What a fabulous book, I couldn't put it down. I have only recently read Pillars of the Earth and loved that too. This prequel, set in the Dark Ages, is just as thrilling. The historical setting is superb and so engrossing. The pace of the story builds up slowly as the large cast of characters are introduced and the plot develops. The harsh times and corruption of those in power is vividly brought to life. I can't wait now to read the others books in the series.

I was so excited when my request for this book was granted. I love Ken Follet and I was certainly not disappointed. This is the prequel to Pillars of the Earth set in 997 CE.
It is one of those books that you want to know what happens but do not want it to end. It was extremely well researched and the characters really "came to life." I was totally engrossed and will now read Pillars of the Earth again. I admire the fact that Ken Follet is busy researching and not churning out books every 6 months or so, but I must say that I can't wait for his next book.
My thanks to Ken Follet, Netgalley and a special thanks to Pan Macmillan for granting my request and allowing me to give my unbiased opinion.

Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth series have always been a guilty pleasure for me. Not my usual kind of read, a little to early historically, plus the books are huge. However they're the kind of books that stay with you long after you've read them. I find them easy reading despite their length, this current one over 800 pages.

Could the prequel live up to those that went before? Britain is under threat from Viking raids from the East and Welsh raids from the West. The author focuses on three main characters whose lives become intertwined, a young boatbuilder forced to reassess his life when tragedy strikes, a young noble woman from Normandy eager to escape the minutiae of her life for something more intense and a monk with ideals on becoming someone of renown. What I love in these novels is the strength of character given to the female protagonists despite the time setting and the prominence of the male characters, they are feisty and unlikely feminists of their day. You come away from these books enlightened and totally absorbed in the time period. Harsh and violent at times the book is well researched and this prequel definitely works. Walking around a local medieval town last weekend I found myself seeing it in a completely different light.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I was so excited when I got a notification that NetGalley granted my wish, that it felt like Christmas came in August! Thank you, NetGalley.
The Evening and the Morning is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth, an international bestseller first published in 1989, and the blurb reads:

"It is 997 CE, the end of the Dark Ages, and England faces attacks from the Welsh in the west and the Vikings in the east. Life is hard, and those with power wield it harshly, bending justice according to their will – often in conflict with the king. With his grip on the country fragile and with no clear rule of law, chaos and bloodshed reign.
Into this uncertain world three people come to the fore: a young boatbuilder, who dreams of a better future when a devastating Viking raid shatters the life that he and the woman he loves hoped for; a Norman noblewoman, who follows her beloved husband across the sea to a new land only to find her life there shockingly different; and a capable monk at Shiring Abbey, who dreams of transforming his humble abbey into a centre of learning admired throughout Europe.
Now, with England at the dawn of the Middle Ages, these three people will each come into dangerous conflict with a ruthless bishop, who will do anything to increase his wealth and power, in an epic tale of ambition and rivalry, death and birth, and love and hate."

I haven't read previous novels from Kingsbridge series, so the perspective of getting acquainted with the saga in chronological order was thrilling.

The story follows three main characters: the boat builder, the noblewoman, and the monk. Their fates weave separately at the beginning, but eventually, their paths join together.
The characters themselves, to me, fall a bit flat. They are likeable enough but come across as two-dimensional.
Edgar, the boatbuilder, is a very talented craftsman, who can figure out how to build things by looking at them and examining how they work. In the course of the story, he evolves from a boatbuilder to a farmer and into a stonemason.
Ragna, the Norman noblewoman, smart and politically savvy, falls in love with English noble and marries him for love. His family is not very fond of her intelligence or her hold on Wilwulf.
Aldred, the monk, wants to make his abbey a centre of learning, but for getting in Bishop's way, he's in charge of a falling-apart church in Dreng's Ferry.

The intrigue is tightly woven. As expected from a book set at the end of the Dark Ages, the world is full of unending horrors. Caught in the power struggle between the Church* and the Lords, characters rely on their wits and alliances to survive. The book covers ten years - it starts with a boy running away from home and a Viking raid, as the events unfold and the powers shift, so does the prosperity of Dreng's Ferry. The settlement starting with a decrepit alehouse, a ferry, and a small, corrupt monastery, is evolving with the characters.

The language is descriptive. It takes time to introduce the characters, their agendas, their allegiances and lives. Follett doesn't shy away from showing the harshness of the story's setting, though, on some occasions, I had to question the use of violence. I do not deny that the Dark Ages were a horrible time to be alive. However, it is possible to talk about violence (especially violence against women), in a mindful manner. The depictions of infanticide, imprisonment, rape, and taking away children to punish a woman were neither mindful nor entirely necessary to progress the plot or the character development.
Another bit of criticism is related to LGBTQ themes - it felt as if those were an afterthought, something that must have happened to appeal to modern audiences. Unfortunately, using a trope of homosexuality among clergy is overused and boring. I was expecting more of an author of such renown.
In fact, adding to this list a dryly written sex scene, and this book almost ended up on my Did-Not-Finish list.

I was curious is similar was the case for other books from the Kingsbridge series. From reading other reviews, it seems that this time the author spends considerably less time pondering the size of a woman's breasts or her attractiveness. As this doesn't bode well for my enjoyment of the rest of the Kingsbridge novels, I will not be revisiting this series.

* In England circa 1000, in some places, Christianity's hold was nominal - priests could have wives, polygamy and slavery were not unusual, and women could hold property in their own names. The name of the Church was often used to progress one's own interests.

Ken Follett is a master of words and this new book is another proof of that.
It got me gripped from the first page, and I loved revisiting places I visited when reading The Pillars of the Earth.
I recommend The Evening and the Morning to all who enjoyed following the aforementioned novel, or start your jouney here and be prepared to immersed.
No question it is a 5 star book for me!

'The Evening and the Morning' is the third of Follet’s books that I’ve read – the first being ‘A Dangerous Fortune,’ and the second being ‘A Column of Fire.’ (I chose to read ‘A Column of Fire’ as a one-off because it takes place during the same era that I studied for my history degrees).

Taking place in late 10th century England, we generally follow three main protagonists from different social milieus: a resourceful builder, a savvy Norman noblewoman, and a kind-natured monk. Like Follet’s other books, these characters’ narratives weave into one another as they navigate political manipulations and survive their harsh world in general. The protagonists felt very familiar to me. Edgar the builder, for example, reminded me of Hugh and Ned from ‘A Dangerous Fortune,’ and ‘A Column of Fire,’ respectively. They are smart, morally-upstanding, and spend a lot of time pining for a woman who they cannot have due to circumstance.

The villains in 'The Evening and the Morning' are similarly reminiscent of the villains in Follet’s other books in that they are very one-dimensional. They don’t really have any redeeming qualities, so they exist in firmly in the “bad guy” camp – with their greed and corruption and abuse – acting as foils to the protagonists who are, likewise, firmly the “good guys.” It’s always clear who we’re meant to root for and who we’re meant to root against.

While some readers might harshly criticize this seemingly simplistic and formulaic narrative construction, I don’t find myself too upset by it. I can see the value and escapism in being able to quickly identify the enemies of humanity, to be able to cheer for a protagonist who’s out-smarted the bad guy and always strove to do the right thing.

One criticism I’ve had with Follet’s writing is his representation of non-normative sexualities, especially asexuality. In ‘A Column of Fire,’ the main antagonist’s asexuality is presented as symptomatic of his villainous nature. This problematic trope appears in ‘The Evening and the Morning,’ although only briefly in the beginning.

The main attraction in Follet’s books is the way he evokes the past. His descriptions – the villages, cities, structures, and people – are vivid and make the reader feel invested in the world they’ve entered and the characters that they meet. As Follet notes, historical study of this particular period is fraught with spotty and complicated sources, making his depiction of the past in 'The Evening and the Morning' all the more impressive.

The Evening and the Morning set at the end of the dark ages and the dawn of the Middle Ages is the prequel to The Pillars of the Earth. This is a wonderful saga that is exciting, informative but above all an immensely readable novel, full of great characters, the good are really good and the bad are downright evil, hard hearted and vicious.
Three lives intertwine through the story and over the years it takes place we see each go through unimaginable suffering as we share their lives. Aldred a monk, Edgar a boat builder and Ragnar a Normandy noblewoman.
Here we have Viking raids, English battles, treachery, corruption, rape and pillage but also loyalty, hope and love.
A sweeping story that pulls you along willingly, my admiration for this authors ability knows no bounds.
One tiny niggle a lot of the names began with a W or D leaving me confused at times who was who but I got there in the end.
My grateful thanks to net galley and publisher Macmillan for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

This prequel to The Pillars of Earth will earn its place on the bestseller lists beside its older siblings.

This winning epic follows the lives of Edgar, Ragna, Aldred Wynstan and Wigelm in the village of Dreng's Ferry, two days ride from Shiring. Edgar, a boat builder and skilled craftsman have all the skill of Tom Builder, Jack and Merthin from Follets other books in the series. Ragna, Daughter of the Count of Cherbourg, marries an English lord, whose family plot against her. She's popular and considered just by her subjects, and The Evening and the Morning tell the story of her experience as a noblewoman who tries to succeed as a foreigner between those in power in England; the king and the church.

Loyalty to one's kin holds tightly over the lives of those who lived at the end of the first millennium. Keeping power in the family is not as simple as it seems, in a society of polyamorous relationships and a legal system that allows wives to be passed over in favour of someone new. Add the cruelty of slavery and the tiers of the class system and you have a stew of conflict ready to boil over.

