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A review by anna_hepworth
The Heaven Tree by Edith Pargeter
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I have no idea on the historical accuracy of this; I choose not to read it worrying about that. It has some notes in common with Pargeter's Brother Cadfael series, so at least the way that they write this historical era / location is consistent.
The writing is polished, the world building seamless, the plot occasionally stretches a little thin, and the characterisation is fabulous. Pargeter navigates a tricky path between political and cultural realities of the law as portrayed (including, but not limited to, the power that the local lord had over villein families) and the more modern sensibilities assumed of the reader by having their viewpoint character, Harray Talvace, fight against many of the inequities, even when that fight is invisible to the people around them.
The ending is heartbreaking, and then hopeful, and then both at once. I am very much interested in seeing where the rest of the series goes.
The writing is polished, the world building seamless, the plot occasionally stretches a little thin, and the characterisation is fabulous. Pargeter navigates a tricky path between political and cultural realities of the law as portrayed (including, but not limited to, the power that the local lord had over villein families) and the more modern sensibilities assumed of the reader by having their viewpoint character, Harray Talvace, fight against many of the inequities, even when that fight is invisible to the people around them.
The ending is heartbreaking, and then hopeful, and then both at once. I am very much interested in seeing where the rest of the series goes.