Canticle - Janet Rich Edwards – Spiegel & Grau HC $30.00 – 9781966302056 – 12/2/2025
Set in the 13th century and in the city of Brugge (Bruges) this complex novel of faith, fairness, hypocrisy and the plight of women in a world of men fills in many voids in the contemporary understanding of the role of female mystics and the place of women in the church. Although much is known about the beguines, a sect of female monks prevalent in Europe during the years before Protestantism took hold, the intimate personal view revealed here touches close to the emotional life of these remarkable people.
Aleys is a young girl born to a family of wool merchants who is visited by visions of a divine source urging her to find her way to God. The images she sees are bright, compelling, frightening and profound. When she voices a wish to become part of the Franciscan order her family is taken aback, since she has agreed to marry into a house of wealth that will assure her father a place in the guild he desperately seeks. Lukas, a Franciscan friar becomes her mentor although he is perplexed that she, a mere girl, should be privy to such holy calling when his own dedication and fervor have left him without such divine inspiration. Through a series of miracles Aleys performs and the devious machinations of the local bishop, a jealous and avaricious man who is more concerned with his own promotion within the church than real religious matters she is made an anchorite, sequestered from life in a cell attached to the local church.
How Aleys deals with not only the passionate response of the people of Brugge but the plots devised by the bishop is the meat of the story. It is an intimate look at the joy and sorrow of the true prophet, blessed and cursed with vivid images and an emotional bonding with Jesus, Mary and God. A thread dealing with the clandestine translation of the gospel into Dutch for the benefit of common folk who have only had access to the words of the Bible through priests who often did not understand the Latin or the meaning of the verses complicates the lives of Aleys, the beguines, and Lukas, her tortured mentor.
An understanding of the genesis of saints and martyrs who dominated much of the religious thought of the time is available to the reader who wishes to understand more about Christianity, women and the Church. A potent narrative illuminating the rapture and the pain of the zealots who often found themselves at odds with the established keepers of the faith is limned with skill and clear evidence of extensive research and soul-searching on the part of this author who is an academic as well as a novelist.
Shelf Talker: An intimate look into the lives of religious visionaries who became martyrs and saints as well as the intriguing sect of the beguines, a female sect of monks could easily be the basis of a course on women’s issues and/or comparative religion. Well written, compelling narrative and a gripping personal story of a young girl’s transformation from common to divine.

I received an ARC for this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and I appreciate both your work and commitment to this project. The following opinion is my own and holds no major spoilers.

Do you like esoteric medieval saints lives? religious Ecstasy, religious politics and heresy? Then this might be the book for you.

Our protagonist Aleys lives in a 13th century ripe with religious and social strife and after taking holy vows to escape and unwanted marriage enters a world where women's holiness is desired, comodified and villified. As someone with an interest in niche medieval female religious groups this has it all - poor Clare's, beguines, and anchoresses. Think Julian of Norwich meets Joan or Arc meets Hildegard of Bingen.

The characters are fleshed out and complex with their own secular and spiritual motivations. There is no easy answer or comfortable ending and Janet Rich Edwards deftly explores characters light and shade. The prose when exploring religious visions and ideas is rich and otherworldly but brilliantly grounded. For a debut offer this demonstrates knowledge of the setting, existing literature and the human spirit.

Historical fiction can so often get trapped in niches (hist romance, military hist and retellings) this breaks this mould. If you like the historical elements of Kate Mosse' Labrynth then I would highly recommend this

Set during the 1200s/Medieval times in Bruges, Belgium, this is a very interesting historical fiction novel. I just visited Bruges and before that trip did not know what a beguinage was, but now have visited one in Bruge, one in Gent, and saw where one had existed in Brussels.
This is a very atmospheric story of a 16-year old who wants to dedicate her life to God, but also worries about her family. She is meant for greater things, and ultimately finds her way through trial and tribulation. The ending was amazing and reflective of the times and the misunderstanding of women as it related to the Church.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

I received an ARC for this book from Netgalley and the publisher in return for my honest review. The following opinion(s) are my own and hold no major spoilers.

Canticle is hands down my favorite historical fiction novel, this book is not just about a young girl and her faith but about finding her place in the world. Canticle is set in the 13th century and follows the story of Aleys. Aleys loves her mother’s psalter and learns Latin to read them. Her mother, however, ends up dying in childbirth and because of this Aleys vows to never marry or have children. When her father sets up an arranged marriage for her, Aleys flees and with the help of a Franciscan monk she is able to avoid this marriage, eventually coming to live with the beguines where she truly begins to learn different things, including friendship.

