Reviews

The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel

harrylyden27's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective relaxing slow-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? It's complicated

4.5

emzireads's review against another edition

adventurous informative tense slow-paced

4.5

herri1je's review against another edition

5.0

I’m not a reader of huge books; I like my books packed and less than 400 pages. I am also a nonfiction reader so I wasn’t sure about starting this series. I came to be pleasantly surprised. I flew through all three books (Wolf Hall, Bring Up the Bodies, and The Mirror and the Light) and book 3 was by far my favorite. The writing is immersive and haunting, following Thomas Cromwell from the dizzying height of power and status all the way to his final steps across the scaffolds where he is to be beheaded by axe. I loved this book.

briesposito's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

5.0

libraryofdreaming's review against another edition

3.0

Well, Hilary Mantel's epic Cromwell trilogy is finished and I have mixed feelings. Frankly, I've had mixed feelings since the beginning but I kept hoping that Mantel would pull off an impressive finale. This didn't live up to my expectations. Part of it was interesting, but a lot of it was overly rambling without the sharpness I'd hoped for.

I kept wondering, do we have to have so many flashbacks? So many moments of Cromwell dwelling on the past? Does he absolutely have to have a weirdly charged relationship with every single female character?

The portrayal of Tudor society was incredibly interesting. Some scenes hit hard. I liked the deep look into Henry and Cromwell's dynamic. But I feel like it could have been more efficient, more biting, more... effective.

laura_corsi's review against another edition

Found out this is the finale in a huge series about Thomas Cromwell. Maybe someday I will want to read that but--doubt it. 

umm_igor's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

estabd's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

rebeccasreadingrambles's review against another edition

3.0

Wow this as a hefty book. I can't believe ho much happened even though it is such a huge book. It was actually a bit overwhelming at some points and I almost feel like it could have been 2 books. But I really enjoyed it. This is not the book you go to for typical Tudor drama and court scandals. This is a look into the mind and workings of a spy master. Cromwell is always thinking 15 steps ahead while juggling so many things and so many people. All while trying to keep a hugely temperamental King happy and of course keeping himself in favor and his head on his shoulders. This is a book about closed door scheming, politics, and living on the swords edge. Cromwell is not only brilliant and hardworking, conniving and a flatterer, he is SARCASTIC and sassy and I love it so much. Even in the most dire situations he has sass and come backs and it was fantastic to read about it. This book throws you right in where the last book left off, but it is easy to slip back into the story and the characters. The characters are so vibrant and dynamic that they get easy to keep track of, sometimes even by their speech and mannerisms. There are less descriptions and petty gossip than typical tudor novels, which I loved how unique it is.

judyboom's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0