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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
This book just goes on, and on, and on..... And on... The intrigue and the bad guys are just so petty and lacking... The characters are so one dimensional..
And I'm sensing a partern here... Good guy has a tragedy with his family/sigficant other, and fights hard to go on with his life. Oh and he's an amazing builder who can do everything, and very well done.. Then he cannot be with his significant other so he goes away... And now he's needed again, and they go after him.. Oh but there's already someone who likes him there...
I'm 100 pages or so to the end of the book, and let me guess.. He comes back, they defeat the bad guys, and he lives happyly ever after with his significant other!
Alas, this time the bad guys are already defeated when he returns.. :-P
And I'm sensing a partern here... Good guy has a tragedy with his family/sigficant other, and fights hard to go on with his life. Oh and he's an amazing builder who can do everything, and very well done.. Then he cannot be with his significant other so he goes away... And now he's needed again, and they go after him.. Oh but there's already someone who likes him there...
I'm 100 pages or so to the end of the book, and let me guess.. He comes back, they defeat the bad guys, and he lives happyly ever after with his significant other!
Alas, this time the bad guys are already defeated when he returns.. :-P
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read a lot of intense, yet probable books. Yet once in awhile, I just need a break from them. This book fit the bill, and I was so disappointed. I really liked The Pillars of the Earth when I read it 20 years ago, but this one was just too much. Catty, that's all it was. And transparent. I read 1/2 of it, but then the book became a huge waste of my time. I skimmed the pages to the end of the book to see if I had guessed the ending, and then just put it down. It's a read for me though. Sadly, I will not waste my time with Ken Follett again.
ABC Challenge: E
I was beyond ecstatic when a friend found this book. The Pillar of the Earth are one of my favorite series that I would read over again and again. I was so glued to every words and every characters’ stories (even the ones that I hate with my whole soul) Ken Follett truly know how to keep me on my toes and curious how things will go for them. While reading this series, I was slow to come with realization, it was almost like game of thrones. A lot of family drama, political, religion, and medieval shits. Love it so much!
I was beyond ecstatic when a friend found this book. The Pillar of the Earth are one of my favorite series that I would read over again and again. I was so glued to every words and every characters’ stories (even the ones that I hate with my whole soul) Ken Follett truly know how to keep me on my toes and curious how things will go for them. While reading this series, I was slow to come with realization, it was almost like game of thrones. A lot of family drama, political, religion, and medieval shits. Love it so much!
⭐⭐⭐⭐║A formulaic but fun prequel. The Evening and the Morning offers plenty of intrigue, twists, and drama but falls short of the depth and magic of its predecessors in the Kingsbridge series.
Ken Follett takes us back to the dawn of Kingsbridge, weaving a familiar tapestry of ambition, love, and survival. The story moves at a brisk pace, full of ups and downs that keep you turning pages. But it’s hard not to feel like this has all been done before—better. Edgar, the resourceful young builder, is likable but lacks the charisma of Tom, Jack, or Merthin. Ragna, our headstrong female lead, is compelling at times but pales in comparison to Aliena or Caris.
The villains? Vile. Sinister. Wynstan and Wigelm drip malice with every action, but their one-dimensional cruelty feels cartoonish at times. Follett excels at making you despise his antagonists, but they lack the nuance that made earlier villains like Waleran and Godwyn so fascinating.
The plot is solid. Twists land. Conflicts simmer. The backdrop—a harsh, unforgiving medieval England—feels vivid and alive. But the characters don’t have the same emotional heft. The story is enjoyable, but it doesn’t linger in your mind like The Pillars of the Earth or World Without End.
Some moments, particularly involving sex or violence, feel heavy-handed and unnecessary, detracting from the otherwise engaging narrative. Still, it’s an enjoyable ride. Not groundbreaking. Not as memorable. But worth the time if you love the Kingsbridge world.
A good book. Just not a great one.
Kingsbridge by Ken Follett
Prequel: The Evening and the Morning – 4/5
Book 1: The Pillars of the Earth – 5/5
Book 2: World Without End – 5/5
Ken Follett takes us back to the dawn of Kingsbridge, weaving a familiar tapestry of ambition, love, and survival. The story moves at a brisk pace, full of ups and downs that keep you turning pages. But it’s hard not to feel like this has all been done before—better. Edgar, the resourceful young builder, is likable but lacks the charisma of Tom, Jack, or Merthin. Ragna, our headstrong female lead, is compelling at times but pales in comparison to Aliena or Caris.
The villains? Vile. Sinister. Wynstan and Wigelm drip malice with every action, but their one-dimensional cruelty feels cartoonish at times. Follett excels at making you despise his antagonists, but they lack the nuance that made earlier villains like Waleran and Godwyn so fascinating.
The plot is solid. Twists land. Conflicts simmer. The backdrop—a harsh, unforgiving medieval England—feels vivid and alive. But the characters don’t have the same emotional heft. The story is enjoyable, but it doesn’t linger in your mind like The Pillars of the Earth or World Without End.
Some moments, particularly involving sex or violence, feel heavy-handed and unnecessary, detracting from the otherwise engaging narrative. Still, it’s an enjoyable ride. Not groundbreaking. Not as memorable. But worth the time if you love the Kingsbridge world.
A good book. Just not a great one.
Kingsbridge by Ken Follett
Prequel: The Evening and the Morning – 4/5
Book 1: The Pillars of the Earth – 5/5
Book 2: World Without End – 5/5
Couldn't finish it. I really enjoyed some of his other books- the Pillars of the Earth- but this one was just not up to snuff. Gave up.
I like how much closer the main characters seemed in this book compared to the other three. It was also fun to watch how Kingsbridge developed originally. Probably my second favorite of the series.
Reread 2025: I'm trying to reread the series chronologically. This time the book seemed a little ore daunting and took me longer to read, but I still loved it.
Reread 2025: I'm trying to reread the series chronologically. This time the book seemed a little ore daunting and took me longer to read, but I still loved it.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced