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adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is a funny combo. Once you know the context that this book was a passion project and huge departure for an author of thrillers, everything clicks both in a good and a bad way.
On one hand, Pillars has a sincere Name of the Rose like interest in the medieval world even to the level of dry detail. I came away knowing a little bit more about the flavor of what it was really like to live back then, and I imagine most readers did too. This was a charm of the book for me, because I could really feel the passion of the writer as he was doing all this research, but it was also kind of a weakness, because often that research just flatly interjected itself in a non-artful way. There's lots of passages that go into detail on, say, a piece of agricultural technology or the physics of church architecture which don't really make sense to include in the character narration and are very "out-of-voice". I appreciate that Follett cared to really understand the time period and make the world real, but at times it becomes so tell-don't-show that it ends up disrupting the reality of the book.
This fully fleshed medievalist study gets merged with a multi-generational melodramatic action story, which, forgive me, I believe the most apt point of comparison that I could find was Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. It's one of the real pleasures of the story to see, over such a long timespan and pagespan, the characters age and their material conditions ebb and flow. And as time flows, the same characters face off against each other again and again, fated to battle like by forces beyond the story like Hatfields and McCoys. Rivalries just grow and grow with each layer of intensifying plot, and romances build up with the same fervor. Even though I am definitely someone who tends to read more dry and academic these days, this bursting at the seams epic style was definitely far more appealing to me then the attempts at seriously approaching theology or medieval culture. It's been a minute since I've read something I truly felt was plot driven rather than character driven, so it was a refreshing experience. And maybe making something high stakes plot driven like this comes at the cost of needing to have single faceted, simplistic characters that are plot engines more than compelling portraits. My biggest critique was that the writing was often just way too simple for me to savor, and that characters showed their personality and intentions on their sleeve. (Alongside that, I found the sexual violence gratuitous and a bit unnecessary. William is so obviously a character an audience loves to hate from the get go, but Follett acts like he is obligated to show every horrible act to prove that. Maybe again a creative impulse from his thriller background?)
As I was articulating these two criticism/compliments of the book, I did end up thinking, well hey, Les Miserables could be faulted for the same issues on both fronts. And I think that's a fair cop, and that Follett honestly might be taking a page out of the book of Hugo or Tolstoy in making this grand scale historic epic where the forces of fate and morality duke it out. But I do think that Hugo, although his characters are just as obvious, wrote more sublimely and incorporated historic detail much more smoothly than anything Follett had to offer here. Overall a really fun read and, even with all its ambition, not something you have to take seriously to enjoy.
On one hand, Pillars has a sincere Name of the Rose like interest in the medieval world even to the level of dry detail. I came away knowing a little bit more about the flavor of what it was really like to live back then, and I imagine most readers did too. This was a charm of the book for me, because I could really feel the passion of the writer as he was doing all this research, but it was also kind of a weakness, because often that research just flatly interjected itself in a non-artful way. There's lots of passages that go into detail on, say, a piece of agricultural technology or the physics of church architecture which don't really make sense to include in the character narration and are very "out-of-voice". I appreciate that Follett cared to really understand the time period and make the world real, but at times it becomes so tell-don't-show that it ends up disrupting the reality of the book.
This fully fleshed medievalist study gets merged with a multi-generational melodramatic action story, which, forgive me, I believe the most apt point of comparison that I could find was Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. It's one of the real pleasures of the story to see, over such a long timespan and pagespan, the characters age and their material conditions ebb and flow. And as time flows, the same characters face off against each other again and again, fated to battle like by forces beyond the story like Hatfields and McCoys. Rivalries just grow and grow with each layer of intensifying plot, and romances build up with the same fervor. Even though I am definitely someone who tends to read more dry and academic these days, this bursting at the seams epic style was definitely far more appealing to me then the attempts at seriously approaching theology or medieval culture. It's been a minute since I've read something I truly felt was plot driven rather than character driven, so it was a refreshing experience. And maybe making something high stakes plot driven like this comes at the cost of needing to have single faceted, simplistic characters that are plot engines more than compelling portraits. My biggest critique was that the writing was often just way too simple for me to savor, and that characters showed their personality and intentions on their sleeve. (Alongside that, I found the sexual violence gratuitous and a bit unnecessary. William is so obviously a character an audience loves to hate from the get go, but Follett acts like he is obligated to show every horrible act to prove that. Maybe again a creative impulse from his thriller background?)
