Magdalen Rising: The Beginning

In an imaginative blend of ancient Celtic Paganism, Christianity, and modern secularism, Elizabeth Cunningham delivers the prequel to The Passion of Mary Magdalen in Magdalen Rising: The Beginning. Maeve Rhuad describes her childhood, being a daughter of the divine raised by eight warrior-witch mothers. An enchanted adolescence brings fourteen-year-old Maeve to meet her cosmic twin, Esus, at college. The story is told from Maeve's point-of-view, with the awareness that she is speaking to a twenty-first century reader. She relates events that may seem strange to the reader by comparing them to their modern equivalents. This contrast caught me off guard at first, but as the story progressed, I began to appreciate the added dimension. The book is divided into five parts, each representing a phase in Maeve's life. Maeve is a fiery red head who has been raised and initiated into the world of the sacred feminine, found herself a namesake for legendary warrior Queen Maeve of Connacht, and has earned her entry into a druid college as part of an experimental coed admissions policy. She is also no stranger to sarcasm, and her tongue-in-cheek commentary throughout the novel adds a comic spin to a somber story that, at times, is wrought with tragedy. Her headstrong challenges to Esus's school of thought will make the reader either laugh out loud or sigh in resigned agreement. The novel is a challenge to conventional thought that offers some fascinating alternatives to popular legends. Maeve is a heroine for today's reader, and the general reverence for the sacred feminine is a refreshing quality. I began this series with the prequel, but I fully intend to get my hands on the first and forthcoming releases. Fans of Juliette Marillier's fantasy will undoubtedly become loyal fans of Elizabeth Cunningham, as well.

"Daughter of the Shining Isles" was my first exposure to the work of Elizabeth Cunningham, and now I understand why the word "luminous" is so often associated with her writing. Her imagery is luminous, and her Maeve...her Maeve shines so brightly! On top of that, Ms. Cunningham has a fine ear for dialog...her use of modern idiom in dialog--of _course_ a person would speak her/his own language fluently and fluidly. Too many writers rely on the crutch of stilted dialog--often Elizabethan English, of all things!--as a...way of slapping a patina of antiquity on a historical story. Ms. Cunningham's characters are that much more accessible without the language barrier, and she is able to convey much more subtlety and nuance using familiar language.I see a trend in the reviews that I want to counter: This is not a "woman's book", nor is it a book only for believers. As a man and an agnostic, I was nevertheless deeply moved by the conclusion of the first installment of Maeve's life. And yet, Maeve is such a strong character--"luminous" again comes to mind--that I don't worry about her. I eagerly await the next installment to share the journey with her, the good and the bad, the pain and the pleasure, the setbacks and triumphs. Maeve is heroic and human, wise and foolish, young and timeless, strong and frail. It would take a heart of stone to not fall in love with her.

If you're reading this review to decide whether or not to buy the book, hesitate no longer. Buy it. Daughter of the Shining Isles is destined to become a classic, with writing unsurpassed for its sheer beauty and wisdom, and a theme of real magnitude. It's also a great read, with an edge-of-your-seat page-turning plot and a completely irresistible heroine. Maeve, the Celtic Mary Magdalen, is strong, feisty, and ireeverent--self-esteem issues she has NOT got. The lippy modernity of her language is a delight, with a venerable antecedent in Shakespeare's use of anachronism. Upbeat, moving, and magical, Daugher of the Shining Isles has something for everyone. I can't praise this book highly enough.

Maeve is a hero for the new millenium, but she's also funny, bawdy, and profound. Cunningham tackles stereotypes and conventional thinking and comes up with powerful archetypes that must come from deep within all of us. The writing is fresh and original, the story is riveting, but this book is more original still. It doesn't fit in the conventional historical genre, because it is told, or commented on, by Maeve in her contemporary voice, a point of view that is at times outrageous, funny and deeply meaningful. This is a wonderful read, and I look forward to the next book in the trilogy.

I have long been a fan of Elizabeth Cunningham's work; I expected Daughter of the Shining Isles to be equally wonderful. I was stunned to discover just how rich and powerful this book is. Volume I of the Magdalen Trilogy, Daughter of the Shining Isles speaks with the heroine's voice. Not just any old heroine, Maeve is wild, magical and young, growing into her wisdom with all the mistakes and passion of questioning youth and growing womanhood. Maeve was born on the Isle of Women, Tir na mBan, on the same night that Esus of Nazareth was born across the world, both births heralded by glorious twin stars. Ever prone to following her heart and desires, Maeve learns all that her eight mothers can teach her, and eventually goes to the island of Mona, home to the illustrious Druid College. It is there that she comes face-to-face with Esus of Nazareth, whose life is intricately woven with Maeve's. Together they learn--academics, magic, and the power of love. And together they learn that neither faces a future that will flow easily. Both have destinies that we only think we can foresee. Daughter of the Shining Isles leads us through magic, intrigue, passion, power, grief and joy...and this is only volume I of the Magdalen Trilogy! There are secrets and surprises, love and pain, familiar names in new contexts, and people you will never forget. I loved this book, from the first sentence to the last. This is a work of historical fiction, and yet, one can't help but wonder...this book often feels as if the words are truly Maeve's, and the story feels as though it could be a truth to a history often speculated about but never really proven. It is as though Maeve chose Elizabeth Cunningham to tell her story, now, for all to finally hear and know. Cunningham writes with a richness, a lushness, rarely seen in modern authors. Her descriptions paint scenes as clearly as if we are there, watching, participating. She combines vivid characterization, earthy realism and luminous fantasy, humor and tragedy, to create a book that speaks to us with its own voice, with Maeve's own voice, in a story that must be told...must be heard.