Reviews

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

kat_sanford's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

isabellas_book_row's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

5.0

asthab10's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

cardbuck1720's review

challenging dark informative reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

lateromantic's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

jesstaurant's review against another edition

dark informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

nichecase's review against another edition

4.0

Presumably I will get around to The Mirror and the Light sometime in 2026. Excellent in the way only Mantel is excellent -- the way her mind catches detail (I noted with delight a mention of Tudor processional dragon puppets) is just unparalleled, as is the way she is able to modulate metaphor and frame of reference (if you compare the WH trilogy to the unremittingly marketised register of Beyond Black it's an incredible shift, one I don't think many writers would be capable of).

annieg4444's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

libsreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

giupa's review against another edition

informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0