As I was articulating these two criticism/compliments of the book, I did end up thinking, well hey, Les Miserables could be faulted for the same issues on both fronts. And I think that's a fair cop, and that Follett honestly might be taking a page out of the book of Hugo or Tolstoy in making this grand scale historic epic where the forces of fate and morality duke it out. But I do think that Hugo, although his characters are just as obvious, wrote more sublimely and incorporated historic detail much more smoothly than anything Follett had to offer here. Overall a really fun read and, even with all its ambition, not something you have to take seriously to enjoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Violence
dark
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
challenging
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Murder
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My first read of 2025, and it was a doozy!
The Setup: The Pillars of the Earth is a historical epic that transports readers to 12th-century England, weaving a tale of ambition, love, and power against the backdrop of a small town's quest to build a grandiose cathedral. At the story's heart are the lives of richly drawn characters, including Tom Builder, the visionary mason; Aliena, a noblewoman determined to reclaim her family's honor; Prior Phillip, an idealistic and pious monk; and the ruthless William Hamleigh, whose hunger for dominance and power drives much of the conflict.
The story is meticulously detailed, immersing readers in the construction of this magnificent cathedral. However, at its core, this is a gripping novel intersecting the era's political intrigue, social upheavals, and religious tensions. The book's coupling between architecture and the struggle to create beauty and the exploration of humanity's decency (or indecency), resilience, and creativity were beautifully woven into a captivating narrative.
While I felt the novel's pacing was slow, it was, in fact, deliberate, and Follett took care to build a sweeping, multi-generational saga. While its length and brutality were daunting and challenging, this novel did evoke deep emotional investment and transported readers to a vividly realized medieval world.
What I Loved: First and foremost, I cannot imagine how many hours Follett spent researching for this book. The novel had an evident intellect element - figuring out how to build in the 1100s and documenting that on the page. Follett wove physics, mathematics, and artistry into the narrative but in a way likely indicative of the people in the 12th century. Hats off to you, Follett; that was an incredible touch. While some may think this aspect was too detailed (it did go on sometimes), I think it added a beautiful touch to the story, and I couldn't help but be incredibly intrigued and informed.
I reviewed this book well because I absolutely loved how Follett expressed the true chaos of the royal court and religion during this time. Candidly, there was a bit of underlying satire here, probably intentional, but maybe not. We had multiple characters driven by power and greed but think of themselves as doing the "good work" or, in many cases, "god's work." It described - not on the pages, but written between the lines - that our history, our literal buildings, including cathedrals, were built with treachery, corruption, and violence. Those evils were embedded in the mortar and the stones. I don't believe this book was about a cathedral; I think this book was about humans. Follett expertly described hypocrisy and greed while providing unreliable narrators to showcase the pride and excuses many humans make for doing unthinkable (or maybe just wrong) things. Follett was trying to answer the question: will good always prevail? But, then nuanced it with what is even considered "good?"
The novel completely scratched my philosophical itch. Thinking critically about each character and their motivations and actions, you could see philosophy sprouting from their motives. I loved it. Additionally, I simply loved the writing of most characters - they were nuanced, complicated, and flawed. Tom Builder was a man who wanted to provide for his family but maybe forgot about parenting along the way. Prior Phillip was undoubtedly compassionate and godly, but his pride and search for the "good" led him to play the corrupt political game. Jack was determined, loving, and caring but became hot-tempered and didn't necessarily make all the right choices all the time. Overall, the main characters had depth, and you, the reader, couldn't help but be transported in their time. Lastly - and I didn't know whether to put this in what I loved (or not) - Follett officially wrote the most hated character I've ever read about: William Hamleigh, a true villain.
Follett's writing wasn't fluffy, but it was poignant and sharp. I was utterly engrossed in the story and needed to figure out what happened next. Overall, I found this book well done, and I would recommend it for a read (check triggers, please!) for those who are looking for a historical take on the building of a cathedral, but more importantly, for the intense epic about humans and their strategy and drive.
