'And when you read about the things I did, the thing that I’ve become, try your best to reach out and to meet me. 
Here.
Before all this. 
I was a little girl. 
And someone took me.'

Included in Kirkus Reviews: Best Young Adult Books of the Year 2023

Bank Street Best Children's Books 2024

2024 USBBY Outstanding International Books

A dark, feminist retelling of ‘The Children of Lir’ told in Sullivan’s hypnotic prose.

 Voiced in Sullivan’s trademark rich, lyrical prose as developed in Tangleweed and Brine – the multiple award-winner which established Sullivan as the queen of witchy YA.

 Aífe marries Lir, a king with four children by his previous wife. Jealous of his affection for his children, the witch Aífe turns them into swans for 900 years.

Retold through the voice of Aífe, Savage Her Reply is unsettling and dark, feminist and fierce, yet nuanced in its exploration of the guilt of a complex character.

PRAISE FOR SAVAGE HER REPLY

'No-one writes like Deirdre Sullivan. She is lyrical, poetic and thoroughly intoxicating.’ – Juno Dawson, author of Wonderland

'Unsettling, haunting, and darkly lyrical’ – Louise O’Neill, author of After the Silence

‘This is Irish mythology as it is meant to be read.’ – Dave Rudden, author of The Knights of the Borrowed Dark

‘Not a single word is out of place: like a poem, or a spell.’ – Tara Flynn, actor and writer

‘Stirring and shocking, a feat of absolute poetry.’ – Sarah Maria Griffin, author of Other Words for Smoke

‘So beautiful, sharp as a knife – you’re bleeding before you know you’ve been cut.’ – Melinda Salisbury, author of Hold Back The Tide

‘An evocative, poetic and enigmatic brew that keeps you hungry for more.’ – Laura Dockrill, author of What Have I Done?

‘Brutal and magnificent. Deirdre Sullivan retells a well-known myth, where all are remembered by their relationship to Lir, and women reclaim their power and agency in the cracks of the familiar story. Karen Vaughan’s illustrations guide the reader through a menacing rise in tension and the push and pull of people chained together for centuries.’  –  Helen Corcoran, author of Queen of Coin and Whispers

‘The unique choice of viewpoint breathes new life into the story’s bones, making for a truly haunting and compelling tale.’ – Catherine Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper’s Island

‘Astonishingly beautiful and moving. Deirdre Sullivan grows stronger with every book.’ – Celine Kiernan, author of The Moorhawke Trilogy

‘I devoured every word of this extraordinary book – from its thrilling, breathless, lyrical opening, to its reverberating end. Deirdre Sullivan breathes magnificent, fiery life into one of Ireland’s oldest stories. Nothing will ever be the same.’ – Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, author of The Apple Tart of Hope and A Strange Kind of Brave

‘Deirdre Sullivan’s Savage Her Reply breathes new life into the Irish legend of the Children of Lir.’ –  Fiona Noble, The Observer

‘This dark, beautiful retelling of the Irish tale “The Children of Lir”, filled with transformed swans, air demons, betrayal and forgiveness, is saturated with the power of Sullivan’s lyrical prose.’ – Imogen Russell Williams, The Guardian

‘This is a fiercely feminist novel, but it escapes being polemical partly through its lyrical prose and partly through its commitment to empathy and compassion … intellectually pleasing and emotionally devastating.’ – Claire Hennessy,  The Irish Times

'Through masterful storytelling and stunning prose, Sullivan turns an ancient legend into something complex, transforming a one-note character into a nuanced narrator who carefully weaves Irish legend with a subtly searing condemnation of patriarchal society.' – Kirkus starred review

'Ferocious and illuminating, this retelling of a classic Irish tale is steeped in folklore and revitalized with feminist nuances. Calligrams that “mimic the characters [of] Ogham” come between its chapters, whispering lessons from Aife’s broken and rebuilt state ... Sister, daughter, wife, villain, savior: a complicated queen takes her legacy back in the stunning novel Savage Her Reply.'  – Foreword Reviews

