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Brigid
Brought to you by Penguin.
Daughter to a slave mother and a chieftain father, Brigid is caught between two worlds. When her father barters her to a brutal husband, her desperate prayers are heard by an ancient goddess, who sets her on a new path – helping other women, bending the new Christian faith to her will to build a sisterhood and sanctuary for all who are oppressed.
But power has a price, and as Brigid rises to challenge kings and bishops, she must reckon with what she has become.
And as her enemies circle, eager to reclaim what she has taken, how much is she willing to sacrifice to hold on to her legacy?
Daughter to a slave mother and a chieftain father, Brigid is caught between two worlds. When her father barters her to a brutal husband, her desperate prayers are heard by an ancient goddess, who sets her on a new path – helping other women, bending the new Christian faith to her will to build a sisterhood and sanctuary for all who are oppressed.
But power has a price, and as Brigid rises to challenge kings and bishops, she must reckon with what she has become.
And as her enemies circle, eager to reclaim what she has taken, how much is she willing to sacrifice to hold on to her legacy?
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 29, 2026
80 people are currently reading
1497 people want to read
About the author
Kim Curran
17 books154 followersKim was born in Dublin and moved to London when she was seven. She got her first typewriter when she was eight, had a poem she wrote about a snail published in a magazine when she was nine, and that was it – Kim was hooked on writing.
Because she never thought she’d actually be able to make a living as a writer, she decided she needed a trade to fall back on. So, naturally, she went to Sussex University to study philosophy.
While Kim’s plan of being paid big bucks to think deep thoughts never quite worked out, she did land a job as a junior copywriter with an ad agency a week after graduating. She’s worked in advertising ever since, specialising in writing for videogames.
Because she never thought she’d actually be able to make a living as a writer, she decided she needed a trade to fall back on. So, naturally, she went to Sussex University to study philosophy.
While Kim’s plan of being paid big bucks to think deep thoughts never quite worked out, she did land a job as a junior copywriter with an ad agency a week after graduating. She’s worked in advertising ever since, specialising in writing for videogames.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
March 15, 2026
3.5 stars. I've rounded up to 4, since 3 seems too low.
I really enjoyed the way this retelling of the story of Saint Brigid of Kildare is written. I'm not religious in any way, though I was raised Catholic, but you don't need to be to enjoy this novel. If you don't know any Irish, bookmark the hell out of the glossary and pronunciation guide in the front, because you're going to need it. Irish is a beautiful language, but the way things are spelt is very different to the way it's pronounced. I have learned a bit of Irish in the past, but I still struggle to remember the way certain combinations of letters and accents are pronounced, and had to check back quite a few times. That made the book a bit challenging at times, but it was well worth muddling through it. The book does not spoon feed you and dumb it down. I love it when authors don't simplify things for the reader, but expect you to put in the work as well.
Brigid herself is an interesting, nuanced character, driven by pure, justifiable feminist rage. She isn't always likeable, and she makes some pretty horrific decisions along the way, but she's strong, capable, intelligent and generous. I could well understand why she distrusted and despised men, but she took it way too far at times, to the detriment of all. Her character shifts with the years, and her achievements change life as she knew it. She hurts as much as she helps, and you are treated to running the gamut of all of her conflicting emotions and motivations.
I also loved the side characters, especially Ciara, Lommán and Darlughdach. They are just as strong as Brigid, but more likeable for the bulk of the story. They do not have her literal divine powers, but they make their mark in other ways, as integral parts of the whole fabric of their community. The undertones to their relationships make them so richly drawn. I'm sure there's some people (*cough* bigots *cough*) who will complain about aspects of their characters being anachronistic, but that's absolutely not the case. Sapphic love, along with trans people and other queer people have existed for as long as humans have existed, and it's historically accepted that Brigid and Darlughdach considered themselves to be soulmates and life partners. In this book, I think Brigid comes off as asexual, and that's yet another nuanced aspect to her character.
The Goddess was a really interesting character as well. She is the narrator, and interjects when necessary. Her strength and wisdom is the backbone of all that happens, both good and bad.
Then we have the antagonists. So. many. antagonists. They come in all different flavours, from her father, the Church as a whole, royalty, and most importantly, Saint Patrick. Oh, he makes my skin crawl, and Brigid is right about him from the get go. He was utterly irredeemable and I was just as glad as Brigid when he died.
The whole book is about how power corrupts, and patriarchal structures are inescapable. Not only does it take over Patrick and his gaggle of sycophants, but Brigid herself for a time. It doesn't matter what place the man inhabits in the social hierarchy, because there will always be someone they have power over. Who would those people be? Women. She cannot even build a space for women's safety without having to grant men access and defend the space with violence. Sounds awfully familiar, even in modern times. Too many men feel themselves entitled to women's spaces, whilst simultaneously denying access to men's spaces.
However, I felt it dragged out for a while towards the end. I still found it really interesting, but my attention waned. The first half of the book is absolutely fabulous, and the final few chapters are just as good, but it got a bit bogged down. I also thought some characters could have been fleshed out a bit more, and I would have liked to know what happened to them in the end.
I will definitely get a copy of The Morrigan now! I'd absolutely recommend this to people who enjoy retellings of mythology and history, regardless of whether Brigid was a real person or not. It was a welcome change from other mythological or fairytale retellings, as I think a lot of them have been done to death at this point. This novel is a bit different, and I learnt a lot about the early Church in Ireland because of it. It's also done me good to learn more of the Irish language!
I really enjoyed the way this retelling of the story of Saint Brigid of Kildare is written. I'm not religious in any way, though I was raised Catholic, but you don't need to be to enjoy this novel. If you don't know any Irish, bookmark the hell out of the glossary and pronunciation guide in the front, because you're going to need it. Irish is a beautiful language, but the way things are spelt is very different to the way it's pronounced. I have learned a bit of Irish in the past, but I still struggle to remember the way certain combinations of letters and accents are pronounced, and had to check back quite a few times. That made the book a bit challenging at times, but it was well worth muddling through it. The book does not spoon feed you and dumb it down. I love it when authors don't simplify things for the reader, but expect you to put in the work as well.
Brigid herself is an interesting, nuanced character, driven by pure, justifiable feminist rage. She isn't always likeable, and she makes some pretty horrific decisions along the way, but she's strong, capable, intelligent and generous. I could well understand why she distrusted and despised men, but she took it way too far at times, to the detriment of all. Her character shifts with the years, and her achievements change life as she knew it. She hurts as much as she helps, and you are treated to running the gamut of all of her conflicting emotions and motivations.
I also loved the side characters, especially Ciara, Lommán and Darlughdach. They are just as strong as Brigid, but more likeable for the bulk of the story. They do not have her literal divine powers, but they make their mark in other ways, as integral parts of the whole fabric of their community. The undertones to their relationships make them so richly drawn. I'm sure there's some people (*cough* bigots *cough*) who will complain about aspects of their characters being anachronistic, but that's absolutely not the case. Sapphic love, along with trans people and other queer people have existed for as long as humans have existed, and it's historically accepted that Brigid and Darlughdach considered themselves to be soulmates and life partners. In this book, I think Brigid comes off as asexual, and that's yet another nuanced aspect to her character.
The Goddess was a really interesting character as well. She is the narrator, and interjects when necessary. Her strength and wisdom is the backbone of all that happens, both good and bad.
Then we have the antagonists. So. many. antagonists. They come in all different flavours, from her father, the Church as a whole, royalty, and most importantly, Saint Patrick. Oh, he makes my skin crawl, and Brigid is right about him from the get go. He was utterly irredeemable and I was just as glad as Brigid when he died.
The whole book is about how power corrupts, and patriarchal structures are inescapable. Not only does it take over Patrick and his gaggle of sycophants, but Brigid herself for a time. It doesn't matter what place the man inhabits in the social hierarchy, because there will always be someone they have power over. Who would those people be? Women. She cannot even build a space for women's safety without having to grant men access and defend the space with violence. Sounds awfully familiar, even in modern times. Too many men feel themselves entitled to women's spaces, whilst simultaneously denying access to men's spaces.
However, I felt it dragged out for a while towards the end. I still found it really interesting, but my attention waned. The first half of the book is absolutely fabulous, and the final few chapters are just as good, but it got a bit bogged down. I also thought some characters could have been fleshed out a bit more, and I would have liked to know what happened to them in the end.
