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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Non credo continuerò la saga che vede protagonista fratello Cadfael.
Forse il mio giudizio è così negativo perché l'ambientazione medievale e la scelta del protagonista-detective rendono inevitabile il confronto con "Il nome della rosa", che viaggia a ben altre altezze.
Ma anche a volerlo considerare come il classico giallo inglese, con i prati ameni e le atmosfere distese (nonostante i morti), ne esce con le ossa rotte. Per mio gusto, la vita medievale, soprattutto nel bel mezzo della guerra civile tra Stefano e la cugina Matilde per il trono inglese, non è sufficientemente rilassata da farmi ritrovare quelle atmosfere che mi sono tanto care.
Nota di demerito: su sei personaggi (di cui uno è un frate, con le privazioni sessuali e romantiche che ne derivano) ci sono due storie d'amore. Ora, comprendo che data la lunghezza e il tema del romanzo, che è un altro, non ci si potesse aspettare chissà che approfondimento, ma allora sarebbe forse stata scelta più saggia evitare di far innamorare gente che si è parlata in tutto un quarto d'ora. Sicuramente io l'avrei preferito.
Forse il mio giudizio è così negativo perché l'ambientazione medievale e la scelta del protagonista-detective rendono inevitabile il confronto con "Il nome della rosa", che viaggia a ben altre altezze.
Ma anche a volerlo considerare come il classico giallo inglese, con i prati ameni e le atmosfere distese (nonostante i morti), ne esce con le ossa rotte. Per mio gusto, la vita medievale, soprattutto nel bel mezzo della guerra civile tra Stefano e la cugina Matilde per il trono inglese, non è sufficientemente rilassata da farmi ritrovare quelle atmosfere che mi sono tanto care.
Nota di demerito: su sei personaggi (di cui uno è un frate, con le privazioni sessuali e romantiche che ne derivano) ci sono due storie d'amore. Ora, comprendo che data la lunghezza e il tema del romanzo, che è un altro, non ci si potesse aspettare chissà che approfondimento, ma allora sarebbe forse stata scelta più saggia evitare di far innamorare gente che si è parlata in tutto un quarto d'ora. Sicuramente io l'avrei preferito.
Second in the series. Cadfael meets Beringar. Story bound up with the war between Stephen and Maud. I wasn’t too keen on the trial by combat at the end but overall enjoyable.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Another intriguing case for Cadfael
Set against the backdrop of The Anarchy Cadfael solves another murder, whilst remaining a force of chaotic good. Helpfully a cast of colourful characters support him in his cause.
All in this was an engaging and exciting read, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Set against the backdrop of The Anarchy Cadfael solves another murder, whilst remaining a force of chaotic good. Helpfully a cast of colourful characters support him in his cause.
All in this was an engaging and exciting read, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
In 'One Corpse Too Many' by Ellis Peters the year is 1138 and it's war! King Stephen and Empress Maud fight each other for the right to rule England. Back and forth, the lords, their Knights and men-at-arms fight for their chosen liege. Unfortunately for the town of Shrewsbury the castle is in the hands of supporters of Maud while Stephen's men are surrounding the town and preparing to attack. The people wisely lock their doors and windows and stay out of it. The Benedictines behind their abbey walls pray for peace, and Cadfael prepares his medicines for the injured.
Soon it is clear King Stephen and his forces have won the castle. Those who were fighters for Maud still alive are sentenced to hang, and after the sentence is carried out, their bodies are collected by Cadfael for religious burial. But first, the bodies must be arranged and washed for viewing, and word is passed to the countryside for families to come with no penalty to find their loved ones. In carrying out his duties to the dead, Cadfael counts 95 bodies. As horrifying as the results of war are to view, this is even worse. Only 94 were killed in warfare - but one has been murdered! There must be Justice! He cares nothing for politics; Cadfael can do nothing for those who died in lawful battle, but he must find out who caused an unlawful death.
The investigation begins. Empress Maud's man, FitzAlan, before he fled the castle when it became clear the battle to hold it was lost, had the foresight to send away his war treasury, trusting to two trusted couriers to carry it away under cover of darkness to Empress Maud in Normandy. But something went wrong. The extra body is one of the couriers, strangled. Where is the other courier and the treasure?
Meanwhile, an honorable lady, Aline Siward, who unlike her brother Giles, has declared for King Stephen, so she comes to see the bodies looking for Giles. Two young men jump to help her, glaring daggers at each over her head. Hugh Beringar and Adam Courcelle, both Stephen's men, immediately do not like each other much.
But even as the fog of war is being slowly lifted by the self-appointed Nemesis Cadfael and the young lord Hugh Beringar, who seems to be following Cadfael - whose side is he really on? - a young boy, Godric, has been given temporary leave to live with the monks. Cadfael desperately needs help with his herb garden, so he quickly puts the young lad to work. However, the lad is peculiarly delicate and fair of face.....it is rumored FitzAlan's friend Adeney may have escaped King Stephen, but Adeney's daughter did not escape with her father. Beringar could find her out if she is still in Shrewsbury; he was betrothed to her before the war.
Cadfael is very very stressed in this mystery. War is easy for him, but young lovers are a different story! Omg!
Soon it is clear King Stephen and his forces have won the castle. Those who were fighters for Maud still alive are sentenced to hang, and after the sentence is carried out, their bodies are collected by Cadfael for religious burial. But first, the bodies must be arranged and washed for viewing, and word is passed to the countryside for families to come with no penalty to find their loved ones. In carrying out his duties to the dead, Cadfael counts 95 bodies. As horrifying as the results of war are to view, this is even worse. Only 94 were killed in warfare - but one has been murdered! There must be Justice! He cares nothing for politics; Cadfael can do nothing for those who died in lawful battle, but he must find out who caused an unlawful death.
The investigation begins. Empress Maud's man, FitzAlan, before he fled the castle when it became clear the battle to hold it was lost, had the foresight to send away his war treasury, trusting to two trusted couriers to carry it away under cover of darkness to Empress Maud in Normandy. But something went wrong. The extra body is one of the couriers,
Spoiler
Nicholas Faintree,Meanwhile, an honorable lady, Aline Siward, who unlike her brother Giles, has declared for King Stephen, so she comes to see the bodies looking for Giles. Two young men jump to help her, glaring daggers at each over her head. Hugh Beringar and Adam Courcelle, both Stephen's men, immediately do not like each other much.
But even as the fog of war is being slowly lifted by the self-appointed Nemesis Cadfael and the young lord Hugh Beringar, who seems to be following Cadfael - whose side is he really on? - a young boy, Godric, has been given temporary leave to live with the monks. Cadfael desperately needs help with his herb garden, so he quickly puts the young lad to work. However, the lad is peculiarly delicate and fair of face.....it is rumored FitzAlan's friend Adeney may have escaped King Stephen, but Adeney's daughter did not escape with her father. Beringar could find her out if she is still in Shrewsbury; he was betrothed to her before the war.
Spoiler
Cadfael tries to makes certain Beringar and Godric do not meet. Why? Besides, Beringar is interested in Aline - or is he?Cadfael is very very stressed in this mystery. War is easy for him, but young lovers are a different story! Omg!
So much more enjoyable than the first Cadfael novel. Particularly enjoyed the historical background, and the introduction of Hugh Beranger.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No