What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bringer of Happiness
From the award-winning writer and director of The Women’s Jail Project and author of Dancing the Labyrinth, comes an evocative tale that unashamedly merges renowned historical characters and events in a spellbinding story of destiny.
“I should have assumed with parents known to the world as Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ, I would be different.”
And Sara is different, for she time travels forward into other people’s bodies.
When Sara, whose Aramaic name means ‘bringer of happiness,’ wakes up in a Sarah-Marie, a young Cathar girl from Montségur, she believes it is her destiny to rescue her from the 13th Century siege. By saving Sarah-Marie, Sara hopes to safe-guard her mother’s gospel. In this story of death, destiny and soul’s purpose, we join Sara as she journeys from Jerusalem to Egypt to Crete and finally to France heeding her call.
Narrated by the daughter of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, the Bringer of Happiness is a journey into ideologies, beliefs and heresies, culminating in the 13th Century massacre of the Cathars at Montségur. As our histories become unstuck, the patterns of power through religion are shifting, making way for new narratives. This book is part of this process. Part history, part myth, part imagination: the Bringer of Happiness is a compelling (almost) true tale.
“I should have assumed with parents known to the world as Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ, I would be different.”
And Sara is different, for she time travels forward into other people’s bodies.
When Sara, whose Aramaic name means ‘bringer of happiness,’ wakes up in a Sarah-Marie, a young Cathar girl from Montségur, she believes it is her destiny to rescue her from the 13th Century siege. By saving Sarah-Marie, Sara hopes to safe-guard her mother’s gospel. In this story of death, destiny and soul’s purpose, we join Sara as she journeys from Jerusalem to Egypt to Crete and finally to France heeding her call.
Narrated by the daughter of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, the Bringer of Happiness is a journey into ideologies, beliefs and heresies, culminating in the 13th Century massacre of the Cathars at Montségur. As our histories become unstuck, the patterns of power through religion are shifting, making way for new narratives. This book is part of this process. Part history, part myth, part imagination: the Bringer of Happiness is a compelling (almost) true tale.
- GenresGoddess
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 25, 2022
35 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Karen Martin
6 books9 followersI am an Australian independent playwright, and author living in Australia. I am known to have run away with the Women's Circus, created plays in prisons, and written theatre that strived for transformation. I won awards for my work, received funding to travel to write in situ, and learned to listen carefully as the muses whispered in my ear.
I have contributed to several non-fiction books: The Women’s Circus: Leaping the Wire, and Women in Theatre: Ewa Czajor Memorial Award Recipients, and received a Local History Award for the writing and publication of two booklets on my award-winning production of The Women’s Project.
Dancing the Labyrinth was written while living on Crete, where it was first published in Greek.
Thematically I am interested in boundaries and my work explores the space within transition.
I have contributed to several non-fiction books: The Women’s Circus: Leaping the Wire, and Women in Theatre: Ewa Czajor Memorial Award Recipients, and received a Local History Award for the writing and publication of two booklets on my award-winning production of The Women’s Project.
Dancing the Labyrinth was written while living on Crete, where it was first published in Greek.
Thematically I am interested in boundaries and my work explores the space within transition.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 27, 2022
Karen Martin's second book tells the story of Sara, daughter of Jesus and Mary Magdalene - Sara (Aramaic for "bringer of happiness", hence the title) can time travel and so sets out to save Sarah-Marie, a young Cathar girl in 13th century France.
As with Martin's first book, it's a wonderfully told story built on lots of historical facts, making it as much educational as it is entertaining.
Martin's prose is beautifully descriptive and immersive, drawing you into the sights, sounds and smells of the various stops along the way.
The underlying factual aspects make for a really interesting backdrop - as a result, I've drawn up a list of books to procure and read to learn more - in particular the journey of Mary Magdalene and her gospel.
As with the first novel, Dancing the Labyrinth, the narrative focuses on the female protagonist and experiences, making it a refreshingly new perspective for me (lapsed Irish Catholic) and learnings from my youth.
First and foremost, however, it's a great story and a very enjoyable read - highly recommended and I look forward to the next book in the series.
As with Martin's first book, it's a wonderfully told story built on lots of historical facts, making it as much educational as it is entertaining.
Martin's prose is beautifully descriptive and immersive, drawing you into the sights, sounds and smells of the various stops along the way.
The underlying factual aspects make for a really interesting backdrop - as a result, I've drawn up a list of books to procure and read to learn more - in particular the journey of Mary Magdalene and her gospel.
As with the first novel, Dancing the Labyrinth, the narrative focuses on the female protagonist and experiences, making it a refreshingly new perspective for me (lapsed Irish Catholic) and learnings from my youth.
First and foremost, however, it's a great story and a very enjoyable read - highly recommended and I look forward to the next book in the series.
December 2, 2022
✅️ Offers a reimagining of fables and mythologies️
✅ Layered️
✅ Inspired deeper thought/research
You think I wasn't stoked when an author friend, the wonderful Karen Martin said she was self-publishing another book and she would like me to read and review it, in exchange for a gifted copy? I was beside myself - what an earnest privilege.
Was this a book I would otherwise pick up? Quite possibly not. But am I glad I did? You betcha!
The book told a fictionalised story where Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene had a child named Sarah (the bringer of happiness). The book is told largely from the perspective of Sarah and provides vignettes of her life, which interact with fables that exist within the religious canon.
From the very get go it had me googling historical figures and events which I was peripherally aware of, but needed more detail about. I learned lots.
I loved the way elements of truths and mythologies were woven with a fictionalised story, which I think has pretty significant ramifications. I think a lot of this sophistication and the broader context was lost to me - I really am not the ideal reader for this book!
I'd recommend this one to anyone interested in mythologies, especially with a feminist interrogation.
Well done Karen - so incredibly proud!
✅ Layered️
✅ Inspired deeper thought/research
You think I wasn't stoked when an author friend, the wonderful Karen Martin said she was self-publishing another book and she would like me to read and review it, in exchange for a gifted copy? I was beside myself - what an earnest privilege.
Was this a book I would otherwise pick up? Quite possibly not. But am I glad I did? You betcha!
The book told a fictionalised story where Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene had a child named Sarah (the bringer of happiness). The book is told largely from the perspective of Sarah and provides vignettes of her life, which interact with fables that exist within the religious canon.
From the very get go it had me googling historical figures and events which I was peripherally aware of, but needed more detail about. I learned lots.
I loved the way elements of truths and mythologies were woven with a fictionalised story, which I think has pretty significant ramifications. I think a lot of this sophistication and the broader context was lost to me - I really am not the ideal reader for this book!
I'd recommend this one to anyone interested in mythologies, especially with a feminist interrogation.
Well done Karen - so incredibly proud!
December 29, 2022
*I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review*
This was a beautifully written story about the daughter of Mary Magdalene and Jesus, specifically exploring her spirit's ability to briefly visit individuals in the future. There were many historical and biblical reference, which would likely have been more impactful if I had a better knowledge of both, however I still found the book to be inspiring, emotional and moving. There were definitely phrases throughout that gave me pause and encouraged reflection. Very timely that I read it right around Christmas!
My biggest complaint is that the end felt incomplete and perhaps negative in tone. That being said, I would still be interested in reading the author's first book in the Women Unveiled collection.
This was a beautifully written story about the daughter of Mary Magdalene and Jesus, specifically exploring her spirit's ability to briefly visit individuals in the future. There were many historical and biblical reference, which would likely have been more impactful if I had a better knowledge of both, however I still found the book to be inspiring, emotional and moving. There were definitely phrases throughout that gave me pause and encouraged reflection. Very timely that I read it right around Christmas!
My biggest complaint is that the end felt incomplete and perhaps negative in tone. That being said, I would still be interested in reading the author's first book in the Women Unveiled collection.
January 14, 2023
What a journey!
This is a work of fiction centered around Sara, that daughter of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. While their teachings are there, and Mary Magdalene is often present, this is Sara's book entirely, it is not used for her parents to be the center of attention, she is. She has a certain gift and her destiny is, or is it?, to help a young Cathar girl save her mother's manuscript as her group's fortress is burned down.
This being said, I appreciate greatly the immense courage the author had to release this kind of subject into the world. And I appreciate so much she gave Sara a voice. If your are looking for the Magdalene, though, you will find her here.
The author's theatre background creates sometimes short and sketchy scenes, very rapid, and your attention is necessary to keep pace with Sara's many travels into other persons (yes, you read that right, this is her gift). However, among the many nuggets of wisdom there is so much poetry and and a sort of dreaminess, I really don't know how to name it better. I feel it is a big depart from the previous book in the series as the story unfolds softer, richer, in wonderfully described environments. The desert, the beach, the space under the trees and the mountains, all landscapes are beautifully depicted and a strong part of the story.
I appreciate very much the complexity of the story and how the wisdom is written down. In the beginning I felt some characters explained too much with a modern voice the many details that had to be known to make the book develop. But then I reveled in the presence of key characters, with their eccentricity, like the Gipsy Queen, or in the historical encounter Sara has. I value how everything is seen with clear eyes, especially in this times when some people seem to romanticize too much what we believe was the Cathar faith. Plus, as its subject gets to see a glimpse of them, the book doesn't shy away from the many horrors history is known to feature.
This story has extraordinary moments, like I have never encountered before in a book. How the Initiation in the Mysteries is felt, embodying Sophia, what it means to go beyond body and float as a spirit, there are some scenes here so surreal, so powerful, of such grace and beauty, they left me in awe.
I could write so much about this book, of its so many layers. Yet, I hope, and tried, to be as objective as I could in this review, giving how close this subject and so many of the places and moments featured here are to my heart.
My greatest hope for this book is that it is read with an open mind, beyond the inevitable political questions we, people of a certain faith, cannot get over. May this book find your where you are and give your what you need.
This is a work of fiction centered around Sara, that daughter of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. While their teachings are there, and Mary Magdalene is often present, this is Sara's book entirely, it is not used for her parents to be the center of attention, she is. She has a certain gift and her destiny is, or is it?, to help a young Cathar girl save her mother's manuscript as her group's fortress is burned down.
This being said, I appreciate greatly the immense courage the author had to release this kind of subject into the world. And I appreciate so much she gave Sara a voice. If your are looking for the Magdalene, though, you will find her here.
The author's theatre background creates sometimes short and sketchy scenes, very rapid, and your attention is necessary to keep pace with Sara's many travels into other persons (yes, you read that right, this is her gift). However, among the many nuggets of wisdom there is so much poetry and and a sort of dreaminess, I really don't know how to name it better. I feel it is a big depart from the previous book in the series as the story unfolds softer, richer, in wonderfully described environments. The desert, the beach, the space under the trees and the mountains, all landscapes are beautifully depicted and a strong part of the story.
I appreciate very much the complexity of the story and how the wisdom is written down. In the beginning I felt some characters explained too much with a modern voice the many details that had to be known to make the book develop. But then I reveled in the presence of key characters, with their eccentricity, like the Gipsy Queen, or in the historical encounter Sara has. I value how everything is seen with clear eyes, especially in this times when some people seem to romanticize too much what we believe was the Cathar faith. Plus, as its subject gets to see a glimpse of them, the book doesn't shy away from the many horrors history is known to feature.
This story has extraordinary moments, like I have never encountered before in a book. How the Initiation in the Mysteries is felt, embodying Sophia, what it means to go beyond body and float as a spirit, there are some scenes here so surreal, so powerful, of such grace and beauty, they left me in awe.
I could write so much about this book, of its so many layers. Yet, I hope, and tried, to be as objective as I could in this review, giving how close this subject and so many of the places and moments featured here are to my heart.
My greatest hope for this book is that it is read with an open mind, beyond the inevitable political questions we, people of a certain faith, cannot get over. May this book find your where you are and give your what you need.
February 5, 2023
From the very first sentence, this novel draws you in. Sara, which means Bringer of Happiness in Aramaic, is the daughter of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. She is born in a time of great unrest in the country and just before her father is crucified. Sara was born with the gift of time travel and throughout the novel is propelled forward in time, into the bodies of others, in order to witness events that tie directly back to her mother and father. She gets to see how the teachings of Mary and Jesus get warped throughout time, changing from teachings of pure love, to hatred and pain and sin and eventually the persecution of anyone who wasn't claiming themselves a Christian during the reign of the Holy Roman Empire. Sara's travels almost always lead her to witness some kind of death, as that is her gift and destiny as a descendent of Persephone.
I thought the book was well written and researched, showing key points in history. I'm not religious but always find the stories fascinating and love how this goes to show how the Gospel of Mary was protected through time. I thought the use of time travel was brilliant and well done. The author was able to show history without Sara actually altering anything, which would have made for a very different book.
I would definitely recommend this and it's a quick read, so I recommend reading twice as the ending makes you want to start all over again and pay more attention to the details of each moment that Sara experiences.
