A beguinage - a French 13thC sanctuary for all classes of women. Not a convent, but a kind of commune of women living, working and praying together. These were highly educated women, flying under the radar of male oppression and general misogyny - a fragile existence amongst all the cries of heresy.
Will the arrival of a girl seeking refuge unbalance these precarious lives or bind them together in solidarity?
The myriads of complicatedly named characters, the confusing layout of 13thC Paris (without a map), the lengthy theological discussions and my ignorance of early French history made this book very hard work for me. As beautifully as life in a beguinage is described, the plot did not totally float my boat.

I downloaded this when it was "Read Now," but hadn't sent it to my Kindle right away. Unfortunately, I see that the Publisher archived it nearly two months before the publication date, so I no longer have access to send it to my Kindle. I see an excerpt is available, but I had planned to read the whole book. Since I don't want to read only the excerpt, I'm "reviewing" this so that I don't continue to have my review percentage dinged for an early archival of this book. However, I am still open to reading and reviewing the whole book if the publisher would like to email me an epub file.

Really liked the narrative voice woven through this, and its strength of character within the time frame.

This was a wonderfully done historical drama that I couldn’t put down. It was a great overall feel and wanted to keep reading until I finished it. The characters were everything that I hoped for and enjoyed the overall feel of them in the story. I enjoyed how good Aline Kiner has a great writing style and I can’t wait to read more from them.

I really enjoyed this. I thought it was well translated and the tone was quite beautiful. It was thoughtful and thought provoking. I could have read a lot more of it

This book was incredibly beautiful. Very poetic and imaginative. This world and story were, from what I gather, extremely well researched and accurate and I loved that.

Having read Swan's non-fiction title, Wisdom of the Beguines: The Forgotten Story of a Medieval Women's Movement, I was excited to see a fiction title about Beguines. The Beguine communities were made up of unmarried(single or widowed)women who chose to live communally. Their mission was to serve the poor, sick and uneducated. Beguines were not nuns and took no vows. They could own property and businesses.The Mirror of Simple Souls is set in such a community in Paris in 1310. The title is taken from a book by Marguerite Porete , a Beguine and mystic who was burned at the stake for her writing.
One morning a young, ragged, traumatized girl is found outside the gate. She's taken in and nursed back to health but her rescue exposes the women to great risk when it's discovered that she has run away from her brutal, aristocratic husband and is being hunted by a sinister monk. Secrets are kept, jealousies arise and betrayals threaten the community.
The Parisian setting is depicted in all its glory and gore. Characters are beautifully developed and the language is lyrical.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the opportunity to read this amazing story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for permitting this book to be a Read Now to help members develop their Feedback Ratio in exchange for an honest review.

Review Summary:
This book is a historical fiction set in early 14th Century Paris covering the five years between 1310 and 1315 in the Royal Beguinage founded by King Louis IX. It is based during a time of political and religious upheaval under the ruling of Phillip the Fair and later, Louis X while the Catholic Church was headed by Pope Clement V. Most importantly the story follows the events surrounding the beguine Marguerite Porete who is imprisoned following the writing and release of her book The Mirror of Simple Souls. The consequences of her book and her refusal to refute what she had written exacerbate already building tenions regarding the existence of the Beguines. We follow the stories of some of these pious women as they navigate this five year period trying desperately to protect their institution while faced with adversity.
Positives are that the prose of this book is absolutely stunning. If the English translation is as beautiful as this I can't imagine how otherworldly it is in its original French. It reminded me of some of the classics in literature such as Sense and Sensibility. Some of the wise musings of the main character, Ysabel, are achingly beautiful and poetic. The characterisation in this novel is some of the strongest I have read in a long while. Each character has such a distinct personality that lifts seamlessly off the page without having it spelled out with exposition. The level of research that the original author completed to write this story is evident and it is an area of history I knew little about up until this point. It was so interesting learning more about this specific group of women against the backdrop of other fascinating events, such as the dissolution of the Knights Templar and the Tour de Nesle Affair. I was also mesmerised by the sexual undertones laced throughout the story particularly the discussions of sexual liberation, experimentation and the implications of preference.
The negatives are that the storyline was unfortunately a little lacking for me. While all these interesting events are mentioned in the background and contextualise the tensions in the Beguinage there isn't enough of a main storyline to be fully engaged in for my preference. I also felt the book relied heavily on the assumption that people are aware of the Catholic church and the different titles, roles and proceedings within it. Google was very much my friend during reading as somebody who wasn't raised in a religion.

3 stars for a beautiful writing style, a fascinating and well-researched world and palpable tension provoked throughout. However there is a lack of strong, engaging main storyline that isn't tied up very well at the end.

