Enya's Son

Daughters of Ireland, Book 3

By: Cindy Thomson

Narrated by: Aoife Burke

Is love enough for a mother who must be separated from her son?

Having escaped a violent childhood, Enya is safe living with her husband’s powerful clan. When her long-awaited son is born, she must fulfill a vow made in desperation—the boy is dedicated to God, and goes to live with the local priest. Still, she clings to the hope that the church’s influence will eradicate any trace of her bloodline’s temperament. The monks rename him Columcille, which means "dove of the church".

In a prophetic dream, Enya learns her son will grow in power and influence, and her heart is at peace. But while Enya understands her son’s influence will be for the good of the church, others believe the prophecy predicts political influence, and try to prevent Columcille from seeking temporal power—though he does not desire it. As he rises to prominence in the church, Columcille’s temper erupts when a king’s decision goes against him, and he calls his clan to arms. The consequences are more devastating than anyone could have imagined—and changes his life forever.

This retelling of the early life of St. Columcille and his mother will usher listeners on a fateful journey through ancient Ireland’s monastic centers, her wild coastline islands, and the land Columcille believed was filled with holy angels. A place where he felt safe, yet was destined to abandon.

©2018 Cindy Thomson (P)2023 Cindy Thomson

A Fabulous Blending of History & Fiction

I was entertained by this story in which the author used real historical people and facts to create historical fiction featuring Enya, her family, and her famous, first-born son, who is known today as St. Columcille. The descriptive phrases made me feel like I was living at the time the author was writing about. I admired Enya for her indomitable spirit and courage as she faced her life's trials and tribulations. I enjoyed this story a lot. I thought Aoife Burke's narration was fine, but there were times when I had to listen more closely due to his accent. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

Discover a saint of Ireland

Learn about the life of St. Columcille and his mother Enya’s sacrifices for him in Cindy Thompson’s Enya’s Son. Aoife Burke’s audiobook narration transported me to Ireland to completely immerse me in the story. Not only did the characters come alive for me while hearing their emotions through the variety of voices Burke used, but the story also revealed the power of God’s guiding help through challenging experiences.
Enya’s Son is the third book in the Daughters of Ireland series but can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. If you like it, try the others in the series. Enya’s Son would be great for readers who like Christian historical fiction from a woman’s point of view that includes a journey of self-discovery. I recommend the audiobook. Thank you to the author and the publisher for my review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Enjoyable

I really enjoyed listening to this story . A great story of a mother's choice and following God's will.