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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
A way above average entry in the Cadfael series and a worthy ending to it. It was thick with the turmoil of the civil war both without and within. The usual bits of murder, false accusation, and young romance were present but utterly sidelined by said turmoil and some semi-cinematic, in a good way, scenes of sieging and sneaking. The character of Philip was particularly affecting. This was perhaps the best of the series, but a couple of others were great in their own ways.
“You do what you must do, and pay for it. So in the end all things are simple.”
There is still the prequel novella to read, then I have to adjust to life without Cadfael.
“You do what you must do, and pay for it. So in the end all things are simple.”
There is still the prequel novella to read, then I have to adjust to life without Cadfael.
This book is a bit different than other Cadfael books in that the world events and Cadfael's personal life play a larger role than the murder investigation itself.
It seems fitting the last of the series is the best. I have fond memories of my grandmother reading the series and of the BBC show. What a lovely, warm read.
This brings my reading of the Cadfael series to a close. I am going to miss Cadfael and the goings-on in the 1140s in England and Wales. I thoroughly enjoyed the series.
As other reviewers have mentioned, this final book in the Cadfael series might bring you to tears, if you've followed Brother Cadfael through all 20 chronicles. I finished it last night, and I'm tearing up again this morning as I think about the love and forgiveness in the last chapters of this book. It is a book full of resolve (of various merit), resolute hearts, and bittersweet resolutions. The murder mystery takes a back seat to everything else, at least in the abridged audiobook version, but it was altogether a satisfying read. You may not need to read the other 19 chronicles first, but doing so will bring extra layers of richness to this final tale. Well done, Ms. Peters.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
"... and for a moment, he had the world in his arms." 2025 begins with an end of an era.
Brother Cadfael's Penance is one of the most satisfying conclusions to a series I've ever read. Hard stop. Everything that has been lurking in the background of the 19 prior cases comes to a head here and with a flourish. The series begins with one of Cadfael's favorite twinks (Hugh Baringar, of course) in the camps of King Stephen, laying siege to a castle loyal to Empress Maud; now, the series ends with another of Cadfael's favorite twinks (Yves Hugonin) in the camps of Empress Maud, laying siege to a castle loyal to King Stephen. In the first, there's one too many bodies upon the taking of the castle, in the latter, there's one too few.
Up til this point, Maud had been a background figure — now she emerges into the candlelight eight years into the English Anarchy biting mad. The plot revolves around her nephew's decision to turn cloak and surrender his forces to her rival King Stephen, imprisoning her remaining loyalists, including his close friend — and Brother Cadfael's son — Olivier. What follows is more of an action-adventure, period heist novel rather than cozy murder mystery as Cadfael plots three separate jail breaks.
More than any other preceding novel, this one also deals heavily with themes on the costs of petty war ("There is no salvation in neither Empress nor King") and the nature of "sin," as Cadfael acts without the permission of his Abbott to rescue his illegitimate son. There is a lot of great content here on family. Across the series, we've seen one family tear itself — and the country — apart, betrayal after betrayal, clearly seen here as a father and son war with each other for their respective champions and as Maud threatens to hang her own nephew (JFC Maud). But through Cadfael, we see one family finally come together, as he frees and embraces his son. Doing so, Peters maps onto the war-torn country hope for reconciliation.
Some of the latter entries were a bit of a drag. (Though I'm not sure if this was entirely due to their inherent quality or because I suffered through abridged versions of them. We need to get those last five digitized STAT!). But this final one is a spectacular finale nonetheless. My only slight hangup is that Cadfael gets a moving final scene with Olivier, but no such treatment is reserved for Hugh, who has endlessly provided Cadfael with the good goss for 18 books and named Cadfael GODFATHER to his son. I just needed like one more sentence about Cadfael's thoughts on Hugh's handsome, wiry frame.
