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The Pirate Queen
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Expected 8 Sep 26Grace O'Malley was born to be at sea. Raised alongside her brother by their father, chief of the name of clan O'Malley, Grace learns early that her dreams of the open water are not compatible with the life she's expected to lead as the daughter of a noble family. And when her father marries her to the wrong man, a neighbouring chief named Donhal, Grace's world shifts for the worse.
Undaunted, Grace raises a family without abandoning her passion, aiding her hot-tempered husband in his campaigns against rival tribes. Eventually ousted from her husband's land in the wake of his death, Grace returns to her childhood home and begins her career as a pirate in earnest, claiming new territories and finding deeper love, only to see her livelihood threatened by English incursions into Ireland, and her family endangered in an attempt to check her power.
Tenderly observed and fiercely written, Ariel Lawhon's gripping latest novel channels the natural beauty of sixteenth-century Ireland alongside the brutality of the period as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine and defender of her people, who truly earned the title 'the Pirate Queen of Ireland.'
A thrilling historical adventure inspired by the life of Grace O'Malley, an infamous Irish sea captain and folk heroine who risked everything to protect her people against the powerful Elizabethan regime
Undaunted, Grace raises a family without abandoning her passion, aiding her hot-tempered husband in his campaigns against rival tribes. Eventually ousted from her husband's land in the wake of his death, Grace returns to her childhood home and begins her career as a pirate in earnest, claiming new territories and finding deeper love, only to see her livelihood threatened by English incursions into Ireland, and her family endangered in an attempt to check her power.
Tenderly observed and fiercely written, Ariel Lawhon's gripping latest novel channels the natural beauty of sixteenth-century Ireland alongside the brutality of the period as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine and defender of her people, who truly earned the title 'the Pirate Queen of Ireland.'
A thrilling historical adventure inspired by the life of Grace O'Malley, an infamous Irish sea captain and folk heroine who risked everything to protect her people against the powerful Elizabethan regime
528 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 8, 2026
About the author
Ariel Lawhon
11 books12.6k followersAriel Lawhon is the critically acclaimed, New York Times Bestselling author of THE WIFE, THE MAID, AND THE MISTRESS, FLIGHT OF DREAMS, I WAS ANASTASIA, and CODE NAME HELENE. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have been Library Reads, One Book One County, Indie Next, Costco, and Book of the Month Club selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, four sons, and black Lab—who is, thankfully, a girl. Ariel splits her time between the grocery store and the baseball field.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 10, 2026
I adore 1500s history and am particularly fond of the Tudor time period. I’m utterly shocked I knew nothing about Grace O’Malley and her incredible accomplishments as Queen Elizabeth’s contemporary. This novel does a wonderful job of unpacking the limited accounts of her life that history has preserved while creating an engaging read. It hops around to her various ages, though the flow is strong and I enjoyed how the chapters jumped around. Grace’s story is filled with so much intrigue and explores feminist themes as well as lighter troupes like her romantic endeavors. A fantastic read!
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May 23, 2026I can see how the structure of this book will leave some people confused (like poor Tammy) - but I thought it was brilliant. I agree with the authors note at the end that to tell it strictly chronological would have made it less impressive. It’s basically told from three different points in Grainne’s life in alternating chapters. The first and very third after chapters are her childhood, the second and every 3rd chapter are her mothering years and the third and every third thereafter are her old age. It’s novel.
May 23, 2026
3.5 This is an extremely well written, well researched novel about the life of Ireland’s famous heroine pirate Grace O’Malley. The novel switches back and forth between three phases of Grace’s life. I found that structure gives the novel a choppy feel but I think a lot of readers will disagree. Lovers of serious, historical fiction (with a good dose of romance) will find a lot to like here.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2 1/2 stars. I was excited to receive this ARC because The Frozen River is one of my all-time favorite books. A new book by Lawhon sounded perfect.
Grace O’Malley is The Pirate Queen, a real Irishwoman who lived in the 16th century and had adventures and exploits galore. The chapters of this book are listed as The Maiden, (1), The Mother (2), and The Matriarch (3) and continue on in this manner throughout. In the author’s notes, she mentions going back and reading all of The Maiden chapters, then all The Mother chapters and finish with The Matriarch chapters. I really wish I’d read it this way as I think it would’ve been less confusing. I was often confused as to which Grace I was reading about. The unfamiliar words and so many people having the same first and last names also left me confused about who was who.
I hope this book is a huge hit but the way it was laid out left me frustrated. I think I would’ve enjoyed it much more if it had been in chronological order and it was easier to keep the characters straight. I rounded up a bit from two stars mainly because of how much I love the Frozen River.
Thanks to @Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. This is scheduled to be released in September 2026.
Grace O’Malley is The Pirate Queen, a real Irishwoman who lived in the 16th century and had adventures and exploits galore. The chapters of this book are listed as The Maiden, (1), The Mother (2), and The Matriarch (3) and continue on in this manner throughout. In the author’s notes, she mentions going back and reading all of The Maiden chapters, then all The Mother chapters and finish with The Matriarch chapters. I really wish I’d read it this way as I think it would’ve been less confusing. I was often confused as to which Grace I was reading about. The unfamiliar words and so many people having the same first and last names also left me confused about who was who.
I hope this book is a huge hit but the way it was laid out left me frustrated. I think I would’ve enjoyed it much more if it had been in chronological order and it was easier to keep the characters straight. I rounded up a bit from two stars mainly because of how much I love the Frozen River.
Thanks to @Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. This is scheduled to be released in September 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received this advanced copy as a prize after winning trivia at my local bookstore — and chose it because I'd enjoyed Frozen River and wanted to try another by the author. Imagine my surprise when I fell completely in love with this book and the very real person whose life it portrays.
Gráinne Mhaol (Grace O'Malley), known as "The Pirate Queen," was a girl in 16th-century Ireland who defied social norms from a young age and grew up to become a chieftain, a captain, a military tactician, a mother — a force of nature who plagued England yet still managed to earn the respect of Queen Elizabeth I herself. She led a life that was nothing short of remarkable. I loved the way this story was told from beginning to end, circling through maiden, mother, and matriarch.
It's truly mind-boggling that a person like this could exist in the shadows of history, without the fame she so clearly deserves. Thank you, Ariel Lawhon, for this absolute jewel.
Gráinne Mhaol (Grace O'Malley), known as "The Pirate Queen," was a girl in 16th-century Ireland who defied social norms from a young age and grew up to become a chieftain, a captain, a military tactician, a mother — a force of nature who plagued England yet still managed to earn the respect of Queen Elizabeth I herself. She led a life that was nothing short of remarkable. I loved the way this story was told from beginning to end, circling through maiden, mother, and matriarch.
It's truly mind-boggling that a person like this could exist in the shadows of history, without the fame she so clearly deserves. Thank you, Ariel Lawhon, for this absolute jewel.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I went into this one expecting a fun historical adventure, and it delivered so much more! Grace O’Malley is such a strong and fascinating main character. I loved how determined and fearless she was, even when everything seemed stacked against her. It made her story feel really empowering without losing that emotional edge. The writing felt very immersive, especially when it came to the setting. You can really picture the harsh beauty of Ireland and life at sea, and it added so much depth to the story. There’s a great mix of action, politics, and personal moments that kept me fully invested. Definitely recommend The Pirate Queen if you like strong female leads and rich historical settings!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Absolutely incredible. Didn’t always LOVE the broken story line but really beautifully written.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews