Review of Stigmata by Colin Falconer

Far better than I even imagined. 

Honestly, I was constantly surprised at how much I was enjoying this book. Colin Falconer masterfully captures the time and place of early thirteenth century France with rich textured details and well-rounded characters.

Stigmata follows a young woman blessed and cursed by strange abilities, a knight returned from the Middle East who’s lost everything, and a priest haunted by his sins and desire to do right. Their stories converge as the Cathar Crusade comes crashing through southwestern France, burning heretics and laying waste to cities and villages. 

Ultimately, this is a love story full heroic moments and plenty of surprises all the way to the end. It includes historic characters like Abbot Arnaud Amalric and real events like the Massacre at Béziers. 

Stigmata has short chapters making it an easy read that’s hard to put down. It’s one of the fifteen stand-alone novels that makes up Falconer’s Epic Adventure Series which span from ancient world to post World War II Saigon. I’ve read two so far and if the rest are this good, I look forward to exploring more of Falconer’s Epic Adventures.

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