Holy Fools

By Joanne Harris

The story is based in fifteenth century France where a young woman, Juliette, and her young daughter, Fleur, are forced to seek refuge among the sisters of the abbey of Sainte Marie-de-la-mer. Here Juliette reinvents herself as Souer Auguste in order to escape from her past as a circus performer and to protect herself and her daughter from a man named Guy LeMerle.

After a while the old Abbess dies. This creates chaos in the monastery. An 11-year old girl, Mére Isabelle, who is the niece of a powerful bishop, is appointed the new abbess. She arrives accompanied by her advisor, Père Columbin, who is none other than LeMerle. As the two wield their evil upon the monastery, Juliette must protect herself and her daughter.

A novel of great historic details but does, unfortunately, lack a compelling storyline.