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shadereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
kappafrog's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a great read. It's an immersive historical fiction novel that transports you to the setting while still keeping the characters and dialogue relatable. While it's inevitably a bit dated in its representation of some historical topics - notably the idea that the "Celtic" churches didn't originally have bishops - I don't blame the book for that since it's an older one. I loved the characters and am really looking forward to reading more in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Misogyny, Blood, Islamophobia, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
jhbandcats's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The first of the Brother Cadfael books, this the Welsh-born monk returning to his homeland in an entourage from his English Benedictine abbey. They have travelled in hopes of acquiring a saint’s bones so that their abbey will rise in importance. The prior rationalizes this as being all for the glory of the saint, conveniently ignoring the fury of the Welsh villagers who have always considered the saint their own.
This sets up a struggle between the Benedictines and the villagers. As a native Welshman, Cadfael quietly sides with the villagers. He’s there as translator and he does his best to convey the reality of the situation rather than the specific words his proud, vain, and self-important prior uses to justify taking away the saint’s bones.
There’s a murder, possibly a coverup or misdirection, some romantic entanglements, and lots of religious ecstasy and visions. Skeptical Cadfael is less inclined to believe the mystical when the earthly shows the truth of the matter.
A good introduction. I’m looking forward to reading a few more of the Cadfael books.
This sets up a struggle between the Benedictines and the villagers. As a native Welshman, Cadfael quietly sides with the villagers. He’s there as translator and he does his best to convey the reality of the situation rather than the specific words his proud, vain, and self-important prior uses to justify taking away the saint’s bones.
There’s a murder, possibly a coverup or misdirection, some romantic entanglements, and lots of religious ecstasy and visions. Skeptical Cadfael is less inclined to believe the mystical when the earthly shows the truth of the matter.
A good introduction. I’m looking forward to reading a few more of the Cadfael books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism