In Praise of the Bees

Women of Ireland #1

by Kristin Gleeson

Ireland 590 A.D.

Brutally beaten, she's lost her memory and found a new life. If she recovers, will she lose more than she gains?

A woman is found by a track, nearly dead from appalling wounds and remembers nothing. Her terror and her injuries are so great that she is given sanctuary in Mother Gobnait's unusual community of nuns, while all around her a war is being waged in which she is a pawn. The women name her Aine.

Disturbing fragments of Áine’s memory begin to surface, and in desperation she asks to remain in the safety of the community, but is it really safe for her anywhere?

It is only after events take another terrible turn that Áine is forced to discover who she really is and make life-changing choices – but will they prove to be her undoing?

A literary novel inspired by real women - complex female characters who strain against the cruel chains and crippling prejudices of a society where no woman has power. Except, perhaps, one…

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ireland, Mystery, Medieval, Historical, Romance

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2015

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author, Kristin Gleeson is originally from Philadelphia but has lived in West Cork in Ireland for a number of years where she plays the harp and sings, in addition to painting the beautiful landscape around her. She holds a Masters in Library Science and a Ph.D. in history, and for a time was an administrator of a large archives, library and museum in America and also worked as a public librarian in America and Ireland. She has won numerous awards for her writing

Myths and other folk tales have always fascinated her and she combined her love of these tales with her harp playing and performed as a professional harper/storyteller at events in Britain, America and Ireland.


She has also written history freelance and published articles and essays in reference works and academic books.

Reviews

[Jean Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvellous portrayal of women in medieval Ireland

As well as being Aine’s story, this is a rare, realistic portrayal of a little-known period in Ireland, a religious community and a real person.

Having lost her memory, Aine finds shelter in a community of nuns, who offer real sisterhood. The fulfillment possible for a woman within the family security offered by a 6th century convent is both convincing and surprising. Kristin Gleeson portrays the detail of domestic life in ‘the dark ages’ with meticulous accuracy, so that I could feel Aine’s growing love for her new life and its mother-figure, Mathair Gobnait, the Abbess.

Later canonized as Patron Saint of bees, Mother Gobnait is portrayed as warm and wise, overseeing all the practical tasks in this self-sufficient community. And of course she is an expert beekeeper, passing on her love of bees to her newest follower, Aine. As a debutante beekeeper, I loved the legends and bee stories. Thanks to this book, I was able to point out to my expert teacher here in France that there was indeed a female Patron Saint of bees – he’d only heard of the male one. I love the thought that healing with honey, as shown in this novel, was taking place all those centuries ago – and I’m sure that’s true.

The overarching story of Aine recovering her memory and facing what this means for her unrolls slowly to the hard choice she must make, as she remembers people from her past life. Even as an atheist, I really felt the pull of convent life, so any reader with religious beliefs would feel the attraction even more. In counterbalance is the other traditional life open to a medieval woman; a husband and children.

I always enjoy the way Kristin Gleeson portrays relationships and I think the characters of Aine's potential mates, Oengus and Colman, are very well drawn, adding to her dilemma. I loved her decision and felt her pain at having to choose at all.

[SamuraiKitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not that I didn't like this book - hence the rating. It's that it did not feel finished to me.
This is a time period that I know very little about - late 6th century Ireland. And Gleeson made that time period come to life both historically and socially, which was wonderful. It was fascinating to see how Christianity and the "Old" religions co-existed with skepticism, and wary tolerance. Christianity being the new kid on the block was not so apt to flex its muscle yet. Learning about St. Gobnait and her bees was also very interesting. And the story itself had SUCH potential to be a really great read! And then the books ends .... it just ends. It was like getting to page 295 in a book, and realizing that someone ripped out the last 200-300 pages. What??!! Wait a minute! That's it??? Arghhhhhh!!!!!!!

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly this book did not live up to all the reviews I read imo. I love anything set in or around Ireland. This book had a good story concept, an amazing setting and Historical figures to build on. However with all the Gaelic words(which I love, just to much) it made it hard to read this story smoothly. I found myself trying to figure out what words meant which caused me to loose interests in the story because I had to stop and focus on the words and the meanings rather than the story. It was amazing reading about this time and the amazing women of Ireland I just wish it was a smoother read. A glossary in the front would have helped but with the amount of Gaelic wording it still would have been hard plus with a kindel it's not like you can just flip back and fourth in the pages to look up words.

