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Brigid
THE WITCHY, RADICAL RE-IMAGINING OF IRELAND'S MOST BELOVED SAINT AND GODDESS
'A bold, luminous gem of a novel and an utter joy from start to finish' ROSIE HEWLETT
'A must-read for anyone who is interested in Irish Mythology' SHAUNA LAWLESS
A beautifully written and powerful exploration of one of the most fascinating women in Irish myth' -CAROLINE LEA
'Radiant, inspiring and empowering' BEA FITZGERALD
'One of the best books I've ever read' AMY MCCULLOCH
'A stunning new voice' - PATRICK NESS
'An astonishing talent' - KATE HEARTFIELD
In a wild, ancient grove at the edge of winter, a desperate girl prays to the gods for her freedom.
Born to a slave mother, sold in marriage to a brutal husband, none have ever listened to Brigid’s prayers.
But this time, a goddess answers . . . with a vision that will transform Brigid’s path forever.
Ireland lies on the precipice of change. The new Christian god is coming, a faith that Brigid can bend to her will, building a sisterhood and sanctuary for women with nowhere else to turn. As their numbers grow, so too do the rumours – of just what powers women can hold when they come together.
But power, like a flame, consumes as it grows. As Brigid rises, challenging kings, defying bishops, soon she must reckon with what she herself has become.
And as her enemies draw closer, eager to reclaim all she has taken from them, what – or who – will she sacrifice to hold on to her legacy?
A radical reimagining of Ireland’s most beloved saint, Brigid is the story of a woman who could never be caged – by men, by gods, or even by history itself.
_______________
PRAISE FOR KIM CURRAN
'An epic tale of war and femininity ... a brilliant work of mythology, fantasy and history' - HANNAH KANER
'Like Madeleine Miller Curran takes centuries of Irish legend and harnesses powerful retellings for modern readers' Juno Dawson
'May be the most important book you will read this year' LUCY HOLLAND
'A bold, luminous gem of a novel and an utter joy from start to finish' ROSIE HEWLETT
'A must-read for anyone who is interested in Irish Mythology' SHAUNA LAWLESS
A beautifully written and powerful exploration of one of the most fascinating women in Irish myth' -CAROLINE LEA
'Radiant, inspiring and empowering' BEA FITZGERALD
'One of the best books I've ever read' AMY MCCULLOCH
'A stunning new voice' - PATRICK NESS
'An astonishing talent' - KATE HEARTFIELD
In a wild, ancient grove at the edge of winter, a desperate girl prays to the gods for her freedom.
Born to a slave mother, sold in marriage to a brutal husband, none have ever listened to Brigid’s prayers.
But this time, a goddess answers . . . with a vision that will transform Brigid’s path forever.
Ireland lies on the precipice of change. The new Christian god is coming, a faith that Brigid can bend to her will, building a sisterhood and sanctuary for women with nowhere else to turn. As their numbers grow, so too do the rumours – of just what powers women can hold when they come together.
But power, like a flame, consumes as it grows. As Brigid rises, challenging kings, defying bishops, soon she must reckon with what she herself has become.
And as her enemies draw closer, eager to reclaim all she has taken from them, what – or who – will she sacrifice to hold on to her legacy?
A radical reimagining of Ireland’s most beloved saint, Brigid is the story of a woman who could never be caged – by men, by gods, or even by history itself.
_______________
PRAISE FOR KIM CURRAN
'An epic tale of war and femininity ... a brilliant work of mythology, fantasy and history' - HANNAH KANER
'Like Madeleine Miller Curran takes centuries of Irish legend and harnesses powerful retellings for modern readers' Juno Dawson
'May be the most important book you will read this year' LUCY HOLLAND
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2026
About the author
Kim Curran
18 books165 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 86 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.
May 18, 2026
Uma narrativa que explora a figura mítica de Brigid, uma mulher que dedicou a sua vida a construir um santuário para as mulheres de modo a estes deixarem de ser controladas pelos homens. Acompanhamos a sua jornada desde do momento que ela escapa a um casamento "forçado" até se tornar uma das mulheres mais poderosas da Irlanda, abadessa de um mosteiro que incentiva as mulheres a serem livres e a cultivar novos conhecimentos.
Brigid é apresentada como uma mulher com várias camadas, tanto podia ser uma figura altruísta que oferece todo o que tem aos mais poderes como uma mulher autoritária que precisa de estar no controlo do seu mosteiro. Adorei a irmandade que se forma, a amizade sincera existente entre as várias mulheres e como elas lutam para garantir a segurança do seu "lar".
