#favorite read

I know I ramble endlessly about this story everytime it's updated, and I recommend it any chance I get... but yall....seriously. writing talent like this is RARE and if you consider yourself a reader you simply owe yourself this pleasure.

Book Review: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Rating: 5/5 Stars – Love it!!

It’s hard to say what took me so long to read this book, given its well-known popularity. Published in 1989, Pillars of the Earth is a best-selling historical fiction novel that takes place in 12th century England. Centered around the village and priory of Kingsbridge, it follows a number of characters over the course of 40 years throughout the building of a new cathedral. Weighing in at 1076 pages, this is not a light read, but you’ll hardly notice as you’re plunged into the intimate lives of the characters: Tom Builder, the master stone mason who has the steady hand and nerves of Ned Stark from A Game of Thrones; Aliena, the young daughter of a disgraced Earl, who’s overcomes all manner of hardships to succeed on her own and support her brother in a time when women are hardly encouraged to be independent; William Hamleigh, the monstrous son of the Earl in a neighboring town, who’s every action makes you hate him all the more and pray for his demise; and Prior Philip, the new leader of the monks of Kingsbridge who’s only dream is to see the new cathedral built despite fires, raids, lack of funds, and a royal war. All the stories are closely linked together, but just like Game of Thrones, Ken Follett gives us a different point of view in each chapter, providing a window into each character’s thoughts.

This book spans years as the cathedral is slowly built, following the characters from young children to adulthood. The details from the time period make it feel very real: the struggles of finding work as a peasant, the impact of war and weather on crops, ancient payments systems, and even the challenges of medieval architecture. There were also a lot of hard moments to the book where characters you loved were lost, and devastating setbacks as a result of injustice and malice. But I was left feeling satisfied that justice had been served by the end, knowing not everything could be perfect. Anyone who’s looking for the complexity and scheming of Game of Thrones, but with less fantasy and more monks, this should be you next read.

Published by: Macmillan Children’s Publication Date: 8/29/2023 I’d like to start this review by thanking NetGalley and the publisher. I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review. BUY THIS BOOK! Last year was a bit much for me so it took me a while to get to this book. Buy it, get it at the library, something! Get this book into your hands and into your eyes or ears! It’s so…

Teen Wolf fic you have to read.

This is an amazing story and it’s finished and I’m rereading and tearing up.  Finstock is Stiles’ coach for gymnastics and trains him and Stiles goes to the Olympics. 

It’s fun and sad and sweet. Read the tags, there’s not-good-parent Noah and alcoholism. 

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel @GalleryBooks #Historic #WorldWarII #MagicalRealism #Favorite @kristinharmel

Kristin Harmel returns to the blog with a story of magic, possibilities and hope with   The Forest of Vanishing Stars   Having read a few books from this author, I was intrigued by her spin on the facts of a story and the presentation that is reminiscent of a fairy tale to tell a story of hope and survival for victims of the German forces during World War II.  If you’ve ever read a fairy tale in…