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jnicweb's review
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Enjoyed the idea of the book but found the plot very slow. There was a cool secret to be found but the author hid it away in the characters and the plot. Not as exciting as I wanted it to be.
thesassybookworm's review
4.0
I love a good conspiracy theory and this novel didn't disappoint! This is a beautifully written and thought provoking novel concerning Da Vinci's Last Supper and it is obvious that the author has done his homework. Is there really a message hidden in the Last Supper? I don't really know, but it is a lot of fun to speculate!
jenny101's review against another edition
3.0
Strains of Umberto Eco's "The Name of the Rose" are played throughout this book. One could say it is a combination between the thinking man's Dan Brown and the common man's Eco. If you like a more cerebral mystery set against a (fairly accurate) historical backdrop, check this one out.
millen13's review
3.0
The da Vinci code featuring the actual Leonardo da Vinci. No cliff hangers, but a well told story full of secrets and symbols. It is a journey through the hidden meanings of the Last Supper just as Leonardo was putting the finishing touches to the masterpiece.
Perfect for those who enjoy historical fiction.
Perfect for those who enjoy historical fiction.
clskvarce's review against another edition
3.0
This book was just okay. I found that it didn't flow like it should, and blamed this on the fact that it was translated into English. It was a good enough story, but I had trouble forcing myself to read it, and found myself just wanting it to be over so I could read something else. There are a lot of other books out there that cover similar topics that are far more interesting.
bookthia's review
3.0
So this was written before Dan Brown made "religious history/mystery" a thing, so I can't accuse it of being a 'knock-off' but the similarities were strong. So, too, were the differences. Originally written in Spanish, this translated novel has a more serious tone, as it is set in the 15th century monastery. Dominican, no less. Those Dominicans do take their religion seriously. What I liked about this one was that the story focused on the conflict between Christianity and the Cathars, alleging that Leonardo di Vinci placed hidden messages in his Last Supper. In attempting to solve the riddle, there is murder and even a little mayhem. It's somewhat predictable, but still entertaining and occasionally informative. I did some extra reading on the Cathar faith after I finished to see how much of the author's descriptions of the Cathars were accurate. It was very accurate with a fairly good story wrapped around it, so I was pleased to have picked it up.
pagesforages's review against another edition
1.0
The information in this novel was interesting however the execution of the story was anything but.
piercedkl's review
4.0
Good story about the painting of the Last Supper and possible secrets that Leonardo might have painted in. While I haven't read "Name of the Rose," I imagine this to be a mix of that book and Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code."
thebookvault's review against another edition
3.0
The book was predictable. I liked it, though--easy read.
liantener's review against another edition
3.0
Novela de misterio alrededor de "La Ultima Cena" de Leonardo Da Vinci, que resulta entretenida e interesante.
El padre Leire, miembro de la Santa Inquisición de Roma, debe viajar a Milán para averiguar si es verdad que el mural que está pintando el maestro Leonardo Da Vinci en Santa María de la Gracia contiene algún mensaje herético, según cuentan ciertas cartas de un autor anónimo.
El gusto de Javier Sierra por los enigmas y acertijos puebla toda la novela, aprovechando el gusto que también tenía Leonardo por ellos y por todas las especulaciones que rodean a su obra. A diferencia de la famosa "El Código Da Vinci", ésta trata de verter todas las posibilidades conocidas dentro de la trama, en vez de "preferir" una sola.
El trabajo es interesante, y lo suficientemente corto para no cansar al lector con las especulaciones e intrigas de todos los personajes.
Una visión singular de Leonardo Da Vinci y sus creencias religiosas, y en particular de las "omisiones" presentes en el mural más famoso del artista. Recomendable para todos los fans de los misterios históricos y mensajes ocultos, pero no tanto para quienes quieren conocer más a fondo al genio Da Vinci, para lo cuál quizá una obra más seria sería recomendable.
El padre Leire, miembro de la Santa Inquisición de Roma, debe viajar a Milán para averiguar si es verdad que el mural que está pintando el maestro Leonardo Da Vinci en Santa María de la Gracia contiene algún mensaje herético, según cuentan ciertas cartas de un autor anónimo.
El gusto de Javier Sierra por los enigmas y acertijos puebla toda la novela, aprovechando el gusto que también tenía Leonardo por ellos y por todas las especulaciones que rodean a su obra. A diferencia de la famosa "El Código Da Vinci", ésta trata de verter todas las posibilidades conocidas dentro de la trama, en vez de "preferir" una sola.
El trabajo es interesante, y lo suficientemente corto para no cansar al lector con las especulaciones e intrigas de todos los personajes.
Una visión singular de Leonardo Da Vinci y sus creencias religiosas, y en particular de las "omisiones" presentes en el mural más famoso del artista. Recomendable para todos los fans de los misterios históricos y mensajes ocultos, pero no tanto para quienes quieren conocer más a fondo al genio Da Vinci, para lo cuál quizá una obra más seria sería recomendable.