I will definitely get a copy of The Morrigan now! I'd absolutely recommend this to people who enjoy retellings of mythology and history, regardless of whether Brigid was a real person or not. It was a welcome change from other mythological or fairytale retellings, as I think a lot of them have been done to death at this point. This novel is a bit different, and I learnt a lot about the early Church in Ireland because of it. It's also done me good to learn more of the Irish language!
Read
March 20, 2026Brigid is Kim Curran's second novel following the release of The Morrigan last year. Both books weave Irish Mythology with a healthy dash of feminine rage. On paper this should have been an automatic winner for me. Unfortunately, I had some issues with the writing.
We follow a girl named Brigid, who would eventually become Saint Brigid, founder of the monastic community at Kildare. We then see the intertwining of the goddess Brigid of the Tuatha De Danann and Brigid the would be saint. In the lore there is question of whether they are one in the same, or as Christianity spread through Ireland and the old ways were classified as paganism, did one morph into the other. Imbolc is also the feast day of St. Brigid, and the actual existence of Brigid the person is contested by historians. The author did a great job incorporating the two entities, with once being a sort of omniscient narrator for the other at time.
Brigid also looks at St. Patrick and his ministry to convert the Irish people across the country. He is not painted in the best light and there is a bit of a power struggle between him and Brigid, which is one of my favorite parts of the story.
My issue with this book comes down to the dialogue between the characters at times. Keep in mind this is 5th-6th century, and this conversation happens:
"Like, if I go to trade sheepskins in the market , I don't accept the first offer I get. I chat a little, all casual like, and find out that your man has the hots for your woman, and I say I will have a word with her. "
"Brigid laughs. When Darlughdach plays at being a nun, she always goes too hard"
There are more examples that continue to highlight my point here but we'll stick to these for now. I don't remember these issues in The Morrigan, and it only started to REALLY stand out in the second half of this book, but wow it seriously impacted my enjoyment of the book. It seems so out of place and ridiculous to me.
This isn't to thwart anyone from reading it, but more for awareness of something that could be a turn-off.
My other comment is that the characters feel a little flat to me. Brigid becomes nearly insufferable towards the end, in her bid for power- which is justified to some extent but started to feel repetitive.
There are some solid moments here, but ultimately, Brigid was just ok for me.
We follow a girl named Brigid, who would eventually become Saint Brigid, founder of the monastic community at Kildare. We then see the intertwining of the goddess Brigid of the Tuatha De Danann and Brigid the would be saint. In the lore there is question of whether they are one in the same, or as Christianity spread through Ireland and the old ways were classified as paganism, did one morph into the other. Imbolc is also the feast day of St. Brigid, and the actual existence of Brigid the person is contested by historians. The author did a great job incorporating the two entities, with once being a sort of omniscient narrator for the other at time.
Brigid also looks at St. Patrick and his ministry to convert the Irish people across the country. He is not painted in the best light and there is a bit of a power struggle between him and Brigid, which is one of my favorite parts of the story.
My issue with this book comes down to the dialogue between the characters at times. Keep in mind this is 5th-6th century, and this conversation happens:
"Like, if I go to trade sheepskins in the market , I don't accept the first offer I get. I chat a little, all casual like, and find out that your man has the hots for your woman, and I say I will have a word with her. "
"Brigid laughs. When Darlughdach plays at being a nun, she always goes too hard"
There are more examples that continue to highlight my point here but we'll stick to these for now. I don't remember these issues in The Morrigan, and it only started to REALLY stand out in the second half of this book, but wow it seriously impacted my enjoyment of the book. It seems so out of place and ridiculous to me.
This isn't to thwart anyone from reading it, but more for awareness of something that could be a turn-off.
My other comment is that the characters feel a little flat to me. Brigid becomes nearly insufferable towards the end, in her bid for power- which is justified to some extent but started to feel repetitive.
There are some solid moments here, but ultimately, Brigid was just ok for me.
December 9, 2025
thank you to netgalley for the arc! I absolutely loved this, cannot wait for publication. An amazing feminist centred (re)telling of Saint Brigid and the Irish goddess Brigid. A story new to me, but kept me 100% glued
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🔥 ARC REVIEW | BRIGID by Kim Curran 🔥
(publishes 29 January 2026 - clear your calendars)
I don’t say this lightly: Kim Curran is on an absolute fire, and Brigid cements her as an auto-buy author for me. After The Morrigan (which I adored), this felt like coming home to exactly the kind of feminist, ferocious mythology retelling I want injected directly into my veins.
This is not a polite saint’s life. This is fire, blood, politics, bees, books, rage, tenderness, and women carving out space in a world that does not want them to exist freely.
Curran does the homework - all of it. You can feel the hundreds of hours spent steeped in Irish myth, early Christianity, pagan ritual, and the messy overlap between the two. Nothing is pasted on. Legends are woven so seamlessly they feel inevitable. Of course this is how it happened. Of course this is how the goddess and the saint blur. Of course this is how power shifts hands.
From the opening pages, Brigid’s position is brutally clear:
“What is a girl like me? … Born to be bought and sold.”
There is no romanticising of womanhood here - only the grinding reality of it. Wife or slave, and as Brigid notes with devastating clarity: “There is little difference between a slave and a wife.”
What Brigid does brilliantly is chart a woman who wants more - not just for herself, but for others. Brigid doesn’t dream of freedom as a solitary act. She dreams of systems. Of shelter. Of sisterhood.
“Brigid wants more for herself than to be a spoke in a wheel of women’s lives repeating over and over and over.”
And that wheel? She takes an axe to it.
The relationships between women are the heart of this book. Rescued women. Chosen sisters. A community built deliberately, fiercely, against the grain of a violent, patriarchal world. One of my favourite moments is deceptively small and devastatingly funny:
“‘Look,’ one of her new sisters says… ‘It even has pockets.’”
Reader, I laughed. Then I sighed. Then I felt seen.
Curran’s Brigid is complex, flawed, strategic, and sometimes frightening - especially when power enters the picture. The book is deeply interested in what leadership costs women, and how often they are asked to trade tenderness for survival.
“This is the cost of power, then? … Weighing the worth of one life against the needs of many.”
There are no easy answers here. No clean sainthood. Just choice after choice in a world where men hold swords, spears, and theology.
“Christ told his followers to hate violence… But Christ was not a woman.”
Exactly.
Stylistically, this sits beautifully alongside Lucy Holland and Elizabeth Fremantle - lush but controlled, sharp without being brittle. The prose has weight. Authority. It knows when to step back and let myth breathe, and when to punch you clean in the chest.
And yes, I am completely obsessed with the cover. Iconic. Flame-lit. Shelf-dominant.
The ending? Quietly powerful. Wise. It lingers. Especially this:
“The light of wisdom and curiosity and kindness and sisterhood will continue to glow in the heart of every woman who is brave enough to ask, ‘What if?’”
What if there was another way.
What if women ruled differently.
What if holiness looked like protection, not obedience.
🔥 Verdict: Feminist mythmaking at its best. Ferocious, learned, deeply human.
⭐ 4.75 / 5
📚 Huge thanks to Penguin & NetGalley for the ARC - I will be shouting about this one.
(publishes 29 January 2026 - clear your calendars)
I don’t say this lightly: Kim Curran is on an absolute fire, and Brigid cements her as an auto-buy author for me. After The Morrigan (which I adored), this felt like coming home to exactly the kind of feminist, ferocious mythology retelling I want injected directly into my veins.
This is not a polite saint’s life. This is fire, blood, politics, bees, books, rage, tenderness, and women carving out space in a world that does not want them to exist freely.
Curran does the homework - all of it. You can feel the hundreds of hours spent steeped in Irish myth, early Christianity, pagan ritual, and the messy overlap between the two. Nothing is pasted on. Legends are woven so seamlessly they feel inevitable. Of course this is how it happened. Of course this is how the goddess and the saint blur. Of course this is how power shifts hands.
From the opening pages, Brigid’s position is brutally clear:
“What is a girl like me? … Born to be bought and sold.”
There is no romanticising of womanhood here - only the grinding reality of it. Wife or slave, and as Brigid notes with devastating clarity: “There is little difference between a slave and a wife.”
What Brigid does brilliantly is chart a woman who wants more - not just for herself, but for others. Brigid doesn’t dream of freedom as a solitary act. She dreams of systems. Of shelter. Of sisterhood.
“Brigid wants more for herself than to be a spoke in a wheel of women’s lives repeating over and over and over.”
And that wheel? She takes an axe to it.
