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What Members Thought
Knowing that the author is a descendent of the Kuisl family really made this book even more interesting to me, and I rather enjoyed reading the note by the author at the end. It made this book feel more historical. That being said, I wonder if the translation could be better. This book takes place in the 17th century, but sometimes the word choices seemed so out of place and modern. Thanks to Sally for making me read this book! I'm looking forward to starting the second book.
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Kindle loan. Interesting premise and characters. Historical fiction set in Bavaria in the 1600s, so I was immediately interested. Intriguing and a page turner but I was able to figure out who the "bad guy" was pretty early on and the mystery part definitely dragged towards the end. Fairly graphic and disturbing violence (torture, child abuse/murder, references to rape/sadism)
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I shouldn’t wait so long between finishing a book and writing a review. I had to look up which book this was, and then I was like, “Oh, yeah. I definitely need to write about that one. It was good.”
So, at the end of this book, the author explains something that likely would have changed how I read the story. It wouldn’t have influenced how much I enjoyed it, just…I’d know going in that it was historical fiction (even if it’s in a rather broad sense of the term). The story is about the author’s m ...more
So, at the end of this book, the author explains something that likely would have changed how I read the story. It wouldn’t have influenced how much I enjoyed it, just…I’d know going in that it was historical fiction (even if it’s in a rather broad sense of the term). The story is about the author’s m ...more
This is more like 3.5 stars. This was a good read, and definitely a page turner. I really liked the main characters, especially the enlightened Hangman, who by better luck in the birth pool may have
been a great medical scientest. Instead, he is reviled by the townspeople, and must get drunk to carry out their dirty work.
But the book did get very repetetive in parts for me, hence the lower rating.
been a great medical scientest. Instead, he is reviled by the townspeople, and must get drunk to carry out their dirty work.
But the book did get very repetetive in parts for me, hence the lower rating.
Really enjoyed this book. It is a graphic portrayal of society in 16th century Bavaria. Although a bit gruesome at times it is an accurate account. The author's characters are wonderfully developed and so glad to learn that this is a series and at present there are three more books. If you are a mystery and history buff of this time period then this is the book for you.
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Jun 03, 2011
Juliana Philippa
marked it as to-read
Jul 15, 2012
Anna
marked it as to-read
Sep 08, 2012
Kirsten Barber
marked it as to-read-soon
Nov 02, 2014
Karyl
marked it as to-read
Oct 06, 2015
Jenna
marked it as to-read
Jan 06, 2016
Kimberly
marked it as to-read
Jul 31, 2017
Angie
is currently reading it
Sep 12, 2017
Terri
marked it as around-the-world
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review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction
Jul 06, 2018
Sharon
marked it as to-read
Dec 20, 2018
Laura
marked it as maybe-not
Jan 31, 2019
Anika
marked it as to-read
Aug 26, 2019
Kathy Jo
marked it as to-read
Jan 19, 2020
Deborah
marked it as to-read
Apr 18, 2022
Heather
marked it as to-read
Sep 17, 2022
Sara
marked it as to-read
