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dark
emotional
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:
Yes
Until the last quarter, nothing was particularly grabbing me, and it really felt like it was unsure of what story it was trying to tell for a good portion of the book. At a certain point I kept thinking about other, better books I could be reading. That's not do say I regret reading this or that I had a terrible time or anything -- I very much didn't, and I maintain that things really start cooking towards the end -- but it was all very dour. A very "people and their problems' style of plotting, where every section break we go to a different one of our pov characters, and boy do they have their own problems, and boy are some of them never mentioned again, and very few have anything to do with the overarching plot or theme.
There's this but in the second season of Twin Peaks, where the evil entity, BOB, has lept into a few different bodies and is generally causing havoc and upset throughout the town, so the sheriff and the gang are discussing the nature of this evil. Miguel Ferrer's character essentially looks down the camera and says "BOB is the evil that men do." And like while I appreciate that as a moment in a television show that seems to be one of the primary themes of the book -- isn't humanity nasty -- with very little elaboration. I'm not saying that every atorcity had to have narrative justification or have characters receive a cumuppence, but at some point it just starts feeling voyeuristic.
And aside from all of that I do truly love a "will someone rid me of this turbulent priest" moment and due to the historical setting this bad boy gets to have the original.
There's this but in the second season of Twin Peaks, where the evil entity, BOB, has lept into a few different bodies and is generally causing havoc and upset throughout the town, so the sheriff and the gang are discussing the nature of this evil. Miguel Ferrer's character essentially looks down the camera and says "BOB is the evil that men do." And like while I appreciate that as a moment in a television show that seems to be one of the primary themes of the book -- isn't humanity nasty -- with very little elaboration. I'm not saying that every atorcity had to have narrative justification or have characters receive a cumuppence, but at some point it just starts feeling voyeuristic.
And aside from all of that I do truly love a "will someone rid me of this turbulent priest" moment and due to the historical setting this bad boy gets to have the original.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War
adventurous
dark
informative
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: Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder
challenging
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, War
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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
I had so many ups and downs with this dang book.
I hated Tom at first, but then he grew on me. William was THE WORST. He had me crashing out at some parts.
I really liked Philip, Ellen, Jack, and Aliena, but I think you're supposed to.
The whole book gave 'written by a man' vibes with all the descriptions of big(.)(.) women.
This book was also very long. I often found myself asking, "Are we done yet?" But then the author would throw in some new issue or development that I just HAD to hear more about. I really felt like I was on a journey when reading this. Following some characters through the majority of their lives and watching them climb, fall, fight, lose, love, and live was quite interesting.
Reading this made me realize how silly and shallow some of the other books I read are. Even if they are more fun.
I don't think I'd read this again, but I'm glad I got through it.
I wouldn't say this book is for everyone. It's long, slow, and quite boring in parts, but the historical drama theme was entertaining.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Abandonment
dark
tense
medium-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:
Yes
Epic saga, that was so well written. The story was very intricately woven and created and reminded me of a long series of historical fiction on tv. It’s really long and involved so not a make sure you have a long time to savor this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, War
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Minor: Torture, Antisemitism
I think I just don't care enough about this to finish it. The first 300 pages I liked a lot, but it really starts to drag, and I'm getting the sense that the next 500 pages are gonna be the same plot devices with different details. Something bad happens, the good guys prevail, something bad happens, the good guys prevail, over and over and over. I care about the good guys and I want them to succeed, but the incessant back and forth of hope and misery is starting to annoy me. AND, it's been said by many others and it's gonna be said by me too- I really don't think there needed to be so many rape scenes, and I REALLY don't think they needed to be so graphic. I find myself struggling to find the purpose of them. You already know that William Hamleigh is the scum of the earth before the scene with Aliena. Having him rape three people before the halfway mark is absolutely unnecessary, and honestly makes me question the legitimacy of the author
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence