Agnes is a brilliant mind, a devout theologian with a thirst for knowledge and a faith in the presence of god that is unshakeable; she is also a young woman, orphaned, in 9th century Mainz. Only one of these afflictions is curable. Rapture, based on the tale of Pope Joan, chronicles Agnes's life in a rich and lyrical tapestry, from a girlhood in Mainz to a brotherhood Fulda, Greece, and even Rome, this novel is a vivid and masterful exploration of vocation, identity, sacrifice, and devotion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC

I’m a huge fan of Emily Maguire and excited see what she had in store for me. Based on a true story, it told of Agnes, the motherless child of an English priest in Germany. Life was spent sat beneath her father’s table as he entertained the religious and the wealthy absorbing their information and their views. She was well read and intelligent, maybe too much for a woman of her time, and when Brother Randulph appears a change begins to happen. Maguire made him her equal, their intelligence matched, their mutual respect and the need to spend more and more time together spelt danger. It was the danger of forbidden love under the auspices of an earthquake, a love that would remain constant throughout, but set off a chain of actions that made this novel such a brilliant read.
Disguised as a man Agnes becomes Brother John, living as a monk within the walls of Randulph’s monastery. I liked how she was accepted, how she submerged herself fully into the religious order, endured hardship, learnt the role of scribe and absorbed knowledge from the literature she scribed.
Yet it wasn’t enough for Agnes, indeed for Maguire to leave it there, next stop Athens, a more relaxed religious order, Randulph abandoned as their passion escalated, and Agnes sank further and further into her religious beliefs. Yet temptation, fear of discovery forces another move and Rome the most scholarly city in the world.
Fated as a scholar, the eyes of Pope Leo lingered upon her and Maguire threw in the most delicious twist which I shall not reveal.
In essence this was a novel of contradictions, of a woman in a man’s world, who 98% of the time wanted to be a man. Maguire was brilliantly adept at showing Agne’s fears of being a wife, a mother, of losing her identity, her intellect, lost in the melee of femininity that she so despised. Her feelings, emotions, the sex that she craved with Randulph were a betrayal of who she was, a reason to punish herself, to bury herself further into religion to the detriment of her physical health. Maguire has written a truly fascinating novel, that pushed the boundaries and in my opinion fantastic

I wasn’t sure about reading this book as it’s a bit of a departure from Emily Maguire’s usual offering, however it’s a beautifully written book that drew me in from the first few pages. Living in 9th Century Europe, Agnes is a motherless child and daughter of an English priest, she is highly intelligent and has a deep love for God but longs for more than life would offer a women of her time. When her father dies she enlists the help of a friend, a Benedictine monk, to help her disguise herself as a man and join the monastery. We follow her path as she travels to Athens and Rome where she is celebrated for her theological knowledge and wisdom and where she moves higher and higher up the church hierarchy until she finally becomes the mythological figure we know today as Pope Joan. A cracking read!

The story of Pope Joan, with lots of historical research and an a well written story. It was a good read. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.

I love the premise of this but the writing style doesn't work for me - really heavy on exposition at the beginning (albeit filtered through the child protagonist's perceptions). I didn't feel motivated to keep reading.

A short and interesting telling of the legend of Pope Joan which imagines her as a very smart, very devout girl who grows into a woman disguised as a man, who finds herself - slightly by accident - the pope. I very much enjoyed both the embodiment of Joan/Johanes/Agnes as a person with flesh and feeling, and that the book takes religious faith seriously.

This is a well written and interesting story. I think I would've preferred the audio format because I use darkmode to read ebooks and PDF doesn't show in dark mode on the Netgalley app. For that reason, I couldn't finish the story, but I hope I can pick it up again someday.

Agnes is born to an older father, her mother dead, and she is educated beyond what a girl in 9th Century Francia should be. Agnes listens to theological arguments and is able to read and write several languages but there are no opportunities for a woman with her learning. So Agnes becomes John, a monk who works as a translator, but the woman in her also falls in love with a fellow monk. So John travels to Greece and develops a reputation for learning which is only amplified when they arrive in Rome.
This is a great book. Not only is there a terrific story of feminism and suffering but there is a great character created. Maguire's prose is powerful and passionate.

Set in the ninth century, this captivating historical book follows Agnes, the brilliant and unconventional daughter of an English priest in Mainz. Determined to escape the narrow futures of marriage or life as a nun, Agnes disguises herself as a man, adopting the identity of "John" to enter the prestigious Fulda monastery. What begins as an act of rebellion transforms into a remarkable journey: from scholar and scribe to charismatic teacher in Rome, Agnes (as John) rises to prominence within the Church, dazzling with her intellect and knowledge of theology and languages.