This novel is wonderful; the writing does start out a little slow but quickly picks up. I have some understanding of the catholic church and found the different church positions mentioned to be easy to understand but I don’t feel like this will be a problem for anyone with little or no knowledge of the church.

If you are looking for a historical tale outside of WWII or a ‘Bridgerton’ style book, Canticle is for you!

I LOVED this book! I selected it to read because of the focus on the Beguine community in Bruges, which is the focus of one of my own novels. I was interested to see the main character of this novel take some fascinating turns that had her pass through the Beguinage and onto far more profound spiritual adventures.

This novel is highly recommended for anyone interested in Christian history, Church history, or the history of the Protestant reformation. All the tensions are there!

Lovely writing by a skilled novelist!

Who would think that a story about a colonial midwife and her family would be interesting (The Frozen River)? Probably the same person that would think a story about a female "friar" who is introduced to a community in Bruges called Beguines, who while not a community of nuns is a community of sisters. While it is definitely the story of Aleys, it is also a tale of political and religious intrigue that shows how a little bit of power can cause a movement to go sideways to devastating results. Ms. Edwards does a good job of taking the reader back to medieval times without sacrificing the plot or the characters, which makes this book almost impossible to put down to see what happens next. Although it is not a "happy" book, it is not a depressing book and one can only hope that at the end the reader is given a sliver of hope that a "miracle" did occur.

This book is beautifully written, emotionally intense, and unapologetically bold in its examination of faith, power, and the roles women are allowed to play in sacred spaces.

Set in the late 13th century, Canticle follows a fiercely devout young girl who dreams of serving the Church in a way that defies every expectation placed on her. Her journey is filled with spiritual longing, personal loss, and the quiet rebellion of choosing purpose over tradition.

Janet Rich Edwards brings medieval Europe to life with poetic language and vivid detail, capturing both the beauty of devotion and the darkness that comes with institutional control. The pacing is deliberate and the story is dense, but the emotional impact is worth every page.

This is a powerful story about a girl’s unwavering faith and the price of defying the limits imposed on her. Perfect for readers who enjoy feminist historical fiction with religious and political undertones.

Oh the irony of finding salvation from one archaic practice (being married off for financial gain) within the confines of another traditionally misogynistic establishment (the church/religion). In The Canticle, Aleys struggles with faith and redemption and ambition, all things that have traditionally not been seen as acceptable female pursuits.
The book is well written but very slow with a small sprinkle of very subtle humor throughout.

Thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for the opportunity to read this book!

This is a debut work for the ages. It has mystery, spirituality, devotion, fidelity, love, and sacrifice woven into it in a spell binding manner. While the context of this work is deeply religious, it is not overtly prescriptive for religion. In fact, this work critiques organized religion as a method of control of the masses, and a way to keep the poor poor, the women meek and humble, and the rich rich. There is a stark critique for man-made and male centric religion in Organized Religion, something I found refreshing and alluring in this work.

The prose is beautifully crafted, and imbibed with rich emotion, depth of characterization, and fraught with tension. Additionally, great care and research has gone into the presentation of each of the religious orders presented in this work, and it has been executed well. I found myself eager to keep reading, to know how this saga of one woman’s fealty in a conniving world endures. I am so excited to see this book be released soon, and get a copy of it for myself. My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this electronic ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for the ARC of Canticle, publishing December 2, 2025. I have no doubt this novel is going to be a major hit.

What a debut. Truly. As someone with an enduring fascination for monastic novels - Lauren Groff’s Matrix sits high on my literary altar - I approached Canticle with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. So many novels that explore faith end up distorting it, twisting belief into something cruel or ironic. But Janet Rich Edwards has written something holy, something that hums with grace and conviction. Canticle is a story of spiritual hunger, feminine resilience, and sacred beauty.

Set in thirteenth-century Bruges, Canticle follows Aleys, a young woman whose longing for the divine is as fierce as it is dangerous. From the moment she first opens her mother’s beloved psalter, Aleys begins a journey that is as much about the life of the soul as it is about the body. What follows is a stunning odyssey through cloisters, beguinages, and visions that defy the sanctioned order of her time. The historical detail is exquisite and immersive. Edwards brings the world of medieval Flanders to life with poetic precision - the wool guilds, the rhythm of convent life, the very air of the city feels tangible. You smell the wet stone, hear the turning of illuminated pages, and feel the quiet ache of the divine pressing against every human moment.

