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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I love the Hangman's Daughter series by Oliver Potzsch.
Plodding story filled with historical details
I have read the previous books regarding The Hangman's Daughter and they seem to fluctuate between fast moving and plodding. This tale didn't pick up until about 60% into it. While I find the historical information interesting, the slowly moving story line and almost over abundance of background and characters made this installment a very slow read. The final answer was interesting, the way the main characters showed growth was also intriguing, but I certainly felt the same story could have been told in fewer words and more precise scenes. These criticisms may be due to the fact these books are a translated work and something may be lost in the translation. A tight and gripping work could become plodding and loose. I have enjoyed previous works in the series more and picked this up based on my previous enjoyment of the characters and wanting to follow their lives.
I have read the previous books regarding The Hangman's Daughter and they seem to fluctuate between fast moving and plodding. This tale didn't pick up until about 60% into it. While I find the historical information interesting, the slowly moving story line and almost over abundance of background and characters made this installment a very slow read. The final answer was interesting, the way the main characters showed growth was also intriguing, but I certainly felt the same story could have been told in fewer words and more precise scenes. These criticisms may be due to the fact these books are a translated work and something may be lost in the translation. A tight and gripping work could become plodding and loose. I have enjoyed previous works in the series more and picked this up based on my previous enjoyment of the characters and wanting to follow their lives.
What I like about this series is that I get a thrilling story and I get to learn a whole lot about how real people lived in the Middle Ages. Not the kings and princesses, but the townsfolk with their various important jobs to the community. Yes,there is the basis of the family of executioners, but beyond that I get to discover the other tasks that go along with that—remover of dead carcasses, street cleaner, healer. The books are extra long (generally almost 600 pages) but are completely engaging. Takes another day to finish, but not double because I read more to get to the conclusion.
In this story, the executioner and his family are visiting his brother, another executioner, to attend his marriage. While they are there, the spectre of werewolves preying on some mighty fine folks is front and center.
In this story, the executioner and his family are visiting his brother, another executioner, to attend his marriage. While they are there, the spectre of werewolves preying on some mighty fine folks is front and center.
4 Stars
This is the 5th book in the Hangman's Daughter series by Oliver Pötzsch. Once again you are taken back to 17th century Germany to visit with the Kuisl family. And for anyone who has read any of the previous books, the characters are just as stubborn and frustrating as ever. And once again, you can't get enough of them.
Jakob Kuisl and his family travel to Bamberg to attend the wedding of his brother, the Bamberg executioner. Just as they reach the gates the severed arm of a man is found and sets in motion events that entangle the entire Kuisl family into a mystery that has left the citizens of Bamberg scared and superstitious.
There have been a number of disappearances of several highly esteemed citizens and with the discovery of severed limbs in the forest and surrounding rivers, the town is on edge. There have been reports of a beast that behaves like a man, a werewolf. Eyewitness accounts say that the beast runs on all four legs but then can stand up like a man. Soon enough there is an inquisition set in motion by the bishop and the council to bring about the capture of the beast. Jakob, Magdalena and Simon join together with the rest of their family to discover the real secret behind this werewolf and put a stop to the madness before anyone else gets hurt. Especially someone in the Kuisl family.
This story had plenty of action and plenty of twists and turns. There was also a good amount of the usual Kuisl family drama and insight into the class system that ruled their lives and caused people to look at them as little better than the people that he tortured and executed at the council's demand.
Once again, the period was meticulously researched. While this is a work of fiction, many of the characters truly existed and many of the events actually happened. Any fan of a historical fiction and a good historic mystery would not go wrong in reading this series.
This is the 5th book in the Hangman's Daughter series by Oliver Pötzsch. Once again you are taken back to 17th century Germany to visit with the Kuisl family. And for anyone who has read any of the previous books, the characters are just as stubborn and frustrating as ever. And once again, you can't get enough of them.
Jakob Kuisl and his family travel to Bamberg to attend the wedding of his brother, the Bamberg executioner. Just as they reach the gates the severed arm of a man is found and sets in motion events that entangle the entire Kuisl family into a mystery that has left the citizens of Bamberg scared and superstitious.
There have been a number of disappearances of several highly esteemed citizens and with the discovery of severed limbs in the forest and surrounding rivers, the town is on edge. There have been reports of a beast that behaves like a man, a werewolf. Eyewitness accounts say that the beast runs on all four legs but then can stand up like a man. Soon enough there is an inquisition set in motion by the bishop and the council to bring about the capture of the beast. Jakob, Magdalena and Simon join together with the rest of their family to discover the real secret behind this werewolf and put a stop to the madness before anyone else gets hurt. Especially someone in the Kuisl family.
This story had plenty of action and plenty of twists and turns. There was also a good amount of the usual Kuisl family drama and insight into the class system that ruled their lives and caused people to look at them as little better than the people that he tortured and executed at the council's demand.
Once again, the period was meticulously researched. While this is a work of fiction, many of the characters truly existed and many of the events actually happened. Any fan of a historical fiction and a good historic mystery would not go wrong in reading this series.
This wasn't my favorite book of the series. It was okay. But the plot seemed to move more slowly than in the previous books. Still love these characters!
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Be ready for dark torture, and since it’s translated from German it can seem incomplete at times but it is so worth the read. I love this series.
Wonderful story and immersive setting. I will always enjoy this series
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No