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Sister Deirdre #1

St. Brigid's Bones

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In an evocative Celtic novel set in a time when druids roamed the land, lively young sister Deirdre embarks on a mission to find the stolen bones of her convent’s patron saint

In ancient Ireland, an island ruled by kings and druids, the nuns of Saint Brigid are fighting to keep their monastery alive. When the bones of Brigid go missing from their church, the theft threatens to destroy all they have worked for. No one knows the danger they face better than Sister Deirdre, a young nun torn between two worlds.

Trained as a bard and raised by a druid grandmother, she must draw upon all of her skills, both as a bard and as a nun, to find the bones before the convent begins to lose faith.

336 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 2014

14 people are currently reading
1777 people want to read

About the author

Philip Freeman

76 books511 followers
I teach Classics and Celtic studies at Luther College in the beautiful little town of Decorah, Iowa. I did my doctoral work at Harvard and taught at Boston University and Washington University in St. Louis before coming to Luther to help run the Classics department. I love teaching and see my writing as an extension of my work in the classroom. I hope you enjoy the books as much as I enjoyed writing them.

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5 stars
63 (13%)
4 stars
148 (30%)
3 stars
185 (38%)
2 stars
60 (12%)
1 star
23 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
Profile Image for Diane S ☔.
4,901 reviews14.6k followers
November 20, 2014
3.5 Saint Brigid's bones are said to heal, foster miracles and bring luck to those who come in contact with them. They are kept at the abbey of Kildare, a religious house founded by Brigid herself. When these bones go missing Sister Deirdre is commanded to the abbess to find them.

This is the time of Druids, traveling bards, various clans all with their own kings, thief, and yes, hard to believe I know, but even bishops and other churchmen with greed in their hearts.

It has been a while since I have read a book set in ancient Ireland and I enjoyed this novel. The atmosphere, the setting, the characters all served to make me feel part of this time. Loved the character of Sister Deirdre and her unusual past. This case will also be a test for her, does she really want to stay a nun or take on the role of Queen of Ireland, a proposal from her past love?

Profile Image for Ani.
Author 3 books20 followers
June 29, 2015
I was first drawn to this book on my local library's shelf because of its description as a "Celtic Adventure."

I am a fan of historical fiction, even moreso when spirituality is in the mix. I expected the development of spiritual themes would be part of this book's weave, said to be: "set in a time when Druids roamed the land," and featuring a young nun as its protagonist, charged with finding the bones of Saint Brigid stolen from her convent in Kildare.

The book is written at a fifth grade reading level (if that) and saturated with cliché--in its storyline, characterization and its language throughout. Not only is the book rife with cliché, the language is often contemporary and thus feels quite anachronistic, given the story unfolds in 6th century.

Saint Brigid's Bones is simplistically written, shallow and disappointing. I wish this were not the case. I
would have relished a richly textured account of the period, cast with complex, intriguing characters, highlighting themes like the junctures (and conflicts) of Christianity and Druid life, etc.

There are numerous themes such as the abuse of power within the church and the domination of women that are introduced and not developed, but instead are reflected in stereotypical characters.