What Missed the Mark: Bear with me as I discuss something that may not have been that exposed in 1989 when this book was first written, but I can't help but surface it now. Follett had the case of the "let's write 'feminist' women" without really understanding what that means. I'll give it to Follett: he tried. He incorporated one main character and one side character in the novel who defied the 12th century's female norms; on the surface, both were quite powerful. Aliena, our main female character, was nuanced, and I saw where he was going. However, unlike Tom Builder, Prior Phillip, and Jack, she felt less dimensional - all the women in the novel did, really. The women's choices seemed abrupt and odd, defying some of their original character development. Then, there were mentions of all their physical descriptions - beautiful (of course), and they always had big breasts (of course), and their bodies weren't the same after kids (of course). Thankfully, Follett added more than that to these characters. Still, he talked about their bodies and emotional, abrupt nature multiple times, which was annoying as a female reader. Additionally, Follett, I promise you that a woman will not climax from intercourse "over and over and over" again on her first time. Thanks, nice try!
I will also say rape and sexual violence were used too frequently here. I counted five rapes and a plethora of other sexual harassment and assault scenes. I wholeheartedly believe that rape can be written about - it's, unfortunately, and regrettably, something that people can relate to. However, writing about it has to be done carefully and meticulously. Back in 1989, I doubt they had those reviewers to help writers capture something that they didn't necessarily go through themselves, but I don't think we needed all of these rapes, most done by one person, to explain to me again why he was an awful character. We got that with the one (and plenty of other reasons why he was evil). While writing about this was likely realistic for the time (ugh), I don't believe all of them added to the story, and honestly, it made me want to look away. I am wary of men writing about a bunch rapes like this, honestly, but that's a whole different subject I won't get into here. While I was satisfied with how everything turned out, my dream for revenge for these rapes would have been different. I won't get into that aspect because I'll spoil things, and I would want to put trigger warnings on that discussion. However, overall, I think it managed to be ok, although it wasn't perfect, which I think needs to be close to perfect, if not perfect, if you add sexual violence like that into the narrative.
It was long, and near the end, I was like, how can the same thing continue to happen repeatedly? But everything Follett did was for a reason (other than maybe all the rapes), so I didn't let that sway my review too much.
I genuinely think this novel was very well done, minus a few flaws I fear were byproducts of the time (which I still think we should call out). Books in 1989 didn't come with trigger warnings, and this book needs a few different ones, so please check them out and stay safe out there. However, I think this book is worth a read to critique 12th-century power structures that just maybe haven't necessarily gone away, even roughly 900 years later.
***
The Setup: The Pillars of the Earth is a historical epic that transports readers to 12th-century England, weaving a tale of ambition, love, and power against the backdrop of a small town's quest to build a grandiose cathedral. At the story's heart are the lives of richly drawn characters, including Tom Builder, the visionary mason; Aliena, a noblewoman determined to reclaim her family's honor; Prior Phillip, an idealistic and pious monk; and the ruthless William Hamleigh, whose hunger for dominance and power drives much of the conflict.
The story is meticulously detailed, immersing readers in the construction of this magnificent cathedral. However, at its core, this is a gripping novel intersecting the era's political intrigue, social upheavals, and religious tensions. The book's coupling between architecture and the struggle to create beauty and the exploration of humanity's decency (or indecency), resilience, and creativity were beautifully woven into a captivating narrative.
While I felt the novel's pacing was slow, it was, in fact, deliberate, and Follett took care to build a sweeping, multi-generational saga. While its length and brutality were daunting and challenging, this novel did evoke deep emotional investment and transported readers to a vividly realized medieval world.
What I Loved: First and foremost, I cannot imagine how many hours Follett spent researching for this book. The novel had an evident intellect element - figuring out how to build in the 1100s and documenting that on the page. Follett wove physics, mathematics, and artistry into the narrative but in a way likely indicative of the people in the 12th century. Hats off to you, Follett; that was an incredible touch. While some may think this aspect was too detailed (it did go on sometimes), I think it added a beautiful touch to the story, and I couldn't help but be incredibly intrigued and informed.