I recommend Cadfael to EVERYONE. But if you don't have 21 books in you, here are the essentials if you want the payoff I got from this:
1: A Morbid Taste for Bones (really more of a prologue to the series, you may want to read #2 first, but this one sets up one of the best series-long jokes and introduces Cadfael as a bit of a rogue)
2: One Corpse Too Many (establishes the central story of the English Anarchy and recurring characters Hugh & Aline)
3: Monk's Hood (great plotting, learn more about Cadfael's past promiscuity, BROTHER MARK)
6: The Virgin in the Ice (fun mystery, introduces Olivier and Yves)
10: The Pilgrim of Hate (Hugh and Olivier nearly kiss)
20: Brother Cadfael's Penance (need I say more?)
Three of the strongest entries are all in a row in the middle of the series and are also definitely worth reading:
13: The Rose Rent
14: The Hermit of Eyton Forest
15: The Confessions of Brother Haluin
Skip altogether:
0: A Rare Benedictine (this is Cadfael if he took his responsibilities to the abbey seriously)
7: Sanctuary Sparrow (I honestly don't even remember this one)
18: The Summer of the Danes (truly incomprehensible)
Brother Cadfael's Penance is one of the most satisfying conclusions to a series I've ever read. Hard stop. Everything that has been lurking in the background of the 19 prior cases comes to a head here and with a flourish. The series begins with one of Cadfael's favorite twinks (Hugh Baringar, of course) in the camps of King Stephen, laying siege to a castle loyal to Empress Maud; now, the series ends with another of Cadfael's favorite twinks (Yves Hugonin) in the camps of Empress Maud, laying siege to a castle loyal to King Stephen. In the first, there's one too many bodies upon the taking of the castle, in the latter, there's one too few.
Up til this point, Maud had been a background figure — now she emerges into the candlelight eight years into the English Anarchy biting mad. The plot revolves around her nephew's decision to turn cloak and surrender his forces to her rival King Stephen, imprisoning her remaining loyalists, including his close friend — and Brother Cadfael's son — Olivier. What follows is more of an action-adventure, period heist novel rather than cozy murder mystery as Cadfael plots three separate jail breaks.
More than any other preceding novel, this one also deals heavily with themes on the costs of petty war ("There is no salvation in neither Empress nor King") and the nature of "sin," as Cadfael acts without the permission of his Abbott to rescue his illegitimate son. There is a lot of great content here on family. Across the series, we've seen one family tear itself — and the country — apart, betrayal after betrayal, clearly seen here as a father and son war with each other for their respective champions and as Maud threatens to hang her own nephew (JFC Maud). But through Cadfael, we see one family finally come together, as he frees and embraces his son. Doing so, Peters maps onto the war-torn country hope for reconciliation.
Some of the latter entries were a bit of a drag. (Though I'm not sure if this was entirely due to their inherent quality or because I suffered through abridged versions of them. We need to get those last five digitized STAT!). But this final one is a spectacular finale nonetheless. My only slight hangup is that Cadfael gets a moving final scene with Olivier, but no such treatment is reserved for Hugh, who has endlessly provided Cadfael with the good goss for 18 books and named Cadfael GODFATHER to his son. I just needed like one more sentence about Cadfael's thoughts on Hugh's handsome, wiry frame.
I recommend Cadfael to EVERYONE. But if you don't have 21 books in you, here are the essentials if you want the payoff I got from this:
1: A Morbid Taste for Bones (really more of a prologue to the series, you may want to read #2 first, but this one sets up one of the best series-long jokes and introduces Cadfael as a bit of a rogue)
2: One Corpse Too Many (establishes the central story of the English Anarchy and recurring characters Hugh & Aline)
3: Monk's Hood (great plotting, learn more about Cadfael's past promiscuity, BROTHER MARK)
6: The Virgin in the Ice (fun mystery, introduces Olivier and Yves)
10: The Pilgrim of Hate (Hugh and Olivier nearly kiss)
20: Brother Cadfael's Penance (need I say more?)
Three of the strongest entries are all in a row in the middle of the series and are also definitely worth reading:
13: The Rose Rent
14: The Hermit of Eyton Forest
15: The Confessions of Brother Haluin
Skip altogether:
0: A Rare Benedictine (this is Cadfael if he took his responsibilities to the abbey seriously)
7: Sanctuary Sparrow (I honestly don't even remember this one)
18: The Summer of the Danes (truly incomprehensible)
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The last of Brother Cadfael! I’m sad to see him go; this has been a great series.