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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a prequel but it can be read as a standalone. It is the foundation of where Pillars of the Earth was created. It takes place between 997-1007 during the Dark Ages. There are three main characters and plenty of secondary characters. The characters are well developed. There are 4 Parts to this 913 page story. The first part is a slow read because of the world building and character building. The author shows the harshness of the times with a lot of corruption and injustice. If the brutal life during the Dark Ages is too much don't read this. Definitely trigger warnings ⚠️
I read the previous novels in this series a long time ago and remember them being pretty good. While this just arrived prequel wasn’t terrible it likewise wasn’t amazing. Akin to reading a Middle Ages soap opera. Needless to say that’s not how I remember the previous books but that’s likely an error in my recall.
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-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:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The last thing I expected from this book was to find myself actually tense as it galloped to the end, worried about what was surely going to happen to characters I'd become fond of. So points for making me stay up late to finish it. :D
Content Warnings
It's set in England in the Dark Ages, so violence, sexism, ageism, ableism, slavery, pretty much everything you can think of is included because that's how it was. But it's all handled deftly and vital to the story.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a massive tome and some people maybe put of by its size. But I say don't be as this book will have you enthralled from the first page and you will fly through the pages.
A book that is set in the dark ages, a period we do not know much about. A period when nothing was written down, but the author uses his imagination to bring the era to life.
A book that has everything; men against men, men against women and men against the Church. It shows a greed and lust for power
It tells the stories of Edgar , Wilf and Ragna and how they intertwine. We have bishops acting as temporal lords and looking out for self interest. This is a prequel to the Pillars of Earth series but can be read as a stand alone. Even if you have read the other books in the series you will not be disappointed as this book ends where Pillars of the Earth begins.
A brilliant historical fiction read that all lovers of the genre will love and a great introduction to the series if you haven't read any and no detriment to the series if you have. A book I would highly recommend. Grab a copy if you can!
A book that is set in the dark ages, a period we do not know much about. A period when nothing was written down, but the author uses his imagination to bring the era to life.
A book that has everything; men against men, men against women and men against the Church. It shows a greed and lust for power
It tells the stories of Edgar , Wilf and Ragna and how they intertwine. We have bishops acting as temporal lords and looking out for self interest. This is a prequel to the Pillars of Earth series but can be read as a stand alone. Even if you have read the other books in the series you will not be disappointed as this book ends where Pillars of the Earth begins.
A brilliant historical fiction read that all lovers of the genre will love and a great introduction to the series if you haven't read any and no detriment to the series if you have. A book I would highly recommend. Grab a copy if you can!