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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-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
This was a fine example of historical fiction. I've always enjoyed Kate Mosse's novels and this was another success for her.
The novel focuses on Minou Joubert and her family during the war between Catholics and Huguenots in France in the fifteen hundreds. I liked the way she combined descriptions and storylines about the war while intertwining it with the personal storyline being experienced by Minou during her time in Toulouse and then Puivert.
I have to say I did fail to see how the prologue, set in the eighteen hundreds, ties into the rest of the novel (other than mentioning the will) but I presume that will tie up in the rest of the series.
Despite this, and the fact that I generally prefer her time slip novels (Labyrinth/Sepulchre/Citadel) this still gets a very well deserved 5 stars.
The novel focuses on Minou Joubert and her family during the war between Catholics and Huguenots in France in the fifteen hundreds. I liked the way she combined descriptions and storylines about the war while intertwining it with the personal storyline being experienced by Minou during her time in Toulouse and then Puivert.
I have to say I did fail to see how the prologue, set in the eighteen hundreds, ties into the rest of the novel (other than mentioning the will) but I presume that will tie up in the rest of the series.
Despite this, and the fact that I generally prefer her time slip novels (Labyrinth/Sepulchre/Citadel) this still gets a very well deserved 5 stars.
A mystery set in the Catholic-Hugenot wars of the sixteenth century, this novel is unfortunately a total bore. The history is presented pedantically; the main characters are a tired stereotype of lovers from different religions, the kind aunt/nursemaid, and evil priest; the plot is absurd; and it is all overwritten, slow-moving, and long. Mosse's previous works also generally involve absurd plots and French history, but none have ever seemed as slow or as dull or as full of non-developed characters as this one.
My favourite of Kate’s books will always be labyrinth, (hence 4 stars not 5 - although it’s probably closer to 4.5 stars) but this was a close second. I love the world that Kate conjures, and the fact that she makes me feel like I’m there. I always want to visit the locations she sets her books in. I couldn’t connect as deeply to the characters here as in Labyrinth, but that could be due to the fact my life is about 500x more busy than it was all those years ago, and I’ve gotten used to reading easier things.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Read previous Kate Mosse that I thoroughly loved the Labyrinth series , this isn't the same type of story. Historical fiction with a love story developing. Was hard to get into but having a weekend away meant I had to time to immerse myself and did really enjoy it in the end
Another good Kate Mosse book, again set in Carcassonne and Toulouse, this time surrounding the 1560s Catholic-Huguenot religious battles and persecution in France. The position of the book is basically, religion is rubbish when it infringes on others people's right to religion. Thrown into this turmoil is Minou Joubert and her family.
However there was something a bit grating about the extent of the secrets being held back from the reader - the narrator gave lots of info about what a number of characters were thinking but they were all secretive and vague about the same issue, and the same bits of info or names of people kept on being omitted. Which was tedious rather than intriguing, most of the time. There were also some bits of story that I don't think were tied up.
However there was something a bit grating about the extent of the secrets being held back from the reader - the narrator gave lots of info about what a number of characters were thinking but they were all secretive and vague about the same issue, and the same bits of info or names of people kept on being omitted. Which was tedious rather than intriguing, most of the time. There were also some bits of story that I don't think were tied up.
4.5 Stars
[b:Labyrinth|14975|Labyrinth (Languedoc, #1)|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1312498906s/14975.jpg|1225097] by [a:Kate Mosse|9343|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1358308999p2/9343.jpg] is one of my favourite books, so when I read that she had set another book in the Languedoc, I couldn’t wait to read [b:The Burning Chambers|36660443|The Burning Chambers|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1514014416s/36660443.jpg|58437826].
[b:The Burning Chambers|36660443|The Burning Chambers|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1514014416s/36660443.jpg|58437826] is set in France in the 1560’s and is based around the conflict between the Huguenots and Catholics.
The story had everything you would expect from a [a:Kate Mosse|9343|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1358308999p2/9343.jpg] novel, love, treachery, brutality, friendship, and courage. She also describes scenery and architecture so clearly that the reader feels like they are walking through the Languedoc.
[a:Kate Mosse|9343|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1358308999p2/9343.jpg] has a way of creating characters, even minor characters, that the reader really cares about, so when the phrase “Tuez-les tous. Dieu reconnaîtra les siens” pops up in [b:The Burning Chambers|36660443|The Burning Chambers|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1514014416s/36660443.jpg|58437826], (“Kill them all; God will know His own;” a phrase that I will never forget after reading Labyrinth) I was devastated.
For [a:Kate Mosse|9343|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1358308999p2/9343.jpg] fans, I would say that [b:The Burning Chambers|36660443|The Burning Chambers|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1514014416s/36660443.jpg|58437826] is not quite as good as Labyrinth, but definitely up there with Sepulchre.
[b:Labyrinth|14975|Labyrinth (Languedoc, #1)|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1312498906s/14975.jpg|1225097] by [a:Kate Mosse|9343|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1358308999p2/9343.jpg] is one of my favourite books, so when I read that she had set another book in the Languedoc, I couldn’t wait to read [b:The Burning Chambers|36660443|The Burning Chambers|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1514014416s/36660443.jpg|58437826].
[b:The Burning Chambers|36660443|The Burning Chambers|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1514014416s/36660443.jpg|58437826] is set in France in the 1560’s and is based around the conflict between the Huguenots and Catholics.
The story had everything you would expect from a [a:Kate Mosse|9343|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1358308999p2/9343.jpg] novel, love, treachery, brutality, friendship, and courage. She also describes scenery and architecture so clearly that the reader feels like they are walking through the Languedoc.
[a:Kate Mosse|9343|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1358308999p2/9343.jpg] has a way of creating characters, even minor characters, that the reader really cares about, so when the phrase “Tuez-les tous. Dieu reconnaîtra les siens” pops up in [b:The Burning Chambers|36660443|The Burning Chambers|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1514014416s/36660443.jpg|58437826], (“Kill them all; God will know His own;” a phrase that I will never forget after reading Labyrinth) I was devastated.
For [a:Kate Mosse|9343|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1358308999p2/9343.jpg] fans, I would say that [b:The Burning Chambers|36660443|The Burning Chambers|Kate Mosse|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1514014416s/36660443.jpg|58437826] is not quite as good as Labyrinth, but definitely up there with Sepulchre.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was one of those books that was hard to put down. The beginning took a little bit to get into. I wish it had explained some things a bit more, I felt a bit lost not knowing much about Carcassonne in the 1500's. After about 100 pages I felt like I was able to get into it and then I was hooked until the end.
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
5 stars does not seem enough for this book! Cannot praise this book enough!
Set in the 1500’s the book follows Minou in her travels from Carcasonne to Toulouse and Puivert in France in her fathers wish to keep her safe from a secret he has long held. Catholic and Protestant rivalries cause turmoil and death for many with neighbour turning on neighbour. Minou finds the secret catching up to her with surprising consequences and results ensuing. A story of love, hate, intolerance and acceptance. Kate Mosse is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine. I cannot wait for the next instalment.
Set in the 1500’s the book follows Minou in her travels from Carcasonne to Toulouse and Puivert in France in her fathers wish to keep her safe from a secret he has long held. Catholic and Protestant rivalries cause turmoil and death for many with neighbour turning on neighbour. Minou finds the secret catching up to her with surprising consequences and results ensuing. A story of love, hate, intolerance and acceptance. Kate Mosse is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine. I cannot wait for the next instalment.