However, in a world ruled by political intrigue and dangerous secrets, her carefully constructed life begins to unravel when someone from her past resurfaces. Torn between the safety of her identity and the longing to be truly known and loved, Agnes’s story is one of ambition, sacrifice, and the courage to defy societal expectations. Richly atmospheric and beautifully written, this is a powerful exploration of faith, identity, and the pursuit of knowledge against all odds.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Sceptre/Hodder and Stoughton for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: misogyny, pregnancy, childbirth, animal death, religion, sexual content, medical trauma

In 9th century Mainz, France, a motherless child named Agnes is raised by her father, a man known as the English Priest who fought with Charlamagne. The daughter of a Christian man and a pagan woman, Agnes is brilliant, wilful and deeply intelligent thanks to an education rarely offered to women. Her relationship to God is one of the defining parts of her life, even as she wishes she could worship in forests and freedom. However, when she’s eighteen Agnes is offered a choice: to become a wife or enter into a nunnery. Determined to avoid either fate, Agnes convinces her father’s pupil, a lovesick Benedictine monk, to help disguise Agnes as a man and lead her to the legendary Fulda monastery where she can study God in peace. Here she becomes John the English, a determined scholar, and eventually Agnes flees to Athens without her lover, where she takes on the role of the charismatic leader of a small commune. By her thirties, Agnes is a legendary teacher in Rome and unintentionally catches the eye of the Pope. Soon enough she’s part of his inner circle, caught up in the politics and finery of a version of Christianity that she initially despised. However, when her former lover returns as she rises to the very top, Agnes is torn between the wants of her God and the desire that she’s only ever felt for one man- even if it reveals her identity and destroys her life.

Based on the myth of Pope Joan, the only woman to ever rule as Pope before her discovery as a woman, ‘Rapture’ is genuinely one of the strangest books I’ve ever read. Documenting the life of a girl who hid beneath the table in her father’s home, blamed for the death of her pagan mother and her rise to become the Pope in 9th century Europe is shown through a winding narrative, dominated by Agnes’ desire to better be close to God and the extremes she’s willing to go to in order not to be discovered. The balance between Agnes’ desire for love and affection and what she thinks God needs from her- to live a simple life, isolated and dedicated to her work- are always on a knife’s edge. At one point she ceases to even feel like a woman, she is so completely John, and I found these parts of the book to be deeply atmospheric. Throughout the book the experiences of women, particularly pregnancy and childbirth, and the persecution of pagans by the Church is something that Agnes struggles with. Her attitudes towards religion shift through the book, as she goes from wishing for a simple life to unintentionally enjoying- and even to some degrees- relishing in the extravagance and gifts of a rich life. This is a really unique book, I raced through it so quickly and I found myself thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading- I’m glad I picked it up.

A tour de force, brilliant and wholly engaging,an unknowable medieval world of the power of faith, deception and love. The power is all in the hands of men, education, life choices and a place in the world belong to men. A young motherless girl is indulged by her father to read and educate herself, but circumstances prevent her from the life she would choose, which is certainly not as wife and mother, for she has seen how that ends. An accident propels her into the world and she must disguise herself to survive on her terms. What follows is extraordinary, we almost believe it to be based on fact. She is the most wonderful heroine, if at times hard to fathom. She is ever pious, truly believing in God if not the church, incredibly learned and wise, but that does not stop the reader from wanting everything to come right for her.
I was at times in awe of the writing and research, if we are to take the facts as true, and sometimes at a loss to understand what was studied, or presented,but I loved it’s storytelling and bravery.

I LOVED this and have raved about it to everyone and will read it again, probably very soon. Perhaps it's because I'm fascinated by Catholic theology and its development, but the way this novel explored complex doctrinal issues while keeping them grounded in the main character.... *chefs kiss*. The protagonist is perfect, challenging and prickly and at times grandiose but compelling and exciting and keeping me moving throughout this. I also loved the sense of place and the vividness of the world in crisis. Honestly amazing, loved it, thank you so much for sending me this copy.

The aptly named Rapture by Emily Maguire is one of my favourite novels of the year.

Told through a beautifully rich narrative, we find themes of feminism, faith, identity, and the resilience of humankind.

We follow Agnes, who is being raised by an English priest in a small village. Agnes is exceptionally bright, inquisitive, and devours books brought to her by her father; some of which are considered unsuitable for the minds of women.

She also lives in constant fear of having to constrain herself to the one and only role available to women of the time - marriage and childbirth.
At the first opportunity, she decides to flee from her miserable destiny by disguising herself as a man and entering a monastery as a Brother. She embarks on a remarkable life of theological study, working as a scribe and rising to prominence.

The novel deeply explores Agnes’ conflicts both internally and externally. She finds her spirituality challenged by earthly desires, and she sees the hypocrisy of the politics of the Roman Catholic Church. The story is both vividly historical, and an exploration of the struggles of women as they seek freedom and recognition in the male-centric world.

