3.25 This book was a bit of a slog fo me and not only because of its length. It builds up momentum very slowly and spends a lot of time on university infighting / medieval family drama in its first half of parallel plots. Both of those feel realistic, but at the same time more than a little tedious.

The depiction of the epidemic striking 2050ies Oxford is very realistic in its social repercussions, but incredibly quaint and unbelievable in its technological features. It's a new virus, but the vaccine is available within weeks, but the (picture) telephone system breaks down almost immediately. It does feel more like 1950ies at times. The author does manage to convey a properly British feel most of the times, but I cannot help think it was an outdated feel even at publication.

The medieval setting is a bit more ambiguous. While the characters feel real, the constant fear of being burnt at the stake doesn't - though that might be a case of really stupid historians, even if it does beggar belief. Not all details feel appropriate, but overall there is some real effort at verisimillitude.

Why then the rather low rating? Nothing to do with the work itself, but when the blurb spoils the central twist (occuring after more than two thirds of the book) it is hard to get excited in the first part. The second part not only picks up in pacing, but also feels far less scripted. It would be an easy 4.25, but with all that has gone on before (including the spoiler) I can't go further than 3.25.