DNF at about 75%
Perhaps it is because I am tired, but enough is enough.

This book is interesting in a way. It tells about people, all positioned around building a cathedral, all in their own way. It is about squabbles and money mostly, and about how the money uses the people instead of the other way around.

There are too many characters and too many points of view though. This makes everything seem hasty. Never is there time to get to really know a character and get invested in their story, and on we go. Starting to get interested in this point of view? And on we go, next! And back to the first, and on to the fourth, and ... where were we again? I can take so much before I just give up. 75% in, and I still am not invested in any of the characters enough to care how this book will end.

Thoroughly engrossing, compelling historical fiction. This reminded of Ken Follet not only in that the setting is a Cathedral but that you actually are learning so much social history of Medieval Europe while being totally caught up in the story.

I wasn't expecting to love this book and fly through all 600+ pages as fast as I did but the engaging characters and captivating yet always shifting plot sucked me right in. Unreservedly recommend to anyone in need of a good doorstopper novel to disappear into.

I thoroughly enjoyed my immersion into the medieval society of Hagenberg and the machinations of some of its residents: merchants, moneylenders, master builders, apprentices, and the ever looming and powerful church. Set around the vision and building of a grand, soaring glory of a cathedral, the story is wide ranging, flitting both geographically and from character to character allowing us to get to know key people from their own and other perspectives, and to see their motivations and flaws. This was a brutal time, and survival of self and family often required either moral gymnastics or plain abandonment of such codes. It makes for a memorable and engrossing tale, to be read slowly over days and absorbed. These characters work their way into your brain, and take up residence. Colourful, rich and historically accurate, I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, loves cathedrals, or simply appreciates a well researched and written story.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The cathedral itself serves as scaffolding for this historical fiction novel set in the fictional Rhineland town of Hagenburg during the 13th century. Ben Hopkins's novel follows the construction of this towering edifice, spotlighting and intertwining the lives and machinations of the clergy, the architects, builders and craftsmen, the politicians, moneylenders, and merchants. In 624 pages, divided into three parts -- The Cross, The Sword, and The Pen -- Hopkins is able to provide a deep-dive into medieval history and the rich details of German Gothic cathedrals. This book is not for the impatient, nor for the mildly curious reader of historical fiction.

A fascinating, well researched and well written historical fiction.
I've always been fascinated by the German Gothic cathedrals and this story made me travel in time to when they were built.
It's engrossing and fascinating, the characters are well thought and the historical background is vivid.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book truly is beautifully written, and perfect for fans of Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth series.

A variety of characters are introduced through their initial interactions with protagonist Rettich, and the overall story is told through their experiences. It's interesting to see how they intertwine to impact the building of the Cathedral and the political maneuverings of the Church. Did I mention that it's beautifully written? It's descriptive and flowing, and sometimes reads like poetry.

That said, I found that, sometimes, that flowing language got in the way of the plot and really didn't serve the story. I did find that it began to drag around the beginning of Book Three and it was tough to keep with it, especially given the length. Independently this book is really quite good, but I couldn't help but compare it to The Pillars of the Earth. I think Follett was more successful in developing the reader's relationship with his characters and keeping the action well-paced throughout the book so that even through more than 900 pages I stayed engaged and interested.

I had mixed feelings about this book. It's a perfect book for those that like European/Medieval history. Ben Hopkin's Cathedral dives into the lives of builders, masonries, architects, merchants, the Church, and more, in Germany during the 1200s. It's divided into three books. I definitely enjoyed Book One as it built up the story. The last two got quite long and dragged more than it should. I started losing interest in some of the characters and their stories. The writing style; however, was great. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

"It's a story he likes to tell, how he first came to Hagenburg, how he bought his freedom, how he started as a stonecutters' apprentice, working at the Cathedral." I loved the first line of this novel, which not only fills you in on who is building this cathedral in 1229 Germany, but how they did it. Being involved in cathedral construction was a boon to the workers involved because it would take centuries and could guarantee employment for several generations.

