Malo me smeta besmisleni misticizam. It seems rather absurd and hard to understand. However, mi se autoričin stil pisanja jako sviđa. The author's writing style is really appealing to me. It has a certain charm and uniqueness that catches my attention. Zato slabija četvorka. That's why I rate it as a weaker four. Maybe the misticizam aspect detracts a bit from the overall experience, but the writing style still manages to hold my interest. I find myself drawn to the words and the way they are put together. Despite the flaws, there is something about this work that makes it worth reading and considering.

Puntuación por disfrute: 5 ⭐

Puntuación objetiva: 3,5 ⭐

I have enjoyed reading this book like few others. The hook has been tremendous, especially when reaching the second half, I couldn't stop reading. But let's be honest.

I heard that this story mixed chess and mathematics, and one could say that it does and doesn't. There are mathematical elements, of course, and even some past mathematicians who were very important in that science are mentioned, but it doesn't go very deep into the subject. The golden number, the magic square, and a few other things are talked about. Chess is also discussed, but more specifically the chessboard which is the main axis of the plot, the world that is created around that game, and how important it became in the 1970s.

We will follow two timelines that will regularly alternate chapters, which will ensure that you never lose the thread. The pace is very good, it doesn't stop, and sometimes we have scenes of pure adrenaline and action, especially towards the end.

The characters are very charismatic and you even end up getting attached to some of them. I also think that the dosage of information that the author gives you is well-measured, and that makes you want to keep reading.

But the story has scenes that are unnecessary for the plot. Sometimes events from the old timeline are narrated to us that are not relevant. And our main protagonist has moments when she seems to stumble around the world without a fixed direction, but somehow ends up finding the solution, call it luck or destiny, but it didn't seem entirely believable. Even when we reach the end and all the pieces start to fit into place, there are some details that we don't quite know how or why, and they are important for the final resolution.

I think it's an entertaining story with a certain touch of originality (as I said at the beginning, I really enjoyed it), but on the contrary, it has several flaws that if you're not immersed in the story, will make it a bit less enjoyable for you.

Even though this book was first published in 1988 and I had seen it on numerous occasions, I only recently made the decision to read it, despite not really knowing what it was about. I guessed it might have something to do with Chess.

Surprisingly, it did. The book follows two stories, one set in the aftermath of the French Revolution and the other in the early 1970s. A mystery surrounding an old chess set is uncovered in a manner similar to that of The Da Vinci Code. However, it should be noted that this book predates TDVC.

I find it difficult to truly formulate my opinions on this book. While it was entertaining for the most part, it was overly long and could have been told in several hundred fewer pages. I'm not usually a fan of the two-intertwined past-present day storyline type of story, but it didn't bother me in this case. However, I thought the 18th-century story was by far the most interesting.

What did bother me was the very convenient use of historical characters in completely unlikely settings just to give the story a more historical feel. The moment Napoleon showed up, I thought 'hahaha, NO'.

Despite having gained some kind of cult status in the last 25 years, this book left me with some mixed feelings.

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Trigger warnings: SO MUCH FATPHOBIA OMG. Murder, animal cruelty, violence, death of a loved one.

Here's the deal. I didn't notice when I downloaded this book from my library's Overdrive site that it was published 30 years ago. Since it's a 50-50 mix of historical fiction set during the French revolution and a young woman being sent from New York to Algeria for work in the 1970s, I didn't initially realize its age.

It wasn't until Lily appeared and we got almost constant references to her weight, figure, and "gelatinous body" that I connected the dots and thought, "Um, this is not okay at all. What the fuck? Oh, 1988, that makes sense."

Anyway, whenever Lily was on the page, I wanted to stab things. Which is a real bummer because Lily was actually a great character! But Cat spent half her time saying things like, "Lily's basically my best friend, but it's so gross how fat she is. Look how much better she looks now that we're stranded in the Sahara about to die and she's gone from flab to svelte curves!" and it just made me hate everything.

The rest of the book was...fine? It was an adventure novel about chess. So, if chess is your thing, maybe give it a try. But chess isn't my thing, so while the adventure aspects worked for me, the rest didn't. Also, it's at least a hundred pages too long. 610 pages of chess adventures is just too many pages.

Old book too. Please don't mind me. Keep reading your things.

This simple sentence seems to carry a certain charm. It might be a gentle reminder from someone who doesn't want to disturb the person engrossed in reading an old book.

The image that follows, with its animated gif, perhaps adds a touch of mystery or playfulness. It could be an illustration related to the book or something that catches the eye and makes one wonder.

As we look at this text and image combination, it makes us imagine the scene. Maybe it's a quiet corner of a library, with the reader deeply immersed in the words of the old book, while this person stands by, respecting their privacy.

It's a small moment that can spark our curiosity and make us think about the power of books and the importance of allowing others to have their reading space.

Fascinating and entertaining, this book truly captured my attention from the start. I found myself particularly drawn to the story set during the French Revolution. The way it was cleverly connected to the story set in the present day was nothing short of brilliant. It added an extra layer of depth and intrigue to the overall narrative.

