life, only to realise it wasn’t what they had imagined. The author brought the mid-nineteenth century to life so realistically that I felt like I was there. This story took me on an emotional ride, and Brigid’s pain felt real. The book also explored how deeply religion shaped that time, especially the way Catholics saw Protestants as outsiders.
What stood out to me most in this book was the character development. One of my favourite characters was Brigid; she had so much strength and resilience and refused to accept the life that had been forced on her. Running away from an arranged marriage and setting sail with no idea where she would end up took incredible courage. This bold step changed her life forever and was the beginning of her sailing adventure. Her strength was further depicted in her life in Dublin and also in Boston. There was a lot to be learnt from her character. Her story felt real, and I almost thought this novel was non-fiction. I also loved the theme of solidarity portrayed in this book. Friends like Ezra, Caitlin, Amy, Saoirse, and others gave Brigid the motivation to keep pushing.
There was nothing I disliked about the book. This is a beautiful story that will linger in the hearts of readers. The journey with Brigid felt like an adventure, and not once did the story feel dull or dragged out. The pacing was just right, and the plot was thoughtfully developed. As I kept reading, the unexpected twists genuinely took me by surprise. Thus, I rated it four out of five stars. I removed a star because I discovered some errors in the book. However, this didn’t stop me from fully enjoying it. I think it would be awesome if this book were adapted into a movie. I recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction.
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The Peacock's Legacy
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Brigid is of Irish descent, born in 1829 in Ballyconstór County Wicklow, Ireland. Brigid suffered poverty and neglect along with her mom and siblings at the hands of her father, who refused to provide for his family but instead spent his money frequenting the shebeen and was always seen drunk in Ballyconstór, soiling his family's reputation, and not just that; he was always seen with Maura Flanagan, an adulteress rumoured to have a husband in another county, setting the wagging tails of the gossip mongers. Due to neglect from their father, Brigid and her family suffered from starvation, lack of proper clothing, and poor housing. This hardship ultimately led to her mother’s demise and also many losses that left her devastated. When Brigid was forced into an arranged marriage with a man old enough to be her father, she decided to take charge of her destiny. Follow Brigid in her journey for survival in this captivating historical fiction.
Sasha M Stevens, The Peacock's Legacy, was a heartwarming story that took me on an emotional journey as I followed the world of Brigid. This was an interesting story set in the 80s that portrayed the life of that era. An era where the Irish were fighting for independence by forming a Fenian organisation known as the Saor-Eire. This organisation became the start of Brigid’s journey, as the book depicted the many twists and turns she faced. The era also depicted a period where women struggled for their voices to be heard in a society that was dominated by men. A society that saw a woman's education as a waste of time and believed a woman's place was only in her home. The book really showed the hardships and poverty the Irish went through during this time, from severe hunger to a deadly fever that took many lives. This made some be forced to migrate to America in search of a better life, only to realise it wasn’t what they had imagined. The author brought the mid-nineteenth century to life so realistically that I felt like I was there. This story took me on an emotional ride, and Brigid’s pain felt real. The book also explored how deeply religion shaped that time, especially the way Catholics saw Protestants as outsiders.
What stood out to me most in this book was the character development. One of my favourite characters was Brigid; she had so much strength and resilience and refused to accept the life that had been forced on her. Running away from an arranged marriage and setting sail with no idea where she would end up took incredible courage. This bold step changed her life forever and was the beginning of her sailing adventure. Her strength was further depicted in her life in Dublin and also in Boston. There was a lot to be learnt from her character. Her story felt real, and I almost thought this novel was non-fiction. I also loved the theme of solidarity portrayed in this book. Friends like Ezra, Caitlin, Amy, Saoirse, and others gave Brigid the motivation to keep pushing.
There was nothing I disliked about the book. This is a beautiful story that will linger in the hearts of readers. The journey with Brigid felt like an adventure, and not once did the story feel dull or dragged out. The pacing was just right, and the plot was thoughtfully developed. As I kept reading, the unexpected twists genuinely took me by surprise. Thus, I rated it four out of five stars. I removed a star because I discovered some errors in the book. However, this didn’t stop me from fully enjoying it. I think it would be awesome if this book were adapted into a movie. I recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction.
******
The Peacock's Legacy
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon