schristines's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
amberfinnegan's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy Ken Follett’s writing and A Dangerous Fortune was no exception. The characters were well done and I especially enjoyed the mystery of death in the swimming pond.
jamieannharvey's review against another edition
5.0
As always, Ken delivers a great story in a dramatic historical context that is completely captivating and he can really create a good villain character!
alexblackreads's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first Follett novel and it wasn't really what I expected. There was lots of petty, gossipy melodrama. Which I didn't hate, but I kind of thought from the way people talk about him that his books would be different? Wrong expectations going in, I guess. I really thought it'd be something more thought provoking or deep, but it was a little shallow and kind of just easy fun. It's one of those books that I definitely enjoyed in the moment, but the more I think about it, the less I care.
Essentially we focus on the poor relation of a wealthy family who is brilliant and infinitely better than everyone else, but alas the world is against him. It felt like cheap drama.
To be honest, had this book been tweaked and the focus put more on the romance than the family drama, this could have made a decent romance novel. It was almost there and it might have been a better book for it.
But I really enjoyed the pace. This is so slow and detailed that it really allows the reader to follow along with everything. It flowed so unbelievably well and that more than anything is why I'm interested in reading more Follett. I'm curious to see what some of his other books are like.
Essentially we focus on the poor relation of a wealthy family who is brilliant and infinitely better than everyone else, but alas the world is against him. It felt like cheap drama.
To be honest, had this book been tweaked and the focus put more on the romance than the family drama, this could have made a decent romance novel. It was almost there and it might have been a better book for it.
But I really enjoyed the pace. This is so slow and detailed that it really allows the reader to follow along with everything. It flowed so unbelievably well and that more than anything is why I'm interested in reading more Follett. I'm curious to see what some of his other books are like.
latas's review against another edition
4.0
I give this 3.5 stars, rounded up. As most of the reviewers have said, this too follows 'The Ken Follett formula'. And I like this formula
nell_reads's review against another edition
1.0
It took me forever to finish this book.
First it got lost and I forgot about it. Then it came up again and I started but I got bored. If your expecting it to be like pillars of the earth then your expecting to much. Most of the book is dragged on and the villainess is rather dry. Nothing really happens until the last 8 chapters so if your bored just go that route. On another note, Ken does pick up his pace after these books so maybe this was a stepping stone towards better plot/editing.
First it got lost and I forgot about it. Then it came up again and I started but I got bored. If your expecting it to be like pillars of the earth then your expecting to much. Most of the book is dragged on and the villainess is rather dry. Nothing really happens until the last 8 chapters so if your bored just go that route. On another note, Ken does pick up his pace after these books so maybe this was a stepping stone towards better plot/editing.
llcooljabe's review against another edition
3.0
I thought I had read all Ken Follett's fiction, and realized recently, that I hadn't read A Dangerous Fortune. So I bought it.
I used to love ken Follett. But the Century Trilogy really irritated me. It was too predictable, with lazy writing, (which were totally not the standard with which he used to write), and too preachy (you can tell very quickly which are his demon political causes and which ones are his darlings). I begin this review with this comment simply because after reading A Dangerous Fortune, my impression is that this was the rough draft to the century trilogy, minus the politics. So maybe Follett's decline started earlier, and I just missed it? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
That being said, his usual trademarks were present: villain you could hate, flawed hero you cheer for, etc. Just not the usual "what's going to happen next" uncertainty you had with Eye of the needle and Pillars of the Earth
I used to love ken Follett. But the Century Trilogy really irritated me. It was too predictable, with lazy writing, (which were totally not the standard with which he used to write), and too preachy (you can tell very quickly which are his demon political causes and which ones are his darlings). I begin this review with this comment simply because after reading A Dangerous Fortune, my impression is that this was the rough draft to the century trilogy, minus the politics. So maybe Follett's decline started earlier, and I just missed it? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
That being said, his usual trademarks were present: villain you could hate, flawed hero you cheer for, etc. Just not the usual "what's going to happen next" uncertainty you had with Eye of the needle and Pillars of the Earth
acatarina's review against another edition
4.0
Once again Ken Follett made me read a book like there's no tomorrow.
The characters were very interesting and I liked knowing how the british society behaved in that time. The story turns some unexpected turns and is well written.
It wasn't the best of Follet, but it was pretty good.
The characters were very interesting and I liked knowing how the british society behaved in that time. The story turns some unexpected turns and is well written.
It wasn't the best of Follet, but it was pretty good.
thedoorintheceiling's review against another edition
4.0
Eng
As any Ken Follet novel, this one doesn't disappoint. Great storytelling and well written characters. But I am writing this review some years after reading this for my fellow readers of the portuguese version. The translation is very good. I usually read the original versions (eng) Ken Follet's novels but this one was gifted to me and I was surprised to have the exact same feeling as in the original versions.
PT
Como qualquer romance de Ken Follet, este não desilude. A historia super bem contada (chegando a ser viciante) e personagens bem escritos.
Mas estou a escrever esta crítica alguns anos depois de a ter lido para os meus colegas leitores da versão portuguesa. A tradução é muito boa. Normalmente leio as versões originais (inglês) dos romances de Ken Follet, mas este foi-me oferecido e fiquei surpreendida por ter exactamente a mesma sensação que tinha ao ler as versões originais.
As any Ken Follet novel, this one doesn't disappoint. Great storytelling and well written characters. But I am writing this review some years after reading this for my fellow readers of the portuguese version. The translation is very good. I usually read the original versions (eng) Ken Follet's novels but this one was gifted to me and I was surprised to have the exact same feeling as in the original versions.
PT
Como qualquer romance de Ken Follet, este não desilude. A historia super bem contada (chegando a ser viciante) e personagens bem escritos.
Mas estou a escrever esta crítica alguns anos depois de a ter lido para os meus colegas leitores da versão portuguesa. A tradução é muito boa. Normalmente leio as versões originais (inglês) dos romances de Ken Follet, mas este foi-me oferecido e fiquei surpreendida por ter exactamente a mesma sensação que tinha ao ler as versões originais.