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jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-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? Yes
4.5
I skipped a few in the Brother Cadfael series in order to read this for my historical fiction book group, and I like it better than #1 and #2 that I read a couple of months ago. The plot told a great deal of the chaos of civil war, the trauma forced on civilians - including on their property and their animals - and the advantage criminals took when the countryside was ill-defended from local thieves and ruffians.
This story followed the search for a missing 18-year-old woman and her 13-year-old brother, both from a noble family. Cadfael is sent to tend to a monk, found beaten and frozen, who had been accompanying the boy and their chaperone, a nun. The brother and sister each run away from safety just when the other has been found, an endless circle of searching for one or the other, and their accompanying guilt at not being together.
Brother Cadfael, of course, is a voice of reason in a world quick to judge, and worldliness amongst cloistered men who know little of life outside the abbey. An engaging tale, definitely recommended for those who enjoy history and mystery.
This story followed the search for a missing 18-year-old woman and her 13-year-old brother, both from a noble family. Cadfael is sent to tend to a monk, found beaten and frozen, who had been accompanying the boy and their chaperone, a nun. The brother and sister each run away from safety just when the other has been found, an endless circle of searching for one or the other, and their accompanying guilt at not being together.
Brother Cadfael, of course, is a voice of reason in a world quick to judge, and worldliness amongst cloistered men who know little of life outside the abbey. An engaging tale, definitely recommended for those who enjoy history and mystery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Violence, Mental illness, Rape, and War
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