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The Passion of Dolssa  By  cover art

The Passion of Dolssa

By: Julie Berry
Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle, Fiona Hardingham, Julie Berry, Allan Corduner
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Publisher's summary

I must write this account, and when I have finished, I will burn it.

Buried deep within the archives of a convent in medieval France is an untold story of love, loss, and wonder, and the two girls at the heart of it all.

Dolssa is an upper-crust city girl with a secret lover and an uncanny gift. Branded a heretic, she’s on the run from the friar who condemned her mother to death by fire, and wants Dolssa executed, too. Botille is a matchmaker and a tavern-keeper, struggling to keep herself and her sisters on the right side of the law in their seaside town of Bajas. When their lives collide by a dark riverside, Botille rescues a dying Dolssa and conceals her in the tavern, where an unlikely friendship blooms. Aided by her sisters and Symo, her surly but loyal neighbor, Botille nurses Dolssa back to health and hides her from her pursuers.

But all of Botille’s tricks, tales, and cleverness can’t protect them forever, and when the full wrath of the Church bears down upon Bajas, Dolssa’s passion and Botille’s good intentions could destroy the entire village.

From the author of the award-winning All the Truth That's in Me comes a spellbinding thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end, and make you wonder if miracles really are possible.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2016 Julie Berry (P)2016 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"Irresistibly compelling...[Berry conveys] complex historical and religious matters fluently and accessibly for today’s readers.” (Horn Book, starred review)

"Berry again delivers an utterly original and instantly engrossing story...she weaves a tense, moving portrait of these two teenage girls and their struggle to survive against insurmountable odds.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Kudos, then, to Berry for creating a sweeping saga that not only deeply entwines both [historical fiction & religion], but also dissects its characters’ humanity as it looks at the often troubling beliefs that underlay their actions.” (Booklist, starred review)

What listeners say about The Passion of Dolssa

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Remarkable historical fiction

This intriguing book introduced me to a disturbing period of European history that I was previously unfamiliar with (even though I have a history minor and MA in Humanities!) Berry weaves a compelling tale with endearing characters into a well-researched backdrop of medieval French history. Dolssa's story generates universal questions and issues that are still relevant today. Berry is a masterful storyteller-- I enjoyed this book even better the second time through!

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11 people found this helpful

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Excellent

The time of the inquisition was a terrible blight on Christian history. This story brings to life the horror of being an innocent victim while blending the delightful joys, struggles and every day life of a small village and the families therein. True to history and beautifully written.

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9 people found this helpful

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Important

Strange period of the history of man. Better to understand it then to live through it! Frightening , interesting and fulfilling all wrapped up in a very historic story! You did a service Julie Berry , thank you! A story I'd recommend !

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6 people found this helpful

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not for me

I didn't realize there would be so much about Jesus. It was very well written and the story was interesting, I'll admit, but still....too much jesus.

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5 people found this helpful

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Revelatory!

Amazing book rich in history but wealthier in idiosyncratic characters whose lives thrill and terrify.

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4 people found this helpful

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Fascinating and Frustrating

This was a fascinating story but with the old language, and so many characters to keep straight, it got a little frustrating rewinding over and over again. I get that the author was trying to keep it true to the 1200's, and she did great, it just got hard to follow and understand after 60 something chapters.

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3 people found this helpful

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Slow at first

It was hard to get attached to at first, but it was a full and entertaining piece of literature.

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Enjoyed!

This is my second Julie Berry book. I really enjoy her writing style paired with the main narrator for the main character, not Dolssa. She was the same narrator on the other book. It’s like the writing and her were made for each other. She really brings the characters to life and endearing.
The story itself is sad and infuriating knowing that the Catholic Church misrepresented God and did horrific things in His name, which is what the 3rd commandment is about. Not sure that they kept any of the commandments and certainly not following the example of Jesus. The Catholic Church has engaged in abuse of their power and position and wealth for centuries. But we can thank them for the pilgrims that came to America escaping the persecution from the Church and our founders, because they made a constitution that would create a society that prohibited the “church” from ruling and the freedom for people to worship according to their own beliefs/conscience.

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1 person found this helpful

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Compelling

This book is compelling not because of an anxiety ridden fervor of exploitative material but because of well written characters in a narrative woven through story and historical context.

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Wonderful!

This is the second book of Julie Berry's that I have listened to. They were both excellent. It took a little bit to sort through the different character names and some of the dialect used. In the last few chapters, she gives historical context for the book which I wish I had listened to first. I love Julie Berry's style of writing. She uses very descriptive words for scenery and emotions. Her stories are captivating.

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