The relationships between women are the heart of this book. Rescued women. Chosen sisters. A community built deliberately, fiercely, against the grain of a violent, patriarchal world. One of my favourite moments is deceptively small and devastatingly funny:
“‘Look,’ one of her new sisters says… ‘It even has pockets.’”
Reader, I laughed. Then I sighed. Then I felt seen.
Curran’s Brigid is complex, flawed, strategic, and sometimes frightening - especially when power enters the picture. The book is deeply interested in what leadership costs women, and how often they are asked to trade tenderness for survival.
“This is the cost of power, then? … Weighing the worth of one life against the needs of many.”
There are no easy answers here. No clean sainthood. Just choice after choice in a world where men hold swords, spears, and theology.
“Christ told his followers to hate violence… But Christ was not a woman.”
Exactly.
Stylistically, this sits beautifully alongside Lucy Holland and Elizabeth Fremantle - lush but controlled, sharp without being brittle. The prose has weight. Authority. It knows when to step back and let myth breathe, and when to punch you clean in the chest.
And yes, I am completely obsessed with the cover. Iconic. Flame-lit. Shelf-dominant.
The ending? Quietly powerful. Wise. It lingers. Especially this:
“The light of wisdom and curiosity and kindness and sisterhood will continue to glow in the heart of every woman who is brave enough to ask, ‘What if?’”
What if there was another way.
What if women ruled differently.
What if holiness looked like protection, not obedience.
🔥 Verdict: Feminist mythmaking at its best. Ferocious, learned, deeply human.
⭐ 4.75 / 5
📚 Huge thanks to Penguin & NetGalley for the ARC - I will be shouting about this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book tells the story of Brigid, both the saint and the goddess, and does such a wonderful job of blending history, mythology, and magic together. I was completely spellbound while reading it and can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy.
Thank you @netgalley and @michaeljbooks for the chance to read and review this novel!
Thank you @netgalley and @michaeljbooks for the chance to read and review this novel!
December 6, 2025
Thank you to Penguin, NetGalley and Kim Curran for an eARC of Brigid!
I'm a lover of mythology and retellings, especially when it comes to my home country. ♥
Firstly, Curran does an amazing job of describing and capturing old Ireland in it's glory. I truly felt like I was back in time. It blends the new faith (Christianity) and the old faith of Ireland (Now called Pagans?) at the time when people were converting. It was truly interesting to read and understand how the world was changing at the time.
The relationships Brigid has with these women she finds, rescues, befriends and lifts up, was wonderful. Showing them that they don't need men, anything they can do, the women can also do, just as well. Something we should all aspire to have and do, especially considering the world is still mainly run and controlled by men.
For me, I found myself flagging through the middle of the story, like it was dragging on a bit. It felt like the story didn't progress through the middle section of the book, but for me the beginning and end was spectacular.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable read, the characters stood out for me, even the background characters. You felt for them, you felt their emotions and their thoughts, you felt their struggles and celebrated their victories, Kim Curran has a wonderful way of writing that truly makes you feel for the characters you're reading.
A solid 3.75 stars for me, I'd definitely recommend it to friends who I know enjoy historical fiction/mythology.
I'm a lover of mythology and retellings, especially when it comes to my home country. ♥
Firstly, Curran does an amazing job of describing and capturing old Ireland in it's glory. I truly felt like I was back in time. It blends the new faith (Christianity) and the old faith of Ireland (Now called Pagans?) at the time when people were converting. It was truly interesting to read and understand how the world was changing at the time.
The relationships Brigid has with these women she finds, rescues, befriends and lifts up, was wonderful. Showing them that they don't need men, anything they can do, the women can also do, just as well. Something we should all aspire to have and do, especially considering the world is still mainly run and controlled by men.
For me, I found myself flagging through the middle of the story, like it was dragging on a bit. It felt like the story didn't progress through the middle section of the book, but for me the beginning and end was spectacular.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable read, the characters stood out for me, even the background characters. You felt for them, you felt their emotions and their thoughts, you felt their struggles and celebrated their victories, Kim Curran has a wonderful way of writing that truly makes you feel for the characters you're reading.
A solid 3.75 stars for me, I'd definitely recommend it to friends who I know enjoy historical fiction/mythology.
April 25, 2026
I’m very biased as I’ve read about St. Brigid all my life but I loved this!! As St. Brigid herself was named after the goddess, Brigid, I thought this was a great combination. Definitely sacrilegious in the Christian sense but I thought it was a wonderful interpretation. A very real (and flawed) woman who wanted the best for women everywhere! Plus I enjoyed all the queerness 🫶
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It led me to uncover aspects of my family history that I hadn’t known about before, which made the reading experience feel especially personal.
Growing up Catholic, I had never thought of St. Brigid as a feminist figure, so this portrayal was both unexpected and eye-opening. What I appreciated most was how she is depicted as an ordinary person with real emotions and struggles. This made it easy to relate to her and to see her as a ‘human’ I guess, rather than a distant historical saint/ goddess.
Overall, I think the author did a fantastic job bringing her story to life.
Growing up Catholic, I had never thought of St. Brigid as a feminist figure, so this portrayal was both unexpected and eye-opening. What I appreciated most was how she is depicted as an ordinary person with real emotions and struggles. This made it easy to relate to her and to see her as a ‘human’ I guess, rather than a distant historical saint/ goddess.
Overall, I think the author did a fantastic job bringing her story to life.
February 23, 2026
The first half of this book felt typical, cookie cutter: innocent girl is mistreated and connects with a god that gives her power to use. She uses this power sparingly and is overwhelmingly “good.” It’s not until the last fourth of the book that Brigid became a much more interesting character to me. She hardens herself - against men, yes, but also against her friends and her own emotions. She mistreats people, when the common belief is that she is so kind and saintly. She makes mistakes, she hurts the girls she loves, and she almost loses everything. Her crashout and its consequences was so interesting to read. I also loved her friends, the side characters that build upon the spine of her story. The author finds ways to weave equality into this story in more ways than one. She also includes humor and grief and confusion and lust and disgust. She expands on what really could have been a simple story.
March 14, 2026
This an exemplary retelling of Irish myth and history. I would nearly put this work on par with Madeline Miller’s novels in terms of how well it captures the spirit of its subject and influence and transforms it into a rich retelling that brings something new to the text while staying true to the heart of the original mythos.
While I enjoyed Kim Curran’s other Irish mythology retelling, The Morrigan, I did find some faults with it in terms of the tightness of the plot, but here the vast amount of history and mythology (the protagonist of the novel is the historical figure Saint Brigid, but the narrator is the pagan goddess who shares her name, which I loved) is so artfully transposed into the story that the pacing is perfectly balanced.
All of the positives of The Morrigan are present here too — I wrote in my review of that novel that:
I found that to be true here as well with much of the conflict revolving around Brigid’s role first as a woman in a patriarchal kingdom and then as a religious figure and leader in a patriarchal church. There’s still a strong and powerful feminist bent, but Curran doesn’t simply girlboss her into prominence but rather actually examines the power that she would have been able to earn and wield.
Brigid (neither the woman nor the goddess) is not a blushing paragon of femininity — she is blistering, brutal. What price does Brigid pay for achieving her goals? What must she trade for survival? Without moralizing or punishing Brigid for her choices, Curran creates a portrayal that is rich, complex, and thoughtful. The secondary characters, no matter how minor, are also well-realized in all their virtues and flaws.
The writing is gorgeous, bold and modern while still capturing the elegance of a classic tale and infusing the story with poetry without falling into purple prose or overwriting in an attempt to emulate the style of an earlier time.
This is absolutely a new favorite and a novel I will wholeheartedly recommend to anyone interested in Irish history and mythology or to anyone who loves a retelling that feels both modern and timeless.
While I enjoyed Kim Curran’s other Irish mythology retelling, The Morrigan, I did find some faults with it in terms of the tightness of the plot, but here the vast amount of history and mythology (the protagonist of the novel is the historical figure Saint Brigid, but the narrator is the pagan goddess who shares her name, which I loved) is so artfully transposed into the story that the pacing is perfectly balanced.
All of the positives of The Morrigan are present here too — I wrote in my review of that novel that:
While I love the trend of feminist spins on classic mythos, I don’t like when it comes at the expense of the realism (or as much realism as can be had in a story of myth) of a patriarchal society. It’s nice to picture a better world, but when it becomes too rosy it stops working for me. I enjoyed that in The Morrigan, there is a central tension between her power as a goddess and her limitations as a woman.
