The stories of the saints are educational, formative, and many of them are great fun. This compilation looks at a choice collection of saints, some more familiar than others, each presented with art and a bit of information about their lives.

The publisher, Amber Books, has this to say about Saints Illustrated:

In Catholicism, sainthood is the highest state of holiness for any soul in Heaven. There are more than 10,000 saints that have been canonized by the Catholic Church – some were exemplary models, others extraordinary teachers, while some worked miracles or changed the lives of millions through their guidance and good works.

Arranged in chronological order, the book covers all the major saints, from St Paul, the Apostle who did most to spread Christianity following the death of Christ, and established Christian communities in Asia Minor – to Pope John Paul II, famous for being a peacemaker and providing spiritual inspiration during the fall of communism. In between, this compact volume covers well-known historical figures such as Joan of Arc, who defended the honour of France in the Medieval era, the philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas, and lesser-known saints such as Zita, the 13th century patron saint of maids and domestic servants.
The publisher promises that the physical book is a beautiful experience, for both the art and the traditional Chinese binding style. I cannot verify this as the copy I was given is digital. I can say that the artwork chosen and the layout are lovely, even on a screen.

This is not an in-depth study of saints or the theology surrounding them, but it does not pretend to be either. This is a lovely, beautiful, brief introduction to a collection of important figures from (primarily Western) Christian history. It would make a great addition to a church library, could be used as a devotional exercise in getting to know the saints better, or would be beautiful on a coffee table.

This book of Catholic saints and their lives was very enjoyable. Each selection was very well written to give a concise description of each individual's life that led to their eventual sainthood.

I enjoyed that there was a nice mixture of both well-known and lesser-known saints included, several of which I intend to further look into.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely compilation of the lives of saints. This book is a comprehensive guide to the saints with lovely illustrations and short descriptions of each saint in chronological order.

I'm posting this review of Saints Illustrated with a bit of a caveat: I didn't finish it, but I read about three quarters of it. This was not a dnf by choice though. I was unable to finish it because Adobe Digital Editions completely gave out on me when I was almost done, I haven't been able to get it up and running since, and I was going to be finishing it in the last 20 hours of its availability to me. So I won't be able to finish it, and I don't have access to another copy at this time. Still, as I read most of the book, it didn't seem fair to not share my thoughts on what I did read.

So, thoughts! First of all, I'm not Catholic, I've never been Catholic, and I don't ever intend to be Catholic. I read Saints Illustrated out of a genuine curiosity though, and approached it in good faith. I did kind of assume from the title that it would be similar to other collected biographies I've read, with a unique illustration on one side of a two page spread, and a full page biography on the other side. I don't think it's the book's fault that I misunderstood. Each saint received one page, with half of it being a piece of classic art of the saint, and the other half being a very short biography that included basic info like time frame, deeds, death, what they're the patron saint of, etc. They were organised in chronological order. I did really like the chronological ordering, which I thought kept things very clear. I also liked that it used more traditional art of the saints (although I'm aware that the most recent saints in the book had photographs of them since they lived into that time frame), which just fit really well. I didn't like that the biographies were SO short though. I wish that it had been full page bios, which would have really given the proper space to give consistently detailed information. As someone who isn't Catholic, I'd say at least half of the saints are ones I've never heard of, and most of the ones I had heard of were in passing, so more detailed information would have been wanted.

I did also have an issue with some of the content, but I recognise this is largely just me not being okay with a lot of what the Catholic church has or has not done over the years. People being sainted for being involved in colonisation and proselytizing is icky for me personally. I also didn't like that it repeatedly used the word "Berber" when anyone in that community that I know considers it to be an offensive, derogatory term and prefers the more accurate term Amazigh.

Overall, this is honestly an interesting little book, that serves as a decent introduction to over a hundred and fifty saints, but it (like Catholicism) is flawed, and it's not long enough to be as educational as it could have been. It's worth taking a look at if you're interested in the saints and want an overview to give you a chronological picture.

"Saints Illustrated" provides a short illustrated biography of particular saints in chronological order of their lives. The book can be used as an nice introduction for people who want to know a brief overview of a saint and some of the reasons why particular saints are venerated. It is unclear the basis for information provided, whether from church traditions or private accounts so readers should approach the information as a means of introduction and not all inclusive. I can see using the book as a starting point to learn more about specific saints and how they are celebrated in the church.

A nice and useful catalogue, more a devotional book than for teaching in a classroom. While I would not use it in my classroom, I will certainly recommend this to my students who are interested in the saints and/or Roman Catholic practice and theology

A quick read with lovely illustrations for each Saint depicted. This would be a great title for households and church libraries.

The Saints are presented in order of when they lived. The descriptions are not very long, so perfect for children or adults to get a concise description of these holy men and women.

This was a beautifully presented book about most of the major saints, such as St Thomas Aquinas and Joan of Arc and several minor saints. It had stunning paintings or icons for each saint, together with short, potted biographies. These were interesting, but this is really a coffee-table book, or a reference book. It does make readers want to know more about the saints that they admire.

It annoyed me that our only Australian saint, the wonderful St Mary Mackillop, was left out!

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Thank you to Amber Books and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I am not catholic, but I have great interest in most religions, and Saints have always fascinated me. The profiles of these Saints are brief, and I love that so many of those included were not those that "everyone" hears about.

If you aren't Catholic this could be an informative book if you want to know more about the iconography of the saints.
Each of them is represented in a symbolic way and this book explains the inconography and the life
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book contains lovely pictures of paintings, sculptures, and icons of the saints described, along with one-paragraph biographies. Unhappily, the attributes listed for them are often incomplete as well as inconsistent or incorrect. For example, only a few religious women who were saints and are regularly pictured in their habits have "religious habit" as an attribute. Another example is St. Terese. Even though folks who know her see her attribute as roses, it isn't listed. This problem negates the book's many virtues.

One is not born a saint - one becomes a saint. How? Allowing the Holy Spirit to shape us into the image God created us to be. This process requires the mortification of the sinful nature and conformation with Christ. Let's just look at the example of St. Augustine who, after 30 years of stumbling, declared and wrote (Confessions)
"I kissed you late, beauty so old and so new, I kissed you late! And lo, you were inside me, and I was outside myself. I was looking for you there, attacking those beautiful beings you created, me rugoba. You are was with me, and I wasn't with you. I was kept far from you by those things that wouldn't exist if they weren't in you. You called me and augustin1_ howled, you pierced my deafness, you flashed, you shone and dispelled my blindness , you poured out my fragrance, and I absorbed it to sigh for you, I tasted it and I am hungry and thirsty, you touched me, and therefore I burn for your peace."
I recommend the book to both believers and those who are not.

(3.5 Stars) I’m not catholic but I have enjoyed learning about saints as I’ve visited cathedrals and traveled in different countries. This book covers over 150 saints. The first ones are the major ones you expect such as the apostles and family of Christ. The sections are loosely based on 500 year timelines. Early martyrs who take up for Christianity fill the next section. Then as the Catholic church spread, the next section had many of the people who founded monasteries and convents, along with other leaders. The sections continue to modern days with the first saints from the Americas, Mother Teresa and ending with St. John Paul II.

Each saint is shown in art or photo and their reason for sainthood. It may also include details of how they died or what they are the patron saint over. The blurbs are very brief. Of course this book is a bit Eurocentric but there are few non European saints included. I enjoyed the art photos and thought it was somewhat informative. This isn’t meant to be a comprehensive list of all saints. It didn’t include controversial saints like Columbus but did have Junipero Serra and mentions his abusive treatment of Native Americans in what became California. This would be a nice coffee table book for believers in saints or a nice check out from a library for someone who is interested in learning why different saints are revered. Thank you to Amber Books Ltd for the temporary digital book and I am leaving a voluntary review.

