5.86k reviews for:

I pilastri della terra

Ken Follett

4.18 AVERAGE

medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

An incredible novel that takes you back into the life of 12th century England. The characters are superbly developed and relatable, and the plot keeps you hooked over the whole thousand+ pages.
dark hopeful sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
emotional inspiring reflective tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

One word, Epic.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
emotional reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes

This is absolutely an all engrossing novel worth everyone of its nearly 1000 pages. The character development is absolutely amazing, along with the description of the Cathedral building process. I may have a new obsession with the architecture of old Cathedrals.

This is essentially a historical fiction novel about the building of a Cathedral in Kingsbridge, but there is scenes of horrifying violence, battles betrayal and political intrigue.

This is not a page turning thriller, but a slow burn that despite no cliff hangers makes you as the reader wanting to know what happens next. This is a perfect example of master storytelling and a clinic in character development.