The Revenge of Bridget Cleary

Are you a witch, or are you a fairy, or are you the daughter of Bridget Cleary?
Exiled for a murder her father committed, Brigid Cleary has until midsummer to gather what she needs for readmission to her home in the fairy mound: a chest of stolen gold and a chest full of her father's blood. With nothing but her own wits and an ability to be mostly unseen, she takes a position as a scullery maid in a country manor house, where stealing gold is easy as dusting the candlesticks.
When discovery of her thieving becomes likely, she scarpers, embarking on a madcap season in London. With midsummer fast approaching, Brigid must recoup her stolen gold in any way she can, even if it means modeling for a lecherous pre Raphaelite artist, posing as a young debutante to spy on other debutantes, and forming a clandestine Pugilism Club for Young Ladies.
With gold filling her pockets and her father newly released from prison, the path back to the fairies should be clear. Or would be, were it not for her growing feelings for Edmund, the gentle young lord who hired her to spy on his sister; her burgeoning sense of loyalty and friendship to Adelaide, the sister upon whom she was meant to spy; and the unsettling question of whether she should--or even could--bloodily avenge her mother's death.
Inspired by the actual 1895 murder of Bridget Cleary by her husband Michael, the struggle for Irish Home Rule, and events surrounding the late pre Raphaelite artistic movement, The Revenge of Bridget Cleary has been heralded by author Joanna Ruth Meyer as "equal parts haunting, compelling, and throughtful."
"If Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell had a baby with Greta Gerwig's Little Women, this is certainly the wild, weird little book baby that would come out."
-W. R. Gingell
"Chaotic but addictive, witty and gut-wrenching..."
-Saily Bhagwat
"I very, VERY rarely cry reading books, but the reveals about the Cleary family were touching enough it pulled out a few tears from me. Okay. I was bawling. And drinking a beer."
-Irina Kermong
"Simply put, Zeller's writing was brilliant..."
-Billy
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Community Reviews
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Inspired by the actual 1895 murder of Bridget Cleary by her husband Michael, The Revenge of Bridget Cleary is a story of betrayal and fear, but also about making peace with our demons.
I didn't know about the Cleary, but I would say it's risky to include fairies in a retelling of her story. Despite that, I really liked the way Bridget Cleary is portrayed and how her story is told. Though it deals with the horror of a murder, it focuses more on the strength that comes from shared trials and how to both forgive and do justice.
The book also addresses the struggle for Irish Home Rule, events surrounding the late pre-Raphaelite artistic movement, and themes of class, oppression, and Victorian gender norms.
There's romance, but I enjoyed how the sisterhood (between our main character and the wild, yet wise Adelaide, and the street-smart and loyal Florence) is much more central to Brigid's story than her love interest is. Each character was well integrated into the plot, whilst not feeling like they were there as ‘side characters.’ I didn't love Brigid, the main character, but I was invested in her quest and I cried and gasped several times.
With a clean and crisp prose, this historical drama promises true crime, healing generational trauma, wicked faeries, tender romance, feminism, and many twists and turns. I just wished it was longer to have a more balanced pace.
Inspired by the actual 1895 murder of Bridget Cleary by her husband Michael, The Revenge of Bridget Cleary is a story of betrayal and fear, but also about making peace with our demons.
I didn't know about the Cleary, but I would say it's risky to include fairies in a retelling of her story. Despite that, I really liked the way Bridget Cleary is portrayed and how her story is told. Though it deals with the horror of a murder, it focuses more on the strength that comes from shared trials and how to both forgive and do justice.
The book also addresses the struggle for Irish Home Rule, events surrounding the late pre-Raphaelite artistic movement, and themes of class, oppression, and Victorian gender norms.
There's romance, but I enjoyed how the sisterhood (between our main character and the wild, yet wise Adelaide, and the street-smart and loyal Florence) is much more central to Brigid's story than her love interest is. Each character was well integrated into the plot, whilst not feeling like they were there as ‘side characters.’ I didn't love Brigid, the main character, but I was invested in her quest and I cried and gasped several times.
With a clean and crisp prose, this historical drama promises true crime, healing generational trauma, wicked faeries, tender romance, feminism, and many twists and turns. I just wished it was longer to have a more balanced pace.
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