Fall of Giants: A Promising Epic Weighed Down by Pacing and Plot Armour

This review contains major spoilers for both Fall of Giants and The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. If you haven’t read these books and want to avoid key plot details, I recommend finishing them before reading this review.

Recently, I finished Fall of Giants by Ken Follett, the first book in the Century Trilogy. As a massive fan of Ken Follett, I went into this novel with high expectations. While I did enjoy it, I had a few significant issues that held it back from reaching the heights of some of his other works. I plan to continue the series at some point because it is still a solid book, but in my opinion, it is the weakest of his novels I’ve read to date.

Two major aspects didn’t click for me: the pacing and the prevalence of plot armour.

Pacing

The overall story is engaging, but the pacing fell short of my expectations, especially as a fan of Follett’s Kingsbridge novels. For example, I even found his standalone novel Never more enjoyable than Fall of Giants. This book, at just shy of 1,000 pages, somehow felt rushed. The setup before World War I and the payoff afterward were well-executed, but the war itself felt hurried. If Follett had spent more time detailing battles or pivotal moments during the war, I think the story would have been more impactful.

One notable issue is the book’s focus on character-driven narratives. While this perspective brings a personal touch, it also minimizes the scale and devastation of the war. With so much ground to cover, attention to small details and descriptive passages—elements I personally love—were sacrificed. While this streamlined approach may appeal to some readers, I found myself longing for the richly detailed world-building I’ve come to expect from Follett. The book felt well-researched, but it lacked the immersive details that make readers feel like they’re truly alongside the characters.

Highlights

That’s not to say there weren’t standout moments. For example, the Christmas truce in the trenches was beautifully portrayed. It captured a fascinating and surreal part of history, showcasing soldiers from opposing sides meeting in no-man’s-land to celebrate Christmas together amidst the horrors of war. Another impactful scene was the delivery of letters informing families about the deaths of their loved ones during the Battle of the Somme. These moments were deeply moving but, unfortunately, too few and far between.

Plot Armour

The biggest flaw, in my opinion, was the excessive plot armour protecting the main characters. This is particularly problematic given the backdrop of the Great War, which was one of the most devastating conflicts in human history. While side characters did perish, I never felt a genuine sense of danger for any of the protagonists. Even when they were in the trenches or crossing no-man’s-land, there was an almost guaranteed safety net. Some characters sustained significant injuries, but it always felt like they would survive—and they always did. This lack of unpredictability diminished the emotional stakes and the realism of the story.

By contrast, in Pillars of the Earth, another of Follett’s novels, the realism of the time period made the story much more impactful. For instance, Tom Builder’s unexpected death was shocking and carried immense weight, reminding readers of the harsh realities of life in the Middle Ages. That level of unpredictability made the narrative feel more authentic and emotionally resonant.

Conclusion

Despite my criticisms, I want to emphasize that I did enjoy Fall of Giants and would still recommend it. Ken Follett excels at telling epic, well-researched historical tales with compelling characters and intricate world-building. However, these strengths were not as prominent in this novel compared to his other works. For this book to fully realize its potential, I think it would have needed to expand into its own trilogy. Of course, this is unrealistic, but given the sheer amount of material to cover—World War I alone could easily span multiple volumes—it felt like too much was packed into one book.

That said, Fall of Giants is an entertaining read and offers valuable insights into the World War I era. While it didn’t quite meet my expectations, I’m still excited to continue the Century Trilogy and see where Follett takes the story next.