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rosietomyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
While Pillars expertly weaves life stories that span a couple of generations, the second novel sticks closer to one generation of Kingsbridge residents. Although it would seem more likely readers would get a deeper understanding of a smaller cast of characters, this set felt hollow and less dimensional than the larger cast in the previous book. If this had been book one, I don't believe I would pick up book two.
The series as a whole is known for its violence, but book two feels especially brutal when compared to book one. Needlessly so.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Murder
heartfelthullabaloo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Medical content, Infidelity, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abortion, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Pandemic/Epidemic, Misogyny, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, War, Rape, Murder, and Medical trauma
hmatt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There are many, many graphic and vulgar scenes, so I can see how this isn't a read that everyone would enjoy. I feel that the author toes the line of "too much" and doesn't necessarily cross it given the historical context, but this is my opinion.
I'm going to read around this time period, I think (ahem, Wolf Hall), and then perhaps pick up the third book in the series which takes place 200ish years later.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Medical content, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, War, Sexism, Sexual content, Stalking, Animal death, Violence, Animal cruelty, Police brutality, Blood, Torture, Body shaming, Bullying, Slavery, Abortion, Alcohol, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Classism, Gore, Grief, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Self harm
Minor: Dementia
melina_30's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Medical content, Physical abuse, Blood, Abortion, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Slavery and Suicidal thoughts
goldenlake's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Child death, Animal death, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, Rape, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Abortion, Death, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Body horror, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Violence, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism, Classism, Alcohol, Infertility, Pregnancy, Dementia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Grief, War, and Vomit
siniandi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I commen Follett for always including strong female protagonists. Caris is a relatable, strong female character I emphasised with. However, I am having trouble placing her in the Medieval environment the story takes place in; she probably wouldn't have existed or not quite be able to hold (or at least voice) the same views as she does in the book. Personally, I find her less believable than Aliena in Pillars. As always, descriptions of women in Follett's work often seem quite male gaze-y as do the sex scenes.
Graphic: Death, Rape, Blood, Domestic abuse, Gore, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Abortion, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Misogyny, and War
Minor: Miscarriage and Suicidal thoughts
wifeslife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
seanml's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Violence, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Child abuse, Classism, Genocide, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Abortion, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Stalking, War, and Xenophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Dementia, Homophobia, Torture, Child death, Miscarriage, and Outing
novelyon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, War, and Gore
Moderate: Infidelity, Ableism, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Infertility, Pedophilia, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Dementia, Drug use, Abandonment, Fatphobia, and Lesbophobia
a_sterling's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Abortion, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence