What do you think?
Rate this book
Maeve Chronicles #4
Red-Robed Priestess
After a life of passion and adventure that has brought her through slavery to the Resurrection garden, through the controversies of the Early Church to a hermit cave in southern Gaul, Maeve, the Celtic Mary Magdalen, returns to the Holy Isles accompanied by Sarah, her daughter with Jesus. Their mission: to find Maeve's first-born child, stolen from her by the druids more than forty years ago.
Since then, Maeve's homeland has suffered it's own trials--Roman invasion and occupation. The Celtic tribes to the east and south are under direct rule, and the Romans are determined to rout the resistance of the western tribes, resistance fueled by the druids of Mona.
Just before she crosses the channel from Gaul to Britain, Maeve encounters a man she mistakes for Jesus's ghost. This familiar stranger is equally haunted, and the two are drawn into a moonstruck liason that will entwine their lives in "an impossible Celtic knot." For unbeknownst to Maeve at the time, he is none other than General Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, the newly-appointed Roman Governor of Britain.
Maeve keeps this troubling tryst a secret even after she finds her long-lost daughter Boudica, the fierce and charismatic queen of the Iceni tribe. Druid-trained in her youth, Boudica married the Iceni king, hoping to rally him to a rebellion for which he has no stomach. Now estranged from her husband, Boudica keeps the old ways, sustained by her pride in her descent form her father (and Maeve's!) the late great druid Lovernios.
Seeking to circumvent disaster, Maeve travels back and forth from Iceni country to Mona, from the heart of native resistance to a Roman fort on the Western front, steadfast in her conviction: "Love is as strong as death."
Since then, Maeve's homeland has suffered it's own trials--Roman invasion and occupation. The Celtic tribes to the east and south are under direct rule, and the Romans are determined to rout the resistance of the western tribes, resistance fueled by the druids of Mona.
Just before she crosses the channel from Gaul to Britain, Maeve encounters a man she mistakes for Jesus's ghost. This familiar stranger is equally haunted, and the two are drawn into a moonstruck liason that will entwine their lives in "an impossible Celtic knot." For unbeknownst to Maeve at the time, he is none other than General Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, the newly-appointed Roman Governor of Britain.
Maeve keeps this troubling tryst a secret even after she finds her long-lost daughter Boudica, the fierce and charismatic queen of the Iceni tribe. Druid-trained in her youth, Boudica married the Iceni king, hoping to rally him to a rebellion for which he has no stomach. Now estranged from her husband, Boudica keeps the old ways, sustained by her pride in her descent form her father (and Maeve's!) the late great druid Lovernios.
Seeking to circumvent disaster, Maeve travels back and forth from Iceni country to Mona, from the heart of native resistance to a Roman fort on the Western front, steadfast in her conviction: "Love is as strong as death."
297 pages, Hardcover
First published November 8, 2011
17 people are currently reading
509 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 25, 2014
The whole Maeve Chronicles series is superlative, highly recommended, one of my favorites. I would recommend it for fans of strong women, Celtic fantasy, Biblical reinterpretation, myth and magic, Goddess fiction, the Mists of Avalon. In a nutshell, Mary Magdalen is re-visioned as a Celtic ex-pat and Jesus' wife, a magical and strong and sometimes foolish woman, and her tale spans the course of four well-researched and well-written books. Written with cheek and humor and glory and beauty, all at once.
In Book Four, Red-Robed Priestess, we return to where Meave came from as she searches for her long-lost first daughter, Boudica. Boudica, the last one to make a stand against Roman occupation, a bit crazy, quite fierce. Maeve, now a crone, wrestles with the complications of love - for her daughters, granddaughters, her people, the druid teachings, Jesus, her enemy - as the day long prophesied comes near.
We see old friends again, much to my joy, but this is also a book of endings and loss. And, since it's Celtic, of spirals and cycles and continuation as well.
In Book Four, Red-Robed Priestess, we return to where Meave came from as she searches for her long-lost first daughter, Boudica. Boudica, the last one to make a stand against Roman occupation, a bit crazy, quite fierce. Maeve, now a crone, wrestles with the complications of love - for her daughters, granddaughters, her people, the druid teachings, Jesus, her enemy - as the day long prophesied comes near.
We see old friends again, much to my joy, but this is also a book of endings and loss. And, since it's Celtic, of spirals and cycles and continuation as well.