I reviewed this book well because I absolutely loved how Follett expressed the true chaos of the royal court and religion during this time. Candidly, there was a bit of underlying satire here, probably intentional, but maybe not. We had multiple characters driven by power and greed but think of themselves as doing the "good work" or, in many cases, "god's work." It described - not on the pages, but written between the lines - that our history, our literal buildings, including cathedrals, were built with treachery, corruption, and violence. Those evils were embedded in the mortar and the stones. I don't believe this book was about a cathedral; I think this book was about humans. Follett expertly described hypocrisy and greed while providing unreliable narrators to showcase the pride and excuses many humans make for doing unthinkable (or maybe just wrong) things. Follett was trying to answer the question: will good always prevail? But, then nuanced it with what is even considered "good?"
The novel completely scratched my philosophical itch. Thinking critically about each character and their motivations and actions, you could see philosophy sprouting from their motives. I loved it. Additionally, I simply loved the writing of most characters - they were nuanced, complicated, and flawed. Tom Builder was a man who wanted to provide for his family but maybe forgot about parenting along the way. Prior Phillip was undoubtedly compassionate and godly, but his pride and search for the "good" led him to play the corrupt political game. Jack was determined, loving, and caring but became hot-tempered and didn't necessarily make all the right choices all the time. Overall, the main characters had depth, and you, the reader, couldn't help but be transported in their time. Lastly - and I didn't know whether to put this in what I loved (or not) - Follett officially wrote the most hated character I've ever read about: William Hamleigh, a true villain.
Follett's writing wasn't fluffy, but it was poignant and sharp. I was utterly engrossed in the story and needed to figure out what happened next. Overall, I found this book well done, and I would recommend it for a read (check triggers, please!) for those who are looking for a historical take on the building of a cathedral, but more importantly, for the intense epic about humans and their strategy and drive.
What Missed the Mark: Bear with me as I discuss something that may not have been that exposed in 1989 when this book was first written, but I can't help but surface it now. Follett had the case of the "let's write 'feminist' women" without really understanding what that means. I'll give it to Follett: he tried. He incorporated one main character and one side character in the novel who defied the 12th century's female norms; on the surface, both were quite powerful. Aliena, our main female character, was nuanced, and I saw where he was going. However, unlike Tom Builder, Prior Phillip, and Jack, she felt less dimensional - all the women in the novel did, really. The women's choices seemed abrupt and odd, defying some of their original character development. Then, there were mentions of all their physical descriptions - beautiful (of course), and they always had big breasts (of course), and their bodies weren't the same after kids (of course). Thankfully, Follett added more than that to these characters. Still, he talked about their bodies and emotional, abrupt nature multiple times, which was annoying as a female reader. Additionally, Follett, I promise you that a woman will not climax from intercourse "over and over and over" again on her first time. Thanks, nice try!
I will also say rape and sexual violence were used too frequently here. I counted five rapes and a plethora of other sexual harassment and assault scenes. I wholeheartedly believe that rape can be written about - it's, unfortunately, and regrettably, something that people can relate to. However, writing about it has to be done carefully and meticulously. Back in 1989, I doubt they had those reviewers to help writers capture something that they didn't necessarily go through themselves, but I don't think we needed all of these rapes, most done by one person, to explain to me again why he was an awful character. We got that with the one (and plenty of other reasons why he was evil). While writing about this was likely realistic for the time (ugh), I don't believe all of them added to the story, and honestly, it made me want to look away. I am wary of men writing about a bunch rapes like this, honestly, but that's a whole different subject I won't get into here. While I was satisfied with how everything turned out, my dream for revenge for these rapes would have been different. I won't get into that aspect because I'll spoil things, and I would want to put trigger warnings on that discussion. However, overall, I think it managed to be ok, although it wasn't perfect, which I think needs to be close to perfect, if not perfect, if you add sexual violence like that into the narrative.
It was long, and near the end, I was like, how can the same thing continue to happen repeatedly? But everything Follett did was for a reason (other than maybe all the rapes), so I didn't let that sway my review too much.
I genuinely think this novel was very well done, minus a few flaws I fear were byproducts of the time (which I still think we should call out). Books in 1989 didn't come with trigger warnings, and this book needs a few different ones, so please check them out and stay safe out there. However, I think this book is worth a read to critique 12th-century power structures that just maybe haven't necessarily gone away, even roughly 900 years later.
***
"Perhaps the savages will always be in control," Phillip said gloomily. "Perhaps greed will always outweigh wisdom in the councils of the mighty; perhaps fear will always overcome compassion in the mind of a man with a sword in his hand."