I found that to be true here as well with much of the conflict revolving around Brigid’s role first as a woman in a patriarchal kingdom and then as a religious figure and leader in a patriarchal church. There’s still a strong and powerful feminist bent, but Curran doesn’t simply girlboss her into prominence but rather actually examines the power that she would have been able to earn and wield.
Brigid (neither the woman nor the goddess) is not a blushing paragon of femininity — she is blistering, brutal. What price does Brigid pay for achieving her goals? What must she trade for survival? Without moralizing or punishing Brigid for her choices, Curran creates a portrayal that is rich, complex, and thoughtful. The secondary characters, no matter how minor, are also well-realized in all their virtues and flaws.
The writing is gorgeous, bold and modern while still capturing the elegance of a classic tale and infusing the story with poetry without falling into purple prose or overwriting in an attempt to emulate the style of an earlier time.
This is absolutely a new favorite and a novel I will wholeheartedly recommend to anyone interested in Irish history and mythology or to anyone who loves a retelling that feels both modern and timeless.
February 16, 2026
I pre-ordered this and prepared to read it at Imbolc 🌿
Brigid is a compelling blend of mythology and modern storytelling that brings Irish legend into a fresh, emotionally grounded light. 🍀
Curran does a wonderful job of reimagining the goddess Brigid in a contemporary setting, balancing magic with relatable human struggles around identity, belonging, and purpose. 🌙
The worldbuilding is vivid without being overwhelming, and Brigid herself is a likeable, layered protagonist whose journey feels both epic and intimate. That being said, I liked her much more in the beginning. ✨
The pacing dips slightly in the middle, which keeps it from being a full five-star read, I’ve actually rounded up, it was more a 3.5 for me, but the strong themes and satisfying character development kept me going.
The ending I felt fell a little flat, I wanted more for her and the impact she had on those around her. 🌱
A thoughtful and engaging read for fans of myth-inspired fantasy with heart. 🐍
Brigid is a compelling blend of mythology and modern storytelling that brings Irish legend into a fresh, emotionally grounded light. 🍀
Curran does a wonderful job of reimagining the goddess Brigid in a contemporary setting, balancing magic with relatable human struggles around identity, belonging, and purpose. 🌙
The worldbuilding is vivid without being overwhelming, and Brigid herself is a likeable, layered protagonist whose journey feels both epic and intimate. That being said, I liked her much more in the beginning. ✨
The pacing dips slightly in the middle, which keeps it from being a full five-star read, I’ve actually rounded up, it was more a 3.5 for me, but the strong themes and satisfying character development kept me going.
The ending I felt fell a little flat, I wanted more for her and the impact she had on those around her. 🌱
A thoughtful and engaging read for fans of myth-inspired fantasy with heart. 🐍
April 2, 2026
I really enjoyed reading Brigid by Brigid. It’s a solid 4-star read for me. One of the standout aspects was how much I learned along the way—Curran weaves in elements of mythology and history that genuinely sparked my curiosity.
Throughout the book, I found myself constantly pausing to Google more about Brigid, which honestly made the experience even richer. It felt like the story opened the door to a deeper world beyond the pages, and I loved going down those little research rabbit holes.
The storytelling itself is engaging and atmospheric, though there were a few moments where the pacing dipped slightly. Still, the unique subject matter and the sense of discovery more than made up for it. Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy stories that teach you something new while pulling you into their world.
Throughout the book, I found myself constantly pausing to Google more about Brigid, which honestly made the experience even richer. It felt like the story opened the door to a deeper world beyond the pages, and I loved going down those little research rabbit holes.
The storytelling itself is engaging and atmospheric, though there were a few moments where the pacing dipped slightly. Still, the unique subject matter and the sense of discovery more than made up for it. Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy stories that teach you something new while pulling you into their world.
April 26, 2026
I really wanted to love this book, and had hoped to stem a new fascination with Irish Mythology.
Unfortunately I found the story telling slow paced and bland. Though the prose was nice, the book seemed to lack substance and I found myself wishing it was over and hoping for a sudden rekindling of interest that sadly never came.
Was looking to read The Morrígan, but think I might give it a miss.
Unfortunately I found the story telling slow paced and bland. Though the prose was nice, the book seemed to lack substance and I found myself wishing it was over and hoping for a sudden rekindling of interest that sadly never came.
Was looking to read The Morrígan, but think I might give it a miss.
February 24, 2026
Based on the life of the early Irish saint, this novel is a wonderful mix of historical fiction and mythology. It's also a look on how Christianity was taken over by men and used as a tool of oppression and suppression.
April 21, 2026
This was a beautiful (and somewhat rage inducing) story exploring religion, power, feminism and men.
I don't know much about Irish language and culture, but the way the author showcased it throughout the novel peaked my interest well after I finished reading.
I don't know much about Irish language and culture, but the way the author showcased it throughout the novel peaked my interest well after I finished reading.
May 9, 2026
I saw this book all over Ireland when I was there in March and it hooked me. This is such a love letter to Ireland and Irish culture. Also a beautiful tale of women empowering women.
March 31, 2026
Fun read. There were some cadence issues and the ending felt a bit abrupt, but overall it was really cool to learn about the history of my namesake in this way. I love that Curran is giving voice to Irish mythology and women figures
March 6, 2026
3.5 rounded down
November 26, 2025
A huge thank you to Net Galley, Kim Curran and those at Penguin for this Digital Arc for Brigid in exchange for an honest review.
After reading, and loving the Morrigan at the beginning of this year I was so excited to see a second instalment from Curran, and this was equally as great. I loved the perspective and POV that this was written, it's a style I haven't encountered before and thought it made it much more exciting to read.
I was a big fan of the sisterhood, and the journey Brigid took, the way she navigated the politics of man to try and achieve her purpose. Brigid herself is a complex character, her strengths and her flaws were explored beautifully and the complex relationships between the sisters kept a good level of tension throughout. Exploring themes of found family, sisterhood, religious politics, & inspired by the Irish Saints, this is a great almost biographical piece of story-telling.
I really hope Curran continues to write these interesting characters, exploring the Irish Folklores, especially in this style as I think it's truly compelling.
After reading, and loving the Morrigan at the beginning of this year I was so excited to see a second instalment from Curran, and this was equally as great. I loved the perspective and POV that this was written, it's a style I haven't encountered before and thought it made it much more exciting to read.
I was a big fan of the sisterhood, and the journey Brigid took, the way she navigated the politics of man to try and achieve her purpose. Brigid herself is a complex character, her strengths and her flaws were explored beautifully and the complex relationships between the sisters kept a good level of tension throughout. Exploring themes of found family, sisterhood, religious politics, & inspired by the Irish Saints, this is a great almost biographical piece of story-telling.
I really hope Curran continues to write these interesting characters, exploring the Irish Folklores, especially in this style as I think it's truly compelling.
Read
February 22, 2026Not for me, as a historian I learnt about the importance of perspective and context. This is a very 21st century interpretation of Brigid of Cill Dare in a novel that seems to be aimed at a sisterhood, rather than at people in general. I look forward to reading something else about Brigid.
February 2, 2026
I requested this book from Netgalley but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. D.N.F.
April 28, 2026
I first learned about Brigid, the goddess, the saint, the figure, from Charlie Prodger's Turner Prize artwork, BRIDGIT. I was in university at the time, and I remember going to the Tate Britain and sitting in that little room and watching the whole 32 minutes back to back. I sat there for maybe three whole hours. It changed the way I made art. It changed the way I thought about names. It changed the way I looked out the window on long train rides. I've been filming everything, in one minute bursts, ever since. I'd even dare to say that it changed my life. I ended up going back to the Turner Prize finalist exhibition with my university, and again sat in that room for way too long, stuck in what I could only describe now as some sort of nearly religious trance, and amongst my peers, I seemed to be the only one hoping it would win. And it did.
If you'll allow me to quote the transcript of Prodger's artwork, that I've held on to for nearly 10 years now, which quotes Julian Cope's The Modern Antiquarian, "The weight of different names by which Bridgit was formerly known is because of the vast time scales across which she operated. In her oldest stone age form, Bridgit couldn't possibly have been her name, because her Neolithic contemporaries all had one-syllable names. Considering Bridgit in this same manner, and reviewing once more all her known names — BRIDE, BRID, BRIG, BRIZO OF DELOS, THE MANX BREESHEY and THE CRETAN BRITOMARTIS — it is most likely that the Neolithic form of her name was simply BREE. One of the great difficulties facing anyone who attempts to unravel the problems of the ancient world is that of names. The deities of antiquity have a very great number of names. Not only were they known by different names in different places, but they often had at least three different phases: old, middle aged and young, which were all known by different names in one place. KOEUR, MA, BREE, HOEUR, UR, VER. The names of these goddesses — all of one syllable and all of them so similar as to have been unchanged since the stone age — sound like primal outpourings."