[Merit Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Landed with a thud

It makes me sad to write this review and I wavered between 2 and 3 stars because I really wanted to like this book. It opens strongly, with severe injures to an intelligent, appealing heroine and ends with a tentative, lukewarm thud. The reveal of the attacker, what should be the climax of the book, is vague and emotionless. Aine/Cuimne’s reaction is similarly equivocal. (Potential spoiler alert) When she learns the identity of her attacker and brother’s killer she’s confused? She seeks no justice, seemingly feels no anger (let alone terror) turns to needlepoint and simply lets it all go? Then, conveniently, the wife of her love interest suddenly wants to join the order and make sure he has someone younger to give him children and offers him up basically on a silver platter? Sure.
In the first half of the book I felt the characters’ motivation. They were three dimensional flesh and blood people living In a fully realized, full color world. Then that feeling slowly leached away leaving a colorless, gray, dull hodgepodge that was part history lesson, part language training, and thoroughly unsatisfying.
After the obviously thorough research, and creating a heroine I truly empathized with, the ending was so facile and rushed I felt incredibly let down. Aine and I deserve better!

[Cat Tobin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's clear the author has spent a long time studying this time period, and is passionate about sharing that work with others. The author's detailed research was extensively reproduced throughout the novel, sometimes at the expense of plot and character development.

[Cookie M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember St. Gobnait from the Litany of Saints, but I don't think I ever paid that much attention the few times I attended the Recitation when I was a kid. This book is a novel about a woman from the community she founded in Ireland when Christianity was first spreading in that country. Kristin Glee so is a librarian and archivist who lives in Ireland and she has done a great deal of research to make this book as truthful a representation as it can be about what life was life for women in a religious community and in the surrounding lay countryside. It includes a glossary and pronunciation guide.

[Alyssia Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wouldn't be my usual style of novel and so I wasn't sure what to expect or whether I would enjoy it, however I found myself drawn into the gentle action and early Christian faith of the Irish protagonists. Although it is set up as a mystery as to who left the our female lead for dead and in fact who indeed she is as she has no memory of anything before the attack, it is told in such a gentle meandering way that you could be forgiven for forgetting that it isn't just a clever look into a different way of life.

It's very poetically written and draws you into the events through description. It doesn't pull but instead gently guides you and is quite a lovely book to read in all honesty. The characters grow gently and carefully with the hand of the mother of the community upon them, guiding them to their full potential. The true genius of this writing however is perhaps the chance to look through a window into a very different world and a very different way of living.

My only minor complaint is that the glossary for the old Irish words is at the back and I had to interrupt my reading on several occasions to find out what an essential word used meant which jarred the experience somewhat. The glossary could be helpful at the beginning or perhaps more of an explanation of utterly foreign phrases throughout the novel would save having to disrupt the reading experience.

All in all though I'm surprised to say that I actually really enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to anyone who wants a gentle and intricately woven novel which is a window into another period. It's delicately written and strangely compelling.

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly excellent read. It starts with a most intriguing set up - a woman recovering from stab wounds, nurtured by nuns in Ireland AD 590. A very difficult undertaking to portray this time realistically and authentically. Gleeson did a splendid job at that. I'm not normally one for historical fiction of that period, but the theme of bees attracted me to the title and I found this to be of high literary quality and depth.
How our heroine finds herself in the new environment and faces demons past and present, her marriage and the best way forward, in light of her own desires and god's will.
There is much to enjoy in this read, written thoughtfully and with great reflections and perspectives on society. Symbolism, juxtaposition and character depth add to the many praises I have for the "Praise of the bees". Maybe my recent interest in bee keeping has made me partial to pick up the book, but the author's competence has won me over.
A marvel.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sister Fidelma fan that I am, of course I had to read this book after trying a sample. Medieval Ireland owns a parcel of my brain, and I enjoyed this book even though it was not a perfectly told tale. The end of the book leads one to believe (or hope) that the story will continue in another book, but with no evidence on horizon I will have to wait and see. A young woman is savagely attacked and when found is taken to a nearby nun who is known as a healer. It is a very slow recovery physically, and the young woman has the added difficulty and dangerous challenge of having no memory at all. It is emotionally rich with a good dose of religion added to the mix.

