CANTICLE

British actress Lucy Rayner chose an artful, breathy delivery for this debut historical novel set in 13th-century Bruges. The dreamy tone isn't for an impatient listener, but it suits the telling of this carefully-researched and affecting story. Aleys, an unusual young woman in that era's strict patriarchal society, is drawn to pursue academic knowledge and a personal relationship with the sacred. Her twin passions lead to dangerous conflict with church authorities, but not before Aleys reaches for the divine. Rayner combines crisp enunciation with a lingering appreciation of the lyrical prose, which emphasizes expository writing over dialogue. What is a miracle, and who is allowed to experience one? [Published: JANUARY 2026]