 Popsugar Reading Challenge category: A book about pirates.
Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas, by Morgan Llewelyn. This novel is based on what's known of the life of Grainne (Grania) Ni Mhaille, sometimes anglicized to "Grace O'Malley," legendary Irish pirate and clan leader of the 16th century. For a book about pirates, this one spends a lot of time on dry land, dealing with political intrigues, clan alliances and feuds. Grania is a clan chief's daughter, and she steps in as clan leader after his death. The Irish struggle against English colonialism dominates the story, and drives Grania and other seafarers from trading to raiding. Grania's personal life is equally complex: two bad marriages, a few love affairs, and a second-in-command, Tigernan, who loves her unreservedly. Grania's children are raised mostly apart from her, and while this is often the case for men in her position, it seems to affect her more as they reach adulthood as almost strangers. Grania appears to view herself as unique; she doesn't put other women in her crew or agitate for more women in power in Ireland. But she's endlessly fascinated with what she's heard of her fellow "she-king," England's Elizabeth I. The whole book builds toward their inevitable meeting.
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