For the first third of the book I was truly entertained and knew it would be a 5 star book. But once the main characters joined the church it all went downhill from there. I hated how Card, a member of the church, trivialized pretty much every sacred thing about the church and its history. I can't believe I was actually able to get through it.

I was really excited to read this because I love pioneer stories, but this was definitely not the story I was expecting. This was a tale of hardship and faith, but of a different kind. I loved how Card had no fear to tackle what is sometimes a glazed over part of church history. I enjoyed his interpretations of things and situations. I wasn't sure how I felt about his interpretation of historical figures who really lived (i.e. the prophets) but I found it interesting and humanizing. However, that is the reason for the 3 star rating. I am sure Card did his research to make his writing as true to the real life personalities of these characters as possible, but I still am not totally comfortable with it. Besides that though, I loved the raw look at polygamy and what it was really like to live in old time Nauvoo.

Let me star by saind that I´m not a mormom, and the only reason that I read these book is that it´s written by Orson Scott Card. He is a master of science fiction, and never have disappointed me. I´ve even liked his biblical fiction, and don´t care about the political controversies that alienate some readers. Therefore, Saints is a good book, maybe too long, but easy to follow and powerful in the characterizations. I found interesting to read about a different culture and religion, and the poligamy angle was really well played. Also, the author did a lot of reserch about life in the 19th century, and his passion shines. Not a book for everyone, but hose with an opend mind will apreciate ir.

Long, but I learned many things I didn't know. It was very interesting.

Orson Scott Card, is to me a writer of science fiction, but I think wrote this book in his earlier years. It is a “history/theology” based novel describing the early days of the LDS church. Some dark times in both settings, England and America, provided a background for the very strong characters, and in particular the women. I like the way they were shown in their relationship to the men in their lives, and to the LDS church as well. Several different narrators tell the lengthy story but the continuity is never broken. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.

A very thick book (800 pages or so), but I loved it. The hardback book is the version that I read (not the one pictured above) and I think that's the best because you have a big essay at the end by Card that explains the story behind writing the book.

I have to confess that I had my husband start reading it and he was bothered by the use of swear words. To me the "colorful" words and some mature situations that were described (tastefully) I compare to looking at a classic painting with a nude woman in it - there is a purpose to the nudity and it gives a deeper meaning to the message of the painting - and it's done tastefully and doesn't give you the feeling that you're looking at porn. I've read other books with less swear words and mature situations that were written in such a way that I felt tainted and put down the book. Anyway - back to the book's content . . . the quickest answer would be to say that it is like the Work and the Glory series except with well written dialog, narration, characterization . . . okay so the only similarity is that it is a story of a fictional family in the 1800's whose lives become intertwined with the lives of real historical people such as Emma Smith, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball etc. What I think is most amazing is his treatment of polygomy. If that isn't the hardest subject to tackle, I don't know what is, but he pulled it off with amazing insight, I believe.

3.5. I loved the beginning.

Did not finish, barely started. I knew I was taking a risk by trying an Orson Scott card book. It had more swearing and sexuality than I like to read. Married or not, it is private and sacred. I should have read reviews before starting this.

I totally hated this book (also called "woman of destiny) and I thought it was weird that my mom referred it to me. It totally made me uncomfortable that this woman's whole world was to try to become a plural wife to Joseph Smith. It was Crap-ola!

Wow. This book demanded a lot from me but, boy did it deliver.
It's definitely not a book you'd want to read for Family Home Evening. It portrays the early Mormon pioneers and church leaders as humans with passions and weaknesses. To faithful members of the church, this may seem jarring and at times even blasphemous.
Although there are a few things I would've done differently had I been editing the book, I felt on the whole it was tastefully done. It made the characters real to me and helped me understand that a man can still be a prophet and still have human frailties. But it doesn't focus on those weaknesses it focuses on their everyday struggles to keep the church together, keep families safe and happy, and seeking out the Lord's will and accomplishing it.
Of most worth to me was the understanding I gained about the law of polygamy, why the early church practiced it, how it worked, and why it ended. His research is phenomenal.
Card argues that all church records and journals should be made public regardless of whether they might injure the church. His reasoning is that the church is true, so in the long run, the truth will out.
I believe the church is right to simplify and "clean up" the church history because so many members are just finding their faith. If they had to wade through raw history and every little thing that Joseph Smith supposedly did wrong, focus would be taken off the Book of Mormon and the absolute truth of the gospel.
The gospel is simple. Church history, not so much. I love the understanding this book afforded me (and yes it even strengthened my testimony of the church) but I would be careful with it.
I would recommend this book to non-Mormons wondering about polygamy and the strange ways of the church, and also to those members whose testimonies won't be swayed by a little raw realism.
Take this novel with a large grain of salt and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

This was almost what I wanted it to be. It would have benefitted from some better, less apologetic historical research that wasn’t necessarily available when Card wrote the book but made the errors pretty glaring now that we have so much scholarship on Nauvoo and Joseph Smith’s wives. It was also way too kind to Brigham Young.

It is an interesting read.