What sets this novel apart, however, is its tone. Where many historical novels are content to merely recreate the past, Canticle uses history as a prism to explore the eternal. Aleys is a seeker. Her desire for God, for meaning, for agency, for communion, is expressed with aching clarity. And her connection to the beguine community - those quietly radical, self-sufficient women who dared to worship and work outside traditional orders - is one of the most deeply moving depictions of female solidarity I’ve encountered in fiction.

This novel never settles for cynicism. It honors doubt, but it refuses despair. The prose is lyrical without ever becoming precious, and Edwards’ ability to balance theological complexity with emotional accessibility is nothing short of masterful. The characters, too, are rich with contradiction and compassion. Even the so-called antagonists are painted with depth. And though miracles glimmer at the edges of the story, the greatest wonder is the humanity of its people.

Canticle is a luminous, deeply spiritual work of historical fiction that will resonate with readers of Matrix, The Book of Longings, or anyone drawn to the intersection of history, mysticism, and female agency. I loved every page, and I already know I will return to it. Five stars, easily. Janet Rich Edwards is an author to watch, and Canticle is her magnificent beginning.

ARC from NetGalley
Thank you to the author and publisher.
Publish Date: Dec 02, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Initial thoughts:
I would give this book 10 stars if I could! This is a debut novel?!

Plot:
Aleys is a vibrant teenager who is obsessed with her Mother's psalter (a book of Psalms). She begins to learn Latin in order to read them. She meets a boy who can help and becomes close to him. Aleys begins having visions and eventually goes looking for a life with God; however, her father has other plans. He is arranging a marriage. She seeks out a Franciscan monk who will bring her into his order thus stopping the marriage.

Aleys is sent to live with the beguines who show her different ways to worship and friendship. Miracles and unauthorized translations of the bible begin to spread and the local bishop notices. From there Aleys is thrust into danger that she must navigate. Whether it is her fault or not.

Praise:
- Writing style is exceptional
- Poetic writing at times (I reread passages just to enjoy them again.)
- Connection with MC & others around her
- Dislike of “villains” was felt
- Emotional
- Could be compared to the likes of Dickens
- Thought provoking
- Ending leaves thinking and questioning

Critiques:
- A bit slow at first but then it picks up

Fav Quote:
There are so many I can't pick a favourite. This is just one.

“She pictures the monk who copied the verse and decorated the margins, but instead of ink, she imagines him dipping his quill in the colors of bluebirds and holly berries and bright spring moss.”

This book sounded right up my alley but unfortunately it missed the mark. I would recommend this book to people who may like Lauren Groff.

I loved everything about this novel. Aleys is a medieval woman, but she's also a woman for all ages; stubborn, spiritually seeking a higher purpose, and yearns for a community of like-minded people. She suffers greatly for being different, but her transformation is truly breathtaking. Edwards' prose is beautifully written and transportive; she captures 13th century Bruges and the little known Beguine community with a precise attention to historical detail. Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction, medieval fiction, and yes--saints.

I love historical fiction, and this was a potent story set in 13th century Bruges in a time of the completion suppression of women and education, a severe time when it was forbidden for anyone to translate any religious material. We also learn about the woollen industry and what this meant for the community and her family.

Young Aleys attempts to defy the status quo when she is told she will be betrothed. She runs for her life. Fortunately she has a sharp mind and a religious fever which takes her into the heart of the Beguin community of women to search for the meaning of God. I had always wanted to know more about this community who were on the edge of society.

It was slow reading, and the characters could have been a bit more three dimensional, but the ending is full of hope. We are left with an understanding how strong certain women in history have been, despite all the odds against stacked against them.

This is my own honest review of an advance copy downloaded from Netgalley. The publish date is set for 2 December 2025.

Canticle, a debut novel by Janet Rich Edwards, follows an adolescent girl named Aleys seeking out God in 13th century Bruges. Edwards is undoubtedly a talented writer who does a great job building out this world. As a secular person, I found it a bit tough to care deeply about Aleys’s pursuit of her “beloved”, but I found the book picked up as we learned more about the Beguines. A big draw of historical fiction to me is the chance to learn more about topics I otherwise wouldn’t know about, and Canticle totally succeeds on that front! Unfortunately, and unsurprisingly, the treatment of women and other dissenters in the 13th century was abysmal, which also made this an emotionally taxing read. I do think readers who are open to facing some unpleasant realities of history will be rewarded by this read!