October 24, 2017
I wanted to write a review only after finishing all the books in Maeve Chronicles. I stumbled on "The Passion of Mary Magdalen" purely on accident. I had no idea what I was getting into, the book preview was intriguing and I decided to give it a shot. Little did I know I was walking into my favorite black hole. I am a huge fan of literature that celebrates the feminine Goddess, a woman's inner essence, nature's wild spirit that a woman carries inside her. And Maeve Chronicles is a haven of Magic, Mythological Lore, Religion, History .. all coming together to celebrate the Goddess. It is incredible how Elizabeth Cunnigham has taken absolutely real characters from the Bible and give them a life and interpretation that feels so much more real and relatable than established doctrine and canon beliefs. (Let me be clear here, I am from a Catholic family but do not myself conform to any religion, let's say that in my own way, I believe in the Goddess in all her iterations)
Maeve breaks all established norms and moral codes, yet there is righteousness unlike any other in her character. If the 21st-century believers of Christ can believe it when the Bible says Jesus turned water into wine, then there is no reason why Maeve can't be real. Maeve & Esus and the story of how they lived, loved and died is for the ages to remember. From the beginning to the end, the author has kept the Goddess at the center of her story and yet she has shown how the male and female can be a combined force of love and equality, existing in pure harmony even when they were rarely understood or accepted. Esus's presence in Maeve's life and how she carries him in her soul is a love unlike any before. The progression of Maeve's story through her eight warrior witch mothers, Isis, Cailleach, Branwen and Vivianne, the Crows, Dwymwyn, Sarah, Boudica, Gwen, Lithben, her friends at Temple Magdalen, Miriam .... its a treasure trove of how the Goddess can suffer endlessly to stand up for what she believes in and to protect the people she loves and the ones who wronged her.
In my opinion this generation hasnt given Maeve series the appreciation and love it deserves. This series deserves to be celebrated as a classic.
Maeve breaks all established norms and moral codes, yet there is righteousness unlike any other in her character. If the 21st-century believers of Christ can believe it when the Bible says Jesus turned water into wine, then there is no reason why Maeve can't be real. Maeve & Esus and the story of how they lived, loved and died is for the ages to remember. From the beginning to the end, the author has kept the Goddess at the center of her story and yet she has shown how the male and female can be a combined force of love and equality, existing in pure harmony even when they were rarely understood or accepted. Esus's presence in Maeve's life and how she carries him in her soul is a love unlike any before. The progression of Maeve's story through her eight warrior witch mothers, Isis, Cailleach, Branwen and Vivianne, the Crows, Dwymwyn, Sarah, Boudica, Gwen, Lithben, her friends at Temple Magdalen, Miriam .... its a treasure trove of how the Goddess can suffer endlessly to stand up for what she believes in and to protect the people she loves and the ones who wronged her.
In my opinion this generation hasnt given Maeve series the appreciation and love it deserves. This series deserves to be celebrated as a classic.
June 10, 2012
I read Elizabeth Cunningham's first Mary Magdalen novel ('Daughter of the Shining Isles'; now renamed as 'Magdalen Rising') about ten years ago, and fell in love.
Mary Magdalen as a fiery Celt? Who's telling the story to us, in a very modern-day vernacular? She's fiesty, confident, and fiercely passionate.
When I finished up 'Bright Dark Madonna' three years ago, I was ecstatic to read in the back there'd be a fourth book to the trilogy.
And while this one doesn't have as much sass like the first one... but hey, we all mellow as we get older, right? ;)
I think things were wrapped up very well, looking at the ending from both a historical point of view, and as historical fiction.
Mary Magdalen as a fiery Celt? Who's telling the story to us, in a very modern-day vernacular? She's fiesty, confident, and fiercely passionate.
When I finished up 'Bright Dark Madonna' three years ago, I was ecstatic to read in the back there'd be a fourth book to the trilogy.
And while this one doesn't have as much sass like the first one... but hey, we all mellow as we get older, right? ;)
I think things were wrapped up very well, looking at the ending from both a historical point of view, and as historical fiction.
September 5, 2013
This book had me sobbing almost the entire time I was reading. The author did such a great job of making the characters so "real" - I felt such a loss when I finished the last page. I really enjoyed this series.