FULL REVIEW BELOW. AVAILABLE WITH THE ADDITION OF HIDDEN SPOILERS ON GOODREADS.

World-building:
The book starts in Paris in 1310. This is an area of History I know very little about and the writer was able to immerse me so deeply that it encouraged me to research the events discussed in the book afterwards. The Royal Beguinage is a protected estate which allows Beguines - holy women who follow very similar lives as nuns but without vows and without retiring from society - to live in an enclosed, symbiotic community. We learn about the different roles the women took on to maintain the community and what day-to-day living looked like. We also learn about more independent Beguines who chose to live away from the Beguinage grounds and thrived in their own businesses and trade. The writer brings medieval Paris to life following the river Seine to encounter Notre Dame, the medieval Louvre and the various Rues with their hustle and bustle of markets. All the while, we learn about the Catholic church and the Monarchy and the upheaval between the two.

Characterisation:
Arguably the main character in the story is the old widowed Beguine Ysabel. Although not the mistress of the Beguinage she is one of the most respected members, having a large role in the infirmary in particular. Ysabel is very much a matriarch and goes above and beyond to protect those in need within the community. She is clever, cautious and brave. She is accompanied by Agnes who in contrast is uptight and obsequious. Her superiority complex is worsened by her close relationship with her cousin who is a prominent Dominican. One of the main storylines follows Maheut, a young girl who is found by Ysabel outside the gates of the Beguinage one morning. Her head of bright red hair makes her a dangerous person to have around due to the association with the Devil. Maheut is aloof, stubborn and as we learn throughout the story quite reckless. She is eventually taken under the wing of Ade, an equally austere character but also highly educated and with the same cautious wisdom as Ysabel. Ade is the most interesting character in the story to me, seconded by Jeanne Du Faut a Beguine who left the walled community to thrive in a silk house where she employs other Beguines. Both these women are the most sexually charged characters in the story adding another complex layer to their dedication to religion. Humbert is a Franciscan monk trying to support his master in his protection of Marguerite while she is imprisoned. He is fiercely loyal but also somewhat reckless, often giving in to his more compulsive and basal desires.

Story:
The story is a little lacklustre to me as it tries to follow the Beguines specifically, while only referencing the very interesting events happening in the background. The story had potential with tropes of forbidden love and sexuality being alluded to and the story of Maheut's background, plus the consequences of Marguerite's writing and the secret support of her. But the plots never quite take off the ground for me or develop. When it looks like these plot-points are going to become more interesting they just seem to end abruptly. The end of the book therefore feels quite anti-climatic.

Prose:
Just stunning. Practically poetic throughout. Convincing dialogue, tangible tension and emotion. There are occasional tense switches within the same paragraph which can feel a little confusing sometimes as the narrative changes but it didn't distract from the beauty of the language.

I enjoyed this book immensely. l I liked the setting of medieval Paris and the premise of the beguine community, offering a
interesting perspective on independent women in a time of religious upheaval.
A narrative that keeps readers engrossed until the very end.

Translated from French by Susan Emanuel.
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect with this book when I asked to review it. Something about the title spoke to me, and I've always been a sucker for a cover with Mediaeval illumination.
This is a historical fiction, set in early 14th century Paris, the time of King Philip the Fair ("le Bel" in French), the Order of the Knights Templar, and the Beguines - that curious and vibrant order of women wanting an escape from the binary path of marriage or nunnery, and who will take the lion's share of our attention for this story. For those who are acquainted with French history and literature, you may also know this as the beginnings of the Accursed Kings ("Les Rois Maudits"). The title itself is not the original French title ("La Nuit des Beguines"), but is taken from the writings of the same name by the mystical beguine Marguerite Porete, whose burning at the stake is our introduction to the story.
There are a few themes interwoven, threads pulling us through the skein of Aline Kiner's work - how the past haunts us, the oppressive weight of the inevitable, and the joy and tragedy of being a woman. Each of these hits home and hits hard - a ghost at my shoulder, dread at what I knew must come, and feeling the happiness and despair of each of the women we follow.
A lovely, but often sad, book, which is more than worth your time.

I enjoyed this book immensely! The descriptive language and well developed characters draw you into the story of the beguines of Paris in the early 1300s. The story follows the lives and struggles of a number of women in the beguinage. As with all good historical fiction, this story made me want to learn more about the history of the beguines and beguinages. I’ll be looking for some nonfiction in this topic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book offers a mesmerizing glimpse into the lives of independent women in medieval Paris, weaving a tale of love, jealousy, and faith against the backdrop of a vibrant historical setting. Set amid the trial of the Templars in 1310, the beguinage provides a sanctuary for women free from the oppressive dominance of men, a sanctuary threatened by the arrival of a mysterious red-haired child and a vengeful monk.

