Good intentions, poor execution. The book offers an interesting look at medieval and monastic life, with descriptions of world- and churchbuilding I found quite fascinating - yet all of it was ruined for me with very poor characterisation, developments in the plot consisting of problems that are solved way too easily and this occurs far too often. Characters are often incredibly naive (even the ones that should have been likeable) and major moments for character development are ignored or handled in disturbingly weird ways (one character has a very brief mourning period).