December 11, 2012
4th & last book of the Maeve Chronicles, and I loved it (although a couple earlier ones are favored over this one. I love that Cunningham takes what is known about Mary Magdalen and the times in which she lived, as well as historical facts, and comes up with an awesome story/stories. I learned from her books (yes, they sent me to the internet to sort out truth from fiction and to get a few additional facts) and I was moved by both their humanity and their spirituality. I'm almost sad that the series is over.
February 3, 2014
The last book of the series has an interesting twist, and a perfect ending. I recommend this series to anyone who likes historical fiction, Celtic tales, or was a fan of the Da Vinci Code. The author makes Jesus look like the human he was, and it's easier to envision him as described through his relationship with Maeve and their daughter, Sarah.
October 27, 2014
This volume is likely the most emotional in the series with a depth of experience that reflects the wisdom gained with age. This one is bound to be my favorite in the series though reader be warned: graphic depiction of rape, desecration of corpses, battle, suicide and childhood trauma, with trauma like processing of rape, incest and child abandonment.
January 14, 2021
This book was beautiful. It has everything I love, passion, priestesses, Avalon, magic, powerful women, faith, beauty, tragedy.
Fully recommend, I much preferred this to the third book in the series. The beginning was a little “that’s so Maeve!” for my liking, but it became so beautiful and we revisited so many loved places and people in this final book.
Fully recommend, I much preferred this to the third book in the series. The beginning was a little “that’s so Maeve!” for my liking, but it became so beautiful and we revisited so many loved places and people in this final book.
September 16, 2021
The final book of Elizabeth Cunningham’s Maeve Chronicles is a breathtaking culmination of the four-book series. A weaving together of Jewish, Roman, and Celtic history and myth, the series as a whole creates a myth of its own, one I suspect that many readers, myself included, wish were true! The author makes an amazingly convincing case that Maeve Rhuad, a.k.a, Mary Magdalen, was both a Celtic weather witch and Jesus’s eternal wife/lover, whose acts impacted significant historical figures of all three cultures, from the Virgin Mary to St. Paul and many more, including the Celtic Queen Boudica, who led her people’s last stand against the Romans. The series’ last volume tells the Boudica’s story. The doomed queen turns out to be Maeve’s long-lost daughter – angry, powerful and dedicated to saving her people at all costs – in an unforgettable tragedy that is nevertheless an affirmation of earthly life.
December 23, 2017
And for the final book in the Maeve Chronicles' series, I again found it incredibly interesting and hard to put down. I was again amazed at the research and plausible explanation of events that took place from the unknown or little understood point of view of the peoples whose history was only handed down through storytelling and not "politically written" for the benefit of the "superior military empire" at the time.
I applaud her written performance.
I applaud her written performance.
January 12, 2019
And just like that my new bff is gone and the series is over. The circle has been opened (took me until part 4 to finally see it!). Maeve just may be my favorite character ever, although to be fair every time I read a book about Mary Magdalene she becomes my favorite character. This series is equal to The Mists of Avalon for me, every bit as magical and not just because of Mona and Avalon are central to the story. I need more and I have no idea how to find another web to be woven into.
June 15, 2017
Just finished the series last night. Dont even know how to let go of Maeve Rhaud now.
July 10, 2017
Captivating characters set in biblical times with a unique storyline. Everything came to life off of the pages. Worth reading the whole series.
March 19, 2019
I LOVE what Elizabeth Cunningham did with the Mary Magdalene story. Her inventions around the family tree are utterly FABULOUS.
November 10, 2022
Very inspiring story based on real facts.
April 26, 2024
I’m trying to remember this after 2 years. I think Mary Magdalene’s daughter with Esus is a lesbian pirate. Although this sounds absurd, the story absorbs you and is epic, romantic, and entertaining.
August 18, 2025
Satisfying ending to the series
June 2, 2018
I have no clue how to even begin explaining how important this series has been to me. I’m so sad I’ve finished it, but I’m happy that I got to read them all. Maeve has taught me so much about the world and about myself, and she’s one of the most unique and fascinating characters ever written. It’s been awesome watching her transformation over four whole books, from spunky teen to bold adult and finally to wise elder, and to watch the characters around her grow and change too. The reunion with Branwen and Viviane was the hardest for me to get through; their friendship in Magdalen Rising felt so realistic and dynamic, and to see them all grown and toughened up by the world was so emotional.
I managed to hold the tears in until the very final page. Once I read Cunningham’s dedication to Maeve I sort of lost it. It’s so amazing to think that Maeve has such an effect on readers, that fans of the series never forget her; I can only imagine how hard it was for Cunningham to bring the series to an end.
Red Robed Priestess was certainly the roughest book for me to get through. Seeing Boudica’s downfall was... not easy. Especially during the later scenes, as she starts to lose her mind. But at the same time I feel so sorry for her. She’s a fascinating and unexpected antagonist.
5/5 stars of course. I’m already listening to the audiobook versions of all four books again, over the course of the next four months. I can’t wait, and I’m so happy that I’ll have the opportunity to revisit Maeve whenever I need her.
***
Update: Listened to the Audiobook. Loved it, as I did the first three. Great narration. I do wish they included the dedication Cunningham wrote to Maeve in the back of the book, but otherwise I enjoyed it as much as reading the physical book!
I managed to hold the tears in until the very final page. Once I read Cunningham’s dedication to Maeve I sort of lost it. It’s so amazing to think that Maeve has such an effect on readers, that fans of the series never forget her; I can only imagine how hard it was for Cunningham to bring the series to an end.
Red Robed Priestess was certainly the roughest book for me to get through. Seeing Boudica’s downfall was... not easy. Especially during the later scenes, as she starts to lose her mind. But at the same time I feel so sorry for her. She’s a fascinating and unexpected antagonist.
5/5 stars of course. I’m already listening to the audiobook versions of all four books again, over the course of the next four months. I can’t wait, and I’m so happy that I’ll have the opportunity to revisit Maeve whenever I need her.
***
Update: Listened to the Audiobook. Loved it, as I did the first three. Great narration. I do wish they included the dedication Cunningham wrote to Maeve in the back of the book, but otherwise I enjoyed it as much as reading the physical book!
November 30, 2011
Elizabeth is a modern day Celtic Bard whose words flow like milk and honey. When I was reading Red Robed Priestess, my husband asked me why I was smiling. Two reasons – first, each word felt like nourishing soul food; second, there was the dry wit of the main character Maeve, the kind of humor that makes you laugh out loud.
Red Robed Priestess is the fourth and final installment in Maeve’s story, the life of Mary Magdalen. But be advised, Maeve is definitely not your mother’s Mary Magdalen, nor is she the Magdalen we meet in contemporary novels. Maeve is born of eight warrior witches in the Celtic Otherworld. She’s unabashedly honest. And, unorthodox as well as fearless. Not so much the kind of fearless that stems from obligation or duty. It’s more the kind that is sourced in her unapologetic authenticity, as well as in her body. Her raw truth both inspires and scares me. Could I ever aspire to stand up for those I love the way she did? I certainly learned from her.
Elizabeth and Maeve will transport you to other worlds. To the Celtic Otherworld, to Roman occupied Britain, as well as to the world of deep emotion, and the complexity of human relationships. The world of love eternal. Be prepared for a poignant exploration of mother daughter bonds, and how you can find love in the most surprising people and circumstances.
Red Robed Priestess is the fourth and final installment in Maeve’s story, the life of Mary Magdalen. But be advised, Maeve is definitely not your mother’s Mary Magdalen, nor is she the Magdalen we meet in contemporary novels. Maeve is born of eight warrior witches in the Celtic Otherworld. She’s unabashedly honest. And, unorthodox as well as fearless. Not so much the kind of fearless that stems from obligation or duty. It’s more the kind that is sourced in her unapologetic authenticity, as well as in her body. Her raw truth both inspires and scares me. Could I ever aspire to stand up for those I love the way she did? I certainly learned from her.
Elizabeth and Maeve will transport you to other worlds. To the Celtic Otherworld, to Roman occupied Britain, as well as to the world of deep emotion, and the complexity of human relationships. The world of love eternal. Be prepared for a poignant exploration of mother daughter bonds, and how you can find love in the most surprising people and circumstances.
May 25, 2013
For my full review, see here:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.wordpr...
"Red-Robed Priestess" was one of my BEA finds last year. It imagines a story where Mary Magdalene is a Celtic priestess/witch, and is the fourth book in a series. However, you don't really need to read the first three to understand this one.
Maeve (Mary Magdalene) is around 60 in this volume, and she wants to make peace with herself by seeking out her long-lost daughter who was sent to be fostered by a neighboring tribe many years ago. Meanwhile, that daughter has grown up into the rebel queen Boudica, and is about to begin her infamous fight against the Romans.
