Julie Berry

In mid-thirteenth century Provence, Dolssa de Stigata is a fervently religious girl who feels the call to preach, condemned by the Inquisition as an "unnatural woman," and hunted by the Dominican Friar Lucien who fears a resurgence of the Albigensian heresy; Botille is a matchmaker trying to protect her sisters from being branded as gypsies or witches--but when she finds the hunted Dolssa dying on a hillside, she feels compelled to protect her, a decision that may cost her everything.

A Novel

The Passion of Dolssa

Amanda Kordeliski

I feel very strongly that the only reason this book is billed as YA is because the author is known as a young adult writer. This is a great book--I can think of a dozen different adult readers who would enjoy--but not any young adults. It is well written, the plot is original, the characters all fully developed and the setting is great, but if not for my determination to read all the Printz contenders, I would have abandoned it 200 pages in. I'm glad I stuck with it, but it simply isn't a young adult book. Great adult book, tedious YA.

Erin Russell

I was worried I wasn't getting what everyone else was from this story based on other's reviews saying they were emotionally moved by this book. Then I got to the last 90 pages, and from that point on I turned into a faucet (lots of gross sobbing and tissues were involved). The Passion Of Dolssa told a beautiful story of the devotion of family and friends, as well as romantic and spiritual love. It is a character driven story (which I value more than plot), I would cheer out loud for their triumphs, and many a time did I find myself yelling at this book in frustration with characters not even 3 chapters before I liked. This book is most certainly going to solicit an emotional response from the reader. I agree with other's assessments that even though she's the titular character, Dolssa is not the character that pulls you in, Botille is. She was a refreshing take on a YA heroine. I'm used to the chosen girl, who thinks herself dull, but is really a diamond in the rough type. Botille is an average (or slightly below average) looking girl, who is devoted to her sisters, as well as resourceful and compassionate. She has her moments of stubbornness and cruelty, but that's what makes her so relatable. When I started this book I wasn't aware of it's religious influences and topics, and had I not been compelled to impulsively pick it up based on the cover, I would never had read it. I am so glad I did, this book is up there on my list of my best reads of 2017.

Jen Estrella

"Hey ho, hey hum, see the churchmen come. And whom shall they slaughter today?"
"Take the babe, take your wife, and run for your life from the men who love to pray."

Not a lot of readers would pick this book out of a pile of other YA books; that’s for sure, but I’m glad I did, because the Passion of Dolssa is both a wonderful and terrifying read. Don’t let the religious undertone put you off. I swear, this book is so much more than what people imagine it to be. 

The story is set in the 12th century during a time when the Catholic church and its newly formed orders are dead set on eliminating heretics - people who "practice unorthodox, unsanctioned religious ideas" - as well as any other circumstance that presents itself as a tremendous (almost always viewed negatively) influence on the people’s faith. 

This book tells the tale of Dolssa, a woman who is known to have formed a bond with her beloved. She, like all the other mystics known from that period, is recognized to have experienced the presence of her beloved through visions. She is seen performing miracles and preaching about her beloved’s goodness. 

Dolssa’s belief is viewed by the church as something that contradicts their faith and should thus be obliterated; hence, as the story goes on, we see Dolssa being pursued by various members of the clergy. 

I’ve read mixed reviews about this book. Others have found 400+ pages to be a tad bit too long, but I am one of those who found it fitting and unexpectedly engaging. I confess, many times I’ve actually struggled with putting it down. 

I loved the writing style, especially the accounts that picture people as they are interviewed. It’s as if I could hear the person right in the moment, desperately trying to defend himself.Imagine those character guides in mystery case files/big fish games, if any of you have actually played those. 

I enjoyed reading about the gradual coming together of the characters’ lives. The relationship between Dolssa and Botille, Botille and her sisters, as well as Botille and the rest of the people in Bajas, can be examined in a myriad of ways, and I'm one of those who delight in thinking about these things over and over. Oh and one other thing - I've always considered the influence of the church on the people during this period to be too mortifying, and reading this book made that assumption come to life. I’ll have you know; it gave me goosebumps. 

(view spoiler)[
  

  
    "For most violently and with premeditated and murderous intent assaulting a man of God, the friar Lucien de Saint-Honore of the Order of Preachers, in a vile and cowardly manner, lying in wait, attacking him unawares, entirely unprovoked, I sentence you to forty lashes."
  
  

  
    "And, to teach you to remember to honor the Savior's church, I sentence you to branding by hot irons on the forehead with the mark of the cross."
  
 (hide spoiler)] 
Me during this scene and the last 100 pages of the novel:


The story kept me on the edge of my seat, something that I consider a feat for a historical novel. I found myself turning pages until the verdict came, and I was dumbfounded. I actually needed help in understanding that ending (cries). Thankfully, Julie Berry wrote an explanation for us readers who need a little push in putting the pieces together. You can find it here.

I don’t know how to market this book well enough. All I know is that I want a lot more people to get a hold of its story. This is the first time I’m a hundred percent certain in recommending a historical fiction novel to just about anybody (last time this happened was after I read the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society), so I’m really hoping this review would be good enough to convince you guys to read it. 

If you’re still not convinced, this is the last thing I could tell you without actually spoiling anything. That damn ending still haunts me today. I think I’m going to remember it for a long, long time. 

Note: I did rate this book a 4.5/5 at first, but after being enlightened by Julie’s post, I’m pretty sure it deserves a 5.

Laura

I picked this book up so soon after The Good People because they reminded me of each other. Sure, one is an adult historical fiction novel taking place in 19th century Ireland and the other is a YA historical fiction novel taking place in 13th century Provence, but the actual subject matter is very reminiscent of each other. 

Sadly, this book can't hold a candle to The Good People. It has a quarter of the atmosphere and well developed, real-seeming characters. The writing is very surface level. We are told what to think, how to feel. The moral ambiguity is undeveloped and mostly told to us. The plot is bogged down with the character of Botille,to whom far too much focus is given.

Frankly, you could read the summary and gleam all the characterization from it. And the plot too, in a 1000+ less words. If you want characters that are the same as almost every other YA historical fiction novel ever published, this is the book to read. Botille especially grated on me. She seemed like every single YA historical fiction narrator- a woman who is strong, independent, and witty, carving out a living in a man's world. Too much attention is devoted to her, probably because the author either likes her too much or because she knows that this character is the only way to sell books. Most of the other characters were also the typical run of the mill HF characters- the vengeful priest, the innocent, beautiful girl at the mercy of these horrible holy men, the kind prostitute (there's always a prostitute character nowadays), the tough independent girl going against the grain of the time period, the roguish, snarky love interest. New setting, same old characters.

Continue reading this review on my blog here: http://bookwormbasics.blogspot.com/20...

The Passion of Dolssa A Novel

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