[Kilian Metcalf · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would have been a better story if the author had tied up the loose ends and had skipped a few plot twists. I found the use of Irish words intrusive without any translation or explanation. I did have a glossary in the back, but it's not complete. The ending was abrupt and unbelievable, with little foundation laid for the character's decisions.

All in all I found it unsatisfying.

[Ann McManus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I generally enjoy literature based in this time period, I found the book difficult to follow because of the constant and (in my opinion) gratuitous overuse and misuse of Gaelic words and phrases.

The book is loosely based on an obscure saint's story. The interjection of a severely damaged character doesn't do much for the narrative. Tell one story or the other, please.

[Annette Summerfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending fell short.
I enjoyed it until it just suddenly ends.

[Brandy B. Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really a 3.5 -- This book started strong, but the ending felt rushed.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading 'In Praise of Bees', particularly the descriptions of life in St Gobnait's nunnery and of the tension between the old and new religions created by the arrival of Christianity. The writer notes that she did considerable historical research and I do feel that I learned something of the 6th C in reading her book.

I do agree with other reviewers that the use of Irish Gaelic words, necessitating frequent flipping back and forth to look at the glossary is annoying. I liked learning some of these words but found the way that they were used distracting.

I don't, however, agree with those who found the ending abrupt or seemingly unfinished. I liked the way that the ending didn't seek to tie up every loose thread and instead just hinted at the main character's ongoing journey. I was happy to merely wish her well and didn't find her to be compelling enough to want to know much more.

There were some touching moments in the book but, in general, it left me unmoved, and I would have loved to hear more of Gobnait's relationship with her bees & her healing work with honey. Nevertheless, I am glad to have read it and to have learned something of 6th C Irish nunneries; the rhythm and peacefulness of Praying the Hours, the simple devotion to every task, no matter how mundane, and the acknowledgement that doubt is part of the spiritual journey, will stay with me.

[Judi Easley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seek the stillness of the bees...

Ms. Gleeson has done a wonderful job of putting together the various aspects of the history, a murder, amnesia, and a romance to create a very enjoyable read. The many trials and tribulations Aine/Cimnue suffers through allow her to grow greatly in the course of the book. From helpless and broken supplicant at the beginning of the story to a strong and principled woman at the end. Recommended.

[Marygrace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It's interplay between Medieval monastic life and Irish court life was stellar, as well as the focus on the Brehans.

[Sharon Zink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to read Medieval novels, and this one strikes me as authentic. It is the story of a pagan (Irish?) woman who was beaten and left for dead, but was found and brought to a convent. The rest of the book tells how she found a path for the rest of her life.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book and its characters. Set in very early medieval Ireland around the time the first cloister was established, it gives a wonderful picture of Ireland as a place of transition between the old religion and Christianity. I loved the characters, the setting, the writing, the plot... everything.

[Valsala Rajan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a bit difficult for me to review this book. I enjoyed being immersed in an atmosphere and a time that was new to me. On the other hand, the story itself was something of a drag and didn't pull me in. I foresaw almost all the main events long before they happened and it was just a question of waiting to see when my heroine would see what I already saw. Some of the characters appeared to behave in an overly familiar fashion and the 'love' for a best friend too cloying to arouse my empathy. I like my women to be strong. ;) And that's the problem. I don't really understand if I feel sorry for the main character or I admire her!

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting was well drawn and an integral part of this mystery, in which a young woman with no memory and terrible injuries is brought to one of the early nunneries in Ireland. I enjoyed the story, the legal discussions over the (historically recorded) theft of an expensive horse and a set of workman's tools, and the realisation and inclusion of a real historical figure, St. Gobnait (Maithir Ab).

The prioress tends the bees of the title, and uses their honey in healing some illnesses in 6-7thC Ireland. Historical Irish terms are used throughout the book and add to the tone, and the setting, and there is a glossary included at the end. However, I read this on a digital reader and, not being adept at using it, didn't discover the glossary until I'd finished reading. This meant I was occasionally frustrated by the run of words I didn't understand. A reader who can flip back and forth from the glossary would probably find this aspect not an issue.