Red-Robed Priestess is a neat blend of historical fiction and fantasy. If you enjoy authors like Marion Zimmer-Bradley, then this one's for you!
http://bookswithoutanypictures.wordpr...
"Red-Robed Priestess" was one of my BEA finds last year. It imagines a story where Mary Magdalene is a Celtic priestess/witch, and is the fourth book in a series. However, you don't really need to read the first three to understand this one.
Maeve (Mary Magdalene) is around 60 in this volume, and she wants to make peace with herself by seeking out her long-lost daughter who was sent to be fostered by a neighboring tribe many years ago. Meanwhile, that daughter has grown up into the rebel queen Boudica, and is about to begin her infamous fight against the Romans.
Red-Robed Priestess is a neat blend of historical fiction and fantasy. If you enjoy authors like Marion Zimmer-Bradley, then this one's for you!
September 16, 2016
I'm devastated to be through with this series. Contrary to some of the other reviews here, I really loved this ending, and wish it were a lengthier book. I can't imagine anyone searching for these reviews who hasn't already read the other 3, but in the off chance that's you - just read them. Read any of them, all of them. The Maeve Chronicles are impossibly good and difficult to put down. I made the mistake of pouring through them, but I wish I'd had the self control to stop after each chapter and take my time, digest, give some space, and then come back for more. I'll pick these back up in a year or so when I need some fresh Maeve inspiration in my life.
I'm extremely grateful to Elizabeth Cunningham for bringing Maeve Rhuad into my life!
I'm extremely grateful to Elizabeth Cunningham for bringing Maeve Rhuad into my life!
April 30, 2012
Ironically, even though I would have expected a return of the protagonist, Maeve, to her native British Isles to be a high point in this four-part trilogy (yes, that's right), I thought it was actually the weakest novel. Despite my love of the characters, and Elizabeth Cunningham's wonderful writing, I cannot deny that this book was not a page turner for me. It took me a while to read it, and I had no problem setting it down every night. Unfortunately, I am unable to encapuslate exactly what it is that left me so indifferent in this tale. All I can say is that I was just left unmoved. A disappointing ending when the rest of the series was just so utterly, incredibly good.
May 16, 2013
Of the four books in the Maeve Chronicles series, this was the weakest. I felt sad most of the way through the book. Maeve seemed rather pathetic, willing to accept the unrelenting anger of both of her daughters, which she did not deserve. There was a lot of war and threats of war, complete with graphic battle and rape descriptions, which is not my cup of tea. The other books were fun to read, full of complex and often humorous characters, but in this book, Maeve left all those characters behind. I wonder whether Ms. Cunningham felt that she needed to write this book to tie up loose ends and finish the story, but really didn't know how to do it and retain the spirit of the other books.
t
t
August 9, 2015
While the first few chapters were heavier going than the usual extraordinarily musical writing I've come to take for granted in this series, suddenly there it was again: Magic. Yes, this book is, as everyone says, full of endings. It is also wonderful, potent, and right. I don't know how on earth she managed to pull off the combining of these two historical heavyweight threads, but she jolly well did. Highly, highly recommended series, all four volumes. A new favorite for this reader.
January 5, 2012
Latest book in the Maeve series, it brought completion to the prior 3 books. I love her writing style and it is historically interesting to me. Parts of the battle and warring segments were a little too graphic for me however. Overall a good read, but would recommend reading her prior trilogy first.
October 20, 2014
I loved this whole series. I couldn't put it down and read all four books straight through but this last book and the way she ended it disappointed.
The entire series was so rich and full but it felt like the last chapter of the whole series was rushed and just lacked the full body that the rest of the books had.
The entire series was so rich and full but it felt like the last chapter of the whole series was rushed and just lacked the full body that the rest of the books had.
July 10, 2016
I'm really sad that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the others. It took me a while to get into it but when I did, I liked it. But then towards the end, it became painful to read. Sometimes you need to end a story when its done and not try to wrap up loose ends.
March 8, 2012
Not as interesting and feisty as the previous three, but this book does wrap up most of the loose ends from the Magdalene trilogy.
September 16, 2012
I'm so happy that Cunningham added the fourth book to the trilogy - it wraps up the story in a most satisfying way. Let's hear it for fierce women throughout history!
March 24, 2013
I love all the Mary and Mary Magdalene books out these days.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews