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astraia_sun's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I very much enjoyed the Book of Whispers. Set in a time period I don't read much (The Great Pilgrimage, now known as the First Crusade), it definitely transported me into a different time and place. Luca can see demons, and when his father gives him the Book of Whispers, he soon discovers there's a lot more at stake. He goes against his father's wishes and joins the Pilgrimage to free the Holy Land, but his main goal is at first saving his father's life as he had a prophetic dream about his death. And then, Luca meets a young woman named Suzan, and together they uncover a plot by the demon Thanatos to possess hundreds of thousands of people.
I appreciated the research the author did about several aspects of the Crusades, and the terrible things that happened. The humans did enough terrible things even without the influence of the demons the author inserted into the story. All in all, it was a spellbinding story that kept me reading, wanting to find out what happened and what was in store for the characters.
My one problem is I felt the book ended a bit too abruptly. I wanted the falling action to be fleshed out a bit more. I wouldn't say it was a bad ending, but I think it could have been nice to see a bit more after the climax, as we spent years with this characters and then after everything, it just stops. It wasn't enough to put me off the book, and I enjoyed the book very much.
I very much enjoyed the Book of Whispers. Set in a time period I don't read much (The Great Pilgrimage, now known as the First Crusade), it definitely transported me into a different time and place. Luca can see demons, and when his father gives him the Book of Whispers, he soon discovers there's a lot more at stake. He goes against his father's wishes and joins the Pilgrimage to free the Holy Land, but his main goal is at first saving his father's life as he had a prophetic dream about his death. And then, Luca meets a young woman named Suzan, and together they uncover a plot by the demon Thanatos to possess hundreds of thousands of people.
I appreciated the research the author did about several aspects of the Crusades, and the terrible things that happened. The humans did enough terrible things even without the influence of the demons the author inserted into the story. All in all, it was a spellbinding story that kept me reading, wanting to find out what happened and what was in store for the characters.
My one problem is I felt the book ended a bit too abruptly. I wanted the falling action to be fleshed out a bit more. I wouldn't say it was a bad ending, but I think it could have been nice to see a bit more after the climax, as we spent years with this characters and then after everything, it just stops. It wasn't enough to put me off the book, and I enjoyed the book very much.
ankysbookbubble's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book! 😃
I didn't know a lot about the crusades, so this book has left me shell-shocked!
The characters of Luca and Suzan, and the romance they share are all the sweetest things possible in the mayhem of the demons and all the evil that surrounds the pilgrims to Jerusalem.
There was history and there was fiction, there was comedy and there was romance. There was suspense and there was sarcasm.
So all in all, The Book Of Whispers was a power-packed, utterly interesting and awesome read!
I didn't know a lot about the crusades, so this book has left me shell-shocked!
The characters of Luca and Suzan, and the romance they share are all the sweetest things possible in the mayhem of the demons and all the evil that surrounds the pilgrims to Jerusalem.
There was history and there was fiction, there was comedy and there was romance. There was suspense and there was sarcasm.
So all in all, The Book Of Whispers was a power-packed, utterly interesting and awesome read!
cgriffin1's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
vadeknight's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Fun read.
vickylovesreading's review against another edition
2.0
I haven't quite finished this yet, but quite honestly it's fantastic. Really enjoying the mythology and lore behind the Book of Whispers and the demons. It's really interesting to see a book focussed on the history of the Christian crusades including fantasy, and it's really kept me hooked.
My only real complaint with this is that I felt like the characters were rushed and not fleshed out enough. I found it very hard to like Luca, and still am not sure about him. Suzan has been interesting but I would have liked to see more backstory from her. Similarly, it felt like her 'attraction' to him was forced, and actually it would have been more interesting to not see that.
My only real complaint with this is that I felt like the characters were rushed and not fleshed out enough. I found it very hard to like Luca, and still am not sure about him. Suzan has been interesting but I would have liked to see more backstory from her. Similarly, it felt like her 'attraction' to him was forced, and actually it would have been more interesting to not see that.
bookloversofi's review against another edition
4.0
This book took me by surprise has been so fun, full of magic and action
I want to thank to NetGalley and Text Publishing Company for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review
4/5 Strars
You can find this and more of my reviews on my blog A Book. A Thought.
I was a bit worried when I started with it since it's a historical fiction, I wasn't sure if it would catch me, but the promise of demons and magic kept me interested, and when I was halfway through the book I realized that the fact that it was a historical fiction hadn't affected in any way my enjoyment for it, in fact it has made me feel more confident to try more of the genre soon
The book begins in Tuscany around the year 1090, I'm sorry I don't remember the year exactly, following Luca, he's the young heir to the title of Count of Falconi, which is a great weight on his shoulders, but the big issue here is that he's able to see demons and also has premonitory dreams of what seems to be the murder of his father, this is something that torments Luca for which he decides, although it's prohibited to him, to follow his father on his journey from Italy towards Jerusalem in the crusades, along with Suzana a girl with a mysterious lineage who can also see demons, and from here they begin with their adventure
I had heard some people say that it was a rather slow book to read and that you enter the main story just after a couple of chapters, and I can say that it's actually true, you get into the real plot maybe after the 100 pages, but I didn't find it difficult to get into it, in fact, I think that everything that happens before is super important since we know more the main character, his family, and his affections and for me it has been enjoyable.
I like Luca as main character I think he has an inner strength that has trapped me, he has made me want to discover everything as much as he, I think he's a young man a bit careless at first, a little clumsy with his actions but he grows a lot during his journey and that's great, I still like it very much as it's a character who defends what he thinks, that has been super valued. Suzana has been incredible, she's a great leader, she's very strong and mysterious and I think in the end her story has catch me much more, it's very interesting
I think it would be amazing if there would be a sequel at some point, but on the other hand, it's a book that seems to me to be very good on its own, so if you're looking for a stand-alone and you enjoy historical fiction then it's a book that you should try, besides being very entertaining has also been very informative for me, I learned more about the crusades and the passings of the time and I liked that aspect of it
The book is narrated in a very nice but simple way but it has cost me a bit of getting used to it, in fact now that I've finished itI don't really feel that this is a book that falls into the YA category but I've found it more like a Middle Grade, since the only thing by which it's considered a YA book is for the age of the characters, I think the writer has focused a lot on the aspect of the adventure leaving everything quite simple, which may like you once you enter into it, even though I feel that for me, I would have liked to know more about why certain things happened and the why of some actions or to know more about some characters, but it ends up being enjoyable although I've lacked a little bit to be really a more solid read
Anyway, I highly recommend it if you want to go on a very entertaining journey full of demons, magic and love, as well as being located in a super interesting historical moment
textpublishing's review against another edition
5.0
‘An epic novel that merges history, make-believe, romance and the harshness of the Middle Ages.’
PS News
‘A stunning mix of high action, enthralling history and mesmerising magic.’
Alison Goodman, author of New York Times bestsellers Eon and Eona
‘The Book of Whispers combines history, fantasy, romance and the brutality of the Middle Ages in a satisfyingly epic novel.’
Books+Publishing
‘The Book of Whispers is fast paced and bloody in parts, not shying away from the brutality of the period and the atrocities committed during the Crusades; but it also shrewdly challenges the reader to think about religion, extremism and tolerance - particularly in relation to a region where those topics have particular significance.’
Lamont Books
‘One of my favourites of this year.’
Tea in the Treetops
‘This is a memorable book that will make the reader think about the futility of war and the ugliness of religious bigotry. At the same time the adventure and mayhem that Luca and Suzan face will carry the reader through to the thrilling end.’
ReadPlus
‘The Book of Whispers embraces its fantastical aspects without sacrificing the concrete, and offers an introspective glance into human nature.’
Foreword Reviews
PS News
‘A stunning mix of high action, enthralling history and mesmerising magic.’
Alison Goodman, author of New York Times bestsellers Eon and Eona
‘The Book of Whispers combines history, fantasy, romance and the brutality of the Middle Ages in a satisfyingly epic novel.’
Books+Publishing
‘The Book of Whispers is fast paced and bloody in parts, not shying away from the brutality of the period and the atrocities committed during the Crusades; but it also shrewdly challenges the reader to think about religion, extremism and tolerance - particularly in relation to a region where those topics have particular significance.’
Lamont Books
‘One of my favourites of this year.’
