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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
The plots of all of these books seem to follow a similar theme, but they're a really good read that really suck you in, with a bit of bonus history!
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Kingsbridge will always feel like coming home.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars. I received the book as a Goodreads giveaway, which, honestly, reminded me how nice it is to read 900+ page books on an eReader.
Fans of Pillars of the Earth will enjoy this early look at Kingsbridge and the dawn of the Middle Ages in England. I had read (and in the case of Pillars of the Earth, reread) the trilogy, but it's not necessary to enjoy this novel. Covering a span of only 10 years, I found myself much more invested in the characters than in the sweeping A Column of Fire, the third book in the trilogy. I felt like it was a glimpse into what life could have been like more than a millennium ago.
Fans of Pillars of the Earth will enjoy this early look at Kingsbridge and the dawn of the Middle Ages in England. I had read (and in the case of Pillars of the Earth, reread) the trilogy, but it's not necessary to enjoy this novel. Covering a span of only 10 years, I found myself much more invested in the characters than in the sweeping A Column of Fire, the third book in the trilogy. I felt like it was a glimpse into what life could have been like more than a millennium ago.
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this book after reading “World Without End” and “Pillars of the Earth.” I enjoyed it, as I did the other two books, but it felt like reading basically the same story for the third time. All of the same characters are there and the same plot developments.
Sensitive genius builder Edgar = Jack = Merthin
Smart noblewoman Ragna = Aliena = Caris (technically not a noble but you know what I mean) / Philippa
Evil scheming bishop Wynstan = Waleran = Godwyn
Cruel stupid nobleman Wigelm = William = Ralph
Good prior Aldred = Philip
Scheming mother Gytha = William’s mom = Godwyn’s mom
Dumb oaf brother Eadbald = Alfred = Ralph
Jerk boss Dreng = that prick who broke Merthin’s door
There’s even a forced separation of Edgar and Ragna where Ragna gets forced to marry the villain and Edgar goes on a sojourn in Europe where he almost marries someone else, then he comes back in riches for the happy ending. It’s pretty much an exact repeat of what happened in PoE and WWE.
I love these books but you’d think after 3 books he would come up with some different stories to tell? I’m almost hesitant to read “A Column of Fire” if it’s going to be the same story again.
Sensitive genius builder Edgar = Jack = Merthin
Smart noblewoman Ragna = Aliena = Caris (technically not a noble but you know what I mean) / Philippa
Evil scheming bishop Wynstan = Waleran = Godwyn
Cruel stupid nobleman Wigelm = William = Ralph
Good prior Aldred = Philip
Scheming mother Gytha = William’s mom = Godwyn’s mom
Dumb oaf brother Eadbald = Alfred = Ralph
Jerk boss Dreng = that prick who broke Merthin’s door
There’s even a forced separation of Edgar and Ragna where Ragna gets forced to marry the villain and Edgar goes on a sojourn in Europe where he almost marries someone else, then he comes back in riches for the happy ending. It’s pretty much an exact repeat of what happened in PoE and WWE.
I love these books but you’d think after 3 books he would come up with some different stories to tell? I’m almost hesitant to read “A Column of Fire” if it’s going to be the same story again.