I thought the book was well written and researched, showing key points in history. I'm not religious but always find the stories fascinating and love how this goes to show how the Gospel of Mary was protected through time. I thought the use of time travel was brilliant and well done. The author was able to show history without Sara actually altering anything, which would have made for a very different book.
I would definitely recommend this and it's a quick read, so I recommend reading twice as the ending makes you want to start all over again and pay more attention to the details of each moment that Sara experiences.
January 29, 2023
The book "The Bringer of Happiness" by Karen Martin is a captivating and thought-provoking work of fiction that explores the intriguing idea of Jesus and Mary Magdalene having a child named Sara. The author's use of historical facts and religious mythology adds depth and richness to the story, making it both informative and entertaining. The descriptive prose immerses the reader in the sights, sounds, and smells of the various locations throughout the book, making it easy to visualize the scenes.
The main character, Sara, is a strong and complex woman with a unique gift that allows her to travel through time. Her journey to save a young Cathar girl in 13th-century France is thrilling and emotional. The author's portrayal of the female protagonist and her experiences adds a refreshing perspective to the story.
Overall, "The Bringer of Happiness" is a well-written and engaging novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy fiction with a historical and spiritual theme. The mythologies and fictionalized story creates a unique and powerful narrative that will leave readers pondering the ideas presented in the book. It's a must-read for anyone interested in exploring new perspectives on religion and spirituality.
The main character, Sara, is a strong and complex woman with a unique gift that allows her to travel through time. Her journey to save a young Cathar girl in 13th-century France is thrilling and emotional. The author's portrayal of the female protagonist and her experiences adds a refreshing perspective to the story.
Overall, "The Bringer of Happiness" is a well-written and engaging novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy fiction with a historical and spiritual theme. The mythologies and fictionalized story creates a unique and powerful narrative that will leave readers pondering the ideas presented in the book. It's a must-read for anyone interested in exploring new perspectives on religion and spirituality.
February 7, 2023
The Bringer of Happiness by Karen Martin is about Sara, the daughter of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. The story is about Sara and her destiny to spread the light of happiness to the people. Martin tries to look at the plight of being a woman in a man's world since 34 AD. She does not base this on just Sara and her mother's encounters with ill-treatment by men they cross paths with but rather explains this from various perspectives, including that of men during that period. As Sara can 'float' through time into other people's bodies, she sees the real world for its cruelty and injustice. This treatment was evident in how men in one of her 'floating' experiences laughed at the thought of Mary Magdalene's efforts to impart knowledge of life. Since birth, Sara has been a curious child, inquisitive about everything around her. Martin brought out this child-like curious Sara aptly. When she writes about her experience as a host of a girl forced into getting married to a man who abuses her because she does not want to lose her virginity, she adds the sense of confusion and horror a child would have had to witness such a situation. Martin's writing is patient as she dives into Sara's emotions and explains why she feels the way she does. Currently, where everything can end up being controversial, especially regarding religion, Karen's book is courageous and revolutionary. The extensive research into giving an in-depth historical context and aligning it with the timeline is noteworthy. I recommend this book to those interested in retellings of myth and history. These retellings give the characters of a myth that have never been in the limelight a fictional platform to tell their side of the story; this book does that beautifully, making it a must-read.
February 15, 2023
For those lover's of the television series "Quantum Leap," this is a must read. Sara, being the daughter of Jesus and Mary Magdalene is enough to grab a reader's attention, but Martin offers much more. Sara travels inside and through time inside the bodies of other characters and with each leap you're brought to the point where you wonder what's next. Martin's prose is prolific as she describes scenery and surroundings. She also keeps Sara's character the main focus of the story. This is a fictional story that explores history, the spiritual world and time travel. A real complex plot, but still a page-turner.
January 14, 2023
What a journey!
This is a work of fiction centered around Sara, that daughter of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. While their teachings are there, and Mary Magdalene is often present, this is Sara's book entirely, it is not used for her parents to be the center of attention, she is. She has a certain gift and her destiny is, or is it?, to help a young Cathar girl save her mother's manuscript as her group's fortress is burned down.
This being said, I appreciate greatly the immense courage the author had to release this kind of subject into the world. And I appreciate so much she gave Sara a voice. If your are looking for the Magdalene, though, you will find her here.
