by Katherine Neville
The first novel from an imaginative young author who
entwines two parallel plots, in two
different centuries, employing famous personalities in cameo roles.
Reviewed by: Lynne Quido
About Lynne Quido
I loved "The Eight". That comment alone causes readers who appreciate
fiction writing for the writing caliber, as opposed to the plot, to groan
aloud. "The Eight" is an oversized (500+ pages) novel, a first time effort
for author Katherine Neville, whose later works are far less popular. "The
Eight" on the other hand, is much beloved and widely read.
Neville's prose is typical of first time authors. Characterization can be
thin, dialogue can be unrealistic, the romance altogether too passionate to
be believable. What distinguishes this work, and what has given the book
its cult following is the plot, the plot, the plot, the PLOT!
The premise takes two parallel events, in two different timeframes (the
'70's and the late 18th century) and weaves the stories together. Both are
quests for the mystical Montglane chess set, an Indian relic, once a gift to
Charlemagne. Neville's got an imagination that knows no bounds, and she
draws dozens of historical figures into the plot mix, both in this century
and that. Catherine the Great plays a role, as does modern-day despot
Muhammar Khaddafi. The Montglane chess set, like Tolkien's "The One Ring",
has mystical powers, and must be prevented, by an innocent, from falling
into the hands of those who represent evil and anarchy.
Part fairy tale, part romance, part historical fiction, part suspense novel,
"The Eight" is unforgettable for its complexity and the peek into the mind
of a great storyteller. You won't soon forget it!
Click here to buy this book, or read more about it at Amazon.com: The Eight
Copyright © by Lynne Quido, 2003
Reviewed by Lynne Quido:
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-- The Murder Book - by Jonathan Kellerman
-- Tuesdays with Morrie - by Mitch Albom
-- Girls' Poker Night - by Jill A. Davis
-- Dead Midnight - by Marcia Muller
-- The Jesus Thief - by J. R. Lankford
-- The Prettiest Feathers - by John Philpin, Patricia Sierra
-- Wherever You Go, There You Are - by Jon Kabat-Zinn
-- Demolition Angel - by Robert Crais
-- The Eight - by Katherine Neville
-- Mystic Rivert - by Dennis Lehane
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