#kingsbridge

I've really enjoyed reading this series, even though I only started it to appease a colleague who recommended it and gifted me the first book! This novel in particular highlights the development of Follett's writing, and I quite enjoy that he keeps things relatively simple; what with the sheer length of his novels, and the vast research and technical detail that goes into them, I think if the prose was at all flowery it would be unreadable.

As always, the characters slowly grow on you and you find yourself rooting for the workers to triumph against greedy masters. As their stories outgrew Kingsbridge and enter Europe, I feel this novel tackled the era's politics better than the third installment which again shows the authors ability to write a well crafted story.

Interestingly, there are two queer couples in this book, including a main character - for some reason this surprised me, just as I figured Follett is a fairly old man by now and wouldn't have considered this! A welcome addition though.

And finally, what I have been measuring throughout this series - a woman's breasts were first mentioned on page 107! This beats the previous record of page 4.

Date started: 21/8/25

Date finished: 29/8/25

Pages: 735