Much like it's predecessor, this book is astounding. It's beautifully written and breaks genre in the most wonderful of ways. While BRING UP THE BODIES is more plot-focused than WOLF HALL, the lovely dream-like detachment of the first novel is still ever-present and engrossing. The little details about daily life, particularly the descriptions of the weather, food, and Christmas celebrations, added much-needed bright spots in a very dark book. I thought the style and details were even more important in this book, because it carried me through the latter half of the novel, which focused on the Boleyn's downfall.

This book seriously made me reconsider ever wanting to time travel to Henry VIII's England. During this second half, Thomas Cromwell wades through the black goop of human corruption, manipulation, misogyny, ambition, greed, and hypocrisy. While more sympathetic or morally good characters are introduced in the beginning (ex: Jane Seymour, Chapuys, Katherine, Cromwell's family), they fade from the story to the point where the only character with any sort of moral goodness is the womanizing George Boleyn, who seems to honestly care for his sister's happiness. It left a sick taste in my mouth. It made me wonder about the point/use of ambition. What's the use of commanding a country if you must damn all love, kindness, and human tenderness? *shudders* So awful.

Be that as it may, I eagerly await the next book and recommend the first two to any historical fiction fans out there. Read on!