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cleheny's review
3.0
Another Cadfael mystery with some vividly drawn supporting characters, true love at first sight (I begin to wonder if Peters knows how to write any other kind), and the interaction of Welsh and English law and custom.
Again, Peters does a fine job of depicting the ravages of civil war on the 12th C Shrewsbury population. The story opens following the Battle of Lincoln, in which Stephen was taken prisoner by Maude's forces. The battle itself was the result of the opportunistic maneuverings of the border barons, particularly Ranulf of Chester. The tensions along Shropshire's border--both the English border with Chester and the Welsh border with Powys--give this particular story a great deal of military and political tension.
In this case, the mystery is secondary to the larger political and military story. Its function is to open certain political developments in Shropshire and put Cadfael in a position to involve himself in the goings-on. There's some interesting, if--again--predictable, motivation behind the crime. The main romantic figures have some interest to them, even if Elis, the romantic hero, is unrelentingly self-involved and idiotic.
Again, Peters does a fine job of depicting the ravages of civil war on the 12th C Shrewsbury population. The story opens following the Battle of Lincoln, in which Stephen was taken prisoner by Maude's forces. The battle itself was the result of the opportunistic maneuverings of the border barons, particularly Ranulf of Chester. The tensions along Shropshire's border--both the English border with Chester and the Welsh border with Powys--give this particular story a great deal of military and political tension.
In this case, the mystery is secondary to the larger political and military story. Its function is to open certain political developments in Shropshire and put Cadfael in a position to involve himself in the goings-on. There's some interesting, if--again--predictable, motivation behind the crime. The main romantic figures have some interest to them, even if Elis, the romantic hero, is unrelentingly self-involved and idiotic.
readingwithcats's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I love Brother Cadfael, but I hope the next book has much more Sister Magdalen & 100% less lovelorn teenage angst.
alix_the_book_witch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cmbohn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Murder, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
bowienerd_82's review
3.0
3.5 stars. I wasn't very interested in the tangled love stories between the four young folks, but Sister Magdalen is awesome, and there were some excellent reflections on justice and mercy woven into the story.
I think I should also give myself a break from the series for awhile, because I've burned through the first nine books fairly quickly, and I don't want to get tired of them.
I think I should also give myself a break from the series for awhile, because I've burned through the first nine books fairly quickly, and I don't want to get tired of them.
devafagan's review
Continuing my re-read!
This is one I'd almost completely forgotten, so it was like reading it all over again new. The resolution was interesting and thought-provoking.
Ellis Peters is one of the few writers who can have characters fall in love at first sight and make me either believe it or not mind it...
Also, I wish Sister Magdalen had her own series too!
This is one I'd almost completely forgotten, so it was like reading it all over again new. The resolution was interesting and thought-provoking.
Ellis Peters is one of the few writers who can have characters fall in love at first sight and make me either believe it or not mind it...
Also, I wish Sister Magdalen had her own series too!
depizan's review
3.0
This one wasn't quite as good as the others in the series that I've read so far. I'm not quite sure why.