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meganstreb's review against another edition
3.0
I kept expecting there to be a mystery round the corner! Cadfael ruined my reading of this book.
Yes, it was well read, and yes, there were interesting characters, but it was too based around strong emotions and stubborn characters for my tastes.
I did love the descriptions of the carvings, though.
Yes, it was well read, and yes, there were interesting characters, but it was too based around strong emotions and stubborn characters for my tastes.
I did love the descriptions of the carvings, though.
shane_tiernan's review against another edition
4.0
When I started this I was worried it was going to be more of a young adult novel, but fortunately the scope changed about one fifth of the way in. This really wasn't a story about ideas, it was all about the characters. Usually that doesn't do it for me, but the medieval setting helped keep it interesting. There was a lot of tension in the first section and then a large part of the middle seemed to kind of lag because it was just pushing the story along. Then the last 3rd of the book went back to leaving you wondering if the characters you had grown to love were going to be okay or not. The ending was rather abrupt, but still pretty exciting.
This really seems like it would make a great movie.
While the first book is a story that stands alone well, I am definitely tempted to read the next two books in the series.
This really seems like it would make a great movie.
While the first book is a story that stands alone well, I am definitely tempted to read the next two books in the series.
katypicken's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kath61's review against another edition
4.0
I used to love Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael books, and indeed the TV adaptation. Writing as Edith Pargeter she creates a much harsher world with more details and darker characters. But she is still able to bring warmth, honour, love and piercing grief into the engaging plot lines. I look forward to the next in the trilogy.
rsopher's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
nadoislandgirl's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fun read from an era I don't read much about - the 1200s in England. Found the love story interesting, the characters inspiring, the cathedral building surprising. Loved the characters. Everything was so dramatic!
slrsmith's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved! I love Pargeter's writing and adored the main character of Harry. It was an emotional rollercoaster but absolutely engaged me from beginning to end.
Pargeter is utterly consistent on well-researched historical fiction, but this one had depth of emotion and nuance as well. Wonderful. I hope the others in the series are as good!
Pargeter is utterly consistent on well-researched historical fiction, but this one had depth of emotion and nuance as well. Wonderful. I hope the others in the series are as good!
tigerlinus's review against another edition
3.0
The Heaven Tree starts out well enough, then plods along midway. This tale can be romanticized - romanticized between characters and in the writing style, especially sections on the architecture, materials, and elements of the church that was being built by Harry, the primary character, which, while interesting, could slow the pace of the story.
In Part 3, Harry makes a decision that will seemingly cause his death. While I found it reasonable Harry would choose to finish the building of the church, which was his passion, it felt more out of character when Harry chose to finish the church at cost to his life, knowing that choice meant leaving Gilleis and the child they were expecting.
Having presented a few negatives in the spoiler, this really is beautifully written; I very much appreciate Pargeter's style and enjoyed learning more of the age in which the story was set. The pace of THT picks up considerably in Part 3, with the last 100 or so pages the strongest story threads; this section was markedly better than Part 2. I appreciate how Pargeter presents all aspects of medieval life, from the beauty and splendor of the church to the structuring of society under feudalism, and the brutality of punishments, executions, and the severity of law. I was also invested in the characters, but I am not sure if I am invested enough to finish the series. Time will tell.
Spoiler
Part 2, where we find Harry and Adam, Harry's best friend, in Paris, was the weakest of the story, and could have been excluded with the exception that Pargeter introduces the characters of Benedetta and Isambard in this section, though both could have been established another way. While I was invested in the character of Benedetta, her instantaneous love and support for Harry was fantastical, implausible to me. In this section of THT we also read how Harry chose to leave Paris and return home as he realized, rather suddenly, that he loved Gilleis, a young girl that helped save him while in England, a girl that was 11 years old when he left and would be 20 on his return. It was an, 'Oh! It is she that I love, yet never knew until this moment!' kind of thread, and Harry's sole reason for returning home. I almost gave up on THT in this section.In Part 3, Harry makes a decision that will seemingly cause his death. While I found it reasonable Harry would choose to finish the building of the church, which was his passion, it felt more out of character when Harry chose to finish the church at cost to his life, knowing that choice meant leaving Gilleis and the child they were expecting.
Having presented a few negatives in the spoiler, this really is beautifully written; I very much appreciate Pargeter's style and enjoyed learning more of the age in which the story was set. The pace of THT picks up considerably in Part 3, with the last 100 or so pages the strongest story threads; this section was markedly better than Part 2. I appreciate how Pargeter presents all aspects of medieval life, from the beauty and splendor of the church to the structuring of society under feudalism, and the brutality of punishments, executions, and the severity of law. I was also invested in the characters, but I am not sure if I am invested enough to finish the series. Time will tell.
kiwi_fruit's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the first book in this trilogy.
The historical setting is England in the 13th century, the background of Welsh unrest is familiar to me, having read [b:Here be Dragons|77449|Here be Dragons (Welsh Princes, #1)|Sharon Kay Penman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1448657042s/77449.jpg|74826] in 2017. There the POV was from the Welsh side and the story focused on Llewelyn, the rebel prince of Wales. It was good to see the situation from the other side of the conflict (from the English perspective), besides while Penman’s book focuses on the nobility, Pargeter prefers shining light on the life of lower classes, merchants, artisans and villains.
In this first book, the protagonist is Harry Talvace, the second son of a minor Norman noble, turned stone mason who longs to build a splendid church as his masterpiece and legacy. There are obvious parallels with [b:The Pillars of the Earth|5043|The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1)|Ken Follett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388193707s/5043.jpg|3359698] although I liked [b:The Heaven Tree|2054513|The Heaven Tree (Heaven Tree, #1)|Edith Pargeter|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1266499178s/2054513.jpg|2059681] more as it is better researched, more historically rich in details and accuracy.
I’m not a big fan of romance, but there have been exceptions in the past and this book is one of them. Harry is a very likeable character, possessing many virtues, such as bravery, loyalty, honor, etc. properly abiding to the chivalry social code. The first book concludes with a tragedy, which is very fitting of this genre, Benedetta emerging as the epitome of the medieval heroine, I loved her!
I’m looking forward to continuing the series with the second book.
Highly recommended to historical fiction lovers and readers who enjoy “chansons de geste” and courtly romance type novels.
The historical setting is England in the 13th century, the background of Welsh unrest is familiar to me, having read [b:Here be Dragons|77449|Here be Dragons (Welsh Princes, #1)|Sharon Kay Penman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1448657042s/77449.jpg|74826] in 2017. There the POV was from the Welsh side and the story focused on Llewelyn, the rebel prince of Wales. It was good to see the situation from the other side of the conflict (from the English perspective), besides while Penman’s book focuses on the nobility, Pargeter prefers shining light on the life of lower classes, merchants, artisans and villains.
In this first book, the protagonist is Harry Talvace, the second son of a minor Norman noble, turned stone mason who longs to build a splendid church as his masterpiece and legacy. There are obvious parallels with [b:The Pillars of the Earth|5043|The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1)|Ken Follett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388193707s/5043.jpg|3359698] although I liked [b:The Heaven Tree|2054513|The Heaven Tree (Heaven Tree, #1)|Edith Pargeter|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1266499178s/2054513.jpg|2059681] more as it is better researched, more historically rich in details and accuracy.
I’m not a big fan of romance, but there have been exceptions in the past and this book is one of them. Harry is a very likeable character, possessing many virtues, such as bravery, loyalty, honor, etc. properly abiding to the chivalry social code. The first book concludes with a tragedy, which is very fitting of this genre, Benedetta emerging as the epitome of the medieval heroine, I loved her!
I’m looking forward to continuing the series with the second book.
Highly recommended to historical fiction lovers and readers who enjoy “chansons de geste” and courtly romance type novels.
mimima's review against another edition
4.0
This hovers between 3-4 stars (why is this story of my rating life? I have some sort of rating anxiety.) The story of two foster brothers, one noble and one not, who flee to Venice from early 1200s England, and then return to England as one is a master mason and his skills are needed to build a church.
It is a bit plodding in the execution, and definitely not a quick read. It was written in 1960, and it is evident in the styling. Having said that, the characters are well drawn, and the plot is very well woven. It is the first of a trilogy,and I will probably continue to read the rest.
It is a bit plodding in the execution, and definitely not a quick read. It was written in 1960, and it is evident in the styling. Having said that, the characters are well drawn, and the plot is very well woven. It is the first of a trilogy,and I will probably continue to read the rest.