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patrickhaines's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cator_and_bliss's review against another edition
4.0
An earthy, evocative novel rich with the texture of the Yorkshire (or Jorvikshire) landscape. Set at the dawn of the industrial era, when craft work was giving way to machinery and that windswept landscape was on the cusp of permanent change, the novel pits a band of 'coiners' (themselves representatives of a type of artisanship) against the businesslike and legalistic forces of the Crown, represented by exciseman William Deighton.
This is an enjoyable story that blends landscape writing with the conventions of the crime thriller and which examines philosophical questions of resistance, independence, social change and greed.
This is an enjoyable story that blends landscape writing with the conventions of the crime thriller and which examines philosophical questions of resistance, independence, social change and greed.
karen_antw's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
arranjc's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bigbizliz1991's review against another edition
dark
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
amber_ray's review against another edition
4.0
Benjamin Myers’ historical novel follows the rise and fall of real-life Yorkshire clan, the Cragg Vale Coiners, during the late 1700s. It’s a brutal yet beautiful tale of rich against poor and progress against meagre livelihoods. David Hartley reigns over the Coiners and brings the poor some respite until excise officer William Deighton falls hot on their tails. He vows to bring down the Coiners and when one of their own turns, Hartley's empire begins to crumble. But don’t be fooled into thinking this is a Robin Hood story. The Yorkshire moors are unforgiving and threats loom on all sides. In fact, fear seems to be the only king here - fear from the gallows, hunger, “duty,” modernisation or sheer muscle.
Myers obviously knows the landscape well. The tale he weaves is as much tied to the bleak, damp, windswept hills and valleys as it is to his characters. That’s what makes it SO GOOD, that mood that I could feel in the very back of my teeth, the grit and the cold ache of it all.
I also loved David Hartley’s “memoir,” written in strong old Yorkshire dialect and interspersed throughout the novel. Leaning on local mythology and dreams, these are the snippets that really brought the King of the Coiners to life for me. In fact, the local mythology is a recurring presence in the novel, along with an eerie use of repetition that evokes a pervading dark and dreamlike state not unlike the fog of a bleak winter morning.
My only qualm with this book - David Hartley’s wife was mentioned just enough to feel like more than a side character, and yet she felt very flat. I was left wondering so much about her, and I wish more time would have been spent on her.
At any rate, fantastic read - although not for the squeamish!
Myers obviously knows the landscape well. The tale he weaves is as much tied to the bleak, damp, windswept hills and valleys as it is to his characters. That’s what makes it SO GOOD, that mood that I could feel in the very back of my teeth, the grit and the cold ache of it all.
I also loved David Hartley’s “memoir,” written in strong old Yorkshire dialect and interspersed throughout the novel. Leaning on local mythology and dreams, these are the snippets that really brought the King of the Coiners to life for me. In fact, the local mythology is a recurring presence in the novel, along with an eerie use of repetition that evokes a pervading dark and dreamlike state not unlike the fog of a bleak winter morning.
My only qualm with this book - David Hartley’s wife was mentioned just enough to feel like more than a side character, and yet she felt very flat. I was left wondering so much about her, and I wish more time would have been spent on her.
At any rate, fantastic read - although not for the squeamish!
clmbmb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rssulliv's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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
3.75
mrmysteryfox's review against another edition
5.0
Enjoyable read and a great tale of local history regarding the Cragg Vale Coiners. Particularly enjoyed the diary style narrative of the main protagonist King David Hartley that were interspersed between each chapter.