The first casualty of a civil war was justice, Phillip had realized.
The first book that really appealed to Jack told the whole story of the world from the Creation to the founding of Kingsbridge Priory, and when he finished it he felt he knew everything that ever happened. He realized after a while that the book's claim to tell all events was implausible, for after all, things were going on everywhere all the time, not just in Kingsbridge, and England, but in Normandy, Anjou, Paris, Rome, Ethiopia, and Jerusalem, so the author must have left a lot out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
The amount of rape, sexual assault, and sexual violence in this novel is actually wild. Please take care!! There are five rape scenes, three of which are implied, and they are on the page up until the actual act. Two are very detailed, graphic, and on the page, describing the act. There are also many other thoughts (i.e., a character is thinking about them and discussing them) about sexual violence and rape. This book has other trigger warnings, but I note these in particular because it was just so prevalent.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can see why this book was so highly recommended to others. It has a "Game of Thrones" level of violence, historical allure, and plot twists. I also loved reading the author's intro detailing how this book became one of his most loved not through marketing but instead through word of mouth.
"Pillars of the Earth" is on the precipice of being well-written, but, like Game of Thrones, the moments of misogyny and gratuitous violence for shock factor alone precludes it from really rising to a recommendable novel.
As other reviewers have noted, even the idealized relationships that Follett sets you up to root for have noticeable cringy moments where the women are sexualized by their lovers who are said, elsewhere, to respect them. The women are seen only as strong if they are able to overcome over-sexualization. If the women are not blindingly attractive and sexualized, they are positioned as evil, less intelligent, or not capable of having pleasurable sex. And oftentimes, they're simply raped or killed off. Follett needs sympathetic female characters to be sexually desirable to have any voice.
It's a shame because every time he writes from a women's perspective, he has some beautiful passages about love and career aspirations. One of the main love stories of this book was really delightful.French poetry, swimming weekly in a glade, talking for hours about math and architectural design...it completely arrested my attention and caught me off guard. It was a beautiful tale. But, I can't help but feel that the female character would have felt frustrated reading some of the events from the man's point of view.
And, Follett made many of his evil characters into psychopathic Iago's, with no other reason for wanting to brutalize and hurt others besides the fact that they were intimated to have been born that way. It was a cheap out to one-dimensionalize the villains when he gave everyone else such complex storylines.
Still, I couldn't put the book down. I grew fond of these characters and feverishly flipped through the pages, hoping that they'd get a happily ever after. Follett can tell a great story. I'm just not sure I'd recommend others to go on this journey with him.
"Pillars of the Earth" is on the precipice of being well-written, but, like Game of Thrones, the moments of misogyny and gratuitous violence for shock factor alone precludes it from really rising to a recommendable novel.
As other reviewers have noted, even the idealized relationships that Follett sets you up to root for have noticeable cringy moments where the women are sexualized by their lovers who are said, elsewhere, to respect them. The women are seen only as strong if they are able to overcome over-sexualization. If the women are not blindingly attractive and sexualized, they are positioned as evil, less intelligent, or not capable of having pleasurable sex. And oftentimes, they're simply raped or killed off. Follett needs sympathetic female characters to be sexually desirable to have any voice.
It's a shame because every time he writes from a women's perspective, he has some beautiful passages about love and career aspirations. One of the main love stories of this book was really delightful.
And, Follett made many of his evil characters into psychopathic Iago's, with no other reason for wanting to brutalize and hurt others besides the fact that they were intimated to have been born that way. It was a cheap out to one-dimensionalize the villains when he gave everyone else such complex storylines.
Still, I couldn't put the book down. I grew fond of these characters and feverishly flipped through the pages, hoping that they'd get a happily ever after. Follett can tell a great story. I'm just not sure I'd recommend others to go on this journey with him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Stalking, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment
I cannot emphasize enough how much sexual violence in this book - stay away if it's too much.
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A bit slow. But well woven. The constant issues with the same antagonists get a little long in the tooth.
For something written in the late 80s, the author does a decent job of highlighting the sexism and hypocrisy of the church, and his female characters are pretty strong.
For something written in the late 80s, the author does a decent job of highlighting the sexism and hypocrisy of the church, and his female characters are pretty strong.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Classism
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, War