THE PASSION OF MARY MAGDALEN (Book 2 of the Maeve Chronicles)

Author: Elizabeth Cunningham ISBN: 0976684306 4/2006 HISTORICAL FICTION Publisher: MONKFISH
Time Period: Biblical

For the millions of readers fascinated by Dan Brown's revelations about Mary Magdalen in The Da Vinci Code, here, at last, is their chance to meet the Gospel's most provocative woman face to face—on her own terms. Make way for a new Magdalen. Born on a Celtic isle to eight warrior-witch mothers, Maeve is raised to be as brave as any hero. In her stubborn, enchanting voice, she recounts her perilous quest for the young man, Esus, whose life she once saved from druid sacrifice. Captured and sold to a Roman Madam, Maeve is sustained by a fierce sense of identity, compassion for her sister whores, and her unquenchable love. When she wins her freedom and finds her lost lover, a stormy life begins for both as we follow the Passion story through the eyes of Jesus's partner—disciple to no man. Not even the One she loves. By turns feisty and funny, outrageous and tender, this Celtic Mary Magdalen challenges all stereotypes, both old and New Age, and brings us to transforming encounter with the divine feminine made flesh.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

This is the sort of book that will make you want to look away.

But you won't.

You'll want to put it down.

But you can't.

Mary's passion for life, her beliefs, her will, her strength of character, will all intrigue and entrance you. There is no breaking free and no way to escape because your curiosity will demand that you follow her.

And you will.

THE PASSION OF MARY MAGDALEN is written in frank and graphic language, told in first person by Mary herself, as if she were sitting across from us sharing a glass of wine, a slice of pizza and smoking a cigarette. The decadent lifestyle of the Roman elite versus the shear poverty and slavery of those crushed beneath its heels and her life within those social structures, Mary vividly and lavishly recounts. She spares us nothing—from the Roman's casual attitude toward whoring, sex and lesbianism, to the brutal events that seem to define her tumultuous life. Passion, joy, romance, great sorrow and sadness, every element of emotion that Mary experiences is laid out before us to partake in with her—sometimes to our horror, many times to our shock, but most times to our sheer delight.

Elizabeth Cunningham has written an amazing piece of historical fiction, and while I admit I did miss the first book of the Maeve Chronicles (Daughter of the Shining Isles, followed by THE PASSION OF MARY MAGDALEN and the yet-to-be-released Bright Dark Madonna) which outlines Mary's origins as a Celtic princess, I had no trouble following this second volume as a stand alone read. The storyline that Mary was the bride of Jesus and the mother of his child may be a bit too touchy for some (although I found it fascinating and the plot superbly crafted), and the thought of a romance and physical relationship between the two, considering Mary's occupation as a Roman whore and brothel owner, may be a bit too much for others. And then there's that Celtic connection and mysticism that both Jesus and Mary seem to possess.... But, if you like lusty characters, lavish settings and exceptional writing that's hard to compare with anyone else, then this is one book you won't want to miss.

If you do decide to give THE PASSION OF MARY MAGDALEN a go, whatever you do, don't let the shear size of this book daunt you (600 plus pages), for every passage, every word and every snippet of dialogue you won't be able to pass over. With its remarkable characters and intriguing storyline, THE PASSION OF MARY MAGDALEN is one book meant to be slowly and deliciously savored.

Nancy Davis