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naluju's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
caroparr's review against another edition
3.0
This grew on me as I read, and I'd read or perhaps listen to another one.
marilynsaul's review against another edition
4.0
I decided to stop re-reading this one. Too much ado about the love interests of Alis and Melicent.
zombeesknees's review against another edition
5.0
Yet another great tale of love, murder, and a troubled country in the grips of civil war -- Cadfael is as understanding and clear-sighted as always, a paragon of what it should mean to be a "good Christian". The side characters are vivid and their plights powerful; I'll never tire of Peters' flawless skill of evoking a time long past with stunning clarity and modern presence. History, mystery, and romance in a perfect blend -- what more could a girl want?
genizah's review against another edition
2.0
One of the weaker entries in this series. The lovelorn teens were particularly useless.
cleheny's review against another edition
3.0
Another Cadfael mystery with some vividly drawn supporting characters, true love at first sight (I begin to wonder if Peters knows how to write any other kind), and the interaction of Welsh and English law and custom.
Again, Peters does a fine job of depicting the ravages of civil war on the 12th C Shrewsbury population. The story opens following the Battle of Lincoln, in which Stephen was taken prisoner by Maude's forces. The battle itself was the result of the opportunistic maneuverings of the border barons, particularly Ranulf of Chester. The tensions along Shropshire's border--both the English border with Chester and the Welsh border with Powys--give this particular story a great deal of military and political tension.
In this case, the mystery is secondary to the larger political and military story. Its function is to open certain political developments in Shropshire and put Cadfael in a position to involve himself in the goings-on. There's some interesting, if--again--predictable, motivation behind the crime. The main romantic figures have some interest to them, even if Elis, the romantic hero, is unrelentingly self-involved and idiotic.
Again, Peters does a fine job of depicting the ravages of civil war on the 12th C Shrewsbury population. The story opens following the Battle of Lincoln, in which Stephen was taken prisoner by Maude's forces. The battle itself was the result of the opportunistic maneuverings of the border barons, particularly Ranulf of Chester. The tensions along Shropshire's border--both the English border with Chester and the Welsh border with Powys--give this particular story a great deal of military and political tension.
In this case, the mystery is secondary to the larger political and military story. Its function is to open certain political developments in Shropshire and put Cadfael in a position to involve himself in the goings-on. There's some interesting, if--again--predictable, motivation behind the crime. The main romantic figures have some interest to them, even if Elis, the romantic hero, is unrelentingly self-involved and idiotic.
readingwithcats's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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? Yes
3.5
I love Brother Cadfael, but I hope the next book has much more Sister Magdalen & 100% less lovelorn teenage angst.