Agnes as a protagonist is so endearing and compelling – we see her determination to reconcile her faith, identity and humanity, and can’t help to cheer her on every step of the way.

Maguire’s masterful storytelling evoked the sights and sounds of the medieval era so authentically. The way spiritual rapture and carnal longing are compared as two sides of the same coin was so tense and provocative.

If, like me, you are not religious, don’t worry about delving into this book - I was never bored and I loved the conversations about faith as they served to enrich the setting and tone of the book.

Layered storytelling, a narrative that captures themes that are still relevant today, excellent historical elements; there’s nothing more you could want from a book.

A truly satisfying read.

Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

A nice historical novel on the myth of Pope Joan / Iohannes Anglicus. Shows the story from girl in Mainz trying to avoid marriage and childbirth, through retreat into scholarly environments, disguised as a man. As her skill and fame grows, she feels the pull or Rome and comes to the notice of the Pope. When the Pope dies she is thrust into the role.

It is an engaging story that follows the love and fears of the main character.

In Rapture Maguire tells the story of Agnes as she progresses from infant theology to the politics of clerical office. In doing so she reconstructs a myth to create a stirring and empowering piece of historical fiction.

Agnes, intelligent, passionate, and sensitive, is the lynchpin of this narrative. It is her way of viewing the world, as something animated by forces beyond comprehension, yet never to be passively accepted, that animates the plot. Her struggles with faith and womanhood are incredibly compelling and work effectively to carry Rapture to its scorching conclusion.

The one word title is a perfect fit, capturing as it does the way in which Agnes seems to exist between two worlds. She is consistently poised tippy-toed on the border between body and mind. It is through this depiction of rapture as both a transcending of and a more fully inhabiting of the body that Maguire is able to create a novel with such tremendous soul

Beyond the compelling nature of the protagonist, the medieval setting is finely drawn and it is clear that the research was carried out with care. However, that is not to say that the setting is dry. Rather, Maguire’s writing is rich in similes and evocative in its description and ninth-century Europe thrums with a heat and life that is undeniable.

This was incredibly slay!!!

It reminded me a bit of Joan which also took me by surprise - but both are really unique, modern, feminist takes on historical fiction without being preachy, and make their protagonists feel incredibly real.

I loved that Agnes was so devoted to her faith but also struggled with her human emotions and urges - especially because feeling them as a woman would undermine everything she has worked towards. How she had to give up her womanhood and the 'secret' knowledge that brings for what she thought of as a higher calling, but she never looked down on other women. How her faith was such an anomaly in a place where men were constantly abusing their power and positioning for more, and how despite that, anything she gained would be instantly made traitorous by the fact of her gender. I really liked the comparison too between the service expected of men and women - how men seem to be able to shrug off duty by being maimed or running away, but women can only ever be wives and mothers or nuns.

It delivered these messages without being overbearing, and the writing was really beautiful. Especially for setting it so long ago, it didn't feel stuffy but also didn't feel incongruously modern either. You could apply a lot of this to the current moment, which is scary but also I think a testament to how well it was put together. I also liked that it didn't try to be more than it was - it didn't feel like anything was there just to fill space, and the way it was told was very purposeful. I would definitely need to reread to get the full effect, but the more I think about it the more I love it!

This was an intimate novel that brought a fascinating historical figure to life. The writing is compelling and elegant, drawing you into Agnes' story as she quietly but powerfully makes her way on her religious journey. The themes of religion, a woman in a male world, and humanity are woven into the tapestry of the rich story.

I also really enjoyed the author's depiction of medieval life in the religious world; a new found interest of mine.

It’s an all-engulfing read that is hard to put down. I loved this book, from the idea, to the plot and to the writing. This was a powerful read that will stay with me for some time.

This book is a revelation. I was raptured reading this. The most beautiful writing I’ve read this year, the themes of religion and martyrdom are so powerfully written it makes me what to start reading this all over again. The ending is just perfection. I am not religious person but I am human and I can relate to all the struggles the main character went through. I’ve never read more sublime female protagonist. I feel like I was sacrificed and resurrected in her name.
This is a true masterpiece, you have no idea what a treasure will unravel upon reading those words. I can only hope there is a physical edition to this epic tale and I want to have it in my possession and cherish it and re-read it constantly as my Bible.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with the ARC.

Some of the most gorgeous writing I’ve read in a long time. I really enjoyed the descriptions of religion. Fantastic eye catching cover too!

Agnes, the motherless child of an English priest living in ninth-century Mainz, is a passionate and intelligent young woman with a strong, visceral love for God. To avoid a future as a bride or nun, Agnes enlists the help of a lovesick Benedictine monk to disguise herself as a male and devote her life to the studies she is forbidden to pursue as a woman. This is an extremely well written historical novel with an amazing character at its centre. I enjoyed it from start to finish.