It is an extremely tricky task, in my opinion, to seamlessly integrate two stories from distinct periods into a single novel.

In this particular instance, the execution wasn't overly proficient.

There are indeed some outstanding scenes that manage to captivate the reader's attention, and several moments of intense tension that raise the heart rate.

However, the problem lies in the fact that these engaging elements are not sustained throughout the entire narrative.

The story seems to lack a consistent flow and momentum, with the excellent parts being somewhat sporadic and not enough to carry the novel as a whole.

Consequently, the overall reading experience is somewhat marred by this inconsistency.

There is no doubt that in "reality", there are some slight exaggerations. Otherwise, it would be a perfect five. It's an excellent book.

I didn't have much time for reading, but I managed to devour two-thirds of the book in a day (and one night until 4:30).

Simply put, it's one of those books that won't allow you to let go of it from your hands.

It keeps you engaged from the very beginning, with its captivating story and well-developed characters.

The author has a unique writing style that makes it easy to get lost in the pages.

Even though I had limited time, I couldn't resist the urge to keep reading and find out what would happen next.

This book is definitely a must-read for anyone who loves a good story.

There is an interesting idea lurking beneath the pile of overwritten pages of this novel. Alas, it gets lost forever in a plot that bears a resemblance to a Scooby Doo episode, yet with historical characters.

I must give credit to the use of those historical figures, as well as the premise of the novel. However, everything else is just a jumble of words and ideas haphazardly thrown together.

Unfortunately, Neville doesn't fully pursue either the interesting idea or the potential of the historical setting. She simply likes to bombard the reader with them, as if she doesn't want to waste all the research she did.

Let's face it, no one expects high literature from this novel. It was meant to be a fast-paced, adventurous novel with a touch of history, mystery, and mysticism, but it falls short. There are too many digressions, especially in the parts involving Mireille, with excessive expositions and an overwhelming number of characters.

Yes, it's envisioned as a chess game, with 64 characters, but no one can make it interesting with that many. Not even G.R.R. Martin, who has written five novels each over 1000 pages long, can manage that.

The plot is predictable from the start, as the title itself hints at the secret that everyone is chasing. Deus ex machina solutions are abundant, and the ending is completely unsatisfying and fails to pay off. It would perhaps work better as a mediocre TV mini series.

This is my second encounter with The Eight by Katherine Neville.

I first delved into it a dozen years ago and, on a whim, decided to give it another go, fearing that perhaps I had overlooked some crucial elements during my initial reading.

However, I must be honest. I found it to be an excruciatingly tedious read. The storyline failed to grip me, and I struggled to maintain any semblance of interest in the characters.

To be fair, I did award it an additional star, as it is evident that the author dedicated an inordinate amount of time to writing and researching this work.

Nevertheless, this is merely my personal opinion, and I am well aware that the vast majority of readers would likely relish this book.

Each person's literary tastes are unique, and what may not appeal to me could be a masterpiece in the eyes of others.

Perhaps upon a third reading, I might discover the hidden gems that have thus far eluded me.

For now, though, I must admit that The Eight did not quite hit the mark for me.

This was an adventure/quest sort of (long) novel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

There are two timelines that form an interrelated plot. One is set during the French Revolution, a time of great upheaval and change. The other is slightly more current, specifically in the early 1970s.

In the earlier plot, there is a truly magnificent set of chess pieces and board. It is encrusted with jewels and has been floating about the world since Charlemagne's time. This adds an element of mystery and antiquity to the story.

In the 1970s, these chess pieces are still around, although no one really knows where they are. So, during the revolution, it's a time of "off with their heads" (although a couple of main characters do manage to survive). And in the more modern era, there is a really wild goose chase all over the world in search of these precious chess pieces.

The book takes you to Algeria, which was an interesting part. I don't believe I've read anything set in Algeria before. I found myself constantly looking up characters from the French Revolution, many of which were real people who lived in that era.

It's a really far-fetched plot, complete with a globe-trotting dog that survives numerous calamities. After reading this, I've come to the conclusion that adventure/quest books must not be my thing.

The ATY Goodreads Challenge - 2023
Prompt #30 - a book related to a chess piece

The Eight by Katherine Neville is an incredibly thrilling mystery/adventure. It features smart and capable heroines, a fascinating historical backdrop, intriguing mysteries, exotic locations, startling discoveries, math puzzles, codes and ciphers, amusing historical cameos, and countless twists and turns. The scope of the story is truly epic. While it may not be considered high art, it is extremely entertaining and enjoyable. Without a doubt, it is one of the most entertaining books I've ever read. Despite its flaws, it is highly satisfying. So, either I'm not a very discerning reader or the entertainment value is really that good. Or perhaps both.

This is one of those rare books that lives up to the cliché of being impossible to put down. It took me a while to get used to the narrative switching between two different time periods and two different heroines. But once I was fully immersed in the story, I did little else but read more of it. I even spent several hours telling my boyfriend all about it and reading parts of it out loud to him until I lost my voice.

