A review by meganpbennett
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Pillars of the Earth is far more engaging and compelling than a book about building a cathedral has any right to be. It's a very hard read, as it is one disaster after another, but it's incredibly engaging, to the point that you don't want to put it down, because you have to know what happens next. And it's never good, what happens next. Characters have runs of good luck only to lose everything and have to start over. It has an oddly hopeful ending, and everything is neatly tied together and explained. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Death, Sexual content, Murder, Death of parent, Animal death, Bullying, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Animal cruelty, Gore, Body horror, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Blood, Pregnancy, Grief, and Alcohol

Moderate: Infidelity, Antisemitism, and Abandonment