Review: The Mirror and the Light (Thomas Cromwell Trilogy #3)

5 stars. Although I enjoyed this the least out of all three, I can't give it anything less. It is an impressive conclusion to an impressive colossus of historical fiction that should be widely-read and widely-studied for years to come. Hilary Mantel has taken me on what feels like an actual ... ugh, so cheesy ... but an actual journey. The final few sentences are even more breathtaking and heartbreaking than I expected.

We return smoothly back through the door into England almost immediately after we left. Anne Boleyn has been executed and Henry VIII - more volatile every day - needs a new bride. Talented Thomas Cromwell has risen above his common blood to serve as a noble and maintain stability in the English realm, but despite successes and titles and financial security, his job is not an easy one. It is, in fact, a dangerous one. 

Mantel takes her time. She travels, she leans, she slips and slides, she spirals and circles the drain slowly, slowly, slowly. She spells out the story with her ever-challenging, ever-beautiful prose and serves as a steadfast, if not long-winded, guide. Thomas Cromwell's character is painted with sympathy and care - the question of accuracy isn't even on the table. It's just compelling.

I've written about this in my reviews of the first two books, but I love what she does with images. A star, a leopard, a memory, a jewel ... she breathes life into these things, placing them as signposts or symbols throughout the narrative. The level of detail (and the scope of the political intrigues) would be intimidating, if not for the clarity she offers. I never felt as though she asked too much, even with her nicknames and varying names/titles and flashbacks. That's just life: a confusing, very complicated, sad, every man for himself roller coaster ride with the slight, slippery promise of a satisfying conclusion.

I wish there was more.

The Mirror and the Light on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads