I really enjoyed reading the first part of the book about when Honora was in Ireland, however once she got to America, the story went absolutely nowhere. There was no path forward. She didn't speak for much of the time and a lot of it was based on her thoughts that seemed to vary by the page. The people surrounding her in the book lacked development so much that I could not even begin to form opinions, or have thoughts about any of them. The end just seemed to come from nowhere. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

The story of Honora who comes from Ireland to the American west in search of a better life. I was really drawn in by the early chapters with her in the West and then the start of Ireland. But then I feel like the story started to drag on more. I can be really picky about historical fiction though, so it could just be that!

This was an interesting story about a part of history I didn't know anything about. It was sad and I had a hard time connecting to the main character at times. All in all, it was an okay read.

2.5 stars I'm rounding up for a compelling story with history I know little about. Honora was born under a curse. A robin flew in the house the moment she was born and it was a sign of bad luck. Her mother passed and the nearby wet-nurses wouldn't take her because of the curse.

As she grows, she is left wild. No one watches Honora and she spends most nights out under the stars eating bugs and grass to survive. As she grows she suffers heartache and loss, starvation and kidnapping. She is forced into ways of life she never imagined.

I thought it was beautiful the way she connected with Joseph. I loved their quiet and their knowing of what the other felt, always leaving home but never finding a new one. This story was a bit dark and, a lot of the time, I didn't connect with Honora. She was always so disconnected from herself and what she was feeling that it lead me to not feeling them either.

If you are looking for a touching story about survival, this may be for you. But if you are looking for a driving plot that pushes you through the pages, this is quieter and more a character study than a compelling read.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Well, Sing, Wild Bird, Sing is a hard one to review. It’s an unusual book. Definitely some interesting history here. Honora was a hard character to like at times, but that was ok. I started off thinking I would not even finish this book, but as it turned out I couldn’t put it down. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

The raging famine Ireland in 1849 has no place for Honora O'Donoghue, so she decides to make her way to the American West, despite having no knowledge of the customs and her lack of funds. Her journey is a good read, worth it!

I have a mild obsession with Ireland and have read many books about the famine, so was excited about this premise and consequently very disappointed that it just failed all around for me. Given that the famine is the catalyst for our protagonist’s story, I expected more substance on this topic, and felt that the main character never quite came alive for me so I just wasn’t invested in her story.

A book of tragedy really with the heroine Hanora only swapping one type of poverty and near slavery for another at every change in her circumstance.
I have read many books which feature the Irish famine and this whilst as sad as any didn’t educate me much on the topic. The American chapters however were very enlightening about the native Americans and their treatment.

I really struggled with this novel. It felt very flat and I struggled to connect with the characters. The scope of the novel was impressive but it wasn't for me.

An often harrowing and realistic account of one Irish woman's struggle during the great hunger of Ireland in the 1840s and her escape the wilds of western America. Honora will not be broken despite her struggles, her spirit will soar in the new world.

i’ve been struggling with this book for months now and i’m just going to go ahead and dnf it. :( i never felt fully engaged and the main character always remained somewhat alien to me, which is sad because i thought i was going to love it.

Sing, Wild Bird, Sing is a powerful recounting of the hardship and trials of many immigrant settlers to the USA. Honora embodied the hope for freedom while suffering the chains placed on her by government and society. This was definitely a song of hope and a reminder to be true to yourself, beautifully written and emotionally evocative.

I have never read an Irish Famine story as moving as this one. Sing, Wild Bird, Sing by Jacqueline O’Mahony dug into my soul like a claw and hollowed it out in one eternal scoop. Then it squeezed my heart beyond recognition-- inflicting great pain in my emotional core. Yes, a dramatic description of my reaction but this novel defies any ordinary response for it is an extraordinary telling of a very heart-breaking passage of Irish history. True, this is fiction but the seeds of reality have birthed an unforgettable tale. If you have any Irish roots in you (as I do) and if you have poetic vision (as I do), then the power of Jacqueline’s words and original descriptions will inspire and quicken some powerful feelings. And you will find yourself as I did, so glad you read this novel. And you will empathize with the main character, Honora, when she is faced with horrible loss, abuse and grievous misunderstanding.

This author has an incredible gift of insight and of language: to be able to express poetically and precisely the Famine events that tore through Ireland long ago. Her focus in Part One is on the Doolough tragedy of March 1849 set in the south west county of Mayo. A starving people were required to embark on a horrid journey across snow covered mountains in bad weather to verify their need of relief at a proposed location. Due to the weakened state, many died on the way on the banks of a black lake. Help came too late. It is obvious to me that this part of the novel poured like blood onto the page in a very personal way. The author’s connection to her country’s past is strong and thus the characters and events feel authentic.

The physical damage the Great Famine caused was one thing but the psychological scars even greater. The many who endured such vile suffering and survived were truly injured. Generations of souls would never forget the atrocities. These acts of a natural world in discord and the evils of the humans who took advantage, maimed a nation that eventually haemorrhaged with grief. Many left Ireland’s shores to find relief and freedom. But did they find it? And was it what they expected?

In the second part of the novel. Jacqueline explores what many found on the other side of the sea who boarded ships to America. Honora lands first in New York, stays a while and then moved on to the wild west. The bondage, sadness and control that dominates this young woman’s life is unspeakable. It follows her across the waves to the grim gateway city of NY and then to the wheaten desolate prairies. She is always at the mercy of others—trying hard to break free. At first naïve, her continuing experiences begin to shape and sharpen her mind and fire her courage. When she feels downtrodden and fears never to rise again, she reaches down in her well of experience and drinks from her reservoir of strength: words keep coming back to her from home, from the birds and other delights of nature. These pieces once woven into the very fabric of her being, help her survive the worst moments of her life--in Ireland and in America. And though she is determined to move forward, does she find the liberty she seeks?

