Matrix by Lauren Groff is a mesmerizing historical novel. It follows Marie de France, a rebellious nun, as she transforms a struggling abbey into a thriving community. Groff's lush prose and vivid storytelling bring the 12th century to life, exploring themes of power, faith, and female resilience.

Lauren Groff's writing style always sucks me into her stories. The plot moved a little slowly, but it was written so beautifully, I didn't care much.

Beautifully written, fully immersive - this was great. Recommend to literary fiction readers, historical fiction readers who like lyrical language, and book clubs.

Thank You to NetGalley for the ebook ARC.

I had never read Lauren Groff, before now. I saw her books received high reviews and was thrilled to give this one a try. It was interesting in how Marie, a 17-year old girl was cast out of the Queen's Court, banished to be a prioress at an abby in England. As she finds herself and her warrior style, Marie leads and protects the Abby women. Relationships are grown and nurtured bringing the women closer than ever before and bring propsperity to the abby for once. .

The historical details of the 12th Century were wonderful , but over time I felt like the story started to drag. I wanted to put it down and not finish. I put myself to finish in order to give a review.

I've liked other work by the author but this was not a great read for me. I guess it was mostly that I wasn't interested in the subject matter but I've loved plenty of novels about topics that didn't immediately appeal to me.

Matrix is masterfully researched, bringing the distant past into glowing light. Groff has a talent for staying with a character through long years, inviting us in as though we were, if not friends, contemporaries. No small feat.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. Wonderful book and of course my nephew works for the Clegg agency so got to help with editing. Highly recommended reading and written extremely well! Will be a classic!

Based on the historical figures of Marie de France and Marie, Abbess of Shaftesbury, who may have been the same person. Tells the story of Marie, who flees France for the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine, who then sends her to a convent. Over her lifetime, Marie rises to power amd so does the Abbey.

If I could live in Groff’s words forever - I would! I absolutely devoured her writing in this latest book, and always enjoy how well-researched yet imaginative her stories are!

I know I saw a few reviews that pointed to this - but I absolutely loved the lack of male characters in this one! Amazing!

I wanted to love this more than I did! Groff has ended up being a tricky writer for me, though I did love her short stories. This had the premise of everything I loved: religion, women in charge, queerness. In the end the writing was a bit dense for me at times, it was super flourished and had a medieval tone which I couldn't get past.

Read this when it was first published. Not sure why NetGalley is giving it to me now....
Didn't feel like Lauren Groff's usual writing. It was the story of Marie de France, who was cast out of the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Marie is sent to England to become the new prioress at an impoverished abbey. Marie slowly turns the abbey around.
I'm glad I listened to this novel because I have a funny feeling I would have stopped reading. It was a bit boring at times. But the writing is flawless.

This historical fiction novel follows a girl who becomes prioress of an improvised British abbey after being cast out of the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine. I was really interested to read about a woman determined to create a better life for the women around her, but I found the story itself fell flat. Just not the compelling historical nunnery story I was hoping for.

The Queen can do no wrong! And the queen in question is Lauren Groff. With taking a forgotten figure in history she paints a micro-history of a time and a place. She sheds light on a group of people who often exist on the periphery of society, no longer serving their biological purpose of procreation to the society, and restores their power.

I love historical fiction and I love Lauren Groff so I was curious to see what the author would do with a story set in a twelfth century convent. This book follows poet Marie de France after she is banished to a struggling community of nuns by her beloved queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. I loved the reflection on faith, responsibility, and community, as well as the depiction of feminine strength. The writing in this novel was somehow both fiery and distant—a combination that really worked for this particular story, but was very different from other Groff works I’ve read. I don’t know if this will end up on my favorite books of the year list, but I did really enjoy it and I have a feeling I’ll love it more as I keep thinking about it.

Lauren Groff is the author of 6 books. Two of those books —Florida and Fates & Furies—have been National Book Award finalists. And her latest novel—Matrix—has joined their ranks, as it was just revealed on this years National Book Award longlist.

The term “matrix” originates in the Latin mater, meaning "mother." And Lauren Groff’s novel Matrix features a fictional reimagining of a matrix, Marie de France, the abbess, or mother of an abbey. I recently spoke with Lauren Groff about Marie de France, about the many definitions of the word matrix, and about so much more. Here’s our conversation.

Excellent book. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by this author and found the story fascinating. One of those books that stick with you.

My favorite part of Marie might be that she wasn't a totally likeable character. It was so engaging to read about Marie and how she set out to live a life that was almost exactly what she wanted.

The Matrix is a unique and compelling story that I highly recommend.

I wanted to love this book but I just did not. And I am so sick of books without quotation marks. It’s ridiculous.

n Lauren Groff's Matrix she imagines the life of 12th century poet Marie de France. Little is known about Marie, and Groff placing her in a abbey surrounded by women, is a bold and complicated move. The life of women is presented as special, and something to be admired and protected. The language of the book is beautiful. The review in The Guardian says: As in Groff’s earlier fiction, we are carried on the force of her style, and held by the strength of an intelligence that lets comedy and emotional complexity work together. That is true. I was engrossed by the book, but put off too. I kept trying to figure out who was telling the story, what was happening in the outside world, and why is this cloistered world so special. None of those questions are answered. Marie is powerful, creative, visionary, she lives, she dies, and the world goes on.

I find that this book has stuck with me, and I have been thinking about the characters more now that I've stepped away. Maybe I wasn't put off...maybe I just needed time to process.

If you enjoy character development then this book would be great. Not much happens to the nuns that inhabit the abbey in this book so we really get to know who they are.