Given the expertise of its author, I wish Professor Freeman would not have sacrificed the depth his scholarly books most likely embody in order to write a novel. Why not depth in fiction? There was the potential here to explore and develop profoundly interesting spiritual and political themes. Maybe in your next book, Mr Freeman? No need to dumb it down because it's fiction.
Profile Image for Phair.
2,120 reviews34 followers
September 22, 2014
Major reaction to this book: it felt comfortable. I was happy to be among these characters. There were plenty of relationships to provide scope for future books. I liked the emphasis on women's issues and the way this religious group accepted the value in the "old ways" even while building their own Christian community. I did question the author on one thing that bumped me out of the story with its anachronistic feel. One character referred to the North Pole which just didn't feel right coming from a person in the 6th century, especially in a sort of backwater location. Freeman defended his use of the term as something that might well have been known and I concede that the concept of a much colder northern realm might have been known but I still feel "North Pole" felt too modern to fit this situation. Overall a pleasant read with a good heart and I might well come back for the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Stephen.
164 reviews9 followers
November 4, 2015
I just couldn't get into this one. I loved the author's biography of St. Patrick, and the premise for this story sounded fantastic. Unfortunately I thought that the characters were flat, the mystery was not compelling, and everyone talked and acted in an overly modern manner. About a third of the way through the book I found that reading it became a chore. I finally put it down after the graphic (albeit historically accurate) depiction of the crowning of a new king (it involved a horse - don't ask.) I recommend without hesitation and with great gusto Freeman's "Saint Patrick of Ireland: A Biography" and I look forward to picking up his other non-fiction works, but I would give a pass to this one.
Profile Image for Brittany Wouters.
231 reviews
March 16, 2017
Um. Well...the super-long paragraphs of run-on explanation (which went completely unappreciated by both character and reader) coupled with the...whatever the hell is actually going on with the church and the bones...not so good.
The first sentence was brilliant! The next 6 pages, not so much. Barely survived the first chapter. Would be far more legible if only Freeman didn't write like this was his first fic at age 13.
Profile Image for Shiloah.
Author 1 book197 followers
February 1, 2023
This was an interest medieval tale about a nun named Sister Deirdre. The bones of St. Brigid we’re stolen from their church and it was burned down, Sister D. Is commissioned to find the bones and the culprit.
Profile Image for Fredrick Danysh.
6,844 reviews196 followers
August 26, 2017
Fans of Ellis Peters Brother Cadfael series will enjoy the Celtic adventures of Sister Deirdre. Born of Irish nobility she was trained as a Druid and a Bard by her grandmother after she was orphaned as a child. As an adult she left her husband following the death her child and joined the monastery founded by Brigid who became a saint following her death. After a new constructed church burns to the ground with Sister Deirdre asleep inside and the theft of Saint Brigid's relics, she is tasked with recovering the bones before the monastery fails. Sister Deirdre encounters many individuals who display the human weaknesses of both Christian and pagan. This was a free review copy through Goodreads.com.
Profile Image for Monica Hills.
1,352 reviews66 followers
December 23, 2021
Sister Deirdre is a nun in the 6th century who may have burned down a church and also must find the lost bones of Saint Brigid. Without those bones her monastery may be lost. There were some aspects I enjoyed. I liked the spunk and juxtaposition of the fact that Deirdre was a nun but also a druid bard. There were some parts of this book that just had me shaking my head. The horse sacrifice was just plain disturbing and I wish I had never read it. I also question why Deirdre would even consider a man who would participate in that as even mildly attractive. This book was ok but I don't know if I will read the second one.
Profile Image for Ashley E.
610 reviews31 followers
February 7, 2017
I adore Celtic history and have for a long time. This book seemed like a perfect fit for me. I did enjoy quite a bit of the setting and historical details, but the writing was off enough that I couldn't get fully involved in the story.

Sister Deirdre as a character wasn't as rounded as I would have liked. Her passion made her interesting, but her simplistic views of the mystery in which she finds herself were baffling. Deirdre clearly is an intelligent woman, but she makes assumptions all the time, sometimes foolish ones. In some ways in made her kind of endearing and innocent, but other times was just a bit annoying. The plot itself and historical content were interesting enough to keep me reading, however. The writing was incredibly easy to read, perhaps to the point of being not quite up to adult reading level, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I went into this book expecting something much more densely literary, and I'm glad I didn't get that.

Two main things bothered me about this book, though. First was the pedagogical feel of certain parts of the book. Sometimes things happened or were described that seemed completely unnecessary to the story, just because the author wanted to fit this or that interesting history fact in. It felt forced and out of place at times instead of naturally woven into the world of the story. Second was the weirdly modern attitudes, and occasionally dialog, of some of the characters. I'm all for women's rights, but Deirdre's passive outrage in the face of a mildly patriarchal society seemed too much in the context of the history. Like, she might have been upset at something, but not thinking in such obviously feminist terms, or not to the level of upset that she was. Ireland had surprisingly equitable views compared to other places at the time, so the whole thing tweaked me wrong. And someone throwing out the word "ex-boyfriend" in the 6th century was just plain weird.

So it was interesting, and I loved the setting. I think for other people interested with some points of culture during 6th-century Ireland would enjoy this. But I don't think the mystery or characterization are quite strong enough to support the story without it.

[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
Profile Image for Tony.
778 reviews
June 7, 2018
Mt Grade = 82% - B-

This was an interesting mystery which takes place in mid-6th Century Ireland, a time when Ireland was a combination of Catholic, pagan, and Druidic. The Ireland of that time was essentially made up of four provinces: Leinster, Munster, Connacht, and Ulster. Much of the story takes places in a Monastic Order of Charity in Kildare, (about fifty miles from today's Dublin), begun by Saint Brigid (451-525 A.D.) and run by a community of nuns.

The older characters actually knew Saint Patrick, while Saint Brigid was known to many of the younger ones.

The plot: Someone has stolen the bones of Saint Brigid from the church of the monastery she founded. This is a major problem for the sisters of the monastery, as it was a cite which (because of the bones) drew in pilgrims and their offerings and donations, without which the monastery will have to close and the sisters disperse.

Sister Deirdre, a noble born granddaughter of a well-know druid and official Bard (who, because of the nobility and reputation as a Bard) is able to travel and move about beyond the ability of others, is selected by the Mother Superior to find and recover the bones. She is also selected for this task because she is not deemed a very good candidate for nun-hood.

As in any other time or place local politics and squabbling plays a major part - in this case it is concentrated on the differences between male-run and female-run monasteries.

At this time Ireland was a land of many kings, as many it seems as any large area of land today would be divided into its individual municipalities and town, with the kings being almost akin to modern day mayors or county supervisors.

It was interesting to read of life in Ireland at this time.

By the end of the third chapter (of 26) it was obvious that the author had one purpose for each chapter. It actually took me an entire week to plod through those first three chapters, but after that the rest moved briskly by in a matter of days.

I read about this book in a modern book catalog and ordered my copy through ebay. Although there appear to be other volumes in the series, I will not be reading them.
Profile Image for Whitebeard Books.
235 reviews66 followers
May 8, 2017
Interesting tale based on religious and fairy tale mythology combined. The best mythology frequently comes, as this story does, from Irish folklore.
Profile Image for Kathy.
3,873 reviews291 followers
December 17, 2015
I found the two books by Philip Freeman on the library shelf, fresh and new, purporting to be "Celtic Adventure"s so I checked them out and read both, this one being the first following "Sister Deirdre," a sort of Christian with Druid background and beliefs.
I found the books simplistic and shallow. I have read many books of fiction covering the same time period and place (ancient Ireland) and prefer other writers in this genre. I must include a warning on this one for sensitive readers: avoid this one unless you wish to read of a practice that may have been enacted wherein a king and a white horse meet intimately, followed by other unpleasantness. Reading Mythology much? OK then - maybe expecting strange behavior in myths, but not in a book introducing a nun to the reading public.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
122 reviews2 followers
December 30, 2015
This book had potential. I was excited to read it, as I usually devour books that take place in ancient Ireland. However, this book had several historic inaccuracies that drove me crazy. As a Celtic studies professor who graduated from Harvard, one would think he would be more careful about that. I kept complaining about it to my best friend and she said it sounded like he was dumbing down the book. I believe she was right. I didn't hate the book, but didn't really like it either.
Profile Image for Emily.
283 reviews3 followers
January 9, 2018
I was excited to read a seemingly innocent book about ancient Ireland and Saint Brigid....until I got to the beastiality. Yes, you read that right. There is beastiality in this book and it does nothing to further the plot and has no purpose other than shock value. The rest of the book was a chore to get through and the ending made me roll my eyes. Do not recommend.
Profile Image for Maya.
1,352 reviews73 followers
August 26, 2015
Honestly, it is a story for fifth graders if that. However, it has some good information on 6th century Ireland and a good way to introduce young minds to the complex issue of how Christianity mixed with the old traditions of Ireland at the very beginning.
Profile Image for Mary.
11 reviews
October 18, 2020
Very dull and uninspired. Except for a nauseating scene with King Cormac, this book would be a very poor young adult novel. I never felt a sense of place or time in this historical fiction. It could've taken place at any time or any place. It's unfortunate because the premise was so promising.
71 reviews
November 15, 2023
Read this for my class. It’s a mystery and I got into it a bit, but it’s so poorly written. And then end was the most anti-climatic and disappointing reveal ever.
Profile Image for Brianna Tieskotter.
66 reviews5 followers
August 19, 2017
I will admit, I had troubles getting into this book. The beginning dragged in pacing, and I honestly didn't like Deirdre, the main character all that well. At the end of the book, I was still on the fence about her. The rest of the pacing was okay.

My main issues:
1. The use of the term North Pole --wasn't the earth still considered flat at this point in history? It really threw me out of the book and the setting. He uses the term "serial killer" in the info for the 2nd book in the series; I'll still read it, but I'm wary beyond belief.
2. There was a lot of feminism, which if I recall was definitely more of a Druid thing than a Christian type thing. It felt too modern though. I'll admit I'm not knowledgeable about feminism and culture of the middle ages, yet this seemed overboard with how much the Sister was able to get away with.
3. For being written by a scholar of classics and early Irish culture, it really felt like something written by a romance novelist who decided to destroy almost any and all of the romance. A couple of pages seemed assumed a quick explanation would solve things, but it didn't in my mind. Another 20 or so pages would've been fine...maybe.

Will I read the next book? Yes, because my friend let me borrow and she loves these books. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the second book in the series is better.
Profile Image for Lisa Cobb Sabatini.
845 reviews23 followers
September 21, 2017
I won a copy of Saint Brigid's Bones: A Celtic Adventure by Philip Freeman from Goodreads.

Readers are swept up and then gently settled into Sister Deirdre's Celtic world by author Philip Freeman in his novel, Saint Brigid's Bones. Readers don't need to be experts of Celtic history as the writing is uncomplicated and inviting.
Perfect for lovers of Historical Fiction, the novel explores the roles of Druids and Roman Catholics in Ireland while also exploring the very personal concerns of the main character. Deirdre is not only a Druid, but also a Bard, placing her in a unique position as a nun in the monastery when the bones of Saint Brigid, their main source of income, go missing. Saint Brigid's Bones is also a well-plotted mystery with plenty of suspects, motives, and danger.
Well-written and easy to read, well-crafted and engaging, Saint Brigid's Bones by Philip Freeman is a must-read Historical Mystery.
241 reviews1 follower
December 29, 2020
I picked this one up because the term "Celtic Adventure" appealed to me, but I found it flat. Reading other reviews on here helped me clarify what I found off about it. To sum up-the writing style and dialogue is written in a modern way which is jarring for a novel set in the 6th Century. And yes, I know that there were always some within the early Christian church that were tolerant of living near and with pagans, but this seemed to be extreme. The main character is supposed to be a nun, but she goes back and uses her druidic training and then near the end of the book it kinda throws in there that since her dad was a warrior she knows how to use a knife too (but her parents died when she was a toddler so...? ). I was surprised to learn partway through the book that Deirdre (the main character) was in her late 20s because the tone of her narration makes it seem she's maybe 18?