Tea in the Treetops
‘This is a memorable book that will make the reader think about the futility of war and the ugliness of religious bigotry. At the same time the adventure and mayhem that Luca and Suzan face will carry the reader through to the thrilling end.’
ReadPlus
‘The Book of Whispers embraces its fantastical aspects without sacrificing the concrete, and offers an introspective glance into human nature.’
Foreword Reviews
kirkw1972's review against another edition
2.0
I couldn't get into this one at all although the premise was really good. It's YA but really didn't feel it. The idea of every little thing having it's own demon felt a little weird. It made for a very busy world.
I liked the idea of the magic and demons but for me it didn't gel well with the crusades story. This is the second book recently I've read that's tried to do this and I didn't like that either so maybe this is just a style that isn't for me.
This one just wasn't my book. Free arc from netgalley
I liked the idea of the magic and demons but for me it didn't gel well with the crusades story. This is the second book recently I've read that's tried to do this and I didn't like that either so maybe this is just a style that isn't for me.
This one just wasn't my book. Free arc from netgalley
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
2.0
Finished reading: June 15th 2017
"I have a voice, I have words. I run to a future where there's the possibility of using them."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Text Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
Spoiler
I admit I have a weird obsession with any title that has the word 'book' or anything book-related in them, so combined with a stunning cover The Book Of Whispers was immediately on my radar. I requested a copy of this story mostly based on this obsession, and didn't realize before I started reading it that it had such a low Goodreads rating OR the fact that demons play such a big role in the story. To be honest, now I reread the blurb I don't understand how I could have missed that part... Because what I thought would be a historical (medieval) fiction about a mysterious book actually turned out to be more of a demon-infested fantasy read. Stories involving demons are always a hit or miss for me, so I guess I have myself to blame for that part... It wasn't just the demon overload that didn't work for me though, but also the way they were incorporated into the story. Especially in the beginning this mix of historical and fantasy felt awkward and the many many descriptions of the demons and all their strange forms slowed down the pace considerably. Trust me, there were many many eyebrow raises before the story started to flow better! Luckily the book itself made its appearance quite early on; otherwise I'm not sure if I would have decided to continue this story. I liked the medieval setting and the crusade and the idea behind The Book Of Whispers is without doubt an interesting and original one. I appreciate what the author wanted to do by mixing a traditional crusade story with fantasy and its complexity when trying to balance those elements; I just didn't enjoy actually reading it. Mind, this could have been just me and my aversion to demons... Although I had a hard time connecting to the writing style or characters as well. Apart from the awkward demon descriptions that slowed down the pace, the writing style in general didn't flow and felt a bit like trying to drive a car that is running out of fuel. This haltered feel did fade away a bit towards the ending, but all in all I struggled considerably reaching the final page. As for the characters: like I said, I had a hard time connecting to them and some of them were quite annoying. I liked that the demons were connected to the seven sins, but some of the characters were basically caricatures of those sins and maybe not that credible. Also, the romance. Boy, did I struggle with that feature. I know I'm almost never a fan, but besides the fact that this story has a love triangle, I found the romance in general didn't feel credible at all and mostly a cliche. I can't go into details without spoilers, but insta-love and all those sappy and cliche descriptions and feelings? Definitely could have done without that. There were some twists though and I liked the historical elements. The ending was interesting enough as well I guess. And there is no doubt this book surprised me, although in my case not in a good way...
Set in Tuscany, 1096 AD, Luca is the young heir to the title of Conte de Falconi. He has a problem though: he can see demons and has strange dreams that sometimes predict the future. Luca is forced to keep this a secret since people either don't believe him or are afraid of him... But when he sees his father murdered in one of those dreams, he is determined to stop this vision from coming true. This means following him on the great pilgrimage to capture the Holy Lands against his wishes... But will also be complicated when his father gives him an ancient book that holds a lot of mysteries just before they leave.
I like stories with a medieval setting and I was definitely looking forward to The Book Of Whispers, but in the end it just wasn't for me and not just because of the demon overload. The writing style, the demon descriptions, the characters, the romance... There was a lot that unfortunately didn't work for me and the historical setting couldn't make up for this. The idea behind The Book Of Whispers is very original though and it must have been a lot of work to mix both elements. There is no doubt this story had a lot of potential...
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.