Now, to quote Brigid, by Kim Curran, "Brigid is just a name. And names can be passed on." Mary of the Gaels, Brigid of the Fothairt, Mother Brigid of Cill Dara. Saint Brigid, Mother of Ireland. What's in a name?
I sit here again in this near religious trance having just finished it, and all I can think is… wow. This was a gorgeous retelling. A beautiful labour of love of sewing together so many accounts of St. Brigid's life in Ireland, the construction of what is currently still Kildare, still standing, like her own coat, mended over time. Is it still the same church of the oak? Is the air that we breathe still the same as hers? I don't mean to start waxing here.
This book is beautifully written, and it flew like water through my hands. Sorry. There is just something about Brigid (Bridgit, Brighid) that has lit this flame inside my chest all those years ago and now seems to burn a little brighter. I commune with cats and read tarot cards with sweet smelling lit candles, and I also have my little figurines of saints with my crystals, and I do the sign of the cross with the silver pentagram I wear on my necklace. Call me a pagan atheist catholic. Maybe it's because I have "brie" in my name.
Maybe it's something about being a girl, a woman, in a man's world, feeling unheard and helpless and praying to whatever is out there that will listen, and do something.
Among the (delicious) punishment of evil men and discussions on pride and gender and yearning (!!!) and losing sight of one's purpose, there are so many nods to what we currently understand of intrisic to girlhood, sisterhood then, mythologising it into its own eternal flame, which has been and will continue to be kept. It must, long as we live and long after we're gone.
To quote Prodger's work again, "It's all about you, every part of you. But you're not there."
The flame burns on.
Thank you to Penguin Random House's Michael Joseph, and the Kim Curran for writing about one of the most fascinating women I've ever had the pleasure of being haunted by.
If you'll allow me to quote the transcript of Prodger's artwork, that I've held on to for nearly 10 years now, which quotes Julian Cope's The Modern Antiquarian, "The weight of different names by which Bridgit was formerly known is because of the vast time scales across which she operated. In her oldest stone age form, Bridgit couldn't possibly have been her name, because her Neolithic contemporaries all had one-syllable names. Considering Bridgit in this same manner, and reviewing once more all her known names — BRIDE, BRID, BRIG, BRIZO OF DELOS, THE MANX BREESHEY and THE CRETAN BRITOMARTIS — it is most likely that the Neolithic form of her name was simply BREE. One of the great difficulties facing anyone who attempts to unravel the problems of the ancient world is that of names. The deities of antiquity have a very great number of names. Not only were they known by different names in different places, but they often had at least three different phases: old, middle aged and young, which were all known by different names in one place. KOEUR, MA, BREE, HOEUR, UR, VER. The names of these goddesses — all of one syllable and all of them so similar as to have been unchanged since the stone age — sound like primal outpourings."
Now, to quote Brigid, by Kim Curran, "Brigid is just a name. And names can be passed on." Mary of the Gaels, Brigid of the Fothairt, Mother Brigid of Cill Dara. Saint Brigid, Mother of Ireland. What's in a name?
I sit here again in this near religious trance having just finished it, and all I can think is… wow. This was a gorgeous retelling. A beautiful labour of love of sewing together so many accounts of St. Brigid's life in Ireland, the construction of what is currently still Kildare, still standing, like her own coat, mended over time. Is it still the same church of the oak? Is the air that we breathe still the same as hers? I don't mean to start waxing here.
This book is beautifully written, and it flew like water through my hands. Sorry. There is just something about Brigid (Bridgit, Brighid) that has lit this flame inside my chest all those years ago and now seems to burn a little brighter. I commune with cats and read tarot cards with sweet smelling lit candles, and I also have my little figurines of saints with my crystals, and I do the sign of the cross with the silver pentagram I wear on my necklace. Call me a pagan atheist catholic. Maybe it's because I have "brie" in my name.
Maybe it's something about being a girl, a woman, in a man's world, feeling unheard and helpless and praying to whatever is out there that will listen, and do something.
Among the (delicious) punishment of evil men and discussions on pride and gender and yearning (!!!) and losing sight of one's purpose, there are so many nods to what we currently understand of intrisic to girlhood, sisterhood then, mythologising it into its own eternal flame, which has been and will continue to be kept. It must, long as we live and long after we're gone.
To quote Prodger's work again, "It's all about you, every part of you. But you're not there."
The flame burns on.
Thank you to Penguin Random House's Michael Joseph, and the Kim Curran for writing about one of the most fascinating women I've ever had the pleasure of being haunted by.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed Kim Curran’s previous book, The Morrigan, which told the story of the Irish goddess of war and fate, one of the supernatural race known as the Tuatha Dé Danann. Her new novel, Brigid, takes as its subject another figure from Ireland’s distant past: Saint Brigid of Kildare, a semi-mythical woman who may or may not have existed. The current thinking seems to be that she was a real person, an abbess who founded the abbey of Kildare, but has been given many of the attributes of the Celtic goddess, Brigid, who shares her name. Curran’s approach is to include both Brigids in the novel, with the goddess guiding and watching over her human namesake.
The human Brigid, born in the 5th century, is the daughter of an Irish chieftain and one of his slaves, whom he sells to a druid when she becomes pregnant. Brigid grows up in slavery in the druid’s household before being returned to her father, who attempts to arrange a marriage for her. When she gives away her father’s best sword to a beggar, the king hears about her kindness and grants Brigid her freedom. Determined not to be forced into marriage or to live a life controlled by men, Brigid sets off alone on a journey to find her mother. Along the way she makes several new friends, including Lommán the leper and Darlughdach the bard, with whom she later founds a small sanctuary for women, which expands over time into the large and powerful abbey of Kildare.
I had no prior knowledge of Brigid’s life before beginning this book, but it seems that Curran has incorporated many of the key events and characters traditionally associated with Brigid’s story. One of these characters is St Patrick, with whom Brigid clashes several times throughout the book. She resents Patrick because he has all the advantages of being a man in a male-dominated society and because his approach to converting people to Christianity is more forceful than hers. Brigid is happy to allow people to continue celebrating pagan gods and festivals alongside the new Christian religion rather than expecting an immediate conversion.
For a while, it seemed that the message of the book was “all men bad, all women good”, which is something that tends to annoy me because I think there are better, fairer ways to promote feminism. However, it turned out to be slightly more nuanced than that, as eventually some of Brigid’s own friends and followers become frustrated by her hatred of men and even Brigid herself has to accept that a life entirely without men is not possible and she’s going to have to learn to work with them whether she wants to or not. She can also be cruel, punishing people harshly for the smallest of things. As someone who would become a saint, I certainly didn’t find her very saintly in this depiction, but despite that she’s clearly someone who inspires love and loyalty from the women around her and that’s what makes her an interesting, if not always likeable, character to read about.
Whereas The Morrigan was a mythological retelling, with strong fantasy elements, this book is more grounded in reality. There’s still a small amount of magic, though, such as when Brigid performs her miracles – healing lepers, for example, or turning milk into butter. She’s assisted in this by the goddess Brigid, who occasionally appears to her in human form. However, I would describe this as much more of a historical fiction novel than a fantasy one, while The Morrigan was the other way round. They are both interesting books and it’s good to see an author tackling subjects that aren’t written about very often.
The human Brigid, born in the 5th century, is the daughter of an Irish chieftain and one of his slaves, whom he sells to a druid when she becomes pregnant. Brigid grows up in slavery in the druid’s household before being returned to her father, who attempts to arrange a marriage for her. When she gives away her father’s best sword to a beggar, the king hears about her kindness and grants Brigid her freedom. Determined not to be forced into marriage or to live a life controlled by men, Brigid sets off alone on a journey to find her mother. Along the way she makes several new friends, including Lommán the leper and Darlughdach the bard, with whom she later founds a small sanctuary for women, which expands over time into the large and powerful abbey of Kildare.
I had no prior knowledge of Brigid’s life before beginning this book, but it seems that Curran has incorporated many of the key events and characters traditionally associated with Brigid’s story. One of these characters is St Patrick, with whom Brigid clashes several times throughout the book. She resents Patrick because he has all the advantages of being a man in a male-dominated society and because his approach to converting people to Christianity is more forceful than hers. Brigid is happy to allow people to continue celebrating pagan gods and festivals alongside the new Christian religion rather than expecting an immediate conversion.
For a while, it seemed that the message of the book was “all men bad, all women good”, which is something that tends to annoy me because I think there are better, fairer ways to promote feminism. However, it turned out to be slightly more nuanced than that, as eventually some of Brigid’s own friends and followers become frustrated by her hatred of men and even Brigid herself has to accept that a life entirely without men is not possible and she’s going to have to learn to work with them whether she wants to or not. She can also be cruel, punishing people harshly for the smallest of things. As someone who would become a saint, I certainly didn’t find her very saintly in this depiction, but despite that she’s clearly someone who inspires love and loyalty from the women around her and that’s what makes her an interesting, if not always likeable, character to read about.
Whereas The Morrigan was a mythological retelling, with strong fantasy elements, this book is more grounded in reality. There’s still a small amount of magic, though, such as when Brigid performs her miracles – healing lepers, for example, or turning milk into butter. She’s assisted in this by the goddess Brigid, who occasionally appears to her in human form. However, I would describe this as much more of a historical fiction novel than a fantasy one, while The Morrigan was the other way round. They are both interesting books and it’s good to see an author tackling subjects that aren’t written about very often.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Brigid – advocate for women; bringer of hope; an angry woman.
Brigid’s life is transformed when a goddess of the same name hears her prayer and answers it. But what is it about her prayer that stands out from the countless others being offered up in invocation?
It is the sheer abnormality and subversiveness of this prayer – its singularity which piques the goddess’ interest. Because beautiful Brigid wishes to be ugly. A bold request in a society which values women for their submission and their appearance above all. The goddess chooses Brigid, not merely as a recipient of one-off divine beneficence, but as one who will carry her light, tend her flame and upon whom she will bestow her power.
Brigid’s rise to power in Ireland is borne through her works of miracle and her conviction that women need a safe space, a sanctuary in which to flourish as a community and to receive an education – factors which amass a following of women. But Brigid’s ambition and her challenge of accepted social norms is often met with hostility by men, a response driven by their fear of progressive social change and an awareness that the balance of power is shifting.
Brigid’s loyalty to the old gods coincides with Patrick’s efforts to spread Christianity throughout Ireland and stamp out paganism. To an extent, different religious beliefs can co-exist harmoniously, but as resources decline and raiders threaten the women’s security, Brigid’s idealistic vision for her community is overtaken by a necessity to form alliances with those who can provide protection.
This novel presents an interesting examination of the concept of freedom and its subjectivity in the context of individual experience. To Brigid, freedom means being neither married, nor a slave and being unconstrained by the limitations imposed by men (albeit, the King would argue that he owns all people of Leinster, whether freed or enslaved). It goes without saying that enslavement should not be endured, but does freedom provide the unfettered liberty sought when it leaves one without food, money, shelter, transport?
In the first half of the novel, Brigid finds herself frustrated by a perceived lack of aspiration in others, particularly those slaves who are socially conditioned to accept a subservient state and fail to reap the opportunities transferred through emancipation. For some, the notion of freedom as understood by Brigid, is simply too nebulous to comprehend.
Brigid’s life could have been one of obscurity, but with the help of her goddess she seeks to break with the patriarchy and offer a different future to the women who follow her. This novel was an interesting reimagining of her life.
Thank you to Michael Joseph and NetGalley for sharing an eARC with me in exchange for an honest review.
Brigid’s life is transformed when a goddess of the same name hears her prayer and answers it. But what is it about her prayer that stands out from the countless others being offered up in invocation?
It is the sheer abnormality and subversiveness of this prayer – its singularity which piques the goddess’ interest. Because beautiful Brigid wishes to be ugly. A bold request in a society which values women for their submission and their appearance above all. The goddess chooses Brigid, not merely as a recipient of one-off divine beneficence, but as one who will carry her light, tend her flame and upon whom she will bestow her power.
Brigid’s rise to power in Ireland is borne through her works of miracle and her conviction that women need a safe space, a sanctuary in which to flourish as a community and to receive an education – factors which amass a following of women. But Brigid’s ambition and her challenge of accepted social norms is often met with hostility by men, a response driven by their fear of progressive social change and an awareness that the balance of power is shifting.
Brigid’s loyalty to the old gods coincides with Patrick’s efforts to spread Christianity throughout Ireland and stamp out paganism. To an extent, different religious beliefs can co-exist harmoniously, but as resources decline and raiders threaten the women’s security, Brigid’s idealistic vision for her community is overtaken by a necessity to form alliances with those who can provide protection.
This novel presents an interesting examination of the concept of freedom and its subjectivity in the context of individual experience. To Brigid, freedom means being neither married, nor a slave and being unconstrained by the limitations imposed by men (albeit, the King would argue that he owns all people of Leinster, whether freed or enslaved). It goes without saying that enslavement should not be endured, but does freedom provide the unfettered liberty sought when it leaves one without food, money, shelter, transport?
In the first half of the novel, Brigid finds herself frustrated by a perceived lack of aspiration in others, particularly those slaves who are socially conditioned to accept a subservient state and fail to reap the opportunities transferred through emancipation. For some, the notion of freedom as understood by Brigid, is simply too nebulous to comprehend.
Brigid’s life could have been one of obscurity, but with the help of her goddess she seeks to break with the patriarchy and offer a different future to the women who follow her. This novel was an interesting reimagining of her life.
Thank you to Michael Joseph and NetGalley for sharing an eARC with me in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2026
In her evocative historical novel Brigid, Kim Curran transports readers to the rugged, transformative landscape of 5th-century Ireland. Curran delivers a profound exploration of one of history’s most enigmatic figures, capturing the delicate transition between the old pagan world and the dawning of Christianity through a distinctly feminine lens.
The strength of the novel lies in its refusal to sideline the feminine experience in a century often depicted through the exploits of men. Curran’s Brigid is not a passive vessel of grace but a woman of immense intellectual and physical agency. The narrative beautifully illustrates the "feminine divine," showing how Brigid carries the mantle of the ancient goddess into her new role as a spiritual leader. Curran highlights the unique power found in female community, portraying Brigid’s convent at Kildare not just as a religious house, but as a sanctuary of education, art, and safety.
Curran excels at portraying the "strength" of historical women beyond mere physical prowess. In this novel, strength is found in Brigid’s diplomatic navigation of a patriarchal clan system. She is depicted as a peer to kings and bishops, using her influence to subvert systems that historically suppressed women. Curran contributes to a vital trend in historical fiction: the reclamation of the female voice from the margins of the "Great Man" theory of history.
A central theme of the book is Brigid’s tireless work as a protector. Curran vividly depicts Brigid’s commitment to the vulnerable, particularly her efforts to safeguard women from the violence of tribal warfare and forced marriages. The novel highlights her role as a healer and a provider, emphasizing that her "miracles" were often practical acts of radical compassion. By documenting her efforts to provide women with autonomy over their own bodies and futures, Curran grounds the mythic figure in a very real, human struggle for justice.
The narrative artfully foreshadows Brigid’s eventual canonization, treating it not as a magical transformation, but as the inevitable recognition of a life spent in service to the marginalized. Curran explores the irony and complexity of Brigid becoming a "Saint of the Church"—a move that solidified her legacy while simultaneously attempting to tame the wilder, pagan roots of her power.
Kim Curran’s Brigid is a triumphant celebration of female resilience. It is a hauntingly beautiful tribute to a woman who bridged two worlds and, in doing so, carved out a space where women could lead, create, and thrive. This is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of hagiography, Celtic history, and the enduring power of the female spirit.
The strength of the novel lies in its refusal to sideline the feminine experience in a century often depicted through the exploits of men. Curran’s Brigid is not a passive vessel of grace but a woman of immense intellectual and physical agency. The narrative beautifully illustrates the "feminine divine," showing how Brigid carries the mantle of the ancient goddess into her new role as a spiritual leader. Curran highlights the unique power found in female community, portraying Brigid’s convent at Kildare not just as a religious house, but as a sanctuary of education, art, and safety.
Curran excels at portraying the "strength" of historical women beyond mere physical prowess. In this novel, strength is found in Brigid’s diplomatic navigation of a patriarchal clan system. She is depicted as a peer to kings and bishops, using her influence to subvert systems that historically suppressed women. Curran contributes to a vital trend in historical fiction: the reclamation of the female voice from the margins of the "Great Man" theory of history.
A central theme of the book is Brigid’s tireless work as a protector. Curran vividly depicts Brigid’s commitment to the vulnerable, particularly her efforts to safeguard women from the violence of tribal warfare and forced marriages. The novel highlights her role as a healer and a provider, emphasizing that her "miracles" were often practical acts of radical compassion. By documenting her efforts to provide women with autonomy over their own bodies and futures, Curran grounds the mythic figure in a very real, human struggle for justice.
The narrative artfully foreshadows Brigid’s eventual canonization, treating it not as a magical transformation, but as the inevitable recognition of a life spent in service to the marginalized. Curran explores the irony and complexity of Brigid becoming a "Saint of the Church"—a move that solidified her legacy while simultaneously attempting to tame the wilder, pagan roots of her power.
Kim Curran’s Brigid is a triumphant celebration of female resilience. It is a hauntingly beautiful tribute to a woman who bridged two worlds and, in doing so, carved out a space where women could lead, create, and thrive. This is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of hagiography, Celtic history, and the enduring power of the female spirit.
December 15, 2025
“How robbed we have been by being told we are the weaker sex. How small they tried to keep us.”
I want to start by thanking NetGalley, Kim Curran and Penguin Random House for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review. Brigid will be out January 29, 2026!
Curran has written an absolutely gorgeous story based on what little we know of the life of Saint Brigid of Ireland. I was really intrigued to see how Curran would approach this as there isn’t much documentation on Brigid and many argue she either might not have even been a real person or conflate her with the goddess Brigid and was thrilled to see she built a connection between the two.
I really enjoyed the concept of Brigid taking advantage of Christianity as a means of protection for both herself and countless women as well as a way to preserve the old faith of Ireland. In their time, they had two choices: wife or slave, to which Brigid remarks there’s no difference. But upon meeting Christian nuns while visiting her druid step-father, Brigid finds her third option although she ultimately decides to do it after meeting the goddess Brigid who convinces her it is necessary to preserve wisdom.
Curran raises arguments towards organized religion and its systemic patriarchy, the necessity for female communities and really brought to life some lovable characters you feel you know. Despite being based largely on legendary myths and historical figures, Curran weaves through them and finds explanations for these stories in a way that perfectly follows the story she creates. Ciara became one of my favorite characters by the end and the development of complex characters like Lommán and Darlughdach really enriched the story for me outside of the miracles and hardships of Brigid.
Saint Patrick as one of the many evil men in this book really nailed home for me Curran’s approach towards Gaelic Ireland, balancing a nostalgia for Ireland while also bringing forth the harsh realities for women, slaves and druids/pagans. Brigid taking advantage of every man she can is a huge win as president of the man hating community!
My biggest struggle as a reader was the disconnect from Brigid as she gets wrapped up in her struggle for power. While determined to protect her women from men, she becomes so absorbed and distracted it is impossible to know her thought process and it really drags the pacing. While I understand this is in part to show how she distances herself from her community and her faith, I think even having a small moment of showing her make that decision would have aided the book massively for that final chunk; especially because we see the moment Brigid decides to allow herself to be vulnerable again. For the most part, the narrative style works wonderfully to paint this as a myth or biblical story but it hurts itself when there is even more distance from the subject.
That being said, when Brigid does open herself up again and then grows old surrounded by those closest to her I did cry. The whole last chapter was so beautiful and will stay with me, especially that closing paragraph. My heart hurts for women not living in our lifetime.
4.5/5
I want to start by thanking NetGalley, Kim Curran and Penguin Random House for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review. Brigid will be out January 29, 2026!
Curran has written an absolutely gorgeous story based on what little we know of the life of Saint Brigid of Ireland. I was really intrigued to see how Curran would approach this as there isn’t much documentation on Brigid and many argue she either might not have even been a real person or conflate her with the goddess Brigid and was thrilled to see she built a connection between the two.
I really enjoyed the concept of Brigid taking advantage of Christianity as a means of protection for both herself and countless women as well as a way to preserve the old faith of Ireland. In their time, they had two choices: wife or slave, to which Brigid remarks there’s no difference. But upon meeting Christian nuns while visiting her druid step-father, Brigid finds her third option although she ultimately decides to do it after meeting the goddess Brigid who convinces her it is necessary to preserve wisdom.
Curran raises arguments towards organized religion and its systemic patriarchy, the necessity for female communities and really brought to life some lovable characters you feel you know. Despite being based largely on legendary myths and historical figures, Curran weaves through them and finds explanations for these stories in a way that perfectly follows the story she creates. Ciara became one of my favorite characters by the end and the development of complex characters like Lommán and Darlughdach really enriched the story for me outside of the miracles and hardships of Brigid.
Saint Patrick as one of the many evil men in this book really nailed home for me Curran’s approach towards Gaelic Ireland, balancing a nostalgia for Ireland while also bringing forth the harsh realities for women, slaves and druids/pagans. Brigid taking advantage of every man she can is a huge win as president of the man hating community!
My biggest struggle as a reader was the disconnect from Brigid as she gets wrapped up in her struggle for power. While determined to protect her women from men, she becomes so absorbed and distracted it is impossible to know her thought process and it really drags the pacing. While I understand this is in part to show how she distances herself from her community and her faith, I think even having a small moment of showing her make that decision would have aided the book massively for that final chunk; especially because we see the moment Brigid decides to allow herself to be vulnerable again. For the most part, the narrative style works wonderfully to paint this as a myth or biblical story but it hurts itself when there is even more distance from the subject.
That being said, when Brigid does open herself up again and then grows old surrounded by those closest to her I did cry. The whole last chapter was so beautiful and will stay with me, especially that closing paragraph. My heart hurts for women not living in our lifetime.
4.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
BRIGID is a retelling of the life of an Irish patron saint as a woman determined to protect other women against the violence of the rule of men.
This is a deeply angry feminist tale about a group of women forming to protect themselves and one another in a world where they are second class citizens. There are no nice men in this book - even those that start off seeming mild and helpful end up being corrupted by the society that puts them first. The book does, at least, show that women are as susceptible to this same corruption and can choose not to think of the sisterhood.
It was very interesting to see Saint Patrick's portrayal in this book. He is a towering figure in Irish Christianity - and also the early English Church through the Ionian tradition. Because it was the Church writing most of these early histories, he has come down to us as great man - and he very much is not in this book. He is ambitious and protective of his power, setting himself up as the great power and determined to squash those who oppose him. This lets him function as a warning for what Brigid could become if she plays the games of men too well and loses herself.
The book is focused on Brigid the saint but is narrated from the perspective of Brigid the goddess. I found it interesting that the book made a clear distinction between these two people as there is debate about whether the tales around Brigid the saint are an adaptation of Brigid the goddess to assimilate the Irish into Christianity as happens across a lot of Europe.
The narrator stays rather removed from the story for a lot of it, so it is often easy to forget that there is a narrator commenting on matters. It was an interesting framing for the tale, personal at times and very distant at others. The goddess came across as very inconsistent, sometimes answering and sometimes not without much explanation, but that does fit the capricious nature of many mythological figures.
BRIGID is a retelling of the life of an Irish patron saint as a woman determined to protect other women against the violence of the rule of men.
This is a deeply angry feminist tale about a group of women forming to protect themselves and one another in a world where they are second class citizens. There are no nice men in this book - even those that start off seeming mild and helpful end up being corrupted by the society that puts them first. The book does, at least, show that women are as susceptible to this same corruption and can choose not to think of the sisterhood.
It was very interesting to see Saint Patrick's portrayal in this book. He is a towering figure in Irish Christianity - and also the early English Church through the Ionian tradition. Because it was the Church writing most of these early histories, he has come down to us as great man - and he very much is not in this book. He is ambitious and protective of his power, setting himself up as the great power and determined to squash those who oppose him. This lets him function as a warning for what Brigid could become if she plays the games of men too well and loses herself.
The book is focused on Brigid the saint but is narrated from the perspective of Brigid the goddess. I found it interesting that the book made a clear distinction between these two people as there is debate about whether the tales around Brigid the saint are an adaptation of Brigid the goddess to assimilate the Irish into Christianity as happens across a lot of Europe.
The narrator stays rather removed from the story for a lot of it, so it is often easy to forget that there is a narrator commenting on matters. It was an interesting framing for the tale, personal at times and very distant at others. The goddess came across as very inconsistent, sometimes answering and sometimes not without much explanation, but that does fit the capricious nature of many mythological figures.
January 6, 2026
This retelling of Brigid is not a simple tale of saintly innocence and kindness. Instead, it is a story steeped in politics and feminism, offering a powerful exploration of how women are often forced to suppress their natural softness in order to gain real strength and authority in society. It is a vivid portrayal of women fighting for freedom within a system designed to keep them caged.
At its heart, the novel centres on the role of women: their relationships with one another, their resilience, adaptability, and their capacity to create, build, and sustain community. These themes form the backbone of the story and give it its emotional depth.
I have Irish ancestry and I’m always drawn to mythical retellings that transport me to ancient, distant lands, and Kim Curran achieves this beautifully.
The novel feels visceral at times; the smells, the landscapes, and the rhythms of speech in old Ireland are so vividly created that I was completely absorbed.
The story is a blend of old and new faiths, set during a period when people were converting to Christianity and turning away from the old gods and goddesses. Curran seamlessly weaves ancient legends into the fabric of the narrative, enriching the world and its conflicts.
While the pacing does slow in the middle, my investment in the characters kept me reading, and the final act truly gathers momentum. The ending is both gripping and thought-provoking.
The novel left me reflecting on the role of women in society today. While progress has undeniably been made, it’s hard to ignore that power still largely rests in male hands. As the story reminds us, “The cost of power is weighing the worth of one life against the needs of another.”
Strong 4 stars and I can't wait to go look through Curran's backlog.
Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC copy in return for my honest opinion.
At its heart, the novel centres on the role of women: their relationships with one another, their resilience, adaptability, and their capacity to create, build, and sustain community. These themes form the backbone of the story and give it its emotional depth.
I have Irish ancestry and I’m always drawn to mythical retellings that transport me to ancient, distant lands, and Kim Curran achieves this beautifully.
The novel feels visceral at times; the smells, the landscapes, and the rhythms of speech in old Ireland are so vividly created that I was completely absorbed.
The story is a blend of old and new faiths, set during a period when people were converting to Christianity and turning away from the old gods and goddesses. Curran seamlessly weaves ancient legends into the fabric of the narrative, enriching the world and its conflicts.
While the pacing does slow in the middle, my investment in the characters kept me reading, and the final act truly gathers momentum. The ending is both gripping and thought-provoking.
The novel left me reflecting on the role of women in society today. While progress has undeniably been made, it’s hard to ignore that power still largely rests in male hands. As the story reminds us, “The cost of power is weighing the worth of one life against the needs of another.”
Strong 4 stars and I can't wait to go look through Curran's backlog.
Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC copy in return for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Briefly - An excellent and powerful retelling of Brigid and St Brigid.
This is a story about Brigid. She is a beautiful young woman who is a slave and being bartered as a wife for a brutal husband. She prays to the ancients to be ugly rather than married. One of them is listening and she is bitten by a snake and rejected by the husband to be. In practice this simply makes her more of a nuisance to her slave owner who now owes the person who was to be the husband. Brigid does have one habit right from the start - she will always give anything she has to someone in any need. Admirable you would say however it is a trait that will get her in trouble.
This is a reimagining of Brigid, an Irish woman, who was possibly born around 450 AD and was quite possibly a slave. However there may be two Irish Brigids, a saint and a pagan goddess. This book draws on both characters and manages to weave these stories together very effectively. Until late on in my reading of this book I was not aware of the possibly dual nature of Brigid.
It's fair to say that there are plenty of stories about both characters although much less real evidence. Maybe that makes this retelling even more possible. Fundamentally this Brigid was an ardent feminist who would do anything for women in trouble and who starts a community for such people around the time of the arrival of the "new religion" - Christianity.
Brigid's travels early in the book had a real charm and simplicity to them. Life becomes considerably more complex as time goes by and as she tries to build her community. As someone with little time for men she draws quite a lot of unwanted (and unhelpful) attention.
This is a book I really enjoyed. In fairness I have to say that the pace and hold of the story varied. I loved the early parts and then there was some middle ground that was less exciting I guess. However the latter part was excellent - by the end the character of Brigid was very well fleshed out. I'd not read anything by this author before but I have now bought her earlier book and will read it when I can get to it.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the author and publisher in exchange for a fair review
This is a story about Brigid. She is a beautiful young woman who is a slave and being bartered as a wife for a brutal husband. She prays to the ancients to be ugly rather than married. One of them is listening and she is bitten by a snake and rejected by the husband to be. In practice this simply makes her more of a nuisance to her slave owner who now owes the person who was to be the husband. Brigid does have one habit right from the start - she will always give anything she has to someone in any need. Admirable you would say however it is a trait that will get her in trouble.
This is a reimagining of Brigid, an Irish woman, who was possibly born around 450 AD and was quite possibly a slave. However there may be two Irish Brigids, a saint and a pagan goddess. This book draws on both characters and manages to weave these stories together very effectively. Until late on in my reading of this book I was not aware of the possibly dual nature of Brigid.
It's fair to say that there are plenty of stories about both characters although much less real evidence. Maybe that makes this retelling even more possible. Fundamentally this Brigid was an ardent feminist who would do anything for women in trouble and who starts a community for such people around the time of the arrival of the "new religion" - Christianity.
Brigid's travels early in the book had a real charm and simplicity to them. Life becomes considerably more complex as time goes by and as she tries to build her community. As someone with little time for men she draws quite a lot of unwanted (and unhelpful) attention.
This is a book I really enjoyed. In fairness I have to say that the pace and hold of the story varied. I loved the early parts and then there was some middle ground that was less exciting I guess. However the latter part was excellent - by the end the character of Brigid was very well fleshed out. I'd not read anything by this author before but I have now bought her earlier book and will read it when I can get to it.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the author and publisher in exchange for a fair review
December 29, 2025
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
Brigid is such an awesome character, we follow her from a young age as she tries to stay true to herself in the face of a bunch of men who want to use her for their own purposes or gain. She’s helped by the goddess (who is also our narrator). Brigid is clever, determined and wants to make life better for those in need and particularly women. She’s vowed to give away everything she doesn’t need to help others. Something that regularly irritates those around her. She faces great challenge and danger from men, but she is so resolute in her belief. I loved her inner strength, her outer grace and dedication to helping others.
This is a historical novel set in Ireland. We see the conflict between the growing Christian faith and the old ways. There are some who don’t think they can co-exist and we see members of the church wanting to crush local beliefs and celebrations, and to punish those who honour their pagan beliefs. Brigid, however continually demonstrates that they can exist in harmony. She uses structures of the church to help provide sanctuary and aid to those in need, but she still honours the beliefs of others and celebrations rooted in nature. She has a power provided by the goddess that allows her to heal others.
She was such a fascinating character, we see how the continual derision and interference of men starts to grate on her, and how the hypocrisy of some men causes real and serious problems. Prepare to be enraged at some of the attitudes and the ways Brigid is dismissed even though she has the knowledge and experience to back up what she’s asking.
A brilliant historical novel!
Brigid is such an awesome character, we follow her from a young age as she tries to stay true to herself in the face of a bunch of men who want to use her for their own purposes or gain. She’s helped by the goddess (who is also our narrator). Brigid is clever, determined and wants to make life better for those in need and particularly women. She’s vowed to give away everything she doesn’t need to help others. Something that regularly irritates those around her. She faces great challenge and danger from men, but she is so resolute in her belief. I loved her inner strength, her outer grace and dedication to helping others.
This is a historical novel set in Ireland. We see the conflict between the growing Christian faith and the old ways. There are some who don’t think they can co-exist and we see members of the church wanting to crush local beliefs and celebrations, and to punish those who honour their pagan beliefs. Brigid, however continually demonstrates that they can exist in harmony. She uses structures of the church to help provide sanctuary and aid to those in need, but she still honours the beliefs of others and celebrations rooted in nature. She has a power provided by the goddess that allows her to heal others.
She was such a fascinating character, we see how the continual derision and interference of men starts to grate on her, and how the hypocrisy of some men causes real and serious problems. Prepare to be enraged at some of the attitudes and the ways Brigid is dismissed even though she has the knowledge and experience to back up what she’s asking.
A brilliant historical novel!
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