The author's theatre background creates sometimes short and sketchy scenes, very rapid, and your attention is necessary to keep pace with Sara's many travels into other persons (yes, you read that right, this is her gift). However, among the many nuggets of wisdom there is so much poetry and and a sort of dreaminess, I really don't know how to name it better. I feel it is a big depart from the previous book in the series as the story unfolds softer, richer, in wonderfully described environments. The desert, the beach, the space under the trees and the mountains, all landscapes are beautifully depicted and a strong part of the story.
I appreciate very much the complexity of the story and how the wisdom is written down. In the beginning I felt some characters explained too much with a modern voice the many details that had to be known to make the book develop. But then I reveled in the presence of key characters, with their eccentricity, like the Gipsy Queen, or in the historical encounter Sara has. I value how everything is seen with clear eyes, especially in this times when some people seem to romanticize too much what we believe was the Cathar faith. Plus, as its subject gets to see a glimpse of them, the book doesn't shy away from the many horrors history is known to feature.
This story has extraordinary moments, like I have never encountered before in a book. How the Initiation in the Mysteries is felt, embodying Sophia, what it means to go beyond body and float as a spirit, there are some scenes here so surreal, so powerful, of such grace and beauty, they left me in awe.
I could write so much about this book, of its so many layers. Yet, I hope, and tried, to be as objective as I could in this review, giving how close this subject and so many of the places and moments featured here are to my heart.
My greatest hope for this book is that it is read with an open mind, beyond the inevitable political questions we, people of a certain faith, cannot get over. May this book find your where you are and give your what you need.
This is a work of fiction centered around Sara, that daughter of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. While their teachings are there, and Mary Magdalene is often present, this is Sara's book entirely, it is not used for her parents to be the center of attention, she is. She has a certain gift and her destiny is, or is it?, to help a young Cathar girl save her mother's manuscript as her group's fortress is burned down.
This being said, I appreciate greatly the immense courage the author had to release this kind of subject into the world. And I appreciate so much she gave Sara a voice. If your are looking for the Magdalene, though, you will find her here.
The author's theatre background creates sometimes short and sketchy scenes, very rapid, and your attention is necessary to keep pace with Sara's many travels into other persons (yes, you read that right, this is her gift). However, among the many nuggets of wisdom there is so much poetry and and a sort of dreaminess, I really don't know how to name it better. I feel it is a big depart from the previous book in the series as the story unfolds softer, richer, in wonderfully described environments. The desert, the beach, the space under the trees and the mountains, all landscapes are beautifully depicted and a strong part of the story.
I appreciate very much the complexity of the story and how the wisdom is written down. In the beginning I felt some characters explained too much with a modern voice the many details that had to be known to make the book develop. But then I reveled in the presence of key characters, with their eccentricity, like the Gipsy Queen, or in the historical encounter Sara has. I value how everything is seen with clear eyes, especially in this times when some people seem to romanticize too much what we believe was the Cathar faith. Plus, as its subject gets to see a glimpse of them, the book doesn't shy away from the many horrors history is known to feature.
This story has extraordinary moments, like I have never encountered before in a book. How the Initiation in the Mysteries is felt, embodying Sophia, what it means to go beyond body and float as a spirit, there are some scenes here so surreal, so powerful, of such grace and beauty, they left me in awe.
I could write so much about this book, of its so many layers. Yet, I hope, and tried, to be as objective as I could in this review, giving how close this subject and so many of the places and moments featured here are to my heart.
My greatest hope for this book is that it is read with an open mind, beyond the inevitable political questions we, people of a certain faith, cannot get over. May this book find your where you are and give your what you need.
December 13, 2022
My book - 5 Stars of course!!
I do wonder how people will perceive it? I have already had one person (at my launch) tell me she's not going to buy it because she doesn't believe that Jesus had any children. I replied that there is research to suggest otherwise, and that the book is afterall, a work of fiction. But her biblical Jesus was too sacred for my historical Jesus. Does this make a difference to you?
I do wonder how people will perceive it? I have already had one person (at my launch) tell me she's not going to buy it because she doesn't believe that Jesus had any children. I replied that there is research to suggest otherwise, and that the book is afterall, a work of fiction. But her biblical Jesus was too sacred for my historical Jesus. Does this make a difference to you?
April 7, 2023
A beautiful evocative remembrance for the soul. A multi- sensory story that sweeps through time and reverses the spirals of realties or offer the reader a chance to return to the knowingness of the soul.
A must read for bringers and receivers of happiness .
A must read for bringers and receivers of happiness .
May 30, 2023
The Bringer of Happiness is a fascinating story written by Author Karen Martin that blends Fantasy, Greek Mythology, Paganism, Spirituality and Religion together to produce a truly enlightening and thought provoking tale. This book is not intended for the novice reader and has many themes and concepts that will challenge, and inspire its reading audience. Therefore I would recommend that readers complete the book in as close to one sitting as possible so they remain fully grounded and invested in the story, and don’t lose any of the threads that are cleverly woven throughout.
There is truth amongst the fictional elements of the book, and subtle messages for those who look deeper and can read between the lines. The Bringer Of Happiness, I feel, is one of those stories that could be read many times over, and each time the reader would discover something new. It encourages an open mind to the ideas and possibilities that can empower, comfort and heal, especially those who have loved and lost, and struggle to let go of their grief.
The characters and inner dialogue are developed and written in such a way as to enable the reader to truly walk in the characters shoes, and give serious consideration as to what these concepts and ideas mean to them. For example, is death the end or the beginning? Do we cease to simply exist or return to source? What is the Soul’s purpose? Is there such a thing as Reincarnation? Not forgetting the views and differing opinions between two of the oldest religions, and whether any truth lies in the myth and legend? We then have out of body experiences and time travel…so many layers introduced in one story to bring a truly unique reading experience.
The pace is appropriate given the complexity of the plot which is well written. Some readers may be inspired to do their own research on Greek Mythology before reading this book.
The Bringer of Happiness would make an ideal subject choice for Book Clubs and Reading Groups and would certainly encourage some interesting and engaging discussions.
I do love books that can successfully cross genres and leave a lasting impression on a reader, and so I award 5 stars.
There is truth amongst the fictional elements of the book, and subtle messages for those who look deeper and can read between the lines. The Bringer Of Happiness, I feel, is one of those stories that could be read many times over, and each time the reader would discover something new. It encourages an open mind to the ideas and possibilities that can empower, comfort and heal, especially those who have loved and lost, and struggle to let go of their grief.
The characters and inner dialogue are developed and written in such a way as to enable the reader to truly walk in the characters shoes, and give serious consideration as to what these concepts and ideas mean to them. For example, is death the end or the beginning? Do we cease to simply exist or return to source? What is the Soul’s purpose? Is there such a thing as Reincarnation? Not forgetting the views and differing opinions between two of the oldest religions, and whether any truth lies in the myth and legend? We then have out of body experiences and time travel…so many layers introduced in one story to bring a truly unique reading experience.
The pace is appropriate given the complexity of the plot which is well written. Some readers may be inspired to do their own research on Greek Mythology before reading this book.
The Bringer of Happiness would make an ideal subject choice for Book Clubs and Reading Groups and would certainly encourage some interesting and engaging discussions.
I do love books that can successfully cross genres and leave a lasting impression on a reader, and so I award 5 stars.
February 12, 2023
Sara, the daughter of the priestess Mary the Magdalene and Jesus the prophet and teacher, has been given her own gift. She can enter the minds of certain people who will soon die. Her soul then lights a path for them as they begin their journey on to their next phase of existence.
Much of the book is spent on Sara and those close to her explaining the tenets of their faith. This is done mostly through Sara's inner dialogue or occasionally through conversations with those close to her. The story seems more of a vehicle for explaining goddess religions still practiced during the Roman era. Christianity was gaining momentum and ancient goddess/pagan religions were viciously and violently crushed by the increasing growth of Roman conversion to the new religion.
In addition, Sara's abrupt time traveling into different bodies and different events makes the story difficult to follow. These psychic visits are comparatively short-lived and act as a foreshadowing of the story's culmination.
I wasn’t engaged with any of the characters and honestly didn’t care about the story. What did interest me was reading about the ancient goddess religions.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book in exchange for a fair review.
Much of the book is spent on Sara and those close to her explaining the tenets of their faith. This is done mostly through Sara's inner dialogue or occasionally through conversations with those close to her. The story seems more of a vehicle for explaining goddess religions still practiced during the Roman era. Christianity was gaining momentum and ancient goddess/pagan religions were viciously and violently crushed by the increasing growth of Roman conversion to the new religion.