I'm glad other reviewers said the authors non-fiction work was really good. I was confused by the glowing reviews on the back of the book but I realize now they were for the author's other works.
Profile Image for Kevin Haar.
Author 1 book7 followers
September 25, 2024
Philip Freeman's story of an ancient Irish nun's quest to find the stolen bones of St. Brigid and save her monastery is an entertaining and competent novel, even if it feels a bit trite and underwhelming. Freeman keeps the plot moving and has filled the story with interesting characters with their own motivations. He has also wonderfully crafted 6th century Ireland and the customs of the time. There are several historical examples of cultural events that are shocking and interesting. Having written a novel myself that features the lore of St. Brigid, I immediately connected with the setting. Still, the story has some holes and the ending feels like it doesn't quite add up. The novel feels too simplistic sometimes and I wanted more lore and more intrigue between the characters. However, I am happy to accept it for what it is: a unique, quick, and clever tale that wonderfully captures the setting of ancient Ireland.
1,008 reviews2 followers
October 21, 2018
In a time in Ireland when the land was Christian, and pagan Deidre a nun of St Brigid, raised by a grandmother who is a Druid, is charged with a serious mission. The bones of St Brigid have been stolen, they have power and they draw people to the monastery. The gifts they bring in allow the order to care for widows and the sick. Deidre is charged with finding them and returning them. She draws on her bardic training. In the search she meets with her ex husband and Cormac, a prince she once loved. Philip Freeman starts a series with St Brigid's Bones and gives us a glimpse of Ireland in the distant past. If you like Sister Fidelma you very well might like Sister Deidre.
Profile Image for Amy.
202 reviews
October 4, 2018
I liked this book, but didn't love it. It was actually better than I expected in some ways. I did like most of the characters. There's just one scene that I really didn't think was necessary to the story at all, and could have been left out altogether, and the story would've been better. Or at least it didn't need such great detail. I get that the author was trying to be historically accurate, but that seemed gratuitous, especially when other parts of the story were so far-fetched. I did enjoy it, but I probably won't read the next in the series.
July 17, 2022
Bohužel mě tato kniha neoslovila. Byť autor je pedagog, přednášející dějiny a klasické jazyky, nenabyla jsem dojmu, že by postihl mentalitu lidí tehdejší doby nějak výstižně. Je samozřejmě pravda, že možná byl pohled na ženy a některé náboženské či politické aspekty jiný, než si jej představuji já, ale některé pasáže se mi zdály tak jednoduché a nepravděpodobné, že mě kniha nedokázala vtáhnout do děje. Bohužel mi ani počínání hlavní hrdinky nepřišlo nijak následováníhodné a některé její jednání dost naivní.
Knihu bych však určitě doporučila na letní dovolenou, jedná se o skvělou oddechovku.
Profile Image for Deirdre E Siegel.
808 reviews
February 8, 2023
Fabulous…
As a student of history, philosophy and theology this is a great listen / read about monastic life
in early Ireland.
The main character is more curious than cautious, hobbled by her background, status, and youth in
the religious world, her fellow cast members are refreshingly human, making this a fun lesson about
historic Ireland, cultural dictates, religious beliefs, while surviving in a very real brutal world.
Thoroughly enjoyable, thank you for your collection of words Philip Freeman and your eloquent brogue Fiona Hardingham, much appreciated. :-)
Profile Image for Iwik Pásková.
404 reviews29 followers
May 13, 2017
Kniha se mi velice líbila. Je nevšední a originální jak svým tématem, tak i zpracováním. Detektivní zápletka a její rozuzlení mě mile překvapilo a dlouho jsem se s ničím podobným nesetkala. Milé počtení ve stylu tradiční detektivky, s nimiž se v současnosti už tak často neshledáváme. http://chrudimka.cz/pozrel-ohen-kosti...
Profile Image for Katniss Lavender.
89 reviews3 followers
October 14, 2017
Nikdy jsem nic podobného nečetla. Je to takový zvláštně jemný příběh. Nečekejte velké napětí a akci, vše jen tak přirozeně plyne od začátku až do konce. Kořením tohoto příběhu je období a místo, ve kterém se odehrává. Tuto knihu bych doporučila hlavně jemnějším duším, které mají rády detektivní příběhy...
Profile Image for Allen Steele.
289 reviews15 followers
December 15, 2018
Deirdre was an amazing woman who was at one time a Druid of the Nobility, but is now a nun tasked with finding St Brigid's bones after they were stolen. Up until the very last, we still didn't know who could've taken them, was it the pirates? The scorned Ex-lover?the Abbot of a neighboring church? The king's sons? I rather enjoyed this book. Great character development.
Profile Image for Doris Mahala.
372 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2018
Sister Deirdre and Sister Darerca have a wild, frustrating adventure that made me wonder if they were going to accomplish their mission without being killed!
I also wondered if the "trouble maker" would be dismissed from the mission or if she would marry a king!

This is all I will say!
If I say more then I will give spoilers and I refuse to do that!

It is a must read!
Profile Image for Nila Novotny.
559 reviews3 followers
October 6, 2019
This was an interesting Historical Fiction of ancient Ireland. The premise of the stolen bones of a nun who started a monastery and the search for them was perhaps a little contrived. It turned out to be more of a whodunit story. It gives information of some of the customs of early Ireland which are researched by the author. I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews

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