As the community of beguines grapples with religious repression and danger lurking at their doorstep, the story unfolds with intrigue and suspense. The forbidden love and heretical text add layers of complexity to the narrative, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

This captivating historical drama, reminiscent of "Hamnet" and "The Lost Apothecary," offers an immersive reading experience for fans of historical fiction. With its richly detailed portrayal of medieval Paris and the beguine community, This book is a compelling summer read that transports readers to a world of love, danger, and the resilience of women.

I like the vivid historical setting of medieval Paris and the intriguing premise of the beguine community, offering a unique perspective on independent women in a time of religious upheaval. The blend of love, jealousy, and faith creates a riveting narrative that keeps readers engrossed until the very end.

Joyful reading! I accept that this will not be everyone’s cup of tea but for a Theology graduate who wrote their dissertation on medieval heresy it could not have peaked my interest more. The characters were strong and well developed and I loved the foundation of fact that this tale was woven around. Not as in depth with regards to the spirituality, religious doctrine and heretical debates as some other authors writing about this time. However, it would be a good entry book for those looking to explore fiction set in this period of European Christian history.

A raw and passionate story about women in 14th century Paris losing the one haven of independence and freedom they have after the Templars are tried and punished for their heretical plight, starting a ripple effect that will leave the lives of all the characters forever changed. When it gets down to it, this is a tale about actions, however big or small, having the power to change the world, and not always in a good way.

"Ysabel knows this: however small our lives are, they are all part of a greater whole; the movements and the troubles of the soul depend on those of the world at large; violence does not end with its target, but rebounds onward like a pebble skipping over water, striking and striking again."

"The Mirror of Simple Souls" is well written (and well translated), capturing a beautiful balance of dark and gritty prose that reflects the nature of what it was like to be a woman during this time period with an almost poetic description of nature and the world within which these awful things are taking place. Although Maheut was the most compelling character for me, and I wished to see more of the story from her perspective, I appreciated that Kiner created such a unique selection of women to tell this story. Ysabel, Ade, and Maheut were all very different characters who used the safety of the beguinage in completely different ways, which made it all that more impactful when that safety was threatened and began crumbling down around them. Each character has their own set of complex motives, including the Franciscan monk Humbert, who orbits around the women with his own set of sinister motives during the first half of the book.

Although the large paragraphs of historical information did slow my reading down (which was definitely a personal problem and not a reflection of the writing), I think that the plot of this book is brilliant, particularly in the ways that the characters and plot points weave in and out of each other until they all collide together and everything makes sense, including the historical and religious context that my brain had a hard time focusing on even though it was all undeniably interesting to learn (but perhaps maybe not in the late hours of the night).

This was a heavy but enlightening read of the horrors of a fanatical, oppressive religion. Historical fiction, especially of the Middle Ages, can be difficult to get into, but despite this being a translation, I was able to follow the storyline fairly easily, and the characters were well developed. I’d recommend this to fans of the genre.

As others have mentioned, the writing did make the novel a little challenging to read in places, but I found the entire premise of the book incredibly fascinating. I didn't even know the religious order of The Benguines existed until this book, so naturally I had to go on a little Google expedition!!

This book very much reminded me of the convent at the centre of Lauren Groff's "Matrix", with women being able to live an essentially peaceful and free life away from the demands of men, which was almost unheard of during this time period.

I thought the premise was very interesting and I liked the characters, but it was a bit hard to get into at first. The formatting was also a little weird on my Kindle, but other than that, this was an enjoyable read with a lot of intriguing history and rich character work

This book was such a unique premise. The story follows women in the 14th century in Paris living apart from men as Beguines. The story encapsulates a time when women were unable, except in this one very specific circumstance to be "free" in any sense of the word. The tale intersects with historical figures such as the Knights Templar, and paints a very clear picture of a time that is oft forgotten. I had no knowledge of the Beguines, but the story was nonetheless fascinating. Meticulously researched and well-translated, this book is a great choice if you're looking for a lesser known period of time, and an ongoing struggle - that of women throughout history to make their marks, or live freely. The history was clearly very well researched, as there is an extensive bibliography at the back, and I will definitely be looking further into some of those readings as well as this book has piqued my interest. Highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys a great historical fiction book which is actually based on concrete facts.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A poor translation has muddied the authors prose making this book borderline unreadable. A fast read with interesting characters in a vivid world you could get lost in if this book gets a better retranslation that doesn’t lose any of the authors meaning. I read a lot of translated material and used to vivid beautiful sentences not monotonous text book translations.

I think this book was good. I requested it because it sounded interesting, and it was. The cast of characters was interesting and all so different from one another