Hello, everyone! Today I’m reviewing The Mirror of Simple Souls by Aline Kiner. Puskin Press recently published the English translation of this historical fiction novel, originally written in French in 2017. The setting of the story is one of my favorite periods of French history. So, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to review it!

A captivating story of love, jealousy and faith, set amid a community of independent women in medieval Paris — the perfect summer read for fans of historical fiction.

This thrilling, sensual evocation of medieval Paris sold over 100,000 copies in France and offers a fascinating insight into the world of the beguines — communities of women who lived independently of men and successfully managed their own affairs all the way back in the Middle Ages.

A heretical text, a vengeful husband, a forbidden love…

It’s 1310 and Paris is alive with talk of the trial of the Templars. Religious repression is on the rise, and the smoke of execution pyres blackens the sky above the city. But sheltered behind the walls of Paris’s great beguinage, a community of women are still free to work, study and live their lives away from the domination of men.

When a wild, red-haired child clothed in rags arrives at the beguinage gate one morning, with a sinister Franciscan monk on her tail, she sets in motion a chain of events that will shatter the peace of this little world-plunging it into grave danger…

This rich historical drama makes a great summer read for fans of Hamnet, The Lost Apothecary, The Wolf Den, and The Yellow Bird Sings.

***Thank you to Pushkin Press for providing a copy of The Mirror of Simple Souls via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

The Mirror of Simple Souls provided such a fascinating look at individuals who are often ignored in this period of French history. I learned so much from reading this book even though I’m already familiar with the events of the fall of the Capetian dynasty. I liked that the story focused on everyday people and how the tumultuous times impacted their ability to go about their day-to-day lives.

The writing in The Mirror of Simple Souls did a great job of bringing medieval France to life. The descriptions of the beguinage and the streets of Paris made me feel like I was there alongside the characters. I did have some trouble following the writing at first, though. It had a tendency to bounce around from character to character without transitions or noticeable breaks. Although, once I became accustomed to the style, it didn’t impact my ability to understand the story.

The characters in The Mirror of Simple Souls were all unique with distinct backgrounds and personalities. I was moved by many of the women’s stories and quickly became invested in their lives. However, I never felt much of an emotional connection to the women themselves. The writing style made them feel a bit distant. I wanted to spend more time inside their heads than the narrative provided. Although, I appreciated how the writing gave a good window into what it meant to be a beguine by illustrating many different examples of the lifestyle.

The Mirror of Simple Souls also explored some incredibly timely and relevant themes. Namely, the narrative captured how quickly, and easily, societal progress can be subverted. The women in this story experienced a massive reduction in their freedoms and rights, which felt eerily familiar given the current state of affairs in the U.S. The story highlighted the detrimental impact of the quick resurgence of tradition and repression in response to difficult times. It also showed how suddenly the erosion of government protection for minorities’ rights can happen once such a shift occurs. Ultimately, there was much to learn from this book.

Overall, The Mirror of Simple Souls was a fascinating window into the lives of individuals in medieval France. I enjoyed learning about the beguines and getting to see how the volatile politics of the time impacted these women. This story would be a great companion piece to Druon’s The Accursed Kings series, which also explored this time period. If you are a fan of medieval historical fiction, I definitely recommend picking this one up. Therefore, I rate The Mirror of Simple Souls 3.75 out of 5 stars.

Have you read The Mirror of Simple Souls? What did you think of it? Let me know down in the comments! If you are looking for other historical fiction that centers the experience of women, be sure to also check out The Wolf Den.