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goldenlake's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Addiction, Murder, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Stalking, Terminal illness, Mental illness, Bullying, Alcoholism, Violence, Sexism, Infidelity, Misogyny, Gore, Chronic illness, Sexual assault, Dementia, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Blood, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Xenophobia, Vomit, Trafficking, War, Pregnancy, and Confinement
Minor: Colonisation, Genocide, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, and Cursing
sramac's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Infertility, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Vomit, War, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
vibrantautumn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Slavery, Confinement, Sexual violence, Child death, Violence, and Sexism
Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, War, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry
kylieqrada's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Rape
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, and Pedophilia
Minor: Grief and Infertility
beanjoles's review against another edition
4.5
This was my first Ken Follett read. I picked it up as a skip-the-line loan on a whim and I’m very glad I did! Other reviewers have mentioned that the characters don’t have a ton of depth, and that’s true, but it was still a really fun, tense, and informative listen. Spoiler for the ending:
One of my favourite aspects of this novel was the keen attention paid to the minutiae of English life in the Dark Ages. I learned about shipbuilding, construction, and life for common peasants. It was interesting seeing the beginnings of the landlord system and how the laws regarded people of different statuses and genders. I also learned a lot about the horrors of slavery practised by the English, something I didn’t realize they’d been doing even way back then. I’d say I enjoyed the book as much for its world building as I did for the plot and characters.
I liked this enough to put a hold on the Pillars of the Earth, and I’m excited to see where the story goes next!
A content note: As you might expect of a book written about this era, there is a good deal of sexual violence in this book. Some of it is gratuitous to the plot but does contribute to worldbuilding (unfortunately). Id probably stay away from this book if sexual violence and r*pe are triggers for you. Examples:
Graphic: Alcohol, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Torture
Minor: Infertility and Suicidal thoughts
crystalmethany's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Infidelity, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Trafficking, Rape, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Pedophilia
Minor: Infertility and Grief