A MOON IN ALL THINGS
SYNOPSIS
In 1820s Ireland the ancient Irish culture is under siege by English landowners and the Catholic Church, who cast the old ways as “pagan.” Fifteen-year-old MORRIGAN LANE was born “in the caul,” and thus, superstitions surround her. Though Morrigan longs for freedom as a ship’s captain, girls are not allowed on boats. Her inquisitive nature and intuitive gift put her at odds with SCHOOLMASTER WINNETT, who finds her dangerous.
Morrigan’s life is interrupted when she is confronted by a wolf messenger from The Otherworld who claims she is An Fhoínse, gifted in the old Celtic ways. Her great-grandmother had been special too, and she’d died a mysterious death. The messenger demands Morrigan accept her calling – to heal the Cords of Connection humans have broken with each other and their natural world. A reluctant Morrigan agrees, but hesitates to tell her family or her beau, FIONN McDONAUGH. Instead, she turns to CAITLÍN, THE CROOKED WOMAN, who becomes her mentor, much to the distress of her mother, BETHA, who hides a healing parchment her grandmother once possessed.
When English landowner SIR MARTIN raises rents on every thatch-roofed cottage, the villagers risk brutal evictions. Believing it is part of her calling, Morrigan speaks to Sir Martin on behalf of her people and succeeds. Though she’s regarded a hero, Schoolmaster Winnett accuses her of using dark arts. Tensions mount when the landowner’s agents exact revenge from the villagers. Morrigan is wracked with guilt and doubt, but in an old yew grove she receives a mysterious message to find a triad of healing tools. Aided by a growing, mystical kinship with the natural world, Morrigan soon finds the triad: a dagger, a bone flute, and a ceremonial vessel.
When Sir Martin’s young daughter, MISTRESS MARY, becomes ill, she calls for Morrigan, with whom she’s formed an unusual bond. Morrigan clashes with Sir Martin while attempting to heal Mary but something is missing and Mary nears death. Morrigan gives way to despair. Fate intervenes: our heroine learns that Betha has hidden her grandmother’s healing parchment. With it, Morrigan saves Mistress Mary’s life, claiming her lineage as a gifted healer. Sir Martin and Betha have a change of heart about Morrigan’s gift, but Schoolmaster Winnett is furious.
When Fionn gets an opportunity aboard a ship to America, he asks Morrigan to join him. Deeply in love with Fionn, Morrigan accepts, but then she hesitates. She has made a promise to The Otherworld. In the end, Morrigan must confront her destiny and choose between two risky paths: as wife to Fionn and a new life in America, or as healer in the hardscrabble land of her ancestors. As the novel concludes, Morrigan stands alone on the rocky cliffs of Ireland while Fionn’s ship, bound for America, disappears from view.
