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.

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 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.

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.

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.