In this compelling audiobook, listeners are transported to early October in Ireland, where Grace’s mother abruptly awakens her and takes the drastic step of cutting off her hair, declaring, “You are the strong one now.” With winter approaching and danger looming, Grace is forced to leave home, donning men’s clothing as her mother casts her out. When her younger brother Colly chooses to follow her, the two siblings embark on a remarkable journey amid their country’s darkest hour.

As they traverse a broken landscape marked by suffering yet punctuated by moments of beauty, Grace must navigate a series of transformations: from a boy, to a bandit, to a penitent, and finally to a woman. Throughout this powerful narrative, inner voices emerge, reflecting on the profound losses and experiences that shape Grace’s identity.