"
Slave, soldier, lover, hero, saint, --his life mirrored the cataclysmic world into which he was born. His memory will outlast the ages. "
reviews
Nov 22, 2011
Meghan
rated it: 
Great back story about the man who would become St. Patrick. Captured from his British home in a raid, Succat is forced into slavery to the barbarians in Ireland. After multiple attempts he finally succeeds in escaping, due to an elaborate plan that took him years to implement, only to find out his entire life, family, and property has been wiped out in Britain. Having few options he joins the Roman army, where he distinguishes him mostly through chance, eventually travelling to Rome to attempt
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Apr 03, 2010
Karin
rated it: 
I actually like this book even more that Byzantium and treated it like a page turner. I find it very interesting.
Succat is a rather careless person who indulges in the pleasures of the world, is selfish, arrogant, lies to get what he wants to people who see good in him. Years of abuse in Ireland, after he was taken there from his homeland during a raid, made him misuse the trust of the druids who had taken him to their home. Life in the rath was brutal. He made two escape attempts whic More...
Succat is a rather careless person who indulges in the pleasures of the world, is selfish, arrogant, lies to get what he wants to people who see good in him. Years of abuse in Ireland, after he was taken there from his homeland during a raid, made him misuse the trust of the druids who had taken him to their home. Life in the rath was brutal. He made two escape attempts whic More...
Sep 13, 2009
Serena
rated it:
Patrick: Son of Ireland was a very historical, very exciting adventure. I was surprised to learn that Patrick is not Irish, but British, and that he was kidnapped and taken as a slave during an Irish raid on the coast. During his time in captivity he experienced beatings within an inch of his life (due to trying to escape several times), and eventually was brought to the Druid House to study under some great leaders that were part of the Ceile De, a group of Druids that have been enlightened r
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Aug 03, 2011
In this work of imaginative historical fiction, Lawhead follows the exploits and exploitation of a young saint Patrick. This story, set mostly in Britain and Ireland, along with Gaul, Germania, and Rome, is an expansive and well-told tale. Lawhead does a great job of recreating the medieval world. And likewise the story of Patrick is a compelling one, as he emerges from a life of privilege and embarks on a journey of self-discovery, a journey which he sets upon unwillingly, as a captured slave a
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Sep 26, 2011
Kelly
rated it: 
I was expecting a fairly accurate- but still fictional- account of Patrick's life. Fictional, of course, because we don't know much about his life; we have so little evidence to go on. But we do have *some* information.
I guess I expected too much. Taking this as a work of 95% fiction, it was interesting, but lacking. Patrick himself is a liar and a thief; he has no regard for those he claims to love and is utterly selfish. Lawhead tries to bring him around to sainthood by the end More...
I guess I expected too much. Taking this as a work of 95% fiction, it was interesting, but lacking. Patrick himself is a liar and a thief; he has no regard for those he claims to love and is utterly selfish. Lawhead tries to bring him around to sainthood by the end More...
Nov 28, 2007
Peter
rated it: 
Lawhead is one of my favorite authors, and he followed through well on this book. This was my second time reading it.
Stephen Lawhead is an expert in Celtic history and mythology, and most of his stories are set in ancient Britain and/or Ireland. He retells Celtic legends as historical novels (rather than as fantastic legends) which fascinates me.
This novel tells the story of the famous St. Patrick, although the story is much different than the one I usually hear about P More...
Stephen Lawhead is an expert in Celtic history and mythology, and most of his stories are set in ancient Britain and/or Ireland. He retells Celtic legends as historical novels (rather than as fantastic legends) which fascinates me.
This novel tells the story of the famous St. Patrick, although the story is much different than the one I usually hear about P More...
Jan 28, 2009
Alex
rated it:
I really, thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It gave a captivating glimpse into the history of Ireland, as well as into the life of Patrick, the now patron Saint of Ireland. The story follows him throughout his being forced into various identities and cultures, and while each of them were in a way their own separate tales, Mr. Lawhead does an excellent job of managing to connect them all into one life as well. A must-read.
Jan 24, 2009
Symon
rated it:
I absolutely loved Patrick. Lawhead's 'first person' narrative takes a bit of getting used to, but his style developes the characters like no other author I know. Be warned, there is some brief 'adult content' in the story which I believe was un-necessary, especially from a Christian author.
Jul 16, 2010
Laura
rated it: 
I kept hoping it would get better. I thought the main character was a selfish lazy jerk, and so little was about him changing. It was a disappointment to read. Lawhead depicts rough scrounging existences beautifully, but he seems to have lost his way to me.
Jan 21, 2009
Db
rated it:
I know much of Patrick's life is hidden, but I enjoyed Lawhead's attempt to piece it together. I thought he kept it honest and as closs as possible to what may have really happened. I liked its raw masculine sense.
Nov 18, 2009
I enjoyed this creative retelling of the life of St. Patrick. I always enjoy Lawhead, but this was not the best I have ready. Still, an enjoyable read.
Aug 06, 2011
Saint Patrick was one awesome dude! Lawhead does him some justice; but his real story is just as inspiring, but shorter!
Jan 30, 2010
J.
rated it:
An excellent book. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in Ireland, St. Patrick or some great historical based fiction.
Apr 05, 2011
Roger
rated it:
Stephen Lawhead is an excellent writer, and knows how to make an engaging story. Why, then, did I not enjoy this book more? I think it comes down to the following elements:
* Some of the more "bawdy" parts of the tale seemed unnecessary, and didn't enhance the credibility.
* Not knowing enough of Saint Patrick's real story made it difficult to separate fact from fiction.
* Some of the more "bawdy" parts of the tale seemed unnecessary, and didn't enhance the credibility.
* Not knowing enough of Saint Patrick's real story made it difficult to separate fact from fiction.
Dec 07, 2010
Great, It had an on old Irish legend feel to it. One of his rare books that are not part of a series but It stands up on its own
May 24, 2010
Beth
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I loved this retelling of the life of Saint Patrick. It was intense, fascinating, and made me curious about the real man.
Apr 04, 2009
Adrienne
rated it:
Lawhead's Celtic books are sure-things: I've thoroughly enjoyed every one of them that I've read. Patrick is another great one.
Jan 04, 2009
Bonnie
rated it:
I adore Stephen Lawhead. If I could give him my first born, I would. It just saddens me that he didn't make Patrick into a series, like he did with the Pendragon chronicles. I could totally read more books about Succat =)
There's a lot of criticism for this book, saying its standard Lawhead writing and yes, it is. But he's so thorough and vivid and he really knows what he's writing about, so it is definitely a favorite of mine from him.
There's a lot of criticism for this book, saying its standard Lawhead writing and yes, it is. But he's so thorough and vivid and he really knows what he's writing about, so it is definitely a favorite of mine from him.
Oct 09, 2011
Wayne C
rated it:
The writing style of Lawhead is always appealing. This book about Patrick was less informative, historically that I had hoped for. It seemed to me that he was always recovering from being beaten nearly to death. I would still suggest is as a good read though.
Jan 17, 2009
A. T.
rated it:
This one is really well written and hard to put down. Unfortunately, as he has in every other book he has written of late, Lawhead infuses the Christianity with a weird Druidic paganism. So Christian Patrick becomes a Druid; Christ appears to the early Celts in a vision and preaches the gospel to them which the Druids faithfully passed on through the ages, and a lot of other strange ideas float around.
