The main reason why Arentzen's book is so illuminating is that his exploration of Romanos thoroughly addresses common misconceptions about the development of Marian cult while revealing insightful readings of the texts themselves.

Thomas Arentzen. The Virgin in Song: Mary and the Poetry of Romanos the Melodist. Divinations: Rereading Late Ancient Religion. Philadelphia PA:University of Pennsylvania Press, 2017.

From The Medieval Review (TMR). Review by Katherine E.C. Willis, University of Central Arkansas