The Miracle Thief by Iris Anthony

I was surprised and delighted to learn that one of my favorite Christian fiction authors, Siri Mitchell, has two other books under her pen name, Iris Anthony. (She made the announcement recently, so I'm not outing her!)

The Miracle Thief at my local Barnes & Noble

Book Description:

Do you believe in miracles?

Sister Juliana does. She's seen miracles happen as she tends Saint Catherine's altar and guards her relic. Yet she doesn't quite dare to believe that even Saint Catherine could help her atone for her wicked past. 

Anna does. And she so desperately needs one. In a time when a deformity is interpreted as evidence of a grievous sin, in a place where community is vital to existence, Anna has no family, no home, and no master. 

Princess Gisele wants to. A miracle is the only thing that can save her from being given to a brutal, pagan chieftain in marriage. 

For those who come in faith, saints offer the answer to almost any prayer. But other forces are plotting to steal Saint Catherine's relic, to bend the saint's power to their own use. Penitent, pilgrim, princess — all will be drawn into an epic struggle where only faith can survive. But in a quest for divine blessing, only the most ruthless of souls may win the prize.

Review:

"Possession makes prisoners of us all; the benefit is in the coming, and the blessing comes through faith."

These words were spoken by one of the characters in this medieval tale, a relic hunter on a pilgrimage to the altar of Saint Catherine. It seems to encapsulate the message of this novel: It's faith that matters. Not works, not pilgrimages, not our station in life, not who our family is or is not.

This story of three different women on a similar and entwined journey of faith is well-written, enjoyable, and engrossing. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in this period of history.

Just a note about religion: This book is not overtly Christian in the sense of some Christian fiction, where the gospel is laid out as a witnessing tract. In fact, this is a general market release. That said, the subject matter is highly religious, as life was in Europe in this time, where belief in God was expected, any other beliefs were considered pagan, and relics were treasured.  I think the thread of faith woven into the story is beautiful in its subtlety.

Note on book link:

You can purchase the book at any book retailer, but if you choose Amazon Smile, you can donate to your favorite charity at the same time. My charitable organization is Wives of Faith Inc., a ministry dedicated to supporting and encouraging military wives.

**FTC disclaimer: I received a direct link to a NetGalley copy of this book from the author herself in exchange for posting a review on my blog and on social media outlets. No other remuneration was received, intended or implied.**