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amunden's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
shirlee2024's review
4.0
Rutherfurd has done an excellent job, as always, of making history accessible. I'm looking forward to the next book in the Dublin saga and hope to read it before my trip to Ireland in a month.
lynnenad's review against another edition
I eventually lost interest in the characters. Looking for something a bit more lively. Nearly finished it though.
vashnii's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
garyjw's review against another edition
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
revellee's review
5.0
As I turned the last page of this massive tome I thought, “wait!? That can’t be it!? It’s over already!?”
I don’t know really anything about Irish or English history so all the real world events the fictional characters live through were riveting plot points unfolding unspoiled for me.
The way Rutherfurd uses the characters’ geneology/etymology to tell Dublin’s story is really awesome. My favorite era is the first one he writes about in the 400s. The pagan stuff was definitely the most interesting, especially seeing how all that gets wrapped into the Irish Catholic practices later.
What an experience.
I don’t know really anything about Irish or English history so all the real world events the fictional characters live through were riveting plot points unfolding unspoiled for me.
The way Rutherfurd uses the characters’ geneology/etymology to tell Dublin’s story is really awesome. My favorite era is the first one he writes about in the 400s. The pagan stuff was definitely the most interesting, especially seeing how all that gets wrapped into the Irish Catholic practices later.
What an experience.
gloame's review
4.0
God--it took me three months to finish this 765 page book, which is really quite sad considering how fast I read. I learned a lot of really interesting history with it (because even if many of the character are fictional, the overall themes, etc. are historically accurate), but the prose was a bit dull. Really simple sentences, you know. Basically, it's five novels all in one book, and I think I liked the first one the best. It would have been more interesting if he expanded that and fleshed the story out more.
akenny614's review against another edition
2.0
I found this really hard to get into. The Irish names were scrambling my brains. After I stopped referring to the pronunciation index I was fine. I may be butchering the names, but at least I'm moving through the book!
But I have officially stopped reading somewhere around page 150 because the characters are so flat. No thanks.
But I have officially stopped reading somewhere around page 150 because the characters are so flat. No thanks.
rosietomyn's review
4.0
Another great epic novel by Edward Rutherfurd. The Princes of Ireland tells the story of Dublin through rich, interwoven stories that connect families there over a span of hundreds of years - from the time of the druids to the arrival of Saint Patrick through the reigns of Henry II to Henry VIII.
Rutherfurd's characters are complex, accessible, and each highlights the unique cultural and social moments they live in. My only frustration is in this particular epic, painful ignorance and arrogance seemed to be largely relegated to female characters. I would have loved to stumble across a male character as foolish as some of the women.
As always, Rutherfurd makes history compelling, accessible, and engaging. I look forward to reading The Rebels of Ireland.
Rutherfurd's characters are complex, accessible, and each highlights the unique cultural and social moments they live in. My only frustration is in this particular epic, painful ignorance and arrogance seemed to be largely relegated to female characters. I would have loved to stumble across a male character as foolish as some of the women.
As always, Rutherfurd makes history compelling, accessible, and engaging. I look forward to reading The Rebels of Ireland.