"Saints Illustrated" by Dominic Connolly is a breathtaking homage to the lives and legacies of some of the most revered figures in Christian history. This beautifully crafted book combines stunning illustrations with concise yet informative narratives to provide readers with a unique and engaging exploration of the lives of saints. The layout and design of the book are also commendable. The clean and organized format allows the artwork to take center stage, while the accompanying text complements rather than overwhelms the illustrations.

The accompanying text is well-written and provides just enough information to give readers a glimpse into the lives and virtues of the featured saints. Connolly's writing strikes a perfect balance between being informative and accessible, making it suitable for readers of various ages and levels of familiarity with Christian history.

One of the book's strengths is its diversity in saint selection, showcasing figures from different time periods, cultures, and walks of life. This inclusivity helps readers connect with a wide range of saintly examples, making "Saints Illustrated" a book that transcends denominational boundaries.

I was provided an advanced copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well, let's just say it's strictly an illustrated book dedicated to saints - period. You could like it if you're interested in having a volume at home that and contains various images of saints (not all in the same style - it's a collage of different works, and saints from the last century are simply accompanied by a photograph). But let's say that the artistic aspect greatly outweighs the educational one: the lives of the saints are summarized in no more than 10 lines (little more than a caption to the image), and there aren't even thematic indices that allow for searching saints based on the patronages or the feast day.

It's an illustrated book, plain and simple. While it undoubtedly presents lesser-known saints, I honestly wouldn't recommend it to someone looking to discover more about these figures: the biographies are frankly too brief to serve this purpose. But if the intention is to bring home an art book - then yes, in that case, it's fitting.

Each page provides a short illustrated biography of a particular saint in chronological order of their lives. It's an excellent introduction for people who want to know more about the reasons why particular saints are venerated. It also provides a handy reference for the signs and symbols associated with a particular saint - ideal for students studying medieval art, iconography and medieval churches. It would make a lovely gift.

I have received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful book of the type to grace your coffee-table, but I don't think it's a very good hagiography. The art is lovely, but the descriptions of the saints are cursory, or even gnostic (see Mary Magdalene). There is absolutely no indication given whether the information presented is from scripture, contemporary accounts, or church tradition. The art is all cited in an index at the back. There is not a shred of background for the text.

I liked the organization, and the art, but the actual substance was sadly lacking.

In this illustrated volume, Dominic Connolly features 150 short profiles and depictions of Catholic Saints. I reviewed the digital version of the book, a quick and compelling read about Biblical figures and contemporary Catholic icons. Connolly compiled a diverse group – from San Lorenzo Ruiz of the Philippines to St. Kateri Tekakwitha, an Indigenous Mohawk woman. Each entry includes the saint’s birthplace, feast day, and patronage. With my upbringing in a predominantly Catholic country, I appreciated the chance to learn about the miracles, heroism, and sacrifices required for sainthood. It was interesting to note that a number of revered individuals took part in the revolution against oppressive governments, such as Oscar Romero of El Salvador and Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala of Mexico. Sainthood appears to have always been inclusive of women, with gender diversity increasing after the 1500s.

I received a free copy of, Saint Illustrated, by Dominic Connolly, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have always had a love of Saints, St. Theresa, St. Francis, St. Stephen, St, Patrick, St. Brigid, St. Margaret of Scotland, St. Catherine of Siena, Mother Theresa, and St. John Paul II. I loved this book and the beautiful pictures or statues of the saints.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Saints Illustrated.

In Catholicism, saints are venerated and held in high regard and esteem. Saints come from all walks of life; from all over the world, some born rich or poor, some lived an impure life, some chose a life of chastity and virginity, but they all have one thing in common. Devotion to God.

Saints Illustrated thoughtfully arranges all the major saints in in chronological order, including Joan of Arc, St Paul, the Apostle who did most to spread Christianity following the death of Christ, to Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, and less 'famous' saints such as Zita,

I enjoyed learning about the lesser known saints in Catholicism and what they did to spread the word of God, promote chastity and charity, and live an exemplary life.

The illustrations and artworks came through on my Kindle but I can imagine how stunning they would look in a hard copy.

From the description, I imagine this is a beautifully produced book and a must have for a Catholic household.