I was a little confused when the denouement revealed who the attackers were, and felt the motive was not clear. The above comments aside, the story is worth reading if you enjoy reading set in historical eras and settings seldom explored by writers.

[Robert Nolin]

DNF at pg 50. Perhaps I would have felt differently had I not just finished the excellent The Corner That Held Them which is much better at creating living, breathing nuns. I knew I was in trouble when I saw the "plot" relied upon the old soap opera trope of amnesia. This is like a tract to entice people to Catholicism: outsider is taken in and she is a blank slate, but just being around the nuns leads to an epiphany, etc... Too little focus on character development, too much on world-building/description, and the use of present tense makes it nearly nonfiction.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was written very differently, almost in statements. The story and the characters were captivating and have stayed with me for the several days since finishing the book. The ending was abrupt, I thought that I had perhaps missed a page or misread something.......but, no. It was just ........ the end. It did not detract at all from the story or from my enjoyment of it. I loved the gentleness (for lack of a better word) that was woven in throughout the book. This is one that I will likely reread.

[Cynthia Neale · Rating 4 out of 5]

6th century Ireland vividly springs to life in Kristin Gleeson's novel, 'In Praise of the Bees.' I've read most of Gleeson's books and have time traveled wonderfully with all of them.The protagonist, Aine, who has been brutally attacked, suffers memory loss and is taken in by a community of nuns. Aine doesn't wish to leave, perhaps to remember, but her desire to be whole and live truthfully compels her to courageously go on a journey physically and spiritually to do so.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 6th century in Ireland was a time of change -- the old religion is losing ground as Christianity spreads and the old Irish legal system is being challenged by Church law. Kristin Gleeson combines those historical facts with the legends of St. Gobnait and the Church in Ireland to weave a tale filled with interesting and strong women, especially Aine/Cuimne, Mathair Gobnait and Lassar.

No graphic sex or violence

[Dawn Allred · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing to me. At first, I thought it was going to be a story of empowered women during the 500s, but it had a predictable ending. It is basically a story of Christianity moving into Ireland to replace the Gaelic and Celtic traditional ancient wisdom.

[Angus Mcfarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was a free e-book, but a recent release and for some reason got me curious enough to read straight away (I have a lot of big non-fiction books on the currently reading list at the moment and wanted something light). And yet, the story reinforced much of what I’ve been reading in Dominion and others, regarding the so-called dark ages which are turning out to be renaissance / enlightenment / reformation propaganda driven by a bigotry which sought to elevate their present-day cleverness. Without a doubt, we live in vastly different times and I don’t think I’d want to go back, but there were plenty of good things happening, alongside bad, which was moving us to the modern day. In this book, the tension of Christianity’s introduction to Ireland is drawn out, with the healing help that came with it a highlight of the Convent which sets the opening scenes. I am not sure if the story is intended to be propaganda for Christianity – it read neutrally enough for my liking. Apparently the story is based somewhat on historical events, however, I am not familiar enough with the history of the time and place to know how close it is. But it was an enjoyable read and while close to the other histories, light enough to get through quickly. The main pitfall for me was some sudden plot re-directions which seemed to just happen and left me wondering if I’d drifted off to sleep or missed a page.

[Darien · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found myself immersed in medieval Ireland and enjoyed the lyrical prose and poetic descriptions of place and the spiritual lives of the women in the story - that part of the book for me was 5 stars. What pulled everything down was that I never felt I understood the characters' inner lives (aside from their spirituality). Relationships advanced and retreated with little to no insight for me as a reader regarding motivation.
In particular, the protagonist went from frightened and almost childlike (understandable considering what she went through) to obsessed, to guilt-ridden (?) and then to stubbornly antagonistic and vengeful, and finally back to passive and forgiving. The character arc felt more like a puppet being put through the motions to tell the story, rather than an intelligent and emotional journey that let to her evolution. For example, we never are shown why her absolute fear regarding her attack changes into a total lack of curiosity about why & how it happened. And for an "intelligent" and educated woman who knows something of the law to suddenly go from pursuing vengeance despite her 'dedication' to her new religion, to saying she doesn't even want to report the murder of her brother, and vicious attack on herself. It just doesn't make sense in a society where the laws (religious or secular) are about ensuring the safety of all people, and letting a killer and attacker of women go free just means you are responsible for future harm.

