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Liked It “I had anticipated that this novel would tell the story of how Saint Patrick converted the Irish Celts to Christianity. I was wrong. The book actually tells the tale of Patrick’s early life of as a Romanized Briton who is captured by Irish raiders and enslaved by an Irish chieftain for six years....” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“I had anticipated that this novel would tell the story of how Saint Patrick converted the Irish Celts to Christianity. I was wrong. The book actually tells the tale of Patrick’s early life of as a Romanized Briton who is captured by Irish raiders and enslaved by an Irish chieftain for six years. Patrick ultimately escapes and returns home, then ventures to Gaul and Rome before returning to Ireland. Aside from a brief epilogue, the novel provides no account of Patrick’s later years, which earned him his sainthood. Instead, the author focuses much of the novel on Patrick’s captivity. And this is where the novel truly shines. Patrick’s enslavement introduces him to a druid named Cormac and his sister, Sionan, the woman with whom Patrick falls in love. After surviving several failed attempts at fleeing his captivity, Patrick escapes his brutal life with Cormac’s aid by agreeing to serve in a house of druids, and eventually studies to become a bard. This is where the novel becomes both fascinating and controversial.
Joseph Finley wrote this review Wednesday, March 14, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The bards and druids of Lawhead’s Ireland can use magic, which firmly places this novel on the fine line between historical fiction and historical fantasy. Many of the druids and bards who teach Patrick are also members of the Ceile De, essentially Christian druids who believe in the one true God. Patrick ultimately becomes one of the Ceile De; he never becomes a priest or a bishop, though this is not necessarily foreclosed because the novel ends before the reader learns what becomes of Patrick later in life. Not surprisingly, this plot point is controversial for those who feel the novel downplays or even eliminates Patrick’s Roman Catholicism. After all, they argue, the Roman Catholic Church would never have canonized a druid. But I view Stephen R. Lawhead as taking artistic license for the sake of his story. And overall, his story works – especially the two-thirds or so of the novel that take place in Ireland. Although it was not what I expected, I enjoyed this novel, very much at times. And while the author may have taken artistic license with his subject, it works well in the end, telling a story of faith once lost only to be discovered again.
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“A very interesting account of the early life of Patrick as a slave in northern Ireland and how he hears the call of God to teach the Gospel to the people of Ireland.”
Garry Bryant wrote this review Tuesday, May 24, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“great book!”
Kelly wrote this review Wednesday, November 17, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“eh..It was alright..I liked his King Raven trilogy better.”
Planet J wrote this review Friday, January 1, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This was just not up to Lawhead standards IMHO. Although, I think I was looking for another Byzantium and it's just not the same story.”
KB wrote this review Wednesday, July 15, 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I haven't found this book boring at all. If this is boring, I had better read some of his other books! ”
Robbin T wrote this review Monday, March 23, 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Generally I enjoy Lawhead's books, but this one was so slow and boring I gave up in the middle. Seemed like a great topic and era, but the riding and the writing were both plodding.”
SmilingirlBlue wrote this review Monday, August 11, 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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