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A review by vatsal_was_here
Eifelheim by Michael Flynn
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Good book
So you have the idea: Aliens crashing near a 14th German century village.
Now you have to execute it in the form of a full length novel.
Does Michael Flynn do it well? I'd say yeah.
There are flaws, yes; the pacing is irregular; the present-day plotline—though I somewhat liked it—could've been better; at one point, the various plot conviences simply pile up too much, threatening to cross the limits of my suspension of disbelief.
But at the end of the day, I enjoyed it. The characters are the heart of this book. Everyone in the village felt like their own person, with their own peculiarities. The interactions really helped bring out the strong sense of community.
The book does slow down in the middle but that is only fitting for a book set in medieval times. I do have to admit that despite the slow pace in these parts, I never felt bored.
In the end, Eifelheim is at its core, a deeply human(and krenkish) story.
Now you have to execute it in the form of a full length novel.
Does Michael Flynn do it well? I'd say yeah.
There are flaws, yes; the pacing is irregular; the present-day plotline—though I somewhat liked it—could've been better; at one point, the various plot conviences simply pile up too much, threatening to cross the limits of my suspension of disbelief.
But at the end of the day, I enjoyed it. The characters are the heart of this book. Everyone in the village felt like their own person, with their own peculiarities. The interactions really helped bring out the strong sense of community.
The book does slow down in the middle but that is only fitting for a book set in medieval times. I do have to admit that despite the slow pace in these parts, I never felt bored.
In the end, Eifelheim is at its core, a deeply human(and krenkish) story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Vomit, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Terminal illness, Xenophobia, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Body horror, Child death, and Blood