Today’s review is another revision from an ARC I did back in December of A Woman in the Abbey by Mike Maggio. This was a phenomenal read then, and just as good the second time when I read it today to rewrite the review. I highly recommend this book – I’ve been floored by books before, but this one was truly a book I will read a third time at some point in the future – it’s that good.

A Woman in the Abbey

~Mike Maggio Read December 2024 & May 2025

As I finished reading A Woman in the Abbey, I found myself unusually moved and struggling to articulate the depth of its impact. This is not a novel for those seeking a rapid, action-packed narrative. Instead, Maggio crafts a meticulously woven and ultimately rewarding experience for readers who appreciate nuanced storytelling and evocative prose.

Maggio immediately captivates with his choice of an unnamed, first-person narrator whose lyrical and at times unsettling voice guides us through the Abbey. This narrator masterfully oscillates between perspectives, painting a world where virtue and vice coexist within the inhabitants. It becomes increasingly apparent that we are witnessing these events through the eyes of the fallen angel himself, Lucifer.

The author skillfully employs contrast between figures like Father Francesco, Sister Lucretia, and Graziella, immersing us in a gothic atmosphere thick with darkness, deception, betrayal, and surprisingly, love. Though the cast of characters is small, their presence is powerful, their actions often disturbing and provocative. Each character is built with precision and details inked out only as it becomes necessary leaving a sense of mystery as we get to know them.

Maggio gives the atmospheric presence of an eerie feeling that surrounds the reader, following throughout the entire narrative immersing them into a journey of love, sin, betrayal and horror. I’m not sure there is a specific genre you can box this into, but I would think of considering it a gothic, psychological, thrilling love story basked in mystery and suspense.

There is no doubt, this book is a slow-burn but with short chapters and the promise of something new as you finish each one, it makes it easy to progress smoothly as we transition from each scene. A Woman in the Abbey offers us a unique take on the gothic interpretation of a love story. We remain centered on the narrator’s desperate and ultimately unrequited desire for Graziella providing us with our sense of place throughout. This unconventional, yet compelling approach makes the book an interesting work of literary perfection to read.

For me, this was far more than simply finishing another book. This narrative resonated deeply, touching something profound within. Despite its first-person perspective, limited setting within the Abbey, and small number of characters, the story’s impact was unexpectedly significant. To reiterate, this is not a fast-paced thriller. Rather, it is an intoxicating journey for the mind, a story that lingers, prompting contemplation, emotion, and genuine expression.

Thank you to Mike Maggio for allowing me to read this as an ARC. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author, present or future, for my review.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and if you enjoyed it, give me a like and a follow. I can be found on all social media as The Tx Lit Chic.  Karen aka The Tx Lit Chic

And don’t forget Father’s Day is coming up quickly. We have unique and great dad gifts over at our three stores: Texas Belles Boutique and Livin’ the High Life – take a look around and if you are looking for something specific let me know I might have the design in my library of hundreds of thousands of designs. Also, treat yourself or fav dad/man in your life who loves to read to a shirt from The Tx Lit Chic.

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