Simple short sentences. Formulaic. Too many repetitive details. How many times do I need to be told who Cwenburg is married to? The sex scenes, please! Do you know any women Ken? The Pillars of the Earth was great, but this book really is just trying not to look too much like POTE. There is so much more literary brilliance to be read.

I had heard good things about Pillars of the Earth, so it made sense to start with Ken Follett's most recent book (and prequel). Mr. Follett does a pretty good job with universe creation, and while historical fiction, he did 10th Century Europe a service with describing the power that the church and feudal lords had at the time. Despite being nearly 1,000 pages, it's a pretty quick read.

Unfortunately, the storyline could not be more formulaic and is filled with 21st Century cliches. Aside from the first chapter that sets the stage for the rest of the novel, there really were no surprises or shocks. That isn't to say that Follett didn't try, it's just more of a let down given all the hype that I've heard of regarding his writing. The character development was lacking for every character except for Ragna (who is pretty awesome), which made for even more of a slog when reading chapters from other characters' viewpoints.

Ultimately, I know that I'll end up reading Pillars of the Earth, because I've heard many good things. That being said, I'm going to read that with much lower expectations given this book. Unless you have a strong desire to read Medieval European historical fiction, or you've read the subsequent Kingsbridge Trilogy, I'd probably recommend that you pass on this book.

Enjoyable stuff as you would expect from Ken
Follet but as with most prequels, it feels like an exercise in cashing-in on the success of Pillars of the Earth rather than an original work.

When the library sets it as a 2 week only loan on a 800 page book!!

I have read some of the Century Trilogy before and have The Pillars of The Earth in my TBR so I said challenge accepted!

I have never read books set this early before so it was a steep learning curve but Ken Follett just writes so well. Even when I wanted to punch characters - a sign he wrote them so well really. Now to read TPotE!!

Excellent end? to the series!

Don't be put off by the considerable length of 'The Evening and the Morning.' Sure, you could read three or four books in the time it would take you to read this one. But those three or four books may or may not be any good. This one is excellent.

Set in the England of 997-1007 AD, 'The Evening and the Morning" centers on the village that will, one day, become the Kingsbridge of Follet's novel "The Pillars of the Earth." While this is a sprawling, Micheneresque novel with a full cast of well-realized characters, most of the action centers on two people: Ragnar, a young Norman noblewoman, and Edgar the brilliant son of a boatbuilder who's forced to find a new path after the destruction of his father's boatyard in a Viking raid. Ragnar and Edgar feel like real people, though their antagonists are often such Snidely Whiplash types that the reader wonders whether anyone could truly be so evil.

So, what makes this novel particularly good? First, Follet has done his homework. This is about as entertaining an introduction to late dark age England as the reader is likely to find. Second, Follet is a master at creating characters we love, then putting them in tough spots. I listened to this novel, and I found myself scheduling longer walks and other activities so I could learn what happens next.

In short, I think 'The Evening and the Morning' is worth your time. It was worth mine.