As I mentioned earlier, it took me a bit of time to truly appreciate the book. As a history buff, I loved the opening in 1790s France, which is an undeniably fascinating setting. However, I found it very jarring to be suddenly pulled into a first-person narration in 1970s New York City. I thought the setting was too unexotic and the time period was much too recent to be of interest to me. But when the story returned to the past, I started to notice how unnatural the dialogue sometimes seemed. I also had some other complaints, such as the numerous characters and somewhat weak characterizations and motivations. But despite these flaws, I was still enjoying the story and wanted to read it all in one go.

Finally, I became so captivated by this book that I couldn't put it down if I could help it. I wanted to read it in one sitting to find out what happened next. It took me four days to finish, but if I hadn't talked to my boyfriend, it would have been three. This book made me excited to learn more about its themes, locations, characters, and ideas. I had been looking forward to reading it for a long time and had very high hopes. After reading some reviews on Goodreads, my expectations were somewhat lowered. But I'm happy to say that my hopes were met and my expectations were exceeded. Now, I can't wait to read the sequel that came out last year.

I've had The Eight on the TBR shelf next to my bed for two or three years.

I got it right around the time I had just finished reading The Da Vinci Code. The blurb on the back compared it to Brown's book, and the Bookcrosser who gave me the book had liked the intricacies of the plot.

This 600-page mystery involves a formula for an elixir of life, a rare chess set, and some Cold War era espionage. The story jumps between the close of the 18th century and "modern day" 1972. To make the chess themes stick, the book has 64 characters (one per square) and a whole bunch of boring detail that is taken so seriously. I was alternating between being bored and bemused by the pretentiousness of this book.

I'll concede that Neville is probably a better writer than Brown, but Brown seems to have more fun with his books. Dan Brown writes long-winded shaggy dog stories that draw on subjects I'm interested in (art history and technology) to tell implausible but entertaining adventure stories. The Eight didn't capture me in the same way. It just didn't have that same magic and excitement that Brown's books do. Maybe it's because I wasn't as invested in the themes or maybe it was the way the story was told. Either way, it's a book that I'm glad I finally read, but it's not one that I'll be rushing to recommend to others.

In general, it's as if Dan Brown decided to write "The Queen's Move", but on the way remembered that he is still Dan Brown.

As a result, we got a book about the fact that for thousands of years we have not been living very well because all the prominent politicians and artists, instead of engaging in politics and art, are collecting magical chess sets that grant either eternal life or eternal power, no one really knows, but the chess sets are good and we should take them. And now Napoleon is going to Russia because, they say, in the Winter Palace, Catherine the Second hid a chessboard under the floorboards. (No, seriously, in principle, there is no reason to go to Russia anymore.)

And in general, it's all about that there, and the Russian peasants in dirndls look at everything that is happening with a dark gaze directly from the depths of our mysterious soul, and the Soviet chess player defeats everyone because behind him stands the Palace of Pioneers, the only advanced institution, as the author notes, where chess champions are stamped. And, in short, Elon Musk flies to Mars, and there our robotics club members are sitting, and there is silence.

Along with Shantaram, which was reviewed previously, this book truly spoke to me. It grabbed my attention and wound its magic around me, seeping deep into my soul. I have probably read it at least ten times, and several sections even more than that.

Is it literary genius? No. However, is it well written and engrossing? Yes. Is it fast-paced and impossible to put down? Also yes. But is it perfect? No. The concept is so good that it had me longing to rewrite and re-imagine certain parts of it, constantly trying to think of ways to make the chess game metaphor even stronger.

In brief, and it's a rather long book, the story is divided into two halves that are woven together throughout. There is a current time section where the protagonist is a sassy 23-year-old female computer whizz. From the very first page, I completely became her, entering into her world as if it were my own (I should add that I am technologically challenged in real life). Reading about the author, it's clear that she has borrowed a great deal from her own life for this character. This includes some of the less likely things the character does, like working in Algiers, which the author actually did.

The other section is historical, incorporating just about everyone in history from Charlemagne to Napoleon into the narrative. Is it far-fetched? At times, yes, but it's so interesting that you don't spend too much time agonizing over it. Part of the beauty of this book is that it transports you to a different place, and you really don't want to leave.

Years after first reading this book, I learned that Katherine Neville had written it in a tree-house on the Californian coast. She described the house – a mansion wrapped around a huge tree trunk and perched on a cliff with miles of ocean stretching out before you – and it made me realize how important the place where you write can be. I know that Bryce Courtney, the author of 'Power of One', ties himself to a chair for hours in the evening to write, but if I were in that tree-house, I think I could write a bestseller too.

Years later, she has written a sequel, The Fire. It has the same voice, but this time it's the daughter of the original heroine. We get a glimpse of the mother, and I felt a certain nostalgia, longing to see more of her. However, the pace picks up, and you're off again. For both books, you need a week free, a glass of wine, and a fire – or a view of the Californian coast – and it will be as if you've visited all the exotic places and times without having to pay for the airfare (or time travel).

The absolute worst. Intolerable.