A obra também leva-nos a discussões interessantes sobre o cristianismo e os ritos aos deuses pagãs, em que Brigid representa uma ponte entre esses dois mundos. Ela se encontra aberta a aceitar a chegada dessa nova religião, mas ao mesmo tempo quer preservar as tradições antigas. Uma leitura que me deu vontade de conhecer mais sobre esta importante figura da Irlanda, e outras histórias dessa bela nação.
Brigid é apresentada como uma mulher com várias camadas, tanto podia ser uma figura altruísta que oferece todo o que tem aos mais poderes como uma mulher autoritária que precisa de estar no controlo do seu mosteiro. Adorei a irmandade que se forma, a amizade sincera existente entre as várias mulheres e como elas lutam para garantir a segurança do seu "lar".
A obra também leva-nos a discussões interessantes sobre o cristianismo e os ritos aos deuses pagãs, em que Brigid representa uma ponte entre esses dois mundos. Ela se encontra aberta a aceitar a chegada dessa nova religião, mas ao mesmo tempo quer preservar as tradições antigas. Uma leitura que me deu vontade de conhecer mais sobre esta importante figura da Irlanda, e outras histórias dessa bela nação.
July 23, 2026
Really enjoyed this!! Would like to learn more about our pagan roots ..
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.
July 17, 2026
Dare I say too woke...? This one fell flat for me. The dialogue was very modern - I cringed when one of Brigid's followers said [about a dress] "It even has pockets!". Straight from #justgirlythings. The romance between Darlughdach and Brigid felt forced as well. Women can have a story without a love interest.
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.
June 25, 2026
Fantastic! Floats all my boats.
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.
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 2, 2026
I requested this book from Netgalley but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. D.N.F.
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.
July 15, 2026
Brigid by Kim Curran was a refreshing story full of miracles seeming ordinary and a (mostly) woman-centred story offering the vision of women in solidarity taking refuge from men in a usually violent and cruel world. It is also a rather recognisable depiction of how the sex class of men dominate women. The book is narrated by Curran's interpretation of Brigid Goddess, and Brigid the woman is riddled with emotion, single-minded, giving, proud, makes contradictory assertions, and like any of us, tries to protect herself from hurt.
This mission of the women-only refuge is somewhat undermined by one woman who insists she is actually a man. For those times, one might be tempted to think it makes sense. Because of course, humans have been tempted to essentialise women and men since forever, as if we have sexed souls. The character concerned has claimed she has the soul of a man, a "born in the wrong body" belief system. It jars because Cill Dara is fiercely a women's refuge and yet a woman who thinks she's a man is automatically accepted - and why? Because everyone knows she is not a man at all, but a woman.
Brigid herself ends up conforming to the patriarchal imperative, and becomes an ordained Bishop digesting the famous misogynist male writers (Aristotle etc) which may be useful but for the fact there were no writings by women, and the church powers did not accept women as legitimate sources of authority. It was a clear demonstration of the way women have had to conform and collude with men's rules and philosophies or die. Swallow the bitter pill or be erased from the cultural record, then as now. In this sense, the story, while fiction, was a bit depressing in that we know the havoc wreaked on the world by patriarchal religions. Nevertheless, I found the story very moving, simply written but engaging, and I came away with a sense of hope.
This mission of the women-only refuge is somewhat undermined by one woman who insists she is actually a man. For those times, one might be tempted to think it makes sense. Because of course, humans have been tempted to essentialise women and men since forever, as if we have sexed souls. The character concerned has claimed she has the soul of a man, a "born in the wrong body" belief system. It jars because Cill Dara is fiercely a women's refuge and yet a woman who thinks she's a man is automatically accepted - and why? Because everyone knows she is not a man at all, but a woman.
Brigid herself ends up conforming to the patriarchal imperative, and becomes an ordained Bishop digesting the famous misogynist male writers (Aristotle etc) which may be useful but for the fact there were no writings by women, and the church powers did not accept women as legitimate sources of authority. It was a clear demonstration of the way women have had to conform and collude with men's rules and philosophies or die. Swallow the bitter pill or be erased from the cultural record, then as now. In this sense, the story, while fiction, was a bit depressing in that we know the havoc wreaked on the world by patriarchal religions. Nevertheless, I found the story very moving, simply written but engaging, and I came away with a sense of hope.
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.
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
May 16, 2026
We wholeheartedly support holy women's anger in this house.
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.
April 22, 2026
1.5 stars
Underwhelming and, at times, extremely frustrating. What could have been!
Underwhelming and, at times, extremely frustrating. What could have been!
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.
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