Published: 1997
Cover version that I have.
Author: Katherine Neville
Series: 1 of 2 (2nd book is called The Fire)
Genres: Technothrillers, Conspiracy Thrillers, Historical Thrillers, Quest, Adventure
The first thing you notice is the amount of detail and research that was put into writing this novel by the writer. I think she loves to research as a hobby and finds facts to fascinate herself, and now she is doing the same with the readers of her books. She took all the facts and knowledge and then mixed it up with complex characters and two different lifetimes in different eras of our world that spans over two hundred years.
I enjoyed it because I knew it was not just about chess, as its cover or name suggests. It is about everything the word eight represents, and that is infinity and the universe. The facts will surely blow your mind, and everything around you will start to feel new, and the meaning behind many things will open up to you.
I know, if hundred people gave five stars to this book, one is surely going to give one star, but the reason is not that it is boring or long, it’s in the taste of those people, not everyone likes everything even it is perfect.
This story is going to grip you and will not let you go till you are finished with it. I dare you to start the book and then see if you can sleep without thinking about it until you end it. I recommend you read it without giving a big gap between the reading sessions like more than a week because if you do, chances are you may have to restart the book because of the size and complexity of the book. But don’t worry, I know few people who read this book more than once because it is so amazing.
Adventure and action are great with historical location and characters from real life but I can’t go into detail as always, because of spreading the spoilers.
From the back cover:
“New York City, 1972—A dabbler in mathematics and chess, Catherine Velis is also a computer expert for a Big Eight accounting firm. Before heading off to a new assignment in Algeria, Cat has her palm read by a fortune-teller. The woman warns Cat of danger. Then an antique dealer approaches Cat with a mysterious offer: He has an anonymous client who is trying to collect the pieces of an ancient chess service, purported to be in Algeria. If Cat can bring the pieces back, there will be a generous reward.
The South of France, 1790—Mireille de Remy and her cousin Valentine are young novices at the fortress like Montglane Abbey. With France aflame in revolution, the two girls burn to rebel against constricted convent life—and their means of escape is at hand. Buried deep within the abbey are pieces of the Montglane Chess Service, once owned by Charlemagne. Whoever reassembles the pieces can play a game of unlimited power. But to keep the Game a secret from those who would abuse it, the two young women must scatter the pieces throughout the world. . . .”
I want to give 100/100 but this book may be too much for some new or slow readers because it is very long and full of back stories and knowledge that may feel boring to the people who are not interested in real-life facts. Otherwise, it is one of the greatest first books by any writer.
Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 95/100 YES.
Buy the book here:
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