A review by josephstoneauthor
The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett

5.0

This brutal and marvelous story was the most satisfying experience I could’ve hoped for, and I maintain that Ken Follett is one of the most phenomenal writers of our time. It took me the better part of a decade before a nagging friend convinced me to pick up Follett’s Pillars of the Earth. I couldn’t accept that a medieval tale about building an English church could be anything but a snooze fest. I was completely wrong—the series it begins is about the most extraordinary set of books I’ve ever read. More to the point, I’m convinced that only Follett could have made them work.

The Evening & The Morning is a prequel to Pillars, and it was the finest Christmas gift I could’ve asked for. The story is vast, weaving its way through decades of hopes and sorrows with masterful precision. Follett’s characters are each so uniquely rich that, by the end, it felt truly uncomfortable to be separated from them, like family you’ll never get to see again.

The audiobook was flawless, and I think John Lee is one of the finest narrators in the business. I can’t imagine how much raw skill and talent it takes for an Englishman to convince me that he’s actually a medieval French noblewoman in disguise, but Lee somehow managed it every chapter.

This was another perfect novel from a brilliant writer that could not recommend more. For now, I will dream that Follett one day manages to find another church to build for me.