The Healer's War by Olive Collins #virtualbooktour #thehealerswar #olivecollins @randomthingstours #bookreview #historicalfiction

 

Inspired by real events during the Biafran War (1967–1970), The Healers’ War follows three lives bound together by famine, faith, and survival in a besieged corner of Eastern Nigeria.

As war encroaches upon their region, Irish missionaries refuse to flee, instead building feeding centers, clinics, and a secret airstrip to smuggle in aid and evacuate children. Among them is Valerie Corrigan, a young Irish woman who arrives seeking purpose after heartbreak. But as the war closes in and the moral certainty of her mission begins to fracture, Valerie is forced to confront betrayal, violence, and troubling truths within her own congregation.

Amid the chaos, Valerie meets Azubuike, a precocious nine-year-old boy born in a village where time is measured not in numbers, but in events. Banished from his home because of his mother’s volatility, Azubuike is sent to live with the missionaries. There, he must adapt to a new world—one defined by unfamiliar gods and foreign calendars. His friendship with Sister Valerie becomes a rare light in a darkening world.
When Valerie’s former lover, Oscar, returns, old wounds reopen, and the lives of Valerie, Azubuike, and Oscar become dangerously entwined.

The Healers’ War is a story of survival, faith, and the impossible choices people make in the shadow of war.

The Healer's War by Olive Collins was published on 7 July 2026 and is book one in the Achill series. My thanks to the author who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Virtual Book Tour 

This is the first book that I've read by this author and I have absolutely devoured it. What I love most about historical fiction is that I am taught so much. I was just a small child at the time of the Biafran War, and whilst I do remember hearing about it, I had no real idea about the background and how the country of Nigeria was formed. 

The Healer's War proves that Olive Collins is such a gifted storyteller. This novel is a deeply moving story that shines a light on a chapter of history that really does deserves to be far better known. The author blends historical fact with fiction so seamlessly that I found myself completely absorbed from the very first page.

Olive Collins effortlessly transports the reader into another place and time. Her vivid descriptions bring Eastern Nigeria to life in all its beauty, while the ever-present threat of war creates a growing sense of unease that lingers throughout the novel. The historical detail is woven naturally into the narrative, and creates such depth.

The characters are wonderfully created.  Valerie's journey is compelling and believable.  Young Azubuike is an unforgettable character whose warmth, resilience and curiosity can be really touching. Every relationship feels real. 

I was so impressed with the author's compassion with the story, which shines thorough in her writing. She does not shy away from the realities of conflict, yet there is always hope and kindness woven through even the really dark times. 

The Healers' War is beautifully researched and elegantly written. It is one of those novels that quietly works its way into your thoughts and stays there. Historical fiction at its very best, this is a memorable, powerful read that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone who enjoys character-driven fiction inspired by real events.

Olive Collins is an Irish historical fiction writer from the Midlands. 

Her novels explore the lives of ordinary people against the backdrop of significant historical events, with stories set in Ireland, Jamaica, the American West, and New York. 

She is the author of four published novels, including an award-winning Irish bestseller. 

Her work has been praised by readers and book clubs for its rich historical detail and emotional depth. 


After many years of travelling and living abroad, Olive returned to her native County Tipperary, where she now lives and writes. 

Her novels include The Memory of Music, The Tide Between Us, The Weaver's Legacy, and Manhattan Ember.

If you'd like to read more, please feel free to sign up to her newsletter for updates, new releases, background stories and much more https://olivecollins.com/