This is the kind of endless, deluded, humorless, self-satisfied, tone-deaf, utterly witless manuscript that I'm sure publishers encounter in the mail constantly but must NEVER EVER PUBLISH. I picked it up hoping for something approximately equivalent to the literary "National Treasure," only to end up with the literary equivalent of diarrhea. The fact that this is beloved by anyone anywhere, and that it ever managed to elicit the press quotes on the front cover, completely boggles my mind. There is not a single dimension of this that meets any standard of entertainment. It's not even acceptable as "just a big stupid mess but who cares." It is far worse and more painful than that.

It is solely recommended for those who don't plan to pay much attention to the story, or the characters, or, god help you, the words on the page - and simply choose their reading based on a checklist of genre elements. Apparently, there are many such people. Ugh. Even they should just get off on the back cover and move on.

That being said - yes, I did read this to completion. Because I am insane. Do not do this. You might think you're suffering through the prose for the story, but you're not. You're suffering through both the prose and the story, and plenty more besides. Most of all, you're suffering the author herself, whose literary company I have come to loathe and resent. May this bilious review rid me of her forever. Amen.

Katherine Neville is truly a remarkable individual who excels in multiple fields. She has been a successful model, a computer expert, a talented photographer, and an outstanding author. I had the privilege of reading the first book in the series, which has just been re-published digitally by Open Road Integrated Media. I am deeply grateful to them and to Net Galley for providing me with a review copy. This book was released on Tuesday and is now available for purchase.

The story is set in 1970, during the height of the Vietnam War. Our protagonist, Cat Velis, lives in New York City and works for Con Edison. After refusing to engage in illegal activities for her boss, who is involved in some shady dealings with a client, Cat is being sent to Algeria. However, before she can even start packing, a fortune teller warns her of great danger. She initially scoffs at the warning, but less than a week later, after two corpses turn up, her irritation quickly turns to fear. She then calls in her mentor, a mysterious man who seems to appear out of thin air, much like Gandalf. He comes and speaks to her in a similar vein as the fortune teller, but also tells her that she must go to Algeria and fulfill her destiny.

Interwoven with Cat's story is a tale that takes place during the French Revolution. The Montglane Abbey is closing its doors due to the Bill of Seizure. Buried beneath its floor for centuries is a legendary chess set of incalculable value. Composed of precious gems, gold, and silver, the set is even more valuable for the formula etched on the undersides of its individual pieces. The Abbess knows that she must separate the pieces and get them out of France, along with herself. She travels to Russia to seek the help of her closest friend, Catherine the Great. From there, the parallel story unfolds and eventually converges with Cat's.

This type of historical fiction is not usually my cup of tea. There are well-developed and highly sympathetic royal characters, while the working class and peasantry are portrayed as savage and dirty. It can be quite grating. While it is true that the French working class and peasantry did rise up and overthrow the monarchy, Neville's idealized portrayal of the royals makes one wonder why the masses would take such extreme measures. Unless, of course, it is due to some inherent inferiority in their DNA. I gritted my teeth and continued reading.

When references to the Freemasons and the number 666 were added, I was almost ready to throw my Kindle across the room! But I had a responsibility to the publisher, so I persevered. And I'm glad I did, because Neville's handling of the plot is truly ingenious. If one were to chart the book into a grid, it would correlate with the grid that is part of the story itself. If this doesn't make sense to you, all I can say is that you need to read the book and pay close attention. Look for the patterns; it's actually very clever! In the end, I was glad I had seen it through. Although there may be more famous people worked into the novel than is entirely natural, it is the elegance of the plot (and the detailed chess references) that sustains this substantial work, rather than historical accuracy or character development.

A knowledge of chess will definitely enhance the reader's understanding of this highly literate story. In fact, I found myself taking a few notes, even though I haven't played in years! Those who are not familiar with chess can still enjoy the book, but I do not recommend it to anyone for whom English is not their first language. The vocabulary and historical references may prove to be too much of a challenge, and you may not fully appreciate the story.
But I did.
I recommend this book to those who appreciate symmetry and precision in a novel.

More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRcDl...

FLASH! The definition of the word "thriller" has undergone a significant change. Now, it seems that the word "thriller" can encompass slow-moving, overly convoluted stories that meander from one point to another, covering very little actual plot.

Yes, we have yet another story in the vein of The Da Vinci Code. (I was informed that this book was written in '88. I had initially stated that it was "apparently inspired by said Da Vinci Code." My mistake. However, that doesn't make the book any better.) This story takes place in both the past and the future, filled with "countless" number-based clues, cues, and proofs.

That's right, the number.....8! It figures prominently in the story, duh, duh, duh.

Beginning back in the time of Charlemagne (or perhaps it goes even further back?), our story revolves around an ornate chess set that is imbued (or possibly endowed) with some great and (possibly) evil power.

So, a cunning abbess dispatches some nuns, each carrying a single piece of the chess set. (Well, she sends two novices who haven't taken their vows yet, and they go to the big city and become nude models... an interesting career choice for would-be nuns, you know.)

We are also following events in the "present" as "powers" strive to locate the said chess set.

With all these plots, counterplots, and conspiracies unfolding, how can this be one of the most boring, slow-moving, and stultifying books I've picked up in weeks?

I don't know. But it manages to be.

Certainly, I can't recommend this one.