I finally gave up on this book halfway through. I had forced myself to keep reading it in hopes it would get better. I found the writing - which I guess was a translation - distracting. It just didn't hold my interest.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is engaging in a way that historical fiction often isn't, with well developed characters and a plot that kept me guessing. It has the ambiance of Geraldine Brooks and the intrigue of Dan Brown. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

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This was a really good book, very interesting, never have read a book where the protagnist is a hangman, a hangman who takes his job seriously and also knows a lot about herbs as a matter of fact, the town's doctor's son who is a doctor is his own rite is always coming over and borrowing books, there's also the matter of the attraction between the doctor's son and the hangman's daughter which would be a scandal if they married. This was a fast read and was anxious to read the next book.

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Was really wishing I had enjoyed this book but sadly for me, I did not. The writing was very bland and not engaging enough for me. The plot was a great one but was so bogged down in writing style that it was hard to stay connected the to it. It was a translation so that could have something to do with it. Was just too muddled and slow and non descript enough for my taste. Maybe it is your cup of coffee.

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