I picked up this book at Eloor Library because the blurb on the cover stated that readers thrilled by The DaVinci Code will relish the multi-layered secrets of The Eight. The blurb was so right because I just loved this book.
It’s very difficult to describe this book in summary, but I will give it a go anyway. The story is about a magnificent chess set called the Montglane Service. Hidden in it is a secret formula that can provide unlimited powers to the person who uncovers the secret.
The story is set in two-time frames—1972 and at the time of the French Revolution, during the Terror, in 1790, and beyond.
The story is about a race by two different sides that have deliberately taken on identities as the Black and White “teams” in chess to collect the pieces of the Montglane Service that were scattered as a precautionary measure during the French Revolution. Murders occur in both periods during this struggle to obtain a means to what is thought to be unlimited power.
The adventure in the book is top-notch. There are car chases, exotic locations, and bad guys to outwit. However, sections of the book made me close the book and reflect on what I was reading. This isn’t just a time-pass thriller. There is loads of information on alchemy, physics, chess, mathematics, history, and a heavy dose of mysticism. It’s quite apparent that much research has gone into this book.
The parts I loved best were all the chess maneuverings. I also really loved the fact that the whole novel is structured like a giant chess game. One of the main characters, Catherine Velis, starts out as a pawn and slowly gains energy and strength as she moves across the board to replace the Black Queen. She eventually becomes the Black Queen and checks the White King. Superb stuff! It’s also fun to guess who plays which part in the chess game.
From the above paragraph, you would have guessed that only chess lovers can enjoy this book. That’s true to a certain extent. You could enjoy this book merely as an adventure story even if you don’t enjoy or know chess. But if you like chess, you’ll truly love and appreciate this book and understand all the nuances.
By no means is this a perfect book. There were a couple of minor, irritating flaws. Katherine Neville’s habit of injecting a phrase like little did she know that her actions would blah, blah, blah to keep the reader informed of events unfolding was downright irritating.
There were also too many (almost gratuitous) actual historical characters moving in and out of the plot. Talleyrand, Catherine the Great, Napoleon, Robespierre, Voltaire, William Blake, William Wordsworth, and tons more personalities populate the book. Only Talleyrand, Catherine the Great, and Napoleon move the story forward. The rest were not required.
There was also one more plot inconsistency. However, I don’t want to blog about it and give the plot away here.
But at the end of the day, I re-iterate what the blurb on the book cover said – If you have read The DaVinci Code and enjoyed it, then you’ll probably find this book enjoyable also. One caveat- this isn’t as easy a read as The DaVinci Code.
After reading this book, I had vivid mental images of beautiful chess pieces, so I just had to search for some beautiful chess imagery to share here.
There were too many characters, and quite unrealistic. However, I enjoyed the fast-moving, unique, and suspenseful plot.
Heh, I actually really disliked this book! Maybe it’s because I don’t know how to play chess. There were just too many of those irritating flaws for me.
I know! I read your review before I started the book, and I approached it with a great deal of apprehension.
After reading the 1st 100 pages, I was really inclined to agree with you.
But once the modern-day action shifted to Africa, I really started to get engrossed. That said, there are a lot of flaws in the plot. But I think I liked the concept enough to forgive them.
I guess different books appeal to different people.
Btw, I liked The Eight, so I guess you could link to me, if you want to counterbalance yours 🙂