Yet again, Follett created amazing characters. This book was far too overreaching in its scope and there’s no wonder it stretched as long as it did. The relationships between Kingsbridge citizens were secondary to the lives of the nobility and powerful in England, France, and Spain.

Politics, which had always had a small part, became central in this book. The familiar setting of the town and the cathedral there was abandoned, only playing guest appearances. Follett moved away from Kingsbridge too much in this book. So I think it was inevitable that this book would fall a bit flat. The character development was great, the arc was amazing, and the setting took on a life of its own. I adored the first two books in this series and they blew me away. I came into this book with unreasonably high expectations. The true battle pitches those who believe in tolerance and compromise against the tyrants who would impose their ideas on everyone else-no matter what the cost. The real enemies, then as now, are not the rival religions. Elizabeth clings to her throne and her principles, protected by a small, dedicated group of resourceful spies and courageous secret agents. Over a turbulent half-century, the love between Ned and Margery seems doomed as extremism sparks violence from Edinburgh to Geneva. The shrewd, determined young monarch sets up the country’s first secret service to give her early warning of assassination plots, rebellions, and invasion plans. When she becomes queen, all Europe turns against England. But when the lovers find themselves on opposing sides of the religious conflict dividing the country, Ned goes to work for Princess Elizabeth. Ned Willard wants nothing more than to marry Margery Fitzgerald. As power in England shifts precariously between Catholics and Protestants, royalty and commoners clash, testing friendship, loyalty, and love. In 1558, the ancient stones of Kingsbridge Cathedral look down on a city torn apart by religious conflict. Other books by Follett reviewed on this blog:

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