A Game of Sorrows by Shona MacLean

 

The year is 1628 and Alexander Seaton of Aberdeen finds himself called to Ireland to break a curse that has been placed upon his estranged family. That the O’Neills’ troubles are political rather than magical does not lessen the danger, and Alexander is unwittingly caught up in the plots and deception that swirl through the Emerald Isle.

The narrative recounts the struggles that reverberate throughout Ireland’s history: struggles between the Anglo-Irish and those who will never accept an English union, and the clash of two faiths. These conflicts, familiar to a modern reader, give the novel an immediacy and relevance despite its often stiff tone. McLean is best when writing on Irish history and legend, as her characters, though well thought-out, seem like vehicles for the story rather than being memorable in their own right, and the protagonist is vaguely irritating. As an adventure story, it does not quite fulfil its purpose to thrill. However, as an insight into the complexity of Irish politics and social relations, it is fascinating, giving readers a glimpse into a world in which people will give all for their loyalties, a world which perhaps only those born into can fully understand. [Alice Sinclair]