The Famine: A Saga of Survival and Rebellion

by Ryan Donaghy

"A sweeping tale of survival, rebellion, and destiny—from the starving fields of Ireland to the halls of power in America and the battlefields of revolution."Ireland, 1845—The Great Famine has begun. The O’Donaghue family, once proud tenant farmers, are torn apart as hunger, oppression, and betrayal drive them in different directions. Christopher, the eldest, escapes to New York, where he rises through the ranks of Tammany Hall, navigating the ruthless world of Irish-American politics. Seamus, consumed by the fight for Irish independence, becomes a revolutionary, orchestrating underground movements and violent uprisings against the British Crown. Rebecca, gifted with an extraordinary voice, journeys to Paris, capturing the heart of an emperor while entangling herself in the shifting tides of European power. And Ryan, sentenced to a penal colony in Australia, forges a new identity as an outlaw, determined to take back his freedom.

Spanning four continents and over forty years of war, famine, and rebellion, The Famine is an epic historical novel of family, loyalty, and the unrelenting struggle for justice. From the coffin ships of the Atlantic to the battlefields of the American Civil War, from the revolutionary streets of Paris to the Fenian dynamite plots in London, this is the untold story of Ireland’s fight for survival—and the sacrifices made for freedom.

For readers who
✔ Irish historical fiction (The Princes of Ireland, Trinity)
✔ Epic family sagas (The Thorn Birds, Ken Follett’s The Century Trilogy)
✔ Political intrigue & revolution (Les Misérables, The Gilded Age)

👉 Perfect for fans of historical drama, rebellion, and Irish heritage. Get your copy today!

380 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2025

Reviews

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good piece of historical fiction.

[Catqueen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not an epic and not epic. The prose tried really hard, but never got there. DNF

[Dorothy Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of history told as A novel

I recognize and appreciate the research by Ryan Donaghy but there was so much repeating of things. I would rather have spent my time reading an actual historical narrative.

[jeannette Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jean38no

The author gives thorough history of the potato famine in Ireland and how it effected the whole society of Ireland. The potato being the main crop of the poor ,once it would not grow the people had no other choice then to starve or leave . The Irish was under the British rule at the time many British titled ,nobility were absentee landlords If the Irish couldn’t pay rent then they were thrown out by agents that were British soldiers. This caused a great migration from Ireland to America . This book is about the fictitious ODonugue family that had worked the land for generations until they weren’t able to pay and was thrown out of their home . During the struggle to remove the family a British agent was murdered. The family became homeless and fugitives. This author has wealth of knowledge about Ireland during and after potato famine as it tells of the struggles of each family member,

[Sheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

hard to follow at times

Although quite interesting I found the way the book is written quite difficult to follow. It jumps between the characters and repeats several things. However I was quite confused about characters thought dead, to suddenly be alive a few chapters on with no explanation of how they could possibly have survived. I don’t plan on reading any further books in this series.

[Eleyne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited about reading this book. It promised a wide range of adventure and struggle for each of the family members. Unfortunately, what i got is a lengthy synopsis of what happens to the characters. There is very little "show me the action " and mostly a lot of "telling " how the characters felt and what they did. It's closer. to an history book than a novel. It has no heart, imo.

[thomas haylett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A genuine page turner that had me hooked, highly recommended . I hope book 2 is not too far away.

[Mrs Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. There is room for improvement for the rest of the series.

[Bernie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling read of the O'Donahue children from their impoverished beginnings in the Irish Potato Famine, through rebuilding their lives, making their way in the world. A very enjoyable book