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A review by bowienerd_82
Brother Cadfael's Penance by Ellis Peters
5.0
What a perfect, fitting end to a series that has proven a pleasure and a joy. There were a number of truly excellent books in the series, but the author saved the best for last, and wrote a lovely, moving finale for Cadfael.
I've always enjoyed that Brother Cadfael is a settled adult, comfortable with himself and tolerant of others, but one of the elements that really made this book work was the fact that for once, we get to see him in turmoil, and struggling, and unsure of himself and what the future will hold. His anguish and love and care for Olivier added a certain raw emotion that was rather uncommon for the series, and all the more touching for its rarity.
The whole book was also a very well done reflection of the bonds of love and loyalty, and how they shatter and break, and yet sometimes can still be repaired. So many of the plot threads of the book are woven together with this overarching theme, and they each come out in their own disparate ways.
I loved loved loved the passage where Cadfael is struggling with himself and his actions, and concludes "You do what you must do, and pay for it. So in the end all things are simple." The whole section is lovely, but that conclusion in particular really struck me.
I am sad to be done the series, because it has been such a pleasure through a year of reading it, but a really good ending can be hard to come by, and this book wrapped up the series beautifully.
I've always enjoyed that Brother Cadfael is a settled adult, comfortable with himself and tolerant of others, but one of the elements that really made this book work was the fact that for once, we get to see him in turmoil, and struggling, and unsure of himself and what the future will hold. His anguish and love and care for Olivier added a certain raw emotion that was rather uncommon for the series, and all the more touching for its rarity.
The whole book was also a very well done reflection of the bonds of love and loyalty, and how they shatter and break, and yet sometimes can still be repaired. So many of the plot threads of the book are woven together with this overarching theme, and they each come out in their own disparate ways.
I loved loved loved the passage where Cadfael is struggling with himself and his actions, and concludes "You do what you must do, and pay for it. So in the end all things are simple." The whole section is lovely, but that conclusion in particular really struck me.
I am sad to be done the series, because it has been such a pleasure through a year of reading it, but a really good ending can be hard to come by, and this book wrapped up the series beautifully.