‘Haunting, unsettling, exquisitely told, evocative and iconic; no one writes like Deirdre Sullivan. This is spell-working at its very finest. Simply extraordinary.’ – Mary Esther Judy, Fallen Star Stories

‘Sullivan’s writing is lyrical and beguiling as always, and her partnership with illustrator and designer Karen Vaughan was a stroke of genius.’ – Laura Eats Books

‘Savage Her Reply is a complete work of art. It’s gorgeous and it’s heart-wrenching, and it’s just so perfect. It’s painful and it’s stunning, and one will stay with me for a very long time. Sullivan is an expert storyteller … Absolutely cannot recommend Savage Her Reply enough.’ – Once Upon a Bookcase

‘Sullivan’s love for myths and fairy tales is evident throughout. Her tone is assured, and her lyrical prose demands your full attention, laying bare the dark heart of the story.’ – Meadhbh McGrath, Irish Independent

‘[Deirdre Sullivan’s] writing is extraordinary and the illustrations by Karen Vaughan beautiful. A stunning book.’ – Justine Carbery, Irish Independent

‘Sullivan’s prose is mesmerizing, bewitching and thought-provoking.’  – Myra Zepf, author of Tubaiste ar an Titanic

'What I love about this book are the mystical elements Sullivan taps into and brings alive ... Sullivan is able to tap into an ancient feminine power and earthly magic that will appeal to anyone familiar with stories from this time period. Overall, SAVAGE HER REPLY takes a profound look at who we are, why we do what we do, and if we can ever learn from our mistakes.' – YA Books Central

'Savage Her Reply by Deirdre Sullivan is a captivating retelling of the Children of Lir myth. Through its focus on the character of Aoife, rich prose, and thought-provoking themes, it offers a fresh and enchanting perspective on this classic story, making it a must-read for both mythology enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Sullivan's innovative approach breathes new life into the age-old tale, making it a memorable literary experience.'  – NetGalley Librarian

'This book was such a refreshing book ... I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something different and something that is not what you think. The author of this book did a wonderful job in making sure Aife was a complex character and that to me is what brought this book to life.'  – NetGalley Reviewer

'I've been waiting for the US release of this book for a while now, and finally being able to read it was like being able to scratch an itch I'd had for too long--as someone unfamiliar with the story of the Children of Lir, the pieces of the original story were very helpful and the calligrams were a unique touch!'   – NetGalley Reviewer

'Deirdre Sullivan has a great writing style and it left me wanting to read more from the author.'  – NetGalley Reviewer

'A lush, searing, deeply personal story about how the wounds we take on in childhood shape the rest of our lives and those of everyone around us. Heartbreaking, haunting, and unapologetically feminist, this book is an exploration of what if means to be human, so beautifully-written that it ceases to be a retelling and becomes a myth itself.' – NetGalley Reviewer

'Savage Her Reply is gorgeously told. This book feels like a piece of art rather than a novel. I enjoyed the prose style of writing and it was a welcome break from my typical reads. I recommend Savage Her Reply to all readers!' – NetGalley Reviewer

'It is dark and weird and cool.' – NetGalley Reviewer

'This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!' – NetGalley Reviewer

We are pleased to share a free pdf extract of Savage Her Reply.

• Savage Her Reply Extract

Deirdre Sullivan is an award-winning writer from Galway in the West of Ireland. Savage Her Reply is her tenth book. Her collection of dark and witchy fairytale retellings, Tangleweed and Brine (Little Island Books), won Book of the Year at the 2018 Children’s Books Ireland awards and Young Adult Book of the Year at the 2017 Irish Book Awards.

Other books for young adults include Perfectly Preventable Deaths (Hot Key, 2019) and, with Little Island Books, Needlework (Honour Award for Fiction, Children’s Books Ireland awards 2017), the Primrose Leary trilogy (Prim Improper, Improper Order and Primperfect – the first YA book to be shortlisted for the EU Prize for Literature in 2015). For younger readers, she has written three books in the Nightmare Club series.

Deirdre also writes short fiction and poetry, which has been published in places like Banshee, The Penny Dreadful, Mslexia and the Dublin Review. Her play Wake was performed by No Ropes theatre company in February 2019.