one of my grandpas favorite authors - felt honored to read this early!! such an interesting historical fiction that kept me entertained despite the many pages

The creation of Stonehenge has always been veiled with mystery. Plenty of theories are out there, but Ken Follett gives us a tale full of hope, perseverance and self-discovery. When the farming tribes begin to test the boundaries of the woodlanders and the herdsmen, communities begin to rally together for a common cause to bring back balance to the Great Plain. Joia, a young priestess with big dreams for their monument, works with a flint miner, Seft, to build a structure unlike any the Great Plain has ever seen.

Ken Follett, once again, gives us a story that brings us back in time through the lenses of a cast of characters with their own motivations, beliefs and stories. Just like his other tales, Follett builds tension slowly as the reader will be rooting for the success of some and the downfall of others. To have a theory of the creation of Stonehenge fleshed out in this story keeps the reader invested, working to better understand the question, "How did they do it?"

Another page turner from Ken Follet! In his latest outing, Follet turns back time to around 2500 BCE and explores the mysterious origins of Stonehenge. Like his other works, Circle of Days is filled by a compelling cast of characters who I couldn't get enough of.

Ken Follett is so great at helping us understand the past by telling stories and Circle of Days is another great story. It gives us a glimpse into what may have been happening when our ancestors went to great labor to set up stone circles with the crowning glory of stone circles being Stonehenge. Stonehenge is a mystery that people have been trying to explain for centuries. Why was it built? Who built it? When? We can only be sure of one of those answers, it was built long, long ago.

Circle of Days sets out a theory that Stonehenge was a great calendar for people who likely could not even count, but they depended on the seasons for their very lives. It was important and the Circle is accurate to know when the solstices happen. Follett builds some drama in to the story in the way only he can. It is very worth the read!

Thank you NetGalley! An intricate look into a time well past. Society was divided into skill sets. Herders, farmers, flint miners, woodlanders and priestesses lived separately and came together during the rites to trade and copulate to strengthen the blood of their tribes. Seft, a skilled craftsmen, leaves his cruel family to become revered by his new community and a beloved husband and father. Joia, Seft’s sister-in-law, becomes High Priestess and after their previous monument’s wooden ring was destroyed, she and Seth plan to construct one out of stone! When one man tries to put himself above not only his own tribe but the whole plain, wars break out and threaten not only the build but their entire society! Another great story looking into history by Ken Follett!

Follett does a fantastic job of not only immersing the reader in the past, but also helping us completely accept the established contemporary logic of that period. He brings to life an ancient civilization with great detail and intrigue, and reminds us that the people of yesteryear were not necessarily all that different from us today.

Set around 2500 BCE, Circle of Days explores the mysterious story of Stonehenge.

Seft comes from a family of flint miners. The work is grueling and his father is harsh. When Seft meets Neen, a girl from a family of herders, he notices something different within her family - love and kindness.

When the farmers secretly take over land traditionally used for herding animals, Neen’s mother fears the outrage could spark a war between the two communities. Though she has never experienced war herself, she remembers the stories her parents told about a past conflict between the herders and the woodlanders.

Joia, Neen’s younger sister, is fascinated by the priestesses who guard the secrets of the sky. When the High Priestess teaches her a new way of counting - using discs instead of body parts - Joia becomes deeply intrigued and begins to understand her true calling.

At this time, the Great Plain is divided among three tribes: herders, farmers, and woodlanders. Mistrust among them is growing and acts of savage violence threaten to escalate the conflict. A devastating drought forces even the most generous to reconsider their willingness to share. Survival becomes the driving force.

When a wooden monument dedicated to the priestesses is destroyed, the High Priestess orders it rebuilt in stone. The necessary heavy stones lie far away, and fifteen of them are needed. Transporting them could take years. Yet, as heavy and impossible as the task may seem, one person is driven by greater force – a vision of the stone monument rising. The bloodshed, the loss, the arguments, and the violence all fuel the determination to bring it to life and to bring peace.

The story of Pia and Han – two young people from different tribes – unfolds during a time when inter-tribal relationships are forbidden. Despite the rules, they find a way to be together. The forbidden love and the suspenseful search that follows add twists that keep readers on edge.

The detailed depiction of how the stones are transported, and how the monument is built stone by stone, makes Circle of Days a captivating read. With its intriguing elements of ancient history, the story feels remarkably authentic to its time period. It’s an absorbing novel that turns pages quickly.

Ken Follett is a master storyteller; with fascinating characters he weaves a mesmerizing tale rooted in the mysteries of the past - authentic, engaging, and utterly captivating.

Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com

Sorry, but I gave up at around the halfway mark. I have never been able to finish a Ken Follett and hoped this would be an exception. Sadly, it wasn't.

Stonehenge is fascinating; this story isn't. Not unlike Pillars of the Earth, Circle of Days promises a great journey--the creation of an awe-inspiring monument--and yet immediately inspires the exact opposite of awe. The pace plods. The characters are too numerous, and many are indistinguishable from one another. They eat, sleep, have sex, talk about sex, and kill each other. There is nothing romantic or uplifting about any of it. The description is bland and functional, more like the action beats of a movie script.

I'm not the right person to verify the historical accuracy of the world-building, but I got the impression much of it was invented from whole cloth, because little is known about the subject. That's understandable. Still, whether it is at least a plausible picture of the time and place, I somehow doubt. I didn't buy the generalization that "farmers represent patriarchy" and "herders are free spirits." It felt more like a fantasy than historical fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Just like with Pillars of the Earth, I devoured this book and will read it again and again.

Stonehenge: the name itself conjures up a particular henge that has fascinated people for millennia. This long after it was built, we have so many questions about the people who built the henge. It tends to evoke many emotions for people, particularly when road construction and other projects threaten to harm the monument and/or the landscape.

The monument means different things to various people, but beneath all of it is a sense of curiosity about the people who built it. Ken Follett uses this curiosity--and consultation with experts--to explore a story of people living in and taking care of the landscape that gave rise to this awe-inspiring monument. He weaves a story of lives, landscapes, and religion that is challenging to put down. I read it in one day.

I was very pleased to see he has well-rounded gay characters in this book, unlike in some previous books.

I will, of course, be purchasing my own copy when it's out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

I was pleased to be offered an Advanced Reader Copy of the Circle of Days by Ken Follet. Having read several of his books previously, I was excited to embark on this adventure, written as a piece of historical fiction that was centered around the creation of Stonehenge nearly 4,500 years ago (2,500 BC). The story focuses on the relationships of multiple individuals living within three distinct but interconnected communities (Herders, Farmers, and Woodlanders). However, while there are multiple characters depicted from each community, I, like many other readers, struggled to connect with any of them. Sure, the perspectives of each character contributed valuable insight and information to the story, but I didn’t feel as though I were ‘rooting’ for any one character or characters.
Lack of character connection aside, the story itself gave a unique perspective to the purpose of the Stonehenge monument and the act of transiting it from a wooden monument to a stone monument. And while the act of transferring and erecting the stone monuments did not begin until nearly 75% of the way through the book, I felt that the overall momentum of the story flowed slowly, but well, throughout.
To readers considering Circle of Days, my words of advice would be to proceed excitedly, but leave any preconceived notions of Ken Follet’s writing behind. This story, more specifically it’s writing, is structure different than his previous works. In comparison, it almost feels basic. And perhaps, given the time, it is intended to be written that way.
Overall, I give this book a solid 3.75 stars.
I appreciate NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author the opportunity to receive the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was ok. Not my favorite of his and definitely not as rich to me as Pillars of the Earth. But it wasn't the worst thing I've ever read.

I enjoyed the book and read it very quickly. After reading "Pillars of the Earth" I was hooked and have read every Ken Follett book since. There are a lot of really shitty people in "Circle of Days" that you just know are going to cause problems. Unfortunately the book is extremely predictable, none of the "ass holes" ever learn a lesson or change their minds. The "good" people are extremely naive and constantly underestimate the bad guys which were always men (btw). I always judge books by how fast I finish and this was read very quickly so it still kept my interest. Maybe I'm nit picking. If you are a die hard fan then read this book you won't be disappointed. If you are going to dip your toe into the Ken Follett waters than start with "Pillars" and make this your last one after you are a fan.

I really enjoyed this view of prehistoric England. It's a great in tale about the building of Stonehenge. Follett goes into incredible detail and immerses the reader into the tale. It's very believable.

Ken Follett revisits ancient England, imagining the way Stonehenge came about. Joia and her sister Neen are part of the herder tribe. They meet Seft, a miner who's been mistreated by his family, at the summer festival in Neen's village. Seft immediately is entranced by Neen and wants to be with her. The three tribes in the area are the herders, the farmers, and the woodlanders, with wandering flint miners who live in family groups.

There is tension between the farmers and the other groups. The farmers always want more land, land that is claimed by the woodlanders and the shepherds. When a drought causes problems for them all, war breaks out and many are killed in battles between the groups. Joia becomes a priestess, helping to oversee the ceremonies ushering in the seasons in their holy place, with wooden arches where the priestesses dance. Seft leaves his brutal father and brothers and starts his own family with Neen. After the farmers destroy the wooden shrine, Seft and Joia become determined to build a new circle, made of indestructible stone.

Seft has become an excellent craftsman by this time, devising ways to build, repair, and improve upon anything he works on. The work of building the stone circle though, is going to require the cooperation of as many tribespeople as possible. And, with the head of the farmers adamantly opposed and resources stretched thin, Joia and Seft worry that it won't be possible to complete in their lifetimes.

As with his Pillars of the Earth series, Follett presents an idea of how engineering with primitive tools can be accomplished. Recommended to all fans of Follett, history buffs (especially those of British history), and , anyone who enjoys a good read.

I have historically loved this series of Ken Follett novels, beginning with The Pillars of the Earth. As with most series, though, when authors begin adding seemingly endless sequels and prequels, the series begins to lose its charm. This novel is set in very early Britain, when tribes hunted and gathered and were just beginning to settle in villages. I can see the throughline to Pillars of the via as this novel centers on the building of stone circles (should be catnip for me!) but the dialogue is stilted and the characters two-dimensional. This one's an easy skip unless you (like me) just need to see the series through.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

An interesting pre-historical novel set in 2500 BC that gives a probable explanation for the meaning and construction of Stonehenge. Like Follett’s other historical novels, it features men and women who think ahead of their time and seek practical solutions to otherwise seemingly impossible problems. In this case, how to move giant rocks over a great distance to build a stone monument that is impervious to fire and vandalism.
I have read most of Follett’s books. This, like the others, is well written and engaging. The conflicts encountered are very similar to those of our current culture. The hope is to rise above petty cultural rivalries and entrenched ways of thinking and accomplish new things in innovative ways.

Thanks to Grand Central and Netgalley for providing the ARC of Ken Follett’s latest. Very enjoyable historical fiction, if you’re already a Follett fan, you will enjoy this. The story centers on the events leading up to the construction of a Stonehenge type site. In that way, it’s akin to The Pillars of the Earth (although I don’t think this is quite the equal to that series). Lots of smart kind people interspersed with greedy and mean villains and what feels like a plausible engineering solution for the time. Recommended

Circle of Days centers around the making of Stonehenge. In classic Ken Follett style this story is rich in historical detail with excellent character development. Like most of his story’s there are courageous and smart leaders and ugly villains. I love the morals and values of the lead characters who slowly but surely win over everyone with their valuable ideas and strong leadership abilities instead of hatred and bullying. What a breath of fresh air compared to the world we live in today.

Ken Follett is a master storyteller. From Pillars of the Earth to this seminal well-written accoubt of the building of Stonehenge. Utterly engaging and wonderfully in depth with characters you fall in love with.. Another five star from this author.

What a grand story! I believe it would make a wonderful miniseries for people like me who love ancient history and wonder, was it really like this. The characters were amazing and had me, as the reader, invested in not only what was currently happening, but what was to happen in the future. It would appear that mankind has not changed that much since prehistoric times, the same meanness and evil still exists. Ken Follett describes things so well that you can picture the moving of sarsen stones in your minds eye. An adventure worth reading!