What a shocking story. Well written and hard to put down. I wasn't raised as a Catholic so this was all very new to me. I had heard of female mystics but didn't know what their life was like? True women have come a long way in history but being walled into a space of two rooms for your life because you are a mystic as a young girl with a child caregiver doesn't seem like the good life or spiritual. The lack of choices that presented themselves to women in this time especially the ones of wealth. There was no way to protect the daughters, it was off to the church or marriage with the life of bearing children. Men would have control and power of the family Just as the church controlled knowledge of the the written word, healing...

I must say that I felt like a fly on the wall encased in those two rooms. As the courtyard gathered plants it seemed to grow. Jutta seemed to shrink as Hildegard started to flourish. Who would have guessed that Hildegard would have the spirit to survive. Could this have happened without the friendship of Volmar?
When Hildergard escapes the confinement of those 2 rooms, a walled in prison within a prison, taking her sisters with her, does she have the courage to attain some freedom? Her belief system and knowledge of the world was limited to the church. Her lack of political understanding & confusion opened and closed doors around her. She was not able to manage the power that came with the Abby. The friendships and visions she cast aside believing that no one understood or supported her in this her final endeavor, to build Rupertsberg. Hildegard was alone again cast out of the church and the real world that got in the way. She fought for women, truth and knowledge.

This was a story that began with two brothers innocent desire to investigate some adults talking. One of these boys, Stump, is mute. Is Stump suddenly in need of the healing offered at Rev Chambliss's church, The one with newspaper covered windows and snakes in boxes. Long ago the Rev. found the vulnerability of the boy's mother by providing the religious hope and a community that she desires.

This is just the beginning of a intriguing, what next kind of story. Thank you Mr. Cash for a book that I read while sitting, standing, & eating. I feel like these well conceived characters will give me much to reflect on.

This book was a mystery based on the turn of phrase. The Face Thief. This was an easy read as the chapters were short pulling me in. At the beginning I wanted the characters to have more depth to them.

The confusion, messy endings,the girl may appeal to a Book Club. Just who is the thief and what was being stolen? Was it one's ethics, human frailties, desires, or all of these? What were the lessons learned by these players, who didn't always know that they were even in a game?

The characters started out living in very different worlds. I was wondering how they would or if they could ever be in the same room. The religious thread challenged almost everyone's belief system and in the end was what brought "family" together.

Stories where people find their voice resonate with me. This was one of those journeys. Struggle's, sorrow, faith and joy were the foundation of the clear development of each character. The twists, coincidences, clashes and surprises made for a good read.

This is not in my usual book genre but as I continued to read I enjoyed the unique situation of the heroine. The plot of suppression of a group (new to me), the friendships, freedom and sneakiness, religion and an evil element are just a few things going on. All of this kept my interest.

Personally I would not read more of this author. I would recommend it to others interested in historical novels. The ending really pulled together with excitement and intrigue.