Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Released: April 1, 2014
Source: Review copy from the publisher through NetGalley

Do you believe in miracles?

Sister Juliana does. She’s seen miracles happen as she tends Saint Catherine’s altar and guards her relic. Yet she doesn’t quite dare to believe that even Saint Catherine could help her atone for her wicked past.

Anna does. And she so desperately needs one. In a time when a deformity is interpreted as evidence of a grievous sin, in a place where community is vital to existence, Anna has no family, no home, and no master.

Princess Gisele wants to. A miracle is the only thing that can save her from being given to a brutal, pagan chieftain in marriage.

For those who come in faith, saints offer the answer to almost any prayer. But other forces are plotting to steal Saint Catherine’s relic, to bend the saint’s power to their own use. Penitent, pilgrim, and princess — all will be drawn into an epic struggle where only faith can survive. But in a quest for divine blessings, only the most ruthless of souls may win the prize.

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Author Iris Anthony transports readers back to the Dark Ages of Europe in her intriguing new novel THE MIRACLE THIEF. The story is told from the point of view of three women, all searching for help from the relic of Saint Catherine. Juliana is a nun seeking forgiveness for a past sin. Anne is a religious pilgrim hoping to be healed of her deformity, and Gisele is a princess looking to be spared from a forced marriage to an invading pagan.

It took a while for this book to click with me, but when it did, I became absorbed in the plight of the three main characters. Ms. Anthony brings the medieval world to life, especially the condition of women and the poor during that time. My heart went out to Anne in particular. She was poor and alone, and people shunned her because of her deformity. They thought it was a punishment from God or a mark of the devil. If anyone deserved a miracle, it was Anne. This book also brought to light the politics of the church and its powerful influence over everyone.

THE MIRACLE THIEF was well-researched historical fiction starring three strong and memorable female protagonists. Some adventure, a touch of romance, and a hopeful ending made this an enjoyable read.

Rating: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.