User Review - Flag as inappropriateStunning portrayal of God living in a believers heart. I could not put this book down and now can just sit back in awe. Beautiful, beautiful story. I cried and laughed for joy as I read it, and almost sang aloud during some moments--though they would seem to be the saddest of all. Though the writing is in older English with a style that would never be published today (Alcock seems to not be familiar with the phrase "show don't tell"), I was swiftly caught up in the story and the lives of the brothers. In angry moments my pulse beat faster and my eyes flew across the pages, in grief-filled moments I felt their sorrow and wept with them, I shared their anxieties and laughed for joy as they discovered God more. Though I little cared for one minor plot twist, the story flowed beautifully in showing God's power and grace, and the blessedness of knowing Him that overcomes all trials--even the torture chamber of the Inquisition.
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Though dozens of characters, some of whom are beloved to the reader, die in the story, Alcock amazingly shows scarce a violent scene. Save for a swordfight between boys in which one is slightly injured, all violent scenes are show in retrospect, either a character or the narrator telling what happened in briefest terms. We see not so much what happened to the martyrs, as how God upheld them through it.
Still, this is not a children's book (though excellent for highschoolers) and I would also recommend caution in giving it to someone very sensitive to character hardships.
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The spiritual/theological content--mostly consisting of Catholic vs. Protestant--could be difficult to understand for those not accustomed to such subjects. For any Christian who has studied the Reformation at all, or knows their faith, it shouldn't be an unsurmountable issue.
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The main aspect of the book that I greatly appreciate is the historical accuracy. I believe the primary purpose of historical fiction is to "reveal, enforce, and illustrate the Truth" and Alcock did that excellently with this book.
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I beg you to forbear from turning to the end of the book from lack of patience or weariness with the story's pace. The end is well worth waiting for, if you will but read the whole thing first.
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Again, the older English used may give difficulty to some readers, so take heed on that score. However, if you can grasp my meaning in this review, you ought to follow the Spanish Brothers well enough. My speech tends to conform to that of which I have lately read.
