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meredithgracereads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lachimolala981's review against another edition
4.0
I hope this author keeps coming out with this series! I'm usually not so interested in this time period, but S.J. makes everything so intricately detailed; it's like you're standing there watching everything unfold in front of you! I will say that it usually takes me some time to get through a Bruno book because of all the detail, but it's well worth it!
bumsonseats's review against another edition
3.0
In my opinion this is the weakest part of the Bruno trilogy.
roshk99's review against another edition
4.0
An enjoyable read, similar to Sansom, but not quite at the same level. Still the ending was good and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep the pages turning.
aurorabulgaris's review against another edition
2.0
Meh, after the first two this one was way too predictable. It's the end of the series for me.
helenephoebe's review against another edition
3.0
Review - I didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous two in the series, 'Heresy' and 'Prophecy'. I think this is because it reintroduces a character from the first book in the series, who I wasn't very fond of. However, the intriguing mystery of the whereabouts of the bones of St Thomas Becket certainly kept the mystery alive and the ties to religion are played well and intertwined with everything else that seems to be happening without seeming out of place or over-done.
Genre? - Historical / Mystery
Characters? - Giordano Bruno / Harry Robinson / Sophia Underhill / Edward Kingsley / Nick Kingsley / Samuel / Philip Sidney / Francis Walsingham / Frances Walsingham / Olivier Fleury
Setting? - Canterbury (England)
Series? - Giordano Bruno #3
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 16/20
Genre? - Historical / Mystery
Characters? - Giordano Bruno / Harry Robinson / Sophia Underhill / Edward Kingsley / Nick Kingsley / Samuel / Philip Sidney / Francis Walsingham / Frances Walsingham / Olivier Fleury
Setting? - Canterbury (England)
Series? - Giordano Bruno #3
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 16/20
sophiewilliams's review against another edition
3.0
Moved to Canterbury this time to see the effect of the reformation on the cathedral community there. Glad I had some prior knowledge of the religious politics of the age, with the involvement of the Huguenot community.
harishwriter's review against another edition
5.0
Having read Heresy and Prophecy, I had certain expectations from Sacrilege. The book didn't disappoint. The novel is set during the times of Papist inquisition in England. Bruno plays the spy for Walsingham. The novel starts off with a murder, for which Bruno is obligated clear his friend, Sophie's name. However, things change when he reaches Canterbury.
Great plot and superb narration! The book has everything I expect from a historic fiction set during medieval times.
Great plot and superb narration! The book has everything I expect from a historic fiction set during medieval times.
thefussyreader's review against another edition
5.0
I'm going to try and make this a shorter review. Being the third book in a series, there isn't too much I can say without spoilers.
But it was a damn enjoyable read and I'm excited to continue.
Characters
What I love most about Giordano Bruno is just how Charismatic he is. He can literally talk his way out of so many situations and charm any information out of people. In fact, he's so charismatic, he doesn't even know it, and that's what makes him so likeable.
EquaIly, I think what makes him such an endearing character is that fact that he's on no side but his own. A faithless man caught in the middle of religious war, he'll take his refuge from anyone who doesn't immediately brand him a heretic and try to set him on fire.
There's just something warming about this series, and something about being in adventures again with Bruno that feels like going home.
Plot
Although after three books, I do somewhat feel like the plots are a little formulaic in terms of obstacles thrown in Bruno's way, I can't be mad about it, because these books are so compulsively readable that I don't even care if I can guess the plot beats.
All that matters is that I never guess the murderer. And I haven't gotten it right so far.
Much like the other books, Bruno gets involved investigating a murder, and ends up uncovering a treasonous plot against the queen.
And also much like the other books, it was bloody brilliant. The best word for this series is fun. These books are just such fun to read and I never tire of them.
Writing Style
I love that these books are written by a woman, so they can accurately depict how women were treated in these times without being accused of sexism. Sadly I feel like men are given a harder time when trying to portray this, in the PC world we live in. But as a woman, reading a story about a man written by another woman, it's refreshing how she doesn't hold back on the accuracy of the female role within Elizabethan society.
I want historical accuracy, whomever the author. It's far preferable to pretending women had rights and were treated equally for the sake of the sensibilities of a few angry feminists. I'm not that sensitive about the subject.
Brava, Parris, brava.
Final Impression
If you want accurate historical fiction with the delicious mystery element, and a charismatic character at the reigns, look no further than this series.
But it was a damn enjoyable read and I'm excited to continue.
Characters
What I love most about Giordano Bruno is just how Charismatic he is. He can literally talk his way out of so many situations and charm any information out of people. In fact, he's so charismatic, he doesn't even know it, and that's what makes him so likeable.
EquaIly, I think what makes him such an endearing character is that fact that he's on no side but his own. A faithless man caught in the middle of religious war, he'll take his refuge from anyone who doesn't immediately brand him a heretic and try to set him on fire.
There's just something warming about this series, and something about being in adventures again with Bruno that feels like going home.
Plot
Although after three books, I do somewhat feel like the plots are a little formulaic in terms of obstacles thrown in Bruno's way, I can't be mad about it, because these books are so compulsively readable that I don't even care if I can guess the plot beats.
All that matters is that I never guess the murderer. And I haven't gotten it right so far.
Much like the other books, Bruno gets involved investigating a murder, and ends up uncovering a treasonous plot against the queen.
And also much like the other books, it was bloody brilliant. The best word for this series is fun. These books are just such fun to read and I never tire of them.
Writing Style
I love that these books are written by a woman, so they can accurately depict how women were treated in these times without being accused of sexism. Sadly I feel like men are given a harder time when trying to portray this, in the PC world we live in. But as a woman, reading a story about a man written by another woman, it's refreshing how she doesn't hold back on the accuracy of the female role within Elizabethan society.
I want historical accuracy, whomever the author. It's far preferable to pretending women had rights and were treated equally for the sake of the sensibilities of a few angry feminists. I'm not that sensitive about the subject.
Brava, Parris, brava.
Final Impression
If you want accurate historical fiction with the delicious mystery element, and a charismatic character at the reigns, look no further than this series.