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tonyriver's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this second novel by Garrido. Good translation too. While there are a couple of patches that were a little tortured, these flew past. Great lead character - a strong clever woman.
Fascinating story, with a basis in history, although of course a purely fictional tale. Fast moving and with interesting insights into the age. A little romance and action round off a good bit of story telling. I would give 4 1/2 stars if that was possible....
Well worth reading.
Fascinating story, with a basis in history, although of course a purely fictional tale. Fast moving and with interesting insights into the age. A little romance and action round off a good bit of story telling. I would give 4 1/2 stars if that was possible....
Well worth reading.
felinity's review against another edition
2.0
A historical mystery set in the 8th century, it follows the story of Theresa and her father as each crosses paths with a mysterious document of great importance.
Like [b:The Corpse Reader|18001610|The Corpse Reader|Antonio Garrido|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1370312360s/18001610.jpg|17641553] I found myself reminded of the Sister Fidelma books by [a:Peter Tremayne|16291|Peter Tremayne|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1284067779p2/16291.jpg], particularly towards the end. Alcuin's observations are worthy of Sherlock Holmes, and his morals sometimes seemed similar.
Sometimes there's a little awkwardness in the writing, but I put that down to phrases which don't quite translate. The main problem for me was that I really didn't like Theresa. She was too quick to forget her resolutions and very dismissive when it came to taking advice from others. Other characters were very one-sided, lacking depth, or overly simplistic (Helga, Leonora, even Althar), making it hard for me to understand their motivation and their actions.
The description of the scribe's work, especially the preparation of their parchment, ink and pens were interesting. I hadn't realized the scribes' tools themselves were such an art form.
If you want an unusual historical mystery, I'd recommend trying [b:The Corpse Reader|18001610|The Corpse Reader|Antonio Garrido|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1370312360s/18001610.jpg|17641553] by the same author instead.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Like [b:The Corpse Reader|18001610|The Corpse Reader|Antonio Garrido|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1370312360s/18001610.jpg|17641553] I found myself reminded of the Sister Fidelma books by [a:Peter Tremayne|16291|Peter Tremayne|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1284067779p2/16291.jpg], particularly towards the end. Alcuin's observations are worthy of Sherlock Holmes, and his morals sometimes seemed similar.
Spoiler
For a monk, he certainly didn't have problems with outright lies, let alone regularly stretching the truth. He and Theresa made a good pair, constantly lying for their own good cause and forgetting previous promises. Machiavelli would be proud.Sometimes there's a little awkwardness in the writing, but I put that down to phrases which don't quite translate. The main problem for me was that I really didn't like Theresa. She was too quick to forget her resolutions
Spoiler
- to make her father proud by being honest and not lying, and to not have sex with Hoos again -The description of the scribe's work, especially the preparation of their parchment, ink and pens were interesting. I hadn't realized the scribes' tools themselves were such an art form.
Spoiler
Unfortunately, at the end, I felt disappointed by the explanation of the document. It just didn't resonate as being of great value to me, though that may be because I didn't fully connect with the historical and geographic location either; it's a part of history quite unfamiliar to me, and the mix of tribes and customs were very confusing, seeming almost to serve as plot devices rather than any real purpose. We were offered the contrast of terrible and uncultured pagan Saxons against the educated and civilized beauty of Constantinople.If you want an unusual historical mystery, I'd recommend trying [b:The Corpse Reader|18001610|The Corpse Reader|Antonio Garrido|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1370312360s/18001610.jpg|17641553] by the same author instead.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
leapais's review against another edition
2.0
Gosto de romances históricos que nos ensinam enquanto nos divertimos, que nos mostram como era a vida antes de todas as facilidades que temos hoje. Neste caso temos um livro que podia ser bastante interessante - até por contar a história duma mulher que quebrou algumas regras por saber ler e escrever numa altura em que a leitura e a escrita estavam reservadas a poucos homens - mas a verdade é que acabou por se tornar aborrecido e de leitura difícil.
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