"Cathedral" will make you grateful that you did not live in the 13th century, where life was "nasty, brutish, and short," to quote Thomas Hobbes. But people didn't realize that, as they find amazement in the soaring arches of the growing building, joy in the glory of God, happiness in some good grog and warmth with loved ones. If they are very very lucky, they will avoid getting tangled in the many political plots and dark plans of their betters.

I find Ben Hopkins a better writer than Ken Follett and his characters seem more genuine to their period. But Cathedral is a lot of book and requires attention and patience. If you are in a medieval frame of mind, this novel is perfect.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for digital access to this compelling title.

Cathedral is a sweeping story that engages you with a varied cast of characters that revolve around a cathedral under construction in the town of Hagenburg, Germany. While starting as a simple story of brothers searching for their freedom and a path forward in life , it ends up weaving a tale of success, grief, betrayal, faith and longing over a 100 year period, all with the cathedral like the sun around which the characters orbit. It begins when brothers Rettich and Emmerich come to Hagenburg after the death of their father and Rettich becomes an apprentice at the cathedral. From there the story expands in scope adding merchants, nobility, moneylenders, and bishops all circling each other seeking to improve their position and wealth at the expense of others. However, this story is about so much more than the building of a cathedral, mixing politics, religion, mercantilism, greed and the search for meaning into a tale that draws you in completely. The characters are so well defined and real to you that you truly feel for them through all of their successes, failures, joys and tragedies. I loved how the story continually moves forward, yet always brings you back to central themes and each individual's search for meaning in life. How each of them moves in and out of each others lives, with actions having unforeseen consequences years into the future. I so enjoyed getting to know Rettich and Emmerich and was really moved by the twists and turns that their lives took through the years. There are so many layers from small, intimate moments to larger issues of religious discrimination, the rise of the merchant class and man's relationship with God. A compelling, highly enjoyable read that pulled me in and kept me hooked waiting to find out the fate of the characters and the rose window of the cathedral. I would absolutely recommend this to readers who like medieval European history, and stories about cathedrals with very relatable, flawed and compelling characters.

This was an amazing book! A Ken Follett novel meets the Game Of Thrones series. It's the story of a cathedral being built in the 1200's. An amazing cast of interesting characters. Royalty, religious people, an emerging merchant class, peasants, knights, and on and on. The political maneuvering between, and amongst, these folk makes for great reading. And the treachery! My goodness, you could not predict who was going to betray who from chapter to chapter.
This is a long read. Not something you're going to start and finish in one sitting. However, at the end I found myself wishing that it would go on longer!
Give this one try, I think you'll enjoy it!
Thank you to Net Galley for giving me an advance copy. And to the author, for writing such an interesting novel!

Hagenburg, Germany is the center of the story beginning in 1229. Rettich Schaffer and his brother come into town to pay taxes and Rettich becomes a stone-cutter's apprentice. Through Rettich, other characters are introduced and it is more about the brutal religious history of the area than the actual building of the cathedral that the characters tell their stories. It made me grateful that I did not live in the time period.

I really loved this through the end of Book Two, but I just couldn’t get through Book Three. This is really a great book for anyone who enjoyed the Pillars of the Earth series, but unlike the Ken Follett books this one just seems a bit too long.. So many similarities between the two, but primarily that main characters are killed off when you least expect it and the conflict between church,, wealthy and poor. I wish this had ended with Book Two and tied up a few more loose ends. It is definitely worth reading but be prepared to make the commitment.

This is definitely one for readers of Ken Follet's "The Pillars of the Earth" and Ildefonso Falcones' " Cathedral of the Sea", both of which I have and love, so it's a no-brainer that this tome will be joining them on my book shelves.

Cathedral taps into the psyche of the people associated with its construction - the masters, the guilds, the merchants, the Church, whilst exploring the complexity of the mores and prejudices, the political and religious discord of the time. The carefully constructed and engaging narrative, a mix of first and third person, of the citizens of Hagenberg is told against the backdrop of the construction of the Cathedral, as their lives intersect across the pages as the years progress.

Immense, immersive, imaginative, indelible, impressive.

Beautifully written a novel that drew me in.A book of obsession of human frailty and emotions..A cathedral and the people who are involved in it living their lives in its shadow.A special novel that I will be recommending.#;netgalley#europabooks