Thank you very much to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for this ARC!

Canticle has an intriguing premise and moments of lyrical writing, but overall it didn’t quite live up to its potential. While the atmosphere is rich and the concept compelling, the pacing tends to drag, and the characters sometimes feel underdeveloped. There are glimpses of depth in the themes, especially around grief and transformation, but they don’t always come through clearly. It’s a book that may appeal to readers who enjoy quiet, introspective narratives, but it left me wishing for a bit more momentum and emotional connection.

Aleys’s world in 13thC Flanders as a draper’s daughter may be small but it is rich with psalter book pictures and her Mum’s stories of saints. Early on she is determined to lead a religious life.
“Mama’s psalter holds the real world, too, not just trees and birds, but things Aleys has never seen, mountains and waterfalls and strange fruits from faraway lands.”
Through Lukas, a Franciscan monk, she is placed at the Bruge beguinage, a conclave of independent women living, working and worshipping together.
But in these times of heretics, the church eyes the Beguins with suspicion.

Although the language was beautiful, for me the lengthy overdose of dogma and misogyny was putting me off.

3.5 stars rounded up! Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC, because this story was right up my alley.

In Canticle, which is set in 13th century Bruges, we follow Aleys, a young girl who has always been obsessed with her mother's Psalter and with religion in general. At the time of the story, it is forbidden to translate any religious materials from Latin into local languages, and yet Aleys convinces a young boy to teach her Latin so that she can understand what is written in some of the psalms. When her father forces her to marry, she runs away and joins a group of friars instead. However, since she is a woman, she is not allowed to live amongst them, and is housed instead among a group of beguine. These women aren't nuns, but live in a self-sufficient religious community and are allowed to freely come and go. Aleys becomes friends with many of these women and discovers that they have a role to play in some of the illegal translations that have been turning up on the streets.

This story had so much potential, and the reason I can't bring myself to give it anything less than 3.5 stars is because the prose is really beautiful. The setting is too! The author does a brilliant job bringing medieval Bruges to life, and I really felt immersed in the city and in the atmosphere of the time. I also learned an incredible amount. I had no idea what a beguine or anchorite was, and it was fascinating to get a glimpse into the religious politics of this era.

However, because the prose was so beautiful, and because the setting was so intriguing, I kept waiting to feel some very strong connection to the characters. Ultimately, I never really did. Some of that might be because religion is obviously a huge focus of this story, and I wasn't always certain that I understood the message that the author was trying to convey. Aleys is sometimes able to work miracles on God's behalf, and there are long paragraphs dedicated to describing some of the religious visions she has. The friar Aleys originally swears herself to, Lukas, is also dealing with an internal religious crisis of his own. Since these two are the primary POVs in the story, it felt a bit religion-heavy (although I know this is the main theme of the book). I would have liked getting more insights into the women of the Beguine, who, in my opinion, were much more intriguing. Even Aleys's family members could have been given a bit more screen time! And something about the ending felt a little bit rushed. Either that, or I just didn't quite understand the message.

All that to say, if you have any interest in medieval religion, or in Bruges at this time, be sure to pick this one up! There is a great discussion of the wool industry in the city at this time, and again, I absolutely adored the prose.

I enjoyed this book, it's description of life during that period of history and the description of life in the catholic church I found very interesting. I do have to say that I found parts of it a little slow moving.

Canticle by Janet Rich Edwards

Reading Canticle was like stepping into a rich tapestry of history, faith, and deeply human struggles. Janet Rich Edwards has crafted a novel that’s both powerful and poignant, weaving together themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning with grace and sensitivity.

What really stayed with me was the emotional honesty of the characters. Their journeys felt authentic and raw, filled with moments of doubt, hope, and quiet strength. Edwards’ writing is evocative and immersive, transporting me to the time and place with vivid detail and lyrical prose.

The spiritual undertones added a unique depth to the story, inviting reflection without ever feeling heavy-handed. I found myself deeply invested in the characters’ paths, rooting for their redemption and peace.

Canticle is perfect for readers who appreciate character-driven stories that explore faith, resilience, and the complexities of the human heart. It’s a beautifully written novel that left me thinking long after the last page.