Set aside from this is the church, whose values and piety should be a place of grace, however, God's will presents itself in unusal ways; favouring the evil, benefiting the wrong. How can good persist when it is governed by evil at the top? Look to Aldred, who will bring about the change that will make Dreg's Ferry into the marvellous city of Kings Bridge we fell in love with.

Five Stars for The Evening and the Morning!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth.

Set at the end of the Dark Ages in England in a period Vikings are raiding English villages and we see very clearly the consequences of it in those characters' lives.

As usual his writing is flawless, it is very evocative, detailed and immersive. I couldn't help but feel as if I were living inside that world once again. I loved the dialogs and descriptions of places and action moments.

Also, in this book he deals with themes he usually does, such as: the difference between social and economical classes (especially seeing Ragna, Alfred and Edgar's journey), ambition, hypocrisy, complex politics, the lack of laws, conspiracy, religion, love, intrigue, adventure and so much more.

To sum up, if you're a big fan of his writing, you'll not be disappointed. Even if you haven't read anything by him, I'm guessing you would be a good way to start. The author knows how to develop incredible characters in an amazing historical set. I highly recommend it.

I got the Evening And The Morning, by, Ken Follett for a fair and honest review.

The Evening and the Morning, starts in the year 997ce a time when England is being attacked by both the Welsh from the west and the Vikings from the east.

In this world the plans of a young boat builder are destroyed in one night after the Vikings kill is father and the woman he plans to run away with. A french noble woman, who follows the lover of her life to England. In addition to this, we have an ambitious monk who wants to turn his abbey into a seat of learning.

When I started reading this novel it felt like I had put on a pair of comfortable slippers not only because of Ken Follett’s writing, style, because we are in the region of Kingsbridge a place were as a reader we have been before.

Although Ken Follett examines the balance of power at the time between Church, State and the local leaders who collect rents and supply men to defend the country. What the writer does well is concentrating on personalities and personal relationships with how this has an effect on what people do.

The novel does not concentrate on one individual who is the centre of events but has three people, Norman lady who comes over after falling in love with the local Lord, a young monk who has to fight his urges constantly. Joining them together is the young ship builder turned farmer when after a viking raid one night both his first love and his family’s wealth were destroyed in one night.


One thing I must point out is the way that the books events were laid out, one way to descridbe it would be, driving over a number of rolling hills. This gave the novel an almost writing by numbers feel.

For example at the start of the book, you got Egbert the boat builder leaving his home to meet, the woman, he his going to run away with, the Vikings then attack and every one is in danger, there is a fight with the Vikings, which leads to a conclusion of that event, however this sets up the next action of the book.

The book is not just, one event after another, as there are some events quicker than others , in addition there are multiple events happening most of the time throughout the book. Although it did feel like just as you thought the story was coming to an end, the writer added another conflict to extend the book, although even it is a big book it did not seem longer than necessary.


I did actually think that this was a good book, however it does have its minor problems, it would be remiss of me for not mentioning them. Who would I recommend this book to, in some ways that easy, as this is a prequel any one who has read the first three books in the series to find out things like why there is an abbey in Kingsbrige or even why its called that name in the first place.

Another group I would recommend it two is the Ken Follett fans who have not read any of this series before, why not start with the one set in the earliest time period. After all as I said going back to read on of this writers books is like putting on an old pair of comfy shoes, it would be worth reading this book as it will give you a new pair of comfy shoes.

In addition to this if you are in to historical fiction outside of a World War II setting then I would recommend Ken Follett’s prequel to the Kingsbridge series, The Evening and the Morning, is for you.

I can’t believe it is thirty years since the brilliant Pillars of the Earth was published. This is the prequel starting in 997 at the end of the dark ages. It is not hard to see why they were called the dark ages reading about the chaotic, lawless times with a weak king in Ethelred and a corrupt church ruling the country. Over 60 years before the battle of Hastings brings William the Conqueror to rule this book introduces Ragna ,the daughter of a Norman lord , marrying into a Shiring family who shock her with their dissolute ,brutal ways. Aldred, a monk and a young boatbuilder whose life is brutally changed by Viking raiders. Life was hard and basic and it is amazing anyone survived as long!
The book is well researched and goes along at a cracking pace. I couldn’t put it down and enjoyed it every bit as much as the previous ones. Thanks to Netgalley and McMillan for the opportunity to review.

The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett is an excellent historical fiction and addition to the Kingsbridge series. This installment is a prequel to the current books at the books sets the reader smack at the end of the dark ages for England at 997CE.

The trio of stories and intertwining is exquisite and what Follette does best. There were heroes, villains, goodness overcoming evil, romance, suspense, backstabbing, and twists thrown in for good measure.

What I loved the most was the wonderful literary descriptions of landscapes, buildings, culture, society, and day to day lives of the people at this time. I learned so much about society and England during the dark ages to add to my previous knowledge. It was definitely a great book. I loved every minute of it (but I love the series as well).

Excellent 5/5 stars

Thank you Viking/Penguin Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.