Honora goes to America seeking freedom but finds there is none, just more ownership and bondage. She sees her husband’s name as ownership—‘like the landlord in Ireland who owned the land, and the people on it.’ It is not until a bizarre encounter with an Indian that she finds a common thread with another group of people. This makes her see how their loss of land is similar to Ireland’s to the English. Has she found a kindred spirit? And how will this common denominator change her life? I must say this part of the story was equally moving to Part one. For the author articulates the encounters so well, they again feel real and true to life. Upon careful inspection, we discover the North American Indians shared a common fate. The location may be different from Ireland but the similarities of the two peoples are striking. I learned a great deal on this section of the story’s canvas. Jacqueline articulated these mirrored experiences, images and emotions in a way I will never forget. These things are now burned into my mind like memories.

The villain of this story is a nasty one: full of vengeance and the worst hate imaginable. Then there is Prosper: a man she meets in an unlikely situation in NY who is attracted to her but he is a strange mix of support and control. Their relationship is a strained one at times. She learns when he feels wronged, his silence is more deafening than harsh words screamed into the air. For the response creates a chasm in her deeper and emptier than any she has ever known. And then there is her Irish husband, William. His spirit still clings to the silhouette of her distant memories.

Honora is a woman I will never forget. The way the author portrays her is ingenious. She is as an individual with a special gift of original thought and has an intriguing connection to birds (as noted throughout the story and in the title). Then there is the adversity she faces and overcomes outside the famine. From her father, to her first and second husband, and a wicked enemy. Many of the men she encounters have a terrible effect on her. Except one that not only bridges the gap but gives her a sense of home and freedom.

This is a beautiful, terrifying and triumphant tale and one that will haunt my dreams for many nights to come. I highly recommend this novel that deserves more stars than the system allows. For 5 Stars just isn’t enough. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for my review copy.

I did enjoy this one but wanted to like it more than I eventually did. Not sure the exact reason, but at times it was easy to skim a bit, and stay invested in the story. Struggles from Ireland to come to the Americas in the 1800 would be difficult for anyone, but especially a young woman. Would still recommend,.

I absolutely loved this book! It is beautifully written: full of loss, struggle, moments of hope…

This is the story of a woman trying to find herself amongst everyone’s expectations of who she is, who she SHOULD be, all while trying to simply survive the devastating events that are inherent in her life by virtue of her class, gender, culture, etc.

She uses the experiences to make herself stronger instead of crumbling or becoming what others deem her capable of becoming.

Haunting and full of heart. Highly recommend.

A beautiful book following the tale of Homora O'Neill as she perseveres in her quest, first for survival and then for freedom.

The novel starts with a profound and evocative account of the people of Doolough during the Irish famine. I appreciated the factual but sensitive portrayal of historical events. As the story moves to America the struggles of the Indigenous Americans draw parallels with the Irish experience. Of a land lost, of possession and ownership, families decimated, of starvation and injustice and displacement from home.

I adored the descriptions of landscape and animals, and it was very clear a lot of research had gone into the experiences of both nationalities.
You can't help but be touched by the experiences of these characters, and the exhaustion they experience simply trying to put one foot infront of the other.

I don't want to give too much away on the plot, but I did just want to nod towards the struggle of women throughout, no matter their nationality. There are only two roles for women in this world, 'homemaker' or 'whore.' And for many the only way to escape one of these cages, is to swap it for the other. Freedom is a luxury they can only dream of. And I so desperately wanted Honora to win hers!

I really felt that Honora & the author, both experience the same calm contented connection in the natural world, that I do. The horses, the woods, the birds & the plains of this book all carry a sense of grounding serenity, the ability to breathe more deeply. I could FEEL it.

This is a book that will stay with me for a very long time. For me, it's a reminder to keep on moving forward, through hardship and disappointment. Even with all of the tragic events, this book leaves me with so much hope. Stunning ❤️

Sing, Wild Bird, Sing is a an anthology of experiences Honora faces as she journeys for a life of freedom. After suffering and surviving the Tragedy of Doolough, Honora has no choice but to seek opportunity in America. In her journey, we follow what seems like a lifetime of change alongside our main character and feel the plight of vulnerability through a series of unfortunate events. Navigating 19th century New York, the Pacific North West, and the homestead, O’Mahony sends us on a quest for desire, freedom, and challenge and allows readers to explore our deepest fears and budding relationships alongside Honora.

This book tells history of the Irish famine in a way that is unlike any other by boiling down Honora’s experience into blips of her journey. I appreciated the lack of fluff in the story, as each chapter cuts to the point without suffering through unnecessary details. I did, however, find myself being pushed from zero to 100 as peaceful narrative revved into anticipatory scenarios. Some of the chapters took a minute for me to realize what the context was, as they tended to start with a captivating detail ans then jump back in time to build context. Alas, Sing, Wild Bird, Sing surprised me and is worth the time and navigation in order to jump into another life and build empathy for our newest Irish friend.

I really enjoyed getting to know Honora O’Donoghue, I enjoyed getting to know her spirit and her journey from Ireland to the American West. Jacqueline O'Mahony does a great job in telling the story and keeping people invested in what was going on in this world. I'm glad I got to read this and look forward to read more from Jacqueline O'Mahony.

"In Honora’s mind, the third part of the walk was the walk through the snow to the black lake. The people had waited outside the gates of the lodge all night, and the lord’s inspectors had seen them after their breakfast, and the inspection had been quick, so quick, but still it had been noon by the time it was over."