In addition, Sara's abrupt time traveling into different bodies and different events makes the story difficult to follow. These psychic visits are comparatively short-lived and act as a foreshadowing of the story's culmination.
I wasn’t engaged with any of the characters and honestly didn’t care about the story. What did interest me was reading about the ancient goddess religions.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book in exchange for a fair review.
February 4, 2023
The Bringer of Happiness by Karen Martin was a book with a plethora of fiction in it. Karen displayed an exceptional writing skill as well as a good command of the English language. This is evident in the way she told this story. The story mainly centered around a girl called Sarah, borne to parents called Jesus and Mary Magdalene. It is evident that she chose Biblical names for quite a number of her characters in the book. The name Sarah is an Aramaic name that means “The Bringer of Happiness”. Sarah is endowed with a special gift whereby she had the ability to travel into people’s bodies and see into the future. I almost wondered what it felt like to have such abilities. It appeared that Sarah really longed to remain in the spirit form rather than the bodily one. She is tasked with offering help to a Cathar girl called Sarah-Marie to protect her mother’s manuscript. You will be taken through the different journeys that Sarah and her close family members took with the aim of fleeing from the Romans. They did not like the Romans since they felt that they were against their belief systems and were cruel too. This is evident with people being massacred in huts.
February 25, 2023
When I picked up this book I was very excited since the synopsis, as well as the title, was so interesting to read. Let me be clear, this book did not disappoint in any shape or form. I loved it. I will not write much about it so that I cannot ruin the experience of the new readers with minor/major spoilers.
The plot is unique and very well constructed. The plot provides an excellent nurturing ground for all the main and side characters. To put it in a simpler way, the plot is woven very tightly around the characters. Every single character seems important to the story, therefore the emotional connection to each character is very strong for anyone who will seriously read the book.
The characters, themselves, were very beautifully written. Their inner struggles and their status in both their own minds and in minds of those around them were portrayed in an excellent manner. Their development is very evident as you move forward in the book.
Overall, I loved every part of this book and will highly recommend it to anyone who likes to read fantasy. Last but not the least, much gratitude to the author for writing such a creative book.
Thank you
Happy Reading
The plot is unique and very well constructed. The plot provides an excellent nurturing ground for all the main and side characters. To put it in a simpler way, the plot is woven very tightly around the characters. Every single character seems important to the story, therefore the emotional connection to each character is very strong for anyone who will seriously read the book.
The characters, themselves, were very beautifully written. Their inner struggles and their status in both their own minds and in minds of those around them were portrayed in an excellent manner. Their development is very evident as you move forward in the book.
Overall, I loved every part of this book and will highly recommend it to anyone who likes to read fantasy. Last but not the least, much gratitude to the author for writing such a creative book.
Thank you
Happy Reading
January 18, 2023
A book following the life of Sarah, the child of Mary Magdalene and Jesus from her birth, which she has remembered. Sarah can "travel" to other people at various points in time, either just before their death, or another memorable event. Interesting concept since it's not her body that's doing the "travelling" but her soul. She also has a lot of help along the way from her mother and other spirits. Not an overly religious book, but does touch on Christianity, and the Cathars who were persecuted for not abiding by the "official" religion. Not sure if the book brought happiness to me, there was a lot of violence and death, but the concept of the travel did intrigue me as a method of "time-travel" where the body never leaves, but the spirit inhabits a body from a different time, sometimes without their knowledge as an observer. One other comment is the cover art, where the girl staring at you is a little creepy and not necessarily a book I would pick up. I received this as part of the "Early-Reviewers" give-away at LibraryThing.
December 28, 2022
This book was a bit strange, to say the least. It had a lot of very good lessons in it, but the story was different. It wasn’t horrible, but it definitely wasn’t for me.
December 13, 2022
My book - of course i think it is worth 5 Stars. Happy to read your opinion
I do wonder how people will perceive it? I have already had one person (at my launch) tell me she's not going to buy it because she doesn't believe that Jesus had any children. I replied that there is research to suggest otherwise, and that the book is afterall, a work of fiction. But her biblical Jesus was too sacred for my historical Jesus. Does this make a difference to you?
I do wonder how people will perceive it? I have already had one person (at my launch) tell me she's not going to buy it because she doesn't believe that Jesus had any children. I replied that there is research to suggest otherwise, and that the book is afterall, a work of fiction. But her biblical Jesus was too sacred for my historical Jesus. Does this make a difference to you?
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews