Known for the famous bestselling book ‘Alchemist’, Paulo Coelho has another mysterious, spiritual discovery book which includes a glimpse of ancient traditions, self-discovery, soulmates, past life, etc. Yes, we are talking about his other work called Brida, and in this article, we have given a spoiler-free book review.
About Brida
Title: Brida
Author: Paulo Coelho
Publisher: Harper One
Genre: Fiction/Fantasy/Philosophy
Type: Standalone
Pages: 224
Goodreads rating: 3.4/5
Brida is a story of a twenty-one-year-old Irish girl who wants to learn magic. Her hunger is to seek answers from life, travel back into the past, and move into the future. The story revolves around her quest and journey towards seeking answers. Two teachers influence her journey. The first one is Magus, a Master of Sun tradition who lives in a forest. The second one is a middle-aged lady, Wicca, a Teacher of Moon tradition. From both, there is something to be learned. The storyline follows her self-discovery of being a witch and practicing certain rituals on her quest. The story is not only about knowledge and tradition. There is love, conflicts, her relationship with her boyfriend Lorens, there is heartbreak, there are ‘soulmates’ and a choice to be made. There is a progression as a soul.
Warning: The author has explicitly mentioned not to practice the rituals/practices without proper guidance.
Book Review of Brida
Paulo Coelho, the mastermind behind The Alchemist, one of my all-time favourite authors, takes you on yet another mind-bending journey in Brida. If you know Coelho, then you know his books aren’t just stories—they’re these wild, mystical quests that get you digging into the deepest corners of your own mind. And Brida is no exception.
So, let’s talk about the cover first. There’s this girl—long hair, flowing gown, standing in the middle of tall grass, just gazing off. It’s like she’s staring at life’s biggest mysteries, daring them to answer back. The cover totally drew me in. Honestly, I was so into it that I used it as my profile pic for a while (yup, that into it).
When I first finished reading Brida, I’ll be real—I felt like I missed something. But then, I went back, picked it up again, and there it was, that aha! moment where everything clicked into place. Coelho’s quotes? Man, they aren’t just pretty words on a page.
She feared pain, loss and separation. These things were inevitable on the path to love, and the only way of avoiding them was by deciding not to take that path at all. In order not to suffer, you had to renounce love. It was like putting out your own eyes in order not to see the bad things in life. Life is so complicated. You had to take risks, follow some paths and abandon others.
Paulo Coelho
Ain’t they amazing? They’re deep, like each one’s an invitation to go explore some profound, hidden part of life. It’s the kind of thing that makes you fall in love with his writing even more.
Now, Brida herself? She’s one of those imperfect, searching-for-answers kind of characters, the kind that just hooks you. It’s been over a decade since I first met her on those pages, but her whole vibe still sticks with me.
There’s this one plotline where she has a vision of her past life that was just so… unsettling. It shook my ideas about past lives in a big way. And then there’s Magus, the mysterious figure in his dark forest—trust me, that part was almost painfully intense. It’s like you feel Brida’s longing and heartbreak right in your bones, like you’re on that journey with her, searching for your soulmate.
Coelho also flips the whole “witchcraft is spooky” idea on its head. He presents it in this unique, almost gentle way that’s totally different from the usual stuff—no pointy hats or wicked noses here! This portrayal of witchcraft and things like tarot cards and visions just took me to this whole other place, where I was left thinking deeply about life, past lives, and my own beliefs. It’s the kind of read that nudges you into some serious self-reflection.
People give flowers as present because flowers contain true meaning of love. Anyone who tries to posses a flower will have to watch its beauty fading. But if you simply look at a flower in the field, you’ll keep it forever.
Paulo Coelho
That is what the forest taught me. That you will never be mine, and that is why I will never lose you.
And Coelho’s writing style? Pure elegance, as always. But I’ll warn you—this book isn’t light reading. It gets complex, so be ready to dive in with an open mind. But if mysteries of life, soulmates, and spiritual quests are your thing, then Brida is totally worth it.
Conclusion:
Rating: 5 / 5; Our Rating Guide
Recommendation: 100% recommended to everyone on a spiritual journey or just curious about the big mysteries of life.
For fans of Coelho, mysticism, or anyone with a philosophical side—Brida is calling. Dive in, let yourself get a little lost, and see what you discover!
About The Author
A Master storyteller from Brazil, Paulo Coelho was born in 1947 in Rio de Janeiro. Famously known for ‘Alchemist’, author of over 30 books, his books sold over million copies worldwide. He worked as a theatre director, actor, lyricist, and journalist. In 1986, he had a spiritual awakening during the walk of 500 mile Road of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, which he documented in his book, ‘The Pilgrimage’. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters and has been a United Nations Messenger of Peace since 2007. He is the recipient of many awards 115. His works mainly twirl around spiritual quests.
Below is the link to buy Brida:
Articles you might like:
- 10 Best Horror Books Of All Time (All Underrated) | Favbookshelf
- 10 Bestselling Books of All Time – Favbookshelf
- 11 Best Psychology Books (Know Yourself Better) | Favbookshelf
- 12 Best Fairy Tale Retellings You Will Love Reading – Favbookshelf
Videos you might like:
Disclosure: Book review of Brida honest. Also, some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we recommend.
Have you read Brida What did you like about it? Do comments below. We would love to know.
Are you an author or a publisher? If yes, then you must check our services for promotions and marketing. They will undoubtedly benefit you.
Contact Us:
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: WhatsApp Us
Instagram: @fav_bookshelf
Let’s make your book shine!
Have a nice day ahead.🙂
