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ammbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed the writing and the story. Takes place in Constantinople 70 years after the sack of Constantinople in 1204.
starblaze's review against another edition
2.0
The book was very boring and very religious. But it described the time period very well in detail.
darcerenity's review against another edition
1.0
I picked this up from the library and gave it a go. I read the first ten or twenty pages, but was disappointed to find both elements for which I usually read Anne Perry absent.
I like the "cozy" mystery feel of the World War One series, which interposes a small rural village in England and its domestic concerns over the larger-scale war scene and spy-thriller plot. The Anne Perry series which I read most enthusiastically is the Monk series, a great example of using psychological elements more than physical action to create high-tension suspense plots.
I was looking forward to seeing these techniques--either or both--applied to a Byzantine setting, but found instead a character cut off from her natural setting (i.e. the cozy village), with only the vaguest idea of what problem she is trying to solve (i.e. what the mystery actually is), though we do at least know why she is invested in solving it (her brother's welfare is at stake).
The character's methods of investigation seem round-about at best, self-defeating at worst, and the tension I presume I was supposed to feel on the character's behalf in the event her undercover identity should be discovered never materialized at all. In fact, I found the constant harping on the subject rather off-putting, a definite example of telling in the place of showing, a mistake Anne Perry should be experienced enough as a writer to avoid.
If I read further into this book, I might find it was good or even great, but I simply was not interested enough to invest the time, and doubt I will return to it with so many other potential reads available.
I like the "cozy" mystery feel of the World War One series, which interposes a small rural village in England and its domestic concerns over the larger-scale war scene and spy-thriller plot. The Anne Perry series which I read most enthusiastically is the Monk series, a great example of using psychological elements more than physical action to create high-tension suspense plots.
I was looking forward to seeing these techniques--either or both--applied to a Byzantine setting, but found instead a character cut off from her natural setting (i.e. the cozy village), with only the vaguest idea of what problem she is trying to solve (i.e. what the mystery actually is), though we do at least know why she is invested in solving it (her brother's welfare is at stake).
The character's methods of investigation seem round-about at best, self-defeating at worst, and the tension I presume I was supposed to feel on the character's behalf in the event her undercover identity should be discovered never materialized at all. In fact, I found the constant harping on the subject rather off-putting, a definite example of telling in the place of showing, a mistake Anne Perry should be experienced enough as a writer to avoid.
If I read further into this book, I might find it was good or even great, but I simply was not interested enough to invest the time, and doubt I will return to it with so many other potential reads available.
aemkea's review against another edition
3.0
Hmmmmm, the setting of this book fascinated me, but the characters ended up being more hollow than I would have liked in a novel.
The city ambience was described wonderfully- Byzantium is a generally interesting era and place in history anyway- but the story itself was not so strong.
The city ambience was described wonderfully- Byzantium is a generally interesting era and place in history anyway- but the story itself was not so strong.
judyward's review against another edition
2.0
I'm a fan of the books of Anne Perry. I've enjoyed the William Monk books, the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series, and especially the World War I series. So I eagerly anticipated reading this stand alone historical mystery that opens in 1273 in Constantinople. A major disappointment. The story was repetitive, slow moving, and the story could definitely been told in less than 515 pages. A strong editorial hand was needed. Having said that, Perry's historical research was quite interesting and quite evident. The main action in the novel takes place in Constantinople 70 years after the city was attacked and ransacked during the Fourth Crusade. And now it appears that another Crusade is being formed to move against the city. Enter Anna, a young physician, who comes to Constantinople to find out what happened to her twin brother, Justianian. To keep her identify a secret, she disguises herself as a eunuch named Anastasius and opens a medical practice that ultimately allows her to treat patients in the highest social and political circles in the city. She even becomes a familiar face in the palace and treats the emperor. A little far-fetched, but okay. As her medical practice grows, she asks incessant questions about her brother, whom she finds out has been sent into exile because of his role in a political murder. But few people seem to grow suspicious. Add to this the growing possibility of another crusade being launched to recapture the Holy Land. To ward off another devastasting attack on the city, there is a movement toward reaching a possible religious and political understanding with the Pope in Rome to bring the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church together to the dismay of Orthodox believers. The action in this novel takes place not only in Constantinople, but also in Rome, Venice, Sicily, Jerusalem and in the Sinai Desert.
