This book is definitely successful in what it promises; it has an ephemeral yet infinite quality that’s very reminiscent of Circe. I was “nervous” that the book’s messaging would be too saccharine in its *humanity is good* and *life is worth living* themes but Barnard strikes a really impressive balance of being touching while still pragmatic.

I love Celtic mythology, and this book reminded me of some of my other favorites, like Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier, as well as following the same tropes as other "goddess autobiographies" like Circe by Madeline Miller. Cailleach was a great main character, and I loved seeing her grow and change from a cold, remote goddess who dislikes humans, to gaining her own humanity.

I read this in less than a day because I was physically unable to put it down. I enjoyed the author's first novel, JEZEBEL, but it didn't have the same compulsive readability as this one. "One more chapter" became "one more life" became "oh my god I just read this whole book in one sitting." Granted - I know next to nothing about Irish mythology so I can't speak to how "accurate" the portrayals of the Tuatha Dé Danann are, but a novel also has to work on its own apart from the source material, and I think this one does. Megan Barnard is an auto-read author for me from here on out.

Holy shit, I could not put this down. I read it in like three hours, it was so freaking great.

I sobbed way too much while reading this but this is a beautiful, heartbreakingly good story and I need this to be on my shelf pronto.