[Venetia Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love how Gleeson creates an utterly believable early medieval Ireland in this novel, portraying a network of minor kingships, Brehon law, obligations of hospitality, and the new Christian/old Celtic religions. Gleeson's determination to slip in Gaelic words wherever possible got a bit irritating, though--less would be more! I was also a bit challenged by the pronunciation of the characters' names--I'd have liked a guide to help me with that.

While I appreciated most of the historical detail, including the evocation of an early Irish saint, IMO the plotting, characterisation, and even romantic tension needed work. Certain plot points felt too obvious (especially the death of a specific nun and the final life decision the central character makes). The story begins with all the hallmarks of a near-murder mystery, but the identity of the murderer/attacker and their motivations are only part-revealed at the end and through no effort of the heroine herself. Unsatisfactory. The romance, which also forms a subplot of the novel, is also unsatisfactorily wound up: I have no idea how the heroine feels about her male love interest, and there's zero sense of romance or sexual tension with him, especially compared to the heroine's earlier and far more convincing relationship with a female character. Labelling a novel 'literary' does not excuse unsatisfactory plot!

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel follows the story of a woman who is found unconscious, severely beaten, and on the brink of death. Rescued and taken to a nunnery overseen by Mathair Gobnait, she awakens with no memory of her identity or the attack that nearly killed her. The nuns name her Áine, and as she recovers, she experiences fleeting glimpses of her past, though nothing substantial. Over time, Áine begins to feel a deep connection to the Christian women caring for her and their faith.

Gobnait enlists Colmán, a local legal expert, to investigate Áine’s identity and origins. Eventually, it is revealed that she is Cuimne (pronounced "queevna"), the daughter of a wealthy landowner in the region.

While the novel initially centers on the mystery of Áine/Cuimne’s attack, the narrative shifts its focus to her religious journey and eventual conversion from paganism to Christianity. Significant portions of the story delve into her spiritual longing and the impact of the nuns’ faith on her. The mystery of her attack and her attackers gradually becomes a secondary plotline.

Colmán is introduced as a love interest despite being married, a situation Cuimne actively resists. Upon learning her true identity, Cuimne returns to her family estate, temporarily abandoning her newfound connection to Christianity. A childhood friend, Óengus, is introduced as a potential suitor, creating tension with Colmán. The romantic elements include a few abrupt and somewhat disjointed sexual encounters between Cuimne and Óengus. Ultimately, Cuimne chooses to return to the nunnery and her Christian faith. However, the mystery surrounding her attack remains unresolved, and the narrative concludes with a contrived situation enabling Cuimne to marry Colmán. The ending feels rushed and abrupt.

Overall, I found the story disappointing. The heavy emphasis on religious themes and Cuimne’s conversion overshadowed the initially intriguing mystery, which never gained the focus it deserved. Additionally, the abrupt ending left many threads unresolved. The lack of a pronunciation guide for the numerous Gaelic terms was another source of frustration, requiring frequent searches to decipher the text. This gave the impression that the author included these words unnecessarily, further detracting from the reading experience. Ultimately, the novel felt frustrating, unsatisfying, and frequently tedious. One star for the story. Added one star portraying Gobnait as strong and independent in a time when women were dismissed as lesser beings.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for historical books. Even better if it is based in the UK or Ireland. This one is based on actual figures from history, so I liked that aspect of it as well. I will admit I did figure out who was responsible for our heroine’s injuries early on, but I enjoyed the story anyway. The main female character was quite remarkable, I thought. She showed a lot of the practical views on marriage that would have been common in her time. She was very sure of her course of action. That is rare in a lot of books, especially books with any kind of romantic element. Very often, you see a female character fall in love and she flies in the face of convention at the time to achieve her desires. This book, the female character had feelings for a male character but she also knew her worth to her family, so she didn’t run away to elope or the historical equivalent. I liked that. The religious element was not so overdone to make the story solely about religion. At any rate, the religion in this book seems to be a lot more flexible and open to interpretation than today’s religions.