However, towards the end, the story took a turn that I felt was a bit too far-fetched. Some of the plot developments seemed rather implausible, which unfortunately made it a bit harder for me to fully believe in the story. But despite this minor flaw, I still think it's a recommendable read.

The author's writing style is engaging and the characters are well-developed. The historical details in the French Revolution part were vividly描绘, transporting me back in time. And the connection between the two time periods was handled with great skill. Overall, it's a book that I would recommend to others who enjoy a good blend of history and mystery.

M-A-S-T-E-R-P-I-E-C-E!

If you are a fan of historical fiction like me, then this book is a must-read for you. Mirai, Valentine, Tayira, David, the abyss of Montglane, the entire Russian czar Catherine, her grandson Alexander, Napoleon Bonaparte, Isaac Newton, the mysterious history of the East, the Arab Bedouin community and their thousand-year-old mysterious legends, Charlemagne, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the pyramids of Egypt, Catherine de' Medici, Lily, Harry, Camel, Nim, Solerin, Mordechai, Mini, the game board, a game where each person is like a pawn on a game board! - This novel, The Eight, by Katherine Neville, with its vast plot and all these characters and events, has left me spellbound. I have been completely intoxicated by the historical tour and the merging of two timelines.

It is truly a remarkable work that takes the reader on an adventure through different eras and cultures, filled with mystery, intrigue, and excitement. The vivid descriptions and well-developed characters make it easy to immerse oneself in the story and become part of this fictional world. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction or is looking for a captivating read.

One of the most memorable books ever written

and one of the top 10 books of all time

were the claims made about this book in my paperback version of this novel. My book consisted of 614 pages of small print. However, it would be worth the read if those claims were indeed true. Sadly, they weren't (at least for me). By page 20, there were already significant story strands set in the years 782, 1790, and 1972, each having its own large cast of characters. I soon realized that life is simply too short to devote the necessary time and energy to this book. As a result, I had to give up and mark it as DNF (Did Not Finish). Overall, I would rate this book a 5.5/10. It had its moments, but ultimately it failed to capture my full attention and hold my interest throughout.

This book is truly a lovely read.

It employs flashbacks in an extremely effective manner. The author is nothing short of a genius. She has done her research with utmost precision and thoroughness, managing to incorporate almost every significant event that has occurred in the world into the story.

We have the Fibonacci number series, the magnificent Egyptian Pyramids, the momentous French Revolution, Napoleon's rise and fall, renowned composers like Bach and many others. Name it, and it's in there.

Moreover, all of these elements are ingeniously linked to the present.

I was completely engrossed and could not put the book down. Even after all this time, I still remember it vividly.

I would be more than happy to buy or swap this book with anyone. Just give me a beep!

The novel titled "The Eight" gives the impression of a student trying hard to impress her professor by stuffing as many similes as possible into her work, although this is rather ironic. I believe Neville chose the name "The Eight" perhaps because in each chapter, there are approximately eight sentences that manage to avoid a forced and awkward simile.

At least this was the case for the initial 90% of the novel, which was almost Dickensian in its meticulous detail. However, for the final 10%, it is written more like a short story. Months of time are skipped, and important, climactic scenes are crammed into just one or two pages. Neither of these pacing styles was appropriate, and the juxtaposition of the two was quite jarring.

The narrative is filled with too many characters and clumsy, pointless chess metaphors. It took me months to complete this book, and I'm truly unsure why I persevered. I suppose the much-hyped secret that was supposed to be revealed at the end kept me going. But in the end, it failed to satisfy, as this kind of ending has been done before.

An ancient chess set, a relic from a bygone era, holds within it mysteries and secrets. The French Revolution, a tumultuous period of change and upheaval, provides a backdrop of historical significance. Exotic Algeria, with its vibrant culture and unique landscapes, adds an element of allure. A host of conspiracies and cover-ups lurk beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered. The winding streets of the city are like a maze, leading the characters on a thrilling adventure. A dramatic desert storm descends, testing their courage and resolve. The age-old battle between good and evil rages on, as the characters fight for what they believe in. What more could you ask for in a book? I loved this book so much that after I read it, I immediately lent it to my sister, my closest friend. Whoops! Hopefully, it is being passed on and on and on forever, spreading its magic to countless readers. I love it, and I don't care what anybody else says. It is a literary masterpiece that will stay with me forever.

Well, this was indeed a rather long book - consisting of 600 pages with small print. However, it was most definitely worth my time.

I was truly enamored with the story that was set in the past! The present-day story was also quite good, but my attention was always more strongly drawn to Mireille and the experiences she was undergoing.

There were certain times when the author would engage in long descriptions regarding the formula, the elements, past mathematicians or philosophers, and so on. These aspects bored me to some extent. Although I made an effort to understand, I usually didn't quite get it. So, I simply skimmed through those parts, and yet I was still able to grasp the essence of the story.

The secret of the Eight at the end and the impact it had on Mireille was truly a surprise!

If you have a penchant for historical books that have a touch of the Da Vinci Code style, I would highly recommend this book! It offers a captivating blend of history, mystery, and intrigue that is sure to keep you engaged from start to finish.