marlo_c's review against another edition
2.0
The setting was interesting, as was the idea of the story, but it was difficult to follow at times because of the many, many characters. I finished it, but only toward the very end did I care what happened . . . barely. Anna, the main character, simply did not earn my concern.
affiknittyreads's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book, but more because I have developed an interest in and have been reading about Byzantine history than because the book itself was enjoyable. In spite of her creation of numerous characters, subplots, and intrigues, it feels as though there isn't much to the story. Some of these diversions seem like self-conscious attempts on the author's part to make the novel, well ... byzantine. Nevertheless, it was a fun addition to my recent reading on the topic. It would have been nice if Perry had provided a foreword or afterword with a little historical context.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
‘Trust your enemies, if you know who they are.’
This novel opens in 1273, almost seventy years after the sacking of Constantinople during the fourth crusade. The war-ravaged Byzantine Empire is still living with the consequences of the fourth crusade, and is again under threat. In order to avoid another sacking of Constantinople, the Emperor Michael Palaeologus is trying to unite the Greek (Orthodox) and Latin (Catholic) Churches. This is the brief historical background to the novel, and sets the scene for the intrigue and unrest that we see mainly through the eyes of the fictional eyes of Anna Zarides.
Anna Zarides, disguised as a eunuch named Anastasius, is a skilled physician learned in Jewish and Muslim medicine. Anna has travelled to Constantinople to discover why her twin brother Justinian has been implicated in the murder of Bessarion. Disguised as Anastasius, Anna has access to people and to knowledge that would be unavailable to her as a woman: eunuchs have their own power and invisibility in Constantinople.
‘The character of eunuchs was like the sheen on the silk – fluid, unpredictable. A third gender, male and female yet neither.’
This is a sprawling and at times convoluted story as befits the period in which it is set and the events it depicts. Intrigue, politics and religion each have a role and some knowledge of the history helps in order to understand the tensions and power struggles between various groups.
I enjoyed this novel, but more because of the setting than because of Anna’s quest for the truth of her brother’s involvement in Bessarion’s murder. I found the fictional component interesting rather than compelling, but the setting was magnificent.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This novel opens in 1273, almost seventy years after the sacking of Constantinople during the fourth crusade. The war-ravaged Byzantine Empire is still living with the consequences of the fourth crusade, and is again under threat. In order to avoid another sacking of Constantinople, the Emperor Michael Palaeologus is trying to unite the Greek (Orthodox) and Latin (Catholic) Churches. This is the brief historical background to the novel, and sets the scene for the intrigue and unrest that we see mainly through the eyes of the fictional eyes of Anna Zarides.
Anna Zarides, disguised as a eunuch named Anastasius, is a skilled physician learned in Jewish and Muslim medicine. Anna has travelled to Constantinople to discover why her twin brother Justinian has been implicated in the murder of Bessarion. Disguised as Anastasius, Anna has access to people and to knowledge that would be unavailable to her as a woman: eunuchs have their own power and invisibility in Constantinople.
‘The character of eunuchs was like the sheen on the silk – fluid, unpredictable. A third gender, male and female yet neither.’
This is a sprawling and at times convoluted story as befits the period in which it is set and the events it depicts. Intrigue, politics and religion each have a role and some knowledge of the history helps in order to understand the tensions and power struggles between various groups.
I enjoyed this novel, but more because of the setting than because of Anna’s quest for the truth of her brother’s involvement in Bessarion’s murder. I found the fictional component interesting rather than compelling, but the setting was magnificent.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
emiged's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. Closer to a 2.5, but not enough to round up.
