I wish that I had reviewed this directly after finishing instead of waiting a week. This was so good! I'll list the things I liked and didn't like to make this go smoother.

>>>>What I liked<<<<

1) For starters, I really liked the time period songs/poems at the beginning of every chapter. Those were really a nice touch.

2) The characters (for the most part) were so easy to love and become engrossed in their lives. From Eliza's tender heart, Michael's hope for a better tomorrow, Seamus' stubbornness and thirst of justice, Daniel's child-like faith and Mr. O'Connor's compassion. All of them were unique and their own person. I never once had trouble telling the characters apart.

3) Historically speaking, I enjoyed being immersed in the years following the Great Potato Famine in Ireland. I've never personally researched this era but it seemed to be true and accurate.

4) Plot wise- wow! There was a lot of pain and suffering in this read. A family just wanting to survive against all odds and stay together. Not gonna lie, this was sad. Somber and heart-breaking. There were moments of triumph and good news but sadly, these moments were often shadowed by a coming storm. And knowing what book 2 holds...just makes me wanna cry...

5) The length was perfect and there was no language.

>>>>What I didn't like<<<<

1) I would have liked to have seen more of Ellen. *cries a little* Not really a dislike but a preference.

2) The beginning started a little slow for me but it really picked up and I was hooked.

Yeah, that's about all I didn't like. This book was really good, so good that it was hard to put down. It brought out all the feels and now I'm highly invested in this series. I already have book 2 (free download that sold me on purchasing this one) but have yet to start it.

All in all, highly recommend! If you enjoy a good, clean historical fiction about tragedy, hope and family definitely check this out! Full 5 stars