Morrigan dreams of captaining her own boat one day; but as a girl in a 19th-century fishing village, such dreams are not open to her. One day she's visited by Manannán mac Lir, the god of the sea, and her whole life begins to change. From the moment she was born, it was debated whether she was blessed or cursed. As it happens, she is a long-awaited connection between humanity and the Otherworld—able to speak with nature and bring healing to her village.
From encounters with the wealthy local landowner and his ailing daughter to a budding romance with childhood friend Finn, Morrigan must navigate the ins and outs of her new responsibility. As she does, she must endure the judgment of locals, including and especially the strict schoolmaster who frowns on any pagan practices. Learning what is expected of her will mean discovering more about her family (regardless of her mother's attempts to hide the old ways from her) and choosing between her heart's desire and her ancestors' tasks for her.
While Jennifer Elwell Comeau's A MOON IN ALL THINGS is packed with characters, from Morrigan's four siblings to a friendly pig, the narrative never loses track of its extended cast. The many threads are well-balanced, with Morrigan's journey of self-discovery taking center stage as others wind around it. Characters are vivid and memorable, from the holier-than-thou schoolmaster on his donkey to the cheerful Riona making up songs for every occasion. Even if readers don't know or understand Celtic mythology and legend, the book takes great pains to explain as much as possible in the text. The back of the book includes multiple resources for extra clarity, including pronunciation guides and a list of all major characters and how they're related. There's even a playlist with QR codes, giving accompaniment to the book's many song lyrics.
A MOON IN ALL THINGS is a must-read for fans of historical fantasy and magical realism. Morrigan's story is rooted in both history and legend, taking into account both Ireland's rich mythology and its fraught past. Morrigan is one of those rare young "chosen ones" who feels real: imperfect but motivated, insightful but still believable as a young person. Watching her grow through this story (both as a human being and in her greater role) is exciting, and readers will be enthralled from beginning to end.
Vivid, emotional, and well-researched, Jennifer Elwell Comeau's A MOON IN ALL THINGS is a gripping book about finding one's place in the world and the ties that bind humanity to nature.
~ Kara Dennison for IndieReader