It started out slow, though it did pick up about halfway through. I just couldn't bring myself to care for any of the characters. Most were so two-dimensional I had a hard time keeping them straight, which is fairly odd for an Anne Perry novel. A few characters, like Anna, Constantine, and Giuliano, showed some interesting growth or change along the way.
I was initially drawn to the book because of the setting; 13th century Constantinople fascinates me. And Ms. Perry obligingly provides many contextual details and information about its history, religion and culture. The book covers almost a decade in 515 pages and it was both too long and too short, if that makes any sense. To truly cover this decade with all its intrigues and political maneuverings all over Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, not to mention further East, it should have taken many more pages. But I certainly was committed enough to the characters to stick with it for more than the 500+ pages I did (but almost didn't).
Ms. Perry does get in some interesting thoughts on Church vs. God and the necessity (or not) of violence in defending a way of life against oppressors. But I kind of wish I'd put the book down around the 100 page mark and spent the time doing something else.
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
It started out slow, though it did pick up about halfway through. I just couldn't bring myself to care for any of the characters. Most were so two-dimensional I had a hard time keeping them straight, which is fairly odd for an Anne Perry novel. A few characters, like Anna, Constantine, and Giuliano, showed some interesting growth or change along the way.
I was initially drawn to the book because of the setting; 13th century Constantinople fascinates me. And Ms. Perry obligingly provides many contextual details and information about its history, religion and culture. The book covers almost a decade in 515 pages and it was both too long and too short, if that makes any sense. To truly cover this decade with all its intrigues and political maneuverings all over Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, not to mention further East, it should have taken many more pages. But I certainly was committed enough to the characters to stick with it for more than the 500+ pages I did (but almost didn't).
Ms. Perry does get in some interesting thoughts on Church vs. God and the necessity (or not) of violence in defending a way of life against oppressors. But I kind of wish I'd put the book down around the 100 page mark and spent the time doing something else.
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
bookstuff's review against another edition
4.0
Torn between 4 and 5 stars.
(writing this without the book at hand, so I hope I get the names right)
The historical part of this history is fantastic. I felt really immersed in Byzantium as I read it.
The story itself is slow but interesting. The main character, Anna, is a foreigner masquerading as a eunuch doctor in order to investigate the cause of her brother's exile and imprisonment. Anna is a bit too goody-good to start with, but the eunuch-impersonation makes her character more interesting. However, her investigation takes years (slow story, as I said). The most interesting character is Zoe Crysaphes, a 70-plus year old matron of wealth and power who is driven by vengeance. She presents first as an antagonist and villain, then gradually grows into an anti-hero. I think she is one of the most interesting characters Perry has ever written. The main conflict is the status of Byzantium itself -- barely recovering from being sacked by Crusaders and still struggling to maintain its independence from Rome, will it survive another Crusade?
So why not 5 stars? I think because it suffers from Perry's usual falws -- a bit too much telling; characters a bit too emo and mary-sue-ish. But despite that, this is an amazing book; with depth and breadth that make such flaws forgivable. I highly rec it.
(writing this without the book at hand, so I hope I get the names right)
The historical part of this history is fantastic. I felt really immersed in Byzantium as I read it.
The story itself is slow but interesting. The main character, Anna, is a foreigner masquerading as a eunuch doctor in order to investigate the cause of her brother's exile and imprisonment. Anna is a bit too goody-good to start with, but the eunuch-impersonation makes her character more interesting. However, her investigation takes years (slow story, as I said). The most interesting character is Zoe Crysaphes, a 70-plus year old matron of wealth and power who is driven by vengeance. She presents first as an antagonist and villain, then gradually grows into an anti-hero. I think she is one of the most interesting characters Perry has ever written. The main conflict is the status of Byzantium itself -- barely recovering from being sacked by Crusaders and still struggling to maintain its independence from Rome, will it survive another Crusade?
So why not 5 stars? I think because it suffers from Perry's usual falws -- a bit too much telling; characters a bit too emo and mary-sue-ish. But despite that, this is an amazing book; with depth and breadth that make such flaws forgivable. I highly rec it.