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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
I am a HUGE fan of this series - the way Follett weaves stories together is something I find delicious. Though there were less storylines in this book, I found it the easiest one of the series to get into. I was hooked from the start and didn’t lose interest in any of the storylines. Though it felt more “wrapped up in a neat bow at the end” than the others, I loved the characters and how they went through their lives in this story.
Definitely more enjoyable than Column of Fire. I like Follet's books with the pastoral life. I felt for the main three characters, unlike those in Column, where I didn't care much, so his character development was good in this one again. I know a lot of info is unknown in this time period, but it was hard to imagine it being in the dark ages. Pillars and World Without End are still my favorites. Was a quick and enjoyable read!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Excrement, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Another fascinating tale! I love the weaving of history with characters leading everyday lives.
I enjoy the historical material. I tend to find Follet writes so many 2-dimensionally sly/evil/violent/mortally corrupt characters, especially in the books set earlier.
Soapy, but much fun, especially when you’re on holiday
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A really fantastic prequel to The Pillars of the Earth! Historical fiction books set in the middle ages aren't as common as renaissance era fiction because I think they're probably harder to write (less is known about that time and likely it's more difficult to make it into a palpable fiction book). However, Ken Follett's research, writing, character arcs, living conditions, and relatability made this book a fantastic story!
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes